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

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

EVERYONE IN THE POOL.
June 6, 2005... Splashing onto the scene are a number of new products that bring the comforts of home to the poolside. See Trends, page 6.

MACY'S MAISON MAKEOVER UNDER WAY.
June 6, 2005... Byline: Barbara Thau, Carla Webb contributed to this report. NEW YORK-The reinvention of Federated Department Stores' home business is taking flight. Macy's will unveil home shops from French retailer/wholesaler Comptoir de Famille...

MAYTAG SALE'S RIPPLE EFFECTS COMING SOON.(Company Profile)
June 6, 2005... Byline: Gerry Beatty NEWTON, Iowa-Whatever the outcome of the Maytag saga, major appliances and floor care are now changed industries, and Maytag Corp. will never be the same. In the wake of Maytag's sale last month, the firm's...

WAL-MART EYES INDIA AS NEXT STEP ON GLOBAL PATH.
June 6, 2005... Byline: Barbara Thau BENTONVILLE, Ark.-Wal-Mart Stores is clearing a passage to India. John Menzer, president and chief executive officer of Wal-Mart International, met with Indian government officials and Prime Minister Manmohah Singh...

SEYMOUR'S REGAL BEARINGS.(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... Regal Suite is a new bedding pattern from Jane Seymour's new Hamilton Collection, adding a modern twist to the Grand Hotel line. Grand Hotel is inspired by the actress/author/ home designer's movie, "Somewhere in Time." The Jane Seymour Home...

CLARIFICATION.(Correction Notice)
June 6, 2005... To clarify an article in the May 2 issue of HFN, Arc International's license with Coca-Cola is for all decorated glassware, as well as the Coca-Cola Genuine glass in red and clear. Libbey holds the license for "uniquely molded" glass...

IN BRIEF: FEDERATED TO SELL CARD PORTFOLIOS...LINENS, DECORATOR TEAM UP FOR LINE...DELGATTI BACK AT BROYHILL IN VP POST...
June 6, 2005... FEDERATED TO SELL CARD PORTFOLIOS Federated Department Stores will outsource its and May Department Stores Co.'s private-label credit card portfolios to Citigroup. Citigroup will initially acquire Federated's roughly $4.4. billion...

MAY COMPS UP MODESTLY AFTER BEST 2005 MARK.
June 6, 2005... Byline: Michael Rudnick NEW YORK-A review of sales in stores open at least a year shows that 17 of 24 retailers tracked by HFN saw improvements, versus seven reporting declines compared with the same month last year. The total average...

KARR APPOINTED EDITOR IN CHIEF OF HFN.(Appointed Arnold J. Karr as editor in chief )(Home Furnishings News)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... NEW YORK-Arnold J. Karr has been named editor in chief of Home Furnishings News (HFN), succeeding Warren Shoulberg, who has resigned. Karr rejoined Fairchild Publications, parent of HFN, in 2000 as Women's Wear Daily's senior editor of...

IN THE SWIM OF THINGS.(Directory)
June 6, 2005... Byline: Michael D. Devine It's nearly summer and pool season is moments away. Retailers are banking on high style this season with an array of products that will turn a pool area into a magazine shoot location. With items ranging from...

TRADE SHOW CALENDAR.(Calendar)
June 6, 2005... june 13-15 NeoCon World's Trade Fair The Merchandise Mart Chicago (800) 677-MART merchandisemart.com 21-23 Licensing Show Jacob K. Javits Convention Center New York (800) 331-5706 licensingshow.com...

TELL ME SOMETHING GOOD ... PLEASE.
June 6, 2005... Byline: Arnold J. Karr Last week's revelation that Deep Throat was actually Mark Felt, the former number-two official at the FBI, took me back to my early days as a reporter and the crusading spirit that attracted so many in my generation...

LABOR PAINS STRIKE CHINA; CAN THE NATION'S WORK FORCE AT THE MILLS KEEP UP WITH THE INCREASED DEMAND OF A GROWING ECONOMY?
June 6, 2005... Byline: Leticia Leizens SHANGHAI, China-China's population is more than 1 billion, so labor for its home textiles mills should not be a concern, right? Wrong. It may not be a serious problem now, but with the Chinese government's...

WEARBEST GIVES FABRICS PREMIUM ON PERFORMANCE.
June 6, 2005... Byline: Sheila Long O'Mara GARFIELD, N.J.-Wearbest Sil-tex Mills is combining its fashion-forward design with an exclusive solution-dyed polyolefin yarn to create a line of performance fabrics dubbed Bella-Dura. The collection, which...

LOWE'S, HOME DEPOT EXPLORE THEIR WINDOWS OF OPPORTUNITY.
June 6, 2005... Byline: Rosamaria Mancini NEW YORK-The Lowe's and Home Depot stores on Long Island have similar merchandising approaches to window coverings, but when it comes to the depth of their soft window selections, the stores differ greatly. ...

FORMER BURLINGTON HQ IS NO MORE.(HeadQuarters)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... Where has the American textiles industry gone? For chroniclers of that industry, the demolition of Burlington Industries' corporate headquarters in Greensboro, N.C., on May 23 brought finality to the history of what once was a mighty company. A...

NEWS BRIEFS.
June 6, 2005... THOMSON RESEARCH ASSOCIATES announced the introduction of Ultra-Fresh Silpure, a silver-based antimicrobial treatment for textiles. Through the use of metallic silver, Ultra-Fresh Silpure enables textiles manufacturers to add superior odor and...

SUNVIM GOES FOR THE GOLD.(Sunvim Hometextiles Co.)(Beijing Summer Games)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... In the battle for the 2008 Olympics, Sunvim Hometextiles Co. has scored early. The Chinese mill, based in Gaomi, Shandong province, in China, won the license to produce and market towels and bathrobes for the Beijing Summer Games. Products are...

SOLID PERFORMERS; ENJOYING STEADY GROWTH IN RECENT YEARS, LAMINATES AND HARDWOOD ARE BECOMING A SOLID FOUNDATION FOR THE INDUSTRY.
June 6, 2005... Byline: Jennifer Quail NEW YORK-Is a picture as good as the real thing? In the hard flooring market, where laminates are fueling growth in the total market, the answer to that question seems to rely on the eyes of the homeowner. The good...

SHAW CELEBRATES HISTORY; LAUNCHES PAYMENT PROGRAM.(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... DALTON, Ga.-After churning out more than 38 million square yards, Anything Goes!, a line of carpeting by Shaw Industries, has turned 25. The company plans to celebrate the 25th anniversary this fall with an eight-week sale and other...

SUMMER IN ATLANTA.
June 6, 2005... The summer edition of the Atlanta International Area Rug Market is fast approaching, so please make sure we know about your introductions. Send all press releases and/or photography to: Jennifer Quail or Rosamaria Mancini HFN ...

CARPET TILES ARE AGAIN FLYING OFF THE SHELVES.
June 6, 2005... Byline: Rosamaria Mancini NEW YORK-Carpet tiles, popular in the 1960s, have made a strong comeback as a creative do-it-yourself flooring option. The interest in carpet tiles, also known as modular flooring, had waned due to their...

NO WORKPLACE LIKE HOME; VENDORS ARE PUTTING TOGETHER A SELECTION OF RTA GOODS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE RESURGENT HOME OFFICE MARKET.(Ready to assemble)
June 6, 2005... Byline: Karl Kunkel HIGH POINT, N.C.-As home computers and attitudes about working at home evolve, so, too, are the ready-to-assemble home office furnishings being stocked at the office superstores, mass merchants and specialty stores. ...

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND SEES SHOPPERS HIT STORES IN FORCE.
June 6, 2005... Byline: HFN Staff Report HIGH POINT, N.C.-Furniture stores seemed to get their share of holiday business as consumers across the country turned out for Memorial Day sales. "Monday was the biggest day we've ever had in the store," said...

NEWS BRIEFS.
June 6, 2005... LEVITZ HOME FURNISHINGS INC., responding to the downgrading of its debt rating by Moody's Investors Service, said that new financing would allow the company to pursue its growth strategy and improve profitability. Moody's recently downgraded...

LOWE'S TO PUT HUNTER LIGHTING DISPLAY TO THE TEST IN INCREASED NUMBER OF STORES.(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... Byline: Nancy Meyer MOORESVILLE, N.C.-Lowe's Cos. is expanding its test of Hunter Lighting's patented mix-and-match display system by about 265 stores, bringing the total test to roughly 365 stores, a Lowe's source confirmed. While...

THE LIGHTING REPORT.(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... The $5.2 billion lighting business had steady growth in 2004. Fixtures posted the biggest increase at 5.5 percent. Energy-saving bulbs and fixtures gained momentum. Lighting and specialty stores picked up the greatest share in the category, up...

TAKING A LOOK AT THE BRIGHT SIDE; DESPITE THE BURGEONING COSTS OF RAW MATERIALS, SHIPPING AND FUEL, THE LIGHTING INDUSTRY -- RIDING THE WAVE OF NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION -- POSTED A SALES INCREASE OF 2.5 PERCENT.
June 6, 2005... Byline: Nancy Meyer Lighting is truly a bright spot in the home business, having posted a respectable 2.5 percent increase in 2004 to $5.18 billion in annual retail sales. This happened in spite of tremendous increases in raw materials,...

PERMANENT ARRANGEMENT; IMPROVEMENTS IN THE HOUSING MARKET CONTINUE TO HELP THE FIXTURE SEGMENT SEE SALES GAINS.
June 6, 2005... Byline: Nancy Meyer The lighting fixture business continued to post strong increases for the third year in a row and topped the $3 billion mark in 2004. Annual retail sales jumped 5.5 percent to $3.128 billion, according to HFN's exclusive...

GROWING DIMMER? SALES IN THE CATEGORY SLUMPED IN 2004, AND NEW INDUSTRY PRESSURES HAVE SOME WORRIED THE SLIDE IS NOT AN ABBERATION.
June 6, 2005... Byline: Nancy Meyer It was a rough year for the lamp business. After many years of steady increases, retail sales of portable lighting declined by 1.1 percent to $2.04 billion in 2004, according to HFN's exclusive research. The...

STORE POWER; HOME DEPOT AGAIN LED THE NATION'S TOP 10 LIGHTING RETAILERS, BUT BUSINESS WAS BRISK IN 2004 FOR ALMOST EVERYONE ON THE LIST.
June 6, 2005... Byline: Nancy Meyer The brightest lights in the business shone again in 2004. While the names of the top lighting merchants in HFN's exclusive annual ranking didn't change last year, there was some shuffling among them. Nine of...

TRADE WINS; THE IMPORTANCE OF IMPORTS MAKES A CLEARLY VISIBLE IMPACT.
June 6, 2005... Byline: Nancy Meyer While the lighting industry has been actively importing portable lamps, fixed-wire lighting and component parts for two decades, there have been some factors that provide insight into the market's changes. First,...

THE NAMES SAY IT ALL; A CONSUMER SURVEY FINDS THAT WESTINGHOUSE, J.C. PENNEY HOME COLLECTION AND HUNTER TOP THE CHART IN BRAND RECOGNITION AND TRUST.
June 6, 2005... Byline: Nancy Meyer While many lighting companies are trying to brand their names in the marketplace, it's very hard to establish and maintain a trusted brand that consumers would call their favorite. Westinghouse, however, has done...

HOME CENTERS TAKE CHARGE; INDIVIDUAL INCANDESCENT BULBS STILL DRIVE A THRIVING SALES MARKET WITH SOME FAMILIAR RETAIL GIANTS ATTRACTING THE MOST BUYERS.
June 6, 2005... Byline: Nancy Meyer The retail market for light bulbs continues to grow at a strong pace, topping $2.7 billion in 2004, according to figures from AC Nielsen and Activant. While pundits predict that light-emitting diodes will eventually...

MARKETPLACE SEES THE LIGHT ON ENERGY; THE GOAL IS CONSERVATION AS THE INDUSTRY WEIGHS HOW TO MIX MARKETING STRATEGIES WITH ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY.
June 6, 2005... Byline: Nancy Meyer Energy has become a hot topic not only in the political arena, but in the retail marketplace as well. Today's lighting industry is very focused on offering to consumers the best possible lighting options that also...

LET OFF SOME STEMS; NON-TRADITIONAL WINE GLASSES ARE MAKING A STAND WITH RETAILERS.
June 6, 2005... Byline: Carla Webb, Allison Zisko contributed to this report NEW YORK-Riedel's O has paved the way for a new take on stemware from other manufacturers -- the stemless stem, that is. When Riedel introduced its collection of O stemless...

AS THE MOMENTS PASS, ENESCO SET TO TARGET GIFTS.
June 6, 2005... Byline: Allison Zisko ITASCA, Ill.-The loss of its Precious Moments franchise will push Enesco to look for other opportunities in the gift, home and garden decor industries, a growing market compared to the declining interest in...

NEWS BRIEFS.(Prinz)
June 6, 2005... PRINZ, a photo frame and album company, has unveiled a new corporate logo and tag line, Prinz: Presenting Life. The new logo is designed to increase the company's brand recognition and define its role in the marketplace. Company president...

ENTERTAINMENT ITEMS PAY OFF FOR VENDORS AT VEGAS SHOW.(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... Byline: Allison Zisko LAS VEGAS-Coming at the end of the spring trade show cycle, the Gourmet Housewares Show here last month unveiled few new tabletop products, placing its emphasis instead on niche entertainment items. To that end,...

PUTTING LADIES FIRST; A SURGE IN SALES OF WOMEN'S GROOMING PRODUCTS HAS SPURRED SOME MANUFACTURERS TO RETURN TO THIS ARENA.
June 6, 2005... Byline: Jennifer White NEW YORK-Compared to men's shavers and grooming electrics, women's versions are a pale imitation in more ways than one: They're pink, offer fewer functions and generally sell at lower price points. But personal...

CULINARY INSTITUTE TO GET FIRST TASTE OF RETAIL MARKET.(Robinson Home Products)
June 6, 2005... Byline: Thyra Porter HYDE PARK, N.Y.-The Culinary Institute of America is bringing its famous name to the consumer market for the first time via a licensing deal with Robinson Home Products, a manufacturer of kitchen gadgets and food prep...

PLENTY OF INNOVATIONS TURN UP AT GOURMET HOUSEWARES SHOW.(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... Byline: Jennifer White LAS VEGAS-While many of the products displayed at the Las Vegas Gourmet Housewares Show had been seen at previous shows, a walk down the aisles turned up several introductions being shown. OXO brought a large batch...

VAC SHIPMENTS APPROACH RECORD IN MARCH.(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... Manufacturers' domestic shipments of full-sized vacuum cleaners rebounded in March, up 6.8 percent. At 2,467,554 units, it was the second-largest total since the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers began counting more than two years...

GROUNDBREAKING ROBOTIC MOP WILL ARRIVE FROM IROBOT IN TIME FOR HOLIDAY SEASON.(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... Byline: Gerry Beatty BURLINGTON, Mass.-The maker of the Roomba robotic vacuum cleaner, iRobot Corp., will broaden its line with a robotic mop late this year. The Scooba Floor Washer probably will be the first robotic mop on the market....

NPD: COFFEE POD AWARENESS JUMPS; INTENT TO BUY TAKES DIP.(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y.-A new report from The NPD Group reports awareness of coffee pod technology among the coffee-drinking public has increased from nearly 40 percent in June 2004 to 65 percent in February 2005. However, despite higher...

CRT TV HOLDS ITS GROUND IN FLAT WORLD; MAINTAINING A COMPETITIVE PRICE AND DELIVERING A SHARP IMAGE HELP CATHODE RAY SETS HOLD A SIGNIFICANT MARKET SHARE.(cathode ray tubes)
June 6, 2005... Byline: Michael Rudnick NEW YORK-While electronics manufacturers seem to focus the lion's share of new product development on flat-panel technology, the old-standby cathode ray tube television maintains significant market share as unit...

DISTRIBUTOR PLOTS STRATEGY FOR ARISTON'S GROWTH IN U.S.
June 6, 2005... Byline: Gerry Beatty LAS VEGAS-These days, premium major appliances seem to constitute the biggest Italian invasion since Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni came West. The Ariston brand has a head start, having taken off the wraps a...

BEST BUY VS. CIRCUIT CITY.(Best Buy Company Inc., Circuit City Stores Inc.)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... ON THE COVER Best Buy: Mitsubishi 65-inch Widescreen HD-Ready Rear-Projection TV, $1,999.99 Circuit City: Toshiba Mobile Intel Pentium 4 Processor 538, $999.99 HOME THEATER Best Buy: Panasonic 800 Watt 5.1 Channel Home Theater...

PRIVACY AT HOME: IT'S NOT JUST A MAYTAG IDEA.(from being public enterprise to a private company)
June 6, 2005... Byline: Michael Rudnick NEW YORK-Maytag's move away from the prying eyes of the Street follows the lead of other home vendors and retailers that have sought to escape short-term investor expectations and costly compliance. Springs...

LIVELIER MERCHANDISING, MARKETING BOOSTS BUSINESS FOR KOHL'S.
June 6, 2005... Byline: Barbara Thau NEW YORK-Kohl's, known more for its basic mix of national brands than its merchandising and marketing pizazz, is "injecting newness and excitement" into the business with everything from its "expect great things"...

KWID PRO SHOW.(Decorators Walk Inc. launches designer textiles collection)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... Decorators Walk just launched its newest designer textiles collection, House of Kwid. Held in its New York showroom, the event was an opportunity to get to know the designer. Caption(s): Designer Milly de Cabrol / Designer Kelly Wearstler /...

FINNISH LINES.(Museum of Modern Art in New York highlights Finnish design)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... The Museum of Modern Art in New York celebrated May as Finnish Design Month, a program highlighting the long tradition of Finnish design in modern art. Recently, the MoMA Design Store in SoHo hosted an event for 500 devotees to honor the new...

DESIGN FROM ABOVE.(awards for the interior designers)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... Byline: Michael D. Devine House Beautiful feted its annual list of Giants of Design at New York's Cipriani 42nd Street. This year's winners included Barbara Barry, Daniel Libeskind, David Linley, Nancy Goslee Power, Karim Rashid and Gordon...

MAPPING OUT THE ROAD AHEAD.(Brief Article)
June 13, 2005... The second half of the trade show season gets under way with coast-to-coast stops in the U.S. and plenty of shows abroad. HFN supplies a worldwide guide. See pages 8-21

STEWART MAKING BIG SIGNATURE STATEMENT.(Stewart Signature line.)
June 13, 2005... Byline: Lee Buchanan HIGH POINT, N.C.-Just three months after leaving prison, Martha Stewart is coming home in a big way. Stewart whisked in to High Point last week to preview her new furnishings collection, while her new merchandising...

TJX HONES IN ON DIFFICULTIES AT HOMEGOODS.
June 13, 2005... Byline: Katherine Bowers FRAMINGHAM, Mass.-TJX's HomeGoods division had a "clearly difficult" fiscal 2004 involving a "big learning curve," Edmond J. English, president and chief executive officer of TJX Cos., said during the company's...

BLENDING IDEAS KEY TO BERKUS/LINENS COLLECTION.(Brief Article)
June 13, 2005... Byline: Jennifer Quail NEW YORK-The meshing of ideas, cultures, materials and generations is at the core of the Nate Berkus collection, set to launch across multiple categories at Linens 'n Things stores this fall. "Layering is by far...

FAMILY DOLLAR FOCUSES ON URBAN MARKET, HIGH END.(Brief Article)
June 13, 2005... Byline: Barbara Thau NEW YORK-As part of its strategy to enhance the business with "treasure hunt" merchandise, Family Dollar has been adding giftware and seasonal goods to its mix -- higher-margin products that offset the low-margin food...

CORRECTION.(Correction Notice)
June 13, 2005... The rug shown here was misidentified in the summer issue of Home Furnishings Now. The design is the property of Momeni, 800-536-6778, momeni.com.

IN BRIEF: REPORT: FIRM COULD BUY SAKS' GROUP...SHOPKO NAMES CARLSRUH HOME VP...FARONE TO LEAVE ROYAL APPLIANCE...(appointment)
June 13, 2005... REPORT: FIRM COULD BUY SAKS' GROUP Private equity firm Bain Capital Partners is reportedly interested in buying the Northern Department Store Group of Saks Inc., according to Women's Wear Daily, HFN's sister publication. The $2.2 billion...

WAL-MART SHAREHOLDER EVENT AN EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER.
June 13, 2005... Byline: Katherine Bowers FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.-Wal-Mart's customarily festive annual shareholders' meeting -- replete with raucous cheers, the national anthem sung by Jessica Simpson and performances by Jon Bon Jovi and Garth Brooks -- was...

HOME DEPOT ENTERS TABLETOP WITH PFALTZGRAFF.(Brief Article)
June 13, 2005... Byline: Allison Zisko ATLANTA-The Home Depot, the do-it-yourself powerhouse, is moving further into home furnishings with the introduction of Pfaltzgraff dinnerware in its catalog and online offerings. A full-page, card-stock catalog...

THE NEW SHELL GAME.(Advertisement)
June 13, 2005... Byline: Michael D. Devine Shells and summer go together like leaves and autumn. Shells bring the beach to any part of the country without the hassle or sand and are beautiful in their own right as "objets." That's why they're showing up...

CALENDAR.(Calendar)
June 13, 2005... June 12-15 Messe Frankfurt Collectione Farnkfurt am Main Frankfurt, Germany (49) 69-75-75-68-03 usa.messefrankfurt.com 13-15 Neocon World's Trade Fair The Merchandise Mart Chicago (800) 677-MART ...

MARKET ON YOUR CALENDARS; WITH TRADE SHOWS THAT FEATURE NEW DATES, LOCATIONS, PARTNERSHIPS AND EVENTS, KEEPING UP WITH THE CHANGES CAN BE A FULL-TIME JOB.
June 13, 2005... Byline: HFN Staff Report NEW YORK-Trade shows are in a state of flux, to understate the obvious. It's a whole new world as far as industry events are concerned: New dates, new locations, new partnerships and even new shows reflect a...

THE OUTDOOR REPORT.(Brief Article)
June 13, 2005... Indoors continues to move outdoors as furniture, lighting and even rugs target backyards and patios. This year's spin: Mass merchants are getting into the act with new lines.

INTO THE OUTDOORS; MASS RETAILERS ARE ADDING TRENDIER PRODUCTS AND ACCESSORIES TO THEIR MIX, GIVING SPECIALTY STORES A RUN FOR THEIR MONEY.
June 13, 2005... Byline: Jo Fleischer HIGH POINT, N.C.-The outdoor room trend -- once the calling card of higher-end outdoor specialists -- is gaining strength at big-box stores. Target, in particular, is embracing a broader view of patio furniture....

MATERIAL GAINS; TRANSFORMING THE OUTDOORS INTO A ROOM OF ITS OWN HAS BENEFITED THE TABLETOP CATEGORY.
June 13, 2005... Byline: Carla Webb NEW YORK-Just as manufacturers of melamine and acrylic tabletop products know that their goods are not just for the outdoors anymore, they also realize that the outdoors isn't just the "outdoors" anymore. The...

BRIGHTER DAYS AHEAD; MORE OPTIONS ARE BECOMING AVAILABLE FOR HOMEOWNERS WISHING TO HIGHLIGHT THEIR LANDSCAPING.
June 13, 2005... Byline: Nancy Meyer NEW YORK-Lighting options have multiplied for homeowners wishing to provide a comfortable environment for outdoor entertaining and to showcase their landscaping. From oversized lanterns and improved solar pathway lights...

NOW THEY'RE COOKING; MAJOR PLAYERS IN THE INDUSTRY ARE LOOKING TO HEAT THINGS UP IN THE MONTHS AHEAD.
June 13, 2005... Byline: Thyra Porter NEW YORK-With this spring ranking as one of the rainiest on record for much of the nation, those in the business of selling grills are firing up public relations efforts in an effort to kick off the barbecue season,...

RETAILERS MAKE HOME WORK FOR FATHER'S DAY OFFERINGS.
June 13, 2005... Byline: Barbara Thau NEW YORK-Digital cameras, outdoor grills and game-themed merchandise -- from clocks with poker motifs to casino tables -- are some of the home goods that retailers are promoting to spark Father's Day sales this year....

A COUPLE'S FASHION STATEMENT ; THE AHLUWALIAS BRING THEIR AREA OF EXPERTISE TO THE HOME ARENA.
June 13, 2005... Byline: Leticia Leizens NEW YORK-After staying behind the scenes developing and manufacturing couture embroidery for ready-to-wear collections of such fashion icons as Oscar de la Renta, Armani, Vera Wang and Carolina Herrera, husband and...

INDIA SUPPLIERS WARY OF TRADE PROTECTIONISM FROM THE U.S.
June 13, 2005... Byline: Raj Menon MUMBAI, India-Is India next on the radar for trade protectionist actions from the United States? While opinions are mixed in the home textiles industry here, it has not stopped some Indian manufacturers from preparing...

NEWS BRIEFS.
June 13, 2005... THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF TEXTILE ORGANIZATIONS, National Textile Association, American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition and UNITE Here have filed a petition asking the U.S. government to place a restriction on imports of cotton and man-made...

BALTIC LINEN PICKS LIPTON TO RUN BATH ACCESSORIES.(appointment)(Brief Article)
June 13, 2005... Byline: Rosamaria Mancini NEW YORK-Baltic Linen Co. wants to be a key bath-coordinates player and has hired Rick Lipton, a former national sales manager at Creative Bath, as director of bath accessories. Lipton, in a newly created...

LINE TECH SYSTEM ADDRESSES CONSUMERS' PILLING CONCERNS.(Line Tech Industries)(pilling inspection system)(Brief Article)
June 13, 2005... Byline: Leticia Leizens NEW YORK-A pilling inspection system currently being used in apparel is being offered by Line Tech Industries to home textiles companies. "I know that pilling is one of the top apparel consumer quality concerns...

CARPET ONE NAMES TWO NEW VPS.(appointments)(Brief Article)
June 13, 2005... Byline: Jennifer Quail NEW YORK-There are new faces at the executive level of the Carpet One division of CCA Global Partners, but they are no strangers to the parent company itself. The retail group has brought talent from its sister...

MAXING OUT A MEDIUM; ANGELA ADAMS HAS BRANCHED OUT WITH NEW DESIGNS, PARTNERSHIPS AND PRODUCT AREAS, ALL WITH THE GOAL OF REALIZING NEW VISIONS.(Architex)
June 13, 2005... Byline: Jennifer Quail NEW YORK-From her post on the shores of Maine, designer Angela Adams has been busy building an empire. Long known for her creative rug designs and fashion accessories, Adams has spread her wings through...

COTTON BATH RUGS GET COLOR INFUSION.
June 13, 2005... Byline: Rosamaria Mancini NEW YORK-Looking to capitalize on consumer interest in color, the manufacturers of cotton bath rugs continue to expand their palettes to include multiple shades of rich and soft colors. "Everyone is pushing...

SPHINX SHAPES UP SIZE OFFERINGS.(Sphinx by Oriental Weavers)(Brief Article)
June 13, 2005... NEW YORK-Sphinx by Oriental Weavers has expanded its offering of special shapes and larger sizes in a move reportedly in response to retail and consumer demand. The company said that as home decorating trends move more in the direction of...

STOREHOUSE LIKES THE LOOK OF URBAN SITES.(Brief Article)
June 13, 2005... Byline: Jo Fleischer WASHINGTON-Storehouse, which expects to open 11 stores this year, is searching for additional urban locations due to the early success of its newest store here. The 8,000-square-foot store on 14th Street Northwest...

MATTRESSES ON THE MOVE; PORTABLE BEDDING -- MADE OF FOAM, COMPRESSED AND PACKED IN SMALL BOXES -- IS PROVING A BIG HIT WITH CONSUMERS AND RETAILERS.
June 13, 2005... Byline: Karl Kunkel HIGH POINT, N.C.-Who says you can't take it with you? Consumers in immediate need of quality bedding have begun to see an abundance of "bed in a box" products on retail shelves. And the concept is growing in...

NEWS BRIEFS.
June 13, 2005... BASSETT FURNITURE INDUSTRIES has agreed to acquire a controlling interest in eight Bassett Furniture Direct Stores in greater Dallas. The transaction will bring the total number of corporate stores to 22 of the 120 Bassett stores. The company...

NEWS BRIEFS.
June 13, 2005... ARTS HALL OF FAME inductees, those who have won ARTS Awards five times, become ineligible to compete for three years, according to ART bylaws. The following Hall of Fame inductees have completed their three years of ineligibility and will be...