HFN The Weekly Newspaper for the Home Furnishing Network articles from August 2004

HFN The Weekly Newspaper for the Home Furnishing Network archives from August 2004

MOVING DAZE; WHILE THE ROAD AHEAD FOR 225 FIFTH AVE. TENANTS MAY BE UNCLEAR, THEY KEEP ON TRUCKIN' BY PLANNING FOR THE UPCOMING NEW YORK GIFT SHOW AND LOOKING FOR A NEW HOME.(Richard Cohen Inc)
August 2, 2004... Byline: Allison Zisko NEW YORK-Tenants of 225 Fifth Ave., so used to answering the question "What's next?" from retailers and reporters, are now asking themselves the very same question. On the eve of the New York gift show, with its...

LIFETIME HOAN EXCEL DEAL MEANS BIGGER PLACE AT TABLE.(Excel Importing Corp.)
August 2, 2004... Byline: Thyra Porter WESTBURY, N.Y.-Lifetime Hoan Corp.'s decision to buy Excel Importing Corp. gives the company a significant presence in the tabletop and cookware categories for the first time. Through the acquisition, Lifetime will...

NEWS BRIEFS: KMART HOME VP ATTEBERRY RESIGNS... HFPA PLANNING NEW ANNUAL EVENT... MARTINEZ OUT IN MSO BOARD CHANGES...(Robert Atteberry)(Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia )
August 2, 2004... Kmart Home VP Atteberry Resigns Robert Atteberry has resigned as vice president and general merchandise manager of home for Kmart, confirmed a company official. No successor has been named yet. In May 2003, Atteberry rose two...

J.C. PENNEY TOUTS SPA, ENTERTAINING FOR THE HOLIDAYS.(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... Byline: Barbara Thau NEW YORK-J.C. Penney will be playing up the dual themes of home spa and home entertaining for the holiday season. The retailer is revisiting its "unwrap the magic" campaign, but has sharpened its focus on being a...

TARGET SELLS MERVYN'S FOR $1.65 BILLION.(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... NEW YORK-Target Corp. is selling its Mervyn's business to a group of investors for a total of $1.65 billion in cash. The price tag is about 10 times Mervyn's pretax profits of $160 million. The deal is expected to close in the third...

SURE FIT, CECIL SAYDAH FEEL CUTS OF THE CLOTH.
August 2, 2004... Byline: Leticia Leizens NEW YORK-The fate of two more troubled small to midsize textiles firms, Sure Fit Inc.and Cecil Saydah International, may be known as early as this week. Slipcover company Sure Fit, with annual sales of $150...

CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY.
August 2, 2004... Byline: Michael D. Devine It was Christmas in July. Retailers were showing their holiday wares all over town. What are some of the cool must-have items for this holiday season? They range from the very fun and practical to the frivolous...

TRADE SHOW CALENDAR.(Calendar)
August 2, 2004... august 6-9 Toronto International Gift Fair Metro Toronto Convention Center, South Building Toronto (888) 823-7469 torontointernationalgiftfair.com 7-10 Orlando Gift Show Orange County Convention Center ...

LAST-DITCH STITCHES.(Column)
August 2, 2004... Byline: Warren Shoulberg A stitch in time saves nine is, I think, the way that old sewing adage goes. It's one that perhaps the American textiles industry should have paid a little more attention to. As the industry clock...

SUMMERTIME AND THE LIVIN' IS ...
August 2, 2004... Byline: J'Amy Owens I don't feel like writing about retail, or consumers, or pretty much anything today. In fact, I am not in the mood to really work at all. Thus, my warm malaise has created a dangerous editorial deadline. It's...

KITAN OFFICIALS REMAIN MUM ON POSSIBLE SALE OF COMPANY.(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... Byline: Leticia Leizens NEW YORK-Is Kitan Textile Industries Ltd., owner and manufacturer of the Royal Sateen brand and licensee of Esprit, for sale? "We would not like to comment on anything," said Josef Pugatsch, vice president of...

CURTAIN CALLS; WHEN MARKETING TO TEENS AND TWEENS, RETAILERS TAKE THE RETRO ROUTE WITH BEADED OFFERINGS.
August 2, 2004... Byline: Leticia Leizens NEW YORK-Retailers and suppliers in the past six to 12 months have been freshening up their window treatment offerings with non-traditional styles, such as bamboo beads or strings, to cater to trendy tweens and...

ESPRIT RETURNS TO THE U.S. IN BED BATH & BEYOND.
August 2, 2004... Byline: Leticia Leizens NEW YORK-Esprit, the European brand known for its youthful and contemporary lifestyles, is back in the United States with a new line of bedding launched at Bed Bath & Beyond in June and a strategy to expand its...

ROUND DISCUSSION; KARASTAN'S NEW POINT-OF-PURCHASE SIDE CARDS AIM TO BOOST SALES OF THE SEGMENT.(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... Byline: Jennifer Quail ATLANTA-In response to retail reports of a consumer demand for rounds, Karastan has introduced point-of-purchase side cards to call attention to the designs available in that format. "Our retailers tell us the...

NO LAUGHING MATTER: FUN RUGS MAKING ATLANTA SHOWROOM RETURN.(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... Byline: Jennifer Quail ATLANTA-Fun Rugs will return to permanent showroom space in AmericasMart Atlanta in time for the January International Area Rug Market. The company last occupied permanent space within the Mart in January 2000. ...

THE AREA RUG REPORT.(Rug and carpet )(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... Total sales for the area rug market were flat for 2003. Ninety-six percent of handmade rugs were imported while 78 percent of machine-made rugs were produced domestically. The median square footage of new single-family houses was 2,137 square...

PICKING ITSELF UP FROM OFF THE FLOOR? ALTHOUGH SALES WERE FLAT IN 2003, RETAILERS ARE OPTIMISTIC FOR THE MONTHS AHEAD, THANKS TO THIS YEAR'S POSITIVE START.(Industry Overview)
August 2, 2004... Byline: Jennifer Quail Fresh from the summer edition of the Atlanta International Area Rug Market, suppliers are looking up and ahead at bluer skies than they've witnessed in some time. While business for last year may have been flat,...

SHADING YOUR OPINIONS; COTTON INCORPORATED PREDICTS THE HOT COLORS FOR 2006.(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... Byline: Jennifer Quail Cotton Incorporated recently revealed its predictions for the six major color schemes that will dominate the home market for 2006. Among the shades that will rule, and decorate, the roost, are colors that have...

ROOM TO GROW; VENDORS ARE GRABBING A PIECE OF CONSUMERS' LARGER HOMES.(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... Byline: Jennifer Quail According to "Housing 2004: Facts, Figures & Trends," a report from the National Association of Home Builders based on information compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau, housing is a key element in the nation's economy,...

FLEXIBLE SPENDING; ADJUSTABLE BEDS ARE ACCOUNTING FOR LIVELIER BEDROOMS AND SALES FLOORS.(Ergo Customized Comfort)
August 2, 2004... Byline: Karl Kunkel HIGH POINT, N.C.-Adjustable beds have become the latest way to liven up the bedroom -- and retailer cash registers. No longer targeted solely to the geriatric demographic, adjustable beds with their new technology,...

BROYHILL CAPTURES ESSENCE OF SURROUNDINGS IN NEW STORE CONCEPT.(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... Byline: Karl Kunkel BLOWING ROCK, N.C.-It's all about branding. In a move to present its furniture and image to consumers at its fullest, Broyhill Furniture Industries unveiled a new specialty retailing concept here. The ribbon-cutting for...

COOPER LIGHTING'S EDUCATION TACTICS COME STRAIGHT FROM THE SOURCE.
August 2, 2004... Byline: Faye Musselman PEACHTREE CITY, Ga.-"They call this `the Disneyland of lighting,' " said Michael Stevens, manager and senior market specialist of The Source -- The Cooper Lighting Center, a 35,000-square-foot state-of-the-art...

NEWS BRIEFS.(appointments)
August 2, 2004... DANIELE TRANCHINI has been appointed to the newly created post of chief sales and marketing officer for Natuzzi. Tranchini was previously chairman and chief executive officer of J. Walter Thompson Italy and founder of the Planet Life Economy...

SPREADING THE WEALTH; TWO TABLETOP DESIGNERS HAVE TAKEN METALS BEYOND THE EDGE.
August 2, 2004... Byline: Carla Webb NEW YORK-Once used as simple banding around the perimeter of formal dinnerware, stemware and barware, metals are now being employed in a much bolder and free-form way on collections from two different tabletop designers....

ONEIDA APPOINTS SLOCUM TO NEW REGIONAL SALES POSITION.(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... ONEIDA, N.Y.-Oneida Ltd. has named Michael Slocum regional manager for the consumer products division, an expanded position created by joining previous regional responsibilities within the company's overall structure. In his new position,...

GLASSWARE IMPORTS SHOW FRAGILE SIDE WITH 5 PERCENT DROP.(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... Byline: Allison Zisko NEW YORK-U.S. imports of glassware fell nearly 5 percent last year, after a year of modest growth in 2002, according to statistics provided by the U.S. government. China continues to account for the lion's share...

LIBBEY'S EARNINGS RISE IN Q2.(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... TOLEDO, Ohio-Libbey Inc. announced that its diluted earnings per share for the second quarter ended June 30 were 68 cents on sales of $135.8 million, a 5.6 increase from $128.3 million in the year-ago quarter. The company also reported...

MOTTAHEDEH'S PRESIDENTIAL TREAT: COMPANY PRESENTS BOWL TO REAGAN LIBRARY.(Ronald W. Reagan Presidential Library and Museum)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... SIMI VALLEY, Calif.-George Karamallis, sales and marketing director and chief operating officer of Mottahedeh and Co. Inc., presented the Reagan Presentation Bowl to the Ronald W. Reagan Presidential Library and Museum last month. The bowl...

HAPPENING IN HONG KONG; EVENT PLANNERS FOR THE NEW SUMMER SOURCING SHOW DEEMED THE EVENT A SUCCESS.(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... Byline: Jennifer White HONG KONG-Organizers of Hong Kong's Summer Sourcing Show say they were pleased with the turnout at their fledgling event. A total of 33,288 buyers and 1,317 exhibitors from 19 countries and regions attended the...

RUBBERMAID GOES TO THE DOGS-AND CATS, TOO-WITH PET LINE.(Rubbermaid Home Products Div.)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... Byline: Sharyn Bernard FAIRLAWN, Ohio-Rubbermaid Home Products has launched a full line of pet products, including dog and cat carriers, dog houses, grooming items and cat litter products. The new brand, Rubbermaid Pets, is part of the...

GROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT: SALES GROWTH FACES OBSTACLES.
August 2, 2004... Byline: Jennifer White NEW YORK-Despite strong sales for some personal care categories, manufacturers struggled in 2003 as downward price pressures ate into their margins. Competition is fierce in personal care, and makers of men's...

NEWS BRIEFS.(Igia)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... DELONGHI AMERICA said it has restructured its management, leaving Steve Spitz, executive vice president of sales, on the outside. Paolo Cravedi, executive vice president of marketing, has added sales to his title. Leslie Chandler, previously...

NPD SURVEY: POD BREWERS NO THREAT TO DRIP MACHINES.(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y.-A survey from The NPD Group said new pod coffee brewers are not likely to change consumer behavior. According to a published report, the survey said that only 27 percent of those who drink coffee would consider buying...

PICTURE THIS; CAMCORDER STILL PHOTO CAPABILITIES ARE BEING IMPROVED TO FULFILL THE NEED FOR ALL-IN-ONE MODELS.
August 2, 2004... Byline: Michael Rudnick NEW YORK-Convergence seems to be the buzzword in the digital camcorder arena, as many manufacturers are enhancing their video cameras' still photograph capabilities to serve the consumer need for multipurpose...

HOOVER, OTHER FACTORS DRAG MAYTAG DOWN IN Q2.
August 2, 2004... Byline: Gerry Beatty NEWTON, Iowa-Maytag Corp. lost money in the three months ended July 3, and Hoover was just one of the reasons. But "Maytag is a stronger company than the second quarter suggests," insisted Ralph Hake, chairman and...

BEST BUY VS. CIRCUIT CITY.(digital cameras)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... ON THE COVER Best Buy: eMachines Intel Celeron 2.53 GHz computer with 17-inch flat-screen monitor (all in one box), $449.99 Circuit City: Toshiba Intel Celeron 2.8 GHz notebook computer, $849.99 CAMCORDERS Best Buy: Samsung...

TWEETER'S INSTALLATION PLAN HURTS EARNINGS.(Tweeter Home Entertainment Group Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... Byline: Michael Rudnick CANTON, Mass.-Tweeter Home Entertainment Group's net loss for the third quarter ended June 30 slid to $6.1 million, compared with a loss of $4.1 million for the same period last year. The specialty audio/video...

NARDA EMBARKS ON THE UPGRADE OF ITS AGENDA.(North American Retail Dealers Association)
August 2, 2004... Byline: Gerry Beatty LOMBARD, Ill.-The evolutionary process that has distinguished the North American Retail Dealers Association's history of service to its members has accelerated. NARDA calls it "rebranding." Seven months after Tom...

ANALYSTS: KMART REAL ESTATE VALUED UP TO $150 PER SHARE.
August 2, 2004... Byline: Michael Rudnick NEW YORK-Deutsche Bank analysts last week said that Kmart's real estate could be worth up to $150 per share, far outweighing the discount retailer's stock price at the time of about $65. The Deutsche Bank team...

NEWS BRIEFS.(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... HOME PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL INC. trimmed its second-quarter loss to $600,000, compared with a loss of $3.3 million for the same period in 2003, with strong sales gains and improved factory costs. The high costs of raw materials continue to...

PENNEY ANTICS.(Brief Article)
August 2, 2004... J.C. Penney came to New York recently to show its new holiday wares. The retailer took over the Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers, and to make the event seem like Christmas, carols were played and hot chocolate was served. Caption(s): Michael Cape...

LIFE IN THE FETE LANE.
August 2, 2004... Byline: Michael D. Devine Ralph Pucci hosted one of his fetes to preview the work of Jonathan Kline and Roberto Dutesco, and to honor Jack Lenor Larsen. The place was packed with designers, architects and assorted fab New Yorkers. ...

NOT THE SAME OLD, SAME OLD TEENS ANYMORE.
August 9, 2004... The booming tweens and teens home furnishings market is the subject of a special HFN report. See pages 11 to 17.

WHEN DUTIES FALL: FURNITURE RETAILERS SEE LOWER RATES.(Brief Article)
August 9, 2004... Byline: Jo Fleischer WASHINGTON-U.S. furniture retailers are breathing sighs of relief as the U.S. Department of Commerce recalculated duties for some major factories last week. Some 20 Chinese bedroom producers won major reprieves as...

SUN CAPITAL BEAMING OVER MERVYN'S PLANS.
August 9, 2004... Byline: Barbara Thau HAYWARD, Calif.-"Watch out Kohl's." That's what Michael Kalb, a principal with Sun Capital Partners, said about its plans for Mervyn's, which the investment firm, along with Cerberus Capital Management and...

IN BRIEF: GRIBETZ JOINS MACY'S HOME... J.R. UNITED, DE SHAW ACQUIRE SURE FIT... IFDA NAMES "EXCELLENCE" WINNERS...
August 9, 2004... GRIBETZ JOINS MACY'S HOME Lester Gribetz has been named senior vice president, creative fashion director, product development for Macy's Home Store, the highest ranking fashion position in the new organization. The move fills one of the...

FORMER STROUDS EXECUTIVES TAKE DIRECT SALES APPROACH.(Private Quarters)
August 9, 2004... Byline: Leticia Leizens LOS ANGELES-Wayne Selness and Jeff Stroud, former key executives at defunct specialty linen store Strouds, are launching a direct sales business that will sell high-quality bed and bath textiles and accessories...

RETAIL SALES SOFT IN JULY.(Brief Article)
August 9, 2004... NEW YORK-Despite the start of the back-to-school shopping season, same-store sales for home furnishings retailers in July remained soft with an average increase of 1 percent from July 2003, compared with a 2.3 increase for June. Daniel Barry,...

SIX IN THE CITY.(Brief Article)
August 9, 2004... Byline: Michael Devine 1. BEAST OF TIMES A great way to cool off and see the sights is to spin around Manhattan on the Beast. The 20-minute speedboat excursion leaves 42nd Street and 12th Avenue daily through Oct. 29....

RENOVATED NOGUCHI MUSEUM REOPENS ITS DOORS.(Brief Article)
August 9, 2004... Byline: Michael D. Devine LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y.-After a two-and-a-half year renovation, the Noguchi Museum has reopened. Isamu Noguchi, known for the sculptural quality of his work, opened the museum here in 1985 in a former...

UP CLOTH AND PERSONAL.(Brief Article)
August 9, 2004... Byline: Michael D. Devine NEW YORK-A must-see exhibit, Jack Lenor Larsen: Creator and Collector, runs through Aug. 29 at the Museum of Arts & Design. Larsen's textiles, which rely on the inherent natural qualities of the fiber and superb...

HOME SCHOOLING.(Brief Article)
August 9, 2004... Byline: Michael D. Devine It's time to prepare for a return to those ivy-covered, hallowed halls of higher education. For most students, it's time to get serious about a whole new world -- the universe of home products. This autumn there...

LIKE PEAS IN A POD, BUT DIFFERENT.
August 9, 2004... Byline: Joel Kaplan Retailers are always saying they want to distinguish themselves from the competition. That's what they say, but it's not usually what they do. During my career at Dayton-Hudson, we were frequently challenged to be...

MERVYN'S AND THE INFINITE MELANCHOLY.
August 9, 2004... Byline: Warren Shoulberg Alas poor Mervyn's, we knew you well. You were the Hamlet of retailing, a business that once shown brightly but faded into a sea of indecisiveness from which it never recovered, ending up a sad and lonely...

YOUTH IS SERVED; THE TEEN AND TWEEN DEMOGRAPHIC IS FINDING A SEGMENT OF HOME RETAILERS READY TO CATER TO ITS NEEDS.(Carole Nicksin)
August 9, 2004... Byline: Carole Nicksin NEW YORK-Not that long ago, only a child destined to become an interior decorator took any significant interest in how his or her room was appointed. But now, decorating has gone mainstream in the teen and tween...

NOT CHILD'S PLAY ANYMORE; MANUFACTURERS OF HOME PRODUCTS AREN'T FORGETTING THE LITTLE PEOPLE AS TEENS' AND TWEENS' NEEDS AND BUYING POWER INCREASE.
August 9, 2004... Byline: HFN Staff Report NEW YORK-They come, they shop and they buy. The powerful influence and buying power of tweens and teens continues to grow, and manufacturers of everything from big-ticket items like automobiles down to the hottest...

WESTPOINT GIVEN REORGANIZATION PLAN EXTENSION.(Brief Article)
August 9, 2004... WEST POINT, Ga.-WestPoint Stevens said the U.S. Bankruptcy Court extended the company's exclusive right to file a plan of reorganization through Oct. 1. "We are in the final stages of revising our business plan," said M.L. "Chip" Fontenot,...

RETAILERS GIVE IT THE OLD COLLEGE TRY; RETAILERS ARE FEATURING THE ESSENTIALS NEEDED TO ADD FASHION AND COMFORT TO ANY DORM ROOM.
August 9, 2004... Byline: Sharyn Bernard NEW YORK- Who knew that going off to college could be so luxurious? From down comforters to featherbeds to Egyptian cotton sheets, retailers are showing more home textiles that will make those dorm beds seem a bit...

ITG FINALIZES BURLINGTON, CONE MILLS ADDITIONS.(International Textile Group.)
August 9, 2004... GREENSBORO, N.C.-W.L. Ross & Co., the firm owned by Wilbur Ross, said it has completed the integration of Burlington Industries and Cone Mills into the newly formed International Textile Group. "Since March we have made tremendous progress...

NEWS BRIEFS.(Brief Article)
August 9, 2004... SPRINGS INDUSTRIES said Richard Grissinger has joined the company as vice president of bath merchandising, a position previously held by Blake Bell, who assumed a new role as vice president of integrated sourcing. Grissinger, who was most...

WTO ACCORD SPURS RUMORS OVER COTTON.
August 9, 2004... Byline: Leticia Leizens, Kristi Ellis contributed to this report. WASHINGTON-A plan agreed to last week by 147 World Trade Organization member countries calling for reduction in tariffs and subsidies to farmers has fueled speculation that...

CMI INCREASES MANUFACTURING SPACE, ADDS IT MANAGEMENT.
August 9, 2004... Byline: Jennifer Quail PAWTUCKET, R.I.-Colonial Mills Inc. has expanded both its manufacturing facility and information technology department, adding square footage and management positions. CMI doubled the square footage of its...

NATCO ENTERING LARGER SHOWROOM SPACE AT 295 FIFTH.(Brief Article)
August 9, 2004... Byline: Jennifer Quail NEW YORK-Natco Home Fashions is expanding its New York presence with a move into a new showroom at 295 Fifth Ave. that will double its space in the building. Construction is under way for the new 8,000-square-foot...

SHAW DOES ITS DINING IN STYLE; THE COMPANY'S NEW LINE ACCOMMODATES CONSUMERS' NEEDS FOR FASHION AND SIZE IN RUGS FOR EATING SPACES.
August 9, 2004... Byline: Rosamaria Mancini ATLANTA-Meeting demands. That's what Shaw Living said it has done with its specially sized rugs designed for kitchens, breakfast nooks and dining rooms. The rugs were introduced at the Atlanta International Rug...

NEWS BRIEFS.(Brief Article)
August 9, 2004... ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST has signed on as a co-sponsor for the Metro Market Week Gala Dinner during the inaugural Metro Market Week, the New York/New Jersey rug market scheduled for Sept. 19 to 23. The dinner will be held at Manhattan's Hammerstein...

HARD FACTS ARE REVEALED ON NEW HOMES.
August 9, 2004... Byline: Jennifer Quail NEW YORK-Carpeting still rules the new roost, but hard surfaces are holding their own, according to Housing 2004: Facts, Figures & Trends, a report by the National Association of Home Builders. Floor coverings were...

ANGELA ADAMS BURSTING WITH BRIGHT NEW DESIGNS.(Angela Adams)(Brief Article)
August 9, 2004... Byline: Jennifer Quail PORTLAND-Just beyond its first birthday, the Studio Collection from Angela Adams is already growing. The company said that growth is, happily, due to demand. Rebecca Hosley, who works in sales for Angela Adams,...

MAGNUSSEN, CAROLYN KINDER REACH LICENSING AGREEMENT.(Magnussen Home Furnishings)(Carolyn Kinder Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 9, 2004... HIGH POINT, N.C.-Targeting home accents, a market dominated by relatively small producers, Magnussen Home Furnishings will introduce five collections designed by Carolyn Kinder Inc. in October. Jeff Cook, Magnussen Home president and chief...

THE DESK SET; TRADITIONAL HOME OFFICE LOOKS ARE MAKING A COMEBACK.
August 9, 2004... Byline: Karl Kunkel HIGH POINT, N.C.-Wireless technology, laptop computers and -- just possibly -- a desire to back off from high-tech and write real letters with real fountain pens again have spurred an interest in more traditional home...

NEWS BRIEFS.(Carolyn Kinder International)
August 9, 2004... LEE NEMETH, formerly the global product merchant of lighting for EXPO Design Center, has joined Elk Lighting and Mountain Lake Lighting in the new post of vice president of business development, reporting to Mark Fludgate, president, and is...

ART FINDS GOLD MINE OF IDEAS AT CONFERENCE.(ART Conference)
August 9, 2004... Byline: Nancy Meyer KEYSTONE, Colo.-The Accessories Resource Team, in its best-attended ART Conference ever, mined for gold and came up with more than a few nuggets. Among them, participants learned of huge business opportunities in...

UMBRA UNVEILS DINNERWARE IN ITS FORAY INTO TABLETOP.
August 9, 2004... Byline: Allison Zisko BUFFALO, N.Y.-Design house Umbra has ventured into the tabletop category with the launch of a dinnerware line that is making its debut. The fine china collection, called Swerv, is a contemporary assortment of...

WRAPPING UP THE SEASON; THE NEW YORK GIFT SHOWS BRING THE INDUSTRY'S EVENTS TO A CLOSE FOR THE SEASON WITH NEW PRODUCTS ON DISPLAY.(Brief Article)
August 9, 2004... NEW YORK-The end is near! Of the summer gift show season, that is. The New York gift shows kick off later this week, signaling the end of the latest round of nationwide gift markets Organized by George Little Management, this week's...

EMPHASIS ON DESIGN IN JUDAICA OPENS DOORS FOR THE CATEGORY.(Davidson Design and Development)
August 9, 2004... Byline: Carla Webb NEW YORK-Has the introduction of more design-oriented, upscale Judaica products helped the category gain more acceptance from mainstream retailers? According to some, it most definitely has. "There's been a...

LLADRO JOINS FIGHT AGAINST BREAST CANCER.(Brief Article)
August 9, 2004... NEW YORK-Lladro has joined forces with the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation in support of its mission to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease by advancing research, education, screening and treatment. Committed to...

HOUSTON, WE HAVE A LALIQUE BOUTIQUE.(Brief Article)
August 9, 2004... HOUSTON-Lalique opened its first boutique in Texas this summer. Located in Houston's Galleria, the 1,200-square-foot boutique is also the first in the United States to highlight the new store design of bird's-eye maple with iridescent lacquer...

NEWS BRIEFS.(Brief Article)
August 9, 2004... TEN STRAWBERRY STREET has moved its New York showroom from 230 Fifth Ave. to the 22nd floor of 41 Madison Ave., occupying part of the space previously held by Tabletops Unlimited. Ten Strawberry Street will move in time for the New York...

CHEF'S PLANET EXPANDS ITS KITCHENWARE UNIVERSE.
August 9, 2004... Byline: Thyra Porter SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.-In business for just under two years, Chef's Planet is taking off, riding a strategy of innovative product development. The company, which markets kitchenware products, added four product lines,...

COURTING THE HISPANIC MARKET; MANUFACTURERS WAKE UP TO OPPORTUNITIES FOR ETHNIC COOKWARE.
August 9, 2004... Byline: Thyra Porter NEW YORK-Hispanics are the fastest-growing ethnic group in America and have many cultural traditions celebrating food and cooking, making them an ideal demographic for cookware products. With the overall Hispanic...

HOLMES HITS HOLE IN ONE WITH CHARITY GOLF EVENT.(Holmes Group)(Brief Article)
August 9, 2004... BELLINGHAM, Mass.- The Holmes Group earned about $44,000 for local causes at its inaugural charity golf event late last month. The all-day affair at the New England Country Club here brought together a full complement of 144 trade partners...

SEARS, SHARPER IMAGE LEAD IN Q2 AD SPACE.(Second Quarter)
August 9, 2004... Byline: Nathan Weber NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y.- Sears and Sharper Image bought more advertising space for 10 key housewares product categories during the second quarter than any other retailer, each sponsoring 15 percent of all the column inches...

MOTOROLA'S OJO LETS USERS LOOK AT WHO'S TALKING.(Motorola Inc.)
August 9, 2004... Byline: Michael Rudnick NEW YORK-Motorola is hoping to grab early market share in the infant video phone market with the expected fourth-quarter launch of its Ojo Personal Video Phone manufactured by WorldGate Communications. The $700...

MICRO-AUDIO MAY BE GETTING BIGGER WITH ADDITION OF MP3S; PLAYBACK CAPABILITY IS EASING ITS WAY INTO THE LOW-COST SEGMENT.
August 9, 2004... Byline: Michael Rudnick NEW YORK-MP3 playback is now trickling down to the relatively low-cost micro-audio category as manufacturers begin to equip their systems with the ability to play MP3 CDs. "Micro-audio consumers are primarily an...

NEWS BRIEFS.
August 9, 2004... SHARP ELECTRONICS has launched its first line of widescreen AQUOS LCD televisions with built-in HDTV tuners and CableCard slots, based on a recent Federal Communication Commission mandate.The new HDTV AQUOS series enables consumers to receive...