HFN The Weekly Newspaper for the Home Furnishing Network articles from August 2007

HFN The Weekly Newspaper for the Home Furnishing Network archives from August 2007

Macy's eyes homerun with Martha Collection.(top story)
August 6, 2007... NEW YORK -- It's almost impossible to overestimate the importance of Macy's new Martha Stewart line, which is rolling into 700 stores nationwide. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] With 2,000 SKUs, the biggest launch in Macy's history may also be...

Housing woes no blow at the Vegas Show.(news)
August 6, 2007... LAS VEGAS -- Exhibitors at last week's Las Vegas Market said that while they might be doing a little more huffing and puffing than usual, the crash in the housing market is not blowing away their business... at least not yet. While...

A look ahead.(home page)
August 6, 2007... The New York International Gift Fair will be held Aug. 11-16 at the Jacob Javitz Convention Center in New York, Advance monthly retail sales for July will be released on Aug. 13 by the U.S. Commerce Department's Census Bureau. The Home...

A look back.(home page)
August 6, 2007... Thirty years ago this week, a column in HFD said that women make better furniture salespeople than men. Women have "a keener sense of style and color coordination than men," the author stereotyped. They also can "speak far more convincingly on...

Mediums.
August 6, 2007... Below are kitchen preferences identified by House & Garden's Designers' Best 07, an unprecedented online survey of 20,000 design professionals. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] These countertop surfaces am best for good styling and function ...

The HFN stock index.(home page)
August 6, 2007... From July 25 to Aug. 1, manufacturers dragged down the HFN Index, which sank 7.27 percent. Quaker Fabric, facing closure, continued to fall, logging a 21.43 percent decline to 11 cents per share. Salton, a bright spot, climbed 2.56 percent to...

Applica backs out of merger with Salton.(news)
August 6, 2007... LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Salton Inc. has received from APN Holding Co., the newly formed parent company of Applica Inc., a notice of termination of the merger agreement with Salton. Salton, in a statement, called the termination "wrongful,"...

IKEA's new catalog for 2008 is in the mail.(news)
August 6, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- IKEA's getting personal with its 2008 catalog. The Swedish retail giant is playing up bold colors and designs to inspire shoppers to put a personal stamp on their homes. This sentiment is echoed in...

Lacoste introduces bed and bath line.(news)
August 6, 2007... NEW YORK -- Lacoste, the brand known for its green crocodile logo, launches Lacoste Home, a bed and bath collection, this week during the textiles market. Sunham Home Fashions, a leader in the home textiles market and a global sourcing...

John Budd, retail veteran, dies at 74.(news)
August 6, 2007... PARAMUS, N.J. -- Home retail veteran John Budd died of cancer here on July 16. He was 74. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Budd began his career as a furniture buyer at Abraham & Straus in the 1950s, according to Women's Wear Daffy. He rose...

HSN launches revamped Web site with focus on shopping, celebrities.(news)
August 6, 2007... NEW YORK -- HSN, the television home shopping network, last week launched its revamped Web site, hsn.com, featuring appearances by Emeril Lagasse and other TV celebrity figures. The aim of the relaunch, according to an HSN statement, is to...

Pier1.com's big sale is end to e-commerce.(news)
August 6, 2007... FORT WORTH, Texas -- Alex Smith, Pier 1 Imports' new chief executive officer, is making good on his promise to remove the retailer from the e-commerce business. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The struggling home chain is holding a fire sale on...

Take your business where it's never been before.(GLM BUSINESS BRIEFS)
August 6, 2007... The New York International Gift Fair[R] is the only gift and home furnishings market to bring the most important manufacturers, the latest products and the best merchandising ideas together in one place. * A magnet for 43,000 buyers looking...

Trade show calendar.(news)(Calendar)
August 6, 2007... August 6-10 BY Home Fashions Market 7 W New York 295 Fifth Ave. 261 Fifth Ave. 230 Fifth Ave. New York (212) 279-2127 9-16 New York Home Textiles Market Week 11-15 Pier 94 11-16 230 Fifth Avenue, 7...

Home with Harry.(trends)
August 6, 2007... The magic of Harry Potter doesn't have to end with the last page of "The Deathly Hallows." These home furnishings let fans to live a bit like Harry at home, where they can watch the movie version when it comes out on DVD. Lighten Up A...

New venue opens for outdoor gift products.(news)
August 6, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- Vendors of casual furniture, outdoor lighting and related patio items will have a new venue Sept. 15 to 18, as the Boston Gift Show opens an outdoor living division at the Boston Convention and...

Libbey posts solid second-quarter gains.(news)
August 6, 2007... TOLEDO, Ohio -- The consolidation of Crisa sales and an increase in overseas shipments helped propel Libbey's second-quarter sales to $207 million, a 31 percent increase over the same period a year ago. Net income was $4 million in the quarter...

June sales at home goods stores drop for first-time in six years.(news)
August 6, 2007... NEW YORK -- June sales at stores selling furniture and other home furnishings declined this year, on a year-over-year basis, for the first time since 2001 and only the second time in the past 10 years. The U.S. Commerce Department reported...

Todd English cookware goes eco-friendly at HSN.(news)
August 6, 2007... ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Launching last week, exclusively on HSN, a cookware line from celebrity chef Todd English incorporates a new non-stick coating that makes it "the first environmentally friendly, PTFE-free non-stick cookware," according...

Being Crandall Bowles.(opinions: home alone 2)
August 6, 2007... There will always be companies making sheets and towels, but we're not likely to see a company the likes of Springs Industries ever again. Nor is there likely to be another like Crandall Bowles, the last president of the freestanding...

New products, new hope: textiles companies are hopeful that new product introductions and recent business ventures will boost sagging sales.(the markets: textiles)
August 6, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- Market week is here once again, and textiles companies are hopeful new product introductions and recent business ventures will pump life into the lackluster retail sales that...

Color makes a big comeback.(the markets: textiles)
August 6, 2007... NEW YORK -- Color is a big trend story to look for at market this week, with everything from table linens to luxury bedding showing up in strong hues. Springs Global's Court of Versailles line is modernized with sunny yellows on its Palais...

Graphic design.(the markets: textiles)
August 6, 2007... NEW YORK -- Bold prints and strong colors make dramatic statements at this market. Linear design and pure colors are softened by shiny fabric, flower motifs and pleated details. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Brighten up.(the markets: textiles)
August 6, 2007... NEW YORK -- Bright, cheerful colors are always popular, t they're especially trendy in the table linen category, where companies are showing sunny yellows, vivid greens and clear aquas that really perk things up. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Brown is golden.(the markets: textiles)
August 6, 2007... NEW YORK -- Brown, and all its shades of beige, cocoa and chocolate, shows no sign of disappearing. This new neutral is mixed with everything from bright corals to icy blues at market for a fresh, updated feel. The Diamonte curtain from...

Jewels in the collections.(the markets: textiles)
August 6, 2007... NEW YORK -- Jewel tones of red, blue, purple, green and yellow are spicing up everything from the bathroom to the bedroom. From all-out saturated reds to softer shades of green and yellow, the colors add drama and life to just about everything...

Ornate touches.(the markets: textiles)
August 6, 2007... NEW YORK -- Rich designs marked by old-world inspiration provide a dash of extravagence to a room. To add luxury to their collections, vendors are offering traditional damask patterns in deep, modern hues, such as chocolate brown, and lush...

Levinsohn pumps up the headboard market.(the markets: textiles)
August 6, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- Headboards could soon be popping up in an unlikely place: store shelves. Textiles company Levinsohn has developed the Back Drop headboard, an air-filled, upholstered...

Sleep Studio's new eco-friendly foam pillow.(the markets: textiles)
August 6, 2007... NEW YORK -- Sleep Studio introduces its new line of eco-friendly, domestically made molded memory foam pillows at market this week. "We've received a tremendous response to our new, more environmentally friendly memory foam and had set our...

Pillows fight for consumer attention.(the markets: textiles)
August 6, 2007... NEW YORK -- Anyone shopping for pillows at market will quickly notice that this same-old, same-old basic bedding category isn't as tired as it used to be. Pillow companies have been busy spicing up their offerings, coming out with...

Divatex eyes growth with new owner.(the markets: textiles)
August 6, 2007... NEW YORK -- Many U.S. textiles companies have been making headlines recently for shifting from domestic to overseas-based manufacturing models, but Divatex has long been a global import/export operation. On July 1, Divatex became even more...

Jane Seymour to introduce basic bedding with American Textile Company.(the markets: textiles)
August 6, 2007... NEW YORK -- Jane Seymour is getting back to basics. American Textile Company has entered into an agreement with the actress/designer and The Somerset Group Inc. to produce a new line of basic bedding for Jane Seymour Home that will debut at the...

Merchants hunt for finds at N.Y. textiles show.(the markets: textiles)
August 6, 2007... NEW YORK -- Retailers here at the home textiles show are looking to flesh out seasonal businesses, discover green fare, add lines with brand equity and find new ways to drive sales beyond pushing higher thread counts. [ILLUSTRATION...

Lacking consumer confidence.(opinions)
August 6, 2007... Before I joined HFN as textiles editor, thread counts, fiber fills and the difference between a jacquard and a print were all pretty meaningless to me. I was the blissfully ignorant average consumer, making my bedding and bath purchases based...

Tailored to the consumer: rug companies at this summer's Atlanta market invested time in building personal relationships with customers and planning for the future.(the markets: floor covering)
August 6, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ATLANTA -- Despite the slow traffic that's typical of summer markets, rug vendors were happy with the quality of the turnout at July's Atlanta market. "We've been able to meet with longtime buyers and spend...

Silk road.(the markets: floor covering)
August 6, 2007... LAS VEGAS -- At a time when everyone is talking about the troubled economy, luxury made a name for itself at Las Vegas Market. Luxury showed very prominently in a high silk content for many new area rug designs. Executives are saying that...

Pretty in pinks.(the markets: floor covering)
August 6, 2007... LAS VEGAS -- Moving away from the frilly and ultra-femme stereotypes for pink, designers have turned to varying shades of the hue for designs that span from delicate to bold to even traditional. Exhibitors at Las Vegas Market noted big interest...

Ode to William.(the markets: floor covering)
August 6, 2007... LAS VEGAS -- They say good design is timeless, and the adage is certainly evident in the ever-present influence of William Morris. The classic, tapestry-inspired patterning holds as much appeal with today's consumer audience as it did for those...

The black-and-white of it.(the markets: floor covering)
August 6, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] LAS VEGAS -- For a few seasons, black-and-white was a modern statement, a contemporary trend using stark versions of the shades and geometric-based patterns. These days black-and-white...

New Hubbell Lighting HQ goes for the green: company's new building demonstrates cutting-edge design and eco-friendly lighting.(the markets: furniture & lighting)
August 6, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Hubbell Lighting's new headquarters here demonstrates the company's commitment to advanced and eco-friendly lighting and design practices. The four-story, $41 million building that opened in...

A holiday in China for the Uttermost Co.(the markets: furniture & lighting)
August 6, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ROCKY MOUNT, Va. -- Workers in the Uttermost Co.'s Asian offices celebrated the United States' Independence Day with a holiday of their own. While Uttermost's facilities in Virginia and California were closed...

Sauder purchases office seating maker, repositions progressive furniture.(the markets: furniture & lighting)
August 6, 2007... ARCHBOLD, Ohio -- RTA leader Sauder Woodworking Co. has expanded its product mix and increased its Asian presence with the purchase of office seating maker Gruga/Novimex. At the same time, Sauder said it's shutting down domestic production...

Spinning the bottles: wine bottles and barrels get a second life as glasses and more.(the markets: tabletop)
August 6, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- With Americans drinking a record amount of wine--259 million cases of table wine were consumed last year there's also record number of empty wine...

41 Madison tenants to make lobby settings for fall market.(the markets: tabletop)
August 6, 2007... NEW YORK -- For the first time in almost 30 years, the lobby settings for the fall New York tabletop market will be created by 41 Madison tenants rather than consumer magazines, Carole Dixon, senior vice president and director of the market,...

Weimar Porcelain adds contemporary shapes.(the markets: tabletop)
August 6, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- Weimar Porcelain's evolution into a more contemporary tabletop brand has begun. The 217-year-old German dinnerware and giftware manufacturer was first established to create...

Baccarat's Vicente Wolf crystal collection bows at Nieman Marcus.(the markets: tabletop)
August 6, 2007... NEW YORK -- Residential and commercial interior designer Vicente Wolf brings his sensual sense of style and cultural experiences to Baccarat with the launch this week of an exclusive, limited-edition crystal collection at Neiman Marcus, which...

Blenders: masses provide even mix: HFN looks at the blender offerings at Target, Kmart and Wal-Mart stores in New Jersey.(HEAD TO HEAD TO HEAD)
August 6, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Focused" is the word that best describes the merchandising of blenders by Wal-Mart, Target and Kmart. This term refers to the assortments at the three major mass merchants and the range of prices they offer....

Gran Dama debuts as De'Longhi's new focal product in espresso.(the markets: housewares)
August 6, 2007... SADDLE BROOK, N.J. -- De'Longhi has introduced the Gran Dama fully automatic espresso maker as the company's new flagship product in this category. Alvise Ricoveri, recently named executive vice president of sales and marketing for...

English, Mangano go green with new non-stick cookware at HSN.(the markets: housewares)
August 6, 2007... ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Launching exclusively late last month on HSN, a cookware line from celebrity chef Todd English and HSN's "Mother of Invention" Joy Mangano incorporates a new non-stick coating that makes it "the first environmentally...

Remington-Marin partnership's new lines.(the markets: housewares)
August 6, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MADISON, Wis. -- As part of its new venture with hair stylist Richard Marin, Remington has introduced several new lines of women's hairstyling products that target the back-to-school trade. One group is intended...

Retailers double Q2 ad spend for Samsung refrigerators.(the markets: major appliances)
August 6, 2007... NEW YORK -- Major appliance retailers seem enthusiastic about Samsung Electronic's refrigerator offering, as they nearly doubled advertising spending for the Korean white goods maker's refrigerators in the recently completed second quarter. ...

Northstar by Elmira adds retro-style microwave.(the markets: major appliances)
August 6, 2007... ELMIRA, Ontario -- Elmira Stove Works has recently added a retrostyle microwave to its collection of 1950s-inspired Northstar kitchen appliances. The microwave, which doubles as a convection oven and grill, was given a retro touch with its...

Kimco looking to expand beyond U.S. borders.(the markets: business & finance)
August 6, 2007... NEW HYDE PARK, N.Y. -- Kimco Realty Corp., a retail real estate investment trust specializing in shopping centers, is looking for growth beyond the U.S border, both to the north and to the south. "We have wonderful growth prospects in our...

ICSC: Vietnam's young population on the rise, ripe for retail expansion.(the markets: business & finance)
August 6, 2007... NEW YORK -- Vietnam's young population, which is expanding at an exponential rate, opens doors for retail development, said speakers at the International Council of Shopping Centers Asia Expo here late last month. Vietnam, which boasts the...

Consumer confidence gain has little effect on home goods buying plans.(the markets: business & finance)
August 6, 2007... NEW YORK -- The July consumer confidence lift did not seem to drive consumers to the stores for big-ticket home furnishings purchases. Consumer confidence in July leapt to its highest level since the summer of 2001, reaching 112.6, The...

Jarden earnings gain on sales growth, acquisition.(the markets: business & finance)
August 6, 2007... RYE, N.Y. -- Jarden Corp. logged a double-digit earnings gain for the second quarter ended June 30 due to a mix of organic sales growth and a boost in volume from the recent Pure Fishing acquisition. Jarden's net income jumped nearly 26 percent...

Hot time in Las Vegas.(hfend)
August 6, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The temperatures actually stayed in double digits, but that didn't stop the summer edition of the Las Vegas Market from being the hotbed of activity it has become. No official attendance...

Is it lean, mean times for Salton?(news)
August 13, 2007... LAKE FOREST, ILL. -- With the collapse of the proposed merger with Applica, sources say Salton now faces an uncertain future. After Harbinger Capital Partners, Applica's parent company, notified Salton on Aug. 1 that it would terminate...

Industry feels China syndrome won't hit home.(top story)
August 13, 2007... NEW YORK -- What, me worry? Despite Chinese manufacturing's recent quality-control disasters-and subsequent public relations nightmares--the collective reaction of the home furnishings industry is an Alfred E. Neuman-like shrug. What...

A look ahead.(home page)
August 13, 2007... Sales of newly built homes in July will be released by the U.S. Commerce Department's Census Bureau on Aug. 24. Consumer confidence for August will be released by The Conference Board on Aug. 28. Intertextile Shanghai Home and...

A look back.(home page)
August 13, 2007... Sixty-eight years ago this week, the practice of direct selling of home products was growing rapidly. But direct selling then bore little resemblance to today's channel: no home TV or radio shopping, no outlet stores, no Internet, very few...

Mediums.(home page)
August 13, 2007... CB2 calls its fall catalog "On the Move," and for good reason: The pages are full of functional, adaptable furniture such as office furniture that rolls, daybeds that open and tall bookcases that lie down console-style. The chain's first New...

The HFN Stock Index.(home page)
August 13, 2007... Manufacturers weighed down the HFN Index for the Aug. 1 to 9 period with a 3.58 percent decline. Helen of Troy led the group's downward movement as its shams fell 9.80 percent to $20.35. The lead gainer was Quaker Fabric with an 18.75 percent...

Firm buys Wilton; Martha Stewart has minority stake.(news)
August 13, 2007... CHICAGO -- Private-equity firm GTCR Golder Rauner LLC, along with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, has invested in Wilton Industries, which includes Wilton Enterprises, Copco and The Weston Gallery, and crafts company Dimensions Holdings LLC....

Gottschalks CEO Famalette adds chairman title amid exec changes.(news)
August 13, 2007... FRESNO, Calif. -- Gottschalks named Jim Famalette, president and chief-executive officer, chairman of the board amid several executive changes. Famalette succeeds Joseph Levy, who will be retiring as chairman but will continue to serve as...

Restoration Hardware revises earnings, sales expectations downward for Q2.(news)
August 13, 2007... CORTE MADERA, Calif. -- Restoration Hardware revised its earnings and sales projections downward for the second quarter ended Aug. 4. The specialty home retailer called for net sales of $183 million to $185 million, compared with previously...

Retailers go home for back-to-school season.(news)
August 13, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- It's that time of year again, when Jerry Lewis gears up for his Labor Day telethon and retailers break out the Lava Lamps and extra-long twin sheets. This season, merchants are approaching the...

Metropolitan Home gets a new look for fall.(news)
August 13, 2007... NEW YORK -- Metropolitan Home magazine is getting a makeover. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Come September, the shelter book, which bills itself as a primer on modern design and style, will unveil a revamped front-of-book section called Word,...

Textiles execs tour market center.(news)
August 13, 2007... LAS VEGAS -- A group of executives from the home textiles industry toured the World Market Center under the aegis of building management during the recent summer market here. Dave Palmer, general manager of the WMC, led the group, which...

Trade show calendar.(news)(Calendar)
August 13, 2007... august 9-16 New York Home Textiles Market Week 11-15 Pier 94 11-16 230 Fifth Ave., 7 W New York 12-16 Jacob K. Javits Center New York (914) 421-3200 nyhometextilesmarketweek.com 11-16 New York International...

Presents perfect.(trends)
August 13, 2007... Looking for the perfect gift? Something ecologically sound, perhaps? Or maybe a contemporary twist on an established product? Between the New York International Gift Fair and New York Gift Week, you will not leave the Big Apple empty-handed....

Reagan-Mart.(opinions: home alone 2)
August 13, 2007... At last week's New York textiles market and the week before in Las Vegas and no doubt this week at the gift show in New York, there seems to be a common thread running through many conversations. When people are done complaining about the...

Big intros in the Big Apple: the August textiles market in New York saw a number of companies rolling out new ideas.(the markets: textiles)
August 13, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- Along with heat and rain, the August textiles market brought many product introductions. WestPoint Home overhauled its Rachael Ray line, which was introduced last February, to be more...

Cardimona tapped to lead global creative team at springs.
August 13, 2007... FORT MILL, S.C. -- Springs Global has named Edward Cardimona chief global creative officer and senior vice president. Cardimona will be responsible for leading brand definition, creative design and product development strategies across the...

Market basket.(the markets: textiles)
August 13, 2007... NEW YORK -- Well-known names such as Raymond Waites and Sferra mix with those of smaller companies at the New York home textiles market, which runs through Aug. 16. From layers of bedding made using vividly colored silk to throw blankets...

Off the ground running? Executives in the rug industry believe a rebound is possible in the second half of the year.(AREA RUG REPORT)
August 13, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CROSSING THE THRESHOLD INTO THE second half of the year, the rug industry is hoping to break loose from a troubled first half and a level of consumer confidence some consider at an all-time low. Rightfully so,...

The India express: the nation's share of the wool-rug market continues to grow.(AREA RUG REPORT)
August 13, 2007... WHILE MANY IN THE INDUSTRY HAVE expressed confidence in China's potential to garner a greater portion of the United States' wool rug business, official figures show business progressing a little differently. For five years running, India...

Hooked on a feeling: new colors bloom, but texture still rules the roost.(AREA RUG REPORT)
August 13, 2007... THE GENERAL AGREEMENT AMONG executives is that casual and transitional designs are selling better than anything else at present. What continues to expand is the scope of the transitional category, now arguably the largest category out...

Deja vu all over again.(AREA RUG REPORT)
August 13, 2007... Now, didn't we just see each other? It's hard to keep track, but I'm pretty sure we've only been back in our respective offices two days or so since returning from the Las Vegas Market. Yet, the moment I finish writing this column, we'll...

Factory fashion.(AREA RUG REPORT)
August 13, 2007... SPHINX FETED ITS LATEST Andy Warhol creations with a party featuring classic Warhol art and Factory-worthy guests, including girls in the era's classic colorful mini-dresses and white go-go boots and "Andy" himself, who made sure the cocktails...

Hitting the jackpot: new promotions and products helped turn the wheels at the Las Vegas Market.(the markets: furniture & lighting)
August 13, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] LAS VEGAS -- The Las Vegas Market brought opportunities for new products and aggressive promotions to retailers shopping the show for furniture, lighting, accessories and wall decor. Ashley, the king of...

Simmons, Sealy bet on new bed products at Las Vegas Market.(the markets: furniture & lighting)
August 13, 2007... LAS VEGAS -- The nation's two largest manufacturers of mattresses rolled the dice for new business with key introductions at the recently completed Las Vegas Market. Simmons used the market and its recent acquisition of Comfor-Pedic to...

Getting up to date.(the markets: furniture & lighting)(Letter to the editor)
August 13, 2007... To the editor: Thank you, Terry Fraser, for calling to my attention Nancy Meyer's thoughtful opinion piece, "The Dangerous Dating Game," in the June 11 edition of HFN. Ms. Meyer is certainly correct in highlighting the corrupting...

Stylecraft Lamp.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
August 13, 2007... STYLECRAFT LAMP founder and Chief Executive Officer Jim Webster will retire Oct. 31. Webster leaves a long legacy in the lamp business, having built one of the strongest companies in the industry.