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

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

VIVE LA HOME.(Galeries Lafayette S.A.,)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... Galeries Lafayette's brand-new stand-alone home store in Paris takes the French department store into a more upscale mode. See page 12.

KMART CASHES OUT AS SEARS BUYS IN.(Kmart Corp.,)(Sears, Roebuck and Co.,)
July 5, 2004... Byline: Barbara Thau TROY, Mich.-Kmart continues to sell its most valuable assets to deliver cash to its stockholders, including chairman Edward Lampert, the company's primary shareholder. In its second planned store sale in a month,...

WATERFORD CRYSTALLIZES TEAM: FOLEY IN, MCGILLIVARY RETIRES.(Chris McGillivary retires while John Foley and Peter Cameron get appointed)
July 5, 2004... Byline: Allison Zisko WALL, N.J.-The early retirement of Waterford Wedgwood Chief Executive Officer Chris McGillivary is a big step in the company's ongoing efforts to restructure management. With the arrival of John Foley, CEO of...

GOLDMAN ASSOCIATES TESTS RETAIL-BASED SHOWROOM IN MALL.(The Mall at Short Hills)
July 5, 2004... Byline: Gerry Beatty MILLBURN, N.J.-The store is in one of the most prestigious shopping centers in America, where rent seemingly is calculated by the square inch, yet it sells nothing. Goldman Associates, the regional distributor of...

SMITHSONIAN NAMES FINALISTS FOR NATIONAL AWARDS.(Smithsonian's Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... NEW YORK-Marc Jacobs, Narciso Rodriguez and Yeohlee Teng are finalists in the fashion design category of the National Design Awards, the Smithsonian's Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum said last week. This is the second year the awards,...

EMESS' HOME DECOR PORTFOLIO GROWS WITH MERGER, ACQUISITION.(Nicole Corp.,)(Emess Lighting Inc.,)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... Byline: Nancy Meyer ELLWOOD CITY, Pa.-Emess Design Group has merged with accent furniture supplier Stein World, based in Memphis, Tenn., and purchased lampshade maker Nicole Corp. of Cleveland for an undisclosed sum. Based here, Emess...

NEWS BRIEFS: RHODES APPOINTS FISHMAN CEO... COBUZZI LEAVES LENOX FOR FORTUNOFF... SPRINGS NAMES BEDDING PRESIDENT.
July 5, 2004... Rhodes Appoints Fishman CEO Rhodes, the furniture retailer based in Atlanta, announced that Steven Fishman has been named president and chief executive officer of the 90-store company. He succeeds William Kimbrell, who is leaving the...

BED BATH & BEYOND IS RIGHT WHERE IT WANTS TO BE ... STILL.(Bed, Bath and Beyond Inc.,)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... Byline: Warren Shoulberg MORRISTOWN, N.J.-After putting up yet another quarter of stellar numbers, Bed Bath & Beyond says the sweet spot it occupies in retailing is as immune from the economy as possible. Speaking after the company's...

PANASAONIC PARENT SHUFFLES EXECUTIVES.(Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., shuffles Yoshihiko Yamada and Masaru Kono)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... SECAUCUS, N.J.-Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., the consumer electronics giant known for its Panasonic brand, has named Yoshihiko Yamada chairman and chief executive officer of Matsushita Electric Corp. of America, and Masaru Kono as the new...

TRADE SHOW CALENDAR.(Calendar)
July 5, 2004... july 6-15 Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market AmericasMart Atlanta Atlanta (800) ATL-MART americasmart.com 9-11 The Art Glass Show Oregon Convention Center Portland, Ore. (740) 452-4541...

BEST LITTLE SHOWHOUSE.(home furnishings industry)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... Byline: Michael D. Devine The Hampton Designer Showhouse sponsored by House & Garden magazine recently opened to kudos from the 1,000 guests who attended the opening-night gala. The craftsmanship and creativity of the designers make for a...

MAISON MISSION; FRENCH RETAILER GALERIES LAFAYETTE TARGETS DESIGN-SAVVY URBAN DWELLERS WITH ITS NEW HOME STORE.(GALERIES LAFAYETTE S.A.)
July 5, 2004... PARIS-Can home decoration be sold to the pace of seasonal fashion trends? That's what French retailer Galeries Lafayette is betting on with its recently minted Lafayette Maison home store. Opened in March, the 100,000-square-foot unit on...

GIVE THEM PERMISSION.(home furnishings industry)
July 5, 2004... Byline: J'Amy Owens Consider for a moment that you are not selling sofas, linens or pots 'n' pans, but rather selling your customers "permission" to buy said objects. To accomplish this, you must shift to a perspective that can be...

RENAMED IN PARAMUS.(home furnishings industry, )(New Jersey)
July 5, 2004... Byline: Warren Shoulberg So, I'm cruising Route 17 in Paramus, as in Paramus, N.J., as in the epicenter of American retailing as we know it. It's a favorite hangout for me, as there's always something going on there, some new store, some...

THE BARWARE REPORT.(glassware industry)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... Barware sales rose 5 percent to $1.3 billion. Forty-two percent of barware dollars were spent on glass and crystal drinkware. the Popularity of wine drinking fuels growth in the category. Caption(s): From left: The Tuscan Cellars Wine Pro...

RAISING THE BAR; AS HOME ENTERTAINMENT GROWS IN POPULARITY, SALES FOLLOW THE SAME UPWARD PATH.(Barwell Inc., on the move)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... Byline: Nathan Weber Sales of barware for home use in the United States rose to more than $1.3 billion in 2003, reflecting a 5 percent increase over the previous year. Among the four broad product lines comprising barware -- not...

MINDING THE STORES; ALL TYPES OF RETAIL OPERATIONS ARE STOCKING THE AISLES WITH PRODUCTS.
July 5, 2004... Byline: HFN Staff Report Barware is everywhere now -- from warehouse clubs to mass merchants to department stores to high-end boutiques. And it's a good business for many. "Barware, as a category, is very strong," said Bette Kahn,...

VINTAGE POINT; A SURGE IN WINE DRINKING IS FUELING BARWARE SALES.(The Wine Enthusiast program)
July 5, 2004... Byline: HFN Staff Report Whether it is fueled by anxiety or by the famous cocooning trend, Americans are turning to drink, and that's been good news for makers of barware and wine accessories. The category is led by a surge in wine...

THE ART OF PRESERVATION; VACUUM-SEALING PUMPS ARE PREVENTING WINE ACCESSORY SALES FROM SOURING.(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... Byline: Thyra Porter Preserving wine for future use is helping boost sales of wine accessories. And while those who finish a bottle at the first go round may not believe it, vacuum sealing unfinished wine is big business. The...

TASTE TEST; FROM WINERIES TO GROCERY AISLES, VENDORS ARE VENTURING OUT TO NEW DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS.
July 5, 2004... Byline: HFN Staff Report Vendors are learning that, in barware, housewares departments aren't the only option. Liquor stores, grocery aisles and wineries are being tapped as alternate channels of distribution as wine and bar...

FULLY STOCKED; NEW BARWARE ACCESSORIES COMPLE-MENT HOME BAR DESIGN THEMES.(home furnishings industry)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... Byline: Carla Webb According to Vince Stansbury, kitchen designer at Expo Design Center in Burlington, Mass., the style or design of the home bar, which is usually requested as part of a kitchen renovation, is usually in keeping with the...

NET ASSETS.(Amazon.com Inc.,takes care of customer choices)
July 5, 2004... Grappa and cognac glasses, why the shape of a wine glass' bowl is better for a particular wine than another, how wine preservers work and why does anyone need one -- these are a few of Amazon.com's product and informational offerings, which...

NEWS BRIEFS.(Specialized Technology Resources Inc.,)(VF Corp.,)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... MICHAEL GANNAWAY, former chief executive officer of the liquidated Pillowtex, has been named to a newly created post as vice president of customer management for VF Corp., an apparel company with principal brands such as Lee, Wrangler, Nautica,...

LOFTEX USA HIRES DESIGN, MARKETING DIRECTOR.(Gretchen Dale gets appointed)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... NEW YORK-Gretchen Dale, former senior vice president of design and new product development of defunct Pillowtex, has joined newly formed Loftex USA as director of design and marketing. Dale teams up with Jim Ryan, previously with Welspun as...

THE CONSERVATIVE APPROACH; HIGH-END RETAILERS SAY IT PAYS TO OFFER TRADITIONAL-LOOKING PRODUCTS.(textiles industry)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... Byline: Leticia Leizens NEW YORK-Neutral colorations and classic patterns with updated looks are big hits for some high-end retailers. Yves Delorme, which sells luxury linens in its 38 stores scattered across the country and in two...

BRIGHT FUTURE; OLDER CONSUMERS GROW MORE DARING WITH COLOR AS RUG DESIGNERS LIVEN UP THEIR PALETTES.(rug and carpet industry)
July 5, 2004... Byline: Jennifer Quail NEW YORK-Often brought to market to entice the brighter tastes of the teen and tween demographics, color is crossing over, according to rug designers and manufacturers. Bright, often tropical shades and design motifs...

MOHAWK TO BUILD NEW FACILITIES IN GEORGIA.(Mohawk Industries Inc.,)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... Byline: Jennifer Quail SUGAR VALLEY, Ga.-Mohawk Industries has announced plans to build two new facilities in Georgia, expanding its Calhoun plant and paving the way for future job opportunities in the area. Merle Johnson, vice...

FLOOR MATS STEP UP AS A GROWTH CATEGORY.
July 5, 2004... Byline: Faye Musselman NEW YORK-Floor mats are becoming bolder. They've even changed their name -- once known as lowly doormats and purchased occasionally as utilitarian walk-offs, floor mats are now a year-round item used inside and out;...

CMI PROMOTION COMES TO THE `4'.(Colonial Mills Inc.,)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... PAWTUCKET, R.I.-Colonial Mills Inc. is offering customers significant savings through its "4 Sale" promotion. Available until Dec. 31, the promotion offers "4 for $499" pricing on four Simply Home rectangles and four classic ovals. The...

AMERICASMART ATLANTA HOSTS 2004 ROY AWARDS.(AmericasMart.com Inc.,)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... ATLANTA-AmericasMart Atlanta will host the 11th Annual Rug Retailer of the Year Awards on July 12, during the Atlanta International Area Rug Market. All ROY nominees are selected exclusively by AmericasMart area rug exhibitors and then voted on...

OBEETEE BLENDS OPTIONS FOR CUSTOMERS ONLINE.(Obetee Inc.,)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... NEW YORK-Obeetee is set to bring another resource to life for its current and prospective customers in Obeetee.com. The new site offers more than 300 designs, in a variety of sizes. The company said the site was designed to be a library,...

HIGH AND OUTSIDE; MASS MERCHANTS ARE MOVING INTO UPPER PRICE POINTS ON OUTDOOR FURNITURE.(furniture industry)
July 5, 2004... Byline: Jo Fleischer HIGH POINT, N.C.-Big-box stores, usually associated with discounting, are steadily moving to higher price points on outdoor furniture as shoppers favor more stylish aluminum and all-weather wicker collections. ...

PRICES, PROMOTIONS DOMINATE SUMMER DALLAS LIGHTING MARKET.
July 5, 2004... Byline: Nancy Meyer DALLAS-It seems that inflation has finally hit the lighting business. "The Price is Right" was the name of the game at the Dallas International Lighting and Accessories Market that wrapped up here last week, as the buzz...

NEWS BRIEFS.(appointments and facility closures)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... VAUGHAN-BASSETT FURNITURE President and Chief Executive Officer John Bassett, who spearheaded the drive that led to preliminary anti-dumping duties on some furniture from China, announced the company will close its Sumter, S.C., plant, which...

NEWS BRIEFS.(appointments and retirements)
July 5, 2004... EMILY HENDLEY has rejoined GuildMaster as the company's brand manager, a new post in which she works with Buzz Leer, vice president of specialty sales and marketing. From January 2002 to January 2004, Hendley was responsible for the...

BDO: MANUFACTURERS SEE HIGHS, LOWS IN APRIL ORDERS.(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... NEW YORK-It was feast or famine for domestic furniture manufacturers in April, with some reporting double-digit increases in orders and others saddled with double-digit declines, according to a monthly report from BDO Seidman. Overall, new...

CHARGING AHEAD; PFALTZGRAFF'S NEW PRIVATE-LABEL CREDIT CARD IS GENERATING BIG SALES IN THE DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER CHANNEL.
July 5, 2004... Byline: Allison Zisko YORK, Pa.-Pfaltzgraff is one ceramics company that is finding plastic profitable. In this instance, however, it is not an alternative dinnerware material, but a private-label credit card that is helping to drive...

LIBBEY REFINANCES BANK DEBT.(Ohio-Libbey Inc)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... TOLEDO, Ohio-Libbey Inc. announced that it successfully refinanced its bank debt under a new $250 million unsecured revolving credit agreement late last week. This new facility is for a term of five years. "We are pleased that we were able...

ONEIDA RESTRUCTURES LENDING AGREEMENT.(Oneida Ltd.)
July 5, 2004... Byline: Michael Rudnick ONEIDA, N.Y.-Struggling tabletop company Oneida Inc. has reached an agreement in principle with its lenders on a restructuring plan for its roughly $238 million in existing debt and for new revolving credit of $30...

ATLANTA BLOOMS WITH TABLETOP, GIFTS AND ACCESSORIES.(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... Byline: Carla Webb ATLANTA-The permanent showrooms at AmericasMart here open their doors Tuesday, July 6, for the Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Mart, and the temporaries kick off Friday, July 9. Meanwhile, across town, the...

PERSONAL CARE LIGHTING A PATH IN CANDLE SALES.
July 5, 2004... Byline: Carla Webb NEW YORK-Candles come to consumers in two distinct ways -- as a home decor item and as part of a personal care regime. As a home decor product, the look of the candle is often viewed as most important. As a personal...

WELCH'S MERCURY DESIGN RISING AFTER D & D AWARD.(William Welch)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... British designer William Welch of Robert Welch Designs was recently given a D & D Award for Mercury, one of his new flatware patterns. The D & D Awards, in which each category presents the top end of the design and decoration industry, judged...

NEWS BRIEFS.(ZODAX)
July 5, 2004... PETER COBUZZI, formerly Lenox Brands' vice president of brand development, left his position at Lenox and joined Fortunoff last week as senior vice president of marketing and sales promotion ARTIST MARY HUGHES has signed a licensing...

ENESCO LAUNCHING NEW ORDER TECHNOLOGY AT SUMMER GIFT SHOWS.(Enesco Group Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... ITASCA, Ill.-Enesco Group Inc. is launching automated sales order entry technology at all eight U.S. showrooms for the summer gift trade shows. The new system allows for the wireless transmission of showroom orders and represents the second...

MOVE OVER, WINE CHARMS.(Barware)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... NEW YORK-Barware is as big as ever (see the Barware Report beginning on page 15), and it is a sprawling category that has spurred an even more sprawling array of accessories to complement it. Although the wine charm craze is past its heyday, a...

FIELD'S FORMS PARTNERSHIP WITH BACCARAT.(Marshall Field's)(Baccarat Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... CHICAGO-Marshall Field's has formed a partnership with Baccarat to create a store-within-a-store concept, exclusive to its State Street store in Chicago and opening Aug. 11. The 500-square-foot shop will be located on the first floor,...

TARGET'S COOL MOVE; THE RETAILER PARTNERS WITH HAIER ON A ROOM-AIR PROMOTION IN NEW YORK.(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... Byline: Gerry Beatty NEW YORK-It sounded like everyone's stereotype of the ultimate Big Apple experience: "Hey, you: Want to buy a nice air conditioner off the back of my truck? Only 75 bucks." In this case, it was strictly on the up...

THE SALES THERMOMETER HOLDS STEADY FOR COMFORT APPLIANCES.
July 5, 2004... Byline: Gerry Beatty NEW YORK-Before he retired as GE's authority on room air conditioning, the late Jerry Michelsen espoused three eternal truths: "Always order to a normal season; consumers need three consecutive nights of discomfort...

NEWS BRIEFS.(General Mills Inc.)(Metrokane Inc.)(Trudeau Corp.)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... GENERAL MILLS TRADEMARK LICENSING partnered with Rubbermaid to create two lines of Betty-Crocker-branded food storage containers for club and mass stores. Both sets are freezer-, microwave- and dishwasher-safe... THE NEW BUNN INFUSION...

HONG KONG SHOW BACK FOR SUMMER.(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... Byline: Jennifer White HONG KONG-Housewares manufacturers and retailers are getting ready for round two in Hong Kong. The Summer Sourcing Show for gifts, housewares and toys, which will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and...

PALOMAR, GILLETTE SHED LIGHT ON HAIR-REMOVAL PROCESS.(Palomar Medical Technologies Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... BURLINGTON, Mass.-Palomar Medical Technologies Inc. and the Gillette Co. said they have entered the next phase of development for a light-based hair-removal device to be used by women at home. Palomar, a developer of light-based systems for...

REACHING FOR NEW HEIGHTS; APEX DIGITAL IS PREPARING TO ENTER THE LCD TELEVISION CATEGORY.
July 5, 2004... Byline: Michael Rudnick NEW YORK-Apex Digital, known for its opening-price-point analog televisions and other low-cost consumer electronics, is taking its first steps into the LCD television arena later this summer with an aggressively...

CLOCK RADIOS GET COMPANY AS MORE FEATURES ADDED TO PRODUCTS.
July 5, 2004... Byline: Michael Rudnick NEW YORK-The clock radio sections at consumer electronics retailers and mass merchandisers look a little different these days, as the category is being invaded by multifunctional units featuring CD players and...

SHORT WAVES.(Best Buy Company Inc.)(North American Retail Dealers Association)(Victor Company of Japan Ltd.)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... BEST BUY CO. has named Sam Taylor senior vice president of online stores and marketing. Taylor, who reports to John Thompson, senior vice president and general manager of BestBuy.com, is responsible for developing and expanding avenues in which...

BEST BUY VS. CIRCUIT CITY.(product comparison)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... ON THE COVER Best Buy: Sony widescreen projection 57-inch HDTV monitor, $1,999.99 Circuit City: Akai widescreen HDTV monitor, $999.99 DVD PLAYERS Best Buy: Sylvania DVD/CD/VHS combination player, $89.99 Circuit City:...

DESIGN WITHIN REACH RAISES $49.2M IN IPO.(finance)(initial public offering)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO-Design Within Reach, an online, catalog and brick-and-mortar retailer of contemporary furnishings, raised $49.2 million in its initial public offering last week. The offering price was set at $12 a share, opened at $14.80 and...

AS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION NEARS, RETAILERS STUFF GOP POCKETS.
July 5, 2004... Byline: Michael Rudnick NEW YORK-With the presidential election nearing, and the Republican and Democratic National Conventions just around the corner, retailers are once again leaning heavily toward the Republican party as reflected by...

HANOVER DIRECT TO CONSOLIDATE COMPANY STORE DISTRIBUTION.(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... Byline: Michael Rudnick EDGEWATER, N.J.-Hanover Direct Inc. is gearing up for the consolidation of its Company Store distribution operations in La Crosse, Wis., into its Roanoke, Va., facility. The consolidation, which will take place...

PIER 1 SETS QUARTERLY DIVIDEND, $150M STOCK REPURCHASE PLAN.(securities)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... FORT WORTH, Texas-Pier 1 Imports Inc.'s board of directors late on Friday, June 25, declared a quarterly cash dividend of 10 cents on its outstanding shares of common stock and approved a new $150 million share repurchase program. The...

NEWS BRIEFS.(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... CONSUMERS EXPRESSED their growing optimism in June by registering a huge increase of confidence in the economy. The Conference Board reported that the Consumer Confidence Index leapt nearly nine points in June, one month after remaining flat....

SHOWHOUSE SPECTACULAR.(home furnishings industry)(Brief Article)
July 5, 2004... Byline: Michael D. Devine Opening-night festivities for the Hampton Designer Showhouse, sponsored by House & Garden magazine, were like nirvana. An all-star cast of guests from society and the design world was awed by the beauty of the...

FLOORED IN ATLANTA.
July 12, 2004... Rugsapoppin': A dazzling array of vibrant colors and distinct patterns, including Momeni's New Wave collection, will be on display at the Atlanta International Area Rug Market. HFN's exclusive preview begins on page 16.

EDWARDS VP SELECTION PUTS TEXTILES IN SPOTLIGHT.(John Edwards influence on the textile industry if elected as the vice president of united states)
July 12, 2004... Byline: Joanna Ramey WASHINGTON-The selection of Sen. John Edwards, a son of a mill worker who was previously endorsed by the textiles union UNITE, to be the Democratic candidate for vice president is likely to call national attention to...

HOME AND RETAIL STOCKS FLATLINE FOR FIRST HALF OF '04.(home furnishings industry trends of stock valuations)
July 12, 2004... Byline: Michael Rudnick NEW YORK-It was a great first half for Kmart stockholders, but the same can't be said for their brethren in mass retailing. HFN's exclusive report on stock trading for the first half of the year shows a...

SEARS EXECUTIVES OUTLINE HOME FASHIONS MAKEOVER.
July 12, 2004... Byline: Barbara Thau HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill.-If you rebuild it, they will come. That appears to be the motto for Sears' home fashions department. The area is undergoing its second major revamp in a year that will upgrade a whopping...

KATHY IRELAND'S BUSINESS MODEL: EXPANSION PLANS WITH ARROW.(Brief Article)
July 12, 2004... Byline: Leticia Leizens ANAHEIM, Calif.-Designer Kathy Ireland has expanded her home furnishings empire by partnering with Arrow Home Fashions, which will manufacture and market bedroom linens and accessories and soft window treatments....

NEWS BRIEFS: IKEA TARGETING MIDWEST, FLORIDA... ONEIDA PLANS ENCORE SALE...(Obituary)
July 12, 2004... IKEA Targeting Midwest, Florida As IKEA prepared for the grand opening of its newest store near the Mall of America this week, company officials said future locations will include a second store near Chicago in 2005 and its first Florida...

JUNE HFN COMPS INDEX DIPS BUT SHOWS INCREASE OVER '03.(human-friendly naming )
July 12, 2004... Byline: Michael Rudnick, Nathan Weber contributed to this report. EW YORK-June same-store sales slid from May due to unseasonably cool weather and a softening in spending among lower- and middle-income consumers. Thanks to strong numbers...

OFFICE DEPOT'S M2 PROTOTYPE SET FOR MOVE INTO NORTHEAST.(Millennium2)
July 12, 2004... Byline: Karl Kunkel DELRAY BEACH, Fla.-The Office Depot chain has fired its first shot in its latest battle with archrival Staples. The prize: the lucrative, high-population Northeast. At a June 30 press conference here, a few miles...

225 FIFTH AVE. GROUP EXPECTS NEW YORK TO REMAIN ITS HOME.
July 12, 2004... Byline: Allison Zisko NEW YORK-The 225 Fifth Ave. tenants association has narrowed its search for a new home to a few buildings in Manhattan, although no formal announcement has been made. Addressing rumors that various locations in...

A LOOK AT HUE'S HUE.(services of websites)(Brief Article)
July 12, 2004... Byline: Michael D. Devine Is green the new gray? Or is blue next year's green? Where does one go to find the answers to such baffling and important questions when planning the season? From small and tidy to large and extensive, there is a...

SUMMER SERVES UP SOME FRESH IDEAS.
July 12, 2004... Byline: Joel Kaplan Fresh ideas -- you gotta love 'em! Rowenta has commissioned Jasper Morrison, the influential English designer, to create a collection of kitchen appliances. Morrison has gained international recognition designing...

UP AGAINST THE WAL, PART 397.(Wal-Mart stores)
July 12, 2004... Byline: Warren Shoulberg Looks like it's time again to talk about Wal-Mart bashing. Not necessarily to join in on the hit parade -- as appropriate and fun an activity as that might be -- but more to comment on the volume of the bashing....

COVERING ALL THE ANGLES; UPHOLSTERY EXHIBITORS AT THE SHOWTIME FAIR ARE LOOKING FOR A TURNAROUND WITH NEW PRODUCTS.
July 12, 2004... Byline: Sheila Long O'Mara HIGH POINT, N.C.-Upholstery fabric suppliers are holding high hopes for the second half of a rough year and are banking on new products being shown at this week's Showtime, July 12 to 15, to help turn things...

GROUP HOLDS BEDDING SUPPLIERS TO PACKAGING, ADVERTISING CLAIMS.
July 12, 2004... Byline: Sharyn Bernard NEW YORK-Basic bedding suppliers better beware that what they claim in their packaging and advertising is truthful and in accordance with industry standards because, if it is not, infractions may be made public or...

ITMA EXPECTS SHOWTIME FAIR TO BE WELL COVERED WITH EXHIBITORS.(International Textile Machinery Association )(Brief Article)
July 12, 2004... HIGH POINT, N.C.-The organizers of this week's Showtime fair are optimistic that the event will bring a wave of increased sales for exhibitors. "Many manufacturers have told us that their sales have increased since the January show, and...

QUAKER SIGNS PROPERTY DEAL.(Quaker Fabric Corp.)(Brief Article)
July 12, 2004... FALL RIVER, Mass.-Quaker Fabric Corp. has signed an agreement to either buy for $21 million or lease a 600,000-square-foot building on 33.6 acres of land here that will allow the company to consolidate several of its operations. Larry...

GEORGIA ON THEIR MINDS; OPTIMISM ABOUNDS FOR THE ATLANTA MARKET AS EXHIBITORS HOPE BUSINESS CONTINUES ALONG ITS UPWARD PATH.
July 12, 2004... Byline: Jennifer Quail, Faye Musselman contributed to this report. ATLANTA-Vendors are heading to town this week generally pleased with the year's business thus far and expecting that, while the summer edition of the Atlanta International...

BUYERS LOOKING TOWARD THE FUTURE AT ATLANTA RUG MARKET.
July 12, 2004... Byline: Faye Musselman ATLANTA-Retailers heading to Atlanta for July's International Rug Market are optimistic, based on healthy sales in the first half of 2004. They're also keeping their shopping lists simple, and focusing on upcoming...

TASTE OF THE TROPICS.(influence of summer season in the design of rugs)(Brief Article)
July 12, 2004... Byline: Jennifer Quail ATLANTA-It has been mentioned more than a few times that summertime is not necessarily prime time for the rug business. Perhaps best put by Bill Ward, chief executive officer of Obeetee: "Who wants to buy a heavy...

IN MODERN TIMES.(designing and application of colors to home furnishings is the modern trend for the industry)(Brief Article)
July 12, 2004... Byline: Jennifer Quail ATLANTA-There comes a time when what began as a trend must be established as a legitimate category. For contemporary rug designs, that time has come. Long an established, everyday design scheme throughout Europe,...

MUTED SHADES SPEAK LOUDLY.(Brief Article)
July 12, 2004... Byline: Jennifer Quail ATLANTA-Mother Nature would be pleased to see that in a market rich with bold, bright colors and every shade of red, soft, earthy shades continue to be a necessity. Vendors and designers alike noted that while...

VENDORS SEE A BLUE HORIZON.(Brief Article)
July 12, 2004... Byline: Jennifer Quail ATLANTA-OK, so it's a red market. But that, of course, wasn't always the case. There was a time not too long ago when all you heard talk of was green and, over the years, other colors, too, have had their time in...

SEEING RED-AND MODERN, TOO-IN ATLANTA.
July 12, 2004... Byline: Jennifer Quail ATLANTA-It's a red, red, red, red world. What else can you say when nearly everyone who will be in town this week is talking about a "red market?" While opinions varied only slightly, the overwhelming consensus was...