Home Textiles Today back issues from January 2002:
Showtime colors come alive.
Jan 07, 2002; ... HIGH POINT, NC -- Color and lots of it will be the key fashion direction in home furnishings for this year, based on introductions this week at Showtime here. They will be "happy" colors, warm colors, pure and cleaner but vibrant. What they will not be is "plasticy" or ...
Kmart's stock not `holding' its own.
Jan 07, 2002; ... TROY, MI -- The new year began with a rough start for Kmart, whose stock fluctuated greatly last week after Prudential Securities lowered its rating to "sell" from "hold." As if that weren't enough of a blow, Prudential's analyst also speculated that the retail giant could be headed for ...
Top 15 plummets with 5.1% decline.
Jan 07, 2002; ... NEW YORK -- In a tumultuous, punishing year for home fashions suppliers and retailers alike, composite sales for the nation's 15 largest home textiles producers and importers skidded down by 5.1 percent, to $7.93 billion from $8.35 billion the prior year -- a scary top-line loss of $425 ...
Pillowtex plan includes unloading massive debt.
Jan 07, 2002; ... KANNAPOLIS,NC -- Derailed by $1.1 billion in takeover debt and crippling interest expense, losing more than a fifth of its sales, textiles giant Pillowtex is getting ready to emerge from Chapter 11 and shed almost $1 billion in debt. Fifteen months after seeking protection from ...
Claire Murray into laminated fabric.(Brief Article)
Jan 07, 2002; ... OSTERVILLE, MA -- Lifestyle brand Claire Murray recently announced plans to produce new lines of laminated fabric products, including table linens and bath accessories. Claire Murray inked a licensing deal with New York-based domestic manufacturer Telefun to produce the new ...
Chris Stone `widens' fabric program: company names new marketing director.(Brief Article)
Jan 07, 2002 ... HIGH POINT, NC -- Chris Stone & Associates is launching a new wide-width fabric program designed for the top of the bed and decorative pillow home furnishings businesses. The company will offer print downs on commodity cloths such as 180-count sheetings of cotton and ...
Teijin to sell only Celanese acetate.(Brief Article)
Jan 07, 2002 ... NEW YORK -- Celanese Acetate Textiles and Teijin Ltd. have signed a marketing and sales assistance agreement that will replace the companies' previously announced plans to form a joint venture producing and selling acetate in Asia. Under the new plan, Teijin will sell acetate ...
Service merchandise to cease operation.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
Jan 07, 2002 ... Though it exceeded business plan expectations in the two years prior to 2001, Service Merchandise announced that the loss of consumer confidence and soft economy last year have weakened its financial and liquidity position, precluding the company to emerge from Chapter 11 and instead it ...
Lazarus to close three locations.
Jan 07, 2002 ... The Rich's/Lazarus/Goldsmith's division of Federated has announced that it plans to close three under-performing Lazarus stores in early 2002. The closings are part of the company's strategic refocus on markets and locations that have ...
Sears ratings upgraded.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
Jan 07, 2002 ... Prudential Securities retail analyst Wayne Hood raised his 2002 earnings outlook for Sears Roebuck and Co. this past Friday, citing increased confidence in the retailer's recent restructuring initiatives. He raised his ...
Home Depot International president resigns.(Brief Article)
Jan 07, 2002 ... The Home Depot has announced the resignation of Anders Moberg, president of the international division, effective ...
Eddie Bauer chief retires.(Richard Fersch)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
Jan 07, 2002 ... DOWNERS GROVE, IL -- Richard Fersch, president and ceo of Eddie Bauer, elected to retire last week, announced The Spiegel Group, the division's parent company. Fersch was named president in 1993 and promoted to president and ceo in 1997. His departure will be effective once a ...
For the record.(Brief Article)(Correction Notice)
Jan 07, 2002 ... A correction in the Dec. 27 edition of the HTT Extra daily e-newsletter failed to explicitly state that Guilford Mills is not in Chapter 11. The original news item ...
Confidence slowly climbing back.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
Jan 07, 2002; ... NEW YORK -- Raising hopes for a rebound in consumer spending as well as a turnaround in a flagging economy, consumer confidence jumped up dramatically in December, climbing 10.4 percent to a reading of 93.7. But despite the big improvement over the low level of the past three ...
Online Christmas season a success.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
Jan 07, 2002 ... NEW YORK -- Value-oriented sites were among the fastest growing e-tailers for the holiday 2001 season, according to the Nielsen//NetRatings Holiday eCommerce Index. Columbia House headed the list, as consumers conducted more than 25 million shopping trips at the site in November ...
Mohawk home has Coke and a smile.(Brief Article)
Jan 07, 2002; ... SUGAR VALLEY, GA -- Mohawk Home is the newest home textiles licensee for the well-known Coca-Cola brand, which is steadily increasing its presence within the category. Home textiles are a natural extension for the Coca-Cola brand, Becky Anderson, North American home furnishings ...
828 Int'l doubles size of Atlanta showroom.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
Jan 07, 2002 ... GREENVILLE, SC -- Area rug importer 828 International Trading Co. recently expanded its showroom at the Americas-Mart, home of the biannual Atlanta International Area Rug Show, to 6,000 square feet -- double the size of the company's original showroom. 828 took over the former ...
Chandler looks to broaden appeal.(Redwork pillows from Chandler 4 Corners)(Brief Article)
Jan 07, 2002; ... MANCHESTER, VT -- Upscale accent rug, decorative pillow and throw importer Chandler Four Corners is adding a new decorative pillow construction which will result in a more competitive, and previously unseen, price point for the company. For the first time in its 10-year ...
Big Lots plans new DC in OK.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
Jan 07, 2002 ... COLUMBUS, OH -- Broadline closeout retailer Big Lots broke ground last week at the site of its new distribution center in Durant, OK. Located on 118 acres, the 1.2 million square foot DC has an anticipated completion date of late 2003 and will be the fifth DC for Big Lots. The ...
Sears to exit installed floor coverings.(Brief Article)
Jan 07, 2002; ... HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL -- Sears is exiting the custom decorating and installed floor coverings business during the first quarter of this year. Sears, once the largest retailer of broadloom carpet in the country, will eliminate this product segment from its mix, which is offered in ...
Crayola to put name on bedding.(Binney and Smith)(Brief Article)
Jan 07, 2002; ... EASTON, PA -- Crayola crayons and art products manufacturer Binney & Smith, recently partnered with corporate licensing agency Nancy Bailey & Associates to license Crayola-branded children's bedding and accessories -- among other products like personal care goods and food products -- to ...
Calendar.(Brief Article)
Jan 07, 2002 ... <Pre> JANUARY 7-10: Showtime sponsored by the International Textile Market Association Market Square Textile Tower High Point, NC (336) 885-6842. 9-12: Heimtextil Frankfurt ...
More than just the show.(Brief Article)
Jan 07, 2002 ... HIGH POINT, NC -- It's not just seeing thousands of new fabric samples that makes a Showtime here what it is. Seminars and social activities, public and private, also add to the flavor. The big social event, the Opening Night Reception, will be held Mon., Jan. 7 beginning at ...
Fabrics today: showtime.(Brief Article)
Jan 07, 2002 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: Andrea Warchol, assistant vp, design, Weave, noted, "While animals continue to be important, now they are being incorporated into scenic/theme designs which are gaining interest. It's part of telling a story as seen in Allegory," rayon/cotton, ...
Home textiles today's top 15. (Manufacturing Giants).(Statistical Data Included)
Jan 07, 2002 ... <Pre> SPRINGS INDUSTRIESSIGNIFICANT EVENTS: Holding its own in a punishing RANKEst. '01 Sales '00 Sales %chg retail environment, Springs 1 (2) ($mil) ($mil) takes over as the nation's ...
Trying times for Top 5 with small sales gains. (Manufacturing Giants).(Statistical Data Included)
Jan 07, 2002 ... NEW YORK -- Textiles manufacturers just completed a challenging and highly competitive year, and the results are in. For the eighth consecutive year, Home Textiles Today has compiled the numbers for the Top 5. The listing, an exclusive to Home Textiles Today, covers 16 distinct ...
American Textiles gets new 295 showroom. (Moving on down).(Brief Article)
Jan 07, 2002; ... PITTSBURGH -- American Textile Co. is already taking steps to increase its presence of February's mini-market and future markets with plans to open a new showroom, as well as an extension of its comforter cover line. Presently located on the 16th floor of 295 Fifth Ave., ...
Polymer Group defaults on loan payments.(Brief Article)
Jan 07, 2002 ... NORTH CHARLESTON, SC -- Debt problems hammered another struggling textiles player last week when Polymer Group Inc., a producer of special non-wovens, said it was in default on a senior credit facility and its lenders exercised their right to block bond payments. The company ...
Hancock happy with holiday sales.
Jan 07, 2002 ... TUPELO, MI -- Fabric and crafts retailer Hancock Fabrics said sales for the five-week Christmas period ended Dec. 30 shot up by 17.8 percent, spurred in large part by a new home decorating store-within-a-store. Overall sales for the retailer climbed by 17.0 percent, to $45.5 ...
Help Wanted Index slips to lowest point in 40 years.(Conference Board)(Brief Article)
Jan 07, 2002 ... NEW YORK -- Pointing to continued weakness in the U.S. labor market, The Conference Board's Help Wanted Index, a widely watched gauge of hiring activity, slipped one point in November to a current level of 45, down by almost half from a year ago, and at its lowest point in almost 40 years ....
TeleCheck: Dec. same-store sales grew 2.1%.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
Jan 07, 2002 ... HOUSTON -- Fueled by pre-and post-holiday promotions, same-store retail sales for December increased by 2.1 percent, compared with the same period last year, according to data compiled by Telecheck Services Inc. The top five shopping days, in descending order, were Sat., Dec. ...
Sell! sell! sell!(Federated Department Stores Inc.)(Bloomingdale's Inc.)(Brief Article)
Jan 07, 2002 ... The new year was barely 48 hours old when after-holiday sales catalogs from Federated Department Stores' two key nameplates dropped into the mailboxes of consumers. The macys.com book was more aggressively clearance-oriented in tone. Price breaks in home textiles ranged up to 50 percent ...
The survey says ... (Opinion Today).(Brief Article)
Jan 07, 2002; ... Everyone knew it wouldn't be particularly pretty. Now that the numbers have been compiled for HTT's annual Top 5 vendors report, we can read the fallout from the year just ended like so many damp tea leaves. But the raw results are not as entirely bleak as they seem at first ...
Getting an edge. (Opinion Today).(review of textiles)(Brief Article)
Jan 07, 2002; ... It was fun watching the fabrics roll in for both our Showtime and Heimtextil product previews. Just when all the pundits were talking gloom and doom, lots of conservatism, patriotism by the yard, and all sorts of other things, the design community at home and abroad took a ...
Elder-Beerman names interim president. (People Today).(Brief Article)
Jan 07, 2002 ... DAYTON, OH -- Steven Mason has been selected by the board of directors at Elder-Beerman to take the reins as interim president until a permanent one is found, the company announced. Mason will replace the retiring chairman, president and ceo Frederick Mershad. Mason has been on ...
S. Shamash president to step down. (People Today).(S. Shamash and Sons Inc.)(Brief Article)
Jan 07, 2002 ... NEW YORK -- S. Shamash & Sons, Inc., an international textile, apparel and home furnishings firm, announced that Jeffrey White will step down as president early next year. White will remain ...
Susan Sargent shifts HQ to Pawlet, VT. (People Today).
Jan 07, 2002 ... MANCHESTER, VT -- Home textiles design house and manufacturer Susan Sargent has moved its corporate headquarters from its former restored old farmhouse in Pawlet, VT, to a new modern space here. The new offices are located above the company's new and first full-price retail ...
Meredith Home co-founder Chace dead at 48. (People Today).
Jan 07, 2002 ... WESTWOOD, MA -- Frances Chace, 48, a co-founder of Meredith Home Fashions, a supplier to specialty stores throughout the Northeast, died Dec. 11. She and her husband Michael started Meredith Home Fashions in 1991, manufacturing a broad assortment of home fashions products, ...
Success formula: retail ad conference slated for Feb. 6 to 8. (People Today).
Jan 07, 2002 ... WASHINGTON -- The 50th Retail Advertising Conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago from Feb. 6 to 8. The thrust of the conference this year will be industry leaders sharing "success stories" through educational programs and networking events. Such events include: ...
EA Int'l shows global emphasis. (People Today).
Jan 07, 2002 ... DULUTH, GA -- To reflect the increasingly global nature of its business, English-American Import Export Co. has adopted a new name: EA International Ltd. The company designs and manufactures packaging, storage and specialty consumer ...
ShopKo promotes Wurl. (People Today).(ShopKo Stores Inc.)(Douglas Wurl)(Brief Article)
Jan 07, 2002 ... Green Bay, WI -- ShopKo Stores Inc. has promoted Douglas Wurl to ShopKo division senior vp, gmm, home, to replace Rick Ausick, who recently joined Madison, WI-based Famous Footwear. Wurl assumes responsibility for housewares, casual furniture, school and office ...
Promotions boost same-store sales. (Business Today).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
Jan 07, 2002 ... * Traffic was driven by deeper discounts, putting further pressure on weakened margins NEW YORK -- Given a lift by last-minute shoppers and bargain-seekers, same-store sales moved up by 1.5 percent during the fourth week of December, pushing overall retail sales for the first ...
$120M in Dan River debt downgraded. (Business Today).(Brief Article)
Jan 07, 2002 ... NEW YORK -- Moody's Investors Service has downgraded its rating on about $120 million of Dan River debt, citing ongoing losses and a continued weak retail environment. The debt-rating agency lowered its rating on the company's 10.125 percent senior subordinated notes to "Caa3" ...
2001 sets new record for job cuts. (Business Today).(Brief Article)
Jan 07, 2002 ... NEW YORK -- Setting a record for job losses, there were almost two million announced job cuts in 2001, almost three times as many as in 2000, according to Challenger, an international outplacement company that tracks job cuts on a monthly basis. Finding something of a silver ...
Housing sales improve in November. (Business Today).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
Jan 07, 2002; ... NEW YORK -- Bolstered by warmer weather, improving consumer sentiment and historically low interest rates, the nation's housing picture improved across the board in November, surpassing estimates and providing a ray of hope in an otherwise soft economy. The housing market has ...
Wall Street Watch: summary for the week ended January 3, 2002 (Business Today).(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
Jan 07, 2002 ... <Pre> RETAILERS CLOSE % CHG % CHG. 1/03/02 THIS WEEK YEAR-TO-DATE Bed Bath & Beyond * (O) 33.68 3.57 50.53 Burlington Coat Factory (N) 17.00 8.35 -10.23 Costco Cos. (O) ...
Neiman-Marcus sees sales drop.(Brief Article)
Jan 07, 2002 ... DALLAS -- Underscoring the problems confronting retailers of upscale and luxury goods in a recessionary environment, Neiman-Marcus said same-store sales fell 3 percent during the all-important Christmas selling season. Total store sales declined by 1.9 percent, to $475 million ...
U.S. retailers claim Dec. sales don't compare.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
Jan 14, 2002; ... NEW YORK -- Most retailers were pleased with how December ended, which for some resulted in better-than-expected sales, with overall U.S. retail chain sales increasing 2.5 percent for December. The season for most looked even healthier when combined with November sales, which ...
Burlington broaches exec bonuses.(Burlington Industries Inc.)(Brief Article)
Jan 14, 2002; ... GREENSBORO, NC -- The struggling Burlington Industries has filed documents in federal court which proposes to more than double the salaries of some of its top executives while simultaneously proposing to drastically reduce the severance packages for the majority of its employees in the ...
Fontenot gets WPS focused.(Chip Fontenot, president of WestPoint Stevens)(Brief Article)(Interview)
Jan 14, 2002; ... NEW YORK -- Twelve months after taking the reins at WestPoint Stevens, a company then in disarray after a series of management upheavals had wiped out virtually its entire top management team, Chip Fontenot, now dug in as president -- less tentative, less tense and far more relaxed -- ...
U.S. vendors see value: Heimtex traffic down, enthusiasm up.(textile industry exhibition)(Brief Article)
Jan 14, 2002 ... FRANKFURT, GERMANY -- Last week's Heimtextil international home textiles fair may not have turned up any revolutionary new product ideas, but U.S. attendees nonetheless said they found value in being there. Although traffic in the aisles was universally acknowledged as being ...
Fabric firms satisfied: Heimtex traffic down, enthusiasm up.(textile industry exhibition)(Brief Article)
Jan 14, 2002; ... FRANKFURT, GERMANY -- Not great but better than expected. This was the assessment of fabric exhibitors at Heimtextil here last week. Traffic definitely was down, exhibitors reported, with few buyers from South America, especially Argentina, as well as South Africa ....
Showtime exhibits bright outlook.(textile industry exhibition)(Brief Article)
Jan 14, 2002 ... HIGH POINT, NC -- The economic tide has turned if exhibitor reactions to Showtime here last week are any indicator. The mood of the market was especially upbeat, with the majority of exhibitors reporting enthusiastic response to newness and innovation. While ...
NRF seminars underway.
Jan 14, 2002 ... NEW YORK -- The National Retail Federation's 91st Convention and Expo is currently underway at the Jacob Javits Center, ending Wednesday, Jan. 16. The convention's remaining Super Sessions for the week include "Who's Minding the Future?", scheduled for Tuesday from 8:45 a.m. to ...
Latex gets West Coast mgr.(Brief Article)
Jan 14, 2002 ... ANSONIA, CT -- Latex International has named Ron Bruneau division manager of its West Coast operation, Latex International West (LIW). Bruneau most recently served as plant manager for the foam company. In his newly created position, he will report to Steve Russo, president of ...
Sears plans new full-line openings.(Brief Article)
Jan 14, 2002 ... HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL -- With an eye toward revitalizing its full-line stores, Sears, Roebuck and Co. plans to open 15 new full-line stores as well as remodel 50 locations nationwide by yearend. All of the new stores are designed to offer easy-to-shop layouts, with centralized checkouts and ...
Coldwater creek to cut DC and 220 employees.(Brief Article)
Jan 14, 2002 ... Catalog, Internet and retail store retailer Coldwater Creek announced that it would close its distribution center in Sandpoint, ID, as a result of the stagnant economy. The DC is expected to shutter by the end of March, affecting approximately 120 employees. All distribution will now be ...
Hanover Direct appoints two board members.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
Jan 14, 2002 ... Hanover Direct has announced changes to its board, which now has five directors instead of six. Thomas Shull, president and ceo, will fill the position of chairman, vacated in December upon the resignation of Eloy Michotte. Pendleton James has also been ...
Century 21 to reopen.(Century 21 Department Stores)(Brief Article)
Jan 14, 2002 ... The Manhattan location of Century 21 is set to reopen in mid-February, said Ed Gindi, vp and an owner. The discounted designer label department store is locatedwithin Ground Zero and has been closed since the terrorist ...
Saks to convert McRae's store.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
Jan 14, 2002 ... Saks Inc. has announced plans to convert its 108,800-square-foot McRae's traditional department store in the Brookwood Village Mall in Birmingham, AL, into a Parisian specialty department store. The location will be closed in July to be renovated and will reopen in August. Following the ...
For the record.
Jan 14, 2002 ... In last week's issue, two designs were ...
Rug suppliers express optimism about show. (Area).(Atlanta International Area Rug Show)(Brief Article)
Jan 14, 2002; ... ATLANTA -- With the same optimism that a new year brings, rug suppliers are confident that the Atlanta International Area Rug Show will be one of the best in recent memory. Some may think it's easy to hold high expectations for buyer turnout in Atlanta in comparison to a ...
Exhibitors unveil updated rug designs in Atlanta. (Area).
Jan 14, 2002 ... ATLANTA -- The following is a sampling of what buyers can expect to find at rug manufacturers' showrooms here at this week's market. ASIA MINOR New York (212) 447-9066 Asia Minor is unveiling its new hand-knotted rug titled Plaj. Woven with Ushak knots using fine ...
Rug sales up despite difficult '01. (The Facts: Accent & Area Rugs).(2001)(Statistical Data Included)
Jan 14, 2002; ... NEW YORK -- For a year that was replete with retail bankruptcies, particularly in the specialty and independent retail channels, and a considerable slowdown in consumer traffic, the area and accent rug industry fared modestly well in 2001 with $4.5 billion in sales -- a 2.3 percent gain in ...
Agenda 2002. (Opinion Today).(forecasts)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
Jan 14, 2002; ... Now that the Year of Upheaval is behind us, we embark on the Year of Transformation. Here's a short list of some of the most interesting developments to watch this year. Pillowtex reborn: By its own projections, Pillowtex -- which expects to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy ...