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

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

NORDSTROM IS ADDING HOME TO ITS WARDROBE.
March 1, 2004... SEATTLE-Nordstrom is making its home furnishings debut, rolling out At Home shops to 62 of its 92 stores. The shops, which started opening last month, formerly housed gift galleries at the tony department store chain. With an eye...

MADE IN THE USA.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... While costs have driven many vendors to move production overseas, others remain staunchly committed to making their products here. And their reasons may surprise you. See Top Story, page 10.

LINENS 'N THINGS TAKES THE HIGH ROAD TO CHINA.
March 1, 2004... PARAMUS, N.J.-Linens 'n Things is moving on up the price-point continuum, rolling out a Casual China test department in select units. "It's in a limited number of stores," as well as on the retailer's Web site, Norman Axelrod, chairman and...

NEWS BRIEFS: CONAIR IRONS TO BOW AT CHICAGO SHOW...SALTON TO MARKET FAUCET FILTER...LIZ CLAIBORNE LICENSES BLOCKWARES.(Conair Group Inc.)(Maytag Corp)(Salton Inc)(Samsung Electronics Company Ltd)
March 1, 2004... Conair Irons to Bow at Chicago Show Conair is entering the clothes iron category with a product launch at the International Home & Housewares Show. The company will launch 6 SKUs, three products with full LED touchpad controls and...

FOURTH-QUARTER RESULTS POSITIVE FOR MOST BIG RETAIL OPERATORS.
March 1, 2004... NEW YORK-Early financial filings by large department stores and mass merchants reveal a happy fourth quarter for most home furnishings retailers, but not all. Quarterly sales growth at both Wal-Mart and Target Corp. reached double digits...

REPORT: CONSUMER CONFIDENCE DROPS IN FEBRUARY.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... NEW YORK-The nation's consumers said they lost confidence in the economy in February, given the weak pace of job creation, which has fueled expectations that the overall employment picture is likely to remain stagnant. In its monthly...

AMBIENTE AFTER HOURS.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... FRANKFURT, Germany-Housewares vendors and retailers flocked to the International Housewares Association's annual party, held here during Ambiente. They caught up on the latest housewares talk while listening to German folk music, played on a...

WAL-MART'S WEB SITE LEADS IN JANUARY VISITORS.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... NEW YORK-Wal-Mart kept its position as the leading home goods retailer in January, having attracted more than 13 million unique visitors to its Web site. That was more than 3,000 over second-place Target's Web site. Unique visitors are counted...

TJX COS. EXPANDS IN 2003; PROFIT JUMPS IN 4TH QUARTER.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... NEW YORK-A new e-commerce site for HomeGoods and T.J. Maxx is one of TJX Cos. Inc.'s top initiatives for the upcoming year, the company revealed in a financial report. The company plans to launch the site in the third quarter and run it...

NEW PENNEY ADS HONE FASHION IMAGE.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... PLANO, Texas-Building upon the "It's All Inside" ad campaign, J.C. Penney launched a new image push during the Feb. 29 broadcast of the Academy Awards that asks the question, "Have you seen what's inside?" Five new television spots are...

CORRECTION.
March 1, 2004... In a story on outdoor furniture fabrics in the Feb. 23 issue of HFN, photo captions for Cast Classics and Laneventure were reversed. The cushions shown on page 27 belong to Laneventure's Weathermaster line; the sofa shown on page 29 belongs to...

TRADE SHOW CALENDAR.(Calendar)
March 1, 2004... march 3-7 MAFEX-Malaysian Furniture Export Exhibition Malaysia International Exhibit and Convention Centre Mines Resort City Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 011-60-6-952-4545 or 011-60-6-951-3112 mafex.net 4-8 Thailand...

PSYCHED UP.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... The beat of Sonny and Cher goes on. Wild patterns and clashing color combinations are the big news from the Ambiente tabletop show in Frankfurt, Germany. The halls were filled with styles reminiscent of 1960s psychedelia. The designs offered a...

THE ALL-AMERICAN WAY; WHILE COSTS HAVE DRIVEN MANY COMPANIES TO MOVE PRODUCTION OVERSEAS, SOME VENDORS REMAIN STAUNCHLY COMMITTED TO MAKING IT IN THE U.S.A.
March 1, 2004... NEW YORK-Nearly every day and in almost every home furnishings category, a recurring story makes the headlines -- another factory has closed. While many companies in home furnishings areas such as kitchen electrics have noted astronomical...

2004 IS LOOKING LIKE A COLORFUL YEAR.(Maison and Objet)
March 1, 2004... Sparkle! Pizzazz! Good stuff is coming to a store near you. Yes, this should be a good year for the home furnishings industry. Walking the aisles at Maison & Objet in Paris confirmed the hope that at last new trends and significant...

OLD AND IN THE WAY.
March 1, 2004... I've just visited the worst mall in America. Know which one it was? That's easy, it was the one you have a store in. Not the big fancy-schmancy A malls. Not South Coast Plaza or the Galleria or Garden State Plaza. Not the ones...

NEWS BRIEFS.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... WESTPOINT STEVENS' NET LOSS WIDENED in the fourth quarter of 2003 from $61,000 in the previous year's quarter to $31.5 million. Net sales declined 2 percent from $466.2 million to $456.1 million. The mill, which is under bankruptcy protection,...

FLUFFING UP THE PILLOWS; NOVELTIES AREN'T JUST FOR YOUNGSTERS ANYMORE.(Creative Home Furnishings)
March 1, 2004... NEW YORK-They are definitely not just for "tweens" and teens, said suppliers of a new generation of decorative pillows. "It started with the `tweener' group," said Toby Weinstein, vice president of sales and marketing at Creative Home...

IMPACT OF BIRD FLU IS WORRYING FEATHER, DOWN BEDDING MAKERS.
March 1, 2004... NEW YORK-No one quite knows what the outcome of the avian flu crisis in China will be, but most down and feather bedding suppliers believe it will get worse before it gets better. "It's a very volatile market right now," said David Sides,...

HOOKED ON A FEELING; RUG MAKERS SEE BUYERS BECOMING MORE RECEPTIVE TO NEW COLORS AND IDEAS.
March 1, 2004... NEW YORK-Buyers are opening up to color and even planning for the holidays already. Meanwhile, makers of hooked rugs have begun releasing spring and holiday collections in rich shades and cheerful patterns. For her spring collection, "Tracy...

CARPET ONE PLEDGES TO MAKE GOOD DEEDS, CHARITY PRIORITIES.(with contributions of both product and funds to local communities and to the fight to find a cure for breast cancer.)
March 1, 2004... HOUSTON-Fresh from its annual meeting here, Carpet One has announced plans to "make a difference" this year with contributions of both product and funds to local communities and to the fight to find a cure for breast cancer. The retailer...

NEWS BRIEFS.(DELINEAR DESIGNS )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... DELINEAR DESIGNS OF SAN FRANCISCO has become the 18th company to join Rugmark. Chris Baisa, founder and president of Delinear Designs, recently introduced Delinear Rugs as an extension of his 8-year-old company, which specializes in interior...

MOHAWK DONATES USED CARPET TO RANCH FOR AT-RISK CHILDREN.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... KISSIMMEE, Fla.- Mohawk Industries found good use for hundreds of square yards of carpet used to create showrooms during the 2004 Mohawk ColorCenter Convention held here at the Gaylord Palms Hotel and Resort. The company donated the carpet to...

CAPEL ON CABLE.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Capel Inc. and its Martha's Vineyard Collection of area rugs were featured in a recent segment of "The 2004 International Furniture Show," hosted by Gail O'Neill on Home & Garden Television. Taped during the October 2003 International Home...

NEWS BRIEFS.(L. and J.G. Stickley Inc)(R.C. Willey Home Furnishings)
March 1, 2004... R.C. WILLEY WILL BEGIN construction in June on a store in Reno, Nev., the company's ninth full-line home furnishings store. The store, one of two anchors in the Damonte Ranch Town Center, will include a 130,000-square-foot showroom and 40,000...

JUMP START; IN TUPELO, BUYERS ARRIVED EARLY AND IN FORCE.(Tupelo Furniture Mart)
March 1, 2004... TUPELO, Miss.-Early-rising buyers, healthier retail sales and the possibility of anti-dumping duties on some imports from China were the talk of the ever-expanding Tupelo Furniture Market in late February. Inspired by stronger-than-expected...

GROWING CLOUT OF ASIAN IMPORTS SPURS TRAVEL TO FAR EAST SHOWS.(Zocalo)
March 1, 2004... NEW YORK-Executives with U.S. furniture vendors and retailers will be racking up the frequent-flier miles this month as they hit the road for the Asian trade-show circuit. With Asian imports grabbing an ever-increasing share of the U.S....

NEWS BRIEFS.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... THE TOY FAIR, held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York Feb. 15 to 18, was another venue for lighting and home decor vendors to target a multitude of retailers. Among the exhibitors: Creative Motion Industries, LumiSource,...

TOP EXECUTIVES STAY INFORMED -- AND THEY DO IT BY THE BOOK.
March 1, 2004... NEW YORK-Read a good book lately? If the answer is that there's no time to read books, you might be missing out on some important trends that affect your business. Chief executive officers of Fortune 500 companies read, on average,...

APPEALS COURT DISMISSES MINKA'S REHEARING PETITION.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... DALLAS-Minka Lighting lost its latest attempt to overturn the resounding summary judgment in favor of Craftmade International. Last week, the United States District Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit denied Minka's petition for...

FRANKLY FRANKFURT; AMBIENTE IS STILL GERMANY'S REALLY BIG SHOW, DESPITE COMPETITION FROM PARIS.(Maison and Objet)
March 1, 2004... FRANKFURT-The annual February Frankfurt fair, a heady mix of color, design and cigarette smoke, did not disappoint this year. But the overall enthusiasm at Ambiente, held Feb. 19 to 22, was tempered by worry over the decreasing value of the...

PFALTZGRAFF LINE DEBUTS AT TARGET.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... YORK, Pa.-Pfaltzgraff's exclusive tabletop collection debuted recently at Target, and has been promoted in the store's Sunday fliers and via a link to Pfaltzgraff's Web site. There are six patterns, all unique to Target. The price point is...

NEWS FROM FRANKFURT.(Christofle Silver Inc)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... CHRISTOFLE CHAIRMAN MAURIZIO BORLETTI after 11 years as the head of company, has transferred his operational position to Nicolas Abboud, a consultant with whom he has worked over the last three months on brand redevelopment. Abboud will be...

SEC TELLS ENESCO IT MAY INITIATE ACTION OVER SECURITIES TRADING.(Enesco Corp)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... ITASCA, Ill.-The Securities and Exchange Commission may bring a civil action against Enesco for possible violations of U.S. securities laws relating to trading in Enesco securities in the April to June 2000 time period, Enesco announced today....

FIFTH AVENUE CRYSTAL TO LAUNCH NEW LABEL AT SPRING MARKET.(Crystal Clear Industries Inc. Fifth Avenue Crystal Ltd)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J.-Fifth Avenue Crystal, a division of Crystal Clear Industries, will launch a new label, Medallion by Fifth Avenue Crystal, during the upcoming New York tabletop market in April. The Medallion label will include casual...

METROKANE'S RABBIT MULTIPLIES WITH LINE OF CRYSTAL WINE GLASSES.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... FRANKFURT, Germany-Metrokane is moving into the tabletop category with the launch of a line of Hungarian-made crystal wine glasses at Ambiente. The new line makes its U.S. debut next month at the International Home & Housewares Show. The...

A PREMIERE EVENT; CHANGES IN SCHEDULES MADE FRANKFURT'S AMBIENTE THE FIRST MAJOR STOP ON THE TRADE SHOW CALENDAR.
March 1, 2004... FRANKFURT-As the first trade show on the housewares schedule this year, Ambiente was the launch pad for a host of new products, as well as a laboratory for new colors and shapes. With buyer attendance from the United States up an estimated...

DEVELOPING HOME CAFE SYSTEM REDEFINES CONCEPT OF COOPERATION.
March 1, 2004... NEW YORK-Four coffee appliance manufacturers are undertaking an extraordinary level of cooperation to bring the Home Cafe system to market. As reported, in what one executive described as an "unprecedented collaboration," Procter & Gamble...

VAC DEALERS SHOW TO FOCUS ON SURVIVAL OF INDEPENDENTS.(The Vacuum Dealers Trade Association)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... LAS VEGAS- The Vacuum Dealers Trade Association will kick off its biggest convention and show of the year here this week, and as usual, the preoccupation will be with the retailers who aren't here. After all, the bottom line for an...

MSI'S SALE OF THINNER TO CONAIR SHIFTS BALANCE IN SCALE MARKET.
March 1, 2004... NEW YORK-The sale of Measurement Specialties Inc.'s Thinner consumer scale business to Conair Corp. changes the players in the bath-scale market and is likely to bring more innovation as competitors seek to strengthen their positions. MSI...

SPRING CATALOGS IMPROVISE MINUS WINTER SHOW.(Sur La Table)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... NEW YORK-Retailers said pulling together those spring kitchenware catalogs set to arrive in mailboxes next month was no easy feat. The lack of a January show forced manufacturers and retailers to be creative. "With no Housewares Show...

TILIA AND RIVAL SETTLE VACUUM-SEAL PATENT INFRINGEMENT LITIGATION.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO-Tilia has reached an agreement with The Holmes Group and its subsidiary, The Rival Co., to resolve patent-infringement litigation pending in federal court in San Francisco and before the International Trade Commission in...

STICK-GOODS SUPPLIERS AIMING TO WIN BACK SWIFFER DEFECTORS.
March 1, 2004... NEW YORK-Following several years of essentially flat sales -- while convenience and disposable cleaning products like Swiffer soared -- traditional stick-goods companies are seeking to give consumers tangible reasons to return to stick goods....

OEM SUPPLIER IZUMI WILL SHOW SHAVERS AT THE HOUSEWARES SHOW.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... CHICAGO-Izumi, a large original equipment manufacturer of electric shavers for leading U.S. and Japanese companies, wants to sell products under its own name to the U.S. market. The company will show its new line of 14 foil and 3 rotary...

MINI MANIA; TINY IPODS COME IN AN ARRAY OF COLORS -- AND THEY WON'T BREAK THE BANK.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... NEW YORK -- Here's the iPod Mini, Apple's latest digital music player available in a rainbow of hip colors. The credit card-sized players hit retail shelves late last month. Take a good look, though; if initial reports are correct, this may be...

ULTIMATE PUSHES ACCESSORIES TO OFFSET DECLINE IN MARGINS.
March 1, 2004... THORNTON, Col. -- Ultimate Electronics Inc. is moving toward a cross-merchandising approach with its video and consumer electronics accessories. The goal of the move is to maximize the average ring and help make up for diminishing margins....

SEARS CONVERTS 35 MORE UNITS TO APPLIANCE-HARDWARE STORES.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill.- Sears continues to tinker with its retail format by adding appliances to its hardware stores. Success in a pilot program encouraged the chain to convert another 35 Sears Hardware Stores into Sears Appliance and Hardware...

ELECTROLUX 2003 RESULTS MIXED; FORMER CEO TO BE CHAIRMAN.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... STOCKHOLM, Sweden-North American major appliances contributed to "good growth and higher income" for AB Electrolux in 2003, the company said in its year-end statement. Floor care led by Eureka could not escape negative industry results. ...

BEST BUY VS. CIRCUIT CITY.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... ON THE COVER Best Buy: JVC 42" ED Plasma flat-panel TV, $4,499.99 Circuit City: HP AMD Athlon XP 3000+ Processor desktop package, $1,019.99 ($719.99 after 2 mail-in rebates) ON THE GO AUDIO Best Buy: iPod 15GB digital audio...

WHITE-GOODS SHIPMENTS EASE IN JANUARY.(Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... WASHINGTON-Manufacturers' domestic shipments of major appliances flattened out in January. Total units increased by 2.8 percent, but the seven core categories were not quite flat. In data compiled by the Association of Home Appliance...

FEDERATED'S EARNINGS SOAR IN FOURTH QUARTER.
March 1, 2004... CINCINNATI-Federated Department Stores said during its fourth-quarter conference call that better inventory management and improved top-line growth helped helped improved its quarterly net earnings by 35 percent, according to Karen Hoguet,...

U.N. AGENCY: TRADE IMBALANCE COULD WEAKEN DOLLAR FURTHER.
March 1, 2004... GENEVA-Buoyed by low interest rates, higher investment and strong consumer demand, the U.S. economy is projected to grow by 4.6 percent in 2004, up from last year's 3.1 percent, a U.N. agency predicts. But the agency warns there are...

HOME DEPOT, LOWE'S REPORT STRONG RESULTS IN FOURTH QUARTER.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... NEW YORK-The fourth-quarter and full-year results came through strong for both Home Depot and Lowe's, the nation's two leading do-it-yourself warehouse retailers. Home Depot's fourth-quarter earnings were $951 million, or 42 cents per...

COUNTRY MILESTONE.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Mary Emmerling, the doyenne of country style, has just added another chapter to her work. Her new book "Romantic Country" is filled with beautiful settings and ideas for those who love pretty. Published by Potter.

INTERNATIONAL ARRIVALS.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... It was like a cocktail party at the United Nations, with just about every country that produces tabletop in attendance. It was, of course, the George Little Management and 41 Madison Ave. fete during the Ambiente tabletop show in Frankfurt,...

A SPARK FOR MARKS.
March 8, 2004... The New Marks & Spencer Lifestore unit in Gateshead, England, is the most talked-about debut in the home furnishings business. See Top Story, page 8.

AFTER AN OFF 2003, KOHL'S AIMS TO RETURN TO FORM IN 2004.(Kohl's Corp.)
March 8, 2004... MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis.-Kohl's, the former teacher's pet of retail, is working to get back on the honor roll. Wrapping up a fiscal year that saw earnings fall for the first time in more than a decade, the retailer is jockeying to boost sales...

OFF-PRICE HOME GOODS EVENT JOINING TRADE SHOW LINEUP.(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... BROOKFIELD, Wis.-A new trade show for off-price home goods will make its debut in May. The Off-Price Specialist Center, which has produced an off-price apparel trade show for the past nine years, will add a separate home goods segment to...

NEWS BRIEFS: LA-Z-BOY TAPS TWO FOR VP POSTS...SAKS NAMES SADOVE OPERATING CHIEF...WKI APPOINTS DENISCO N.A. PRESIDENT.
March 8, 2004... La-Z-Boy Taps Two for VP Posts La-Z-Boy has named 30-year sales representative Steve Matlock to head up sales and marketing for its residential division. In his new position, senior vice president of sales and marketing for La-Z-Boy...

KKR TO BUY SEALY FOR $1.5 BILLION.(Sealy Corp., Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... TRINITY, N.C.-Sealy Corp., the largest bedding manufacturer in the world, will be sold to affiliates of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., a private equity firm specializing in management buyouts, in a deal worth about $1.5 billion. Sealy,...

COSTCO WHOLESALE SETS PLANS TO OPEN SECOND HOME STORE THIS FALL IN ARIZONA.(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... TEMPE, Ariz.-Costco Wholesale, ending months of speculation, said it plans to open a second Costco Home Store here in October in a renovated HomeBase store. Costco opened its first Costco Home store in Kirkland, Wash., in December 2002....

ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST'S OSCAR-WORTHY ACCOUTREMENTS.(76th Annual Academy Awards)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... While the world watched the on-stage proceedings at the 76th Annual Academy Awards, the stars lounged and lingered backstage in the Architectural Digest Greenroom at L.A.'s Kodak Theater. The room's Hollywood Regency theme, created by...

FLOWER POWER.(New York Botanical Garden, Orchid Dinner)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... The New York Botanical Garden's Orchid Dinner is one of the most coveted A-list dinners of any year. Held at the University Club in Manhattan, the event enlists a very talented group of designers to decorate the tables -- with orchids, of...

LIFESTORE HITS THE MARK; MARKS & SPENCER GETS SERIOUS ABOUT HOME WITH ITS NEW MERCHANDISING CONCEPT FOCUSING ON THE EVERYDAY ASPECTS OF CONSUMERS.
March 8, 2004... GATESHEAD, England-The most exciting and talked-about store in the home furnishings business combines the best elements of IKEA, Crate & Barrel, Cost Plus and Federated's freestanding home stores. And believe it or not, it's located here...

EDIT THYSELF.(offering the right amount of merhandise)(Editorial)
March 8, 2004... March is National Women's History Month, but recent observances leave me wanting to also call it National Editing Month. I should add that editing is not just for reporters and trade editors, retailers need to do their part as well. ...

HOME SWEAT HOME.
March 8, 2004... The news that Nordstrom is opting to expand its home furnishings department, moving from its rather modest gift department into a broader range of product offerings, is a fascinating validation of the role of home in modern American retailing....

SHOOTING FOR THE TOP; SFERRA BROS. IS INTRODUCING BAMBOO FIBER TOWELS THAT IT SAYS PROVIDE NEW HEIGHTS IN LUXURY.
March 8, 2004... NEW YORK-The new twist in bath towels comes from bamboo. This spring market, Sferra Bros., a manufacturer of high-thread-count luxury linens, is launching a towel that is constructed of bamboo fiber yarn touted to be naturally...

VIVE LA FRANCE: TEXTILES MAKER RETURNS TO UPHOLSTERY MARKET.
March 8, 2004... GREENVILLE, S.C.-La France Industries is re-entering the upholstery textiles market through an alliance with the Mischen Glabman Group Inc., a new company formed by industry veterans Steve Mischen and Thom Glabman. La France, a division of...

FORMER SHERIDAN EXECUTIVE LAUNCHING BEDDING COMPANY.
March 8, 2004... NEW YORK-Hugh Ratcliff, former president of Sheridan Australia, is venturing into an industry he is familiar with and one that appears to be crowded with new suppliers every day. "I am going into a crowded market, but there is always room...

DROP IN ATTENDANCE NUMBERS CASTS A SHADOW OVER PITTI CASA SHOW.
March 8, 2004... FLORENCE, Italy-Exhibitor and visitor numbers fell to a new low at the 28th edition of home linens show Pitti Casa, placing its future in some doubt. Held from Jan. 30 to Feb. 1 at the Fortezza da Basso, the fair attracted just 1,610...

NEWS BRIEFS.
March 8, 2004... THE INTERNATIONAL FURNISHINGS AND DESIGN ASSOCIATION'S New York Chapter will hold its Winter Market Review on March 11 at the New York Gift Building, 225 Fifth Ave. (at 26th Street), in the Special Events room, lower level. Breakfast is at 8...

PUSHING THEIR LUXE; DESIGNERS OF UPSCALE FLOOR COVERINGS CONTINUE TO TARGET HIGH-END CLIENTS AND RETAILERS.
March 8, 2004... NEW YORK-It's a look, a feel, a craft. Designers of high-end floor coverings say luxury is an idea to be built upon, a feeling that can be translated through the use of rich colors; strong, plush fibers; and age-old techniques. For...

STUDY FINDS GLOBAL DEMAND FOR FIBER REMAINS FLAT IN '03.
March 8, 2004... NEW YORK-Growth in world mill consumption of all fiber was relatively flat in 2003 due to ups and downs in consumer demand, according to The PCI Group, a fiber consultancy based in West Sussex, England. PCI's newly published study reports...

NEWS BRIEFS.(expansion)(Capel Inc.)(828 INTERNATIONAL TRADING CO.)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... 828 INTERNATIONAL TRADING CO. is expanding its presence at the International Home Furnishings Market in High Point, N.C., by opening a permanent showroom at 119 Market Square. The 4,000-square-foot space will house the company's entire line of...

RUGMARK CONTINUES TO HELP DISABLED WORKERS IN INDIA.(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... NEW YORK-Rugmark successfully completed the second phase of its outreach efforts in India where the organization is working to help carpet weavers living with physical disabilities. During the project's first phase late last year, Rugmark...

DISCOVERING THE GREAT OUTDOORS; RETAILERS ARE FINDING THAT ADDING CASUAL FURNITURE CAN PAY OFF ON THE SALES FLOOR.
March 8, 2004... HIGH POINT, N.C.-Furniture retailers who do their homework are enjoying solid success in the casual/outdoor furniture category. American Furniture Warehouse in Thornton, Colo., added outdoor furniture at all nine of its stores three years...

SIMMONS SHUFFLES THE DECK IN SENIOR MANAGEMENT STAFF.(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... ATLANTA-Simmons Co. announced several organizational changes within its senior staff. Kevin Damewood, formerly senior vice president of sales, has been named senior vice president of sales and marketing. He will report to Bob Hellyer,...

NEWS BRIEFS.
March 8, 2004... "MADE IN THE U.S.A.," HFN'S feature that ran last week, generated lots of buzz from others who make their products stateside. Writes Marcia Brandes, president and co-owner of premium wall decor manufacturer Phoenix Galleries: "We seem to be one...

FINE ART LAMPS TAKES IT OUTSIDE FOR GROWTH.
March 8, 2004... MIAMI LAKES, Fla.-High-end manufacturer Fine Art Lamps has launched an aggressive growth plan with its first imported product line in decades and its entrance into the decorative outdoor business. At the International Home Furnishings...

LAVA WORLD EXPANDS INTO HOME ACCENTS.(Lava World International)(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... CAROL STREAM, Ill.-Lava World International, maker of the original Lava lamp, is branching out into related lighting and home decor segments, and has created dual packaging. The company's newest items -- a Photo Expressions mood lamp, Lava...

THE RTA REPORT.(Ready-to-assemble )(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... The ready-to-assemble furniture market endured another challenging year in 2003, posting a 2 percent decline in retail sales, edging downward to $3.22 billion from $3.28 billion in 2002. Vendors are making aggressive marketing and merchandising...

LOOKING FOR A BETTER YEAR; INDUSTRY OBSERVERS SEE A FOCUS ON QUALITY AS THE ANSWER TO DEFLATION.
March 8, 2004... In 2003, ready-to-assemble furniture manufacturers had as challenging -- and creative -- a year as they have ever seen. And it took plenty of creativity for RTA makers to hold their own against the constant pressure of cheaper case-goods...

CHANNELING THE ENERGY; VENDORS EXPLORE NEW RETAIL AVENUES, INCLUDING THEIR OWN STORES AND THE WEB.
March 8, 2004... Few home categories sell across as many retail channels as ready-to-assemble furniture, a factor that bodes well for a rebound. Mass merchants, office superstores, consumer electronics chains, catalogs and the Internet all have the potential...

IN TUNE WITH CONSUMER ELECTRONICS; NEW DESIGNS IN TVS AND OTHER COMPONENTS PROMPT RTA MAKERS TO ADAPT.(Brief Article)
March 8, 2004... Walk into a store that sells consumer electronics and you'll find shelves that are filled with sound and audio merchandise that didn't even exist five years ago -- in weights and sizes that never existed before. Those items need to be stored on...