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

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

ADAMSON'S PLAN FOR PULLING KMART OUT OF THE BLUES.(Kmart chairman James Adamson)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... NEW YORK-If and when Kmart recovers from its very public bankruptcy, some vendors might find themselves out in the cold. Kmart's new chairman, James Adamson, said in his first major interview last week that the retailer is taking a hard...

GOIN' SOUTH OF THE BORDER.(Furniture and appliance manufacturing in Mexico)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... NEW YORK-China may be cheaper, but Mexico's closer. That's a big reason why manufacturers are increasingly heading over the border to produce home goods. Vendors also cite preferable relationships with Mexican factories and greater...

NAFTA GIVES TEXTILES FROM MEXICO A BOOST.(household textile imports from Mexico to the US have increased)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 4, 2002... Household textile imports from Mexico have grown considerably since the North American Free Trade Agreement took effect in January 1994. Government data show that imports of non-apparel textiles, which reached more than $1.28 billion in...

WAL-MART DE MEXICO SETS SIGHTS ON MORE.(focused on more growth)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... NEW YORK-Although Wal-Mart has earned a spot as Mexico's leading retailer, the world's biggest company is hungry for more. Mexico, with its large population of young people and fragmented retail landscape, represents a fertile growth...

HFN'S ERARDY IS NAMED GROUP PUBLISHER OF WWD.(Ralph Erardy)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... NEW YORK-Ralph Erardy, senior vice president and publisher of HFN, has been named senior vice president and group publisher of Women's Wear Daily and Children's Business, marking his return to WWD where he was publisher before he joined HFN....

WAL-MART'S REAVES READY TO LEARN HOW TO RELAX.(Wal-Mart senior vice president Dennis Reaves to retire)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... BENTONVILLE, Ark.-Dennis Reaves knows how to run the home merchandising section of the world's biggest retailer, but he's a novice when it comes to the art of leisure. "I want to learn how to play," said Reaves, who has opted to retire as...

MAY TIES THE KNOT, ACQUIRES PRISCILLA.(May Department Stores acquires Priscilla of Boston)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... ST. LOUIS-Building on its burgeoning bridal empire, May Department Stores purchased a 19.5 percent interest in the Knot, a leading online planning resource. Last week, the retailer also acquired certain assets of Priscilla of Boston, an...

COURT APPROVES PILLOWTEX REORGANIZATION.(bankruptcy reorganization plan)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... KANNAPOLIS, N.C. -Pillowtex moved a step closer to emerging from Chapter 11 last week after the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware approved its reorganization plan. The court approval paves the way for Pillowtex to mail its...

BRYLANE CRANKS THE VOLUME WITH NEW KITCHEN CATALOG.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... NEW YORK-Fueled by the success of its home textiles offerings, Brylane is expanding its home selection beyond textiles with the introduction of a kitchen catalog that dropped in February. Brylane Kitchen is an 88-page, digest-size book...

MEX AND MATCH.(Mexican housewares)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... Viva Mexico! Its rich heritage and customs have inspired many as retailers continue to be enchanted by the wares they find south of the border. Products that run the gamut from useful to richly cultural are heading north and finding their way...

HOOVER AHEAD OF OTHER BRANDS IN JANUARY VACUUM AD FREQUENCY.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 4, 2002... NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y.-Hoover kept its lead in January as the most frequently advertised major vacuum cleaner brand, an ongoing survey shows. Ads for the popular brand reached 2,433 during the month, well above second-place Dirt Devil. The...

KMART HOPES NEW ADS WILL GIVE IMAGE A SPIKE.(new advertisements produced by Spike Lee)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... TROY, Mich.-Can Spike Lee do the right thing and help clarify Kmart's murky image? Only time will tell. The bankrupt chain recently unveiled its brand positioning campaign, which includes television spots directed by Lee, whose films...

HOUSE BEAUTIFUL IN BIG PUSH TO SHOW WHAT SETS IT APART.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... NEW YORK-If you've got it, flaunt it. That could be the subtext of a new editorial and marketing initiative House Beautiful is launching with its April issue. "Only in House Beautiful" is a multitiered campaign developed with the goal of...

TARGETING EXPANSION; PHILIPS LOOKS TO ADD MORE PARTNERS AFTER AN INTRODUCTION WITH A MAJOR RETAILER.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... STAMFORD, Conn.-Philips' small-appliance test phase with Target has come to a close, but it has no intentions of leaving the retailer behind. The company said it will continue to add to the line at Target while investigating avenues for retail...

FUNCTION, STYLE COME TOGETHER IN AMBIENTE OFFERINGS.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... FRANKFURT, Germany-More than 150,000 visitors headed to Ambiente here, the world's largest consumer goods trade fair, to search for trends among the 5,000 exhibitors who came from 85 countries. In housewares, they found a muted color palette,...

NARDA OFFERING PROGRAMS TO HELP ITS MEMBERS EXCEL.(North American Retail Dealers Association)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... LOMBARD, Ill.-The North American Retail Dealers Association is instituting a series of programs to enhance excellence among its members. NARDA's theme for its spring institute later this month is "You Can Be Extraordinary." The...

MORE SOPHISTICATED DESIGNS CLEANING UP IN SMALLWARES.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... ATLANTA-Cleaning products companies are turning well-designed smallwares into a big business. Previously, smallwares were either well designed or inexpensive. Now, as the popularity of well-designed, comfortable smallwares cleaning...

MARTIN'S NAMES NEW EXECUTIVES.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... STERLING, Va.-Martin's Inc., importer and sole distributor of Herend porcelain and Present Tense Home Artistry pottery, has appointed James Gouldin national sales manager. He reports to Dianne Murphy, president of Herend USA, and Kimberley...

NEWS BRIEFS.(includes several articles)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... GLM Aids Sept. 11 Fund-Raising Effort George Little Management's Funds for a Future campaign raised $50,000 for Sept. 11 relief efforts through two fund-raising activities held in connection with the New York International Gift Fair last...

SULLIVAN TO HEAD PFALTZGRAFF COMMUNICATIONS.(Floyd Sullivan)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... YORK, Pa.-Floyd Sullivan has joined The Pfaltzgraff Co. as director of communications, a newly created position. Sullivan's experience includes 16 years with Noritake, where he headed the communications department before being named senior...

GIBSON OVERSEAS FOUNDER REMEMBERED.(Nejat Gabbay)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... CITY OF COMMERCE, Calif.-Gibson Overseas founder Nejat Gabbay, who died Nov. 6, 2001, was remembered by his family and employees at the International Housewares Show in Chicago. Gabbay gained experience in the tabletop industry working with...

POST-SEPT. 11 'COCOONING' IMPACTING BOTTOM LINE.(Pier 1 Imports Inc., Williams-Sonoma Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... NEW YORK-Following the events of Sept. 11, the consumer "cocooning" trend triggered a shift in spending to home-related goods from travel and other segments. Now, retailers and several vendors of home goods are starting to reap the benefits...

NEWS BRIEFS.(earnings reports from Federated Department Stores and Big Lots)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... Federated Posts 4th-Quarter Loss Federated Department Stores posted a net loss last week for the fourth quarter as charges relating to the divestiture of its Fingerhut unit cut into profits. However, the retailer raised its earnings outlook...

WHOM DO YOU TRUST? SURVEY'S RESULTS SHOW RETAILER GET THE NOD.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 4, 2002... NEW YORK-As the impact of Enron's accounting foibles continues to ripple through the market, one trend is quickly emerging: The public's trust of business -- oil companies, brokerage firms and utilities -- is quickly evaporating. "It's...

HOUSE DRESSING.(Kips Bay, Traditional Home magazine)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... Get ready, get set, decorate! Traditional Home magazine recently hosted the annual renovation party for the grand dame of show houses, Kips Bay. Held in the unrenovated house on East 74th Street in New York, it was an opportunity to meet each...

A SEAT AT THE OSCARS.(No. 19 chair made by Allsteel Inc. included as gift to ABC executives at the Academy awards)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... Cinema stars won't be the only ones getting all the attention at the 74th Annual Academy Awards. The Allsteel No. 19 chair is also getting a starring role -- in the "Presenter's Basket." The coveted goody bag goes to presenters, key production...

IKEA ACQUIRES VACANT SITE FOR 2ND NEW JERSEY STORE.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... PARAMUS, N.J.-A long-vacant parcel of land in northern New Jersey that was formerly occupied by an Alexander's department store has been purchased by IKEA. The site is at the northwest corner of the intersection of routes 4 and 17. IKEA...

TARGET SEES PROFIT SOAR IN FOURTH QUARTER.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 4, 2002... MINNEAPOLIS-Target Corp. said last week that profits for the fourth quarter soared, mostly on the strength of its discount store business. Net income climbed 19.2 percent in the fourth quarter to $658 million, or 72 cents per share, from...

BUYOUT FIRM TO PURCHASE WICKES FOR $32 MILLION.(Bruckmann Rosser Sherrill and Co. signs letter of intent to acquire Wickes Furniture)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 4, 2002... WHEELING, Ill.-The New York buyout firm Bruckmann Rosser Sherrill & Co. has signed a letter of intent filed in a California state court to acquire Chicago-based retailer Wickes Furniture for about $32 million. According to the letter of...

SPRINGS TO ACQUIRE TWO BURLINGTON BUSINESSES.(Springs Industries, Burlington Industries)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... NEW YORK-Staying true to its vision of becoming the largest provider of home textiles products, Springs Industries has agreed to acquire the bedding and window consumer products businesses of bankrupt Burlington Industries for an undisclosed...

NEWS BRIEFS.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... Gilmartin Takes Intercontinental Art Helm Veteran retailer Jane Gilmartin, most recently the chief merchandising officer at Service Merchandise, has joined Intercontinental Art a home decor company based in Compton, Calif., as president and...

BDO: DECEMBER ORDERS UP DOUBLE DIGITS.(BDO Seidman report examines year 2001 residential furniture orders)(Brief Article)(Industry Overview)(Statistical Data Included)
March 4, 2002... HIGH POINT, N.C.-New orders jumped 11 percent in December 2001 over the same month a year earlier, according to manufacturers of residential furniture surveyed by BDO Seidman. For 2001, new orders declined 8.5 percent. New orders in...

TRADE SHOW CALENDAR.
March 4, 2002... march 9-11 Atlanta Spring Gift, Accessories & Holiday Market (Temporaries) AmericasMart Atlanta Atlanta (800) ATL-MART 9-12 Atlanta Spring Gift, Accessories & Holiday Market AmericasMart Atlanta Atlanta ...

BEST BUY SITE LEADS IN MONTHLY VISITS.(web site leads home furninshing industry in number of visitors)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 4, 2002... NEW YORK-The Web site of appliance and electronics giant Best Buy was visited by more people in January than any other home furnishings site, just outpacing the site of Office Depot. A monthly review for HFN by Jupiter Media Metrix found...

WITHIT NAMES LYKE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.(Women in the Home Industries Today, Sara M. Lyke appointment)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... HIGH POINT, N.C.-Women in the Home Industries Today has appointed Sara M. Lyke its first full-time executive director. Lyke comes to WithIt with extensive experience in sales, management, strategic and tactical planning, information...

SHOW YOUR STRIPES; RUGS WITH BRIGHT AND COLORFUL LINES ARE MAKING A FASHION STATEMENT.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... NEW YORK-Suppliers are making statements with bold, vibrant stripes with strong spring and summer appeal. Capel is going for stripes in a big way with its 2002 catalog, broadening their offerings with four new designs in multiple colors....

A LARGER FLOORING AMERICA PREPARES FOR CONVENTION.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... MANCHESTER, N.H.-Since Flooring America's fall convention was canceled due to Sept. 11 and more than 75 new stores have joined the flooring group, attendance at the program being held April 18 to 20 is expected to be strong. This is the...

WINTER WINNERS: TRIBAL, CONTEMPORARY.(Rug retailers are putting tribal and contemporary styles at the top of their lists)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... NEW YORK-As they review winter market introductions and make their final selections, rug retailers are putting tribal and contemporary styles at the top of their lists. Gabbehs from Iran, a tribal style, scored high with retailers. In the...

NEWS BRIEFS.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... CMI Names Connell To Sales Manager Post Braided rug manufacturer CMI has appointed Mary Jane Connell sales manager. In this newly created position, Connell will be responsible for managing the company's sales force. For more than...

PIONEER IN IMPORTING GOODS FROM CHINA BECOMES BRENTWOOD ORIGINALS CHAIRMAN.(Hal Alden profile)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... CARSON, Calif.-Sourcing in the textiles industry today is as inevitable as death and taxes. But this hasn't always been the case. Hal Alden, the founder and longtime president of Brentwood Originals, was one pioneer who paved the import...

GLOBAL SOURCING IS CHANGING THE MIDDLEMAN'S MISSION.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... NEW YORK-The role of the home textiles middleman is evolving. These go-betweens, often one- or two-man operations who mostly specialize in individual deals, used to be involved primarily in domestic sourcing but have now broken into the...

[0] NEWS BRIEFS.(includes several articles)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... Phillips Leaves 828, Forms New Company Ivan Phillips has left his position as executive vice president of sales and marketing at 828 International Trading Co. to build his own business called Delos. With headquarters in Atlanta, Delos...

NEWS BRIEFS.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... La-Z-Boy Makes Executive Appointments Tom Zollar has been named managing director of La-Z-Boy Europe, a new division that designs, manufactures, markets and distributes motion furniture throughout Europe. He reports to John Case, president...

ART NAMES PRESIDENT, ANNOUNCES UPCOMING EVENTS.(Accessories Resource Team, Sandra Standefer and Ana Hester appointments)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... HIGH POINT, N.C.-The Accessories Resource Team has named Sandra Standefer president of ART. Standefer, director of market development for The Home Co., had been serving as co-president of the industry association with Steve McKee, who resigned...

M&M INKS LICENSING AGREEMENT WITH KIM PARKER.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... NEW YORK-The home industry may not know Kim Parker by name, but it has already seen her designs in other well-known collections. Now Parker is introducing her own line of rugs, pillows, tapestries and bedding in a licensing agreement with...

TUPELO'S TORRID PACE; ORDER WRITING AND RETAILER TRAFFIC WERE HEAVY FROM THIS MARKET'S START.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 4, 2002... TUPELO, Miss.-Retail buyers, most buoyed by better business at home, came to the Tupelo Furniture Market ready to write. And they came earlier than ever. Most of the major retailers shopping this market sneaked in the side door prior to the...

ELVIS SHARES THE STAGE WITH KATHY IRELAND.(Standard Furniture and Style-Line Furniture to offer new furniture collections)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... TUPELO, Miss.-A pair of celebrities was the talk of Tupelo as vendors showing at market here gave retailers a sneak peek at new furniture collections bearing the names of Kathy Ireland and Elvis Presley. Standard Furniture, the new Ireland...

WAKING THE SPREAD; SUPPLIERS ARE STRIVING TO KEEP THE BEDDING CATEGORY ALIVE WITH NEW DESIGNS AND FEATURES.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... NEW YORK-Some may view bedspreads as a dying product category in the home textiles world. But there's still a small, loyal audience, and suppliers are eager to give them what they want. The popularity of quilts and duvet covers might be...

THE INCREDIHBLE SHRINKING WORLD OF EQUITY TEXTILES ANALYSTS.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... NEW YORK-Now you see them, now you don't. They still crank up their financial projections and pepper top executives with tough questions, but these days the number of textiles equity analysts, like the textiles company earnings they keep...

[0] NEWS BRIEFS.(includes several home furnishings industry articles)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... Alexander Joins Bardwil As Senior Vice President Judi Alexander, the former director of advertising and marketing services at WestPoint Stevens, has joined Bardwil Linens as senior vice president of marketing and product development. ...

PROFITS INCREASE IN Q4 FOR TJX'S HOMEGOODS.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... FRAMINGHAM, Mass.-Management at off-price retailer TJX Cos. said its HomeGoods business brought in fourth-quarter operating profits last week that "more than doubled" while comparable-store sales came in with an 11 percent increase. ...

SPIKE, MEET MARTHA.(Kmart's ad campaign using Spike Lee)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... Kmart is introducing America to its spiritual awakening. The retailer's new ad campaign, spearheaded by Spike Lee-directed television commercials, promises to convey a compassionate sentiment with Kmart claiming to be "the store that...

HOME ALONE.
March 4, 2002... The Finish Line I think we've all turned into 6-year-old kids in the back seat of the station wagon on a family trip, incessantly asking the same question over and over again: "Are we there yet?" How else to describe the endless...

HOME SUITE HOME; KATHY HILTON'S NEW LINE OF TABLETOP ITEMS AND COLLECTIBLES WITH QVC IS A HIT.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... WEST CHESTER, Pa.-QVC unveiled Many Splendid Things, a giftware and tabletop collection by Kathy Hilton, last week to great success, according to Chris Morley, director of merchandising of home fashions for QVC. The 13-piece collection includes...

SOME VENDORS FEELING TENTATIVE ABOUT THEIR ATTENDANCE AT TENDENCE FAIR.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... FRANKFURT, Germany-Inevitably, one cannot attend a trade show without getting into a discussion about the next show down the road. Such was the case in Frankfurt last month, where talk at Ambiente focused on its sister exhibit, Tendence,...

ROSS-SIMONS CONTINUES EXPANSION WITH 14TH UNIT.(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... DURHAM, N.C.-Continuing its retail store expansion, Providence, R.I.-based Ross-Simons has opened a store -- its 14th -- at The Streets at Southpoint here. The grand opening will feature a $5,000 shopping-spree sweepstakes that will be...

STEAK OUT.(International Housewares Association, meeting; Frankfurt, Germany)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... FRANKFURT, Germany-The International Housewares Association held its annual Ambiente bash at the All-American Steakhaus at the Frankfurt Messe. IHA members had the chance to catch up on all the events that have happened since they last met at...

PORTABLE APPLIANCE SHIPMENTS DECLINE ACROSS BOARD IN 2001.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 4, 2002... WASHINGTON-At least the numbers were consistent. Something of an off year for manufacturers' shipments of portable appliances concluded with declines across the board. The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers reported that dollar and...

AUCTIONS: HITTING BELOW THE BELT?(reverse auctions by retailers)(Statistical Data Included)
March 11, 2002... NEW YORK-Reverse auctions by retailers are causing an average 19 percent drop in wholesale prices...and we ain't seen nothing yet. In the first definitive study of the reverse auction process and its impact on the home furnishings industry,...

WHAT SHE REALLY WANTS.
March 11, 2002... Today's bride is walking down the aisles... the retail aisles, more determined than ever to shop for home furnishings. The annual Bridal Report starts on page 27.

NEWS BRIEFS.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 11, 2002... Timberlake Questions Lexington Buyout Furniture maker Lexington Home Brands, nearing a March 31 deadline for a proposed management buyout, was on the defensive last week as Bob Timberlake Inc., its key licensor, raised doubts about the...

WHAT IS BED BATH TO DO WITH HARMON?(Bed Bath & Beyond buys health and beauty aid discount retailer)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 11, 2002... UNION, N.J.-Bed Bath & Beyond's acquisition last week of Harmon Stores Inc., a New Jersey-based health and beauty aid discount retailer, has sparked copious speculation on what the highly successful retailer has up its sleeve. One strategy...

CRISIS AT KMART: THIS WEEK'S NEWS.($2 billion in financing)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 11, 2002... Kmart won bankruptcy court approval last week for $2 billion in financing to keep operating as the retailer works through its reorganization. Kmart's attorney said last week that the company would announce store closings, which would...

DILLARD'S QUELLS TAKEOVER RUMOR, POSTS HIGHER FOURTH-QUARTER PROFIT.(Dillard Department Stores Inc.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 11, 2002... LITTLE ROCK, Ark.-Better inventory turns, reduced debt and a growing private-label business strengthened Dillard's fourth-quarter results. The department store chain, the object of speculation of a Federated Department Stores or May...

APPELL LOOKS BACK ON PFALTZGRAFF LEGACY.(Louis Appell Jr. retires from Susquehanna Pfaltzgraff Co.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 11, 2002... YORK, Pa.-Fifty years in the dinnerware business has taught Louis Appell Jr. a thing or two about plates. As the retiring president and chief executive officer of Susquehanna Pfaltzgraff Co., an entity that includes radio and television...

LOWELL BRINGS HOME PRODUCTS LINE TO HSN.(Christopher Lowell; Home Shopping Network)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 11, 2002... ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.-Christopher Lowell will bring his multicategory collection of home products -- and his flamboyant personality -- to the Home Shopping Network. Lowell, best known for his daytime show on the Discovery Channel, will host two...

GUILFORD MILLS TO FILE CHAPTER 11 IN COMING WEEKS.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 11, 2002... GREENSBORO, N.C.-Guilford Mills said it will file for bankruptcy within the next few weeks to conclude a restructuring plan that will trim its debt significantly and allow it to operate profitably without its home fashions business. The...

CROSS DRESSING.(new motif seen at tableware show Ambiente in Germany)(Brief Article)
March 11, 2002... One of the biggest surprises at Ambiente, the annual tabletop show held in Frankfurt, Germany, was the appearance of the cross as the motif du jour. Depending on the inspiration, it could have political or religious significance, or it simply...

HISPANIC-AMERICANS.(Internet shopping, home furnishings)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 11, 2002... Hispanic-Americans have all the right connections. Internet connections, that is. According to HFN's demographic survey, Hispanics buy more small home products over the Internet than any other ethnic group, and they are the second most...

ASIAN-AMERICANS.(shopping research)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 11, 2002... In the bustling downtown neighborhood of Flushing, N.Y., where the Asian-American population is larger than in Chinatown, shopping is a way of life. Streets are packed with shoppers bargaining with independent grocers over fish and vegetable...

SOUTH ASIAN-AMERICANS.(Pakistani and Indian-Americans might shop in home country)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 11, 2002... For Some South Asian-American, "Made in India" is like a mantra. HFN data suggest that people from India and Pakistan living in the United States prefer specialty and department stores for furniture, appliances and rugs. But there is...

FEBRUARY'S HFN INDEX SHOWS GAIN DUE TO SOLID COMP SALES.(same-store sales)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 11, 2002... NEW YORK-The usual suspects brought in better February same-store sales last week: Wal-Mart, Target and Kohl's. And it was the department store chains that lagged behind, again. But there were some surprises. Wal-Mart's results were...

LIFE STORY.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 11, 2002... "Tree of Life: Antique and Contemporary Textiles," is a new exhibit at the New York School of Interior Design that will run through May 4. A must-see for anyone with an interest in textiles, the show examines one of most popular textiles...

LIFETIME HOAN Q4 SALES UP.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 11, 2002... WESTBURY, N.Y.-Buoyed by sales of its new KitchenAid tools, Lifetime Hoan Corp. saw net sales increase by 12.5 percent for the fourth quarter of 2001. For the fourth quarter ending Dec. 31, 2001, net sales increased to $48.1 million from...

NEWS BRIEFS.(multiple topics)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 11, 2002... Penney Receives Mixed Ratings Moody's Investment Service raised its outlook on J.C. Penney to stable from negative last week as the rating firm cited improvement to the retailer's operations. However, the firm kept the retailer's senior...

ANALYST: CREDIT BUSINESS FOR TARGET GIVING THE RETAILER A BIG BOOST.(Deborah Weinswig, Bear, Stearns and Company Inc.; Target Corp.)(Brief Article)
March 11, 2002... NEW YORK-Is Target's credit business a red-hot profit maker? That's the question posed by Bear Stearns & Co. retail analyst Deborah Weinswig in her recent report: "Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due." Weinswig analyzed Target's credit...

DEMO-LITION.(home furnishings, preferences of ethnic groups)(Brief Article)
March 11, 2002... It may not be politically correct to say it, but it turns out to be pretty business-correct: Different ethnic groups buy home furnishings products differently. And if you're in the home business and not aware of that little tidbit of...

CHANNEL SURFING.(ethnic groups; department stores; specialty stores)(Brief Article)
March 11, 2002... African-Americans are more likely than any other ethnic group to shop department stores for large home furnishings. By contrast, mass merchants ranked number one across ethnic groups as the top shopping channel for small home furnishings....

GOING THE DISTANCE.(consumer travel)(Brief Article)
March 11, 2002... Buyers of home goods go the distance when they buy larger products, but when it comes to smaller-sized home furnishings, they like to shop closer to home. HFN's survey of shopping patterns revealed that around one-third of American...

PUTTING THE WIND INTO SALES.(ethnic groups, sale-shopping)(Brief Article)
March 11, 2002... Just about everyone agrees that a sale is a good thing. More than 40 percent of consumers usually buy items on sale, while another 40 percent buy on sale at least half of the time. Within those broad findings, HFN's exclusive survey found...

WHITE AMERICANS.(shopping preferences)(Brief Article)
March 11, 2002... For white American shoppers, the favorite channel for both large and small products is the mass channel. Ann Holt, a stay-at-home mom in Portland, Maine, is typical of this trend. "I've gone to specialty stores like Linens 'n Things, but now...

AFRICAN-AMERICANS.(Brief Article)
March 11, 2002... A day at the mall, a trip to the outlets or an excursion to the local Wal-Mart is the way many African-American consumers like to shop, according to Eugene Morris, president and chief executive officer of Chicago-based E. Morris Communications,...

SAKURA COLLECTION FUSES FRENCH, JAPANESE STYLES.(Renaissance Carpet and Tapestries)(Product Announcement)(Brief Article)
March 11, 2002... NEW YORK-Some fashionable restaurants combine French and Japanese elements. Renaissance Carpet & Tapestries is doing the same thing with new additions to its Sakura Aubusson collection. Aubusson is a small town 200 miles south of Paris that...

PICTURES' WORTH; NEW YORK'S ARTEXPO SHOWED THE IMPACT PHOTOS AND PAINTINGS CAN HAVE ON A ROOM'S DECOR.(24th annual International ArtExpo)(Brief Article)
March 11, 2002... NEW YORK-With the theme "Let art lift our spirits," the art world converged here last week for the 24th annual International ArtExpo at the Jacob Javits Convention Center. Art can dramatically change the look of a room, as showgoers saw in...