HFN The Weekly Newspaper for the Home Furnishing Network articles from January 2003

HFN The Weekly Newspaper for the Home Furnishing Network archives from January 2003

SHOWTIME.(textile trade show in High Point, North Carolina)(Brief Article)
January 6, 2003... THE AMERICAN FABRIC market unfurls its 2003 wares in High Point this week while the worldwide textile market gathers in Frankfurt, Germany, for the Heimtextil fair. Complete opening-day coverage begins on page 20.

CAN THE U.S. EVER CATCH UP IN HOUSEWARES?(product design begins in Europe)(Industry Overview)
January 6, 2003... NEW YORK-America may be the leader in many design trends, but not when it comes to housewares. Many in the business, on the eve of the industry's big annual show next week in Chicago, grudgingly admit that Europe remains in the forefront...

HOME GOODS ONE OF FEW GOODS IN VERY, VERY BAD HOLIDAY SEASON.(home furnishings sales during holiday 2002)(Industry Overview)
January 6, 2003... NEW YORK-Although 2002 will go down in the retail record books as one of the most disappointing holiday selling seasons in years, home furnishings emerged as a bright spot for a number of chains. Still in the midst of tallying the results,...

WOODARD, LEISURE GARDEN PARTNER ON CHINA VENTURE.
January 6, 2003... CHICAGO-Woodard LLC has formed a joint venture with the principals of Leisure Garden, a leading Chinese outdoor furniture manufacturer, resulting in the creation of a new company, Woodard China. Executives said the strategic move will give...

REPORT: JOB OUTLOOK HURTS CONSUMER CONFIDENCE.(Brief Article)
January 6, 2003... NEW YORK-Rising unemployment and a discouraging job outlook weighed down on U.S. consumer confidence in December, according to the latest report from the Conference Board. As a result, the board's Consumer Confidence Index fell to 80.3 in...

NEWS BRIEFS.(miscellaneous brief articles)
January 6, 2003... Holiday Shoppers Overshot Budgets This year holiday shoppers say they spent 81 percent more than they had anticipated in late October, according to a Dec. 27 to 29 survey by the International Mass Retail Association. Shoppers averaged...

ETHAN ALLEN OPENS THE FIRST OF 3 CHINA STORES IN TIANJIN.
January 6, 2003... TIANJIN, China-There's lots of furniture flowing from China into the United States, but precious little headed in the other direction. Now Ethan Allen is giving China a taste of American furniture, opening its first store on the mainland. ...

HFNDEX: RETAILER CONFIDENCE DROPS IN FOURTH QUARTER.(Brief Article)
January 6, 2003... NEW YORK-Retailers expressed a lower degree of confidence in the economy during the fourth quarter of 2002. It was the third consecutive drop in the year. The HFNdex, a proprietary measure based on retail executives' responses to questions...

A HOUSEWARES VET LIGHTS AT CATALINA.(Catalina Lighting President/CEO Bob Varakian)
January 6, 2003... MIAMI-Toasters, decorative kitchenware and lamps may not appear to have much in common, but Bob Varakian sees many similarities among them. To the newly appointed president and chief executive officer of Catalina Lighting, they all require...

WAL-MART LOWERS COMPS ESTIMATE.(comparable store sales)
January 6, 2003... BENTONVILLE, Ark.-Although it won't be official until later this week when Wal-Mart releases its monthly sales figures, even the retailer of all retailers fell short this holiday season. Wal-Mart is predicting an increase between 2 to 3...

LEVITZ NAMES EPP RETAIL GROUP SENIOR VP.(Loreen Epp)(Brief Article)
January 6, 2003... GARDEN CITY, N.Y.-Levitz Home Furnishings Inc. has combined merchandising operations for its Levitz and Seaman's retail chains, and named Loreen Epp senior vice president of merchandising for the group. In this new position, Epp will be...

GROUP APPOINTS BOSCOV'S CHAIRMAN TOP RETAILER.(New Jersey Retail Merchants Association, Albert Boscov)(Brief Article)
January 6, 2003... TRENTON, N.J.-The New Jersey Retail Merchants Association presented Albert Boscov, chairman of the board of Boscov's Inc., parent of Boscov's Department Stores, with its Retailer of the Year Award. "Under the leadership of Albert Boscov,...

RETAILERS HOPING GIFT CARDS WILL PROVIDE JANUARY BOOST.(Industry Overview)
January 6, 2003... NEW YORK-Now all the hopes of retailers lie in the cards. After what is being labeled the worst holiday shopping season in three decades, retailers are hoping for a major boost from post-holiday shopping. Observers point to gift cards as a...

BURDINES NAMES HOUSEWARES DMM.(divisional merchandise manager Angela Baker)(Brief Article)
January 6, 2003... MIAMI-Angela Baker has been appointed divisional merchandise manager of housewares for Burdines, the Florida-based division of Federated Department Stores. She succeeds Rob Frohlinger, who was named divisional merchandise manager of shoes...

SAKS INC. TO SHUT BOSTON STORE IN MILWAUKEE.(Milwaukee, Wisconsin)(Brief Article)
January 6, 2003... BIRMINGHAM, Ala.-Saks Inc. will close a 153,000-square-foot Boston Store in the Northridge Mall in Milwaukee in March, affecting 150 employees. Boston Store operates 11 Wisconsin-based department stores. At the Northridge department store,...

SAKS LOOKS OUTSIDE THE MALL, PLANS LIFESTYLE CENTER STORES.
January 6, 2003... BIRMINGHAM. Ala.-Saks Inc. is starting to think outside the box -- the mall box, that is. The retailer, which operates traditional department stores as well as the luxury chain Saks Fifth Avenue, is planning to build stores in lifestyle centers...

BROWN JORDAN, MINDS EYE INTERIORS SETTLE PATENT INFRINGEMENT LAWSUIT.(Brief Article)
January 6, 2003... POMPANO BEACH, Fla.-Brown Jordan International Inc., the casual and contract furniture maker based here, has settled a patent infringement suit against one of its retail customers, Hawaii-based The Minds Eye Interiors Inc. At issue was the...

WHOLESALE, RETAIL TRADES SEE UNEMPLOYMENT RISE TO 7.5% IN NOVEMBER.(Brief Article)
January 6, 2003... NEW YORK-Unemployment in the wholesale and retail trades jumped to 7.5 percent in November, continuing a slowly rising monthly trend, and jumping significantly over the year from 6.4 percent. Joblessness in the two industries was also...

WHERE THE AUCTION IS.(Brief Article)
January 6, 2003... Auction houses are to collectors what racetracks are to bettors -- an irresistible, unpredictable thrill. Auctions, whether they be the country barn variety or the posh auction house type, all provide the same competitive thrill. For those...

THE NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK?(possible mergers and acquisitions in home furnishings during 2003)(Industry Overview)
January 6, 2003... Who will be the movers and shakers and who will be moved and shaken in the mergers and acquisitions arena this year? In-Play 2003 is HFN's exclusive report on the suppliers and retailers that figure to be the most likely players in M&A...

IN-PLAYS THAT DIDN'T PLAY OUT.(mergers and acquisitions in home furnishings during 2002)(Column)
January 6, 2003... A sluggish economic recovery kept things quiet on the mergers and acquisitions front, as most of HFN's "in-play" predictions for 2002 did not come to fruition. But that doesn't mean there weren't any juicy deals or surprise business moves....

TRADE SHOW CALENDAR.(Directory)(Illustration)(Calendar)
January 6, 2003... JANUARY 2003 6-9 Showtime Market Square Textile Tower High Point, N.C. (336) 885-6842 itma-showtime.com 7-16 Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market AmericasMart Atlanta Atlanta (800) ATL-MART...

DREAMING IN THE NEW YEAR.(retail trends)(Column)
January 6, 2003... A brand new year. We can start with a clean slate. In my consulting business, I spend a lot of time predicting trends or building on existing trends. So indulge me, if you will. I have my own "wish list" for the new year. These are trends...

RETAIL 5-0.(holiday shopping season 2002 features 50% off at most retailers)(Industry Overview)(Column)
January 6, 2003... Made it through another one, did you? Lived through yet one more holiday selling season and came out of it only emotionally, rather than physically, scarred? That the holiday shopping season of 2002 will not go down in the books as one of...

THE SOFT SELL; SHOWTIME EXHIBITORS WILL BE VYING FOR ATTENTION WITH NEW FABRICS WITH A GOOD HAND.
January 6, 2003... HIGH POINT, N.C.-A record number of exhibitors competing for buyers' attention at this week's Showtime fair are hoping that their fabrics will be the next big thing in 2003. Could it be softness or subtlety that consumers are looking for?...

OPPORTUNITIES ARE KNOCKING FOR U.S. EXHIBITORS AT HEIMTEXTIL.
January 6, 2003... FRANKFURT, Germany-American exhibitors here at Heimtextil have reasons to be optimistic. For one, a weaker dollar compared with the euro has augured well for business. Second is that the United States being a partner country to Heimtextil...

JONATHAN ADLER EXTENDING HOME LINEUP TO BED, TABLE AND KITCHEN PRODUCTS.
January 6, 2003... NEW YORK-"My goal is just to be creative," said designer Jonathan Adler, who is embarking on a journey that aims to add more modern sensibility to the mainstream American home. "My lifestyle is urbane, youngish, modern and not frilly,"...

PURCELL LETCHINGER CREATES MIDPRICED TEXTILES DIVISION.(Brief Article)
January 6, 2003... HIGH POINT, N.C.-The Purcell Letchinger Group Inc. has created a Global Textile Group division to offer midpriced textiles products to the residential and contract markets. Andrew Purcell, president and owner, said the division would offer...

HOME SOURCE LAUNCHES ITS OWN BRAND OF MICRO COTTON.(Home Source International)(Brief Article)
January 6, 2003... FRANKFURT, Germany-Home Source International is betting that Micro Cotton will be the next trend in sheets and towels and is launching its own brand, Home & Harmony, at Heimtextil this week. Keith Sorgeloos, president of the company that...

NEW DEVELOPMENTS AMONG VENDORS FOR HEIMTEXTIL AND SHOWTIME MARKETS.
January 6, 2003... NEW YORK-Whether it's in Frankfurt, Germany, for Heimtextil or High Point, N.C., for Showtime, textiles vendors have a lot of news to share. Here is some of what's going on at the shows this month. Tietex Unit to Show at Showtime In...

NEWS BRIEFS.(includes Melissa McDonald appointment, Bardwil Linens)
January 6, 2003... McDonald Joins Bardwil Linens as Designer Bardwil Linens has added designer Melissa McDonald to its design team. She reports to Julie Chisholm-Polich, senior vice president of design. In her newly created position, McDonald will be...

A SHOW OF UNCERTAINTY; DOMOTEX EXHIBITORS ARE EXPECTING INTERNATIONAL BUYERS TO BE CAUTIOUS THIS YEAR.(Hannover, Germany, rug exhibition)
January 6, 2003... NEW YORK-Suppliers heading to Germany for Domotex say they expect international buyers to be more cautious than American retailers shopping the upcoming markets in Atlanta and Las Vegas. The European economy, which soured long before the...

RUG SUPPLIERS MADE STRIDES IN BRAND RECOGNITION LAST YEAR.(Industry Overview)
January 6, 2003... NEW YORK-In the rug business, there are few brands that have reached the status of a household name, but suppliers are working to change that. This past year, manufacturers and importers launched licensed collections with well-known designers,...

MOHAWK PREMIERES NEW IDEAS TO PROMOTE ONE-STOP SHOPPING.(Mohawk Floorscapes)
January 6, 2003... PHOENIX-Mohawk unveiled new programs, products and merchandising systems to promote one-stop shopping last month at its Product Premiere and Floorscapes Convention here. There are about 400 Floorscapes stores, a number that grew by more...

NEWS BRIEFS.(miscellaneous brief articles)
January 6, 2003... Mohawk Home to Launch Synthetic Sisal Rugs Using Karastan's proprietary Karaloc looms, Mohawk Home has created a line of synthetic sisal rugs made of nylon. The collection, which will debut at the Atlanta International Area Rug Market...

ONTO TORONTO; EXHIBITORS ARE HOPING FOR THE BEST AT THE CANADIAN HOME FURNISHINGS MARKET.
January 6, 2003... TORONTO-Expect big crowds with big eyes and small purses. That's the prediction of several exhibitors for the Canadian Home Furnishings Market being held here Jan. 11 to 14. Retail buyers from throughout Canada and the states along the...

BROWN JORDAN INKS PACTS TO ENHANCE GLOBAL SOURCING.
January 6, 2003... POMPANO BEACH, Fla.-Brown Jordan International Inc., maker of luxury contract and casual home furnishings, has signed several deals to strengthen its global sourcing position and enhance its mass retail offerings, the company said. One...

NEWS BRIEF.(miscellaneous brief articles)
January 6, 2003... Kathy Ireland Goes to the Mattresses Kathy Ireland is getting into the mattress business through a partnership with bedding manufacturer Lady Americana. The initial offering of eight Kathy Ireland mattress models will retail at price...

TOUGH ECONOMIES CHALLENGE SHOWS IN COLOGNE AND PARIS.(furniture fairs, Cologne, Germany, Paris, France)
January 6, 2003... COLOGNE, Germany-As the furniture fairs in Paris and Cologne get ready to open their doors, the persistence of U.S. furniture vendors fighting for a foothold in Europe is being put to the test as economic troubles plague economies across the...

ACCESSORY VENDORS PONDER ROLLING OF DICE ON VEGAS SHOW.(Las Vegas Market, Las Vegas, Nevada, planned)
January 6, 2003... LAS VEGAS-Executives at the proposed Las Vegas Market here said they have leased nearly all the permanent exhibit space available to decorative accessories and lighting vendors in the market's initial phase. But until retailers arrive for...

LEGACY DIVISION SOURCES VALUE-PRICED IMPORTS.(Legacy Lamp Co., Legacy Collection)(Brief Article)
January 6, 2003... MARBLE FALLS, Texas-Legacy Lamp Co. has launched a division to bring value-priced imported lamps to furniture, specialty gift and lighting stores, and will exhibit in Dallas and Atlanta this month. Legacy, a Frank Fletcher company, has long...

IN FULL BLOOM; DESIGNER KIM PARKER IS BRINGING HER FLORAL DESIGNS TO DINNERWARE AND GLASSWARE.
January 6, 2003... NEW YORK-After having her bright, floral designs splashed on clothing, bedding, decorative pillows and rugs, Kim Parker has moved away from soft goods and into hard goods for the home with her new dinnerware and glassware collections from Block...

PORTMEIRION ENTERS HOUSEWARES WITH WINGET'S CHRISTMAS STORY.(Susan Winget)
January 6, 2003... NEW YORK-Portmeirion is launching a new housewares division, P.S. Portmeirion Studio, to incorporate the Susan Winget program, A Christmas Story, which has been awarded to Portmeirion for Christmas 2003. To aid in the implementation of P.S....

THE FINE ART OF CHARITY.(Rosenthal's Artist Series party benefits Miracle House)(Brief Article)
January 6, 2003... A guest at Rosenthal's Artist Series party last month paints a plate to benefit Miracle House, a New York City-based charity that provides temporary housing for terminally ill patients and their families. Party-goers could pay to paint their...

SOMETHING NEW FROM SOTTSASS.(Ettore Sottsass designs housewares collection for Baccarat)(Brief Article)
January 6, 2003... Ettore Sottsass, a leading designer of the 20th century and pioneer of the post-modern Memphis design movement, has created a limited-edition collection for Baccarat. The Rencontre Collection is composed of 10 designs, including vases, bowls,...

NEW PRODUCTS HAVE CONSUMERS DINING OUT AT HOME.
January 6, 2003... NEW YORK-Tabletop geeks aren't the only ones surreptitiously turning over plates in restaurants anymore. Evidently consumers have adopted the practice of examining restaurantware to find out who makes it. "People want to know where...

MARCEL WANDERS DESIGNS THE LATEST BOMBAY MARTINI GLASS.(Brief Article)
January 6, 2003... MIAMI-Industrial designer Marcel Wanders designed the martini glass for the latest Bombay Sapphire print advertisement, which began running earlier this month in such magazines as InStyle, GQ, Vanity Fair and Interview. The non-traditional...

A NEW KETTLE OF FISH; COPCO IS EXTENDING ITS BRAND NAME WITH A NEW LINE OF HIP KITCHEN GADGETS.
January 6, 2003... WOODRIDGE, Ill.-As it approaches middle age, Copco remains as hip as it was when it was launched by design guru Sam Farber in 1960 and changed the way we viewed teakettles by combining function with fashion. And the company, a division of...

HAND-WRINGING OUT THE OLD: AN INDUSTRY REVIEW OF 2002.(home furnishings)(Industry Overview)
January 6, 2003... NEW YORK-A return to relative normalcy after the traumatic events of 2001 didn't mean 2002 was a quiet year in housewares and appliances. At the beginning of the year, the economy was still soft, people were still stressed after the...

HAND-WRINGING OUT THE OLD: AN INDUSTRY REVIEW OF 2002.(home furnishings industry briefs)
January 6, 2003... DECEMBER Of all the executive departures at Kmart, the one that hit closest to home was Vinnie Franco, the divisional vice president of hard home. Chris Treganowan and Beth Donnelly, merchandise managers, are overseeing what were Franco's...

KRUPS AIMS TO BE A KEY BRAND IN FOOD PREP, KITCHEN ELECTRICS.
January 6, 2003... CLOSTER, N.J.-Krups is determined to make its brand name a force throughout the kitchen, growing its business in the areas of food preparation and small cooking appliances. The company is updating its product assortment with new categories, as...

NEWS BRIEFS.(Brief Article)
January 6, 2003... Hoover to Roll Out New Air Cleaner Hoover will unveil an air purifier -- a rare category extension for the vac maker -- at the International Housewares Show. The Hoover SilentAir 4000 uses disposable electrostatic sheets to capture...

SPECIAL EXHIBITS, EVENTS FILL HOUSEWARES SHOW.
January 6, 2003... CHICAGO-From a charity reception to an international "circus" to presentations on dazzling new colors and innovative new products, special events and exhibits will offer attendees at the 2003 International Housewares Show a diversity of...

THE HOUSEWARES SHOW SLATE: SPEAKERS, SEMINARS AND SUCH.
January 6, 2003... CHICAGO-Sam Farber and a panel of distinguished designers will discuss the power of design in today's highly competitive international marketplace at the keynote presentation during the 2003 International Housewares Show, kicking off the show's...

IHA'S LATEST MARKETWATCH UNVEILS DATA ON 25 PRODUCT CATEGORIES.(International Housewares Association )
January 6, 2003... CHICAGO-The latest edition of Marketwatch, Vol. 3, No.3, compiled by the International Housewares Association in conjunction with Riedel Marketing Group, examines 25 product categories within the realm of housewares. It examines their...

SHIPMENTS OF HOME ELECTRICS WERE POSITIVELY CHARGED IN 2002.(Brief Article)
January 6, 2003... WASHINGTON-If manufacturers' domestic shipments of housewares electrics are any indication, 2002 has been pretty good year. Major appliances increased substantially from a year ago and seemed certain to set an annual record. Core categories...

NEWS BRIEFS.(includes Stephen Spitz appointment, DeLonghi America)
January 6, 2003... Asko Earns an Assist in Solar Decathlon Win Asko appliances contributed to the winning solar-powered home in a nationwide Solar Decathlon. In fact, eight of the 14 contestants asked for AM Appliance Group's Energy Star machines, said the...

LATE DECEMBER RETAIL SURGE FAILS TO SAVE SEASON.
January 6, 2003... NEW YORK-Shoppers rushed stores the last week of December, but experts say it was not enough to save the holiday shopping season from experiencing some of the worst sales in three decades. Michael Niemira, economist with the Bank of...

ANALYST: HOME SHOULD SEE MORE GROWTH IN NEXT 5 YEARS.(Brief Article)
January 6, 2003... NEW YORK-What do bedroom linens, newspaper subscriptions and train fares have in common? According to a recent analysis of the Census Bureau's annual Consumer Expenditure Survey by Banc of America equities analyst Arum Rubinson, they are three...

RESTORATION HARDWARE REVISES Q4 EARNINGS FORECAST.(Brief Article)
January 6, 2003... CORTE MADERA, Calif.-Specialty home retailer Restoration Hardware revised its fourth-quarter sales and earnings outlook last week as sales during the holiday shopping season came in softer than expected. November and December same-store...

NEWS BRIEFS.(includes Home Depot shares decline)
January 6, 2003... Home Depot Among Dow Losers As the final day of trading for the year closed last week, Home Depot's share performance made it one of the worst stocks on the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Home Depot closed at $24.02, which was down 52.9...

THE HFN LIST; TOP 15 RETAILERS OF HARD HOME GOODS*.
January 6, 2003... Rank & Company Headquarters ($ in millions) 1) Wal-Mart Bentonville, Ark. $10,268.86 It was no surprise to find the world's largest retailer at the top of the list in selling hard home goods, since the giant leads in...

COTTAGE INDUSTRY.(Brief Article)
January 6, 2003... For the New York launch of Hamptons Cottages & Gardens' sister publication, Palm Beach Cottages & Gardens took over New York's Ingaro Gallery for the evening. Well-wishers got a chance to see the mag and congratulate editor Newell Turner and...

HERE COMES THE SUN KING.(Palaces of the Sun King: Versailles, Trianon, Marly -- The Chateaux of Louis XIV)(Book Review)
January 6, 2003... For a glimpse of long-lost royal splendor, nothing rivals "Palaces of the Sun King: Versailles, Trianon, Marly -- The Chateaux of Louis XIV" by Andrew Zega and Bernd H. Dams. Through vivid watercolor illustrations, the book showcases 20...

GOT ROCKS.(party for jewelry designer Tito Pedrini)(Brief Article)
January 6, 2003... Adrienne Vittadini recently hosted a cocktail party for her pal, jewelry designer Tito Pedrini, at her Fifth Avenue apartment. A portion of the evening's proceeds benefited the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

CUTLERY MAKERS ARE SHARPENING THEIR PRODUCT LINEUPS.
January 13, 2003... CHICAGO-Cutlery makers are coming to the International Housewares Show with new brands, expanded specialty shapes, and a wide variety of sets and price points. And there's a new glamour to marketing cutlery with noted chefs Emeril Lagasse, Ming...

ANALYSTS: BUMPY ROAD AHEAD FOR HOME DEPOT.
January 13, 2003... NEW YORK-After management at Home Depot dropped a bombshell on Wall Street two weeks ago, saying for the second time that sales and earnings for the fourth quarter would be lower than expected, the reaction on Wall Street was swift and furious....

DEPARTMENT STORES WORK HARD TO KEEP `GROSS' OUT OF MARGINS.(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... NEW YORK-Department stores are expected to report weaker gross margins for the fourth quarter as promotional activity was stepped up to lure holiday shoppers into stores. But looking at gross margins in the third quarter shows that the key...

PRICESMART'S SALES RISE 12% FOR 4-MONTH PERIOD.(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... SAN DIEGO-PriceSmart, the warehouse chain based here with stores in Latin America, the Caribbean and Asia, said sales for the four-month period ended Dec. 31 rose 12 percent to $249.3 million from $223.0 million in the same period last year....

NEWS BRIEFS.(Tiffany & Co holiday sales data; Standard & Poor's rates consumer products industry)
January 13, 2003... Tiffany Sees Holiday Sales Rise High-end retailer Tiffany & Co. said last week that net sales in the holiday period from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31 climbed 8 percent compared with the prior year. In the U.S. market, same-store sales for the holiday...

THE HFN LIST; THE 10 HIGHEST LEVERAGED HOME GOODS RETAILERS.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
January 13, 2003... Rank & Company Long -Term Debt (in millions) Total Equity Debt-to-Equity Ratio 1) SEARS $20,781 $6,214 334.4% Sears' long-term debt climbed nearly 10 percent in the most recent quarter from the prior year...

NEMTOI STORY.(Ioan Nemtoi Gallery in SoHo )(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... Looking for an intriguing gift? Then the Ioan Nemtoi Gallery is the answer. The gallery, located in Manhattan's SoHo district, features furniture designed by Amur Busuioc and art glass by Ioan Nemtoi. The collection, with prices starting at...

KICKOFF RETURN.(Elle Decor Dining by Design kickoff party )(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... The Armani Casa store and Elle Decor magazine packed them in 500 strong for the annual Elle Decor Dining by Design kickoff party in New York. People made it down to the SoHo store despite horrific traffic -- Margaret Russell even had to take...

BISSELL'S INTRODUCTIONS INCLUDE ADDITIONS TO DEEP-CLEANER LINE.
January 13, 2003... CHICAGO-Playing to its strength, Bissell is displaying several deep-cleaning products at the International Housewares Show here. But the venerable floor-care supplier has a few other items of note, including a sensor canister. Building on...

TARGET LANDS A SWELL ADDITION TO EXCLUSIVE DESIGNER LINEUP.(Swell home products licensing agreement)
January 13, 2003... MINNEAPOLIS-Target Stores, planting yet another designer feather in its cap, unveiled Swell, an exclusive line of home products from fashion designer Cynthia Rowley and former New York Times editor Ilene Rosenzweig, inspired by their book of...

NEWS BRIEFS.
January 13, 2003... Coviello Leaves World Kitchen Al Coviello, president of retail operations, has left World Kitchen, according to the company. Assuming Coviello's duties will be Ken Durrett, vice president of finance. OfficeMax Names Furniture VP ...

WORLD KITCHEN'S SHARMAN PLANS TO BE AROUND FOR THE '04 SHOW.(James Sharman new president and chief executive of WKI Holding Co.)
January 13, 2003... RESTON, Va.-The revolving door stops here, according to James Sharman, who is attending his first International Housewares Show as president and chief executive officer of WKI Holding Co., the parent firm of World Kitchen. Sharman, named...

KRUPS PERKS UP ITS COFFEEMAKER LINE.
January 13, 2003... CLOSTER, N.J.-As today's consumers continue to educate themselves in the area of coffee, Krups continues to bring them new ways of completing their experience. New coffee and espresso products from the company focus heavily on entertainment as...

EVERCARE VENTURES BEYOND LINT ROLLERS WITH SHOW ROSTER.
January 13, 2003... CHICAGO-Evercare is on a mission -- to be known well beyond its best-selling lint rollers and clothing-care items. The company is introducing more than 100 items at this week's International Housewares Show here, including cleaning products,...

CONTAINER STORE'S CEO: PEOPLE ARE MOST VALUED ASSET.(Kip Tindell on human resource management)(Interview)
January 13, 2003... NEW YORK-"Talent is the whole ball game." That was the simple premise of Kip Tindell, president and chief executive officer of The Container Store, at the recent Fairchild Publications CEO Summit here. The $300 million retailer is...

GLOBAL INNOVATOR AWARDS TO HONOR RETAIL ELITE.(International Housewares Show to honor retailers)
January 13, 2003... CHICAGO-Twenty retailers from around the world will be honored with Global Innovator Awards at the International Housewares Show this week with five global honorees being named at a gala awards dinner. The awards honor retailers who creatively...

CULINARY TECHNIQUES REVS IT UP WITH FERRARI.(Culinary Techniques adds G3 Ferrari products to distribution)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... CHICAGO-Culinary Techniques, the stateside distributor for Dualit and Gaggia, has added the Ferrari name to its roster and is previewing a select range of the products for the first time in North America at the International Housewares Show...

CHICAGO A-GO-GO.(International Housewares Show goes to Chicago)(Brief Article)
January 13, 2003... SHOW OF SHOWS: It doesn't get any better than this for the housewares hunter. The International Housewares Show hits the Windiest City with new products, new companies, new faces and even some familiar faces at new places. HFN's opening-day...

PARKS PUSHES FORWARD WITH NEW LOGO, PRODUCTS.(Parks Products )
January 13, 2003... CHICAGO-Parks Products comes to the International Housewares Show this week with a new company logo and new products, all reflective of the company's plan for forward motion. "We're coming into the new year and to the Housewares Show with...