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

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

MACY'S WEST CEO RETIRING; METTLER TO TAKE THE HELM.(Jeremiah Sullivan)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... SAN FRANCISCO-Jeremiah Sullivan will retire as chairman and chief executive officer of Macy's West June 1, ending a 40-year retail career. He will be succeeded by Robert Mettler, who has been president and chief operating officer of the chain...

CREDITORS SET TO TAKE OVER PILLOWTEX AS IT EXITS CHAPTER 11.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... KANNAPOLIS, N.C.-Bank creditors led by Oaktree Capital Management LLC are poised to take over Pillowtex Corp., which is expected to emerge from Chapter 11 on or before June 30 after the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware last...

WEST ELM PURSUES YOUNGER FOLKS WITHOUT THE BARGAIN STORE TACK.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... NEW YORK-How do you introduce a lower-priced brand without it eroding and cannibalizing your existing brands? That was the challenge facing Williams-Sonoma as the company developed West Elm, its moderately priced concept that targets twenty-...

ITEMS IN TARGET'S STARCK LINE ALREADY COLLECTIBLE ON EBAY.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... MINNEAPOLIS-Officials at Target were surprised to hear products from the store's exclusive line of Philippe Starck-designed housewares items were already appearing for auction on eBay -- primarily because the products won't actually appear on...

Z GALLERIE ON AN EXPANSION ROLL.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... GARDENA, Calif.-Z Gallerie, a home furnishings specialty retailer, will expand its store base about 30 percent by the end of the first quarter next year. The retailer currently operates 40 locations and will add approximately 12 more units...

OFFICE DEPOT KEEPS LEAD IN WEB SITE VISITORS.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... NEW YORK-For the second month in a row, Officedepot.com held first place among shoppers at home furnishings retail Web sites, with more than 6,400 surfers visiting at least once during March. That was 454 more people who clicked onto the...

SHOPKO AIMS TO LOWER DEBT, MAKE PAMIDA PROFITABLE.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... NEW YORK-As it searches for a new chief executive officer to succeed Bill Podany, who resigned last month, ShopKo has zeroed in on reducing debt and improving the performance of the regional discounter's Pamida division, the company's growth...

AN AGREEABLE MANOR.
May 6, 2002... What a house! Unlike most show houses that also boast a roster of star designers and a charity affiliation, the House Beautiful Celebrity Showhouse differs in one very important way: It's a real home for the Johnson family in the Brentwood...

KMART ET CARREFOUR: AT A CROSSROADS?(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... PARIS-If, as many people speculate, the ultimate fate of Kmart will be to end up in the hands of giant French retailer Carrefour, how would the troubled American discounter change? Let us count the ways. Carrefour, the second-largest...

NEWS BRIEFS.(resignations, appointments, investigation, new warehouse)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... Kmart Suspends Severance Pay to Former Execs Kmart said it has suspended severance payments to some of its former executives while it reviews the "stewardship" of the retailer during their reign. The investigation, conducted by the...

MERVYN'S MOVES TO WOO 20-SOMETHINGS, HISPANICS.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... HAYWARD, Calif.-Customization is critical, according to Mervyn's. That's why this month the $4 billion division of Target Corp. is targeting key demographic groups to grow its home business by launching programs tailor-made for...

PARLEZ-VOUS KMART?
May 6, 2002... French retail giant Carrefour wants to establish a North American presence. Kmart wants to emerge from Chapter 11. If the two got together, how would Kmart fare in the translation? See page 8.

TREND SPOTTING IN THE U.S.A.(design)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... If there was ever a year to rediscover and focus on American design, this is it. In times of unrest and uncertainty, we are most comfortable with familiar things. Besides, who says that all trends and directions start in Europe? Whenever...

WELL ON THE ROAD TO REVIVAL.(reinventing a brand, such as Cadillac)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... I guess it really didn't hit home until I was watching some awards show and two really big, really nasty-looking hip-hop stars pulled up and got out of a Cadillac Escalade. Not a Lexus, not a Lincoln, not even a Hummer. A Cadillac Escalade, the...

TRADE SHOW CALENDAR.
May 6, 2002... May 8-10 Proposte Villa Erba Cernobbio Como, Italy 011-39-2-8322028 16-17 National Stationery Show 225 Preview Days 225 Fifth Ave. New York 18-21 International Contemporary Furniture Fair Jacob K....

COVERING BETS; FABRIC MAKERS SPANG FORTH WITH SPRING LOOKS AT HIGH POINT.(new products at Home Furnishings Market)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... HIGH POINT, N.C.-Outside and in showrooms, spring's renewal was evident at April's International Home Furnishings Market here. Retailers eager to excite consumers and draw traffic into stores found a fresh palette in upholstery showrooms....

DAN RIVER POSTS BIG FIRST-QUARTER GAINS IN HOME SEGMENT.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 6, 2002... DANVILLE, Va.-Dan River said a better mix of products and aggressive inventory-reduction efforts boosted the operating income of its home fashions business to $5.3 million for the first quarter ended March 30 from $485,000 in the first quarter...

NEWS BRIEFS.(DuPont Textiles and Interiors lay-off; Burlington Industries divests)
May 6, 2002... DuPont Division Slates Cuts Of 2,000 Jobs DuPont Textiles & Interiors, the new company spun off by DuPont in February, said it would cut 2,000 workers worldwide this year. DTI also will close a manufacturing facility in Niagara Falls,...

SCHUMACHER LETS DESIGNERS HAVE A SAY IN MATELASSE.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... NEW YORK-What do you get when you ask nine designers from all walks of life to make a matelasse creation? A little bit of everything. At least that's what F. Schumacher & Co. discovered when it gave free rein and a few yards of the...

LOOKS ON THE BRIGHT SIDE; RUG PALETTES AND PATTERNS WERE BOLD AND VIBRANT AT HIGH POINT THIS SPRING.
May 6, 2002... HIGH POINT, N.C.-After a disappointing October market, suppliers made a bold comeback at the April International Home Furnishings Market here with striking contemporary designs and vivid colors. Trans-Ocean's new Pioneer Braid Collection,...

MARTHA STEWART FLOORING REQUIRES BIG COMMITMENT FROM DEALERS.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... NEW YORK-Shaw Industries has made a big commitment with its broad new flooring collection for the Martha Stewart Signature brand and hopes its dealers will, too. Dealers must agree to give at least 500 square feet to the flooring...

CARPET MILLS TO RAISE PRICES AS OIL COSTS CONTINUE TO SOAR.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... NEW YORK-Retailers can expect higher prices in carpet this summer as mills feel the pinch from oil price increases. Mills that make their own fiber are feeling the impact already. Beaulieu will raise broadloom prices by 6 percent this June,...

FAN APPRECIATION; MAKERS OF CEILING MODEL ARE TOUTING THEIR ENERGY EFFECIENCY, FASHION AND MODERN FEATURES.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... NEW YORK-The ceiling fan season is well under way, and manufacturers and retailers are launching major promotions and national advertising in efforts to propel the business forward. New this year are efforts to promote the energy-saving...

HFN BEDDING ROUNDTABLE FINDS STORE LAYOUT IS KEY.
May 6, 2002... HIGH POINT, N.C.-With bedding representing 12 to 20 percent of a furniture retailer's business, attention to the bedding department's layout and placement has become an important part of the store's floor plan. Five leading retailers...

SEALY IS OFF TO RACES WITH A NEW AD CAMPAIGN.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... TRINITY, N.C.-Look for the latest Sealy commercials to enter the realm of popular culture if the punch line catches on with the water-cooler crowd. On May 4, during the running of the Kentucky Derby, Sealy launched a national television...

RESTONIC REVAMPS ITS AD PROGRAM.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... ROSEMONT, Ill.-Restonic Mattress Corp. has replaced its old paper advertising slicks with the Restonic Ad Creator, a CD-ROM containing different templates, graphics, photography and copy. The retailer now has the choice of using these...

NEWS BRIEFS.(includes multiple records)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... Berman Opens Shanghai Factory Chicago-based supplier Berman Industries opened a new zinc casting and plating factory in its Shanghai, China, facility. The lamp component supplier had been making molds there, and last year added 15,000...

NEWS BRIEF.(includes multiple records)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... Leon Gets Canada Retailer Award Tom Leon, chairman, chief executive officer and president of 49-store Leon's Furniture, has been named Canadian Retailer of the Year by the Ontario Furniture Manufacturers' Association. Leon will be honored...

SERTA NAMED A RECIPIENT OF SEARS TOP SUPPLIER AWARD.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... ITASCA, Ill.-Serta has been selected by Sears to receive its 2001 Partners in Progress award. Serta was the sole bedding manufacturer selected and one of only 107 suppliers chosen by Sears from a field of more than 10,000 competitors. Alan...

COURTING TIME; WOOING YOUNGER CONSUMERS AND THE BRIDAL MARKET WAS THE FOCUS AT THE FOCUS AT THE TABLETOP SHOW.(tabletop market)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... NEW YORK-Vibrant colors, funkier looks and more casual approaches from the tabletop industry here last week signaled its attempt to reach younger consumers and refocus efforts on the bridal market. Many manufacturers came to the Spring...

ROYAL DOULTON NAMES NEW PRESIDENT OF U.S. DIVISION.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... NEW YORK-Royal Doulton's chief executive officer came to market last week to introduce a new American president and offer assurances of the company's fiscal health and well-being in the United States. Citing the United States as Royal...

PARTYING SHOTS.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... NEW YORK-The rainy, chilly weather didn't put a damper on the social events at last week's Spring Tabletop Show here. Vendors and manufacturers kicked off the market with a bit of fun, which continued throughout the show, and they also enjoyed...

DUPONT STEPS UP BRAND EFFORTS BY PROMOTING TWO MILESTONES.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... WILMINGTON, Del.-DuPont is celebrating two major events this year with a reinforced commitment to branding strategy. To that end, the company has doubled its advertising flights from once a year to both fall and spring promotions with the...

AHAM AIMS TO RAISE CONSUMER AWARENESS ON AIR CLEANING.(Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... WASHINGTON-One by-product of last year's terrorist attacks is greater public concern about air quality. That has translated into growing sales for portable air cleaners. It's also allergy season, prime time for building volume. ...

NEW FACILITY DOUBLES SPACE FOR APPLIANCE DEALERS CO-OP.(Appliance Dealers Cooperative's new facility, membership)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... MONROE, N.J.-"It's like changing a tire while you are going 80 miles an hour." That was Helene Siegel's description of a buying group moving into a larger office-warehouse complex without disrupting member services and deliveries. She's...

KITCHENAID ENTERS BAKEWARE-- IN COLOR.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... WESTBURY, N.Y.-KitchenAid has brought its colorful presence to the gray world of bakeware with a new licensed line produced by the Roshco division of Lifetime Hoan Corp. The bakeware -- a 1mm-gauge carbon steel KitchenAid Professional...

VACS GRAB BIGGEST SHARE OF AD SPACE IN 1ST QUARTER.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y.-Three vacuum cleaner brands -- Hoover, Dirt Devil and Eureka -- were given more space in newspapers than any brand, and vacuum cleaners in general took the lead in housewares brand column inches during the first quarter of...

NEW WARES AT VILLAWARE; VENDOR'S FORAY INTO COOKWARE HIGHLIGHTS INTRODUCTIONS AT THE GOURMET SHOW.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... SAN FRANCISCO-While expansion to several new product categories within the small-electrics family was newsworthy on its own, the biggest news at the VillaWare Manufacturing booth at the Gourmet Products Show was the company's maiden voyage into...

COPY TALK.(includes multiple records)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... Kmart Hires Hollywood Agency Kmart's gone Hollywood. The retailer, currently in Chapter 11, has retained Tinseltown talent firm Creative Artists Agency to provide entertainment-related marketing strategies and brand-building programs for...

CHILD IS GROWING UP FAST AS A HOME GOODS FORUM.(magazine)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... NEW YORK-Child magazine's May issue has two things going for it. One, it's the first issue with a home furnishings-related cover story. Two, it's the biggest issue of the magazine since Gruner & Jahr bought it from The New York Times in...

[0] NEWS BRIEFS.(several home furnishings industry news briefs)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 6, 2002... Lifetime Hoan Posts Q1 Loss Lifetime Hoan Corp. posted a net loss for the first quarter as a complicated startup at a new shipping facility impacted results. The net loss came in at $1.2 million, compared with net income of $639,000 for...

OPEN HOUSE.
May 6, 2002... Some of Hollywood's finest turned out in the Brentwood section of Los Angeles for the first Only in House Beautiful Celebrity Showhouse kickoff weekend April 26. Starting things off was a designer cocktail party Friday night. Angelica Huston...

TECHNOLOGY KEY TO SMOOTHING OUT THE SUPPLY CHAIN.(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... Centering on the issue of improved port security is the role of technology and how it can be leveraged to keep the supply chain free of kinks. The National Retail Federation and others suggest using X-ray and gamma-ray machines that could...

CORRECTIONS.(Correction Notice)
May 6, 2002... In the April 15 issue of HFN, the iridescent pillow shown on page 22 was from Melrose Home Collections and not Pillowtex. In the same issue and on the same page, the captions for photos three and four were incorrectly identified. The text...

DANIEL NEWMAN, FORMER FAIRCHILD PRESIDENT, DIES.(Obituary)
May 6, 2002... BONITA SPRINGS, Fla.-Daniel Newman, former president of Fairchild Publications, died here last Tuesday of pancreatic cancer. He was 82. Newman joined Fairchild in 1956 as an advertising salesman. He was named senior vice president of...

HIGHER PORT SECURITY MEANS HIGHER SHIPPING COSTS.(insurance premiums rise)(Brief Article)
May 6, 2002... NEW YORK-While elected officials hash out a plan for securing U.S. ports in the aftermath of Sept. 11, retailers and suppliers are facing higher insurance premiums and surcharges for shipped goods. Insurance fees of up to $1,000 per...

SHOPPING AROUND.(department store consolidation)(Brief Article)
May 13, 2002... NEW YORK-As Federated Department Stores and May Department Stores Co. look to fill in holes in their national store mix -- and recoup market share lost to specialty chains and mass merchants -- it's no secret that the department store industry...

HOME GOODS FLOWER DESPITE APRIL SHOWERS, BUT COMPS MOSTLY WILTED.(same-store sales)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 13, 2002... NEW YORK-Even as lousy weather kept a lot of shoppers out of stores, the home goods segment shined. For most retailers, except discounters, April same-store sales were lackluster. Comparable-store sales were at the low end of Wall Street...

NEWS BRIEFS.(appointments in the home furnishings industry)(Brief Article)
May 13, 2002... Kmart Cuts Back Divisions, 12 Senior Execs Out In an effort to streamline its senior-level management team and realign its field organization into two geographic divisions from five, Kmart has eliminated 12 senior-level logistic, real...

LINENS LOOKS TO RAISE PROFITS 'N INVENTORY.(Linens 'n Things Inc.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 13, 2002... CLIFTON, N.J.-Building its direct-import, private-label sourcing to as much as 15 percent of its total mix is a key initiative for Linens 'n Things in 2002, Norman Axelrod, chairman and chief executive officer, said after the company's annual...

OZZ NEST.(Ozzy Osbourne may influence home furnishing trends)(Brief Article)
May 13, 2002... Part Addams Family, part English country and all over-the-top -- it's the Osbourne family domicile. Patriarch Ozzy Osbourne, heretofore best known for biting the heads off bats, has become America's most-beloved dad since "The Osbournes," a...

APRIL'S HARVEST.(spring market products)(Brief Article)
May 13, 2002... With spring market madness over at last, several outstanding products were uncovered from the miles of aisles traveled. Some new designers, some new categories for established manufacturers and some inventiveness proved that good design is...

MAY AND BELK GET JUMP-START ON CONSOLIDATION.(May Department Stores Co.)(Brief Article)
May 13, 2002... May Department Stores Co. and Belk have already started consolidating -- internally. Just weeks ago, both companies set plans to streamline their businesses to cut costs and boost operating efficiencies. May will merge its Kaufmann's...

DEJA VU AT THE LEADING SPECIALTY HOME RETAILERS?(Bed Bath and Beyond, Linens 'n Things promotional flyers alike)(Brief Article)
May 13, 2002... NEW YORK-The promotional fliers for Bed Bath & Beyond and Linens 'n Things had striking similarities last week. The retailers placed their Mother's Day sale items on the exact spot in their respective catalogs, a spread on page 6 and 7. But...

HOME DEPOT PLANS EXPANSION IN MAJOR APPLIANCE BUSINESS.(Brief Article)
May 13, 2002... ATLANTA-Securities analysts have responded favorably to Home Depot's latest expansion plans in major appliances. The giant chain, already number four in that business, said it intends to triple its SKUs and possibly take over fulfillment from...

SMITH SUCCEEDS SLATER AS HAVERTY PRESIDENT.(Clarence Smith, John Slater, Haverty Furniture)(Brief Article)
May 13, 2002... ATLANTA-Clarence Smith has been elected president of Haverty Furniture. Smith, who also retains his current title of chief operating officer, succeeds John "Jay" Slater as president. Slater will continue in his role as chief executive...

KAISER, KRAFT PARTNER ON PROMOTION.(Kaiser Bakeware )(Brief Article)
May 13, 2002... INDIAN TRAIL, N.C.-Call it David teaming with Goliath for a bake-off, as Kaiser Bakeware joins food giant Kraft Inc. for a springform cheesecake pan promotion now rolling out to supermarkets nationwide. The focal point of the campaign is a...

SALTON'S SALES RISE BY 22.5% IN 3RD QUARTER.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 13, 2002... LAKE FOREST, Ill.-Salton Inc. reported net sales increased 22.5 percent to $188.1 million in the third quarter ended March 30, compared with $153.6 million in the same period last year. Operating income was $16.7 million, compared with last...

MARKETWATCH STUDIES SPECIALTY CHANNEL AS TREND INDICATOR.(kitchen electrics, market forecast)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 13, 2002... ROSEMONT, Ill.-In an attempt to predict sales trends in various channels of distribution, the latest issue of Housewares MarketWatch concentrated on a yearlong analysis of retail sales for the specialty channel. In kitchen electrics, the...

HONG KONG'S THE GATEWAY TO CHINA, OFFICIAL SAYS.(Robin Chiu discusses Hong Kong as as a way to source goods from China)(Brief Article)(Interview)(Polling Data)
May 13, 2002... NEW YORK-Robin Chiu, regional director of the Americas for the Hong Kong Trade Development Council based here, shared his views with HFN on the role of Hong Kong during China's integration into the World Trade Organization. Chiu discussed how...

KIPS ON GIVING.(Kips Bay Showhouse benefits Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club)(Brief Article)
May 13, 2002... The 30th annual Kips Bay Showhouse started with a preview party that was packed to the rafters with le beau monde of New York design. After a quick tour of the house, the party moved to the French Consulate. The Kips Bay Showhouse benefits the...

READY, WILLING AND HABLE.(Brief Article)
May 13, 2002... Fashionistas will be beating a path to Hable Construction's brand-spanking-new shop in New York City. The designing Hable sisters, Susan and Catherine, are taking their hip textiles to the public in their first retail venture. The shop will...

TRADE SHOW CALENDAR.
May 13, 2002... May 16-17 National Stationery Show 225 Preview Days 225 Fifth Ave. New York 18-21 International Contemporary Furniture Fair Jacob K. Javits Convention Center New York (800) 272-SHOW 19-21 SURTEX ...

DIOR PREMIERE HOME LINE TO DEBUT IN U.S. STORES IN JUNE.(Brief Article)
May 13, 2002... NEW YORK-Fashionistas will have one more designer to pick from when they shop for their homes this summer and fall. Dior's first complete home line, Collection Maison, which debuted at the New York Spring Tabletop Show, will be in Dior...

VILLEROY AND ROSENTHAL RE-ENTER CRYSTAL ARENA.(Brief Article)
May 13, 2002... NEW YORK-Among the many companies venturing into new product categories at the Spring Tabletop Show earlier this month were two well-established German-based companies -- Villeroy & Boch and Rosenthal -- that launched extensive crystal giftware...

SALTON AT HOME ADDS FRAMES TO THE PICTURE.(Brief Article)
May 13, 2002... NEW YORK-Expanding its product offerings, Salton At Home came to the Spring Tabletop Show here last month with an introduction of picture frames. Many of the frames launched under the company's Stiffel brand will be "exclusively introduced...

EXCEL REORGANIZES ITSELF BY BRAND.(Brief Article)
May 13, 2002... NEW YORK-The Excel Group's new, definitive approach to its vast product assortment can be appreciated by all who organize their closets by season or their work benches according to the function of the tools they hold. It is very clear at a...

CORNINGWARE AIMS TO REGISTER WITH ENGAGED COUPLES.(Brief Article)
May 13, 2002... CORNING, N.Y.-If the couple that cooks together stays together, then the couple that cooks with CorningWare must be in an even greater state of wedded bliss. At least that's what the marketing team at CorningWare hopes with the launch of its...

BATHING BEAUTIES.(Brief Article)
May 13, 2002... Lladro's prim and proper showroom on 57th Street in New York was transformed into the steamy and sultry world of the Turkish bathhouse during a special event held to introduce consumers and the trade to Lladro's new design direction and to...

CARIBBEAN SI.
May 13, 2002... The opening-night party for the paintings of Vincent Delrez at the Connors-Rosato gallery was a Caribbean paradise come to Manhattan -- complete with the house's own lethal rum punch. Author, decorative arts scholar and gallery owner Michael...

NEWCOMERS AFFECTING DYNAMICS IN FLOOR CARE.(Brief Article)
May 13, 2002... LAKE FOREST, Ill.-The vendors' roster in floor care is undergoing its biggest change in years. The leading four or five names are still the same, and so are several of the secondary brands. But there has not been such a shift in players in...

THE TASTE OF SUCCESS; THE JAMES BEARD FOUNDATION HONORS THE BEST OF THE CULINARY BUSINESS.(Brief Article)
May 13, 2002... NEW YORK-The scene was a sea of tuxedo jackets and checkered pants as the culinary industry filled the New York Marriott Marquis' Broadway Ballroom for the 2002 James Beard Foundation Awards, an event to honor the finest of the industry and, of...

SCALES AND BODY-FAT MONITORS ARE GETTING HEAVY PROMOTIONS.(Brief Article)
May 13, 2002... ATLANTA-Already well into the spring diet and exercise season, retailers continue to promote scales and body-fat monitors. And as body-fat monitors gain momentum and placement in a wider retail market, the price points have continued to come...

BERNDES BRANCHES OUT INTO NEW COOKWARE CATEGORIES.(Brief Article)
May 13, 2002... CHARLOTTE, N.C.-Berndes Cookware has entered two new categories this spring, introducing both stoneware and terra-cotta cookware lines. The company, known for its cast aluminum pans, is trying to build brand awareness in the United States...

BAMBOO OFFSHOOTS; THE TROPICAL NATURAL FIBER IS EXPANDING ITS FLOORING PRESENCE TO RUGS.(Brief Article)
May 13, 2002... NEW YORK-Bamboo, the tropical grass fiber that generated a buzz in hard-surface flooring, has found its way into rugs. KAS Oriental Rugs just rolled out its first bamboo line. Merida Meridian is expanding its bamboo collection after a...

RUG MAKERS FIND KIOSKS, CDS ARE CLICKING WITH DEALERS.(Brief Article)
May 13, 2002... NEW YORK-Just as life before automated teller machines is difficult to imagine, someday, shopping without rug kiosks may seem quaint. Capel unveiled its first kiosk at the home furnishings market in High Point, N.C., and other manufacturers...

HOME ALONE.(prototype stores)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
May 13, 2002... Prototype Negative Prototype, schmototype. I don't know about you, but I've just about had it with retail prototype stores. Every time I turn around some retailer is busy unveiling a new prototype store that will be the be-all and...

BASIC FORMULA; DESIGNERS ARE ADDING THEIR NAMES AND STYLE TO THE BEDDING CATEGORY.(Brief Article)
May 13, 2002... NEW YORK-After establishing their names and signature looks into the fashion bedding categories, many designers are now turning to the basic bedding category as new territory for their brands. And in an effort to jazz up what has...

ANALYSTS: STRONG FIRST QUARTER, RISING STOCK BODE WELL FOR MILLS.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 13, 2002... NEW YORK-It seems like the good news from the mills is here to stay for a while. Favorable signs could be picked up from the mills' stock, which rose dramatically in recent months. Positive signals are also coming from Pillowtex, which...

A WORLD CLASS EVENT; THE LATEST IN HOME AND OFFICE CONVERGES IN NEW YORK AT THIS WEEK'S ICFF.(International Contemporary Furniture Fair)(Brief Article)
May 13, 2002... NEW YORK-Cutting-edge home and office furnishings companies prepare to strut their stuff at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair here May 18 to 21. The 14th annual ICFF, held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center, devotes 110,000...

WINSLOEW ASSUMES BROWN JORDAN NAME, CONSOLIDATES OFFICES.(WinsLoew Furniture Inc. renamed Brown Jordan International)(Brief Article)
May 13, 2002... POMPANO BEACH, Fla.-Seeking to capitalize on the strength of its premium brand Brown Jordan, WinsLoew Furniture Inc. has changed its name to Brown Jordan International. The company is also consolidating offices here, and shuffling...

NEWS BRIEFS.(includes, Sleep Train to offer Select Comfort airbed products)(Brief Article)
May 13, 2002... Sleep Train Adds Select Comfort The 38-store Sleep Train bedding shop chain has added Select Comfort airbed products to its floor. Sleep Train operates stores in the San Francisco and Sacramento markets of California, with more due to open...

STORES ARE GIVING ACCESSORIES FOR THE BACKYARD A FRONT SEAT.(Brief Article)
May 13, 2002... NEW YORK-With the evolution of the backyard into a complete living area, retailers and suppliers alike are rushing to fill voids in the market for unique and useful accessories to decorate the outdoors. While the outdoor accessory industry...

PICTURE SHOW; PHOTO FRAMES WILL HAVE A STARRING ROLE AT THE STATIONERY FAIR.(Brief Article)
May 13, 2002... NEW YORK-Moving away from promotional price points and toward form, function and aesthetics, frame manufacturers are coming to the National Stationery Show here next week showing off their creativity and ingenuity, as well as their design...