HFN The Weekly Newspaper for the Home Furnishing Network articles from October 2006

HFN The Weekly Newspaper for the Home Furnishing Network archives from October 2006

BLOOMIE'S SAN FRANCISCO FEAT.
October 2, 2006... CEO MICHAEL GOULD gave HFN the grand tour of the new West Coast flagship, which focuses on making the brand the star.

HFNDEX: CONFIDENCE DOWN AMONG RETAILERS IN 3RD QUARTER.(Brief article)
October 2, 2006... Byline: Nathan Weber NEW YORK-Retail executives' view of the economy dimmed in the third quarter, after it had risen notably in the previous period. But the overall outlook among the leading retailers remains positive. The HFNdex, an...

HFN EXCLUSIVE; THE POWER BEHIND THE PRIVATE LABEL.
October 2, 2006... Byline: Barbara Thau, Nancy Meyer contributed to this story. NEW YORK-They have names like Charter Club, Kenmore and Michael Graves. Across retail channels, private-label home furnishings are having more than just "a moment." They have...

HOME PAGE.
October 2, 2006... A Look ahead The third installment of America's Retail Idol will run in HFN on Oct. 9. The Beige Book, a summary of retail and other economic conditions throughout the United States, will be released by the Federal Reserve Board on...

WORLD MARKET CENTER NAMES DONDERO CEO.(World Market Center appoints Harvey Dondero)
October 2, 2006... Byline: Jo Fleischer LAS VEGAS-The World Market Center named longtime furniture and home products executive Harvey Dondero its first chief executive officer last week. The surprise announcement came last week as the World Market Center...

ICAHN MAY BUY UP TO $500M WORTH OF SHARES IN FEDERATED.
October 2, 2006... CINCINNATI-Investor guru Carl Icahn plans to acquire from $113.4 million to $500 million worth of additional shares in Federated Department Stores. Icahn notified the retailer about the potential purchase, saying that he plans to file...

SHARPER IMAGE TAPS LEVIN TO FILL LEADERSHIP ROLE ON INTERIM BASIS.(appointment of Jerry Levin)(Brief article)
October 2, 2006... Byline: Michael Rudnick SAN FRANCISCO-Turnaround specialist Jerry Levin has taken the lead at the struggling Sharper Image Corp. as he was named last week its chairman and interim chief executive officer, effective immediately, succeeding...

CORRECTION.(Correction notice)
October 2, 2006... The caption for Maytag's washing machine and dryer in the Garment Care Report in the Sept. 18 issue of HFN was incorrect. The unit featured was the Legacy Series in metallic blue, exclusively available at Home Depot.

TRADE SHOW CALENDAR.(Calendar)
October 2, 2006... October 9-13 INVEX 16th International Fair of Information and Communication Technologies Brno, Czech Republic 011-420-541-152-907 bvv.cz/invex bvv.cz/digitex 10-13 Heimtextil India Bombay Exhibition Center ...

MAKING THEIR DREAMS A REALITY.(DreamHome)(Brief article)
October 2, 2006... Byline: Carla Webb O'Connor Merchandise Mart Properties' DreamHome, a collaboration with Traditional Home magazine, made its debut late last month. Open to the public, DreamHome features nine rooms, each designed with a traditional flair...

BLOOMINGDALE'S BRAND RECEIVES STAR TREATMENT IN SAN FRANCISCO.(Bloomingdale's Inc.)
October 2, 2006... Byline: Barbara Thau SAN FRANCISCO-Bloomingdale's unveiled its West Coast flagship here, sporting a design that casts the iconic brand as the star, and its vendors, including home suppliers, as the supporting players. The...

A HOUSE IN THE HAMPTONS.(Companies Now Reinventing Themselves)(Editorial)
October 2, 2006... Byline: Warren Shoulberg Makeovers, Do-overs And Comb-overs I think it was when I saw the new TV ads for Hummer claiming it gets 20 miles per gallon on the highway that I realized the fine art of spin had reached a new level, even...

DOWN FOR THE COUNT?(Sheet Business)
October 2, 2006... Byline: Rosamaria Mancini NEW YORK-For high-end vendors in the sheet business, thread counts-the number of threads woven into one square inch of fabric-are becoming less important. "It doesn't mean much anymore," said Paul Hooker,...

RUGMARK AMPS UP EFFORTS TO BATTLE ILLEGAL CHILD LABOR.
October 2, 2006... Byline: Jennifer Quail NEW YORK-RugMark has made a move to intensify its reach among the American public with The Most Beautiful Rug-an advertising campaign designed to create consumer awareness about the illegal use of child labor in the...

SFERRA FEATURED ON 'TODAY' SHOW.(Sferra Bros.)(Brief article)
October 2, 2006... NEW YORK-Italian fine linen company Sferra was featured on the "Today" show last month in a segment called Today Show Throws a Wedding, where couples compete to be married on the television program. Sferra's hand-embroidered Francesca...

MILLI HOME GETS IN TOUCH WITH ITS FEMININE SIDE.
October 2, 2006... Byline: Rosamaria Mancini NEW YORK-Trying to bring a more feminine aesthetic to its packaging, Milli Home has created a new packaging program for its kitchen textiles collection. The packaging, which is a j-card that features the...

IDHP WILL BE ONE-STOP SHOP FOR VENDORS.(The International Home Deco Park)(Brief article)
October 2, 2006... Byline: Rosamaria Mancini NEW DELHI, India-The International Home Deco Park, slated to open here for buyer visits in February 2007, will serve as a permanent, central trade fair for vendors and buyers in the home textiles and decor...

HFPA OPPOSES ORPHAN WORKS ACT.(Home Fashion Products Association)(Brief article)
October 2, 2006... Byline: Rosamaria Mancini NEW YORK-After taking some time to study the bill and its effects, the Home Fashion Products Association is in agreement with the National Textile Association, the Decorative Fabrics Association and the American...

PACIFIC COAST FEATHER HONORED.(2006 Elite Award )(Brief article)
October 2, 2006... SAN JOSE, Calif.- Pacific Coast Feather Co. won the 2006 Elite Award from CRM magazine for its business-to-business Web site pcf.com. The award honored Pacific Coast's Web site that allows small- and medium-sized retail businesses to...

AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE ALTERNATIVE.(Transformation in the Mattress Industry)
October 2, 2006... Byline: Lee Buchanan HIGH POINT, N.C.-Maybe it's time to drop the "specialty" from specialty bedding. The phenomenal growth of sleep systems offered as alternatives to conventional innerspring mattresses is powerful evidence that these...

NICOLE MILLER COLLECTION BOWS AT ROBB & STUCKY.(Robb & Stucky Interiors Store)(Brief article)
October 2, 2006... TAMPA, Fla.-Fashion designer Nicole Miller made her national furniture debut at a recent event at the Robb & Stucky Interiors store here, which features a prominent display in a spacious, elegantly appointed setting. Fans arrived early and...

CONCERNS ABOUT ENERGY PROMPT THE GROWTH OF LIGHTING CONTROLS.(Brief article)
October 2, 2006... PALO ALTO, Calif.-Fueled by the implementation of newly revised energy codes and regulations in North America, the lighting control switches market reached $896.7 million in 2005, and is expected to account for $1.55 billion in 2012, according...

TAG TAPS FURNITURE BUSINESS THROUGH PARALLEL LINES BUY.(Brief article)
October 2, 2006... CHICAGO-Tag's recent purchase of Parallel Lines, a 26-year-old Chicago based designer, manufacturer and importer of contemporary furniture, gives the specialty home decor company entree into the crucial furniture business. Founded in 1975...

LIVING THE HIGH LIFE.(Growth in the Luxury Tabletop Market)
October 2, 2006... Byline: Allison Zisko NEW YORK-Growth in the luxury tabletop market is coming from the very high end of the business, where custom-made flatware, artisan-made sculptures and limited-edition crystal collections vie for the attention of...

THE KNOT TIES BRIDAL WEB SITE ON FOR SIZE.(The Knot acquired WeddingChannel.com )
October 2, 2006... Byline: Allison Zisko NEW YORK-The Knot's recent acquisition of WeddingChannel.com significantly increases its stature in the bridal business and provides leverage for boosting its bottom line. "Our goal is to continue to grow the...

STORE WARES.(A Comparison of Five Housewares Categories)(Product/service evaluation)
October 2, 2006... Byline: Jennifer White MANHASSET, N.Y.-A comparison of five housewares categories at two national specialty stores here revealed a significantly higher-end assortment of cookware sets and a more extensive selection of hair dryers at Bed...

PIER 1 INQUIRY HAS ANALYSTS WEIGHING IN ON WHAT'S NEXT.(Danish retail magnate Jakup a Dul Jacobsen expressed interest in Pier 1 Imports Inc.,)
October 2, 2006... Byline: Michael Rudnick NEW YORK-Wall Street took notice earlier this month when Danish retail magnate Jakup a Dul Jacobsen expressed interest in Pier 1 Imports Inc., as the struggling retailer's stock hit its highest level in nearly three...

JERSEY WHIRL.(Brief article)
October 2, 2006... Byline: Warren Shoulberg Bloomingdale's staged a grand-opening party for its remodeled and expanded Home store at the Shops at Riverside Mall in Hackensack, N.J., recently, sending out to the suburbs all its New York senior management home...

LONDON CALLING.(Ochre Opened Its First Retail Shop)(Brief article)
October 2, 2006... Byline: Allison O'Rourke London-based design firm Ochre celebrated last week the opening of its first retail shop-located in the heart of New York's trendy SoHo neighborhood. The open, elegant space has an eclectic and organic feel...

THIRD TIME'S A CHARM; THE LATEST METRO MARKET WEEK WAS A SUCCESS FOR EXECUTIVES TO DO BUSINESS.(Rug and carpet industry)
October 2, 2006... NEW YORK-The Metro Market Week has proven a valuable addition to the show roster, according to executives who opened their showroom doors to buyers here during the market's third run. "It's still a young market," said Arash Yaraghi,...

HOT KOHL'S.
October 9, 2006... There's a new Kohl's in town, more stylish, trendier and packed with exclusive brands.

ROWE'S STOREHOUSE RETAIL UNIT BEGINS LIQUIDATION SALE PROCESS.(Brief article)
October 9, 2006... Byline: Michael Rudnick ATLANTA-Storehouse Inc., the retail division of Rowe Furniture, began liquidating its 70 locations last week following bankruptcy court approval of its sale to Hudson Capital Partners. The liquidator purchased...

ROUND 3: BRAND SLAMS AND SLACKERS.(reports of America's Retail Idol competition)
October 9, 2006... NEW YORK-Now, things are starting to get interesting. This week, 40 percent of the remaining contestants in America's Retail Idol competition will be eliminated. By the time you finish reading today's story, the field will be down to...

HOMEPAGE.
October 9, 2006... A Look Ahead Advance retail sales for September will be released by the U.S. Commerce Department's Census Bureau on Oct. 13. The High Point Market will be held from Oct. 16 to 22. The New York tabletop show is scheduled for Oct. 28...

EXECUTIVES: CHANGE SHOULD BE FOCUS OF NEXT PIER 1 CEO.(retirement of Marvin Girouard)
October 9, 2006... Byline: Barbara Thau NEW YORK-Pier 1 Imports should tap a seasoned merchant willing to make bold changes, retail experts said following CEO Marvin Girouard's announcement to retire early next year. Last week, Pier 1 began the search...

IHDP SET TO EXPAND INDIA'S PRESENCE IN HOME MARKET.(International Home Deco Park)(Brief article)
October 9, 2006... Byline: Rosamaria Mancini NEW DELHI, India-With a goal to expose buyers to India's extensive portfolio of products and help increase its share in the global home decor market, the International Home Deco Park will open for buyer visits in...

CASUAL KEY TO NEW WEDGWOOD PRESIDENT.(Interview)
October 9, 2006... Byline: Allison Zisko NEW YORK-Tricia Foley, Wedgwood's new president, will concentrate on two areas in the months ahead-whiteware and bridal-while developing a strong brand strategy that is centered on casual dinnerware. Foley, who...

KOHL'S HOME: BEYOND THE MAINSTREAM.(Kohl's Corp)
October 9, 2006... Byline: Barbara Thau MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis.-Kohl's and Vera Wang: Who would have linked the middle-of-the-road, Midwestern retailer with the tony bridal designer just two years ago? The launch of an exclusive Vera Wang home textiles and...

BLOOMINGDALE'S: FROM TOP...TO BOTTOM.(Letter to the editor)
October 9, 2006... Byline: Warren Shoulberg Mike Gould was getting pretty excited about the bathrooms. "C'mon, I want to show you the men's room here," he said, leading a group on a tour of the new Bloomingdale's store in San Francisco, two days before...

COMFORTER ZONE.(sales of winter products)
October 9, 2006... Byline: Rosamaria Mancini NEW YORK-Fall is officially here and department store giants Bloomingdale's and Macy's have stocked their shelves with winter products as the sale season is already under way. Visits to both Bloomingdale's and...

HUNTER DOUGLAS UNVEILS NEW AD CAMPAIGN, ITEMS.
October 9, 2006... Byline: Rosamaria Mancini NEW YORK-Hard window treatments that cover bigger windows but also allow more light to filter in were a part of the extensive portfolio of products that Hunter Douglas unveiled at its Designers' Fare held here...

BUILDING A STRONG FOUNDATION.(alliances of Obeetee Inc. and Colonial Williamsburg Co.)
October 9, 2006... Byline: Jennifer Quail NEW YORK-Obeetee has expanded its partnership with the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, creating a line of high-end reproduction rugs bearing the foundation's name. The rugs were launched at a Williamsburg event...

GRAY MATTERS.(Cloth displays furnishings)(display of black-and-white photography)(Laura & Corrado display Italian photographs)(Brief article)
October 9, 2006... Byline: Jennifer White Black-and-white photography depicting landmarks or outdoor scenes is showing up on more home furnishings, but don't think of these artworks as souvenirs. What separates these products from kitsch is the high quality...

SHAPURA COLLECTION HELPS KARASTAN LURE SOME NEW CONVERTS.(Brief article)
October 9, 2006... Byline: Jennifer Quail NEW YORK-Karastan has put a soft twist on Peshawar designs with its new Shapura Collection. The collection uses soft palettes and subtle shades of color to achieve the nuances of visual texture characteristic of such...

PLAYING WITH THE FIELDS.(Brief article)
October 9, 2006... Byline: Jennifer Quail NEW YORK-Vendors have been expanding their roster of bordered area rugs with solid or very simple center fields, noting an increasing trend among consumers to purchase the style for their dining rooms. For some,...

CARPET ONE CONTINUES TO SUPPORT RESEARCH AGAINST BREAST CANCER.(Brief article)
October 9, 2006... MANCHESTER, N.H.-The new pink ribbon designs are in as Carpet One Floor & Home moves forward in its ongoing support of the fight against breast cancer. The campaign kicks off Carpet One's third year of supporting breast cancer awareness,...

MOHAWK MARKS ANNIVERSARY WITH SPECIAL TIE-IN EVENT.(Brief article)
October 9, 2006... DALTON, Ga.-Mohawk is leveraging the success of its consumer advertising campaign for its fourth annual Mohawk Anniversary Month sale. Based on its fairy-tale themed consumer campaign, set to make more than 1.2 billion impressions this year,...

COURISTAN PROGRAMS GET A BOOST WITH MORE PRODUCT, BIGGER DISPLAYS.(Couristan Inc.)
October 9, 2006... Byline: Jennifer Quail FORT LEE, N.J.-Couristan has expanded the assortment and the accommodating displays for two major areas: its established roll runner program and its relatively new Creations by Couristan. Forty-four new products...

INTERNATIONAL DESIGN GUILD HONORS ITS TOP PERFORMERS.(Brief article)
October 9, 2006... MANCHESTER, N.H.-The International Design Guild recently recognized key members IDG President Krista Eliason referred to as being "truly at the top of their game" with a series of performance-based awards. The awards looked to the members for...

ABBYSON DOUBLES SHOWROOM SPACE FOR HIGH POINT MARKET.(Abbyson Corp.)
October 9, 2006... Byline: Jennifer Quail HIGH POINT, N.C.-Abbyson Corp. is opening the doors to a newly expanded showroom here next week, a move the company said reinforces its commitment to the High Point Market. The new space creates greater opportunity...

FURNISHING THE OFFICE.
October 9, 2006... Byline: Lee Buchanan, Nancy Meyer contributed to this report. WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.-"Stylish" and "hip" aren't terms often applied to office furniture, but the current RTA offerings at the three office superstores challenge the notion that...

ACCESSORIES THAT HIT EVERY TREND.(Brief article)
October 9, 2006... HIGH POINT, N.C.-Designers of lighting and decorative accessories haven't strayed too far afield for their introductions at this month's High Point Market. Rather, they've taken a safe approach, perhaps reflecting some pulling back on the...

HOME DEPOT DOWNSIZES DIRECT CATALOG BUSINESS.(Brief article)
October 9, 2006... Byline: Nancy Meyer ATLANTA-The Home Depot is shutting down its Paces Trading Co. lighting catalog and its 10 Crescent Lane upscale home decor catalog after less than a year in operation, and is folding this high-end decor business into...

WEIMAN UNVEILS NEW KAGAN DESIGNS.(Weiman Furniture)(Brief article)
October 9, 2006... HIGH POINT, N.C.-Weiman Furniture, manufacturer of Weiman/Preview contemporary furnishings, has joined a long-standing collaborator, Vladimir Kagan, in producing two extensive groups of upholstery and occasional tables to make their debut at...

WAL-MART CHANGES A LIGHT BULB IN EFFORT TO CHANGE THE WORLD.
October 9, 2006... Byline: Nancy Meyer NEW YORK-Each year at this time, lighting retailers and suppliers large and small pour on the promotional efforts to support Energy Star's Change a Light/Change the World Campaign. This year, the energy-saving...

POURING IT ON.
October 9, 2006... Byline: Jennifer White NEW YORK-Want to sell more coffeemakers? Keep them plugged in, manufacturers and retailers say. In-store demonstrations are contributing to an increase in sales of coffee appliances, so expect to see more brewers...

CONTAINER STORE REACHES OUT WITH MORE DIRECT MAILINGS.(Brief article)
October 9, 2006... Byline: Sharyn Bernard COPPELL, Texas-The Container Store is aggressively increasing its direct-mail program with more targeted mailings-co-sponsored and co-branded with key vendors-as another way of further driving store traffic. ...

KITCHENAID EXPANDS COOK FOR A CURE.(Cook for the Cure)(Brief article)
October 9, 2006... Benton Harbor, Mich,- New products have been added to the Cook for the Cure initiative, a partnership between the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and KitchenAid, to support the fight against breast cancer. Products recently added...

WHIRLPOOL PLANS SHIFTS IN MANUFACTURING SITES.(Whirlpool Corp.)
October 9, 2006... Byline: Michael Rudnick BENTON HARBOR, Mich.-Whirlpool has announced yet another manufacturing shift as part of a larger cost reduction effort. The white goods giant is planning to expand production of its side-by-side refrigerators at...

NECO SELECT PROGRAM SEEN AS STEP UP FOR MIDTIER APPLIANCE SALES.
October 9, 2006... Byline: Michael Rudnick LEDYARD, Conn.-The buying group NECO Alliance, in an effort to push midtier major appliance sales, has launched a program to promote these products at its independent appliance dealers. The program, NECO Select,...

SAME-STORE SALES HIT FOUR-MONTH HIGH.(Survey)
October 9, 2006... Byline: Michael Rudnick NEW YORK-The fall season started strong for retailers as same-store sales increases hit a four-month high in September. Home retailers for September had a total average same-store sales gain of a little more...

RESTORATION HARDWARE PUTS FOCUS ON KIDS, BED AND BATH.(Restoration Hardware Inc.)(Brief article)
October 9, 2006... Byline: Michael Rudnick CORTE MADERA, Calif.-Restoration Hardware is planning to break new ground in the children's market with a Restoration Hardware Kids concept, and will grow its bed and bath focus with its first catalog devoted to the...

BAY CITY ROLLOUT.(Bloomingdale's Inc.)(Brief article)
October 9, 2006... Byline: Barbara Thau Bloomingdale's kicked off its new San Francisco flagship store with a gala cocktail reception that included a performance by Grammy award-winning jazz trumpeter Chris Botti. The event benefited clinical and research...

SCENTED CANDLE IN THE WIND.(Elton John Fireside Home Fragrance Collection)(Brief article)
October 9, 2006... Elton John teamed up with Limited Brands to produce the Elton John Fireside Home Fragrance Collection. The collection, which includes scented candles, scented stones, home fragrance oils and oil warmers, will be available at 1,700 Bath & Body...

THE NEW TRADITIONAL.
October 9, 2006... Byline: Jennifer Quail The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation showcased the evergreen appeal of its licensees at an event in the Obeete showroom in New York. Displays explored how good design can be both timeless and fresh. Caption(s):...

LIVING THE HIGH LIFE.(Brief article)
October 16, 2006... This week's high point market offers 11 million square feet of new products, including this bench from Magnussen Home, pendant light from Robert Abbey and rug from Safavieh. For HFN's complete opening-day coverage, see the Trends, Floor...

CASEY MAKES HIS POINT FELT THIS MARKET.
October 16, 2006... Byline: Warren Shoulberg HIGH POINT, N.C.-Brian Casey was talking about all the things his new Market Authority team has accomplished in the six months since he came on board: transportation, logistics, marketing and rental car prices, to...

DEPARTMENT STORES SHUN HOME ALONE.
October 16, 2006... Byline: Barbara Thau NEW YORK-Department stores seem to have decided that they do not want to be home alone. Freestanding home stores, once a hot growth vehicle for retailers such as Macy's, Bloomingdale's and J.C. Penney, have fallen...

HFN HOME PAGE.
October 16, 2006... A Look ahead Existing home sales in September will be released by the National Association of Realtors on Oct. 25. HFN will publish the fourth installment of its America's Retail Idol feature on Nov. 13. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will...

DEPARTED DEPARTMENT STORES.(Brief article)
October 16, 2006... The Sept. 11 issue included a list of former department stores that have become Macy's. Here is a corrected version of that list. We invite readers to comment or even add to the list of gone-but-not-forgotten retailers. Abraham & Straus...

CRATE & BARREL'S FIRST TV ADS IN YEARS BOW.
October 16, 2006... Byline: Barbara Thau NORTHBROOK, Ill.-Crate & Barrel has launched its first television spots in at least five years, playing up the specialty retailer as both a home-goods destination for special occasions and one for everyday...

BON-TON RESTRUCTURES ITS EXECUTIVE RANKS.(Brief article)
October 16, 2006... YORK, Pa.-The Bon-Ton Stores has reorganized its senior ranks, effective immediately. In a new position, Stephen Byers has been named vice chairman, with the stores, operations, private brand, merchandise planning and allocation, and...

MAKING THE COMPARISONS.(Letter to the editor)
October 16, 2006... To the Editor: Nice piece-the parallels are there for much of USA manufacturing. ("Parallel Universes," Sept. 25.) What you're saying, politely, is that we've been betrayed by management and our "management class." Toyota management...

KOHL'S TO OPEN DESIGN OFFICE IN NEW YORK.(Brief article)
October 16, 2006... MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis.-In keeping with efforts to roll out more exclusive, design-driven goods, Kohl's will open its first design office in New York's garment district in January 2007. The 23,000-square-foot facility will be located at 1359...

QUICK TAKES.
October 16, 2006... RETAIL MERVYNS opened four stores in its core West and Southwest markets last week that reflect "the future direction of Mervyns' store environment and design," the retailer said in a statement. The stores are also the promotional...

PUMA HITS UNION SQUARE.(Brief article)
October 16, 2006... Byline: Nancy Meyer Setting High Standards Home furnishings designers are making bold statements at this week's High Point Market by juxtaposing light and dark, bringing out striking patterns and playing up high-contrast elements. It's...

FURNITURE TODAY... AND TOMORROW.
October 16, 2006... Byline: Warren Shoulberg Please, this is not another diatribe on the High Point Market versus Las Vegas and which one will win out in furnitureland. Frankly, I don't think this is an either-or situation where there will be just one...

SHOWING WALL POWER; MIRRORS AND ALTERNATIVE DECOR GROW AS THE CATEGORY SEES A SLIGHT DECLINE.
October 16, 2006... Byline: Andrea Lillo MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE WALL, WHICH home accessories category increased most of all? According to HFN's latest survey of the wall decor retail sales, the answer is mirrors, actually, and alternative wall decor. ...

ACCENTUATING THE POSITIVE; WITH ITS STYLING, AFFORDABILITY AND CONVENIENCE FOR CONSUMERS, THE ACCENT FURNITURE CATEGORY HAS CARVED A SUCCESSFUL NICHE.
October 16, 2006... Byline: Andrea Lillo USUALLY SMALL ENOUGH TO BE A QUICK purchase and loaded into the trunk of a car-forgoing delivery charges-accent furniture is still a category that appeals to customers, as long as the design, and price, is right. ...

THE CHINA CONNECTION; THE ASIAN NATION SOARS AHEAD IN EXPORTING ACCESSORIES TO THE U.S.
October 16, 2006... Byline: Nathan Weber IT MAY NOT BE SURPRISING THAT CHINA DOMINATES exports of various types of home accessories to the United States, but what emerges from even a cursory examination of the data is just how far the Asian giant is ahead of...

LOSING THE WEIGHT.(bath towels)
October 16, 2006... Byline: Rosamaria Mancini NEW YORK-For years, towel weight seemed to be on every linen vendor's mind as most consumers equated heavy weight with superior quality. But that's changed, and most vendors have focused their attention on style...

D. PORTHAULT'S NEW STORE IS EN SEINE.(Brief article)
October 16, 2006... PARIS-Joan and Bernard Carl, owners of fine linen company D. Porthault, opened the doors of their new 5,700-square-foot flagship store here earlier this month. The new boutique, housed in a former townhouse on avenue de Montaigne, is made up of...

DESIGNER BUTERA, KRAVET INK LICENSING AGREEMENT.(Brief article)
October 16, 2006... Byline: Rosamaria Mancini LOS ANGELES-Furnishings and lifestyle designer Barclay Butera has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Kravet Collections, a division of Kravet, to develop a line of textiles and trims. The line,...

NEW SCHEDULE, NEW LIFE.(High Point Market event)
October 16, 2006... Byline: Jennifer Quail HIGH POINT, N.C.-A change in dates has vendors expecting good things from the High Point Market this week. While some executives did note "dealers are waiting for the January Vegas show" and skipping High Point this...