HFN The Weekly Newspaper for the Home Furnishing Network articles from May 2005

HFN The Weekly Newspaper for the Home Furnishing Network archives from May 2005

LIVING COLOR.(HFN report.)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... Covering the whole spectrum, HFN's annual Color Report looks at the shades of things to come in home. See page 10.

THE FUTURE STARTS NOW: KMART TESTS SEARS BRANDS.
May 2, 2005... Byline: Barbara Thau TROY, Mich.-The cross-pollination of Sears and Kmart brands has begun. Kmart, now part of the new Sears Holdings Corp., is testing Sears' proprietary Kenmore appliances, Craftsman tools, and lawn and garden...

WILL ETHAN ALLEN NO-DISCOUNT EXPERIMENT REALLY WORK?
May 2, 2005... Byline: Jo Fleischer DANBURY, Conn.-Ethan Allen is trying to start another revolution, but the analysts are as skeptical as the 18th-century British. Retail analysts and competitors alike are closely following Ethan Allen's move into...

PRATT LOOKS BACK AT 31 YEARS OF A PERFECT FIT.
May 2, 2005... Byline: Rosamaria Mancini NEW YORK-For as long as Christine Pratt can remember, she has always been attracted to needles and thread. "I remember the first time I sewed something. I must have been 3 or 4 years old and I just knew then...

IN BRIEF: WAL-MART NAMES TOP MERCHANT...APPLICA SALES FALL ON DEEPER LOSS...CONTAINER STORE OWNERS SELL 10%...
May 2, 2005... WAL-MART NAMES TOP MERCHANT Wal-Mart Stores has named John Fleming executive vice president and chief marketing officer, effective May 2. Currently president and chief executive officer of Walmart.com, Fleming will continue to oversee...

CEO: HOME MAKEOVER IN THE WORKS FOR KOHL'S.
May 2, 2005... Byline: Doris Hajewski MILWAUKEE-From the floor layout to the merchandise, changes are in the works for the home side of Kohl's department stores, Larry Montgomery, chairman and chief executive officer, said last week. "As you walk...

AMAZON HOME TO SELL THROUGH SNAIL MAIL.(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... Amazon.com has mailed its first Home & Garden catalog to "several hundred thousand customers," according to the company. The first edition, Spring 2005, was mailed earlier this month. The catalog offers a broad price range, from baking sheets...

EDWIN SOLOMON, SEA GULL LIGHTING CEO, DIES AT 81.(Obituary)
May 2, 2005... RIVERSIDE, N.J.-Edwin Solomon, chairman and chief executive officer of Sea Gull Lighting, died April 26 at the age of 81. Solomon joined the family-owned company in 1946 along with his brother-in-law, Martin Hirsch. Solomon succeeded his...

TRADE SHOW CALENDAR.(Calendar)
May 2, 2005... may 3-6 Coverings Ultimate Tile, Stone & Floorings Expo Orange County Convention Center Orlando, Fla. (561) 776-0600 or (800) 881-9400 coverings.com 10-12 K/BIS Conference and Show Las Vegas Convention...

IDEAS ON THE TABLE.(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... Byline: Michael D. Devine The recent New York Tabletop Show offered buyers a bright array of new products to choose from for the upcoming season. From simple and elegant to vibrantly cheerful, the colors and patterns ran the gamut. A plain...

LIVING COLOR; HFN'S ANNUAL COLOR REPORT LOOKS AT HUE'S WHO IN THE HOME.
May 2, 2005... Byline: HFN Staff Report NEW YORK-Remember ROY G. BIV? Back in the sixth grade, the acronym helped us remember all of the colors in the spectrum (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet). No such formula exists for getting a...

TWO FOR THE ROAD.(Kmart and Sears.)
May 2, 2005... Byline: Warren Shoulberg The coming Kmartinizing of Sears and the Searing of Kmart will forever change the profiles -- not to mention the destinies -- of these two immortal retailing giants and in a way, it is a rather sad set of...

CHINESE MILLS GUARDED ON U.S. MARKET.
May 2, 2005... Byline: Leticia Leizens NEW YORK-While the two biggest towel mills in China are strengthening their U.S. market presence due to the lifting of quota restrictions, their top executives are cautiously expanding their businesses in the United...

CHF OPENS ROOM FOR PRIVATE ACCESS.
May 2, 2005... Byline: Leticia Leizens NEW YORK-CHF Industries took a small portion of its Park Avenue showroom here during the April market and converted it into a "private room," one indication of how the textiles business is evolving toward...

OUT OF PRINTS? WHAT ONCE DOMINATED THE TOP-OF-BED CATEGORY HAS GONE BY THE WAYSIDE AS DIFFERENT CONSTRUCTIONS COME INTO PLAY.
May 2, 2005... Byline: Leticia Leizens NEW YORK-Where did all the print top-of-beds go? Prints are still popular on beds-in-a-bag, but not on comforters and duvet covers. In the past few years, there has clearly been a shift in designs in the bedding...

HUNTER DOUGLAS SHINES LIGHT ON NEW ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN.
May 2, 2005... Byline: Rosamaria Mancini UPPER SADDLE RIVER, N.J.-Saying that it was time to implement a fresh, new, soothing approach, Hunter Douglas, a manufacturer of custom window coverings, has unveiled a new consumer advertising campaign. The...

CARPET ONE CONTINUES TO AID FIGHT AGAINST BREAST CANCER.(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... MANCHESTER, N.H.-As is now tradition for the flooring retailer, Carpet One welcomed spring this year by introducing designs for its cause-related welcome mats created to support its continued fund-raising campaign: Carpet One Welcomes Your...

IT'S ALL IN THE JEANS; FEIZY HAS COLLABORATED WITH WRANGLER TO BRING A FIVE-RUG COLLECTION OF AREA RUGS TO THE FLOOR.(Advertisement)
May 2, 2005... Byline: Rosamaria Mancini HIGH POINT, N.C.-Top-to-bottom Wrangler style is now possible, thanks to a new line of area rugs from the Wrangler Home line created by Feizy Rugs. The rugs, shown for the first time at the International Home...

VENDORS: SLOW MOVE TO COMMON GROUNDS FOR FEDERATED-MAY.
May 2, 2005... Byline: Jennifer Quail NEW YORK-Today's May stores may carry a smaller assortment of area rugs than that of their new parent Federated's existing locations, but vendors believe there will be a slow transition to a more standardized...

ODEGARD UNVEILS JAPANESE-INSPIRED DESIGNS IN MILAN.(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... NEW YORK-Odegard used the platform of the Milan Furniture Fair last month to introduce its Japanese-inspired collection of hand-knotted area rugs, Sashiko. The line takes its design direction from Japanese textiles of the past, such as...

NATURE'S LOOM PUTS SPIN ON NEW WEB SITE.(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... Byline: Rosamaria Mancini NEW YORK-Saying that it was time for a new and improved look, Nature's Loom has revamped and redesigned its Web site. The site features an updated menu of options that visitors can use to access information...

SURYA FEATURES GLOBAL INFLUENCES IN HIGH POINT INTROS.(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... Byline: Jennifer Quail HIGH POINT, N.C.-Surya unveiled many new designs at the International Home Furnishings Market here last month, and among them were several collections that looked very specifically to varied locations across the...

MOHAWK'S NET SALES UP FOR Q1.(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... CALHOUN, Ga.-Mohawk Industries Inc. announced net sales of $1.49 billion for the first quarter of 2005, a 7 percent increase over net sales of $1.39 billion for the same period in 2004. Net earnings for the 2005 quarter were $70.02 million, or...

PRICING ISSUES MAKE IMPACT ON THE MARKET FOR ACCESSORIES.
May 2, 2005... Byline: Nancy Meyer HIGH POINT, N.C.-Where, oh where has the middle market gone? That's the question being mulled in the lighting and decorative accessories industry following the spring home furnishings market here. There's been...

ALL BEDS ARE ON; SLEEP PRODUCT BUYERS SHOPPING AT THE RECENT FURNITURE MARKET FOUND A WIDE RANGE OF PRODUCTS FROM WHICH TO CHOOSE.
May 2, 2005... Byline: Karl Kunkel HIGH POINT, N.C.-Bedding buyers shopping the furniture market here found a healthy choice of the established and the new, the high end and the low end, the foreign and the domestic, and the bouncy and the firm. The...

NEWS BRIEFS.(Berkline/BenchCraft appoints Phil Pacey)(Michael Gennet resigns from Lazar Industries)(Holly Blalock apointed at C.R. Laine)
May 2, 2005... PHIL PACEY has been named chief financial officer for Berkline/BenchCraft. Pacey assumes the financial duties formerly handled by Larry Musick when he was chief financial officer and executive vice president of operations. Musick remains as...

AT NTGA EVENT, ALL EYES WERE ON THE BRIDES.(National Tabletop & Giftware Association)
May 2, 2005... Byline: Jessica Goldbogen NEW YORK-The shopping habits, tastes and brand loyalties of brides are always the subject of close scrutiny in the tabletop industry, and the NTGA conference held during the Spring Tabletop Show here was no...

A BEHIND-THE-SCENES APPROACH; RECENT FRAME INTRODUCTIONS FEATURE DECORATIVE FABRIC BACKS.
May 2, 2005... Byline: Allison Zisko NEW YORK-Like the well-dressed woman who knows to check her rear view in the mirror before leaving the house, some frame manufacturers are paying closer attention to the backs of their frames. At the recent Spring...

J.P. PRODUCTS SERVES ENTERTAINING OPTIONS IN NEW LINE.
May 2, 2005... Byline: Carla Webb NEW YORK-J.P. Products has been showing off its newest incarnation, J.P. Designs, at its latest round of trade shows. J.P. Designs is the brainchild of David Mackrell and Timothy Feeney, both vice president of sales...

ARC: THINGS GO BETTER WITH COKE LICENSE.(Arc International)
May 2, 2005... Byline: Allison Zisko NEW YORK-Luminarc has decided that Coke is definitely "it" for the fall season. At the recent Spring Tabletop Show here, the company unveiled the results of an expanded licensing agreement with the beverage giant...

AHAM MEMBERS GLIMPSE FUTURE OF TECHNOLOGY AT RFID PANEL.(Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers )
May 2, 2005... Byline: Gerry Beatty WASHINGTON-Radio frequency identification is a hot topic. March's RFID panel was at the International Home & Housewares Show; the May event will be at the Gourmet Housewares Show. The Association of Home Appliance...

SUCKING UP TO CONSUMERS; EVEN IN QUIETER TIMES, FLOOR-CARE ADS MAINTAIN A PRESENCE.
May 2, 2005... Byline: Gerry Beatty GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.-Some leading manufacturers in floor care have cut back their advertising schedules in the first quarter, saying they prefer to put their resources behind major product introductions later in the...

DYSON HAS QUITE A BALL.(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... Dyson has made it official. The DC15 Ball bagless upright was formally unveiled inside a giant yellow ball across the street from Lincoln Center in New York late last month. The maneuverable vac is shipping and will be in many of Dyson's usual...

CIRCUIT CITY, BEST BUY SHOW SOUND JUDGMENT.
May 2, 2005... Byline: Michael Rudnick NEW YORK-Circuit City and Best Buy take varying approaches to merchandising audio systems, a category that includes mini stereo-shelf systems and more compact micro audio products. HFN explored some of the stores...

WHITE-GOODS SHIPMENTS CONTINUE TO SLIDE.
May 2, 2005... Byline: Gerry Beatty WASHINGTON-Manufacturers' domestic shipments of major appliances dropped 8.5 percent in March, extending the losing streak to three months. The continued falloff in shipments follows the industry's biggest year,...

AS LOSS WIDENS, TWEETER TO CLOSE BELOW-PAR STORES.(Tweeter Home Entertainment Group Inc.)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... Byline: Michael Rudnick CANTON, Mass.-Tweeter Home Entertainment Group's increased quarterly loss was accompanied by an announcement that the company will shut down more than 10 percent of its poor-performing locations. Net loss from...

BEST BUY VS. CIRCUIT CITY.
May 2, 2005... ON THE COVER Best Buy: Toshiba Satellite Notebook with Intel Celeron M Processor 350, $649.99 Circuit City: Polaroid 5.0 Megapixel Easy-to-Use Digital Camera, $99.99 PLASMA TELEVISION Best Buy: LG 42-inch Plasma HDTV,...

AHAM LOBBIES FOR REGULATORY RELIEF AT ANNUAL MEETING.(Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers' meeting.)
May 2, 2005... Byline: Gerry Beatty WASHINGTON-With state and local governments considering an unprecedented number of conservation measures, speakers at the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers' Annual Member Meeting last month urged participants...

BEST BUY LAYS OUT PLANS FOR DOMESTIC, INTERNATIONAL GROWTH.
May 2, 2005... Byline: Michael Rudnick MINNEAPOLIS-Best Buy will spread its wings into China and grow domestically via a store expansion and Geek Squad stand-alone store initiative. The big-box consumer electronics retailer announced plans to open...

IN-STORE CREDIT KIOSK BOOSTS WOLF FURNITURE'S APPLICATIONS.
May 2, 2005... Byline: Michael Rudnick PROSPECT HEIGHTS, Ill.-Household Retail Finance's first in-store credit card kiosk program has paid dividends in terms of growth of credit card applications. The private-label credit card provider piloted its...

COUNCIL: HOME STANDS OUT IN THE MALLS.
May 2, 2005... Byline: Barbara Thau NEW YORK-There is no place like home... at least according to mall shoppers. Sales of home furnishings retailers outpaced other mall-based chains, according to The International Council of Shopping Centers. ...

MET MARKET.(Charitable donations.)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... Byline: Michael D. Devine Metropolitan Home magazine had the largest turnout ever for its annual Design 100 at the Four Seasons Pool Room. The event was highlighted by the touching gratitude shown by Editor in Chief Donna Warner's...

BEST IN SHOW.(Kips Bay Show House.)(Brief Article)
May 2, 2005... Kips Bay Show House opened its new season with a spectacular kick-off fete. The jam-packed event was abuzz with awestruck guests who were elated by this year's house and its roster of star designers. America's premier show house will be open...

THE CONTEMPORARY ISSUE.
May 9, 2005... A multitiered look at the impact of modern design on home products and retailing Profiling textiles, rugs, furniture, lighting, tabletop, housewares, electronics and majapps How modern design has moved from the niches into the...

WAL-MART TARGETING BETTER IDEA FOR HOME.
May 9, 2005... Byline: Barbara Thau BENTONVILLE, Ark.-John Fleming is just a week into his new job as executive vice president and chief marketing officer of Wal-Mart. But already he knows he wants to breathe new life into the brand and deliver the...

BELK BULKS UP: BIG ENOUGH TO BE CONTENDER?(acquisition)
May 9, 2005... Byline: Barbara Thau CHARLOTTE, N.C.-Keep an eye on Belk. Few would have predicted a year ago that the low-profile department store chain, which will acquire Proffitt's and McRae's from Saks Inc. in the second quarter, would be in...

LEVITZ SHUTTING, CONVERTING SEAMAN'S FURNITURE STORES.
May 9, 2005... Byline: Jo Fleischer WOODBURY, N.Y.-Another familiar furniture name is gone. Last week, 72-year-old Seaman's Furniture joined a growing list of household names that have disappeared from the retail furniture landscape. Even though...

TARGET LOVES DOTTIE AS TWEEN SALES BOOSTER.(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... Byline: Nancy Meyer MINNEAPOLIS-What does Dottie love? Groovy gear and fresh, fab stuff for girls, at every Target store this spring. Target's new Dottie Loves... tween brand gives girls ages 6 to 12 lots to love in home decor,...

CORRECTION.(Correction Notice)
May 9, 2005... In the May 2 issue of HFN, Orrefors' showroom building was listed incorrectly. Orrefors' New York showroom is at 200 Lexington Ave.

DE'LONGHI'S ITALIAN HIGH STYLE PLAYS TO AMERICAN TASTES.
May 9, 2005... Byline: Gerry Beatty TREVISO, Italy-De'Longhi SpA has jumped into the competitive -- and growing -- major appliance market. The big Italian manufacturer has been an American fixture for 20 years with kitchen electrics and comfort...

A FIT-TING HONOR FOR PRATT.(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... In honor of professor Christine Pratt's retirement, the Fashion Institute of Technology held a dinner and program last week. Pratt, chairperson of home products development department, served FIT for 31 years, and was saluted by her friends,...

IN BRIEF: CALIFORNIA MARKET CENTER SOLD...LIFETIME HOAN CHANGING NAME...SALTON'S DEVINE LEAVES POSITION...
May 9, 2005... CALIFORNIA MARKET CENTER SOLD Jamison Properties Inc., whose real estate portfolio includes 90 buildings in greater Los Angeles, has purchased the California Market Center, formerly The CaliforniaMart, from London-based dmg World Media. ...

LNT'S MOORE: BUILDING BRANDS BUILDS BUSINESS.
May 9, 2005... Byline: Jennifer Quail CLIFTON, N.J.-It was brands that got them this far, so it will be brands that will take them to the next level and beyond. At its annual meeting here last Thursday, Linens 'n Things discussed a brand mix that...

NORDSTROM, WESTIN IN BEDS TOGETHER.(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... Nordstrom and Westin Hotels & Resorts Worldwide have partnered to sell the Heavenly Bed, the hotel's signature line of luxury bedding. The Westin Heavenly Bed line, which includes cotton sheets, a goose down blanket, jacquard down duvet and...

THE ART OF DINING.(Danish furnishings auction)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... Byline: Michael D. Devine The hippest dinning experience in New York has to be Danny Meyer's newest venture, The Modern, the restaurant at the Museum of Modern Art. It is also a mecca for design junkies of all stripes. The space, designed...

HFNY; WHAT'S NEW IN NEW YORK HFNY, A RECURRING FEATURE IN HFN, HIGHLIGHTS STORES, RESTAURANTS AND OTHER GOINGS-ON ABOUT TOWN. HFNY APPEARS IN ISSUES THAT COINCIDE WITH MAJOR TRADE SHOWS IN NEW YORK CITY.
May 9, 2005... Byline: Michael D. Devine Heading for the Finnish Line May is Finnish Design month at the MoMA Design Store, as New York stores celebrate with Marimekko textiles, prize drawings and special events. Design objects, dinnerware,...

IT'S A MOD, MOD, MOD WORLD; HOME FURNISHINGS AT RETAIL IS MOVING PAST TRADITIONAL AND INTO STYLES REFLECTING THE 21ST CENTURY.
May 9, 2005... Byline: Barbara Thau, Jo Fleischer, Sheila O'Mara and Thyra Porter contributed to this report. NEW YORK-Retailers' home departments are becoming more colorful and sleek as contemporary furnishings jazz up their offerings. Geometric...

NEEDED MARKUP.(acquisition)
May 9, 2005... Byline: Warren Shoulberg There's finally a new punchline to the old joke about the nickname for Neiman Marcus and it only cost about $5 billion to get it. I'm no mathematician (I haven't correctly balanced my checkbook since the Ford...

CUT FROM A DIFFERENT CLOTH; FABRIC MANUFACTURERS ARE INFUSING THEIR PRODUCTS WITH MORE MODERN LOOKS TO LURE A YOUNGER CUSTOMER.
May 9, 2005... Byline: Sheila Long O'Mara, Leticia Leizens and Rosamaria Mancini contributed to this report. NEW YORK-Like other parts of the home furnishings industry, textiles and upholstery fabric manufacturers are taking a turn into the contemporary...

SHANGHAIMART LAUNCHES TRADE CENTER.(ShanghaiMart International Home Textiles Trade Center)
May 9, 2005... Byline: Leticia Leizens SHANGHAI, China-A one-stop shop -- that's how organizers of the ShanghaiMart International Home Textiles Trade Center here hope U.S. buyers will view the recently launched sourcing center. The launch late last month...

KITCHEN PLAYERS TAKE WAIT-AND-SEE STANCE ON QUOTAS.
May 9, 2005... Byline: Jessica Goldbogen NEW YORK-Kitchen textiles manufacturers say that it's too soon to tell whether the lifted quota on textiles coming into the United States from China will have any impact on their business. For some, the impact...

BACOVA GUILD GROWS WITH THE PURCHASE OF LACEY MILLS.(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... Byline: Rosamaria Mancini ROCKY MOUNT, Va.-In a move that diversifies its product line, Bacova Guild has acquired bath and accent manufacturer Lacey Mills. The terms of the sale, which went into effect May 1, were not disclosed. The...

PRESENT PERFECT; INDUSTRY LEADERS THOUGHT CONTEMPORARY RUGS WOULD FADE QUICKLY BUT THE CATEGORY HAS CONTINUED TO SHOW GROWTH.
May 9, 2005... Byline: Rosamaria Mancini NEW YORK-The idea that pure contemporary rugs were a design category that could fade as quickly as it hit the market has been dispelled for some time, but the category's significant growth each year has even...

DILMAGHANI USHERS IN NEW AGE 5 LINE.(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... Byline: Jennifer Quail SCARSDALE, N.Y.-In response to dealer requests, Dilmaghani has added a collection of contemporary designs to its lineup. The new Galaxy Star New Age 5 collection consists of six modern designs that are hand-crafted...

ABBEY CARPET OPENS PROTOTYPE STORE.(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... BONITA SPRINGS, Fla.-Abbey Carpet Co. has opened Abbey Carpet of Naples, a prototype floor covering and window fashions shop. The store will be the only unit owned and operated by the company, which is a nationwide franchisor. The idea...

COURISTAN INTRODUCES PELICAN BAY COLLECTION.(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... HIGH POINT, N.C.-Using the International Home Furnishings Market as its venue, Couristan introduced its Pelican Bay Collection. The tufted loop pile broadloom collection, which is available in multiple colors, is intended to create a...

COMPANY C'S FALL WORLD TOUR.(rugs fall collection)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... Byline: Jennifer Quail CONCORD, N.H.-For its fall collection, Company C turned to many places for inspiration: English gardens, Americana, Brazilian music -- even a Russian ballet. Rich, saturated shades ranging from french vanilla to...

CARPETSPLUS COLOR TAKES A NEW HARDWOOD STANCE WITH MEMBERS.
May 9, 2005... Byline: Jennifer Quail CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.-CarpetsPlus Color Tile has teamed with three major players in the hard flooring category -- Mohawk, Shaw and Anderson -- to bring a comprehensive hardwood package to its members. The program will...

COLONIAL MILLS MAKES MOST OF DISPLAY SPACE WITH SAMPLE CENTER.(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... Byline: Jennifer Quail PAWTUCKET, R.I.-Retailers at the New York Home Textiles Show and International Home Furnishings Market last month got an introduction to Colonial Mills' latest display offering, intended to limit required floor space...

CASUAL RETAILERS WON'T LET IT RAIN ON THEIR PARADE.
May 9, 2005... Byline: Jo Fleischer HIGH POINT, N.C.-Sales of casual furniture have gotten off to a solid start in the Southeast, but soggy and cold conditions in California and some Northern states have patio stores in those regions praying for sunnier...

YOUTH IS SERVED; MORE COLLECTIONS ARE BEING GEARED TOWARD THE YOUNGER CONSUMER, OFFERING FRESH LOOKS IN A TRADITIONAL-MINDED INDUSTRY.
May 9, 2005... Byline: HFN Staff Report HIGH POINT, N.C.-The furniture industry has been inching cautiously toward contemporary for the past few years, a trend that is gaining momentum with mainstream suppliers and niche players alike. Retro styles...

NEWS BRIEFS.(Best Home Furnishings)(furniture and furnishings industry)
May 9, 2005... LA-Z-BOY INC. has sold its office furniture unit to Best Home Furnishings of Ferdinand, Ind. In a statement, Kurt Darrow, La-Z-Boy president and chief executive officer, said the deal focuses the company almost solely on home furnishings. "Our...

MODERN DESIGN STILL THE SHINING EXAMPLE.
May 9, 2005... Byline: Nancy Meyer NEW YORK-Contemporary design in lighting has exploded over the past five years in every channel. Whereas 10 years ago it was a small niche relegated to independents and higher-end stores, today, the mass market has...

ICFF'S MODERN FLAIR LANDS IN NEW YORK.(International Contemporary Furniture Fair)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... NEW YORK-Contemporary furnishings takes center stage here this weekend as the International Contemporary Furniture Fair showcases the latest in modern design from around the world. In its 17th edition, ICFF will offer 145,000 square feet of...

NEW DISHES ON THE MENU; NAMBE'S BUTTERFLY BOWL, DESIGNED IN THE MID-1950S, SET AN AESTHETIC PRECEDENT FOR THE COMPANY.
May 9, 2005... Byline: Allison Zisko NEW YORK-Contemporary -- in its many interpretations and incarnations -- is a buzzword for a tabletop industry striving to boost business and struggling against a reputation in some quarters for being stodgy and too...

HOUSEWARES INKS LICENCING DEAL WITH TEXTILES DESIGNER.(Housewares International)
May 9, 2005... Byline: Carla Webb CITY OF COMMERCE, Calif.-Housewares International has shown its feminine side at its most recent trade shows with its introduction of a tabletop collection created by textiles designer Karen Neuberger. Introduced at...

PORTMEIRION BARES ALL FOR CHARITY.(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... STOKE-ON-TRENT, U.K.-Taking a page from the actual calendar girls -- the British women who posed nude for a calender whose sales raised money for charity (which inspired the movie "Calendar Girls") -- Portmeirion factory workers in the U.K....

NEW LINE FOR BLOOMIE'S TAKES HEROIC MEASURES.(giftware)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... NEW YORK-Michael Hero's Art of Fine Living collection of frames, vanity items and giftware debuted at Bloomingdale's flagship store here earlier this month and will launch chainwide in the fall. Namesake founder Michael Hero appeared at...

ENESCO GROUP NAMES RYAN AS ITS NEW GENERAL COUNSEL.(appointment)(Koreen Ryan)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... ITASCA, Ill.-Enesco Group Inc. has appointed Koreen Ryan as general counsel and secretary. She succeeds Fran Durden, who left the company after moving to North Carolina. Ryan reports directly to Cynthia Passmore-McLaughlin, Enesco's...

VENDORS SEE NEW CHANNEL OPPORTUNITIES AT NEW GOURMET SHOW.(Gourmet Housewares Show)
May 9, 2005... Byline: Allison Zisko LAS VEGAS-The Gourmet Housewares Show, with its new moniker, new city and new partner in the National Hardware Show, has prompted some tabletop vendors to rethink how this show will work for them. The show, which...

APPLICA TO DROP HOME COMFORT.(redesign)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... MIAMI LAKES, Fla.-Applica Inc. will phase out of home comfort and redesign its Home Cafe and Tide Buzz Ultrasonic Stain Remover. Mike Michienzi, president of the Consumer Products Division, disclosed the changes in conjunction with...

DESIGN DICTATES; MANUFACTURERS ARE BOWING TO THE GROWING IMPORTANCE OF CONTEMPORARY LOOKS FOR THEIR PRODUCTS.
May 9, 2005... Byline: HFN Staff Report NEW YORK-Contemporary design has edged out traditional and country looks in housewares, as consumers turn to more versatile styles that fit their casual lifestyles. Modern retro, as well as streamlined...

NEWELL RUBBERMAID SHIFTS TO PROFIT IN Q1.(company earnings)(Brief Article)
May 9, 2005... ATLANTA-Profit soared for Newell Rubbermaid Inc. for the first quarter, boosted by higher prices, improvements in productivity and a tax benefit. However, sales fell 6.5 percent as poor-performing products were eliminated. Net income from...

VEGAS CHEFS ADD NEW FLAVOR TO GOURMET HOUSEWARES SHOW.(Las Vegas Gourmet Housewares Show)
May 9, 2005... WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.-Up-and-coming Las Vegas restaurant chefs will headline a series of live cooking demonstrations at the 2005 Las Vegas Gourmet Housewares Show May 17 to 19 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Gerald Chin of Bradley Ogden,...