Home Textiles Today back issues from March 2009:
Urban Outfitters Plays it Differently.
Mar 02, 2009 ... By Carole Sloan Home Categories Part of Growth Philadelphia-- Urban Outfitters and its expanding divisions view home as a key vehicle for creating its individual brands' DNA. One of the driving forces in this regard? "Our products are unique, as well as ...
Macy's 4Q Plummets, Beats Consensus.
Mar 02, 2009 ... By Jennifer Marks Cincinnati--Weak sales, gross margin deterioration and a slew of one-time costs related to division consolidations, rollout of the My Macy's initiative and store closings sent Macy's Inc. profits tumbling by 58% in the fourth quarter to $310 million, or 73 ...
Market Basket Reveals Tactics.
Mar 02, 2009 ... HTT Staff Report New York-- Some things change, some stay the same. That's why HTT editors each year check the first-hand, spring bed and bath merchandising evidence, on the store shelves and gondolas, and provide HTT's Market Basket Report. One thing that's the ...
Target to Pare Home Department.
Mar 02, 2009 ... By Cecile B. Corral Maintains Guidance Minneapolis--With home persisting as one of the weakest performing categories at Target stores during a most challenging fourth quarter, the 1,677-unit discount department store is reacting by reducing its shelf space and brand ...
Retail Briefs.
Mar 02, 2009 ... By Staff Fortunoff GOB Sales Underway Staff After 87 years in business in the Northeast U.S., fine jewelry, housewares and home furnishings retailer Fortunoff is seeing its inventory liquidated under a court-ordered bankruptcy sale that started Thursday, ...
Sunham in Angela Adams Debut.
Mar 02, 2009 ... By Carole Sloan New York--Sunham Home Fashions will launch a major bed, bath and rug collection designed by Angela Adams, a designer noted for her inspirations from nature in a contemporary mood. The collection consists of four beds -- comforters, sheet sets, ...
Springs Shifts Exec Duties.(Springs Global)(The Branded Business Unit )(The Private Label Business Unit)(Brief article)
Mar 02, 2009 ... By Staff New York--Springs Global announced last week that it will divide its U.S. operation into two distinct business units. The Branded Business Unit will be run by president Joe Granger, who had been svp of Ralph Lauren Home for nearly a decade. He earlier had ...
Consumer Spending Nosedives in Q4.(Brief article)(Statistical data)
Mar 02, 2009 ... By Staff Washington--The U.S. Commerce Department reported last week that "real gross domestic purchases," a major component of the Gross Domestic Product, fell by 5.6% in the fourth quarter of 2008, compared to a 1.5% decrease in the third quarter. The data was part of the ...
Martha Stewart Swings to Loss.
Mar 02, 2009 ... By James Mammarella New York--Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia faces deeply reduced licensing revenues in 2009 even as it fights uphill in the slumping consumer economy, two factors already reflected its fourth quarter and full year 2008 results reported last week. ...
Profits Pinched, Kohl's Eyes Market Share.
Mar 02, 2009 ... By Cecile B. Corral Menomonee Falls, Wis.--While all lines of business in all regions reported a decrease in comp sales for both the fourth quarter and the year, home was among the two product categories that underperformed at Kohl's in both periods. Even so, among ...
Sears Holdings Hurt by Sears.
Mar 02, 2009 ... By James Mammarella Hoffman Estates, Ill.--Subpar performance at Sears stores walloped Sears Holdings with a billion-dollar reversal in operating profit during 2008, causing a big part of the 93% plunge in full year net earnings as reported last week, although the results did ...
More Profitable TJX Likes its Chances in Home.
Mar 02, 2009 ... By Jennifer Marks Framingham, Mass.--After a fourth quarter that, while not great was better than most, off-price retailer TJX Companies sees 2009 as a year of opportunity -- and home will be one of the bright spots. Total sales rose 6.6% at the Home Goods chain last ...
Fabric Stitching: Tietex Interiors, Burlington in Merger.
Mar 02, 2009 ... By Staff Spartanburg, S.C.-- Tietex International said it is selling its Tietex Interiors division, which sells a variety of fabrics to the residential and contract upholstery industries, clearing the way for a merger of the division and Burlington Mfg. Services. The ...
Antrim Co-Founder O'Neill Retires.
Mar 02, 2009 ... By Staff Syosset, N.Y.-- Antrim co-founder and vp for Antrim sales Fran O'Neill has retired from Stanton Carpet. He and Dan McGovern founded Antrim in 1997, importing and wholesaling hand-loomed carpet and rugs from India. O'Neill stayed on after Stanton acquired ...
Showroom Map Produced by HFPA.(Home Fashions Products Association)(Brief article)
Mar 02, 2009 ... By Staff New York--The Home Fashion Products Association will distribute a map and directory providing the locations of its member companies that manufacture, market or supply home textiles as well as those allied to the trade during New York Home Fashions Market Week. ...
Reminder: HFPA Breakfast Tuesday, March 10.(Home Fashions Products Association)
Mar 02, 2009 ... By Staff New York--As New York showrooms prepare for the upcoming market week, The Home Products Development Department at FIT and the Home Fashion Products Association (HFPA) are putting the final touches on the Scholarship Awards breakfast scheduled for Tuesday, March 10. ...
Connelly Retires At WONZ.
Mar 02, 2009 ... By Staff Marble Hill, Ga.--Wools of New Zealand executive Wes Connelly has retired from his post as North America area manager, ending his career in the floor covering and textiles industry that spanned almost four decades. His retirement was effective March 1. But ...
Sales Rep Organization Takes Shape at cmi.
Mar 02, 2009 ... By Staff Pawtucket, R.I.--For the first time in several years, braided texture rug manufacturer cmi is branching out its sales staff to include a crew of 19 independent sales representatives based around the country. The company has long relied on its own, internal ...
Sanitized Recruits Darrell Burnette.(Brief article)
Mar 02, 2009 ... By Staff Greenville, S.C.--Sanitized AG, producer of antimicrobial hygiene protection products for textiles and plastics, has hired Darrell Burnette as its new business development manager for North America. The company is in the process of launching a new product ...
Downlite Partners with Jessica McClintock.
Mar 02, 2009 ... By Staff Mason, Ohio-- Downlite has signed a multi-year license with the Jessica McClintock Home Collection and will launch a collection of down and down alternative bedding products at next week's New York Home Fashions Market. The Downlite program joins a number of ...
Echo Design Teams with Baltic on Bath Collections.
Mar 02, 2009 ... By Staff New York--In time for launch at the New York Home Fashions Market, Echo Design Group has partnered with The Baltic Linen Co. to create a line of bath coordinate collections. The initial program will comprise eight collections, each of which will include a ...
Domay to Debut Table Linen Collections.
Mar 02, 2009 ... By Staff Montreal, Quebec, Canada--Kitchen textiles and bath coordinates company Domay has inked exclusive licensing agreements with artists including Maria Donovan, Ruane Manning and Daphne B., for new table linens collections. In addition, artist Jennifer Garant's ...
MHS Licensing Offers Keyword Search for Art Images.(www.mhslicensing.com)(Brief article)
Mar 02, 2009 ... By Staff Minneapolis--Art representative agency MHS Licensing, looking to simplify searches artwork, launched a new keyword search feature at its website, www.mhslicensing.com . "We respect the limited time manufacturers and retailers have to review our extensive ...
Iconix Profits Strong, Sees Flat 2009.(Iconix Brand Group)(Financial report)
Mar 02, 2009; ... By James Mammarella New York-- Brand licensing and marketing firm Iconix Brand Group posted a sound if slowing fourth quarter, while full year profits and sales saw robust growth overall, and the company re-affirmed its guidance for 2009. Iconix recorded ...
Consumer Confidence Hits a New Record Low.
Mar 02, 2009 ... By Staff New York-- The Conference Board Consumer Index declined again in February, posting an all-time low for the second month in a row. The Index now stands at 25.0, down from 37.4 in January. The Present Situation Index declined to 21.2 from 29.7 last month. The ...
Consumables, clearance sales driving Feb. comps.(Brief article)
Mar 02, 2009 ... By Staff New York-- "Pricing and promotional activity" maintained their grip on shoppers as retailers last week kept just ahead of their February same-store sales target, the Johnson Redbook reported. The Johnson Redbook Retail Sales Index was down 1.5% in the third ...
230 Fifth Avenue Welcomes New Suppliers, Amenities.
Mar 02, 2009 ... By Staff New York--The 230 Fifth Avenue New York MarketCenter has attracted a number of new manufacturers for the upcoming New York Home Fashions Market, March 9-13. Among the new suppliers at 230 Fifth: Park B. Smith, Ltd.: bedding, bath and home ...
The Home Depot Tumbles to Q4 Loss.(Financial report)
Mar 02, 2009 ... By Staff Full Year Profit Down 43% Atlanta--The Home Depot reported a net loss of $54 million, or 3 cents per diluted share, for the fourth quarter - a precipitous plunge from earnings of $671 million, or 40 cents EPS in the same period last year. During ...
Mohawk Turns Toward Low-Price Market.
Mar 02, 2009 ... By Cecile B. Corral Calhoun, Ga--While the challenging fourth quarter took all of Mohawk Industries' businesses "down" -- including those in U.S. and European markets and in the residential and commercial categories -- a promotional piece of the company's soft flooring side is ...
Home Sales Fell 5.3% in January.
Mar 02, 2009 ... By Staff Washington--Sales of existing homes fell 5.3% in January, according to the National Association of Realtors, which speculated consumers might have been waiting to see the fine print in the stimulus package and how it might impact them. Given so much stimulus ...
Skobe Joins WestPoint Home from Icahn.(Andrew Skobe)(Brief article)
Mar 02, 2009 ... By Staff New York--WestPoint Home announced last week that Andrew Skobe had joined the company as its new cfo, effective immediately. Skobe reports to John Piazza, president and ceo of WestPoint Home. He succeeds interim cfo Nelson Griffith, who is now WestPoint's ...
Unitex Adds to Green Lifestyle Line.(Unitex International)(SuperGreen)(Shower Shammee)(Brief article)
Mar 02, 2009 ... By Staff Duluth, Ga.--Supplier Unitex International has launched two new products in its Green Lifestyle line: the SuperGreen kitchen towel, a microfiber construction that absorbs oil, grease and grime, ...
Seeking Our 'Snuggie'.
Mar 02, 2009; ... By Jennifer Marks, Editor-In-Chief Our market preview visits begin in earnest early this week, and I'm looking forward to seeing what everybody's got cooking out there. I'm expecting open price point and value proposition items to be ubiquitous. We're probably going ...
Let's Talk About It.(Brief article)
Mar 02, 2009; ... By Carole Sloan, Founding Editor-In-Chief Given the dire state of the world economy, and the home textiles world in particular, it would seem that the next few weeks with a major market as the centerpiece could be a kickoff for new ideas. This space has long ...
Retail Briefs.
Mar 08, 2009 ... Staff Creditors Gain Little in LNT GOB Staff Linens Holding Company, the entity that owned now-defunct Linens 'n Things, took in $172 million in sales receipts and tenant allowances from Nov. 23, 2008 to Jan. 3, according to a March 2 SEC filing. ...
Orian Rugs Exporting Effort.
Mar 08, 2009 ... By Cecile B. Corral Anderson, S.C.- The effort is paying off as Orian Rugs has begun branching out its retail reach beyond U.S. borders, tapping into new distribution channels in Canada, Mexico, South America and Europe. The domestic manufacturer of area and accent ...
Avanti Linens Acquires Tweel.
Mar 08, 2009 ... By Cecile B. Corral Moonachie, N.J.- Longtime family owned and operated embellished towel company Avanti Linens has acquired certain assets of table linens, kitchen textiles and decorative bath coordinates supplier Tweel Home Furnishings. Don Tweel, formerly ...
Buyers Lounge Opens at 295 Fifth.(Brief article)
Mar 08, 2009 ... Staff New York- Showroom building 295 Fifth Avenue will open a buyers lounge with complimentary coat and bag check as well as free coffee, rolls and danish during this week's New York Home Fashions Market. The lounge, with a range of tables, will be located in the ...
For the Record.
Mar 08, 2009 ... Staff Due to an error by a press source, our article (March 2, page 18) on the newly expanded sales rep ...
The Kahns and Croscill: 62 Years of Quality and Integrity.
Mar 08, 2009 ... By Carole Sloan New York- After 62 years, the Kahn family has bid farewell to the world of home textiles. But not before leaving an array of accomplishments in terms of "firsts," personal and business relationships, creativity in identifying both new product and marketing ...
SaraMax Optimizes Product Range.
Mar 08, 2009 ... By Jennifer Marks New York- SaraMax will introduce three new licenses in beach towels, as well as a variety of new products in beach and kitchen textiles, at this week's New York Home Fashions Market. New beach licenses include Animal Planet, Pepsi, and Mountain Dew, ...
Market Intros.
Mar 08, 2009 ... Staff Bedding AMERICAN TEXTILE COMPANY Duquesne, Pa. (412) 948-1074 Introductions this market include the Sea Essentials pillow case and the Tourmaline Weave pillow cover, both by Rest Right. Sea Essentials offers the benefits of ...
ABC's Paulette Cole, HFPA Retailer of the Year.
Mar 08, 2009 ... By Carole Sloan New York- The Home Fashion Products Association has selected Paulette Cole as its Retailer of the Year. The scion of a four-generation home furnishings retailing family, Paulette Cole is co-founder, creative director and ceo of ABC Home, a separate ...
Commonwealth Expands Thermalogic Curtain Line.
Mar 08, 2009 ... Staff Montreal- Window treatment supplier Commonwealth Home Fashions heads to the New York Home Fashions Market with an expanded line of its trademarked, energy-efficient Thermalogic curtains - including its first set designed for kids' rooms. Barry Goodman, vp ...
Softline Expands into Canada.
Mar 08, 2009 ... Staff Gardena, Calif.- Building upon the fabric business they started here, and now marking five years in the window curtain and drapery business, brothers Jason and Rodney Carr are opening a new front for their company Softline Home Fashions: in Montreal, Canada, their former ...
Catalog Unit a Drag on HSN in 4Q.
Mar 08, 2009 ... Staff St. Petersburg, Fla.- HSN Inc. last week reported a fourth-quarter loss of $2.15 billion compared to a profit of $73.1 million in the year-earlier period, largely due to $2.2 billion in after-tax asset impairment charges including the writedown of goodwill associated with ...
IKEA Revamping Iconic N.J. Store.
Mar 08, 2009 ... Staff Elizabeth, N.J.- IKEA has begun a 15-month remodeling project to revamp and update its almost two-decade-old 352,00-square-foot store here - the company's first large-scale project in the United States. Completion of the project is slated for April 2010. But ...
Kathy Ireland Extends Partnerships.
Mar 08, 2009 ... Staff Los Angeles- Kathy Ireland Worldwide has extended its partnership with three top home products manufacturers: Shaw Industries, Martin Furniture and Pacific Coast Lighting. The company also has made several executive changes. Kathy Ireland, chair, ceo ...
Wearbest in Fresca Tela Launch.(Wearbest/Sil-tex Mills Ltd.)(Brief article)
Mar 08, 2009 ... Staff Garfield, N.J.- Wearbest Sil-Tex Mills is launching its latest jacquard decorative fabric development under the brand Fresca Tela; it is designed to fill a need in the healthcare market. The new high performance fabric answers the demands of baby boomers and ...
Huntsman to Shift HQ.
Mar 08, 2009 ... Staff Basel, Switzerland- Textile dye and chemical treatment producer Huntsman Textile Effects plans to establish new headquarters in Singapore. A unit of Huntsman Corporation, HTE called the move "a major milestone" that will aid its "focus on serving selected global market ...
HSN Taps Bradley for Ecommerce.
Mar 08, 2009 ... Staff St. Petersburg, Fla.- Television and online retailer HSN, or Home Shopping Network, has named Brian Bradley evp of its HSN.com business and advanced services, reporting to Mindy Grossman, ceo. Since HSN re-launched its ecommerce site in 2007, HSN.com has posted ...
Britney Spears New Face of Kohl's Candie's.
Mar 08, 2009 ... Staff New York- Juniors fashion brand Candie's, carried exclusively by Kohl's under license from Iconix Brand Group, is in a strategic endorsement with pop star Britney Spears, who will appear in the Candie's Only at Kohl's 2009 print, tv, in-store and online advertising ...
Karastan's Rug Stars at Oscars.
Mar 08, 2009 ... Staff Dalton, Ga.- Karastan played a starring role in the backstage decor of the recent 81st Annual Academy Awards, held Feb. 22. The company's Mama Mia shag rug and carpet - named after the 2008 remake of the original Broadway play based on the 1970s ABBA hit by the ...
Pacific Coast Buys N.C. Plant.
Mar 08, 2009 ... Staff Seattle- Down and down alternative bedding producer Pacific Coast Feather Company has recently completed the purchase of a production and distribution facility in Henderson, N.C. The acquisition of the 500,000 square foot manufacturing and distribution facility ...
Home 'Important' but Lagging at Big Lots.
Mar 08, 2009 ... By Cecile B. Corral Columbus, Ohio- Much like its discount chain competitors, Big Lots Inc. is turning to food and other consumables to lift its performance this new fiscal year as the retailer gears up for an expected challenging first quarter. Yearend and fourth ...
Discounters Beat Modest Feb. Comp Goals.
Mar 08, 2009 ... Staff New York- Discounters slackened in the fourth week of February but still beat their full month target of 2.2% with a 2.8% comp gain, enough to offset the woeful performance of department stores, the Johnson Redbook reported. The upstairs chains posted a ...
Unifi Inc.to Buy Some of its Senior Debt.
Mar 08, 2009 ... Staff Greensboro, N.C.- Textured polyester and nylon fiber producer Unifi Inc. has begun a cash tender offer for up to $8.78 million in aggregate principal amount of its 11.5% senior secured notes due 2014. Unifi said it is acting ...
'Open to Listen'.(New York Home Fashions Market)
Mar 08, 2009; ... Jennifer Marks, Editor-in-Chief Given the current state of affairs, most retailers coming in for this week's New York Home Fashions Market have severely restricted open to buy. Much of what's on the floor now is fairly safe, familiar and predictable. With consumers ...
Higher Price Points Live On.
Mar 08, 2009 ... Carole Sloan, Founding Editor-in-Chief As we move into the opening day of this market week, there are folks who hold to the theory that all home textiles retailing is pointed down, down, down - in terms of sales, of course, but also price points. Not necessarily true, ...
CHF Eyes New Markets.(CHF Industries Inc.)
Mar 08, 2009; ... By Jennifer Marks Flexes Line Extensions New York- CHF Industries is changing up its market week strategy. The window division will mount a traditional presentation of new products - with some twists. CHF will show eight new Umbra beds and will expand its ...
WestPoint Home Revenue Dives to $425M in 2008.
Mar 08, 2009 ... By James Mammarella New York- WestPoint Home, once a $2 billion home textiles manufacturing goliath, saw its sales shrink by 37.8% to $425 million for the year ended Dec. 31, 2008, down from $683 million in 2007. Fourth-quarter sales slid 29.6% to $107 million, down ...
Bardwil Leads the Way with Vera.
Mar 08, 2009 ... By Cecile B. Corral New York- The vintage, 1950s and '60s designs of Vera Neumann are returning to their home textiles roots with a new collection of table linens and kitchen textiles, this time by Bardwil Linens. The Bardwil collection to be unveiled during market is ...
Revman Adds Color, Expands Bath.
Mar 08, 2009 ... By Jennifer Marks New York- Color is king at Revman International this week as the company unveils the Steve Madden bedding collection, extends plenty by Tracy Reese into bath, and updates its other licensed brand collections. "Color this market is one of the biggest ...
Nautica Home Taps Menswear Looks.(Nautica Apparel Inc.)(Brief article)
Mar 23, 2009 ... Staff New York- For its fall 2009 collection, Nautica Home has turned to menswear for inspiration, with the brand's signature stripes and bolds interpreted in graphic prints across a range of fabrics. The lake lifestyle is the unifying them across most of the nine new ...
Donna Karan Makes Color Count.
Mar 23, 2009 ... By Carole Sloan New York- Donna Karan Home changed the point of view of the Collection bedding to reflect more staying power for the master bedroom with Modern Classics. The top of the line for Donna Karan Home, Modern Classics focuses on four color statements - each ...