Home Textiles Today back issues from September 2008:
Egyptian Cotton Enforces Brand Rights.
Sep 01, 2008; ... By Jennifer Marks New York - The Egyptian government is getting serious about pursuing manufacturers and retailers who make false claims about the use of long-staple Egyptian cotton in their goods. A representative from the Cotton Egypt Association - formed by the ...
JLA to Launch Robert Allen Finished Goods.
Sep 01, 2008 ... By Carole Sloan New York - Robert Allen @ Home will launch a fashion bedding and window coverings collection via a licensing arrangement with JLA Home at the New York Home Fashions Market this month. The collection of about 10 to 12 fashion bedding styles "will take ...
Area Rug Makers Ply Green Wares.
Sep 01, 2008 ... By Cecile B. Corral New York - As long as area rugs have existed, there has been an organic element to the category. It's called wool. Artisans primarily used wool to make the ancient handmade Persian and Oriental rugs of centuries ago. But ...
Williams-Sonoma in Woeful Slump.
Sep 01, 2008 ... By Cecile B. Corral San Francisco - Williams-Sonoma Inc. experienced progressively declining comp-store sales throughout the second quarter, as well as net revenues declining by greater-than-expected rates, the six-nameplate upscale home furnishings retailer reported during its ...
For the Record.
Sep 01, 2008 ... By Staff Due to a submission error, the article "230 Fifth Exhibitors Prep for Markets" (in HTT Aug. 18, p.28) incorrectly listed the company in one of the ...
Jaclyn Smith Home Set for Kmart Launch.
Sep 01, 2008 ... By Staff Hoffman Estates, Ill. - Building on a 20-year exclusive brand partnership in the apparel segment, Kmart will introduce the Jaclyn Smith Home Collection to its shoppers online and in stores, starting Sept. 9. The retailer said the initial line will feature ...
Retail Briefs.
Sep 01, 2008 ... By Staff Kohl's Mansell Elevated to CEO Staff Kohl's promoted president Kevin Mansell to president and ceo, succeeding Larry Montgomery in the ceo role; Montgomery will continue as chairman and will continue to manage Kohl's human resources, legal and ...
Sunham Eyes Fashion to Revive Quilt Category.
Sep 01, 2008 ... By Staff New York - Seeking to return to the days of solid margins in the quilt category, manufacturer Sunham Home Fashions is putting fashion first, and adding interactive mystery to its marketing. For quilts and all of its broad home textiles offerings in bed, bath ...
Indian Handicrafts Event Set for October.
Sep 01, 2008 ... By Staff New Delhi - The 26th annual Indian Handicrafts and Gifts Fair will take place here Oct. 15-18 at the India Expo Centre & Mart. This year's event will feature 700 permanent showrooms, with more than 500 exhibitors of home furnishings and textiles, according to ...
Jo-Ann Stores Gets House in Order, Trims Loss.
Sep 01, 2008 ... By Cecile B. Corral Hudson, Ohio - Coming off its eighth consecutive quarter of year-over-year earnings improvement, Jo-Ann Stores continued to project some softness in its home decor and seasonal categories during the fall season - but meanwhile trimmed its loss as sales grew. ...
Kathy Ireland Home by Bonavista to Debut.
Sep 01, 2008 ... By Staff Los Angeles - Decorative pillow, readymade curtain and fabric supplier Bonavista USA will develop a "Kathy Ireland Home by Bonavista" product line in those categories. Bonavista will show the collection, to be based on the Kathy Ireland Home Style Guides, at ...
Onadein Forms Hometex Decorative Fabrics Hangzhou.
Sep 01, 2008 ... By Staff New York - Tayo Onadein, former vp of design for JLA Home Fabrics, has formed a new decorative fabric company: Hometex Decorative Fabrics Hangzhou & Co., Ltd. "I decided to start my own fabric business with a partner in China, Bill Xu," who is the general ...
Slumping Bon-Ton Trims Inventory, Cuts Debt.
Sep 01, 2008 ... By Staff York, Pa. - In a period when Bon-Ton is among the department store retailers struggling to maintain sales volume and failing to show a profit, the fiscal second quarter offered some growth opportunities - even if only in a limited way - for the home category. ...
Cost Plus Sales Up, Loss Cut.
Sep 01, 2008 ... By Cecile B. Corral Retailer Preparing to Raise Prices in Second Half of the Year Oakland, Calif. - After spending much of last year lowering price points to drive more traffic and transactions, specialty retailer Cost Plus Inc. is now gearing up to raise prices on ...
Ross Ups Full Year Guidance.(Ross Stores Inc. revenue report)(Financial report)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008 ... By Staff Pleasanton, Calif. - In a very good year for off-price retailers, Ross Stores had record second-quarter net earnings of $71.3 million, up 40% from $50.9 million in the year-ago period; EPS of 54 cents was up 46% from 37 cents last year. Quarterly sales ...
Big Lots Reports Record EPS.
Sep 01, 2008 ... By Jennifer Marks Columbus, Ohio - After announcing its seventh consecutive quarter of record earnings per share results, Big Lots said it will begin working on a strategic plan to address its long-term business for 2009-2011. Merchandising, real estate and cost ...
Maples Mourns Casey's Death.
Sep 01, 2008 ... By Staff Scottsboro, Ala. - Maples Industries is mourning the loss of one of its longtime sales representatives, Julie Ann Casey, 52, who suffered an accidental death while bicycling in Clearwater, Minn. near her home on Aug. 15. Casey had spent the past 15 years of ...
Dillard's Loss Grows as Outlays Trimmed.(Financial report)
Sep 01, 2008 ... By Staff Little Rock, Ark. - Department store operator Dillard's recorded a deeper loss for the second quarter, noting its expense reduction efforts had fallen short. Dillard's ceo William Dillard II, said, "We continued to manage our business conservatively during ...
Tuesday Morning Trims '09 Outlook.
Sep 01, 2008 ... By Staff Dallas - Off-price retailer Tuesday Morning saw profits cut in half for the fiscal year ended June 30, as sales fell 4.2% to $885.3 million; comps fell 7.6%. Net income of $14.5 million or 35 cents per diluted share plummeted from net income of $30.0 million ...
Raymond Waites Taps Alok for Organics.
Sep 01, 2008 ... By Staff New York - Raymond Waites Design and Next Creations are working in conjunction with Alok Industries of India to develop a certified organic line of bedding products. "Our goal is to market to customers who are concerned about their 'environmental footprint' ...
Best Products Chosen at Gift Fair/Textiles Market.
Sep 01, 2008 ... By Staff New York - A panel of consumer and trade press editors has selected the New York Home Textiles Market Week Best New Product Awards, in conjunction with the New York International Gift Fair produced by GLM. Criteria included innovation in design, creative use ...
CHF to Debut Alex Juvenile Collection.
Sep 01, 2008 ... By Staff New York - During the September market, diversified home textiles supplier CHF Industries will unveil a line of juvenile bedding, bath and home accessories under the Alex toy brand. Joan Karron, CHF evp Joan Karron pointed out, "Alex Toys has a dedicated ...
Pioneer Linens Launches Enhanced Site.(Website overview)
Sep 01, 2008 ... By Staff West Palm Beach, Fla. - Luxury home textiles retailer Pioneer Linens has launched a new website with both e-commerce and brand-building goals. Consumers browsing www.pioneerlinens.com can find and order from full assortments of bedding, ...
Yunus, Nano-Tex to Debut Lux-Performance Sheeting.(Yunus Textiles teamed with Nano-Tex )(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008 ... By Staff Oakland, Calif. - Yunus Textiles (Karachi, Pakistan) and its U.S. subsidiary Royale Linens have teamed with Nano-Tex to for a new luxury-performance line of cotton sheeting. "The new line features Nano-Tex Neutralizer to provide the ultimate cotton sheeting ...
Cambridge Reps Homespice Decor in West.
Sep 01, 2008 ... By Staff Tucker, Ga. - Braided rug manufacturer Homespice Decor has partnered with Cambridge Sales, a West Coast sales representative agency specializing in home furnishings and decorative accessories. In the territories of Colorado, Wyoming and Utah, Cambridge will ...
Orian 'Goin' Green' for 30th.
Sep 01, 2008 ... By Staff Anderson, S.C. - Domestic woven area rug manufacturer Orian Rugs is gearing up for its 30th anniversary in business come 2009 with the soon-to-come debut of its new "Goin' Green" campaign. In a renewed effort to become more environmentally friendly, the ...
Scandia Down Revitalizes Brand.
Sep 01, 2008 ... By Staff New York - Scandia Down is scaling up another notch as part of a broad brand re-energizing initiative, and unveiled new home and gift introductions here to select retailers during New York Gift Week. "Relaxed luxury" is the positioning to underscore the ...
Sunbrella Area Rugs Debut from Colonial Mills.
Sep 01, 2008 ... By Staff Pawtucket, R.I. - Braided texture rug and home accessories manufacturer cmi (Colonial Mills, Inc.) has partnered with Glen Raven Custom Fabrics LLC to co-create a new rug collection that is made entirely of recycled Sunbrella-branded fiber. Trademarked and ...
Aussino Hires Two.(Aussino USA Inc. appointed Nicole Striano and Maris Elefonte )(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008 ... By Staff New York - Aussino has added a new face to its design department and welcomed back a former member of the team. Nicole Striano has re-joined Aussino as director of product development and design for the bedding division. She had most ...
IFDA to Honor Journalist Chapman.
Sep 01, 2008 ... By Staff New York - The New York Chapter of the International Furnishings Design Association will hold a memorial service Sept. 9 in memory of Pat Chapman, journalist and home furnishings public relations executive who died suddenly last May. The memorial service ...
NexCen Gains Liquidity, D'Loren Resigns.(Robert D'Loren )(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008 ... By Staff New York - Robert D'Loren has resigned as ceo of brand management firm NexCen Brands, and been replaced in that position by evp and cfo Kenneth Hall. D'Loren also resigned from the board of directors. NexCen chairman David Oros said, "Ken has been ...
Heller New President, CEO of Sleep Innovations.
Sep 01, 2008 ... By Staff West Long Branch, N.J. -Sleep Innovations, manufacturer of memory foam sleep products, has named Rick Heller president and ceo. A partner in consulting service Carl Marx Advisory Group for the past five years, Heller ...
Home Decor Veteran Mike Larkey Joins Fortunoff.
Sep 01, 2008 ... By Staff Uniondale, N.Y. - Veteran home furnishings retailer and supplier Mike Larkey has joined Fortunoff here as a consultant. Larkey will oversee all furniture, rugs, mattress, pictures and mirrors merchandising, reporting to dmm Dave Vernon on day-to-day ...
Cotton Inc. Names Reed to Eco Post.
Sep 01, 2008 ... By Staff Cary, N.C. - Janet Reed has joined Cotton Incorporated in the new position of associate director of environmental research, reporting to Kater Hake, vp of agricultural research. At Cotton Inc., Reed will be responsible for setting the record straight on ...
JLA Home Fabrics Taps Viall for Design.(Martha Viall)(appointments)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008 ... By Staff Reidsville, N.C. - Martha Viall has been named director of design at JLA Home Fabrics here. Viall succeeds Tayo Onadein, formerly vp of design, who resigned last month. Viall, formerly senior designer for the company, has served in ...
HSN Now Standalone as IAC Breakup Done.(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008 ... By Staff St. Petersburg, Fla. - Direct-to-consumer retailer HSN on Aug. 22 became an independent, publicly traded company, as parent firm IAC completed its transition to five separate spinoffs. The new company, trading via symbol HSNi on Nasdaq, includes both the ...
Discounters Drive August Gains.
Sep 01, 2008 ... By Staff New York - While their upstairs counterparts continued to struggle, the discounters scored steadily improving same-store sales increases for the third week running, the Johnson Redbook reported. The Redbook Index recorded comps up 1.9% overall in the third ...
Target Hammers Away on Price.
Sep 01, 2008 ... By Cecile B. Corral Minneapolis - Target is expecting more from the "pay less" side of its motto going forward, promising its shoppers to match Wal-Mart's prices on like merchandise as the 1,648-unit upscale discounter responds to persisting economic doldrums. That ...
NY Int'l Gift Fair January Date, Venue Changes.
Sep 01, 2008 ... By Staff White Plains, N.Y. - The winter edition of the New York International Gift Fair will run Sunday-Thursday, Jan. 25-29, 2009 - a one-time shift due to venue availability. Show operator George Little Management (GLM) said the dates will apply to all nine of the ...
Into the Breach.
Sep 01, 2008 ... By Jennifer Marks Another moment of reckoning has arrived in the over-stored U.S. market. How many stores will we lose before the downturn is over? Linens 'n Things is shedding 205. Mervyn's will shutter 26. Boscov's is closing 10. In the furniture world - which does ...
'Who Eats It?'.
Sep 01, 2008; ... By Carole Sloan As we move into a major market mode, it might not be a bad idea to look back at the results of the most recent retailing and home textiles efforts. The latest round of retail quarterly reports and analyst calls has produced what might be a new ...
Major Splash of Fresh from CHF.(CHF Industries Inc.)
Sep 08, 2008; ... By Jennifer Marks New York - While CHF Industries will work with accounts on exclusive projects behind closed doors at next week's market, it will also unveil two new brands and relaunch Umbra. The new Blah, Blah, Blah collection for back-to-college is the fruit of ...
Stepping Up Exports at Decosit.
Sep 08, 2008 ... By Carole Sloan Brussels, Belgium - Although the value of the dollar should present a plus for American decorative fabric companies exhibiting at Decosit here later this week, many are approaching the event with the classic phrase, "cautious optimism." Export remains ...
Dressing Up Dec Pillows.
Sep 08, 2008 ... By Cecile B. Corral New York - It is a cliche by now to say decorative pillows are recession-proof. Everyone knows, suppliers say, that the cheapest way to give a facelift to a saggy, seven-year-old sofa is to Botox it with new, trendy decorative pillows. ...
Tough Economic Times May Save LNT.
Sep 08, 2008 ... By Brent Felgner Clifton, N.J. - It's difficult to miss the irony in the Linens 'n Things proposed plan of reorganization. The very same tough economic conditions that the company has repeatedly blamed for dragging it into Chapter 11 bankruptcy last May, could provide the best ...
Retail Briefs.
Sep 08, 2008 ... By Staff Top Home Merchant Vernon Out at Fortunoff, Reported to Chinni Staff Dave Vernon has resigned as evp and general merchandise manager of home for Fortunoff; the Uniondale, N.Y. - based company confirmed it is seeking a successor for the position ....
Mervyns Sues its Owners, Target.
Sep 08, 2008 ... By James Mammarella Wilmington, Del. - Filing a Sept. 2 lawsuit alleging a "fraudulent transfer action," Mervyns LLC is suing 37 financial defendants - the private equity sponsors and private equity owners that bought it from Target - plus Target Corp. itself, which may offer ...
Pier 1 Betters Assortment, Tightens Operations.
Sep 08, 2008 ... By Staff New York - Specialty retailer Pier 1 Imports narrowed its second-quarter loss and is on track to continue its turnaround, said president and ceo Alex Smith, speaking at the Goldman Sachs Global Retailing Conference here. Pier 1 said Q2 comp sales fell ...
Sanger to Energize the Mix from Veratex.
Sep 08, 2008 ... By Staff Van Nuys, Calif. - Veratex's appointment of a vp of merchandising - a first for the company - signals a strategic broadening of scope for the fashion-oriented home textiles producer, specifically expanding the Veratex private label business into mid-tier retail ...
Connolly to Head U.S. Operations for Abhishek.
Sep 08, 2008 ... By Staff Ludhiana, India - Abhishek Industries Limited, a $350 million unit of Trident Group, has named Meg Connolly executive vice president of its U.S. operations. With more than 25 years of experience in the home textiles industry, Connolly spent most of her ...
Downlite Debuts Samantha Brown, Tommy Bahama.
Sep 08, 2008 ... By Staff Mason, Ohio - Samantha and Tommy B will be the stars of the show at Downlite during next week's New York Home Fashions Market. Samantha Brown - star of Travel Channel's "Passport to Great Weekends" - becomes Downlite's new personality brand. "She ...
Park B. Smith Rolls Out Fashion Recycled Goods.
Sep 08, 2008 ... By Staff New York - New developments in recycled fabrics with a fashion flair and lots of decorative embellishments highlight the new bedding, rugs, window coverings and kitchen textiles at Park B. Smith. Adding to its Eco-Ordinates and recycled cotton of the past, ...
1888 Mills Adds Clorox FreshCare to Line.
Sep 08, 2008 ... By Staff Oakbrook, Ill. - Global home textiles manufacturing company 1888 Mills has expanded its kitchen towel line with the addition of Clorox FreshCare-branded goods. The program is currently available at Wal-Mart; it will hit other retailers next year in the ...
Sears Canada Debuts College Pop-up Stores.
Sep 08, 2008 ... By Staff Toronto - Sears Canada is opening a series of pop-up stores on university campuses across the province of Ontario this month, stocked with housewares, home decor, bed and bath, electronics, and cosmetics. The four pop-up stores will be housed at Brock ...
Sleepwell to Debut Top-of-Bed Goods.
Sep 08, 2008 ... By Staff New York - Sleepwell Inc., the U.S. division of vertical home textiles manufacturer Kamal Group, has taken a showroom here at 230 Fifth Ave. on the first floor (Suite 102) and will participate in its first New York Home Fashions Market, which runs Sept. 15-19. ...
Couristan Customers Can Tap New Web Features.
Sep 08, 2008 ... By Staff Fort Lee, N.J. - Added sales features and enhanced product content are among the recent upgrades implemented on area rug and broadloom house Couristan Inc.'s website, www.couristan.com . The just-completed upgrade allows current dealers and potential new ...
Downlite Partners with Kassatex.(Kassatex Fine Linens)(Brief article)
Sep 08, 2008 ... By Staff Mason, Ohio - Down and feather bedding producer Downlite has entered a strategic partnership with Kassatex Fine Linens for distribution in the Caribbean and Central/South American regions. Kassatex, a wholesale distributor of bed and bath textiles, will have ...
Megerian Rugs Markets with Elle Decor.
Sep 08, 2008 ... By Staff New York - Four generation family-owned and -operated Megerian Rugs, a manufacturer of upscale area rugs, is unveiling a new print advertising campaign with Elle Decor, and the two are celebrating with a cocktail party Sept. 17 during the New York Metro Market. ...
Commonwealth Expands Thermalogic Curtain Line.
Sep 08, 2008 ... By Staff Montreal - Window coverings supplier Commonwealth Home Fashions is expanding the line of Thermalogic engery-efficient curtains it debuted during the February market, adding new textures and fabrics to the line for the upcoming New York Home Fashions Market. ...
Perfect Fit to Debut Nano-Tex Enhanced Basic Bedding.
Sep 08, 2008 ... By Staff Charlotte, N.C. - Basic bedding and comfort product maker Perfect Fit Industries is launching a line of goods featuring the Nano-Tex Neutralizer chemical-free alternative to anti-microbial treatments. The line will feature all-natural cotton fabrics in pillow ...
Riegel Textiles Touts Eco-Value of Towel Line.
Sep 08, 2008 ... By Staff Johnston, S.C. - Mount Vernon Mills division Riegel Textiles has unveiled a new hospitality towel program that includes energy- and cost-saving components. The full line of terry and microcotton bath towels, bath sheets, hand towels, wash cloths and bath ...
Shoppers Adopt Green Goods, Practices.
Sep 08, 2008 ... By Staff New York - Consumer behavior is getting greener, if only bit by bit, a new survey from WSL Strategic Retail shows. The most recent Pulse survey by WSL found American consumers have increased their eco-friendly activities from 1% to 4% over last year on seven ...
United Feather & Down Widens Natural Lines.(Brief article)
Sep 08, 2008 ... By Staff Des Plaines, Ill. - For the New York Home Fashions Market, introductions by United Feather & Down will focus on "balanced living" with new energy-saving products, eco-friendly down alternative fills for the luxury market, and additions to the Personal Comfort Pillow ...
Wesley Mancini Rugs Due from Classical Elements.
Sep 08, 2008 ... By Cecile B. Corral Charlotte, N.C. - Wesley Mancini Ltd. and Classical Elements Inc. have partnered to launch a new upscale rug line come January during the ShowTime trade event here at High Point. Branded the Classical Elements/Wesley Mancini collection, these rugs ...
Curtain Exchange Marks 10 Years.
Sep 08, 2008 ... By Staff Dallas - The Curtain Exchange, a specialty retailer offering handcrafted, custom curtain treatments, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this month. Founded in September 1998 by Georgina Callan, the first boutique opened in New Orleans, providing consumers ...