HFN The Weekly Newspaper for the Home Furnishing Network articles from May 2008

HFN The Weekly Newspaper for the Home Furnishing Network archives from May 2008

HFNdex rises in 1st quarter, but execs remain pessimistic.(home page)
May 5, 2008... NEW YORK -- Executive retailers and vendors of home furnishings expressed a slight increase in confidence during the first quarter, although most remain less than upbeat. The quarterly HFNdex, a proprietary survey measuring senior...

Retailers target tax rebate checks with special incentives and eco-promotions: back-to-school business could get a big boost from expected extra spending.(in focus)
May 5, 2008... NEW YORK --Tax rebate checks are being mailed this week and merchants are angling for their cut from Uncle Sam with promotional ploys designed to entice shoppers to spend their money at their stores. A number of retailers are pitching...

Retailers catalog biz eclipsed by Web.(news)
May 5, 2008... NEW YORK -- Retail catalogs may be glossy and glitzy, but their revenue-driving power is diminishing. The catalog arms of retailers such as WilliamsSonoma and J.C. Penney are steadily being dwarfed by their online businesses. And merchants...

Emeril and Martha: perfect together.(news)
May 5, 2008... NEW YORK--The acquisition of Emeril Lagasse's media and merchandising business by Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia means greater exposure and more power to the Emeril brand, according to Lagasse. Early last month, the two parties completed...

Home coming.(trends)
May 5, 2008... The Meredith stable of magazines once again laid out its vision for the American home at the recent Kitchen/Bath Industry Show with model rooms from five of the company's leading periodicals. Each was ai at a specific demographic and featured a...

Villeroy & Boch bets on its brand as it goes global.(news)
May 5, 2008... METTLACH, Germany--Villeroy & Boch AG, under the direction of Frank Goring, will keep one eye on the past and one eye on the future as it cultivates its global business. In the United States, its second biggest market after Germany, the...

Trade show calendar.(Calendar)
May 5, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] june 10-12 Licensing 2008 International Expo Jacob K. Javits Convention Center New York (212) 216-2000 licensingexpo.com 8-11 ITMA Showtime Fabric Show Highpoint, N.C. (336)...

Desperate moves for desperate times.(HOME ALONE 2)
May 5, 2008... Well, we seem to be right smack in the middle of the recession that everybody said would never happen. All the experts said this sub-prime mortgage thing was an isolated occurrence that could be contained and managed. No biggie. Turns out...

Viva Las Vegas: Gourmet Show heads back to the desert: brands unveil their better and best offerings at the upscale event.(GOURMET A-GO-GO)
May 5, 2008... AFTER A YEAR AWAY, THE GOURMET HOUSEWARES Show returns to the bright lights of Las Vegas for what is to many the tail end of the trade show season, finishing on a high-quality note. Focusing on the better and best categories, the show will...

Cookware unveilings sizzle.(GOURMET A-GO-GO)
May 5, 2008... NOT ONLY WILL COOKWARE IN A range of materials from stainless steel to clay be seen in Las Vegas, but companies new to the industry will also launch at the show. Other manufacturers will take this opportunity to add product to existing...

Kitchenware introductions for the Gourmet cook.(GOURMET A-GO-GO)
May 5, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HOME CHEFS LOOKING FOR THE better and best in gadgets, cutlery and other kitchenware products will have plenty to choose from later this year, as manufacturers either introduce their products or companies at this...

1 Muikitchen.(GOURMET A-GO-GO/NEW PRODUCTS)
May 5, 2008... 1 Muikitchen The MUExpressions line of microfiber kitchen towels has new designs every year to bring a fresh look to the kitchen. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] mukitchen.com

2 Krups.(GOURMET A-GO-GO/NEW PRODUCTS)
May 5, 2008... 2 Krups The Krups XP7230 features an LCD graphic display and a burr grinder that produces espresso-based drinks from the bean to the finished beverage. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] krups.com

3 KitchenAid.(GOURMET A-GO-GO/NEW PRODUCTS)
May 5, 2008... 3 KitchenAid A shatter-resistant polycarbonate pitcher is one of the features in KitchenAid's new, powerful 4-Speed Blender. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] kitchenaid.com

4 Pottery Avenue by Pangaea.(GOURMET A-GO-GO/NEW PRODUCTS)
May 5, 2008... 4 Pottery Avenue by Pangaea Though its line is mostly everyday dinnerware, Pottery Avenue by Pangaea also has home accessories such as this vase, as well as a new table linen line. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

5 Microplane.(GOURMET A-GO-GO/NEW PRODUCTS)
May 5, 2008... 5 Microplane Microplane had both the professional chef and home cook in mind when creating the new Gourmet Series of graters and shavers. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] us.microplane.co

Small-electrics vendors go one on one.(GOURMET A-GO-GO)
May 5, 2008... THE SMALL-ELECTRICS VENDORS WHO WILL be exhibiting at this week's Gourmet Housewares Show are aiming their sights at different retail targets, rather than rolling out new products. The show won't be devoid of product launches from the...

Tabletop serves up easy entertainment pieces.(GOURMET A-GO-GO)
May 5, 2008... TABLETOP INTRODUCTIONS AT THE GOURMET Housewares Show here this week span a variety of style and design approaches, but they are alike in the way they meld fashion (or just plain fun) with function. Several are offering options for home...

Global home textiles opens in Vegas: more than 300 companies from around the world will exhibit at this week's show, which includes a new Luxe Living section.(textiles)
May 5, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] LAS VEGAS -- The third edition of the Global Home Textiles show will take place this week in an uncertain economic climate. According to Penny Sikalis, vice president of GLM, the show's...

IHDP nears full house within a year of opening.(textiles)
May 5, 2008... DELHI, India -- The International Home Deco Park, launched almost a year ago, has achieved an occupancy rate of 55-60 percent and expects to reach a rate of 85 to 90 percent within the next few months. "It has been a slow but encouraging...

Forward March Surya has added to its offerings numerous licenses targeting carious demographics, tastes and styles.(floor covering)
May 5, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HIGH POINT, N.C. -- Plowing ahead with its goal of being a multi-category destination for retailers, Surya showed a lengthy list of new licenses at High Point Market last month and has plans for expansion into new...

ABC Carpet stays green with new rugs.(floor covering)
May 5, 2008... NEW YORK -- ABC Carpet marked Earth Day with an exhibit featuring an assortment of limited-edition, sustainably designed rugs. The New Shades of "Green" exhibit and sale is scheduled to run through the end of June. The exhibit features...

Four more sign on for RugMark label.(floor covering)
May 5, 2008... WASHINGTON, D.C. -- RugMark has welcomed four more companies to its growing family of rug businesses devoted to ending exploitative child labor in the handmade rug industry. Nought Collective, not Neutral, Creative Matters and Rug Art are...

Exhibitors welcome a different customer at spring market.(floor covering)
May 5, 2008... HIGH POINT, N.C.-It's simply a different type of market. That's what exhibitors had to say about this installation of High Point Market and the economic market in general. Executives acknowledged the economy's imprint on business in general,...

Kasthall takes on first U.S. showroom.(floor covering)
May 5, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- Kasthall has opened its first U.S. showroom at the New York Design Center. Executives at the company said, while Kasthall is already doing business in this country, it was time to create a larger...

Up against the wall: art vendors are looking for alternatives to simple framed images for growth in tough economy.(furniture & lighting)(Company overview)
May 5, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- Some manufacturers of framed prints are starting to diversify into different looks, products and channels of distribution as the category is suffering during the weak economy. The mass market framed...

Mattress vendors find retailers in cautious mood at spring show.(furniture & lighting)
May 5, 2008... HIGH POINT, N.C. -- As expected, the High Point Market in early April produced some tepid results for the dwindling number of mattress manufacturers who exhibited products here. Part of this stemmed from the mood among retailers who...

GlamLiving clicks on new home model.(media)
May 5, 2008... NEW YORK -- Joe Lagani, the former publisher of the iconic-but-now-defunct House & Garden magazine, had grown tired of the limitations of magazines in an increasingly Web-centric media world. That's why joining forces with GlamLiving, which...

Country Living gets a new look.(media)
May 5, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- Country Living has undergone a make over with a new look and enhanced features new look bowed designed to boost reader engagement, with its May issue The redesign of the Hearst publication offers...

Domino fetes 10 designers on the rise.(media)
May 5, 2008... Domino magazine feted the Domino 10 at a luncheon at the swank Le Bernardin restaurant. The second annual event celebrated the magazine's picks of young, up-and-coming decorators who could become the next big names in interior design. ...

Elle and Christie's join forces.(media)
May 5, 2008... Elle Decor magazine is partnering with Christie's on the Lexus young Collectors Nights series to raise the profile of Christie's Interiors auctions. The first evening's theme was '"Art & Interiors: Color Palettes to Inspire." The next...

Veranda kicks off Schumacher.(media)
May 5, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Veranda magazine and Schumacher co-hosted a cocktail reception to christen the launch of the Matthew Patrick Smyth collection for Schumacher on the 44th floor of the Hearst Tower.

Hold the olives.(media)
May 5, 2008... The HBO Shop in New York is selling these "Sex and the City" martini glasses for the upcoming movie based on the iconic show. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Ethan Allen reports quarterly drop in profits.(business & finance)(Financial report)
May 5, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] DANBURY, Conn. -- Ethan Allen Interiors said that its profits for the quarter ended March 31 were down 49 percent, having fallen to $8.84 million from $17.5 million during the same period last year. For...

Whirlpool earnings fall 20 percent in first quarter.(business & finance)
May 5, 2008... BENTON HARBOR, Mich. -- First-quarter net income from continuing operations for Whirlpool, the parent company of the KitchenAid brand off small kitchen electrics, fell 20 percent to $94 million. A company statement from the manufacturing...

Tabletop's spring soirees.(HFend)
May 5, 2008... The New York spring tabletop show ranon a Wednesday-through-Sunday schedule this year, a new format that in no way limited the number of parties held to celebrate the spring selling season. If anything, there were more parties than ever to...

Let the show houses begin.(HFend)
May 5, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It's spring, which means one thing: It's the season for show houses, those charityinspired decorators' dreams that seem to appear with the changing of the seasons. One of the first to open will be the Orchard Hill...

Sears' Lampert ponders selling Kenmore at other merchants as home option.(home page)
May 19, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HOFFMAN ESTATES, III. -- Sears Holdings could sell its signature Kenmore appliances at competing retailers such as Home Depot said Edward Lampert, chairman of Sears Holdings, at the retailer's shareholders meeting...

A touch of 'glass'.(home page)
May 19, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] People who lived in glass houses... should open them to the public when they are gone. That's what famed architect Philip Johnson did with his famous Glass House in New Canaan, Conn. Now comes "The Glass House" the...

Vendors: Linens filing could be a good thing.(news)
May 19, 2008... NEW YORK -- Linens 'n Things' bankruptcy filing earlier this month frees the chain to unload poorly performing stores and its high debt load, home vendors told HFN. But while many vendors took financial precautions in anticipation of the...

Design students look to make the grade at ICFF in competition.(news)
May 19, 2008... NEW YORK -- Design students from leading academies will participate in a competition at the 20th International Contemporary Furniture Fair, scheduled for May 17 to 20 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center here. The fair is expected to...

New York gift fair exhibit gives new items an 'A+'.(news)
May 19, 2008... WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- The New York International Gift Fair is now accepting applications from young home product designers for "A+: The Young Designer's Platform," an incubator exhibit area at the fair's Accent on Design area, which will run...

Home, green home: from pillows and mattresses to trash cans and tableware, vendors incorporate more sustainable materials into products.(HFNatural)
May 19, 2008... NEW YORK -- The home furnishings industry is reducing its carbon footprint and going green in creative ways. As the collective consciousness raises about the impact businesses, products and individuals have on the environment, consumers are...

Third-party regulators keep green standards in check.(in focus)
May 19, 2008... NEW YORK -- Following in the footsteps of commercial-level certification programs, most notably The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System, new groups have popped up and established organizations expanded...

Retailers flex their green thumbs.(HFNatural)
May 19, 2008... NEW YORK -- These days, the question isn't which retailers are going green, it's which ones haven't yet. Merchants up and down the retail food chain are not only peppering their mix with eco-friendly goods, but have rolled out full-fledged...

Organic cotton: just the facts.(HFNatural)
May 19, 2008... NEW YORK -- The word "organic" has become highly desirable for the packaging and advertising of a slew of consumer products. In home textiles, the presence of the words "organic cotton" have made those products even more salable in today's...

New York gift fair to conduct special SustainAbility event.(in focus)
May 19, 2008... NEW YORK -- A clock that runs on liquids rather than batteries, biodegradable pet waste bags and vases made from American Chestnut wood spindles are among the products that will be featured at SustainAbility: design for a better world, which...

1 Regal Ware.(HFNatural)
May 19, 2008... 1 Regal Ware Regal Ware partnered with celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson for its new line of cookware, aptly called Marcus. Initially offering eight- and 10-piece sets, and openstock items, the cookware has a magnetic exterior, making it...

2 French Heritage.(HFNatural)
May 19, 2008... 2 French Heritage French Heritage's new Paris Loft collection consists of eco-friendly, cleanlined contemporary pieces handcrafted from 50- to 100-year-old reclaimed solid teak salvaged from barn posts, antique flooring and old buildings...

3 Fagor America.(HFNatural)
May 19, 2008... 3 Fagor America The new 6-quart Electric Multi-Cooker from Fagor functions as a pressure cooker, a slow cooker and a rice cooker all in one, allowing for one-pot meal convenience. The pressure-cooking function can cook a meal in up to 70...

4 Restonic.(HFNatural)
May 19, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 4 Restonic Green meets blue in a recently launched mattress program from Restonic. The company introduced its Blue Bed, featuring an unquilted organic-cotton cover and an eco-foam/latex-foam combination, at the...

5 Fresh Wave.(HFNatural)
May 19, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 5 Fresh Wave Fresh Wave's Pearl Packs were designed with an on-the-go lifestyle in mind. The biodegradable, non-toxic sachets combine extracts of soy, lime, pine needle, aniseed, clove and cedar wood to eliminate...

6 Verilux.(HFNatural)
May 19, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 6 Verilux Verilux, whose tagline is "the healthy lighting company" is focused on not only energy-efficient lighting, but on ones that reduce eyestrain and fatigue, thereby conserving the consumer's own energy....

7 Fissler.(HFNatural)
May 19, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 7 Fissler Already using a PFOA-free, non-stick coating called Protectal Plus for its cookware line, Fissler just recently eliminated PFOA from the manufacturing process as well. Its production method uses ceramic...

8 Groovy Stuff.(HFNatural)
May 19, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 8 Groovy Stuff Take some 19th-century teak wood wagon wheels, attach old yolks from an ox or donkey, add expert craftsmanship, and you have Arapaho Rocker--the greenest and most interesting rocking chair you have...

Milan moments.(trends)
May 19, 2008... Trends were lurking around every corner during Milan Design Week, from color, pattern and material to ecological, social and cultural. Home of Internazionale Salone del Mobile and approximately 500 external events, it was one of the world's...

Circuits 'n things?(HOME ALONE 2)
May 19, 2008... I bet you hadn't thought of this one, had you? It came to me first as kind of a silly little idea, a cute play on words that might get a chuckle or two out of somebody. But then I really began to think about it: Would a merger of two...

Deloitte executive sizes up the global retail landscape.(news)
May 19, 2008... NEW YORK -- Move over U.S. Asia and other emerging markets, such as Russia, are beginning to steal the global retail spotlight as an engine of economic growth in their own right, said Ira Kalish, global director for Deloitte Research, during a...

Product of a new environment.(textiles)
May 19, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- Nearly a year after its return to the home products scene, the Portico brand has made two significant moves. Last month, the company announced its partnership with Summer...

As Dan River closes, GHCL looks to boost U.S. business.(textiles)
May 19, 2008... NOIDA, India -- As it apparently is moving to shut down its Dan River operation in the United States, GHCL is planning to grow its U.S. home textiles business to between $400 million and $500 million annually by this time next year. Its...

S. Lichtenberg & Co. opens the window to its bedding business.(textiles)
May 19, 2008... NEW YORK -- One of the nation's signature suppliers of window treatments for many years, S. Lichtenberg & Co. has now taken a major leap into another category, bed ensembles. The company had been selling bedding in a limited way for a...

Lasting impression: Armstrong is using look-alikes of legendary stars to promote its top-line laminate flooring.(floor covering)
May 19, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] LANCASTER, Pa. -- Armstrong has turned to iconic Hollywood royalty for a new consumer advertising campaign focusing on the realism of its premium laminate flooring. Under the tagline "It Only Looks Like The Real...

Shaw forms high-level council with focus on sustainability.(floor covering)
May 19, 2008... DALTON, Ga. -- Shaw has created an executive-level council to further advance sustainability as core to its long-term business-growth strategy. The Growth & Sustainability Council is comprised of 15 key company executives across all...

1 AMS Imports.(floor covering)
May 19, 2008... 1 AMS Imports The flatwoven Inca design, from AMS Imports' Peru Collection, is completely reversible, with its patterns' colors flipping from front to back with the idea of a summer rug and a winter rug all in one. The all-natural rugs are...

2 Jaipur Rugs.(floor covering)
May 19, 2008... 2 Jaipur Rugs The Solara design in Saffron is from the new Pura Vida Collection by Jaipur Rugs. The collection of flatwoven dhurries is handmade in India of a 100 percent hand-spun wool blend. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] jaipurrugs.com...

3 Tibetano.(floor covering)
May 19, 2008... 3 Tibetano New from Tibetano, March in Sandstone is woven with 100 percent unprocessed, pure Tibetan wool and Indian silks. Tibetano is a member of Care and Fair, which protects Nepalese children from improper labor practices. ...

4 Jaclyn Smith Home.(floor covering)
May 19, 2008... 4 Jaclyn Smith Home Dalyn Rug's Jaclyn Smith Home collection expanded with Mahal, a traditional line that includes rounds and runners. The hand-tufted rugs are constructed with a blend of wools and undergo a double-washing process for a...

5 New Moon.(floor covering)
May 19, 2008... 5 New Moon Rich with silk detailing, Olivia is from the Classic Collection at New Moon. Handmade in Nepal with Tibetan wool and Chinese silk, Olivia features a zebra-inspired border made completely from silk. The design is available in a...

Imagine Tile launches themed environment line.(floor covering)
May 19, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CLIFTON, N.J. -- Imagine Tile has launched Tile Art, a residential product line that allows homeowners to bring themed environments into their decor. The tiles mimic the look of hand-painting on ceramic, but...

Supply chain, design priorities in India.(floor covering)
May 19, 2008... NEW DELHI, India -- To meet growing international demand, the Indian handmade rug industry has turned its focus to building efficient supply chains and design skills. A variety of India-based companies are making investments to enhance...

Croscill's crossover: brand extensions in lamps, accent furniture and pet beds expand the brand's reach and distribution.(furniture & lighting)
May 19, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- Croscill Home continues to venture beyond its core soft-home business with big-box retailers. The bedding and bath company's latest brand extension into lighting, accent furniture and pet beds is...

Summer Classics launches companywide Green Initiative.(furniture & lighting)
May 19, 2008... MONTEVALLO, Ala. -- It's a lot easier being green than Kermit the Frog would have us believe. So says Summer Classics, a top designer and manufacturer of outdoor furniture, which has launched the first stage of its companywide Green...

Culinaria delights: Oneida's new solid-color dinnerware line takes the female perspective into mind.(tabletop)
May 19, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- When Oneida set out to design a new solid-color dinnerware program, it went straight to the source: female consumers. Extensive consumer research, combined with a strong food-service platform and...

Revised dates for the show reflect tenant preferences.(tabletop)
May 19, 2008... NEW YORK -- An overwhelming majority of 41 Madison tenants approve of the new midweek tabletop show schedule, according to a survey by the building. They voted in favor of no weekends and fewer market days, a concept supported by a...

Indian exporters unfazed by negative market forces.(tabletop)
May 19, 2008... NEW DELHI, India -- The spring Indian Handicrafts and Gifts Fair, sponsored by the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts, attracted 2,500 exhibitors and 3,500 to 4,000 buyers, according to show organizers. "The spring show attracts more...

New site promotes the customized table.(tabletop)
May 19, 2008... NEW YORK -- A newly launched Web site, "designed by consumers for consumers," promises a new way of thinking about and shopping for tabletop. Teroforma, established online in March by former investment banker Andrew Hellman, offers an...

1 Lifetime Brands.(tabletop)
May 19, 2008... 1 Lifetime Brands Wood accents add warmth to Hammond, part of the Wallace Home Collection. The transitional design is meant to appeal to a young, contemporary audience. Retail prices in the collection range from $40 to $150. ...

2 Wilton Armetale.(tabletop)
May 19, 2008... 2 Wilton Armetale Spanish design influences update a traditional Queen Anne look in Wilton Armetale's Valencia. The "C" curve used extensively in Spanish-inspired art, picture frames, altars and furniture is an integral element of the...

3 Lenox.(tabletop)
May 19, 2008... 3 Lenox Lenox merges rustic texture with refined design in Park City gift and serveware. The tree design is recessed into each piece and then brushed with a light stipple to create a two-tone look, while the handles have an antique bronze...

4 Royal Crown Derby.(tabletop)
May 19, 2008... 4 Royal Crown Derby Royal Crown Derby's Kaleidoscope dinnerware presents a fragmented gold design, reminiscent of interlocking bits of glass dancing in the light. To create this pattern, the designer began with the concept of a colorful...

5 Godinger.(tabletop)
May 19, 2008... 5 Godinger Godinger's Silver Allure collection of titanium-coated ceramics gives serveware a new look. It retails for $19.99. Other items in the collection include baskets, trays, a covered box, chargers and serving pieces. ...

Holding to a high standard: packaging for products are getting more of an environmentally friendly focus from manufacturers.(housewares)
May 19, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- As the green movement continues to evolve, manufacturers are looking at product packaging to be made more earth-friendly. Many cookware companies already recycle plenty of steel, cardboard and other...

Nusbaum returns to lead Ronco.(housewares)
May 19, 2008... SIMI VALLEY, Calif. -- Larry Nusbaum, who acquired Ronco in August of last year in partnership with Marlin Equity Partners but then left the firm, has returned as chairman, president and chief executive officer. In conjunction with a New...

Snapware steps into home storage.(housewares)
May 19, 2008... NEW YORK -- With its heritage in food storage, Snapware has stepped into the home storage category in a big way with its new Smart Store system. Based on the success of an organizational system sold in North Europe by its sister company,...