HFN The Weekly Newspaper for the Home Furnishing Network articles from April 2008

HFN The Weekly Newspaper for the Home Furnishing Network archives from April 2008

Williams-Sonoma braces itself for tough year ahead.(home page)
April 7, 2008... SAN FRANCISCO -- Williams-Sonoma executives predicted that 2008 earnings will come in below analysts' estimates due to a "bleak" retail environment. Meanwhile, the retailer posted a fourth-quarter net gain. "This feels to me a lot like...

Bon appetit picks.
April 7, 2008... If you are heading to Chicago, New York or High Point for K/BIS, the Tabletop or Furniture Shows, the Bon Appetit editors want you to know about these great restaurants. Chicago Takashi Sepia Raleigh, N.C. The Pit ...

Williamsburg looks to dress the whole home: the venerable brand is launching an extensive campaign for its expanded licensing program.(in focus)
April 7, 2008... WILLIAMSBURG, Va. -- Williamsburg is spreading its home licensing wings. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This year marks the biggest launch of licensed product to date for the brand inspired by the lifestyle, goods and architecture of...

Housewares Foundation raises $1.7m for charity.(news)
April 7, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CHICAGO -- The International Home & Housewares Show was the site of the Housewares Charity Foundation's benefit gala, which honored three of their own--and raised more than $1.7 million. The Housewares Charity...

Eco-friendly items, edgy designs to star at K/BIS.(news)
April 7, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CHICAGO -- Green is the theme at this year's Kitchen/ Bath Industry Show here, with workshops, round-table discussions and promotions by exhibitors stressing the importance of sustainability in the industry. ...

Architectural endeavors.(trends)
April 7, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Architectural Digest held its annual Home Design Show at Pier 94 in Manhattan, welcoming design trade professionals along with the public. The four-day event included the latest products from an array of designers...

Eddie and the Cruisers.(HOME ALONE 2)
April 7, 2008... The original Eddie and the Cruisers were a fictionalized movie version of a rock and roll band from Jersey that was a cross between Elvis and Bruce Springsteen. They went out in a blaze of glory when Eddie crashed and burned, seemingly driving...

Taking it to a higher level: international flavor, as well as numerous seminars and events, shape High Point Market.(furniture & lighting)(Calendar)
April 7, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HIGH POINT, N.C. -- The High Point Market opens this week with a new, stronger international component and a more developed lineup of business, educational and entertainment events for attendees. The spring...

Vendors hope buyers take a shine to products.(furniture & lighting)
April 7, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HIGH POINT, N.C. -- A challenging economic climate won't keep buyers away from High Point Market, where lighting and decorative accessories firms are ready with new goods and programs aimed at stimulating retail...

RTA business braces for change, price increases.(furniture & lighting)
April 7, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HIGH POINT, N.C. -- The ready-to-assemble furniture industry is in the midst of major restructuring, as players position themselves for survival in the toughest economy in recent memory. At this week's High Point...

Mattress vendors approach market with cloudy outlook for '08.(furniture & lighting)
April 7, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HIGH POINT, N.C. -- This week's High Point Market is taking place as the mattress industry reels from the bad news of recent months. In March, the International Sleep Products Association announced that the...

Nature takes its course in accessories at high point.(furniture & lighting)
April 7, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HIGH POINT, N.C. -- Sticks and stones may break one's bones, but they also make for good decorative accessories, as nature remains one of the major themes at this High Point Market. Whether using actual elements...

Call it the 'table-shop' show: buyers hitting the New York event are hunting for new materials, as well as eco-friendly products, to help spur sales.(tabletop)
April 7, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK-Retailers headed to the tabletop show here are looking for new textures, "green" fare and merchandise with that je nais se quoi to help lift a business that has been sluggish for some, merchants told HFN....

Zrike Company pays tribute to its founding father.(tabletop)
April 7, 2008... NEW YORK -- In celebrating its 25th anniversary, The Zrike Company is in fact celebrating the 60 years company founder Raymond Zrike Sr. has been in the tabletop business. It is Zrike, who, armed with about 40 years of experience as an...

Mikasa's Murtagh: consumers key to another 50 years.(tabletop)
April 7, 2008... NEW YORK -- Mikasa is marking its 50th anniversary this year and the company is in the midst of a year-long celebration. HFN talked with J.P. Murtagh, the vice president of marketing-product development and sourcing, about the first half...

Natural motifs, craftsmanship take center stage at the show.(tabletop)
April 7, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- Introductions at this year's New York spring tabletop show include several colorful, artful holiday dinnerware patterns; additions and extensions to new designer collections; and an array of barware...

Permanent showrooms line up range of special events, amenities.(tabletop)
April 7, 2008... NEW YORK -- New York's permanent showroom buildings are ensuring that tabletop show attendees enjoy every comfort next month. Working the market will be more palatable with additional limousine service, plenty of good things to eat, and...

It's in the bag.(textiles)
April 7, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- A look inside locations of three major mid-market department-store chains--J.C. Penney, Kohl's and Sears--shows that all three are making an effort to emphasize their offerings in bagged bed ensembles....

Second Atlanta market features opulent looks, artisan handiwork.(textiles)
April 7, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ATLANTA -- Opulent top-of-bed collections, artisan techniques and sophisticated children's bedding were common themes among the exhibitors at the second edition of the Atlanta International Fine Linen & Home Textiles...

Pointing out the positives.(floor covering)
April 7, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HIGH POINT, N.C. -- As they eye another of the year's major markets, suppliers are hoping just to keep par with last year, but many have said they've been encouraged in recent months by a relatively positive attitude...

State of economy expected to be a hot market topic.(floor covering)
April 7, 2008... HIGH POINT, N.C. -- The universal topic of the economy is naturally expected to be at the forefront of business conversations this week. While pressure from sources such as oil prices and the housing market are beginning to sound redundant,...

Soft like sand.(floor covering)
April 7, 2008... HIGH POINT, N.C. -- In keeping with consumers' gravitation toward more muted, safer colors in questionable economic times, soft sandy hues are making a big play at this market. The neutrality of the shade also provides adaptability to a variety...

Roar of the jungle.(floor covering)
April 7, 2008... HIGH POINT, N.C. -- Your basic animal prints have gone the way of the dodo, replaced by a variety of takes on the trend that seem to have no end and manage to address the casual, the cosmopolitan and everyone else in between. Designers are...

Take it outside.(floor covering)
April 7, 2008... HIGH POINT, N,C. -- The indoor/outdoor rug business has morphed from trend to established category and shows no signs of slowing down. Even newcomers to the category are rapidly expanding their offerings to keep up with demand, and many have...

Jarden Consumer Solutions stirs up a new strategy to boost business.(housewares)
April 7, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CHICAGO -- Jarden Consumer Solutions' new business development unit has proven that the company can create new offerings for retailers without being an acquirer. This is a particularly important element of this...

BonJour says hello to cookware.(housewares)
April 7, 2008... NEW YORK -- Meyer Corp.'s BonJour brand, which has been known for its coffee and tea products since 1995, launched into the cookware category at the International Home & Housewares Show with a French-styled, high-end line for specialty stores....

Range of new products hit Chicago.(housewares)
April 7, 2008... NEW YORK -- With the International Home & Housewares Show now over, and so many products being introduced there, here is a selection of what a few companies debuted at the show, across all housewares categories. Green was a keen theme, as was...

No signs of recessions in Chicago.(opinions)
April 7, 2008... Are we in a recession? The media, government and just about anyone you ask on Wall Street or Main Street say the American economy is in the midst of a serious economic slowdown. But a walk around the annual International Housewares Show in...

1 Snapware.(housewares)
April 7, 2008... 1 Snapware This new tempered glass, airtight food storage line, called GlassLock, is manufactured to withstand repetitive use in the refrigerator, freezer and microwave. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] snapware.com

2 All-Clad.(housewares)
April 7, 2008... 2 All-Clad Ideal for Indian and Pakistani cooking, the stainless-steel Karahi from All-Clad can also be used for shallow or deep frying of meats and potatoes. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] all-clad.com

3 Bosch.(housewares)
April 7, 2008... 3 Bosch Bosch's new Tassimo Silver hot-beverage system makes more than 40 varieties of hot beverages through its patented T Disc technology. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] boschappliances.com

4 SiliconeZone.(housewares)
April 7, 2008... 4 SiliconeZone SiliconeZone's new Spoon Rest doubles as a jar gripper, and is available in red, black, bright blue and orange. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] siliconezoneusa.com

5 Panasonic.(housewares)
April 7, 2008... 5 Panasonic Panasonic's new AeroBlast bagless vacuum cleaner is equipped with a 12-ampere motor, an antistatic dirt cup and an automatic filter cleaning system. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] panasonic.com

Chicago, a housewares kind of town.(HFend)
April 7, 2008... The upbeat mood at the recent International Home & Housewares Show extended to its parties as well. TTU, the former Tabletops Unlimited, celebrated 25 years in business with a party at its booth. Attendees at the J.A. Henckels party interacted...

No pay, no go for Linens 'n Things.(home page)
April 21, 2008... NEW YORK -- The downfall of Linens 'n Things began in early March when the company stopped paying its bills, sources said. Numerous home vendors said they have stopped shipping goods to Linens 'n Things. At the same time, some factors have...

Leading the way at Bloomingdale's: CEO Gould takes the high-end road.(like no other store)
April 21, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- In 2002, Bloomingdale's had lost some of its tony sheen. The retailer known for glitz and glamour had gotten too promotional. Its assortments had slipped down market. "We decided that we were not...

Laneve puts the accent on fashion in home.(in focus)
April 21, 2008... NEW YORK -- Bloomingdale's is undergoing a psychic shift to think more like a fashion house. The heightened push to deliver rarefied fare at a faster clip could result in an exclusive home partnership next year--a first for the department...

Bold statements: HFN's Color Report shows the hottest hues consumers are choosing for the home, as well as bright ideas for the future.(trends/color report)(Home Furnishings News)
April 21, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] LE CREUSET'S CAST IRON Cherry continued to place at the top of Le Creuset's bestselling colors in cast iron, as it has for years. People simply love red, especially in their kitchens. The company also saw blues,...

Shades of things to come.(trends/color report)
April 21, 2008... NEW YORK -- Consumers in the past embraced the boring b's: beige, brown and blue. Fast track a few decades later, however, and colors are everything but boring as they insist on exciting choices. From the smallest gadgets to large-ticket...

Between China and a hard place.(HOME ALONE 2)
April 21, 2008... Who would have ever thought it would come down to this? And come down to this so quickly?. It seems that all anybody in the home business can talk about these days is China. Not lamenting about how bad it is that everything's getting made...

Designs on luxury: designer brands, presented in shop concepts, mark Bloomingdale's bedding department.(like no other store)
April 21, 2008... NEW YORK -- Bloomingdale's bedding department offers a variety of brands and collections that appeal to those who enjoy--and aspire to---a luxury lifestyle. The major bedding designer brands including Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein and Donna...

Welspun India gets on the brand wagon in efforts to reach $1 billion in yearly global sales.(textiles)(Financial report)
April 21, 2008... MUMBAI, India--Welspun India, the parent company for Welspun USA and United Kingdom-based Christy, is on a fast track to achieve its target of $1 billion in global home-textiles sales by 2011 or 2012. "Brands are the way to go for this,"...

A sophisticated floor: Bloomingdale's rug department offer something special for the knowledgeable consumer.(like no other store)
April 21, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK--Bloomingdale's conjures an image of fashion and sophistication, and that image is crystal clear in the retailer's rug departments. Rich with handcrafted, one-of-a-kind creations and peppered with...

Design innovation takes center stage at India Carpet Expo.(floor covering)
April 21, 2008... NEW DELHI, India--The 12th edition of the India Carpet Expo 2008, organized by the Carpet Export Promotion Council of India here, evoked good response from exhibitors last month. Over 300 international buyers from the United States, Europe,...

Among contemporaries: Bloomingdale's is updating its mix and adding more modern fare to cater to its clientele.(like no other store)
April 21, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- Bloomingdale's is polishing its furniture. The upmarket fashion retailer is moving even more into the contemporary realm in furniture and home decor to keep pace with its clientele. This is being...

Better-quality products lift the somber tone at high point.(furniture & lighting)
April 21, 2008... HIGH POINT, N.C.--The tone of the High Point Market this month was one of resignation about challenging business conditions. Retailers came to market looking for answers on just how to proceed in this shaky economy. While furniture,...

Domus Ventures introduces its casual furniture to the U.S.(furniture & lighting)
April 21, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HIGH POINT, N.C. -- Domus Ventures, known for both its casual and indoor furniture distributed throughout Europe, as well as in Australia, the Middle East, North Africa and Asia, introduced its casual line to the...

Walt Disney Signature collection updated.(furniture & lighting)
April 21, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: The Wait Disney Signature collection, Disney's first upscale, non-character, adult lifestyle brand, made Its West Week debut at a private Hollywood Hills residence late last month. Pieces from the furniture,...

Only time will tell: the notion of the 'Asian century' gains steam with China leading the way.(THE 2008 GLOBAL HOME TEXTILES REPORT)
April 21, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When economists, government officials and academics refer to the current age as the evolving "Asian century," expected to replace the American century within a generation or two (just as the United States replaced...

Slowdown in U.S. imports: blip or trend? A decline that started several years ago shows some continuance.(THE 2008 GLOBAL HOME TEXTILES REPORT)
April 21, 2008... It may be a statistical blip, an early irrelevance or the start of something big, but January's data (the latest available) on the United States' imports of non-apparel textiles show a slight decline in the rate of both dollars and units,...

Pacific Art Group expands reach by channel surfing.(furniture & lighting)(Company overview)
April 21, 2008... EMERYVILLE, Calif. -- Pacific Art Group, in its second year in business, has built a presence in the market as a supplier of exclusive artwork for many channels of distribution. Having begun with programs at Neiman Marcus Direct and...

Meyda turns up the lights with giant LED chandelier.(furniture & lighting)
April 21, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] UTICA, N.Y. -- Big and green, that's what a local theater asked for when it commissioned Meyda Tiffany to make a new chandelier for its domed grand foyer. Both requests were honored....

Companies ease into new directions at tabletop show.(tabletop)
April 21, 2008... NEW YORK -- Transitional collections that grant entry into new channels of distribution and new groups of consumers were a key part of the New York spring tabletop show earlier this month. Some companies created new sub-brands to address...

For some, it's the perfect setting: the companies working with Bloomingdale's applaud the retailer's product assortment and merchandising.(like no other store)
April 21, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- Bloomingdale's is a bright spot in an otherwise tepid tabletop landscape. The upscale department store offers a stylish and smartly merchandised venue for the upscale tabletop assortments that have...

New Waterford Wedgwood chief Sculley to further brand expansion.(tabletop)
April 21, 2008... NEW YORK -- David Sculley, the new interim chief executive officer of Waterford Wedgwood PLC, takes the reins of a company poised to expand its numerous brands in new directions. Sculley, who succeeds the departing Peter Cameron, introduced...

Jay Import charges ahead through Teaseaco acquisition.(tabletop)
April 21, 2008... NEW YORK -- Jay Imports' acquisition of Teaseaco earlier this year has given it a leadership position in chargers, a spot it laid claim to during the recent tabletop show here. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The company showcased every...

The ideal launching pad: housewares vendors laud Bloomingdale's 'lifestyle' merchandising approach.(like no other store)
April 21, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- With high standards of customer service and vendor support, Bloomingdale's is considered by many manufacturers as the perfect partner with which to launch products. "Bloomingdale's stands apart from...

Applica looks ahead with its Black & Decker, Salton brands.(housewares)
April 21, 2008... MIRAMAR, Fla. -- One company, under Harbinger--that's how Applica has begun to present itself to the marketplace. The 18-month saga that took Applica from a proposed acquisition by NACCO Industries (the parent company of Hamilton Beach) to...

Correction.(housewares)(Correction notice)
April 21, 2008... The SandFIow coating for Meyer's new EarthPan collection does not contain ceramic particles, unlike what was mentioned in the March 24 issue's article "Non-Sticking to the Point." Instead, it is an exclusive coating made of sand, and is...

Wade Ceramics, chef bringing a taste of India to the kitchen.(housewares)
April 21, 2008... STOKE-ON-TRENT, England -- Chef, cookbook and Indian food authority Suvir Saran has collaborated with Wade Ceramics of England to create the American Masala Collection by Wade Ceramics, a new line of stylish and functional ceramic kitchenware,...

Cooking up a storm: both cookware and bakeware rise to the occasion with sales growth.(KITCHENWARE REPORT)
April 21, 2008... COOKING AND BAKING ARE ON CONSUMERS' MINDS, AS BOTH cookware and bakeware saw increases at retail for 2007. Bakeware had an especially stellar year, outshining all of the kitchenware categories with a 6.6 percent increase. Cookware stepped...

Some pretty sharp styles: even though sales may have shown a slight decrease, cutlery distinguishes itself through design.(KITCHENWARE REPORT)
April 21, 2008... CUTLERY SALES MAY HAVE SLOWED slightly in 2007, according to HFN estimates, but enthusiasm for the category remains undiminished. Vendors are building on consumer interest for Japanese styling and materials with more Asian-influenced...

Tools of the trade take off: gadgets grow as consumers do more entertaining at home.(KITCHENWARE REPORT)
April 21, 2008... GADGETS AND KITCHEN TOOLS ARE some of the beneficiaries of consumers' gaining interest in entertaining and cooking, seen by the category's strong 6 percent growth for 2007. Even if sales of other products will be challenging for this year,...

1 Brabantia.(KITCHENWARE REPORT: hfnew)
April 21, 2008... 1 Brabantia New finishes and an extra.wide handle update Brabantia's Roll Top Bread Bin line. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] brabantia.com

2 Presorvac.(KITCHENWARE REPORT: hfnew)
April 21, 2008... 2 Presorvac With the Presorvac Marinater and its vacuum pump motor, marinating takes only minutes with one touch of the button. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] presorvac.com

3 Rubbermaid.(KITCHENWARE REPORT: hfnew)
April 21, 2008... 3 Rubbermaid The lids for Rubbermaid's Easy-Find Lids Food Storage Containers snap to the bases for better organization. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] rubbermaid.com

4 Kuhn Rikon.(KITCHENWARE REPORT: hfnew)
April 21, 2008... 4 Kuhn Rikon Kuhn Rikon's new silicone tools, including this stirring spoon, are shaped to get into the curves and corners of pans. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] kuhnrikon.com

5 Umbra.(KITCHENWARE REPORT: hfnew)
April 21, 2008... 5 Umbra Umbra's Banana Spilt folds flat for compact storage when not in use. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] umbra.com

Hot beverages are a hot market: the industry manufacturing products to brew coffee and tea is moving full steam ahead.(COFFEE AND TEA REPORT)
April 21, 2008... RECESSION? NOT IN THE COFFEE AND tea marketplace. A look at the numbers from various researchers, plus comments from industry executives, demonstrate clearly that the market for coffee, tea and the products that brew them is wide awake....

Pouring it on: a recent study shows Americans are upping their gourmet coffee consumption.(COFFEE AND TEA REPORT)
April 21, 2008... THE PERCENTAGE OF AMERICANS who drink gourmet coffee rose from 14 percent to a new high of 17 percent from 2007 to 2008, according to a recent study from the National Coffee Association. Preliminary data from the NCA report, titled "2008...

1 Bodum.(COFFEE AND TEA REPORT/NEW PRODUCTS)
April 21, 2008... 1 Bodum Embodying the design elements of Bodum's Chambord coffee press, the Chambord stovetop espresso maker features stainless steel and a handle made of Bakelite. bodumusa.com [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

2 Copco.(COFFEE AND TEA REPORT/NEW PRODUCTS)
April 21, 2008... 2 Copco The Buzz teakettle is one of three new styles added to Copco's teakettle line, and is available in enamel on steel and stainless-steel finishes. copco.com [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

3 Trudeau.(COFFEE AND TEA REPORT/NEW PRODUCTS)
April 21, 2008... 3 Trudeau Trudeau's silicone tea infuser and cup lid sets include a flexible string handle on the infuser while the lid doubles as a saucer to drain the infuser. trudeaucorp.com [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Celebs live the high life.(HFend)
April 21, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The April High Point Market had lots of star power this time around. Glamorous appearances were made by Barbara Smith, Martha Stewart, Jane Seymour and Jaclyn...

Setting a good example.(HFend)
April 21, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Sister chains Macy's and Bloomingdale's spotlighted elaborate table settings recently. Bloomingdale's showcased the tabletop presentations of six designers inspired by Bloomingdale's...