HFN The Weekly Newspaper for the Home Furnishing Network articles from January 2009

HFN The Weekly Newspaper for the Home Furnishing Network archives from January 2009

A second life: coming back as a brand creates new opportunity for fallen retailers.(in home)
January 5, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WHO SAYS THERE ARE NO SECOND ACTS? TELL THAT TO the defunct retailers staging comebacks as wholesale brands. The Sharper Image and Bombay furniture, both of which liquidated in 2008, will be reborn as home goods...

Filmed under 'Pressure'.(in home)(Brief article)
January 5, 2009... The journey of three inner-city Philadelphia high school students as they train for a cooking championship unfolds in the film "Pressure Cooker." From co-director Jennifer Grausman, the daughter of Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP)...

Surya honored by Indian government, export organizations.(in home)
January 5, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SURYA WAS RECOGNIZED RECENTLY BY THE GOVERNMENT of India and the Ministry of Commerce's Federation of Indian Export Organizations (FIEO) for excellence in exports. Surya President Satya Tiwari accepted the...

Dear Mr. President ... the home industry weighs in on the prospects of the new commander in chief.(in focus)
January 5, 2009... HFN STAFF REPORT [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] What's the best thing incoming president Barack Obama can do to help the industry? Rich Roman President Revman Industries "I'm more concerned about what he might do rather than...

The first family of style: designers predict the Obamas will have a major impact on the tastes of the American public.(in focus)
January 5, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CLASSIC WITH AN EDGE, COOL, MULTICULTURAL: These terms capture the style essence of President-elect Barack Obama and his family. The Obamas are poised to inform the home design tastes of the American public, said...

International appeal.(trends)(Trade shows)(Brief article)
January 5, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The European home furnishings shows are known for trend-setting and this year should be no exception. Here is a sampling of some of the stylish introductions to be seen across the pond in the coming months. 1|...

9 questions for '09.(HOME ALONE 2)
January 5, 2009... If there was ever a year that began with more uncertainty about just about everything, it must have occurred before any of us were born. In my lifetime, I've never quite seen the brain freeze that seems to be going on with just about...

Southern comfort zone: vendors are thinking big at the Atlanta area rug market, despite the economy.(floor covering)
January 5, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MANY RUG VENDORS, UNDETERRED BY THE poor economy, will debut expanded showrooms or are planning bigger-than-ever product launches at this week's Atlanta International Area Rug Market. In fact, some are looking at...

Atlanta exhibitors: ready to floor attendees.(floor covering)
January 5, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] RUG VENDORS ARE SET TO THROW OPEN their showroom doors and unveil hundreds of new collections, expanded lines and one-of-a-kinds this week at the Atlanta International Area Rug Market. Attendees will find a...

Cotton picking: the material's special characteristics make it a popular choice for rugs.(floor covering)
January 5, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] COTTON, OFTEN OVERSHADOWED BY WOOL and even synthetic fibers in the world of rug-making, may shine this year as its affordability and versatility make it a real contender. Wool is known for its durability,...

Loloi looks for more.(floor covering)(warehousing)
January 5, 2009... THE PAST FIVE YEARS FOR THE FLEDGLING Loloi Rugs has been characterized by its growth and quick success, said Amir Loloi, president. The future, he adds, holds more of the same. In a time marred by cutbacks and choked spending in nearly...

Chocoholics.(floor covering)(rug and carpet industry)(Brief article)
January 5, 2009... THEY MAY NOT TASTE AS GOOD AS THEY LOOK, BUT CHOCOLATE-colored rugs abound among collections and additions being introduced this January at the Atlanta market. All shades of chocolate browns have made their way into the rug land scape....

What's in a name.(floor covering)
January 5, 2009... SOMETIMES TWO HEADS ARE BETTER THAN ONE. SUCH IS the case when established rug manufacturers team up with outside designers to collaborate on new collections bearing names particularly familiar to home-decorating buffs. Rug companies will have...

A milestone for Gibson: celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, the family business follows in the father's footsteps.(tabletop)(Company overview)
January 5, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] STEADY AS SHE GOES COULD BE THE MANTRA OF Gibson, which, for the past 30 years, has quietly established itself as a powerhouse in the tabletop industry. Without a lot of flash or sizzle, the company has...

Let the show begin.(tabletop)
January 5, 2009... A NEW YEAR BRINGS A RUSH OF OPTIMISM and a sense of possibility. Tabletop and gift vendors are tapping into that sense of renewal with fresh product assortments for the Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Show this week. The color...

Charging ahead: while some obstacles might lie ahead, the industry is optimistic, thanks to nesting consumers.(State of the Industry)
January 5, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEXT YEAR WON'T BE AN EASY ONE FOR CONSUMER ELECTRONICS, BUT IT MIGHT NOT BE A wash-out either as worried consumers scale back purchases rather than forego them entirely. Certainly, the concluding holiday season has...

Apple bits.(consumer electronics)
January 5, 2009... Certainly, Apple will do what it can to drive smart-phone adoption. In a fourth-quarter conference call, Peter Oppenheimer, Apple senior vice president and chief operating officer, noted that the iPhone would get support from new features...

High-end hopes: luxury manufacturers are looking to avoid being dragged down by the current state of the U.S. economy.(textiles)
January 5, 2009... THE U.S. ECONOMY MAY BE SLIDING, BUT VENDORS OF LUXURY textiles are hoping that consumers still desire high-end linens for their home. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Executives with manufacturers of luxury linens said they still see demand for...

Mattress makers: wake up to marketing.(furniture & lighting)
January 5, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] GIVEN THE CURRENT SHAPE OF THE U.S. market, the nation's mattress manufacturers believe that the time is ripe for new approaches to marketing and merchandising...

100-proof market: now an established category in the small-electrics industry, alcoholic-beverage products are poised for more growth in 2009.(housewares)
January 5, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] BEGINNING WITH THE MARGARITA MAKERS launched two years ago, the market for products that make or store and dispense alcoholic beverages has proliferated into an important niche within the small-electrics universe....

Takeya USA's East-meets-West philosophy.(housewares)
January 5, 2009... FOURTEEN YEARS AFTER FOUNDING SNAPWARE, JOHN LOWN LOOKED to Eastern inspiration for his next challenge, partnering up with Japanese housewares company Takeya. Now president and chief executive officer of Takeya USA, Lown hopes to bring the...

Cutting in: Victorinox, chef Humm partner.(housewares)
January 5, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] VICTORINOX HAS PARTNERED WITH CHEF DANIEL HUMM OF ELEVEN MADISON PARK in New York City to promote the Victorinox cutlery collection through advertising, use of Victorinox cutlery in the Eleven Madison Park kitchen,...

Cuisinart trash bins come to the kitchen.(housewares)(Lifetime Brands)
January 5, 2009... CONSUMERS LOYAL TO THE CUISINART brand now will be able to extend that look in the kitchen to the trash bins, as Lifetime Brands has recently released its new waste-management system at retail. "It's the first time someone has applied a...

Pier 1 logs Q3 declines, faces NYSE delistinq.(in home)
January 5, 2009... PIER 1 IMPORTS POSTED THIRD-QUARTER SALES AND NET DECLINES AS it faces delisting from the New York Stock Exchange. But despite the results being "a great disappointment," the chain is seeing improvement in traffic and profit margins, said...

Michael's Gloria(ous) event.(MICHAEL FUX FOUNDATION)
January 5, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Michael Fux, former and about-to-be-again president and principle in Sleep Innovations showed his other side last month with his annual Michael Fux Foundation charity party for kids in Miami. Fux made sure there were...

Taking auction.(HFend Item)
January 5, 2009... Metropolitan Home magazine and the New York Design Center joined forces for the seventh annual Design Cares silent auction. Proceeds from the auction supported the Partnership for the Homeless' Furnish a Future program, New York's free...

The write stuff.(BERGDORF GOODMAN/DOMINO)
January 5, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The authors of some of the latest design books converged for an exclusive book-signing event at Bergdorf Goodman. The event, held on Bergdorf's seventh floor home store, was hosted by Nicholas Manville, vice...

Home wasn't it for the holidays: as retail overall struggled, sales in the category plummeted for the season.(in home)
January 19, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NOT ONLY WAS HOLIDAY 2008 ONE OF the worst in decades at retail, the home business also sank to new lows. Retail sales of home furnishings and furniture plunged 22.5 percent from 2007, according to MasterCard...

McMillon named CEO of Walmart International.(in home)
January 19, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Doug McMillon has been named president and chief executive officer of Walmart International, succeeding Mike Duke, who becomes CEO of Walmart Stores on Feb. 1. McMillon, who is now president and CEO of warehouse...

Who will be left at the table? Waterford Wedgwood's bankruptcy filing adds to the woes of the tabletop industry.(in home)
January 19, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WATERFORD WEDGWOOD'S RECENT BANKRUPTCY filing, along with the earlier filings by Lenox and Royal China and Porcelain Companies, could significantly weaken retailers' upstairs tabletop departments. These...

Ikea embraces change.(in home)
January 19, 2009... IKEA KICKED OFF ITS "EMBRACE CHANGE" ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN IN WASHINGTON, playing off the message of president-elect Barack Obama. As part of the campaign, the retailer erected an "Oval Office" decked out in Ikea home furnishings at...

Ticker shock: home goods retailers and vendors see stock values plummet in 2008.(in focus)
January 19, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] FOR PUBLICLY TRADED HOME GOODS RETAILERS and vendors, 2008 will likely go down as a year they'd like to forget. Of the 35 companies tracked by HFN, just four firms posted gains to the value of its stock while 31...

Coming full circle.(trends)
January 19, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The wheel, with its complete simplicity, has long been an integral part of function and design. The shape continues in popularity at this week's Dallas International Lighting Market as it provides the inspiration for...

Lessons learned and the damage done.(HOME ALONE 2)
January 19, 2009... This past holiday shopping season--heretofore known as Month of the Living Dead--was valuable and rewarding in only one single aspect: It wasn't a time for earning, it was a time for learning. The lessons learned from Christmas '08 will be...

Looking for light at the end of the tunnel: exhibitors at the Dallas market are working to defy tough economic odds.(totally dallas: furniture & lighting)
January 19, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THOUGH MANY COMPANIES ARE probably happy to see 2008 end, their outlook for this year remains challenging. While former hot-button topics such as raw materials costs may have subsided, others have grown....

In from the cold: major retailers push 'warmth' top-of-the-bed textiles in different directions online.(textiles)
January 19, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ELECTRIC BLANKETS, MATTRESS pads and throws; down and down-alternative comforters; flannel sheets--all of these categories and more are getting strong exposure on the Web sites of the nation's top retailers as the...

Textillery Weavers.(hfnew: NEW YORK GIFT)
January 19, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ONE OF THE NEW-PRODUCT focuses for Textiliery Weavers at this week's gift fair will be to expand its collection of bamboo products. The throw grouping pictured here includes the BTEX PL-TC throw (hanging), along with...

Sferra Bros.(hfnew: NEW YORK GIFT)
January 19, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CREATING AN EXPERIENCE is the concept behind Awning Stripe, a new bed ensemble by Sferra Bros., which will debut at this week's New York International Gift Fair. The design in Awning Stripe includes a classic floral...

BlissLiving Home.(hfnew: NEW YORK GIFT)
January 19, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] BLISSLIVING HOME WILL LAUNCH a number of bed ensembles at the New York International Gift Fair later this week, including the Tranquility duvet set. As the company described the new ensemble, the design is a case of...

Pamela Kline.(hfnew: NEW YORK GIFT)
January 19, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ON THE PREMISE that "beautiful dreams need enchanting linens," Traditions by Pamela Kline will introduce the Enchantment bed ensemble during this week's gift fair. The new ensemble combines soft and silky sheets with...

Colorful statements: a comforting palette is expected to stand out among the hues making their way to the floor.(floor covering)
January 19, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] RUG VENDORS SAY TO EXPECT SOFT, NEUTRAL COLORS TO REMAIN KEY THIS YEAR, with more vibrant hues making frequent appearances as accent colors in today's designs. Softer, neutral colors and earth tones continue to...

Creative, flexible strategy will win.(opinions)(retail sale)
January 19, 2009... Reflection on last year's economic status is bleak. Unfortunately, we are all aware that projections for 2009 appear to be more of the same. Many retailers experienced a sharp decrease in sales last year not seen since the 1980s, and...

Surya.(hfnew: GROWING GREEN)
January 19, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NO CHEMICALS. No dyes. No limits to beautiful design." That's how Surya describes its new Eco Collection of rugs featuring only the natural hues of the wool, from deep brown and gray to ivory. Hand-tufted in India,...

Momeni.(hfnew: GROWING GREEN)
January 19, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MOMENI'S VERDE is a completely organic collection of rugs inspired by nature. The rugs are hand-knotted of 100-percent hemp and colored with natural dyes. Part of the "Naturally... Momeni" group of products, Verde...

Green World.(hfnew: GROWING GREEN)
January 19, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] GREEN WORLD RUGS' Harvest rug is one of four new color combinations the company has added to its line of jute braided rugs. Green World describes jute as an inexpensive fiber that offers durability, great color and...

Pride Family.(hfnew: CASUAL FURNITURE)
January 19, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] PRIDE FAMILY'S SUMMER WINDS COLLECTION features the sleek contemporary styling of Ambiance Dining. The 48-inch glass table comes with four pillowed, sling swivel seating and chairs. The set is weather-resistant of...

New creative.(hfnew: CASUAL FURNITURE)
January 19, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE OUTDOOR POCKET WATCH WALL CLOCK is among the many pieces New Creative Enterprises offers to help consumers create inviting outdoor living spaces. The clock, which combines the charm of a pocket watch with the...

Town & Country.(hfnew: CASUAL FURNITURE)
January 19, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Town & country and Jardin de Ville have launched an outdoor furniture collection geared toward premier, luxury lifestyle consumers. The pieces are hand-wickered from round-weave Hularo fibers, a European material...

Agio.(hfnew: CASUAL FURNITURE)
January 19, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] AGIO INVITES CONSUMERS to take a seat--a deep seat--in this Veranda Collection chaise longue. It is constructed of wicker-woven steel with plush seat and back cushions. It complements various other Veranda pieces,...

In good company: as the gift show season gets into full swing, Two's Company keeps making its presence felt.(tabletop)(Company overview)
January 19, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WHEREVER THERE'S TWO'S COMPANY, there's a crowd. The giftware company, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, is never hard to find at gift shows: Its permanent showroom space...

Gifts to give in New York.
January 19, 2009... USHER IN THE NEW YEAR WITH BRIGHT AND CHEERFUL colors. New tabletop and giftware items being presented at the New York International Gift Fair and during Gift Week present a fresh palette, primarily in shades of green. Mother Nature provided...

Best Buy, Circuit City: Vac it up: the electronics retailers have made efforts to draw shoppers to their vacuum-cleaner sections.(housewares)
January 19, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] TVS, PCS, PHONES, HOME-ENTERTAINMENT CENTERS, game systems... vacuum cleaners? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Indeed. Best Buy and Circuit City, the nation's two leading purveyors of consumer electronics, have both...

Barnes & Noble cooks with Batali.(in home)
January 19, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] COPCO'S MARIO BATALI KITCHENWARE LINE IS making an appearance at a limited number of Barnes & Noble locations, displayed on a baker's rack along with his cookbooks. "We are a bookstore and we are trying to expand...

Tradeshow calendar.(Calendar)
January 19, 2009... January 14-20 Dallas Total Home & Gift Market Dallas Market Center Dallas (214) 655-6100 dallasmarketcenter.com 15-19 Dallas International Lighting Market Dallas Market Center Dallas (214) 655-6100 ...

Barclay at 15.(HFend)(Barclay Butera )(Brief article)
January 19, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Lifestyle designer Barclay Butera celebrated the 15th anniversary of his company with a party, held at his showroom in Los Angeles. Butera's business, which has done work for celebrity clients and lifestyle...

Reasons to celebrate.(HFend)
January 19, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Accessories Council kicked off the new year by honoring Dorothy Roberts, The Echo Design Group's chairman. The celebration, at Metrazur in New York's Grand Central Station, noted Roberts' career accomplishments,...

Mitchell Gold's 'crisis'.(HFend Item)
January 19, 2009... "Crisis" is the new anthology edited by Mitchell Gold, co-founder and chairman of furniture retailer Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, and a longtime gay-rights advocate. The book examines the effects of prejudice and discrimination on the...