HFN The Weekly Newspaper for the Home Furnishing Network articles from May 2003

HFN The Weekly Newspaper for the Home Furnishing Network archives from May 2003

MAY BY THE BAY SERVES UP GOURMET.
May 5, 2003... THE SPRING MARKET roadshow continues in San Francisco this week with the Gourmet Products Show at Moscone Center. HFN's exclusive coverage begins on page 4 (along with ID's for this page) and continues in Tabletop, beginning on page 40, and...

NEWS BRIEFS.(multiple furniture industry briefs)
May 5, 2003... 2004 GOURMET SHOW TO SWITCH HALLS Next year, the Gourmet Products Show will have a new home, albeit in the same city, San Francisco. The show will relocate to the new West Hall of the Moscone Convention Center complex when it opens May 9,...

NIGELLA BITES INTO U.S. MARKET WITH COLLECTION FOR INTERDESIGN.(Nigella Lawson's Living Kitchen Collection)
May 5, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO-Fast becoming a household name, Nigella Lawson will soon step from the TV screen and into American kitchens (as well as this week's Gourmet Products Show). Nigella's Living Kitchen Collection will be made available in the United...

DREIMANN, GRAZIOSI HONORED BY CARDINAL CUSHING CENTERS.(Leon Dreimann and Tony Graziosi)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... BOSTON-Leon Dreimann, chairman and chief executive officer of Salton Inc., and Tony Graziosi, divisional vice president of hard home at J.C. Penney, received Humanitarian of the Year Awards from Cardinal Cushing Centers, a non-profit school for...

CANADIAN FURNITURE INDUSTRY DOWNPLAYS IMPACT OF SARS.
May 5, 2003... TORONTO-Members of the Canadian furniture industry said the SARS scare that has dogged Toronto in recent weeks is behind them and that it had little impact except for lots of bad press and exaggerated health concerns. The World Health...

MOTHER'S DAY MEANS THE MOTHER OF ALL PROMOTIONS FOR RETAILERS.
May 5, 2003... NEW YORK-Mother's Day has become the matriarch of retailers' spring calendars. "It's the single-biggest gift-giving opportunity in the spring season," said Mike Nemoir, senior vice president and general merchandise manager of home for...

THE WAL-MART SHUFFLE: COUGHLIN, DUKE GET NEW ROLES.(Tom Coughlin and Mike Duke )(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... The recent top-level shifts at Wal-Mart reflect the retailer's tradition of shuffling talent from various divisions to strengthen management expertise across multiple areas and keep new ideas circulating. Wal-Mart Stores has realigned its...

WAL-MART WORKS ITS ETHICS INTO SEIYU OPERATIONS.
May 5, 2003... BENTONVILLE, Ark.-The Wal-Martization of Seiyu has begun. The world's biggest company, which owns a 37 percent stake in the Japanese supermarket/general merchandise retailer, is looking to strengthen that business by trimming the...

TABLE MANNERS.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... Everything old was new again at the spring New York tabletop market, which ran from April 25 to 29. Showstoppers were baroque patterns on contemporary dinnerware and a watering can in sterling silver that was as at home in the garden as it was...

A GOLDEN CHALLENGE FOR ROBINSON'S-MAY AND MACY'S WEST.(Kohl's is moving into California)
May 5, 2003... It's no secret that Kohl's formula of selling national brands at a value in an easy-to-shop, off-the-mall format has struck gold for the chain. In turn, the discount department store hybrid has put traditional department stores in peril, with...

CALIFORNIA, HERE KOHL'S COMES; WILL THE MIDMARKET JUGGERNAUT TOPPLE THE LOCALS, OR WILL WEST COAST SAVVY PREVAIL?
May 5, 2003... NEW YORK-Watch out, California merchants: Kohl's has entered the state. The midmarket phenomenon, which debuted in the state in March, plotting critical mass in the region, is sure to alter the local retail scene. Regional fixtures...

ECONOMISTS, ANALYSTS EXPECTING A MODEST RETAIL `BOUNCE-BACK'.
May 5, 2003... NEW YORK-Analysts and economists are anticipating retail sales to bounce back as the war in Iraq ends. But they warn that the strength of the recovery might not be as strong as the industry hopes. Experts expect high-unemployment and a...

IKEA SPRUCING UP L.A. PRESENCE, PART OF A BIG NORTH AMERICA PUSH.
May 5, 2003... LOS ANGELES-IKEA is enhancing its presence in the Los Angeles area, currently the only North American market with four IKEA units. The Swedish retailer has numerous openings coming up this summer, including its third New York metropolitan-area...

STAR OPENS ITS 11TH STORE WITH FANFARE.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... SUGAR LAND, Texas-Star Furniture celebrated the launch of its 11th store here, with owner Warren Buffett dropping in to greet the store's first customers. Vendors attended an industry cocktail party on April 24 to help Melvyn Wolff, chief...

TRADE OFFICIAL GETS AN EARFUL IN N.C.(Grant Aldonas meets with textile and furniture industries)
May 5, 2003... HIGH POINT, N.C.-If American manufacturers of home furnishings products are not given a level playing field soon, there may not be much of a game left. That was the emphatic message that a federal trade official took home to Washington after a...

MATTRESS WAREHOUSE PARENT IN CHAPTER 11.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... AKRON, Ohio-Westco Group, parent of the Mattress Warehouse chain, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Cleveland. Robert Wilson, corporate counsel, estimated that Westco had less than $10 million...

STYLE POINTS.(Stephanie Odegard wins Organic Style award)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... Organic Style honored Stephanie Odegard (right, with Peggy Northrop, left, the magazine's editor in chief) as one of this year's recipients of its Women With Organic Style awards at a luncheon at the Blue Fin restaurant in New York. Odegard was...

TRADE SHOW CALENDAR.(Calendar)
May 5, 2003... MAY 7-9 Proposte Villa Erba Cernobbio Como, Italy 011-39-2-8322028 11-15 Saudi Furniture & Interiors Riyadh Exhibition Centre Saudi Arabia 011-966-1-454-1448 recexpo.com 15-16 National Stationery Show...

NOT THE SAME OLD SAME-STORE SALES.(using same-store sales to determine a firm's success is not the best strategy)
May 5, 2003... The most recent, all-important, same-store sales were released. "They're lackluster," said one analyst. "Unimpressive," said another. To which I say: "What the hell did you expect?" A new war. A new disease. A sputtering economic...

COLD AND FLU SEASONS.(the SARS virus is affecting the business world)
May 5, 2003... Long after the human toll has subsided and the doctors have brought the disease under control, the world we all live in -- the home furnishings business world -- will feel the lingering effects of SARS. Like a bad cold that mostly goes away...

THE SPA TREATMENT; SPECIAL TOWELS ARE GETTING SPECIAL ATTENTION ON BOTH THE RETAIL AND SUPPLY SIDES.(spa towels are becoming more popular)(Industry Overview)
May 5, 2003... NEW YORK-Going to a spa is a luxury that only a privileged fraction of the population can enjoy, but spa towels are a different story. The spa towel has permeated the market to such an extent that some version of it can be found at almost...

DAN RIVER'S OPERATING NET UP AS SALES FALL IN FIRST QUARTER.
May 5, 2003... DANVILLE, Va.-It was a tough first quarter for textile supplier Dan River as total sales fell as well as sales in its home goods-related business. Still, there were improvements made, which Standard & Poor's noticed and subsequently raised...

WARM TOWELS ANYONE?(Americans are embracing the concept of towel warmers, which are popular elsewhere)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... Towel bars are good, but towel warmers are even better. After all, who doesn't want a dry and warm bath towel? American consumers, it seems, are warming up to the concept of heated towel racks, something Europeans, New Zealanders and...

NICK MUNRO BATH ITEMS NOW AT BLOOMINGDALE'S.(Nick Munro's bathroom accessories are being sold at Bloomingdale's)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... NEW YORK-British designer Nick Munro's bathroom accessories, introduced last fall at market, have found a home at Bloomingdale's. "Our customers have responded to the clean, innovative design of Nick Munro. The quality of the product and...

WHEN SALESPEOPLE AREN'T AROUND, POP GOES THE ANSWER.(home furnishings manufacturers are providing point-of-purchase materials and fixtures to attract traffic into the bedding department)
May 5, 2003... NEW YORK-It's a common complaint among home furnishings manufacturers that there aren't enough salespeople on the floor to help consumers make informed purchases. But now, some suppliers are taking matters in their own hands by providing...

BED BATH'S SHELVES FEATURE NEW LINENS FROM HALSTON.(Bed Bath & Beyond ads the Halston label at its Sixth Avenue store in New York)
May 5, 2003... NEW YORK-New at Bed Bath & Beyond's Sixth Avenue store here is designer label Halston. Richard Allen, chief executive officer of Design Textiles International USA, the licensee of the brand, said Halston broke ground in five Bed Bath &...

OXFORD INDUSTRIES TO ACQUIRE THE TOMMY BAHAMA BRAND.
May 5, 2003... ATLANTA-Ownership of the Tommy Bahama brand, known for its upscale casual and island lifestyle in apparel and home furnishings, is being transferred to Oxford Industries. Oxford Industries said it has signed a definitive agreement to...

QUAKER FABRIC'S SALES AND EARNINGS FALL IN FIRST QUARTER; ECONOMY CITED.(Quaker Fabric Corp.)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... FALL RIVER, Mass.-Quaker Fabric Corp., citing continued weakness in the domestic and international economies, reported slumping sales and earnings in the first quarter ended April 5. Net sales were $90.2 million, a 9.8 percent drop from...

NEW LIFE FOR LAMINATES? VENDORS ARE ADDING SPECIAL FEATURES TO OVERCOME THE EFFECTS OF PRICE EROSION.
May 5, 2003... NEW YORK-As price points in laminate flooring erode, hurting dollar sales, suppliers are adding new features to boost the product's value. Shaw Industries, Mohawk Industries and Witex are using acoustic underlay, embossed texture and...

SHAW TO HOME IN ON MORE WITH GEORGIA TUFTERS DEAL.(Shaw Industries acquires Georgia Tufters)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... DALTON, Ga.-How does Shaw Home sound? To Jeff Meadows, vice president of Shaw Rugs, whose parent company, Shaw Industries, just acquired Georgia Tufters, it sounds right. The deal expands the company's reach into washable bath and scatter...

NEWS.(rug, carpet industry briefs)
May 5, 2003... ORIENTAL WEAVERS UNVEILS NEW DUNES LINE OF RUGS Oriental Weavers of America has introduced Dunes, a collection of contemporary styles with a drop-stitch loop for a carved effect. The rugs are machine-made of olefin, with the exception...

CARPET MAKERS TRYING TO LURE CONSUMERS AWAY FROM BEIGE.
May 5, 2003... NEW YORK-Homeowners are painting walls Granny Smith green and eyeing Swell's rainbow-striped bedding at Target, but are they letting go of the ubiquitous beige carpet in favor of something more colorful? Mills and fiber companies say yes,...

INTERFACE'S FIRST-QUARTER SALES DECLINE, BUT IT SEES GROWTH IN RESIDENTIAL CARPET TILE.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... ATLANTA-Sales slipped in the first quarter at Interface, a commercial interiors company that is looking to break into the residential market with its new carpet tile for the home. In the first quarter of 2003, sales were $210.2 million,...

A BETTER WAY TO SLEEP; UPSCALE BEDDING DEPARTMENTS ARE GAINING PROMINENCE ON THE SALES FLOOR.(mattresses)
May 5, 2003... HIGH POINT, N.C.-Forward-thinking retailers know the value of a well-thought-out mattress department, and the profits upper-end mattress lines can generate, so they're making their bedding departments upscale and sales-friendly to match. ...

WESTINGHOUSE LIGHTING REBIRTH FOLLOWED COMPANY MAKEOVER.
May 5, 2003... PHILADELPHIA-It's been four months since the former Angelo Bros. Co. unveiled the 9-foot bronze cube with the trademark circle W logo at its headquarters here and rebaptized the company Westinghouse Lighting Corp. But that January launch...

NEWS BRIEF.(includes multiple articles)
May 5, 2003... SEALY'S 1ST-QUARTER SALES SLIP 1.2%, NET INCOME RISES Sealy Corp. reported first-quarter net sales of $288.3 million, a decrease of 1.2 percent from the same period a year ago. Net income was up 7.7 percent to $9.1 million. Earnings before...

SELECTIVE SERVICE; VENDORS AT THE GOURMET SHOW ARE BEING MORE SPECIFIC WITH THEIR PRODUCT LINEUP.(tabletop vendors)
May 5, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO-For some of the tabletop vendors who recently came from the New York spring tabletop market straight to the Gourmet Products Show here, differentiating their product mix from one show to the other means focusing less on place...

COLOR, SHAPES DOMINATE NEW YORK MARKET.(spring tabletop market)
May 5, 2003... NEW YORK-Color, shape and innovation were the buzzwords of the spring tabletop market here last week. There was an eclectic array of styles and trends at the show. There were bold and bright dinnerware arrangements, balanced by demure new...

A WIDE SPECTRUM OF PRODUCTS TO BOW AT THE GOURMET SHOW.(new products to be introduced by tabletop vendors at Gourmet Products Show)
May 5, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO-Color comes on strong at the Gourmet Products Show here, with tabletop vendors showing a virtual rainbow of products. Following is a brief sampling of what attendees can find in some of the booths this week: Artland Trading...

MIXING BUSINESS WITH PLEASURE.
May 5, 2003... NEW YORK-It wouldn't be a market without a whole lot of socializing, and this spring's tabletop show here was no exception. Vendors and retailers gathered at a number of parties, including those hosted by Lenox, Noritake, Spode and Oneida. In...

GEARYS BACK IN THE FAMILY FOLD WITH SENIOR VP'S PURCHASE.(Thomas Blumenthal to buys Gearys from Ross-Simons)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.-Thomas Blumenthal, currently Gearys' senior vice president and general manager, has entered into an agreement to purchase Gearys from Ross-Simons. The terms of the sale have not been disclosed. Blumenthal is the...

WATERFORD INKS DEAL FOR WRITING TOOLS.(Waterford Wedgwood USA licensing agreement with Hampton-Haddon Marketing Corp.)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... WALL, N.J.-Waterford Wedgwood USA has signed a licensing agreement with Hampton-Haddon Marketing Corp. to produce a line of Waterford- and Marquis-branded writing instruments. Hampton-Haddon's launch of Waterford writing instruments will...

SPRING IN FULL BLOOM AT MACY'S.
May 5, 2003... NEW YORK-New Yorkers who walked down 34th Street and into the Macy's Herald Square store here last week were instantly transported into a spring garden during the retailer's annual Flower Show. Throughout the store there were more than 1...

THE GOURMET RECIPE; FASHION IS ON THE FRONT BURNER AT THE SAN FRANCISCO SHOW, WITH FUNCTION ALSO A KEY INGREDIENT.(Gourmet Products Show)
May 5, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO-The Gourmet Products Show is the time of year where vendors say they are faced with an audience with design on their minds, but not without a healthy dose of purpose. Vendors are welcoming the opportunity with fashion-forward...

BUYERS GO TO SAN FRANCISCO WITH KEY STRATEGIES IN MIND.(Gourmet Products Show)
May 5, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO-Though the Gourmet Products Show offers buyers a roster of educational programs and chef demonstrations, what they are most after is new products. With more than 7,000 buyers and 800 exhibitors traipsing the halls of the Moscone...

KRUPS BRINGS FINE DINING HOME WITH NEW PRODUCTS.(introduces Crepe Pro, Professional Waffle Maker and other small appliances)
May 5, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO-Krups is concentrating on bringing the upscale restaurant experience home with ease and simplicity and is introducing several products to fit the bill, equipping many of them with gift-with-purchase bonuses to make for a more...

WHITE GOODS SALES RISE FOR ELECTROLUX IN NORTH AMERICA.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... STOCKHOLM, Sweden-North American profits and sales for white goods improved as they declined for floor care in AB Electrolux's first quarter ended March 31. The world's largest appliance maker reported volume was up about 6 percent for...

DANIEL BOULUD, EXCEL GROUP PARTNER ON CUTLERY, COOKWARE LINES.
May 5, 2003... NEW YORK-It was the opportunity to not simply endorse a line of products but to design one completely from scratch that led renowned chef Daniel Boulud to partner with The Excel Group for the creation of Daniel Boulud Kitchen, a line beginning...

VENDORS SAY GO GO GADGETS AT GOURMET SHOW THIS YEAR.
May 5, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO-From waking up in the morning with a cup of hot Joe to winding down at the end of the day with a martini, it seems there are gadgets debuting at the Gourmet Products Show designed to make every kitchen and home entertaining task a...

SALTON GETS FURTHER CONNECTED WITH BEYOND LINE OF PRODUCTS.
May 5, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO-First unveiled last spring, Salton has joined its plans for connected appliances with its Icebox Kitchen Entertainment and Command Centers for a program that goes "Beyond" anything on the market. The company's Beyond family of...

VENDORS KEEPING THE FIRE HOT WITH BAKEWARE INTRODUCTIONS.
May 5, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO-Bakeware continues to be a strong category, both in terms of sales and new products. What's hot in introductions slated for the Gourmet Products Show are small sizes, bright colors, new materials and sets for gift giving. ...

FOR DELONGHI, DESIGN FOCUS ISN'T OVERSHADOWING FUNCTION.
May 5, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO-DeLonghi has its sights set on high design more than ever, as evidenced clearly by the traffic-stopping booth it introduced at the International Housewares Show in January. But one thing the company is quick to point out is no...

SMALL-ELECTRICS MAKERS SHOW THEIR DARING SIDES AT GOURMET SHOW.
May 5, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO-The products get a little daring at this time of year, with manufacturers out to impress the gourmet shopping tastes that wander the halls of Moscone Center here. Vendors bring out their more daring colors and designs to an...

RUBBERMAID FINE-TUNES HOME PRODUCTS GROWTH PLAN.
May 5, 2003... ATLANTA-Newell Rubbermaid continues to hone and refine its home products growth strategies as it prepares to move its corporate and training headquarters here from Freeport, Ill. The company has increased its research-and-development capacity,...

CONSOLIDATION SHARPENS CLEANING UNIT'S FOCUS.(Rubbermaid Cleaning Products)
May 5, 2003... ATLANTA-Rubbermaid Cleaning Products has refocused and reorganized its business, and has developed a plan to significantly grow its share of the consumer cleaning industry. Ken Goodgame, president of the division based here, noted that...

KMART STILL LEADS IN HOUSEWARES PRINT IN Q1 ADS.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y.-Despite news of competitors snapping up its shuttered stores and objections from creditors challenging its reorganization plan, Kmart continued to lead retailers during the first quarter in placing the most advertisements...

FOR GOURMET SHOW EXHIBITORS, INDEPENDENT RETAILERS ARE KEY.
May 5, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO-Aside from scattered concerns regarding health risks, the general vendor mood going into the Gourmet Products Show was upbeat. Companies expressed their pleasure at returning again to San Francisco, the town they believe to be the...

CUISINART GIVES A LITTLE JUICE TO ITS PRODUCT LINE.(citrus juicer introduced)
May 5, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO-A charter member of the Gourmet Products Show, Cuisinart has chosen the show to officially launch itself into yet another category, introducing a citrus juicer to its roster of products. The company felt the time was right to...

HTI GETS ON BOARD ONLINE WITH DEBUT OF WEB SITE.( HTI Buying Group )(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO-The HTI Buying Group will launch its first Web site during the Gourmet Products Show this week. The site, htibuyingroup.com, is being demonstrated in booth 1665 during show hours. HTI offers independent retailers a chance to...

MUNDIAL SEEKING BIGGER SLICE WITH RENOVATED CUTLERY LINE.
May 5, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO-Mundial is bringing about 60 new products into the Gourmet Products Show this week as the company continues to overhaul its product lineup. "We've completely renovated our lineup of cutlery and added new lines," said Richard...

CHEF 'N WIDENS ITS REPERTOIRE WITH LAUNCH OF KITCHEN TOOLS.(Chef 'n Corp.)
May 5, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO-Chef 'n Corp. is moving beyond its roots in quirky pepper and salt grinders into the kitchen tool category with the introduction of two lines of tools. The lines, called Kitchzen and Kitchzen S2, make their debut at the Gourmet...

BISSELL UNVEILS NEW HARD-FLOOR CLEANER TO CATCHALL MATERIALS.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.-Bissell is beginning to ship a lightweight vacuum cleaner for bare floors combining suction with an electrostatic cloth. The CatchALL cordless unit was designed as an all-purpose answer to multiple cleaning steps for...

HOME COMFORT STILL TREATED UNEVENLY BY MASS RETAILERS.(fans, air purifiers)
May 5, 2003... UNION, N.J.-Home comfort isn't an orphan at the leading mass merchants. But neither does it get a unified floor presentation. After all, air cleaners, heating and cooling devices, humidifiers and dehumidifiers often get cross-merchandised...

WILLIAM BOUNDS LTD. TO UNVEIL THE LATEST TWIST IN SPICE MILLS.
May 5, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO-On May 2, 1963, inventor William Bounds filed for a U.S. patent on the Shake and Twist, the industry's first pepper mill/salt shaker combination. Forty years later, the company he started -- William Bounds Ltd. -- celebrates its...

FAGOR EXPANDS SPECIALTY LINE WITH THREE PIECES.(Fagor adds three specialty cookware pieces to its Commercial Specialty line)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO-Fagor continues to expand beyond pressure cookers, adding three specialty cookware pieces to its Commercial Specialty cookware line. The new pieces -- a wok set, an 18-inch paella pan and a double boiler with insert -- are...

PERSONAL CARE VENDORS WILL BE OUT IN FORCE AT THE GOURMET SHOW.
May 5, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO-While not the major show of the year for personal care vendors, the Gourmet Products Show still offers enough of an audience to keep the industry's attention, as well as its major players. Shoppers here this week won't find quite...

HOOVER'S FLIP-HANDLE UPRIGHT LEADS GOURMET VAC OFFERINGS.(new products are being introduced that focus on convenience)
May 5, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO-Convenience is a common theme for floor care among machines being shown at the Gourmet Products Show here. Introductions include a Hoover upright with fold-down handle for flexibility in use, transport and storage. Saeco USA...

ANALYST SEES LINENS 'N THINGS STAGNATING.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... NEW YORK-Jefferies & Co. analyst Donald Trott maintained a "Hold" rating on shares of Linens 'n Things following the retailer's first quarter report, which had earnings in line with reduced guidance. For the first quarter, sales rose 5 percent...

CHARGEBACK EXPERT: PREVENTION TACTICS CAN SAVE MILLIONS.(a discussion of preventable chargebacks)(Interview)
May 5, 2003... NEW YORK-Chargebacks have been the bane of home goods vendors and suppliers for the past few years. But not all chargebacks are created equal. Some are intentional and can't be eliminated while others are preventable. Jessica Butler,...

CHARGE-OFFS UP FOR TARGET'S CREDIT BUSINESS.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... NEW YORK-Target Corp.'s credit business experienced increased charge-offs in March as well as higher delinquencies. For March, charge-offs were 8.62 percent, compared with 8.08 percent in February and 7.62 percent in January. Delinquencies...

FORMER EXECUTIVE SUING BELK, ALLEGING AGE DISCRIMINATION.(former Belk Inc. executive David Hines sues the company)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... NEW YORK-A former Belk Inc. division chief thinks his one-time employer downsized beyond the statutory limit, and he's filed an age discrimination suit against the company to make his point. David Hines, who was president of Belk's northern...

THE HFN LIST; TOP 10 U.S. HOME TRADE SHOWS BY ATTENDANCE.
May 5, 2003... Rank & Show/Venue Location Dates Attendance 1) Spring International Home Furnishings Market High Point, N.C. April 18 to 25, 2002 75,000 Fall International Home Furnishings Market High Point, N.C. ...

WRITINGS ON THE WALL.(Chuck Fischer introduces the book 'Wallcoverings, Applying the Language of Color and Pattern')(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... With endorsements from three of America's foremost designers -- Albert Hadley, Mario Buatta and Jamie Drake -- Chuck Fischer's new book, "Wallcoverings, Applying the Language of Color and Pattern," is sure to become a classic. A lot of the home...

'PERFECT' PITCH.(American Folk Art Museum honors baseball )(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... America's favorite pastime is being honored this summer at the American Folk Art Museum in New York. "The Perfect Game: America Looks at Baseball" opens June 17 and runs through Jan. 25, 2004. The exhibit will feature an exhaustive array of...

CAN SPRINGS UNITE WITH PILLOWTEX, UNION?(Union of Needletrades, Industrial & Textiles Employees succeeds in proposal to bring in 2 more potential buyers for Pillowtex, North Carolina)
May 12, 2003... KANNAPOLIS, N.C.-The battle for Pillowtex, believed to be in its final stages, may not be over yet. Statements from Springs Industries and the union representing Pillowtex workers seem to indicate that Springs is in the last leg of...

ATTENTION, KMART VENDORS: MEET EDWARD LAMPERT.(appointment, US)(Biography)
May 12, 2003... NEW YORK-Kmart's emergence from Chapter 11 last week has given the retailer new stock, new financing and a new chairman, hedge-fund investor Edward Lampert. Lampert is also Kmart's largest shareholder, with a stake of about 50 percent in...

SEALY, CHAIRWORKS PARTNER ON NEW OFFICE-SEATING LINE.(US)
May 12, 2003... TRINITY, N.C.-Sealy Inc. has launched its first office-seating product line under a licensing agreement with ChairWorks Manufacturing Group Ltd., an international manufacturer of home and office-seating products. The licensed products,...

FORMER PRESIDENT OF IMRA ROBERT VERDISCO DEAD AT 60.(US)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
May 12, 2003... SPRINGFIELD, Va.-Robert Verdisco, former president of the International Mass Retail Association, died April 30 of complications due to cancer. He was 60 years old. Verdisco led IMRA from 1990 until December 2002. During his tenure, he...

LORD & TAYLOR GETS INTO INDIA WITH FIRST HOME-APPAREL SHOP.(adds concept shop combining home products and ready-to-wear at Manhattan flagship store, New York)(Brief Article)
May 12, 2003... Lord & Taylor unveiled Into India, its first concept shop featuring home products merchandised with ready-to-wear. The tony division of May Department Stores Co. is showcasing the shop exclusively in its Manhattan flagship store through May 19....

CORRECTION.(Correction Notice)
May 12, 2003... In the April 28 issue of HFN, the Trends story "FIT to Be Tried" should have included Lucy Zhune in the Theracolor group.

NEWS BRIEFS.(US)
May 12, 2003... SHERMAG INC. TO PURCHASE JAYMAR FURNITURE Shermag Inc. said it has agreed to acquire all the outstanding shares of Jaymar Furniture, a Canadian manufacturer of special-order leather and fabric upholstered furniture. The deal is...

HFN COMP-SALES AVERAGE SHOWS SLIGHT GAIN IN APRIL.(April 2003 same-store sales data, US)(Brief Article)
May 12, 2003... NEW YORK-April same-store sales were a washout for many retailers as lousy weather and weak Easter-related spending hampered business. Still, results were slightly better than March's dismal sales. Subsequently, the HFN Comp-Sales Average...

KMART APPOINTS ATTEBERRY DIVISIONAL VP OF HOME.(US)(Brief Article)
May 12, 2003... TROY, Mich.-Robert Atteberry has been named divisional vice president of home for Kmart. He previously served as divisional vice president of soft home for the chain, which emerged from Chapter 11 last week. Atteberry adds hard home to his...

KOHL'S HOME GOODS TO SPORT MORE APPAREL BRANDS.(US)
May 12, 2003... MILWAUKEE-Kohl's consumers can expect to see names already represented on the apparel side of the store showing up on the home side, according to Kevin Mansell, president. Liz Claiborne's Villager label already is represented in the...