HFN The Weekly Newspaper for the Home Furnishing Network articles from July 2005

HFN The Weekly Newspaper for the Home Furnishing Network archives from July 2005

CHINA: BREAKING DOWN THE WALLS.
July 4, 2005... Rising from the east, three textiles mills lead the Asian nation's push toward a stronger U.S. presence. See pages 8, 9 and 11.

FEDERATED GETTING MAY PREPARED FOR ITS MAKEOVER.
July 4, 2005... Byline: Barbara Thau NEW YORK-The "Federalization" of May Department Stores Co. is under way. As expected, once the acquisition of its longtime rival is complete, Federated will eliminate May's corporate and merchandising offices in...

WHY WESTPOINT? ICAHN PURCHASE SPURS QUESTIONS.
July 4, 2005... Byline: Leticia Leizens NEW YORK-Is the corporate-raiding billionaire an investment genius or simply raving mad? That's just one of the questions industry insiders are asking as financier Carl Icahn prepares to take over the bankrupt...

WAL-MART DEFYING BASIC FORMULA FOR QUICK RATIOS.
July 4, 2005... Byline: Michael Rudnick NEW YORK-The quick ratio is considered to be the "acid test" of a company's liquidity and balance-sheet strength. Wal-Mart, however, defies this rule, as its quick ratio is the lowest among the top 10 home...

FINANCO TAPS GREENBERG FOR MERGERS POSITION.(Appointed Joyce I. Greenberg as a managing director)
July 4, 2005... Byline: David Moin NEW YORK-Financo Inc. has hired investment banker Joyce I. Greenberg as a managing director, a newly created position, to help bolster involvement in the mergers and acquisitions arena and in private equity funding. ...

THE HFN STOCK INDEX.(Home Furnishings News )(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... The HFN Index was saved from slipping into the red thanks to a 0.39 percent increase for retailers during the June 23 to 30 period. Bon-Ton Stores led the sector with a 7.5 percent jump to close at $19.35. The retailer's stock skyrocketed...

IN BRIEF: REPORT: BON-TON BIDS ON SAKS' UNIT ... MAYTAG AGREEMENT IN JEOPARDY? ... BED BATH TESTS TWO-STORE CONCEPT ...
July 4, 2005... REPORT: BON-TON BIDS ON SAKS' UNIT Regional discounter Bon-Ton Stores is reportedly bidding on the Northern Department Store Group of Saks Inc., according to an article published last week in Women's Wear Daily, HFN's sister publication....

JARDEN GETS SYNERGY BOOST WITH HOLMES ACQUISITION.
July 4, 2005... Byline: Jennifer White NEW YORK-If there were any questions about synergy before when Jarden Corp. acquired American Household earlier this year, the company has an answer in the form of its latest acquisition, The Holmes Group. Jarden...

SEALY LOOKS TO GO PUBLIC.(Lee Buchanan)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Byline: Lee Buchanan HIGH POINT, N.C.-Sealy Corp., parent of Sealy Mattress Corp., filed a registration statement last week with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with a proposed initial public offering of its common...

TRADE SHOW CALENDAR.(Calendar)
July 4, 2005... july 9-12 Philidelphia Gift Show Fort Washington Expo Center Fort Washington, Pa. (678) 285-3976 urban-expo.com 10-13 Showtime Semi-annual Fabric Market High Point, N.C. (336) 885-6842 itma-showtime.com...

SHOWHOUSE SHOWCASE.(Hamptons heritage)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Byline: Michael D. Devine Summer's here and it's time for that precious piece of Hamptons heritage, the Southampton Designer Showhouse. The event provides endless design inspiration to the people who visit it every season. This year's...

THE GIANT HAS AWAKENED; CHINA'S PUSH TOWARD THE U.S. TEXTILES MARKET TAKES FULL FLIGHT BEHIND THE DIRECTION OF THREE MILLS.
July 4, 2005... Byline: Leticia Leizens SHANGHAI, China-Chinese textile mills are considering a wide range of investment alternatives as they look to build on their initial penetration of the U.S. market As they begin the second phase of their...

THUNDER AND LIGHTING.
July 4, 2005... Byline: Arnold J. Karr Dos Filename %%h27a010a.arc%% Before heading to the lighting market at the Dallas Market Center last month, I hadn't been to Dallas in nearly 25 years. Yet, just like the last time I was there, the DMC was all...

SUMMERTIME CLUES; SUPPLIERS EXPECT TO STOCK RETAIL SHELVES NEXT YEAR WITH STRIPES, CIRCLES AND OTHER GEOMETRIC DESIGNS.
July 4, 2005... Byline: Rosamaria Mancini NEW YORK-The forecast for Beach 2006 is fun and fashionable. The $100 million beach-towel business has become trendier over the years, and now some of fashion's hottest looks, such as swimwear, have been...

NEWS BRIEFS.(Calendar)
July 4, 2005... BURLINGTON COAT FACTORY WAREHOUSE CORP., owner of Luxury Linens and known for Christopher Lowell's collection of bedding, bath and tabletop, said its board of directors is exploring strategic alternatives to enhance stockholder value and has...

ROLLING OUT THE WELCOME MATS; SUPPLIERS BREAK OUT THE CHEERFUL GREETINGS IN THE OUTDOOR CATEGORY FOR THE SUMMER.(Rosamaria Mancini)
July 4, 2005... Byline: Rosamaria Mancini NEW YORK-Florals reign when it comes to outdoor mats, especially when the temperature heats up. Suppliers said stylish and cheerful, yet functional, designs are what they are trying to create for the season....

BOB WESEMAN, MOHAWK VP, DIES.(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... NEW YORK-Bob Weseman, vice president of hard surface products for Mohawk Industries, died June 17 following a long battle with cancer. He was 43. Weseman had been with Mohawk for approximately five years and was instrumental in the...

NEW UNILIN PLANT PREPARES TO START PRODUCTION IN N.C.(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... NEW YORK-Production is expected to begin this month at Unilin Flooring's new manufacturing facility in Thomasville, N.C. The start of operations will mark the completion of the first phase of construction on a 1.1-million-square-foot...

NEWS BRIEFS.(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... STEPHANIE ODEGARD has opened her first Texas showroom in the Dallas Design District. Located at 1525 Slocum St., the showroom will feature Odegard's signature hand-knotted rug collections. The collections are pure Himalayan wool, hand-carded...

MAT THE BASICS SETTLES IN IN ATLANTA AND HIGH POINT.
July 4, 2005... Byline: Jennifer Quail NEW YORK-Mat the Basics is growing fast. The floor covering line just celebrated its first anniversary in the U.S. market in the spring and has signed on for permanent space in both Atlanta and High Point, N.C. ...

TUFENKIAN RELOCATES NEW YORK SHOWROOM.(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Byline: Jennifer Quail NEW YORK-Tufenkian has relocated its showroom here, opening its first storefront gallery in New York. The company said the move underscores its "renewed focus on accessible sophistication." The new showroom,...

OUTDOOR IS IN AT THE GREAT INDOORS; THE RETAILER SHEDS NEW LIGHT ON THE CATEGORY WITH AN EXPANDED PRESENCE POSITIONED AT THE FRONT OF 15 STORES NATIONWIDE.
July 4, 2005... Byline: Nancy Meyer SCHAUMBURG, Ill.-With its expanded outdoor lighting presence, The Great Indoors could be called "The Great Outdoors." Its new store set, which rolled out in June, doubles the assortment of outdoor lights and...

BDO SEIDMAN: SALES REBOUND, BUT CONSUMERS REMAIN WARY.
July 4, 2005... HIGH POINT, N.C.-The furniture industry rebounded in 2004 after a tough few years, but fragile consumer confidence and high housing prices figure to limit sales growth in 2005, according to a study by the accounting firm BDO Seidman. ...

NEWS BRIEFS.
July 4, 2005... PROGRESSIVE FURNITURE, a subsidiary of ready-to-assemble furniture manufacturer Sauder Woodworking Co., has acquired Royal Patina, an importer of classically styled furniture. "This acquisition provides our customers with a much wider range of...

NEW AD CAMPAIGN ENERGIZES LA-Z-BOY IMAGE.
July 4, 2005... Byline: Sheila Long O'Mara COLUMBIA, S.C.-La-Z-Boy hosted a part meeting, part pep rally and part rallying cry in Las Vegas for its dedicated network of stores. As part of the three-day conference, La-Z-Boy unveiled a consumer...

NEWS BRIEFS.(Maxim Lighting appoints Jim Keenley)(Eurofase hires Frank DiMatteo)(World Imports displays Baldwin Lighting Collection)
July 4, 2005... MAXIM LIGHTING has appointed Jim Keenley to the newly created post of vice president of marketing and sales operations. Keenley, who reports to Zvi Sperling, president, takes over marketing responsibilities formerly handled by Stan Drake, vice...

DALLAS MARKET LIGHT ON BUYERS.
July 4, 2005... Byline: Nancy Meyer DALLAS-Call it Dallas Light. The International Lighting and Accessories Market that wrapped up here last week may have been light on lighting buyer attendance as well as new products. But those who did make the trip...

ONE STEP BEYOND; STORE VISITS AND A POLL OF VENDORS REVEALS BED BATH HAS MORE TO OFFER IN ACRYLIC AND MELAMINE THAN LINENS 'N THINGS.
July 4, 2005... Byline: Allison Zisko, Carla Webb contributed to this report. NEW YORK-Much like in the overall tabletop category, when it comes to melamine and acrylic tableware, Bed Bath & Beyond is considered the leader over rival Linens 'n Things. ...

CURREN TO HEAD NORTH AMERICAN ARM OF GOEBEL.(Appointed Martha Curren)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... NEW YORK-Goebel, the German giftware company, has named Martha Curren president of Goebel of North America, succeeding Rick Wasserman, who has left the company. Curren, most recently president of Lenox Collections, will oversee all...

BORMIOLI ROCCO WATER-TASTING LINE TO DEBUT.(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Byline: Carla Webb NEW YORK-While the rest of the world is caught up in the stemless wine tumbler craze, Bormioli Rocco is focusing on water. The Italian glassware maker has added a water-tasting line to its Premium collection of wine...

TYPHOON SET TO MAKE WAVES IN UNITED STATES.
July 4, 2005... Byline: Carla Webb NEW YORK-United Kingdom-based housewares company Typhoon is making its way to the states, hoping to carve out a niche and create brand recognition while bulking up its tabletop category. "We want to establish...

RIEDEL JOINS BREAST CANCER FIGHT.(Riedel Crystal)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Riedel Crystal has created a limited-edition stemless pink O glass for October in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The glass is a variation on the company's successful O glass, which has prompted a stemless trend in the barware category....

MMPI HAS PRESENTS IN MIND WITH GIFT SHOW DEBUT AT 7 W.(Merchandise Mart Properties Inc., W New York)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... NEW YORK-Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. is marking its New York gift show debut this August with several events and seminars. The New York Gift Week at 7 W New York takes place Aug. 13 to 18 during the New York International Gift Fair at...

THE SOUP'S ON FOR ROSENTHAL WITH NEW WARHOL COLLECTION.(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... NEW YORK-Rosenthal kicked off the summer season last month with a soiree for the introduction of its Andy Warhol Campbell Soup collection at its showroom here. The collection is adorned with Warhol's well-known Campbell Soup imagery, which he...

COOLER HEADS PREVAIL; THANKS TO JUNE'S SULTRY WEATHER, HOME-COMFORT RETAILERS AND MANUFACTURERS SEE SALES RISE WITH THE TEMPERATURE.
July 4, 2005... Byline: Jessica Goldbogen NEW YORK-Members of the home comfort industry routinely pray for soaring temperatures, drenching humidity and sticky airless nights. After all, it's weather like this that spurs the sales of air conditioners, fans...

SALTON SEEKS RELIEF THROUGH AGREEMENT TO EXCHANGE DEBT.(agreement with bondholders )
July 4, 2005... Byline: Jennifer White NEW YORK-With two weeks left in its 30-day grace period to pay a $6.7 million interest payment, Salton said it entered a private debt-exchange agreement for notes due in 2005 and 2008. The move could buy Salton...

VAX TO HIT U.S. FLOORS WITH BEST BUY'S HELP.(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... NEW YORK-Royal Appliance Manufacturing Co. is bringing Vax bagless upright vacuum cleaners to the United States. Best Buy will be the exclusive retailer with units appearing in stores nationwide beginning in September. The company is...

NEWS BRIEFS.(iRobot Corp. introduces iRobot Roomba Scheduler Robotic Floorvac)(Leifheit International USA Inc. appoints Ron Hobbs as sales manager)(Procter & Gamble Co., Gillette Co.)
July 4, 2005... IROBOT CORP. introduced the iRobot Roomba Scheduler Robotic Floorvac, a robot that automatically vacuums floors on a set schedule. The company also introduced a Scheduler accessory pack for Roomba Discovery series models. IRobot Roomba...

GRILL INDUSTRY SEARCHES FOR SPARK.(Grill sales effected due to bad wheather)
July 4, 2005... Byline: Thyra Porter PORTLAND, Maine-The July Fourth holiday marks the height of the grilling season, but in many parts of the country, grill sales are off to a slow start due to an excessive amount of cold, rainy weather this spring. ...

PHILIPS DEBUTS PRODUCTS IN NEW YORK.(Philips Consumer Electronics Co. introduces its high-end SmartTouch-XL and Speed-XL shavers)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Philips showed new additions to its Norelco brand of men's grooming products at a product preview in New York. Although some of the products, such as the high-end SmartTouch-XL and Speed-XL shavers, were shown at the International Home &...

KEEPING UP WITH THE TIMES; CLOCK RADIOS MOVE INTO THE DIGITAL MUSIC REALM WITH MP3 FUNCTIONALITY.
July 4, 2005... Byline: Michael Rudnick NEW YORK-As MP3 increasingly becomes the music storage and listening format of choice, the technology is now crossing over into the clock radio realm. Clock radios, a historically commoditized category that has...

BEST BUY FIGHTS MASS-MERCHANT PRICE PRESSURE.(Best Buy Company Inc.)
July 4, 2005... Byline: Michael Rudnick NEW YORK-There's an electronics price war out there, and Best Buy is armed with global sourcing and private label. During Best Buy's annual shareholders day last month, Darren Jackson, chief financial officer,...

SHORT WAVES.(David Mathews new senior vice president of Circuit City Stores Inc.)(DisplaySearch Inc. to host its third-annual HDTV Conference)(Philips Consumer Electronics Co. with its new launch)
July 4, 2005... CIRCUIT CITY last week named David Mathews senior vice president and president of Circuit City Direct. Mathews succeeds Fiona Dias, who in May was appointed senior vice president and chief marketing officer, succeeding Ernie Speranza, who left...

BEST BUY VS. CIRCUIT CITY.(Best Buy Company Inc., Circuit City Stores Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... ON THE COVER Best Buy: Frigidaire 26-cubic-foot Side-by-Side Stainless-Steel Refrigerator, $1,149.99 Circuit City: Compaq Desktop Package, $319.99 PORTABLE DVD PLAYERS Best Buy: Insignia 7-inch 16:9 Widescreen Portable DVD...

NEWS BRIEFS.(Walgreen Co.' third quater profit)(Salton Inc.'s financial statements)(Consumer confidence surveys)
July 4, 2005... THE CONSUMER CONFIDENCE LEVEL for June, based on a monthly survey of 5,000 households, reached 105.8, nearly three points higher than in May and fully three points above the level recorded during the same month last year, as reported by The...

HOUSE & GARDEN PARTY.
July 4, 2005... Byline: Michael D. Devine The Hampton Designer Showhouse, presented by House & Garden magazine, proved again to be one of the top-drawing events of the season. More than 800 guests came to see the house and the designers who worked...

STEPPING IT UP.(ranking of home furnishings industry)(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... As home sales climbed, vendors reaped big rewards last year. HFN ranks the Top 50. See pages 14-22.

VENDORS: TARGET HAS EXCLUSIVES IN ITS SIGHTS.(Target Corp.)
July 11, 2005... Byline: Barbara Thau NEW YORK-Target delivered a message to suppliers at its recent annual vendor summit: Give us more exclusive merchandise, including well-known consumer brands. The upscale discounter is also making a bold bid for...

MOHAWK BOOSTS FLOOR PRESENCE WITH UNILIN BUY.(Mohawk Carpet Corp.)
July 11, 2005... Byline: Jennifer Quail NEW YORK-Mohawk took another step toward becoming a significant player in every area of the floor covering market last week when it said it will acquire Belgium-based laminate maker Unilin Holding NV for $2.6 billion...

KMART DRIVES 0-60 COLLECTION TOWARD YOUNG SHOPPERS.(marketing)(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... Byline: Barbara Thau NEW YORK-This month, Kmart will roll out 0-60, an exclusive back-to-school home collection with a hipster edge. The line will reach the retailer's shelves July 15 and will encompass 40 SKUs. "It's a very...

MERVYN'S TAPS MIGNEAULT TO FILL HOME DMM POST.(Nancy Migneault, divisional merchandise manager )(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... NEW YORK-Nancy Migneault has been named divisional merchandise manager of home for Mervyn's, the promotional department store chain Target Corp. sold to a consortium of private-equity firms last year. Migneault most recently served as vice...

CORRECTION.(Correction Notice)
July 11, 2005... In the July 4 issue, HFN incorrectly stated La-Z-Boy's growth projections for its La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries network of stores. The company said it plans to have 400 stores by the end of 2008.

IN BRIEF: GREINER TO HEAD MACY'S FLORIDA ... SALES VP MACKENZIE LEAVES ALL-CLAD ... UNIVERSAL NAMES HALL MARKETING VP ...
July 11, 2005... GREINER TO HEAD MACY'S FLORIDA Federated Department Stores has named Julie Greiner chairman and chief executive officer of its Macy's Florida division, effective July 31. She succeeds Timothy Adams, who last month was named chairman and...

PENNEY PUSHES EFFORTS TO MARKET PRIVATE BRANDS.(J.C. Penney Corporation Inc.)
July 11, 2005... Byline: Barbara Thau NEW YORK-J.C. Penney is revving up its private-brand marketing efforts. The retailer is looking to hire an executive to lead its brand-ownership program, confirmed a company official. The idea is to better...

HFNDEX SHOWS DECLINE IN SECOND QUARTER.(home furnishings)(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... Byline: Nathan Weber NEW YORK-Leading retail executives in home furnishings expressed a less rosy view of the economy during the second quarter, as the HFNdex dropped 5 points to 57.8. The decline in confidence -- the third consecutive...

TRADE SHOW CALENDAR.(Calendar)
July 11, 2005... july 15-18 The Gift Fair in Atlanta Georgia World Congress Center Atlanta (678) 285-3976 thegiftfairinatlanta.com 15-19 Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market AmericasMart Atlanta Atlanta...

MAJORITY OF SAKS INC. CREDITORS OK WAIVER.
July 11, 2005... Byline: Arthur Zaczkiewicz NEW YORK-A majority of creditors holding Saks Inc. debt agreed to a waiver of default and amendments relating to the retailer's tender offers and consent solicitations announced last month, the company said last...

U.S. PLANS TO CANCEL COTTON SUBSIDIES.(agricultural subsidies)
July 11, 2005... Byline: Evan Clark WASHINGTON-The Bush administration moved last week to cancel a program that has supported U.S. cotton growers and yarn spinners with millions of dollars of government subsidies and has been ruled illegal by the World...

WAL-MART'S ASDA REVEALS PLAN TO LAY OFF 1,400.
July 11, 2005... Byline: Samantha Conti, Sharon Edelson contributed to this report. LONDON-Asda, Wal-Mart's European division, plans to lay off 1,400 workers in a bid to cut costs and regain its share of the intensely competitive U.K. market. Some 200...

WILD@ART.(home furnishing designers' collection)(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... Byline: Michael D. Devine Modernist designers have been hitting the books -- art history books, that is -- along with museums and whatever else they can get their hands on for inspiration judging from the newest collections. The straight,...

THE BIG GET BIGGER; HEALTHY HOME SALES HELPED HFN'S TOP 50 VENDORS ENJOY GROWTH IN 2004.(Home Furnishing News)
July 11, 2005... Byline: Michael Rudnick NEW YORK-HFN's Top 50 Vendors have the robust housing market to thank for a year of solid sales gains, as they accumulated $64.4 billion in home furnishings sales for 2004, a nearly 6 percent increase for those...

THE BIG GET BIGGER, CONTINUED.
July 11, 2005... Company (2003 Rank) 2004; 2003; % Change ($ in millions) Products 1. Whirlpool (1) $8,254.0; $7,875.0; 4.8% Major and small appliances Proving that it doesn't get any easier at the top, the biggest home furnishings...

BRAND NEW DAY.
July 11, 2005... Byline: Arnold J. Karr Like "synergy," "inflection point" and the use of "partner" as a verb, the term "brand" gets tossed around a lot these days and not always with a great amount of justification. Frequently, it's part of a shell game...

THE BARWARE REPORT.(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... Barware sales grew more than 8 percent in 2004. Specialty stores lead retail channels in barware sales. Consumer wine connoisseurship boosts wine-related sales above all others.

VINTAGE YEAR; WINE-RELATED PRODUCTS PUMPED UP BARWARE GROWTH IN 2004 TO ALMOST 9 PERCENT OVER THE YEAR BEFORE.
July 11, 2005... Byline: Nathan Weber NEW YORK-In the multifaceted and robust home barware market, corkscrews and other bar tools once again boasted the highest sales increase in 2004, growing an estimated 20 percent over the year before. By comparison,...

CHANNEL CROSSING.(Barware retail sales)
July 11, 2005... Byline: Allison Zisko, Carla Webb and Thyra Porter contributed to this report. NEW YORK-Barware performs well across all retail channels of distribution and across all seasons, but there are definite areas of strength on both counts,...

WET APPETITES; CONSUMERS WHO HAVE BEEN OUTFITTING THEIR KITCHENS AT RECORD RATES ARE NOW BUILDING WET-BAR AREAS.(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... Byline: Thyra Porter NEW YORK-Barware is seeing increased retail sales as consumers who have been outfitting their kitchens at record rates are now building wet-bar areas. It is a home entertaining trend helped along by the fact that bar...

HERE'S TO THE TOP FIVE; A RETAIL SURVEY OF BRIDAL REGISTRIES SHOWS HOW COUPLES ARE TOASTING NEW LIVES TOGETHER.(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... NEW YORK-Bridal interest in barware begins at the reception -- the open bar, the toasts -- and continues throughout a couple's married life. Plans to entertain at home or set up home bars have no doubt sparked increased interest in the barware...

CAUGHT UP ON THE WEB; AMAZON'S HOME & GARDEN STORE HAS AN EXTENSIVE SELECTION OF BARWARE ITEMS ON ITS VIRTUAL SHELVES.(markets)
July 11, 2005... NEW YORK-Barware has always been an important category for Amazon's Home & Garden store. And with an extensive array of brands and merchandise available on its virtual shelves -- available to anyone with a computer, with no logistical or...

IN VINO VERITAS; CONTINUED CONSUMER INTEREST IN WINE DRIVES BARWARE BUSINESS.
July 11, 2005... Byline: Allison Zisko, Carla Webb and Thyra Porter contributed to this report. NEW YORK-Barware business across the country is primarily driven by wine consumption and the ancillary products that go with it, according to an informal survey...

SET IN THEIR WAYS; MORE MANUFACTURERS ARE TREATING ACCESSORIES AS GIFT ITEMS.
July 11, 2005... Byline: Thyra Porter PORTLAND, Maine-Barware is following the path of such kitchenware categories as cutlery by moving from primarily open-stock items toward the set business. The transition comes as manufacturers and retailers market...

VENDORS SEE INDUSTRY DRIVEN BY STEM SALES ; MANY SAY GLASS IS THE CLASS OF THE BARWARE INDUSTRY, DRIVING SALES AND GIVING THE CATEGORY A SOLID LEG TO STAND ON.
July 11, 2005... Byline: Allison Zisko, Carla Webb contributed to this report. NEW YORK-The popularity of martinis, margaritas and mojitos may have helped ring up big sales in barware in recent years, but it's stemware that drives the overall business,...

SHOWTIME'S FEATURE PRESENTATIONS; MODERN LOOKS, VIBRANT COLORS AND A VARIETY OF TEXTURES WILL BE IN FULL DISPLAY AT THE FABRIC FAIR.
July 11, 2005... Byline: Sheila Long O'Mara COLUMBIA, S.C.-Pure and clean color featured on more modern fabric designs with bulky texture, creative weave effects and unique drawings will take center stage at Showtime, running from July 10 to 13 in downtown...

HFPA SEEKS TO DROP CURTAIN ON NEW PETITION.(Home Fashion Products Association)
July 11, 2005... Byline: Rosamaria Mancini NEW YORK-The legal counsel for the Home Fashion Products Association said that if a petition seeking to place restrictions on imports of curtains from China was accepted by the federal government, the association...

LOUISVILLE LOOKS FOR GROWTH WITH BRANDS, DIVERSITY.(Louisville Bedding Co.)
July 11, 2005... Byline: Rosamaria Mancini NEW YORK-Louisville Bedding Co. is looking to strengthen its business by introducing more branded products, expanding overseas and diversifying into other textiles categories. The basic bedding company, which...

U.S. FABRIC COMPANIES SLOW TO EMBRACE USE OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY.(digital printing)
July 11, 2005... Byline: Sheila Long O'Mara COLUMBIA, S.C.-Digital printing technology is slowly but surely making its way into the decorative fabrics arena, but some print houses still aren't ready to leave traditional screen printing behind. Digital...

CUSTOMS NOT FEELING FESTIVE FOR COMPANIES.(Park B. Smith Ltd.)
July 11, 2005... Byline: Leticia Leizens NEW YORK-What is good for Park B. Smith Ltd. may not be good for other U.S. importers of festive articles. Park B. Smith Ltd. scored a victory in 2001 when the U. S. Court of International Trade broadened the...

GREENSPAN, SNOW REASSURE SENATORS ABOUT CHINA'S YUAN.(Alan Greenspan, John Snow, Charles Schumer, Lindsey Graham)
July 11, 2005... Byline: Evan Clark WASHINGTON-Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan and Treasury Secretary John Snow told two senators here that pressures in China have increased the likelihood its currency policies will be adjusted within months....

SURYA'S SURE PATH; REVENUE IS BOOMING FOR THE RUG VENDOR, AND ITS PRESIDENT BELIEVES THERE'S MORE GROWTH TO COME.(Satya Tiwari)
July 11, 2005... Byline: Jennifer Quail NEW YORK-Surya Carpet is experiencing a growth spurt. The company, about to participate in both the Atlanta International Area Rug Market and the inaugural Las Vegas Furniture Market this month, said revenue is up 72...

REDESIGNED ARMSTRONG.COM DRIVES BUSINESS TO RETAIL DOORS.(Brief Article)
July 11, 2005... Byline: Jennifer Quail NEW YORK-Armstrong has redesigned its Web site with the goal of attracting even more consumers and driving them to local retailers. The company said it wanted to make the move to providing solid leads for its...

THE FLOOR PLAN FOR CARPET ONE AND ABBEY: MORE GROWTH.(Abbey Carpet Co., Carpet One)
July 11, 2005... Byline: Jennifer Quail, Rosamaria Mancini Together, they claimed more than $5 billion of the flooring industry's sales for 2004. And their plans are to keep on growing. Carpet One and Abbey Carpet Co. are coming off big years and facing...

THE CALL OF THE MALL; IN AN EVER-GROWING TREND, FULL-LINE STORES ARE TAKING OVER ANCHOR SLOTS AT MANY RETAIL COMPLEXES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
July 11, 2005... Byline: Mark McMenamin NEW YORK-It's a time of dramatic change for the nation's shopping malls. Longtime anchor tenants are getting swallowed up in department store and discounter consolidations. Specialty stores are flocking to newer,...

CASUAL BUSINESS GETS PREVIEW OPPORTUNITY.(furniture retailers)
July 11, 2005... Byline: Jo Fleischer HIGH POINT, N.C.-Casual furniture retailers are applauding the first officially sanctioned premarket in Chicago this week. In the past, some casual furniture exhibitors in the Chicago Merchandise Mart opened for an...

ROBB & STUCKY COOKS UP INNOVATIVE RETAIL RECIPE.
July 11, 2005... Byline: Lee Buchanan BONITA SPRINGS, Fla.-It's a safe bet that Robb & Stucky's patio store here is the only furniture store in the country with an executive chef on the payroll. The chef is helping the luxury retailer cook up a winning...