HFN The Weekly Newspaper for the Home Furnishing Network articles from March 2007

HFN The Weekly Newspaper for the Home Furnishing Network archives from March 2007

Winds of change for housewares in Chicago.(news)
March 5, 2007... CHICAGO -- The housewares industry comes into its most important event of the year next week with two of its core businesses--small electrics and floor care--having radically different vendor structures than a year ago. The International...

Specialty books go Au natural for the spring.(news)
March 5, 2007... NEW YORK -- If their catalogs are an indication, specialty home retailers are going neutral and natural this spring. Crate & Barrel and Pottery Barn's books are highlighting eco-friendly assortments for the upcoming season, as well as...

A look ahead.(home page)
March 5, 2007... Home furnishings retailers will release February same-store sales results on March 8. HFN will publish its Top 25 Internet Retailers report on April 2. Amazon.com will report its fourth-quarter earnings on April 24.

A look back.(home page)
March 5, 2007... Forty-nine years ago this week, leading producers of gas ranges were in open rebellion against the industrywide trade group, the American Gas Association. The issue: match-held versus automatic oven lighting. The AGA, which issued a...

Mediums.(home page)
March 5, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Here's a peek at the green room created by Architectural Digest for the presenters and honorees at lest week's Academy Awards.

The HFN stock index.
March 5, 2007... Manufacturers led the HFN Index decline for the Feb. 22 to March 1 period, falling 4.21 percent. Salton's 17.54 percent decline to close at $2.35 dragged the group down. Retailers sunk 4.08 percent. Bombay Co. was the group's big loser,...

Federated to become Macy's, home improves in Q4.(news)
March 5, 2007... CINCINNATI -- Federated Department Stores' move last week to change the company's name to Macy's Group is designed to trumpet its biggest marquee brand, executives said. The news coincided with the retailer's fourth-quarter report, which...

Lifetime Brands opens new headquarters.(news)
March 5, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WESTBURY, N.Y. -- We're going to need a bigger building. That was pretty much the corporate mandate for Lifetime Brands, the rapidly expanded housewares powerhouse that has more than doubled in size over the past...

Martha Stewart home line at Macy's for summer launch.(news)
March 5, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION 0MITTED] Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia delivered what it called "the inaugural" 1,500-SKU home line of the Martha Stewart Collection to Macy's, according to a statement from MSLO on the company's fourth-quarter results. ...

BJ's Wholesale Club.(RETAIL)
March 5, 2007... IBJ'S WHOLESALE CLUB has named Herb Zarkin president and chief executive officer. Zarkin has served as interim CEO since November, when Mike Wedge left the company. He will continue as chairman of BJ's board of directors. Zarkin has been a...

Shopko.(RETAIL)
March 5, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SHOPKO has named Jack Mullen senior vice president of marketing. Mullen most recently was senior vice president of advertising and sales promotion at the former May Department Stores' Foley's division. At ShopKo,...

The Home Depot.(RETAIL)
March 5, 2007... THE HOME DEPOT warned of sales and earnings decreases in the single digits this year because it doesn't expect residential construction and the housing market to improve until the second half of 2007 or early 2008.

Hollandia International.(RETAIL)
March 5, 2007... HOLLANDIA INTERNATIONAL, the Israel-based high-end bedding manufacturer, has opened its first U.S. retail location at the King of Prussia Mall in King of Prussia, Pa. The store features the company's patented line of Gravity Zero luxury bed...

The New York Home Textiles Show.(THE MARKETS)
March 5, 2007... THE NEW YORK HOME TEXTILES SHOW has ended its run as a freestanding event and starting in August will be integrated into the New York International Gift Show, according to the show's sponsor, George Little Management. The Textiles Show has...

Serta.(THE MARKETS)
March 5, 2007... SERTA has joined forces with Askona Holding Co., a prominent Russia-based mattress producer, in an alliance that will put the mattress maker into that market. Under the terms of the deal, Askona (which will take the name Serta Trading Co.) will...

The Trump Home.(THE MARKETS)
March 5, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE TRUMP HOME brand will first be made available to Macy's in New York this summer, after Lexington Home Brands unveils the first two full-category furniture collections at the High Point Market next month. The two...

Caldeira China.(THE MARKETS)
March 5, 2007... CALDEIRA CHINA, a subsidiary of the U.K. -- based textiles company Caldeira Ltd., has opened a new 250,000-squarefoot complex in Yuyue, China. The company, which also opened a New York showroom at last month's textiles market, had outgrown its...

Horchow.(THE MARKETS)
March 5, 2007... HORCHOW has added an online art gallery to its e-commerce site, featuring original finished fine art from Pacific Art Group. The gallery, which went live mid-February, has five pages with 20 high-end, hand-painted acrylic on canvas pieces...

Trade show calendar.(Calendar)
March 5, 2007... march 6-10 Malaysian International Furniture Fair Putra World Trade Center Kuala Lumpur Convention Center MATRADE Exhibition and Convention Center Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia miff.com.my 7-11 11th Thailand International Furniture Fair...

New York Gift Cash & Carry[R]Show ... Gifts to Go[R].(GLM: BUSINESS BRIEFS)
March 5, 2007... Retailers looking to quickly restock their shelves can find the latest giftware, tabletop, housewares and decorative accessories--all available for immediate delivery--at the New York Girl Cash & Carry Show... Gifts to Go. The Show will...

Boston Gift Show[R].(GLM: BUSINESS BRIEFS)
March 5, 2007... New and notable manufacturers are getting ready for the Boston Gift Show, New England's destination for unique gifts and decorative accessories. Located in the heart of the recently renovated Seaport District, the Show is minutes from...

The Gourmet Housewares Show[R].(GLM: BUSINESS BRIEFS)
March 5, 2007... At the Gourmet Housewares Show, specialty retailers have the opportunity to meet with key manufacturers in the industry, learning first-hand about the latest innovations in cookware, kitchen gadgets, cutlery, specialty appliances (electric and...

Global Home Textiles[TM].(GLM: BUSINESS BRIEFS)
March 5, 2007... Are you currently sourcing home textiles overseas? Do you want to establish new, global relationships for your business? Global Home Textiles, GLM's new tradeshow featuring offshore home textiles manufacturers from Asia and around the world,...

International Contemporary Furniture Fair[R].(GLM: BUSINESS BRIEFS)
March 5, 2007... The 19th annual International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) will transform New York City's Jacob K. Javits Convention Center into a global haven for design devotees. As North America's singular showcase for contemporary design, the Fair...

Rhapsodies in blue.(trends)
March 5, 2007... From inky navy to indigo, shades of blue were everywhere during the recent winter textiles market. It's little surprise blue popped up most frequently on bedding, since the psychologically calming color, seen in solids, patterns and stripes,...

TV chefs do cook up sales: study finds that TV cooking shows are more influential than print ads.(top story)
March 5, 2007... PEOPLE WHO ARE REPORTEDLY ON THE CUTTING EDGE of consumer trends are almost twice as likely to purchase a particular brand of food preparation item--such as cookware, kitchen tools or small electrics--when they see the item advertised on a...

Manufacturers are finding a winning recipe with big names behind their product lineups.(top story)
March 5, 2007... NEW YORK -- Does celebrity still sell in the kitchen? The answer is yes, the allure of a celebrity chef endorsement still holds some magic for consumers, as more people are watching food shows--some obsessively--and more chefs join the ranks of...

Wake up and smell the coffee.(opinions: home alone 2)
March 5, 2007... Howard Schultz did a little mea corporate culpa last week, something every CEO in every business in the country should be wishing they had done first. Schultz is the man behind Starbucks Coffee, and whether you're a fan or a foe of the...

Winter in new York?(news: letters)(Letter to the editor)
March 5, 2007... To the Editor: As usual, February in New York is more about the weather than product in showrooms. Who could have predicted that this past Wednesday (Feb. 14) would be one of the worst weather days in New York all year? Aside from the fact...

As American as mom.(news: letters)(Letter to the editor)
March 5, 2007... To the Editor: Please note that there are people who do care where their home goods and clothes are made. My 88-year-old mother is always on her soap box about the loss of American-made goods. The poor salespeople who cross her path...

Establishing presents.(news: letters)
March 5, 2007... To the Editor: I read the article "Walking the Magazine Aisle" [HFN, Jan. 22, 2007] by Jessica Harlan with bated breath, hoping to find out what our gift and tabletop industry might expect in future issues. I have told all of our tabletop...

Retail/vendor landscape--2010 & beyond.(opinions)
March 5, 2007... The retailer/vendor landscape of 2010 and beyond is all about market share and who can be best positioned to sell to the consumer. Successful retailers will: * Give the consumer the product she wants that will accommodate her and her...

Sheet wave: as thread counts rise, high-end bedding is hooter than ever.(the markets: textiles)
March 5, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- With its high thread-count sheets and meticulous attention to detail, high-end bedding--sold primarily at teptier department and specialty stores--is seeingmore action than ever before. [ILLUSTRATION...

Ellison, First Asia celebrate finely woven marriage.(the markets: textiles)
March 5, 2007... NEW YORK -- The marriage of Ellison and First Asia--the U.S.-based sales and marketing company merging with the sourcing company with extensive Chinese roots--was celebrated at the home textiles market here last month and a good time was had by...

Diverse looks, broad appeal in Candice Olson's new bedding line.(the markets: textiles)
March 5, 2007... NEW YORK -- In her new line of bedding with JLA Home, Candice Olson, host of HGTV's "Divine Design" and a contributing editor for Home magazine, updates traditional design motifs by adding beading, feathers, faux fur, hints of shiny Lurex and...

Flooring America, Canada take an upscale approach.(the markets: floor covering)
March 5, 2007... DALLAS -- Flooring America and Flooring Canada are set to launch a new high-end brand at their joint convention next week at the Gaylord Texan Resort here. Design Distinctions will be exclusive for the retailers and addresses a higher-end,...

A new place for Milliken: the company has given a familiar brand a techonolgy upgrade, blending texture with color and pattern.(the markets: floor covering)
March 5, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] LA GRANGE, Ga. -- A new technology has helped Milliken Carpet move into new territory with Milliken Place, a new residential Stainmaster carpet collection. The technology is called Convergence and was developed...

Karastan floors the crowd at Chaiken runway show.(the markets: floor covering)
March 5, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- Karastan provided a fashionable runway for models at Chaiken's fashion show last month. Eleven rugs from the company's English Manor Collection were laid end-to-end to pave the full length of Chaiken's...

Hanson Furniture & Carpet honored by Mohawk.(the markets: floor covering)
March 5, 2007... MILBANK, S.D. -- Hanson Furniture & Carpet has been named Mohawk ColorCenter Dealer of the Year for 2006. The retailer was selected from among nearly 2,000 Mohawk ColorCenter stores nationwide as the dealership that most completely executed the...

The convertible theory: the futon industry took a hit from 'click-clacks,' because of their distinct look and lower price points.(the markets: furniture & lightning)
March 5, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ATLANTA -- It was a tough year for the futon industry in 2006. There was a general lull in the furniture industry and in the overall economy; a glut of cheap product imports; and changes in the manufacturing and...

Containers add to problems of retailers in the casual industry.(the markets: furniture & lightning)
March 5, 2007... NEW YORK -- The development of containers to ship cargo by sea and land is often described as a turning point in materials transportation. One global shipping firm, for example, in a brief corporate history, writes that the large steel box,...

Stylecraft Home moving to larger HQ.(the markets: furniture & lightning)
March 5, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HERNANDO, Miss. -- Stylecraft Home Collection, under the leadership of Charlie McCaffrey, who was named president last October, is moving to new, larger headquarters here this spring. A new distribution software...

ART relaunches fund-raiser, opens conference registration.(the markets: furniture & lightning)(Conference news)
March 5, 2007... HIGH POINT, N.C. -- The Accessories Resource Team has brought back its semiannual bowling fund-raiser, The Art of Bowling, during the upcoming High Point Market here. The event, sponsored by the decorative accessory industry association, will...

Future dim for incandescents?(the markets: furniture & lightning)
March 5, 2007... NEW YORK -- Call 2007 the year of the light bulb ban. In the past month alone, several U.S. states, municipalities and the Australian government have moved to ban incandescent light bulbs for their high heat production and energy...

Royal Doulton set for its debut at housewares.(the markets: tabletop)
March 5, 2007... CHICAGO -- For the first time, Royal Doulton is exhibiting at the International Home & Housewares Show here next week, where it is banking on new collections from chef Gordon Ramsay and designer Terence Conran to guide it in unfamiliar...

Feats of clay: three British ceramics brands will pool resources to mark a bigger presence in the American market.(the markets: tabletop)(Company overview)
March 5, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HERTFORDSHIRE, England -- Lifestyle Group's recent acquisition of Poole Pottery and Royal Stafford underscores its vote of confidence in British ceramics, while widening its appeal to American buyers. Established...

Bormioli Rocco sees a glass half full.(the markets: tabletop)
March 5, 2007... FRANKFURT, Germany -- In its large corner booth at the Ambiente fair here last month, Bormioli Rocco showed a breadth and a depth of products that reveals its plans to bolster its brand name and its product range both in Europe and in the...

Villeroy & Boch begets vivo.(the markets: tabletop)
March 5, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- Looking to attract a younger customer, Villeroy & Boch launched Vivo at Ambiente, a new brand of fun shapes and accent colors that targets the housewares floor. Vivo, which means "I live" in Latin,...

The feeling's neutral.(the markets: tabletop)
March 5, 2007... NEW YORK -- Whether it reminds you of sand from your vacation or your favorite coffee drink, neutral colors have been spotted among many tabletop introductions as the perfect complement to a plethora of colors and patterns. When coupled with...

Expanded Pedrini brand to debut in Chicago.(the markets: tabletop)
March 5, 2007... CHICAGO -- The Italian flair of Pedrini will make a big splash at the International Home & Housewares Show, as Lifetime Brands will showcase this brand, as well as its new categories, after having taken over its U.S. operations a year ago. ...

Pyrex enters name game with TV chef.(the markets: tabletop)
March 5, 2007... ROSEMONT, III. -- For the first time in its long history, Pyrex has signed with a high-profile celebrity. In partnering with Giada De Laurentiis, a chef, cookbook author and Food Network host, the 100-year-old glassware company hopes to...

1 Fenton.(the markets: hfnew: tabletop)
March 5, 2007... Fenton Art Glass recently introduced these whimsical Santa Bells featuring hand-painted faces and sparkling glitter accents. The collection is available in three sizes. fentonartglass.com [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

2 Precidio.(the markets: hfnew: tabletop)
March 5, 2007... Precidio's new Ocean Waves collection of sculpted shell pieces in soft watercolor hues call to mind images of sand and sun precidio.com [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

3 Pendleton.(the markets: hfnew: tabletop)
March 5, 2007... Pendleton, the wool company, has come out with its own line of tabletop for which it is targeting high-end gift and department stores. The Ranch collection, with its colorful teepee and horse motif, encompasses everything from dinner plates and...

4 Mud Pie.(the markets: hfnew: tabletop)
March 5, 2007... Mud Pie's Nesting Collection celebrates new life, love and family with new ceramic dinnerware in warm cream, brown and robin's egg blue. The wide-ranging collection of dinnerware, serveware and accessories is accented in a few instances with...

5 Anchor Hocking.(the markets: hfnew: tabletop)
March 5, 2007... Anchor Hocking has extended its Madison glass serveware collection with this serving platter and two-tier metal rack, a feature at the International Home & Housewares Show. anchorhocking.com [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Disney movie interpreted in two different takes.(the markets: tabletop)
March 5, 2007... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] NEW YORK -- For two completely different creative takes on a movie, look no further than the recent tabletop licensing agreements surrounding "Ratatouille," the Disney/Pixar animated movie about Remy, the Parisian...

The vacs of life: Hoover's new owner Techtronic brings money that could mean new life for the vacuum maker.(the markets: housewares)
March 5, 2007... HONG KONG -- New owner Techtronic Industries means new money and possibly new life for Hoover, which some floor care industry players and observers said had been neglected first by former parent Maytag and then by owner Whirlpool. TTI...

McCusker muses on his career, De'Longhi as transition begins.(the markets: housewares)
March 5, 2007... SADDLE BROOK, N.J. -- After more than a quarter of a century, James McCusker has decided to step down as president of De'Longhi America. De'Longhi recently announced that McCusker will leave the subsidiary he began in 1980 at the end of...

Built NY doing more than holding its own.(the markets: housewares)
March 5, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- Built NY is expanding into new lines, products and materials, as the housewares company moves beyond its ubiquitous neoprene bottle totes to fulfill its mantra of being a full-fledged "lifestyle...

1 Sanyo.(the markets: hf new: housewares)
March 5, 2007... The Sanyo Zero-Gravity massage chair puts the user into a neutral body posture that humans would assume in micro-gravity positions. sanyo.com [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

2 Epilady.(the markets: hf new: housewares)
March 5, 2007... Epilady's new Epic line of epilators and shavers features a sleek new design, and marks the company's expansion into the shaver category. epilady.com

3 Salton.(the markets: hf new: housewares)
March 5, 2007... The Juiceman 2-Speed Large Chute Juice Extractor will be introduced by Salton at the International Home & Housewares Show. saltoninc.com/brands [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

4 Waring.(the markets: hf new: housewares)
March 5, 2007... The Waring Pro Professional Deep Fryer has a 1-gallon capacity and extra-large frying basket that make it ideal for large families or entertaining crowds. waringproducts.com [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

5 Sunbeam.(the markets: hf new: housewares)
March 5, 2007... The 12-cup Heritage Coffeemaker from Sunbeam features a contemporary design, a Simple-Set Clock, a metallic finish and chrome metal accents. jardencs.com [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Copco expands international dining appeal with chef bayless.(the markets: housewares)
March 5, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- Two years after its successful launch with Mario Batali, Copco will continue on its ethnic cooking theme by debuting its new cookware line with Rick Bayless, the awardwinning chef, restaurateur, cookbook...

Breville, Keurig double up to make single-cup brewer.(the markets: housewares)
March 5, 2007... LOS ANGELES -- Breville and Keurig Inc. have formed an alliance to develop a single-serve gourmet home brewer. The product, slated for introduction at the upcoming International Home & Housewares Show, Hill be Breville's first single-serve...

Espresso makers express themselves at Ambiente.(the markets: housewares)
March 5, 2007... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Saeco, which has continually pushed the high-end envelope in espresso machines, went a little further this time with this fully automatic new machine, which features a free-standing milk "island" for making...

Best Buy's store expansion plans surpass analysts' expectations.(the markets: major appliances)
March 5, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] RICHFIELD, Minn. -- Best Buy's new store expansion plans have surpassed analysts' expectations. The big-box retailer late last month announced plans to add a total of 130 new stores in the United States, Canada...

NARDA focus: help members grow revenue via merger.(the markets: major appliances)
March 5, 2007... GLENVIEW, Ill. -- The North American Retail Dealers Association plans to merge with the United Servicers Association in efforts to help its members revive service-derived revenues. United Servicers will become the service division of NARDA...

Sears' Holdings' comps down in Q4.(the markets: business & finance)
March 5, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. -- Sears Holdings' comparable-store sales for the fourth quarter ended Feb. 4 slipped, due partly to soft home appliance performance. The department store giant reported a 3.1 percent...

Home weakness hurts Tuesday Morning's profits.(the markets: business & finance)
March 5, 2007... DALLAS -- Citing a "difficult environment" in the market for home goods, Tuesday Morning's fourth-quarter profit suffered a double-digit decline from the year-ago period and an even steeper drop for the full year 2006. Net income for the...

Target execs note home results are improving.(the markets: business & finance)
March 5, 2007... MINNEAPOLIS -- After a tough 2006, Target's home business is on the rebound, said executives during a conference call to review fourth-quarter results. Due to a "rebalanced" home assortment, "we've experienced improving performance in...

A decade of dining by design.(hfend)
March 5, 2007... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] It's hard to believe it's been 10 years since the first Dining by Design event, the annual dressing of the tables presented by Elle Decor magazine and GE Monogram, with proceeds going to DIFFA, Design Industries...

Buyers look to find finds at the show.(news)
March 12, 2007... CHICAGO -- Retailers here at the International Home & Housewares Show are on the hunt for fourth-quarter finds and compelling gift-giving opportunities from a category some believe has been muddling through a creative dry spell. Buyers are...

Martha's Macy's debut heads into home stretch.(news)
March 12, 2007... NEW YORK -- The most anticipated home hne at retail is starting to take shape. Home vendors such as Waterford Wedgwood, Safavieh, Bernhardt and Lifetime Brands are among the suppliers who have signed on with Macy's and Martha Stewart...

A look ahead.(home page)
March 12, 2007... New housing starts and permits issued for February will be released by the U.S. Commerce Department's Census Bureau on March 20. Martha Stewart Living Omnintedia will report its first-quarter earnings on May 1. The Kitchen/Bath...

A look back.(home page)
March 12, 2007... Forty-four years ago this week, trading stamp companies, then one of the most important movers of electric housewares, were getting pressure from state legislatures. Bills calling for greater control over the industry--which included S&H Green...

Pen in hand.(home page)
March 12, 2007... Letter writers deserve a distinctive writing instrument. HFN, in conjunction with Recife, makers of pens and other writing instruments, will send a Baby Press Rollerball Pen to each letter writer who is published in HFN. This offer is limited...

The HFN stock index.(home page)
March 12, 2007... Manufacturers dragged down the HFN Index for the March 1 to 6 period, sliding 1.11 percent. Quaker Fabric was the manufacturing sector loser, declining 5.74 percent to close at $1.15. The company recently reported a fourth-quarter net loss....

Mattress Firm's latest deal lifts store count above 500.(news: quick takes)
March 12, 2007... HOUSTON -- Mattress Firm is continuing an aggressive expansion strategy that will soon boost its store count past the 500 mark. Last week, the mattress specialty retailer signed a letter of intent to purchase Mattress Discounters, the...

Pantone, Clariant International team for advanced color development.(news: quick takes)
March 12, 2007... CARLSTADT, N.J,-- Pantone Inc. and textiles colorant and chemical producer Clariant International Ltd. have partnered to make textiles color development more productive and profitable for the fashion and home furnishings industries worldwide....

Crate & Barrel.(RETAIL)
March 12, 2007... CRATE & BARREL is gearing up to spread its home lifestyle message abroad for the first time with a new store in Toronto, slated to open in the spring or summer of 2008, a spokeswoman told HFN. "We are also studying the European market as part...

Wal-Mart stores.(RETAIL)
March 12, 2007... WAL-MARTSTORES has kicked off the first phase of its "site-to-store" rollout service, which offers free shipping to WaI-Mart stores on thousands of items available on Walmart.com. WaI-Mart customers can now shop and buy products online at...