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

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

Sears CEO Lewis out, search for a successor under way.(home page)
February 11, 2008... HOFFMAN ESTATES, III. -- Sears Holdings is searching for a new chief executive officer following the recent resignation of Aylwin Lewis. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Bruce Johnson, executive vice president of supply chain and operations,...

Maricich named Vegas market president.(home page)
February 11, 2008... LAS VEGAS -- Future industry veteran Bob Maricich has been named the new president and chief executive officer of the World Market Center Las Vegas. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Maricich was introduced at the market in what was a well-kept...

Mediums.(home page)
February 11, 2008... "The Way We Live With Color" By Stafford Cliff Rizzoli, 256 pages, $39.95 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This newest addition to the "Way We Live" series shows the varied palette and application of colors to houses across the globe....

Lord & Taylor eyeing Fortunoff.(news)
February 11, 2008... NEW YORK -- Insiders said reported plans for Lord & Taylor to acquire Fortunoff make sense for the upscale retailers. According to reports at press time, Lord & Taylor's parent company NRDC Equity Partners is in talks to acquire Fortunoff...

Lighting veterans celebrate in Dallas.(news)
February 11, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] At last month's Dallas Lighting Market, several companies recognized major milestones: Kichler marked its 75th year in business; Crystorama celebrated the 80th birthday of founder Abe Kleinberg and the company's 50th...

Vegas market-goers bet on products.(news)
February 11, 2008... LAS VEGAS -- It may not be the greatest retail climate for home furnishings right now, but you wouldn't necessarily know working the Las Vegas Market here in late January. Vendors and retailers alike agreed that buying activity was strong...

Target's Global Bazaar takes turn toward the mainstream.(news)
February 11, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MINNEAPOLIS -- Target's Global Bazaar has gone conventional. The limited-edition annual home program, which launched in 2005 and is sourced internationally, has toned down its exoticism in favor of a more...

ARTS Awards winners named.(news)
February 11, 2008... DALLAS -- Top honors in the decorative accessories business were awarded to designers, manufacturers, retailers and sales representatives at the 19th annual ARTS Awards during a gala event at the recent Dallas Market. More than 700 guests...

Turf to succeed Segal at Crate.(news)
February 11, 2008... NORTHBROOK, III. -- Barbara Turf, president of Crate & Barrel, will succeed Gordon Segal, the retailer's iconic co-founder and chief executive officer, on May 1. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Segal will relinquish Crate & Barrel's day-to-day...

Home magazines seeing 'net' gains: more shelter publications are taking advantage of the benefits their Web sites have to offer.(in focus)
February 11, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- Shelter magazines are revving up their editorial and advertising vehicles online, developing more Web-only content and driving digital advertising sales via such options as online home goods sponsorships,...

MoMA, Conran Shop spring forth with new collections.(news)
February 11, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- Spring has sprung for trend-setting, modernist retailers The Conran Shop and the Museum of Modern Art Design Store as the merchants unveiled their...

The sad and presumably short-term end to the affordable luxury market ... as we know it.(HOME ALONE 2)
February 11, 2008... Don't look now, but your bling is missing. Out of all the painful lessons that retailers and suppliers alike learned during what in hindsight is looking like the least merry Christmas shopping season in a long, long time is the one about...

Salt of the earth.(trends)
February 11, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Natural materials and earth-friendly practices continue to define the newest home furnishings products on the market. At the New York International Gift Fair, vendors offered new takes on some traditional methods and...

Merchants hunt for new finds in New York: boosting sales in the category is the main priority for buyers during the New York market.(textiles)
February 11, 2008... NEW YORK -- Retailers headed here for the textiles show hope to be dazzled by unique finds--be it green fare or new materials and colors--that have the potential to lift soft-home sales. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Merchants are also...

WestPoint's Pennacchio: we're ready for market.(textiles)
February 11, 2008... NEW YORK -- Joe Pennacchio says WestPoint Home is loaded for market: loaded with plenty of new products at very competitive prices. Speaking on the eve of market week and following a stretch in which the company has lost a significant...

Bathed in affordable luxury.(textiles)
February 11, 2008... NEW YORK -- Faced with increasingly pessimistic reports about the economy, bath executives are nonetheless retaining a positive outlook heading into the textiles show this week. They are hoping their newest performance products, combined...

Natural taking its course among the product intros.(textiles)
February 11, 2008... NEW YORK -- The impact of consumers' desire for environmentally friendly products goes beyond the use of materials in manufacturing and packaging, as many of the decorative-bedding product introductions at this week's New York Home Textiles...

Splendor in the home.(textiles)
February 11, 2008... NEW YORK -- Opulence still reigns supreme among the upper-end manufacturers in a variety of textiles categories. The Home Textiles Market this week will offer its share of highly styled, luxurious bed ensembles and table linens featuring...

Into the wild.(textiles)
February 11, 2008... NEW YORK -- Animal prints have become more of a staple than a trend in home furnishings, but they still account for many introductions. Combined with the resurgence of brown tones, they make a strong design statement. The animals dujour? The...

Comfort zone.(textiles)
February 11, 2008... NEW YORK -- Health and quality-of-sleep issues have become crucial in the basic-bedding arena, as seen in some of the market's latest products. Support and antimicrobial elements in these new products aim to increase comfort for the consumer,...

Bathing beauties.(textiles)
February 11, 2008... NEW YORK -- The bathroom is increasingly becoming a luxurious retreat, and the newest bath accessories reflect that trend. Colors range from the purist white and cool, icy shades to the warmth of brown and the conveyance of texture through...

Bedding goes beyond the basics.(textiles)
February 11, 2008... NEW YORK -- New technology and sustainability have established strong footholds in the basic-bedding business, as can be seen from the new-product launches slated for this week at the February Home Textiles Market. In some respects, these...

American Pacific taps Forker, Ozorio to share CEO post.(textiles)
February 11, 2008... SAN FRANCISCO -- With this week's New York Home Textiles Market as a backdrop, American Pacific Enterprises has appointed two veteran executives to act as co-chief executive officers. The top-of-the-bed products manufacturer has named Kaela...

Everything was peachy: vendors at the Atlanta area-rug market were pleased with buyers' attitudes at the show amid a difficult economy.(floor covering)
February 11, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ATLANTA -- Executives in the area-rug industry admitted they were wary as they headed to the International Area Rug Market, the year's first big stateside market for the category, pointing to the "doom and gloom" of...

Loloi Rugs.(HIGHLIGHTS FROM ATLANTA)
February 11, 2008... LOLOI RUGS unveiled the Desire Collection, a group of transitionals 18 months in the making. The idea behind the machine-made line was for no one to recognize them as machine-made, according to company President Amir Loloi. The transitional...

Karastan.(HIGHLIGHTS FROM ATLANTA)
February 11, 2008... KARASTAN announced Kelly Preston will be its next Statement Maker, an ongoing consumer campaign that has included Mariska Hargitay and Evangeline Lilly in recent years. Executives at Karastan said Preston, like those before her, was chosen...

The Tommy Bahama.(HIGHLIGHTS FROM ATLANTA)
February 11, 2008... THE TOMMY BAHAMA line at Shaw Living took a new turn with 56 designs across all categories making their debut. "We're trying to grow the customer base and expand the categories," said Kim Barta, brand manager for Shaw. The brand now includes...

Hellenic Rug Imports.(HIGHLIGHTS FROM ATLANTA)
February 11, 2008... HELLENIC RUG IMPORTS celebrated 20 years in business by honoring the dealers that have been with the company from its start: Nebraska Furniture Mart and Einstein Moomjy. "I remember when we first incorporated and I was a little guy on down on...

Momeni.(HIGHLIGHTS FROM ATLANTA)
February 11, 2008... MOMENI brought the rain forest to Atlanta, complete with peaceful sound effects, by transforming its entryway into a tropical escape. The theme of "Save. Protect. Preserve." was to emphasize the launch of the Naturally Momeni line of hemp rugs....

1 Liora Manne.(floor covering)
February 11, 2008... 1 Liora Manne Bring the sea home with Liora Manne's new Aquaria. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] lioramanne.com

2 Milliken.(floor covering)
February 11, 2008... 2 Milliken Milliken's new Lake District Connections collection features layered designs on both a cut-pile velvet base and Wilton loop construction. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] millikencarpet.com

3 Masland.(floor covering)
February 11, 2008... 3 Masland Chakra by Masland pairs traditional Persian themes with a striated background. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] maslandcarpets.com

4 Fabrica.(floor covering)
February 11, 2008... 4 Fabrica Mallorca is a new cut-and-loop carpet carrying the Wools of New Zealand brand label from Fabrica. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] fabrica.com

5 New Moon.(floor covering)
February 11, 2008... 5 New Moon Designer John Kurtz expands the Classic Collection at New Moon with Goldleaf in bronze. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] newmoonrugs.com

Magazine honors top carpet makers.(floor covering)
February 11, 2008... ATLANTA -- Architectural Digest stepped up again to host another installment of America's Magnificent Carpet Awards during the International Area Rug Market here. This year's awards were held at the Georgia World Congress Center. Jeff...

Dallas dealings: vendors at the recent lighting market created programs to spark retail sales.(furniture & lighting)
February 11, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] DALLAS -- Retailers shopping the Dallas Lighting Market last month had one thing on their minds: driving...

Mattress industry adjusts to new flammability rules.(furniture & lighting)
February 11, 2008... NEW YORK -- It has been six months since the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission put the new flame-retardancy (F/R) regulations for mattresses into effect. Clearly, the biggest effect the new regulations have had on the industry is in...

Caught in the Web: independent specialty stores find the popular Webkinz toys are boosting other sales.(tabletop)
February 11, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- Gift and tabletop sales have been getting an unexpected boost lately from an unlikely source: a collection of soft stuffed animals that 6-year-olds across the country are crazy about. The Webkinz...

Midwest delights in introduction.(tabletop)
February 11, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CANON FALLS, Minn. -- Seizing on the popularity of candles and home fragrance, and detecting what it considers a void in that market, Midwest has launched an extensive candle accessory line called Delight. ...

Portmeirion sets tables at Vail event.(tabletop)
February 11, 2008... VAIL, Colo. -- Portmeirion will be one of the sponsors for Taste of Vail, an epicurean event that takes place here April 2 through 6. Portmeirion will set several tables with its Sophie Conran dinnerware and will auction off a collection of...

Retailers ramp up bridal programs: stores offer guides, tips and advice to entice engaged couples.(BRIDAL REPORT)
February 11, 2008... RETAILERS ARE CONTINUALLY FINDING new and inventive ways to attract the lucrative bridal customer. According to a presentation last fall by Katherine Rizzuto, publisher of Brides, Modern Bride and Elegant Bride, bridal shopping is in...

Bridal mags positive about 2008: advertising revenues and Web traffic up, publishers report.(BRIDAL REPORT)
February 11, 2008... THE BRIDAL MARKET IS ESSENTIALLY recession-proof, a good thing for all industries that serve them, including the bridal media. "We've been very positive about the coming year because we do believe the bridal market can withstand the...

Tools for young cooks: manufacturers see bakeware, cookware designed for children as a sales category that is gaining momentum.(housewares)
February 11, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- Youth may be wasted on the young, but some hope cookware and kitchenware will have a different result as several manufacturers see children's cookware and bakeware as a category ripe with opportunity. ...

Groupe SEB realigns its North American business units.(housewares)
February 11, 2008... CANONSBURG, Pa. -- Groupe SEB has reconfigured its North American business structure, and has designated two executives as division presidents. The France-based parent of Krups, Rowenta, All-Clad, T-Fal and other housewares brands will...

FoldTuk introduces foldable bakeware.(housewares)
February 11, 2008... NEW YORK -- Using a proprietary ceramic compound called Ceramber, FoldTuk Kitchenware has introduced a collapsible bakeware product that combines the foldability of silicone with the heat transferring abilities of Ceramber. To be showcased at...

Spring expands Dr. Weil line.(housewares)
February 11, 2008... NEW YORK -- With its healthy launch last year nationwide, integrated physician Dr. Andrew Weil and Spring Switzerland have expanded their Weil by Spring Healthy Kitchen Collection in cookware and electrics, along with a dip into the home...

Colorful kitchenware.(housewares)
February 11, 2008... This International Home & Housewares Show will see an abundance of color as many companies will debut products in a rainbow of vibrant hues. With the amount of stainless and wood in people's kitchens, these new cookware and kitchenware items...

Fizzy water maker for the home.(housewares)
February 11, 2008... CHERRY HILL, N.J. -- With distribution in 18 countries, Israel-based home soda maker Soda-Club Enterprises has migrated to U.S. shores, giving people who are addicted to the carbonated stuff the tools needed to make it as easy to make seltzer...

Housewares show editorial deadline is Feb. 22.(housewares)
February 11, 2008... With the International Home & Housewares Show just around the corner, HFN has started collecting new product information and high-resolution images for its editorial show coverage. For those who would like to participate, please send materials...

Electrolux taps into China: Design Space intends to spark ideas between East and West.(major appliances)
February 11, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SHANGHAI, China -- Electrolux is hoping to tap further into the Chinese market with a new design facility in the country. The Design Space by Electrolux at the Shanghai Sculpture Square was created to "inspire...

Showing green at builders.(major appliances)
February 11, 2008... ORLANDO, Fla. -- In addition to nearly 2,000 exhibitors, attendees at this year's International Builders' Show--scheduled for Feb. 13-16 at the Orange County Convention Center here, can also explore a world of green building options. "The...

Haier looks to open drawers in high-end line.(major appliances)
February 11, 2008... NEW YORK -- Haier America, in its continued bid to push into the mass premium white goods space, will launch its first refrigerator drawer line in the second half of this year. Under-counter refrigerator drawers have gained in popularity in...

Lending crunch could boost factoring: asset-based lenders and factoring firms see uptick in business as small and upstart vendors look beyond traditional banks that focus on cash flow.(business & finance)
February 11, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- The lending crunch sparked by last year's subprime meltdown could actually be a boon for the retail factoring business as vendors that have historically used traditional bank lending are forced to seek...

It happened in Vegas.(HFend)
February 11, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The weather may have been a bit chilly, but inside the halls of the World Market Center, things heated up at the Las Vegas Market late last month. The opening night party spilled from the...

Ambition abounds at Ambiente.(home page)
February 25, 2008... FRANKFURT, Germany -- Despite the struggling American economy, manufacturers were upbeat at the recent Ambiente show here. Absorbing costs and rising raw material prices now standard, many felt that consumers will buy if they feel the quality...

Springs to revitalize Springmaid brand put new life into Wamsutta.(news)
February 25, 2008... NEW YORK -- Springs Global used the recent home textiles market to announce major initiatives for the Springmaid and Wamsutta brands. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The company said it would relaunch Springmaid, which celebrates its 80th...

High point market deadlines.(news)
February 25, 2008... HFN is preparing its High Point Market coverage, and invites all exhibitors to submit new product photography and press releases to us by March 3. Please e-mail high-resolution images (jpegs preferred; images must be at least 5-by-7 inches...

Correction.(news)(Correction notice)
February 25, 2008... In the Feb. 11 issue of HFN, in a story about WestPoint Home, the Charisma brand was misidentified. Charisma is a brand that WestPoint licenses from Iconix Brand Group.

FIT, HFPA honor four at scholarship breakfast.(news)
February 25, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- Four of the industry's leaders, representing several generations and many aspects of the home business, were honored here earlier this month at the annual Scholarship Breakfast for the Home Products...

Bringing down the house: HFN's State of the Industry report shows that the industry suffered across the board.(in focus)(Industry overview)
February 25, 2008... NEW YORK -- To state the obvious, it wasn't a very good year for sales of home furnishings. Retail sales of virtually every broad area of home goods were either down or flat, with the exception of housewares, which grew 3.2 percent. But...

J.C. Penney looks to hit a home run with American Living.(news)
February 25, 2008... PLANO, Texas -- American Living hits J.C. Penney shelves this month and it's the retailer's biggest home launch ever. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] While it may seem strange that J.C....

Gift for Life party a super night.(news)
February 25, 2008... NEW YORK -- Gift industry executives gathered here for a multipurpose soiree: to celebrate its 16th annual Gift for Life party to benefit amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, and the kindness and generosity of three of its members: Paulette...

Trade show calendar.(news)(Calendar)
February 25, 2008... april 1-4 Furnica Expo Poznan International Fair Grounds Poznan, Poland furnica.pl/en 4-5 Boston Gift Show Boston Convention & Exhibition Center Boston (800) 272-SHOW bostongiftshow.com 7-13 High...

Citigroup predicts the course of retail for the year ahead.(news)
February 25, 2008... NEW YORK -- Wal-Mart is poised to "get its mojo back," J.C. Penney could temper its most ambitious expansion plan in years and Target will finally shed its credit business, according to a Citigroup report. The investment firm offered a...

Raffin named global group CEO of Frette.(news)
February 25, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- Paul Raffin has been appointed global group chief executive officer of Frette. In his new post, Raffin oversees all of the operations of the Italian luxury-linens brand. He succeeds Enrico Marinelli,...

Ambiente ambiance.(trends)
February 25, 2008... Blessed with the appearance of sunshine people descended upon Frankfurt, Germany, earlier this month to see the newest releases and trends in tabletop and housewares. Offset designs and shapes were prevalent in tabletop. Housewares...

Retails of woe.(HOME ALONE 2)
February 25, 2008... You remember the times when people talk about the big shakeup that's going to come, how there's going to be all these huge changes and things will never be the same again? Well, this is the start of it, folks. If you look around the...

Material losses: sales in the industry did a turnaround from the prior year, with drops registered across many categories.(STATE OF THE INDUSTRY)
February 25, 2008... NEW YORK -- The textiles industry became one of the victims of the failing U.S. economy in 2007, as total sales for the products tracked by HFN fell by nearly 2 percent to slightly more than $19.5 billion. The industry's overall total...

Industry price hikes, show date changes hot topics at NY market.(textiles)
February 25, 2008... NEW YORK - To hear the vendors exhibiting new products during the showroom phase of the February home textiles market, they have no choice but to pass along the cost increases they have weathered for raw materials, labor and the fall in the...

Ready to get off the mat: while overall sales were flat for the year, some of the segments defied the odds.(STATE OF THE INDUSTRY)
February 25, 2008... NEW YORK -- It should come as no surprise to anyone in the floor covering industry to see numbers that were flat for the year. The very fact they didn't turn out worse should bring a collective sigh of relief. Topics such as the...

Simply elegant: a trend combining casual elements with a more refined look makes its way to the floor.(FLOOR COVERING Forecast: Rugs are in a state of transition as livable luxury and rich colors gain momentum)
February 25, 2008... THE AREA RUG MARKET IS EXPERIENCING a curious thing: It is faced with a consumer who has become more interested in incorporating elements of elegance into her home, but one who also wants to be able to live very easily and comfortably in those...

Style takes the floor: a range of different trends is available for consumers to choose from.(FLOOR COVERING FORECAST)
February 25, 2008... Asian Influential CALL IT THE LURE OF THE DRAGON THAT HAS HAD MANY A designer turning to varied takes on traditional themes from Chinese culture, Buddhism and Taoism. A heavy play on gold and silk accents or lustrous finishes mark the...

Inventories, consolidation make impact.(STATE OF THE INDUSTRY)
February 25, 2008... NEW YORK -- The housing market crash combined with skyrocketing energy costs to slam the category last year, particularly in the furniture segment. "The furniture business is a good barometer of the economy because it's a deferrable...

Taking a casual approach: the outdoor furniture market finds success amid a difficult economic environment.(CASUAL FURNITURE REPORT)
February 25, 2008... DAILY HEADLINES WARN OF A COMING recession. Government agencies report that economic growth has slowed to a standstill with joblessness rising. So what accounts for the optimism in the casual furniture market? Aren't furnishings sales...

Who will step up to the plate? With the exception of plastic, sales were either down or flat across the categories.(STATE OF THE INDUSTRY)
February 25, 2008... NEW YORK -- Last year started off on a good note. Reports from the regional gift shows and the overseas trade fairs at the beginning of the year were positive, and the industry was hopeful for a strong selling season. Alas, it never really...

Natural instincts take over at gift fair.(tabletop)
February 25, 2008... NEW YORK -- Fashionable, functional serveware continues to be the mantra of the tabletop and gift industry, and this was evident at the New York International Gift Fair, which recently wrapped up at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center here....

Doing their home work: manufacturers are looking to stay on a positive path by giving consumers an option to focus on renovation.(STATE OF THE INDUSTRY)
February 25, 2008... NEW YORK -- Though housewares has certainly seen its share of challenges in the past year, with continuing rising material costs and issues with China, the category still performed in the positive for the year, seeing a 3.2 percent climb over...

Jarden preps products for housewares show.(housewares)
February 25, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] RYE, N.Y. -- Jarden will be expanding its branded lines at the International Home & Housewares Show, including items for the kitchen, entertaining and storage. Retailing for $39.99, the Oster 3 in I Hand Blender,...

Economic downturn hits luxe market: the housing slump and recessionary climate are dampening consumer spending on home goods by affluent customers.(business & finance)(Industry overview)
February 25, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- It turns out the luxury sector is not immune to the economic downturn after all--nor are luxury home goods at retail. After outperforming much of the retail sector in recent years, sales have been...

An evening with GLM and 41 Madison.(It's All About AMBIENTE)
February 25, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Saturday night at Ambiente means heading to the Hotel Hessischer Hof for the annual event co-hosted by George Little Management and 41 Madison. People were able to compare notes after a day...

IHA at the Steakhaus.(It's All About AMBIENTE)
February 25, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] At the recent Ambiente fair in Frankfurt, Germany, the International Housewares Association hosted its annual party at the Steakhaus at Messe Frankfurt. Unwinding with wine provided by...