HFN The Weekly Newspaper for the Home Furnishing Network articles from June 2002

HFN The Weekly Newspaper for the Home Furnishing Network archives from June 2002

LAZY, HAZY, CHAISEY DAYS OF SUMMER.
June 3, 2002... SUMMERTIME is almost here, and the living is always easier outdoors. It's time to get the backyard outfitted with the hottest products for the warm weather. See Trends, page 6.

WORLD KITCHEN, IN CHAPTER 11, VOWS TO KEEP BRANDS.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 3, 2002... ELMIRA, N.Y.-No one touches our brands. That's the message from World Kitchen after it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last week. "We don't have any plans to sell off any brands," said David Lanzillo, director of corporate...

FEDERATED BRAND STAND HAS HOME VENDORS SPLIT.(Federated Department Stores to discontinue products sold to mass merchants)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... NEW YORK-When Terry Lundgren, president and chief operating officer of Federated Department Stores, revealed that the retailer was dropping goods that are also sold to mass merchants, it sent a collective shiver through much of the home...

SAKS, MARSHALL FIELD'S ALSO LIKE EXCLUSIVITY, BUT POLICIES AREN'T FIRM.(Policy on exclusive merchandise under review)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... Although executives from Saks Inc. and Marshall Field's regard differentiated, exclusive merchandise as crucial to the success of their home businesses, neither chain has established a firm policy on what to do when traditional department store...

RETAILERS AT IMRA BANKING ON NEW LINES FOR SECOND HALF.(International Mass Retail Association's convention )(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 3, 2002... ORLANDO, Fla.-Retailers are counting on fresh assortments, such as the launch of Joe Boxer home products at Kmart and a test-run of mattresses in select ShopKo stores, to help drive their home businesses in the second half of 2002. Since...

GLM EYEING A NEW JANUARY HOUSEWARES EVENT.(Housewares-oriented trade show planned)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... NEW YORK-George Little Management announced the possibility of another housewares-oriented trade show, which would make its debut in January 2004, the same month the International Housewares Association will abandon a January show date after...

REID NAMED PUBLISHER OF HFN.(Kris Reid appointment)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... NEW YORK-Kris Reid has been named publisher of HFN, effective immediately. Reid was most recently acting publisher of the publication, a position she had held since February, when Ralph Erardy, the former publisher, reassumed the position...

PILLOWTEX, OUT OF CHAPTER 11, EXPECTS TO POST PROFIT IN 2002.(Retains its four major power brands)(Legal Beat)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 3, 2002... KANNAPOLIS, N.C.-Pillowtex has emerged from Chapter 11 largely intact and in possession of its four major power brands, succeeding where other struggling home textiles companies have not. According to the reorganization plan the company...

HOME DEPOT TARGETS THE FEMALE SHOPPER.(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... ATLANTA-Robert Nardelli, chairman, president and chief executive officer of The Home Depot, laid out plans to attract more female consumers to the home improvement behemoth at the company's annual stockholders' meeting here. The nation's...

DESIGN-DRIVEN.
June 3, 2002... Cutting-edge style took center stage last month at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York. Deconstructed forms and unexpected materials dominated the show, though a strong contingent of naturalists took style in the opposite...

FEDERATED FLAGSHIPS TAKE DIFFERENT DINNERWARE TACKS.(Federated's department store chains)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 3, 2002... NEW YORK-Bloomingdale's and Macy's are two upper-end department store chains owned by Federated that, in some ways, may be seen as competing with one another. In casual dinnerware, how do they differentiate themselves? Taking a look...

TARGETED INSPIRATION.(Target marketing campaign launched in consumer magazines)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... Target's new ad campaign featuring exclusive Wilton Armetale products has just broken in consumer magazines (this one ran in Elle Decor). The new line, placed in March, is called Wilton Armetale Inspirations and includes a total of 17 pieces in...

ONE SMALL STEP FOR AMANA; THE COMPANY LICENCES ITS BRAND NAME FOR A MOVE INTO SMALL APPLIANCES.(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... SEATTLE-Amana is joining the ranks of numerous companies eager to become one-stop shopping for consumers as it licenses its brand name for use on small appliances scheduled to hit stores this fall. The idea for the small-appliance line was...

ALL-CLAD TO SPRING INTO EUROPE WITH ACQUISITION OF SWISS FIRM.(Waterford Wedgwood acquires Spring AG)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... CANONSBURG, Pa.-Waterford Wedgwood's deal to buy Swiss cookware maker Spring AG gives All-Clad Metalcrafters a leg up on the European consumer market, even as it bolsters All-Clad's presence in the commercial cookware market in the United...

DOLLARS TO DOUGHNUTS: KMART'S CREDITORS RUN THE GAMUT, FROM SMALL TO LARGE FIRMS.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 3, 2002... CHICAGO-When Kmart submitted its massive, 11,000-page financial status report to the court last month, the filing showed a large number of unsecured creditors in the home furnishings, consumer goods and apparel industries. But it also revealed...

HOME GOODS SPENDING MAINTAINS UPWARD PACE.(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... NEW YORK-The home goods spending boom continues. Sales of home furnishings remained robust in the first quarter, according to recent government data, while sales during the second quarter appear to be equally strong. A virile housing...

THE HFN LIST; TOP 15 HIGHEST PAID HOME RETAIL EXECS IN 2001.(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
June 3, 2002... Rank Name Title Company Total Compensation Salary Bonus Other Annual Compensation 1 Robert Nardelli chairman, president, CEO Home Depot $13,779,602 $1,528,845 $5,000,000 ...

NEWS BRIEFS.(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... Analyst: May Sales Fail to Bloom Deborah Weinswig, equity analyst with Salomon Smith Barney, said in her weekly retail sales report that May sales have been disappointing for retailers, "with the third week's unseasonable weather...

ALPHA RECEPTORS.(third annual Alpha Workshops Awards )(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... The third annual Alpha Workshops Awards reception was a real treat for the 250 guests who braved the pelting rain to get to Gracie Mansion on the far reaches of New York's Upper East Side. This year's awards recipients -- Susan Becher of Susan...

A FIFTH AMENDMENT.(recently opened Washington Park restaurant )(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... Looking for a new place to try on lower Fifth Avenue in Manhattan? The recently opened Washington Park restaurant should fit the bill. Chef Jonathan Waxman's restaurant, designed by Glen Coben, features a wine list a mile long, a private dining...

THE MOMA OF ALL PARTIES.(annual George Little Management and House & Garden Museum of Modern Art party )(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... The annual George Little Management and House & Garden Museum of Modern Art party during the International Contemporary Furniture Fair was again the place to be out of all of the hundreds of parties happening during the New York market. This...

LIGHTS SHINE IN DARK ECONOMY.(overview of lighting industry)
June 3, 2002... The lighting business is resilient. When the United States was hit with the double whammy of an economic downturn and a national tragedy, some industries were decimated. But not the residential lighting business, which showed slight growth, to...

SOURCING SHOWS SIGNS OF SLIPPING.(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... The Industry's shift from domestic manufacturing to imports has been steady over the pst decade, but slowed some last year. After several years of double-digit gains in total imports of lamps and lighting fixtures, 2001 saw the first dip,...

WHY TARGET'S TOPS IN TOUTING ITS STYLE.(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... While advertising can be a major expense, it's also a real investment that can pay big dividends. Certain retailers believe in the power of putting their brands and products in front of consumers on a regular basis. It's no wonder these...

THE SALES FORECAST APPEARS TO BE BRIGHT.(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... Light bulbs are on the rise. In its comprehensive report, excerpted here, The Freedonia Group forecasts that U.S. demand for light bulbs, known in the industry as "lamps," is projected to increase by 3.9 percent per year through 2005, to $5.4...

EFFICIENCY TAKES THE SPOTLIGHT.(compact fluorescent lamp sales soared in the United States last year)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... After years of consumer resistance, compact fluorescent lamp sales soared in the United States last year. Compared with 2000 levels, national retail sales of CFLs more than doubled, California sales increased by more than four times and...

HALLS OF FRAMES; AT THE STATIONERY SHOW, EXPANSION INTO WALL DECOR WAS A KEY OBJECTIVE.
June 3, 2002... NEW YORK-The buzzword among frame manufacturers at the National Stationery Show here last week was category expansion. For most, that meant strengthening or delving into wall decor assortments. "Our driving force is key items," said Barry...

MANUFACTURERS LOOKS TO BREAK THE GLASS CEILING BY EXPANDING.(dinnerware vendors add glass beverageware to assortments)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... NEW YORK-Hoping to expand their offerings and increase their tabletop market share, some dinnerware manufacturers are either adding coordinating glass beverageware to their assortments or bulking up their existing glassware line. "We're...

NEWS BRIEFS.(Herend appoints Maureen Burns; Syratech Corp. names Tom Mirabile vice president of creative development)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... Herend Names Burns To Product Manager Post Herend has appointed Maureen Burns product manager, a newly created position in which she will work closely with Dianne Murphy, president, in developing new products bearing the Herend hallmark....

MAYTAG FORMULATING STRATEGY TO BUILD UP THE AMANA BRAND.(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... Amana's positioning in the marketplace is being addressed on multiple fronts by the brand's new owner. Ten months after Maytag acquired the respected refrigeration maker and began integrating the two Iowa companies' operations, the...

VAC MAKERS ARE REITERATING THE BENEFITS OF ACCESSORIES.(vacuum cleaning accessories marketed)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... NEW YORK-Vac wars are not fought by machines alone. As manufacturers and retailers battle to sell floor-care products, they're contesting a second front. Accessories sales total several hundreds of millions in dollars, are growing and...

CARPETSPLUS BUYS COLOR TILE; MEMBERS NOW TOP 400.(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... NEW YORK-The retail buying group CarpetsPlus has finalized the purchase of Color Tile, a retail buying group that specializes in hard surfaces, for an undisclosed price. The acquisition includes licenses for more than 90 Color Tile...

THE PITTS.(generation differences in the home furnishings industry)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... Let's say that unlike the rest of the country, you did not stay home and watch the "one-hour blessed event" where Jennifer Aniston's character Rachel gave "fake-o" birth on the TV show "Friends." Let's say that's because you were not born...

DESIGN WORKS OFFERS ROYAL SATEEN LABEL BED-IN-A-BAG.(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... NEW YORK-Royal Sateen is in the bag. Michael Bernstein, chief executive officer of Design Works, said this is the first time a bedding ensemble will be introduced under the Royal Sateen label. "For the bed-in-a-bag, it is a premium product....

WILL SHOPPERS SPEND GREEN ON ORGANIC SHEETS?(Gaiam Inc. plans to go mainstream with organic cotton sheets)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... NEW YORK-If you spend a third of your life in bed, shouldn't you be concerned about the chemicals on your sheets? You should, according to Gaiam Inc., a Broomfield, Colo.-based provider of goods, services and information to environmentally...

THE SPIN ON MICROFIBER; UPHOLSTERY RETAILERS ARE BOOSTING AWARENESS OF THE FABRIC BY TOUTING ITS BENEFITS.(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... HIGH POINT, N.C.-Microfiber may be today's miracle upholstery fabric, with its soft, suedelike hand, brilliant colors and remarkable cleanability. Upholstery manufacturers seem to think so, and they're putting microfiber fabric on...

RETAILERS REPORT VARYING RESULTS ON HOLIDAY SALES.(Memorial Day furniture sales)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 3, 2002... HIGH POINT, N.C.-Memorial Day sales seemed to be a mixed bag for furniture retailers hoping to get a boost headed into summer. Warren Malkerson, president and chief operating officer of Gabbert's Furniture & Design Studio, said sales were...

NEWS BRIEFS.(lighting industry contracts and executive appointments)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... Natuzzi Unveils Revamped Galleries Two furniture giants kicked off the summer with a new partnership when Natuzzi Americas opened the first of its redesigned galleries at FurnitureLand South in High Point, N.C., over the Memorial Day...

ALA EVENT ADDRESSES PROFITABILITY, ENERGY.
June 3, 2002... AMELIA ISLAND, Fla.-The waning profitability among independent lighting showrooms and the surge in demand for better-designed energy-saving fixtures topped the list of concerns at the American Lighting Association's annual conference here. ...

NAMES IN LIGHTS.(leading lighting retailers ranked)(Statistical Data Included)
June 3, 2002... These are the stars of the show in lighting. HFN's second annual ranking of the leading retailers reveals that nine of the top 10 grew their businesses while others dropped out completely. Absent are House2Home and Wards, whose demise...

THE LIGHTING REPORT; AN EXCLUSIVE LOOK AT INFORMATION, STATISTICS AND TRENDS.(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... Overall retail lighting sales grew to $4.59 billion in 2001. Fashion shades and value prices drove decorative lamp sales. Energy became the big issue in lighting. The big gainers were home centers in fixtures and specialty home decor stores for...

SHEDDING NEW LIGHT.
June 3, 2002... Welcome to HFN's second annual Lighting Report, a comprehensive source of data and information on this essential business. Unlike many other home businesses, overall lighting sales grew during the economic downturn of 2001 and despite the...

YARD GOODS.
June 3, 2002... With the hot days of summer fast upon us, it's time for some new outdoor living products. This summer offers a plethora of goodies for home entertaining, from the outright practical but necessary to the just-for-the-fun-of-it genre. Retailers...

TRADE SHOW CALENDAR.
June 3, 2002... June 2-5 Lightfair International 2002 Moscone Convention Center San Francisco (800) 450-1106 10-12 NeoCon World's Trade Fair The Merchandise Mart Chicago (800) 677-MART 11-13 Licensing 2002 International ...

A MARKET IMPROVEMENT.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 3, 2002... NEW YORK-With two show cycles behind us, is market attendance back to normal? Most shows experienced significant rebounds for the spring 2002 markets, especially when compared with the sparsely attended fall 2001 markets that unfortunately fell...

NEWS BRIEFS.(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... May to Test Small-Store Strategy May Department Stores Co.unveiled a prototype strategy for building smaller department stores that emphasize lifestyle-driven assortments to reach a broader consumer base -- especially younger shoppers --...

TERRY AND THE PIRATES.(Federated Department Stores to start dropping brands and products)(Brief Article)(Column)
June 3, 2002... "Give the lady what she wants." John Wanamaker "Give the lady what we want." Terry Lundgren Right at the start, let me say I don't think what Terry Lundgren and Federated Department Stores are doing is wrong. When...

OVERLAP OF LUXURY; SPECIALTY STORES ARE SEEING BIG BOXES MOVE INTO THEIR TERRITORY.(Frette, Bed, Bath and Beyond, Peacock Alley, Scheuer Linens)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... NEW YORK-When it comes to luxury, it seems there is room for everyone. There are luxury products to be found in a Bed Bath & Beyond store here on the corner of 61st Street and First Avenue. Not far from the store, on 59th Street, is...

ATMI URGES WEAKER DOLLAR, LOWER TARIFFS TO BOOST EXPORTS.(American Textile Manufacturers Institute)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... WASHINGTON-In the face of mounting job losses and declining exports, the American Textile Manufacturers Institute is leading the chorus of voices in the textiles industry asking the U.S. government to abandon its policy of a strong dollar and...

[0] NEWS BRIEFS.(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... Karen Neuburger Enters Partnership Karen Neuburger said Manual Woodworkers and Weavers Inc. will produce its tabletop line and other home products. The company's tabletop line includes placemats, table runners and napkins made from...

TIBETAN TAKEOVER.
June 3, 2002... NEW YORK-Sci-fi fans, rejoice. There's a rug for you. Looking like topographic maps of a fictional land, Utopia, a new collection of rugs by Angela Adams, was one of several striking exhibits at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair...

KOHL'S REPLACES RUG RACKS WITH NEW DISPLAY FIXTURES.(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis.-Demonstrating Kohl's view that rugs are a healthy business, the retailer has replaced its area rug racks with two-sided display units in each of its stores. Although executives would not comment for this story, an...

BIG DISCOUNTS MARK SUMMER PROMOTIONS.(carpet and rugs)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... NEW YORK-Memorial Day may be the traditional start of summer, but many stores started their seasonal promotions even earlier. Retailers know that rug sales slow down after June so they hold promotions in late spring. Other stores respond...

THREE OF A KIND.(Brief Article)
June 10, 2002... Restoration Hardware, Crate & Barrel and Pottery Barn: If you're seeing things in triplicate, you're not the only one. The new summer books are out, and they are strikingly similar. See page 8.

WILL INDIA TENSIONS PULL RUG OUT ON IMPORTS.(Brief Article)
June 10, 2002... NEW YORK-The threat of war between India and Pakistan has caused some importers to take precautions to protect their business in India while others played down the risk. The State Department has issued a strongly worded warning against...

HOMEGOODS TO THE MAXX: 500 MORE UNITS BY 2011.(Brief Article)
June 10, 2002... FRAMINGHAM, Mass.-TJX Cos. said at its annual shareholders meeting here last week that it will grow its HomeGoods home furnishings chain from 112 stores to 650 stores by 2011. About 500 of those will be freestanding units and the other 150...

NEW SEMINARS ARE SLATED FOR THIS WEEK'S LICENSING SHOW.(Licensing 2002 International)(Brief Article)
June 10, 2002... NEW YORK-Licensing 2002 International, scheduled for June 11 to 13 here, features the debut of the seminar program "Licensing University: Solid Solutions for Today's Business Realities." Attendees will have 10 seminars to choose from during...

DON'T GO EMPTY-HANDED.(gift giving)(Brief Article)
June 10, 2002... Immediately after accepting a gracious invitation to a friend's summer home, the hunt begins. What gift do you buy for the host or hostess who has it all? Think out of the box and give things that will be fun and useful, or at least help get...

ATTACK OF THE CLONES; THE THREE BIG HOME CATALOGS LOOK A LOT ALIKE--AND IT'S ALL BY DESIGN.(Crate and Barrel, Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware)
June 10, 2002... NEW YORK-What's that home furnishings catalog in the mailbox? Could it be Crate & Barrel? Or is it Pottery Barn? Then again, it might be Restoration Hardware. Cover up the name on the cover and only the most devoted customer would be able...

AD HOC SOFTWARES TO CLOSE ITS DOORS.(Brief Article)
June 10, 2002... NEW YORK-After a 26-year run, Ad Hoc Softwares, a seminal store here specializing in modern and industrial design, has begun its going-out-of-business sale and will close its doors June 23. When owners Judy Auchincloss and Julia McFarlane...

UNDERWOOD IN, KEARSE OUT AT KMART.(William Underwood, Cecil Kearse)(Brief Article)
June 10, 2002... TROY, Mich.-Kmart, restructuring its merchandising operations, named William Underwood executive vice president of sourcing and global operations, a new position. At the same time, Cecil Kearse, executive vice president of merchandising, has...

LOWE'S RESETS LIGHTING AREA ADDS KICHLER BRAND PRODUCTS.(Brief Article)
June 10, 2002... WILKESBORO, N.C.-Lowe's is resetting its lighting department to include Kichler brand lighting for the first time. This also marks the first time Kichler, one of the oldest and largest residential lighting suppliers, has sold its brand...

CORRECTION.(Brief Article)(Correction Notice)
June 10, 2002... Leonard Florence was incorrectly identified in HFN's 75th anniversary issue. Although he recently retired as chief executive officer of Syratech Corp., he remains chairman of the board.

BLOOM OPENS UP.(Mona Nerenberg's Bloom)(Brief Article)
June 10, 2002... The hottest new store to hit the Hamptons this summer, Mona Nerenberg's Bloom, also hosted one of the best early-summer parties. Aside from the guests and the beautiful new store, Robert Rufino bartending caused quite the buzz all night. Who...

THE NORTH CORK.(Bedell Cellars winery)(Brief Article)
June 10, 2002... Looking for something to do when the South Fork of Long Island gets to be too much? Then point the car north and head over to the North Fork to Bedell Cellars for a relaxing afternoon of wine tasting. An array of wines is offered in a...

VIVE LA DIFFA-RENCE.(Elle Decor Dining by Design event)(Brief Article)
June 10, 2002... The New York Design Center feted the Design Industry Foundation Fighting AIDS to thank those who participated in this winter's Elle Decor Dining by Design event. The evening was made even more festive with the help of the generosity of Victoire...

WORLD KITCHEN'S GROWING SAGA: ACQUIRING BRANDS--AND DEBT.(Brief Article)
June 10, 2002... ELMIRA, N.Y.-When WKI Holding Co . Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last month in an effort to cut its $812 million debt, the company turned yet another page in what has been one of the most riveting stories in the housewares...

COMPUTERS AND COFFEE: IS SALTON ON ITS OWN?(computer operated coffee machine)(Brief Article)
June 10, 2002... NEW YORK-Salton wowed retailers with the recent announcement of a new product line called Smart Appliances that will allow users to program their coffeemakers, among other kitchen electrics, with the simple point-and-click of a computer mouse....

HOOVER LOWERS THE BOOM ON BAGLESS PRICING.(new $130 model)(Brief Article)
June 10, 2002... NORTH CANTON, Ohio-Hoover has created a fresh dynamic in the market for bagless uprights by introducing a $130 model. It's a reflection both of Hoover's willingness to compete in floor care's lower echelons and the normal process of price...

SWAROVSKI HOSTS DISCUSSION ON HOME, FASHION TRENDS.
June 10, 2002... NEW YORK-Emerging trends in home and fashion were the topics of an interactive discussion hosted by Swarovski and led by Polly Mellen, the former creative director of Allure magazine. Also on the panel were interior designer Benjamin...

LITTLE DARLINGS; CHILDREN'S DINNERWARE IN TWO-AND-THREE-PIECE SETS ARE TOP SELLERS.(Brief Article)
June 10, 2002... NEW YORK-Despite the many other offerings and items in children's dinnerware lines, three-piece sets sell the best. According to David White, a buyer for Ross-Simons' retail stores, children's dinnerware sets, which usually include a plate,...

A MILESTONE FOR MOTTAHEDEH: CASUAL LINE TARGET YOUNGER SET.(Brief Article)
June 10, 2002... NEW YORK-Mottahedeh, the well-recognized and admired high-fired porcelain company perhaps best known for its museum reproductions and historic licensing agreements, is taking a turn for the casual with a new line it hopes will appeal to...

CHANEY FEELS THE TIME IS RIGHT TO ROLL OUT NEW CLOCK LINE.(Chaney Instrument)(Brief Article)
June 10, 2002... NORCROSS, Ga.-Chaney Instrument Co. will launch a line of upscale clocks at the summer gift shows as the company nears its first year officially in the clock market. Chaney's clock division -- formed last July when General Time Corp....

TOP 20 HOME WEB SITES THROUGH APRIL 2002.(unique visitors in thousands)(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
June 10, 2002... (Unique Visitor in Thousands) Rank Company Jan.-02 Feb.-02 Mar.-02 Apr. -02 Total 1 Officedepot.com 5,851 5,951 6,405 6,221 24,428 2 Bestbuy.com 5,937 5,694...

COMP INDEX FALLS IN MAY AS COOL WEATHER CHILLS SALES.(comparable-store sales)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 10, 2002... NEW YORK-May comparable-store sales were down for most retailers as cooler temperatures in many key markets hampered sales. Nearly half of the retailers tracked by HFN posted negative same-store sales for the month. The department stores...

DIRECT-RESPONSE MARKETING GURU TOUTS ROLE OF RESEARCH IN INFOMERCIALS.(Atomic Direct's Doug Garnett)(Brief Article)
June 10, 2002... NEW YORK-Doug Garnett founded Atomic Direct four years ago because his 10 years of experience in direct-response television taught him that the infomercial industry was not serving clients healthy enough profit margins. Garnett said the...

CREDITORS SELLING KMART CLAIMS TO DEBT BUYERS.(Brief Article)
June 10, 2002... CHICAGO-Creditors owed money by Kmart are cashing out their unsecured, non-priority claims by selling them to debt buyers. One recent transfer was from Glenoit Corp., which is also in bankruptcy proceedings. According to court records filed...

NEWS BRIEFS.(Brief Article)
June 10, 2002... Mohawk, Capel Renew Market Leases Mohawk Home and Capel Inc. are staying put, according to executives at AmericasMart, which runs the biannual Atlanta International Area Rug Market. Both area rug manufacturers have signed five-year leases....

TEEN PLAYERS; YOUNG ADULTS ARE GAINING INFLUENCE ON THE JUVENILE BEDDING MARKET.(Brief Article)
June 10, 2002... NEW YORK-It seems retailers have finally taken notice that young adults have as much to say about their bedrooms as their parents. "The market has always been there, but retailers were not paying attention," said Daniel Hammer, senior vice...

SPRINGS ACQUISITION OF BURLINGTON BUSINESSES COMPLETE.(window treatments and bedding consumer products business sold)(Brief Article)
June 10, 2002... NEW YORK-Burlington Industries has completed the sale of its window treatments and bedding consumer products businesses to Springs Industries and is getting ready to finalize the sale of its residential upholstery fabric business to Tietex...

NEWS BRIEFS.(Brief Article)
June 10, 2002... WestPoint Stevens Adds Two Executives WestPoint Stevens has named Gerald Moore director of bath product innovation and Henny Schlesinger Lakin bath shop designer manager. Both are newly created positions. In his new post, Moore, who...

GROWTH SPURTS; JUVENILE FURNITURE LINES ARE EXPANDING WITH NEW PRODUCTS FOR ALL AGES.(Brief Article)
June 10, 2002... HIGH POINT, N.C.-In the youth furniture game, vendors are moving their playing pieces up or down the age ladder, but nobody's stopping on one rung. Juvenile furniture manufacturers are adding cribs to their most popular lines or designing...

RTA, OFFICE AND CASUAL VENDORS PUSH CONTRACT LINES AT NEOCON.(home office and small office furniture manufacturers attend NeoCon trade fair)(Brief Article)(Industry Overview)
June 10, 2002... CHICAGO-The 34th annual NeoCon World's Trade Fair opened its three-day run Monday, June 10, with a handful of home furnishings vendors on hand to show their lines of contract furnishings. NeoCon, which runs June 10 to 12 at the Merchandise...

NEWS BRIEFS.(Michael C. Fina marketing to gays and lesbians)(Brief Article)
June 10, 2002... Michael C. Fina Hosts Commitment Fair In an effort to reach out to a previously untapped consumer segment, New York-based specialty retailer Michael C. Fina is holding its first-ever commitment fair for engaged gay and lesbian couples. The...