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

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

ANIMAL MAGNETISM.
September 5, 2005... Home retailers are going to the dogs, and other critters, too, as pet products make tracks for more broad-line stores. See pages 10-11.

KATRINA'S FURY FELT AT RETAIL.
September 5, 2005... Byline: Barbara Thau NEW YORK-Hurricane Katrina slammed the Southern retail sector last week, halting operations for hundreds of stores. By the week's end, retail executives were still assessing property damage and revenue losses as...

MAY BOOSTS REGIONAL REACH FOR FEDERATED.(Federated Department Stores Inc)(May Department Stores Co)(a great achievement in the departmental stores )
September 5, 2005... Byline: Barbara Thau NEW YORK-Federated Department Stores and May Department Stores Co. officially tied the knot last week, creating a $30 billion, 950-unit department store behemoth with an estimated $4.4 billion in home furnishings...

FURNITURE INDUSTRY RALLIES TO AID VICTIMS.
September 5, 2005... Byline: Cheminne Taylor-Smith HIGH POINT, N.C.-The furniture industry is rallying to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina. From associations to retailers to manufacturers, companies are donating money, time and goods to help the Gulf Coast...

IN BRIEF: GOTTSCHALKS GOING HOME LIFESTYLE... PILLOWTEX LABELS IN SLIPCOVERS... SHARP NAMES MARKETING PRESIDENT...(Gottschalks adds bew facility in Idaho)(Sharp Electronics Marketing Co. appointed Michael Troetti as president)(Amy Webster joined Hollander Home Fashion inc. as vice president)
September 5, 2005... GOTTSCHALKS GOING HOME LIFESTYLE Gottschalks department stores will bow a new lifestyle concept store in Pocatello, Idaho, that will be dominated by home furnishings. The 30,000-square-foot store will open in the third quarter. The...

SALTON SELLS STAKE IN AMAP, GETS MUCH-NEEDED CASH.(Interactive Capital Ltd. acquired Amalgamated Appliance Holdings Ltd .)
September 5, 2005... Byline: Jennifer White NEW YORK-Salton Inc.'s decision to sell its 52.6 percent stake in Amalgamated Appliance Holdings Ltd. to a group of investors led by Interactive Capital Ltd. gives Salton badly needed cash, but also deprives it of a...

NBA LINE SEEKS HOME COURT ADVANTAGE.(National Basketball Association introduced new online site as nbastore.com)(Brief Article)
September 5, 2005... Byline: Allison O'Rourke NEW YORK-The National Basketball Association has launched NBA at Home, the first collection of NBA home furnishings and accessories. The line includes a variety of products, such as rugs, bar stools, accent...

TRADE SHOW CALENDAR.(from september on list)(Calendar)
September 5, 2005... september 8-11 Promosedia International Chair Exhibition Udine Showgrounds Udine, Italy 011-39-0432-745611 promosedia.it 9-12 Atlanta International Area Rug Market AmericasMart Atlanta Atlanta (800)...

CABIN FEVER.(home decorators and their information)(Brief Article)
September 5, 2005... Byline: Michael D. Devine For those who dream of having a cozy cabin far away from the maddening crowd, retailers and manufacturers offer a wealth of products to help bring home a simpler way of life. Fair Plate Woolrich...

REIGNING: CATS AND DOGS; THE GROWTH OF PET FURNISHINGS IN NON-TRADITIONAL OUTLETS REFLECTS AN EMERGING TREND.
September 5, 2005... Byline: Barbara Thau NEW YORK-Broad-line retailers are tapping the business of sprucing up Fido and Fluffy's digs. Non-traditional pet merchants, from Target to IKEA to Home Depot, are sprinkling pet home furnishings into their mix to...

POST-SUMMER SYLLABUS.(Letter to the Editor)
September 5, 2005... Byline: Arnold J. Karr September is like that enormous 18-wheeler racing toward you on the highway, its reflection growing ever larger in your rearview mirror, and nearly swallowing you up once it finally catches up with you. Nothing can...

DISTINGUISHING DECOSIT; U.S. MANUFACTURERS WILL PRESENT A NEW APPROACH TO HIGH END AT THE BRUSSELS SHOW: SOFTER, YET INTRICATE, FABRICS AND DESIGNS.(exhibitions of textiles with many designs )
September 5, 2005... Byline: Faye Musselman ATLANTA-At Decosit, which runs Sept. 11 to 17, U.S. manufacturers hope to distinguish their fabric introductions with more sophisticated, high-end designs than ever before. "Because of the influx of low-cost...

EXECS READY TO SHOW THEIR BRUSSELS CLOUT.(executives at their show)
September 5, 2005... Byline: Faye Musselman ATLANTA-Executives heading to Brussels for the Decosit show this week are optimistic of what lies ahead, while keeping a cautious glance over their shoulders. "We're looking forward to Decosit with eager...

BALTIC LINEN PREPARES TO MAKE A SPLASH IN BATH.(Rick Lipton as director of bath accessories)
September 5, 2005... Byline: Rosamaria Mancini NEW YORK-Baltic Linen Co. has assembled its first extensive line of bath accessories and is just about ready to present it to retailers. Rick Lipton, former national sales manager at Creative Bath, joined...

NEWS BRIEFS.(Hollander Home Fashions Inc appointed Amy Webster as vice president)(Sigrid Simonson appointed for Brentwood as creative director)(Leggett and Platt Inc appointed Stephen Sczubelek as vice president )
September 5, 2005... HOLLANDER HOME FASHIONS has named Amy Webster vice president of the basic bedding division. She reports to Dave Sides, president of basic bedding. Webster succeeds Ron Murphy, who left the company in March, and is responsible for the design of...

A NEW YORK STATE OF MIND; RIGHT ON SCHEDULE FOR THE FALL MARKETS, MARC PHILLIPS IS BRINGING ITS AREA RUGS TO A NEW SHOWROOM IN THE BIG APPLE.(Marc Phillips Decorative Rugs opened new facility)
September 5, 2005... Byline: Rosamaria Mancini NEW YORK-Just in time for the fall markets, Marc Phillips Decorative Rugs has opened a new showroom in New York's D&D Building. The company, which already has a showroom in Philadelphia, is a newcomer to the...

MORE VENDORS REGISTERED FOR METRO MARKET.(Interview)
September 5, 2005... Byline: Jennifer Quail NEW YORK-In only its second year, the Metro Rug Alliance has boosted its roster of participating vendors for Metro Market Week by 50 percent and David Samad, president of the group, sees a bright future for the show....

MILLIKEN TO USE METHANE FROM LOCAL LANDFILL TO SAVE ENERGY.(methane in combination results good)
September 5, 2005... Byline: Rosamaria Mancini NEW YORK-In an effort to be "cleaner and greener," Milliken Carpet will be the first customer in LaGrange, Ga., to draw methane from the city's landfill this month to help operate its business, the company said....

CCA GLOBAL RECOGNIZED FOR E-LEARNING.(CCA Global Partners Inc. for electronic learning)(Brief Article)
September 5, 2005... NEW YORK-CCA Global Partners has been recognized by The e-Learning Guild -- a community of electronic-learning designers, developers and managers -- for the development of an online instruction program. The program, titled "You Make the...

SLEEPING WELL; MANY BEDDING INTRODUCTIONS INCORPORATE SPECIAL TICKING, CUSHIONING OR INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A MORE HEALTHFUL STORY.(comfortable beds now came ever before)
September 5, 2005... Byline: Karl Kunkel HIGH POINT, N.C.-Earlier this summer, an elderly woman with severe sleeping problems asked Bob and Deana Hand, owners of Downtown Furniture Emporium in St. Joseph, Mo., for the right mattress. They found the right model...

ILLUMINATED PILLOWS MAKE RETAIL DEBUT.(Color Kinetics Inc. licensing deal with Cepia LLC)
September 5, 2005... Byline: Nancy Meyer NEW YORK-Light-emitting diodes -- those small, powerful, energy-efficient light sources -- are finding their way into very creative applications. Although recent reports estimate that LEDs won't make a huge dent in...

NEWS BRIEFS.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2005... CHICAGO-BASED WOODARD, a manufacturer of outdoor furniture, has named Executive Vice President Dean Engelage president. The appointment of Engelage, who has been with Woodard for nine years, followed the resignation of Martin Weissburg, who...

LET THERE BE LIGHTING.(Quoizel Inc.'s new factory in China)(Brief Article)
September 5, 2005... After a performance by dragon dancers, Quoizel executives, their partners from Taiwan and local officials cut the ribbon on a new lighting factory in the Humen district of Dongguan, China. The factory employs 400 workers and produces a wide...

FASHION'S PLACE AT THE TABLE; FLATWARE LINES FROM VERA WANG AND KATE SPADE BENEFIT FROM THE COLLECTIONS' POPULARITY AND CROSS-MERCHANDISING OPPORTUNITIES.
September 5, 2005... Byline: Carla Webb, Allison Zisko contributed to this report. NEW YORK-Designer tabletop packages, such as the Vera Wang and Kate Spade collections, have received much of the credit for energizing an otherwise flat industry. With the lines...

BURNES GETS NEW LEVEL OF EXPOSURE.(Burnes Group's hanging system Level-Line to be on TV)(Brief Article)
September 5, 2005... Byline: Allison Zisko NEW YORK-Level-Line, the burgeoning hanging system from Burnes Group, will get its eight minutes of fame this fall starring in a brief TV segment on room make-overs. The frames and shelves, which have a built-in...

EX-SALES REPS TAKE SHOT AT FILLING VOIDS IN MARKET.(Curtis Anderson and Jeff Norling's Outset)(Roger Street's Home 360)
September 5, 2005... Byline: Allison Zisko NEW YORK-Too late for the fourth quarter, but showing promise for the first quarter of 2006, are two fledgling companies founded by former sales representatives who saw holes in the market and built businesses to fill...

MARTIN'S, LA JOLIE MAISON PARTNER TO FIGHT BREAST CANCER.(Martin's Herend Imports and La Jolie Maison introduce porcelain box)(Brief Article)
September 5, 2005... NEW YORK-Martin's Herend Imports has partnered with New Jersey specialty retailer La Jolie Maison to produce a limited-edition Herend pink ribbon porcelain box, with a percentage of sales being donated by both companies to the Susan G. Komen...

GET SET FOR WINTER; SOME SUPPLIERS ARE PROMOTING AIR PURIFIERS AND FANS, IN ADDITION TO TRADITIONAL ITEMS.
September 5, 2005... Byline: Faye Musselman ATLANTA-Although heaters and humidifiers remain the seasonal leaders in the home comfort category segment, manufacturers are also adapting and promoting products traditionally marketed for other seasons. Fans...

INDUSTRY EXPERTS PONDER: WHAT'S HOOVER'S FATE?(vacuum cleaner)
September 5, 2005... Byline: Gerry Beatty NEW YORK-Lost in all the scuttlebutt over Whirlpool's plans for Maytag is the fate of the most iconic brand in either house -- Hoover. Either its future owner invests, re-staffs and re-energizes its vac business,...

NEWS BRIEFS.(Bissell Inc. introduced Bissell Lift-Off Revolution Turbo)(Vita-Mix Corp. produced a loop video for the Professional Series)(Tupperware Corp. dividends)
September 5, 2005... THE KEURIG ULTRA B50 was ranked as a Consumers Digest Best Buy in the Single-Serve Coffeemaker category, featured in the July/August issue of Consumers Digest Magazine. Consumers Digest writes that the Ultra's "ease of use and a diverse array...

THE CLOCK REPORT.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2005... Clocks registered just a 2 percent increase in sales to $664 million in 2004, compared with $651 million in 2003. Clock suppliers expect soaring raw-materials costs to continue to be a critical issue. Manufacturers agree there's growth in...

CHANGING FACE; WITH MINOR GROWTH IN THE CATEGORY, MANUFACTURERS ARE POSITIONING THEIR ITEMS AS DECORATIVE OBJECTS TO SPUR SALES.
September 5, 2005... Byline: Sharyn Bernard ATLANTA-It's time to face the facts -- the clock category is deriving most of its growth by focusing on clocks as decorative accessories, not necessarily as timepieces. Still, the growth has been slight: The...

A TIMELY FASHION; ON THE FACE OF IT, MANUFACTURERS ARE FINDING THAT THE LOOK OF A CLOCK MATTERS MORE THAN EVER.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2005... Byline: Sharyn Bernard ATLANTA-Clock styles have come a long way, baby. Long gone are the days of just telling time -- clocks are a fashion statement, mirroring other home trends, from contemporary styles to traditional designs. New...

THE SCENE OF THE TIME ; STORES ARE SHIFTING THE FOCUS OF THEIR ASSORTMENTS FROM MERELY TIME-KEEPING DEVICES TO WALL ART.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2005... Byline: Sharyn Bernard ATLANTA-As more retailers focus on clocks as wall art, their assortments and the products' location in the stores reflect the shifting trend. In general, mass retailers concentrate on private labels, while...

COOL CUSTOMERS; REFRIGERATORS BEARING THE ENERGY STAR SEAL ARE RAPIDLY GAINING POPULARITY WITH TODAY'S CONSERVATION-CONSCIOUS CONSUMERS.
September 5, 2005... Byline: Gerry Beatty NEW YORK-Refrigerators, the leading power user among major appliances, stand to be a prime beneficiary of the increased attention on the federal Energy Star program. Soaring gas prices and the Energy Policy Act...

AMAZON TESTS INSTALLATION OF PLASMA TVS.
September 5, 2005... Byline: Michael Rudnick NEW YORK-Amazon.com, in a bid to gain competitive ground against the big-box electronics retailers, is taking baby steps in the installation space. The online retailer last month began testing its first...

AUGUST SAME-STORE SALES MORE THAN DOUBLE JULY RESULTS.
September 5, 2005... Byline: Michael Rudnick NEW YORK-It looks as if rising fuel costs were not enough to slow down shoppers, as home furnishings retailers' same-store sales in August more than doubled July's results. A review of stores opened at least one...

IKEA, GE FINANCE TEAM UP ON PRIVATE-LABEL STORE-BRANDED CREDIT CARD.(Ikea International A/S and GE Consumer Finance)
September 5, 2005... Byline: Michael Rudnick NEW YORK-IKEA has signed a deal with GE Consumer Finance to launch a private-label store-branded credit card by year's end. The Swedish home furnishings specialty retailer has offered private-label cards for...

NEWS BRIEFS.
September 5, 2005... GOTTSCHALKS INC. logged net income for the second quarter ended July 30 of $300,000, or 2 cents per diluted share, compared with $200,000, or 2 cents per diluted share, for the same period a year ago. The per-share price was unchanged because...

WATTLES ASKS TWEETER TO DROP POISON PILL.(Mark Wattles asks Tweeter Home Entertainment Group Inc. to withdraw stockholder rights plan)(Brief Article)
September 5, 2005... Byline: Michael Rudnick NEW YORK-Mark Wattles, Ultimate Electronics' chairman and chief executive officer, may be eyeing competitor Tweeter Home Entertainment Group as a potential acquisition target, as was made evident by a request for...

SEARS CANADA TO SELL CREDIT CARD BUSINESS.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2005... Byline: Michael Rudnick NEW YORK-Sears Canada Inc. has announced that it will sell its credit card business to JPMorgan Chase. The north-of-the-border department store giant has entered into an agreement to sell all the assets and...

THE HFN STOCK INDEX.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2005... Retailers declined 0.69 percent for the Aug. 25 to Sept. 1 period, pulled down by Gottschalks, which fell 10.58 percent to close at $9.63. Bombay Co. led the group with a 7.58 percent gain to close at $5.11 on news of a double-digit August...

THE PRATT PACK.
September 5, 2005... Byline: Michael D. Devine The very hip store Felissimo Design House was the setting for Umbra's U + Studio collection opening event. It also provided an opportunity to meet the 2005 Pratt Design Competition winners and see their entries....

THE FALL GUIDE.(new cook book Zagat to be launched by Dunhill)(Brief Article)
September 5, 2005... Move over Zagat, the Michelin guide is coming to New York. Set to launch in November, the guide is known to strike terror in the hearts of great chefs and is perhaps the most revered guide for the savvy gourmand. A special limited-edition...

MAISON ET OBJET.
September 12, 2005... The city of lights was at its brightest as the Parisian home furnishings fair displayed the most stunning of styles. For coverage, See pages 10-13 and 70.

LEWIS CEO AT SEARS AS LAMPERT'S ROLE GROWS.(Aylwin Lewis)(Sears Holdings Corp.)
September 12, 2005... Byline: Barbara Thau NEW YORK-It's a new day at Sears. Last week, Sears Holdings named Aylwin Lewis, president and chief executive officer of Sears and Kmart's retail business, chief executive officer and president of Sears Holdings....

MERVYNS LOOKS FOR ADDITIONS IN SUBTRACTIONS.
September 12, 2005... Byline: Barbara Thau NEW YORK-Less is more, according to Vanessa Castagna, acting chief executive officer and executive chairwoman of Mervyns. The moderate department store chain's move to slash 25 percent of its store base will enable...

IN BRIEF: ORIENTAL WEAVERS MERGES UNITS... CALPHALON ADDS ASIAN CUTLERY... IKEA TO OPEN FIRST STORE IN JAPAN...(Oriental Weavers Group reorganising the company)(Calphalon introducing new knives)(IKEA opening new facility in Japan)
September 12, 2005... ORIENTAL WEAVERS MERGES UNITS Oriental Weavers Group has merged its Sphinx and OW America operations, joining its import and domestic manufacturing divisions. The company said the combination of products, sourcing ability and manufacturing...

SHOPKO'S BID TO GO PRIVATE FACES POTENTIAL ROADBLOCKS.(open acquisitions)(Brief Article)
September 12, 2005... Byline: Barbara Thau NEW YORK-ShopKo's move to take the company private this week at its annual meeting has met with opposition. Influential proxy adviser Institutional Shareholder Services recommended that stockholders vote against...

SCOTT: WAL-MART WILL BE AGGRESSIVE ON PRICE IN Q4.(margins to sell the product )(Brief Article)
September 12, 2005... Byline: Vicki M. Young NEW YORK-Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is going to flash its teeth this holiday shopping season. During a Prudential Securities Back-to-School Consumer Conference in Boston, Lee Scott, chief executive officer and...

ORECK SAYS IT'S ON ROAD TO RECOVERY AS KATRINA'S IMPACT FELT ON OPERATIONS.(Brief Article)
September 12, 2005... Byline: Gerry Beatty NEW YORK-Oreck Corp., which was hit hard by Hurricane Katrina and then put on CreditWatch by Standard & Poor's, aimed to be 100 percent operational by the end of last week. Tom Oreck, president and chief executive...

POPEIL SELLS RONCO FOR $55 MILLION.(acquired the business)(Brief Article)
September 12, 2005... NEW YORK-Television pitch master Ron Popeil is selling his company Ronco Corp. to Fi-Tek VII Inc., a holding company, for $55 million. The holding company will retain the Ronco name. Popeil, who introduced Americans to the Chop-O-Matic, the...

AFTER KATRINA, RETAILERS CONSIDER POPULATION SHIFTS.(Hurricane brings the major loss to market)
September 12, 2005... Byline: Sharon Edelson and Rusty Williamson, Georgia Lee contributed to this report NEW YORK-As hundreds of thousands of Hurricane Katrina evacuees seek to rebuild their lives in Texas, Georgia and other locales, retailers are closely...

CORRECTION.(Correction Notice)
September 12, 2005... The Sept. 5 issue of HFN provided an incorrect date for Salton Inc.'s fourth-quarter earnings conference call. The conference call will be held at 9 a.m. on Sept. 14.

EL MUNDO, DOLLAR GENERAL HIGHLIGHT GOLDMAN SACHS CONFERENCE AGENDA.(Wal-Mart de Mexico)(The Goldman Sachs Group Inc.)
September 12, 2005... Byline: Barbara Thau, Nancy Meyer and Rosamaria Mancini contributed to this report. NEW YORK-Wal-Mart de Mexico is rolling out a new home concept and Dollar General is becoming a national chain by continuing to penetrate the West Coast....

OBJET OF AFFECTION.
September 12, 2005... Byline: Michael D. Devine The September edition of Maison & Objet in Paris once again offered a selection of the latest trends in home furnishings from today's hottest design talent. Purple, old-fashioned prints and animals were some of...

KATRINA'S WAVES.(Letter to the Editor)
September 12, 2005... Byline: Arnold J. Karr Those of us who make our living in the word business had a hard time last week. For where were the terms and phrases that could do justice to what nature had visited upon the Gulf Coast? To the depths to which human...

WHITE TIME OF THE YEAR; RETAILERS ENTICED CONSUMERS TO PURCHASE QUALITY LINENS IN AUGUST WITH BIG SALES AND FAMILIAR FAVORITES.
September 12, 2005... Byline: Leticia Leizens NEW YORK-The linens may be different, but the discounts offered by retailers in August, commonly known as the "white sale month" resembled those from previous years. J.C. Penney's 116-page catalog and Linen...

YVES DELORME WEAVES ITS WAY THROUGH U.S.(Fremaux Delorme)
September 12, 2005... Byline: Leticia Leizens NEW YORK-Fremaux Delorme, the French-based luxury linen company known for its flagship Yves Delorme brand, celebrated its 160th anniversary on Sept. 3 with a gala dinner in Paris, in time for the Maison & Object...

MILLI HOME CREATES HIGH-END LINE WITH ALPHA WORKSHOPS.
September 12, 2005... Byline: Leticia Leizens NEW YORK-Milli Home has teamed up with Alpha Workshops, a not-for-profit design studio that trains and employs people living with HIV/AIDS, to develop a high-end line of bedding and tabletop to be launched at the...

NEWS BRIEFS.(The Lenzing Group plans to increase fiber products rate)(PHI appointed Kirsten Sedestrom as creative director)(Goldsun Home Textiles Inc., opened new showroom in New York)
September 12, 2005... THE LENZING GROUP, a producer of manmade cellulose fibers, said it will increase its fibers' prices by at least 5 percent starting in October. The increases apply to fibers for both textiles and non-woven applications. The company said it is...

DESIGN WITHIN REACH LAUNCHES BEDDING COLLECTION.(collaborating with Pendleton Woolen Mills and designers Laura Guido-Clark and Rosemary Hallgarten )
September 12, 2005... NEW YORK-Design Within Reach said it is collaborating with Pendleton Woolen Mills and designers Laura Guido-Clark and Rosemary Hallgarten for the launch of its bedding collection this month. The company said that rather than bring the...

WINDOW COMPANY TAKES HARD STANCE.(growth and management of Nien Made Co.)(Brief Article)
September 12, 2005... Byline: Rosamaria Mancini NEW YORK-Nien Made said it is growing its hard window-covering business and adding key members to its staff to meet the demands of the marketplace. "The company is growing, and the business is strong right...

TWO FABRIC COMPANIES PUT LEATHER IN THEIR PLANS.(Ultrafabrics LLC)(Duralee Fabrics)(Brief Article)
September 12, 2005... Byline: Leticia Leizens NEW YORK-Ultrafabrics LLC and Duralee Fabrics are riding on the popularity of leather to launch upholstery lines. Ultrafabrics said that its Brisa Soleil is simulated leather. The fabric has the look and feel...

ROBERT ALLEN SET TO UNVEIL NEW WINDOW COLLECTIONS.(Brief Article)
September 12, 2005... Byline: Rosamaria Mancini NEW YORK-The Robert Allen Group plans to introduce 30 soft window collections for the fall and winter. The offering represents the largest number of new fabrics in the window and drapery category that Robert...

FEELING GRATEFUL; ARTISTIC DESIGNS CREATED BY LATE ROCK LEGEND JERRY GARCIA HAVE INSPIRED AN EXPANDING COLLECTION FROM ORIAN RUGS.
September 12, 2005... Byline: Rosamaria Mancini NEW YORK-For Orian Rugs, the artistic vision of American cultural icon Jerry Garcia has been a key to growing its business. In January, Orian Rugs showed, for the first time, 22 polypropylene rugs based on the...

SHAW INDUSTRIES TO PURCHASE HONEYWELL'S U.S. NYLON BUSINESS.(acquiring the business)(Brief Article)
September 12, 2005... NEW YORK-Shaw Industries Group Inc., a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, is set to purchase Honeywell International's nylon carpet fiber business in the United States. Under terms of the transaction, Shaw will acquire Honeywell's nylon...

HOLMES JOINS HOME DYNAMIX.(Cynthia Holmes)(Brief Article)
September 12, 2005... NEW YORK-Home Dynamix has named Cynthia Holmes to the newly created position of product development category manager. Holmes brings more than 23 years experience in retail management, merchandising and buying to her new role. Her career...

CATALOGS A POSITIVE CATEGORY FOR RUGS.
September 12, 2005... Byline: Jennifer Quail NEW YORK-Catalog companies selling area rugs reap the benefits of brand loyalty, according to the vendors who do business with them. For the consumers who repeatedly turn to them, catalogs serve more as a personal...

MOHAWK CLEANS UP IN SWIFFER CAMPAIGN.(advertising)(Brief Article)
September 12, 2005... Byline: Jennifer Quail NEW YORK-Mohawk is working a new angle to get its name out to consumers. The company is participating in the national launch of the new Swiffer CarpetFlick, serving as the "demo carpet" for retail demonstrations...

STUDY: U.S. HARD FLOORING SALES TO GROW.
September 12, 2005... NEW YORK-U.S. demand for hard-surface flooring is projected to grow 5.5 percent annually through 2009, according to a new study by The Freedonia Group Inc. The study estimates demand will reach 11.7 billion square feet by 2009. According...

WITH GROWTH IN MIND, CMI CRAFTS INTERNAL DIRECT SALES FORCE.(Colonial Mills Inc reorganising)
September 12, 2005... NEW YORK-Colonial Mills Inc. has reorganized its sales department, creating an internal direct sales force in order to best maximize the continued growth of the company. "This change was made in large part to dovetail with our company's...

THREE JOIN RUGMARK AS LICENSEES.(Mat the Basics, Claire Duncan and Amy Helfand join RUGMARK Foundation)
September 12, 2005... NEW YORK-Mat the Basics, DuncanArts and Amy Helfand have signed on to be licensees of Rugmark, committing to the organization's inspection and certification program that verifies that illegal child labor is not used in the creation of the...

TAKING IT CASUAL; A TERRIFIC JULY PREMARKET RAISED EXPECTATIONS FOR THIS WEEK'S INTERNATIONAL CASUAL FURNITURE & ACCESSORIES MARKET.
September 12, 2005... Byline: HFN Staff Report HIGH POINT, N.C.-After a blockbuster July premarket, expectations are high for this week's International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market at the Chicago Merchandise Mart. Prospects for the annual market...

COMPANY PUTS ENERGY SAVINGS IN THE SPOTLIGHT.(Lowe's and Home Depot promotes energy conservation)(Brief Article)
September 12, 2005... Byline: Nancy Meyer NEW YORK-As prices for gasoline and home heating fuel continue to skyrocket, the topic of energy savings becomes even more pertinent. Retailers and suppliers are gearing up for what they hope will be an even bigger...

ACQUISITION BY HARBOUR GROUP NETS CAPITAL FOR LBL LIGHTING.
September 12, 2005... Byline: Nancy Meyer NEW YORK-LBL Lighting's acquisition last month by Saint Louis-based industrial conglomerate Harbour Group gives it an infusion of capital to grow and expand in its markets. "It will give us faster, more robust...

NEWS BRIEFS.(Garden Grove Mitsubishi acquires Legacy Home Furnishings, La-Z-Boy Inc. and Lea Industries Inc. promote Earl Wang and Jeffrey W. Bowler )
September 12, 2005... HOME TRENDS & DESIGN LTD., a new import company based in Austin, Texas, will make its debut at the High Point International Home Furnishings Market in October, said Hank Cravey, founder and director. Cravey has spent the last year designing,...

HOLMES SHINES LIGHT ON OUTDOORS.(Holmes Lighting to enter into outdoor portable business in october)(Brief Article)
September 12, 2005... Byline: Nancy Meyer NEW YORK-Recognizing the demand for decorative outdoor decor, particularly lighting, Holmes Lighting will enter the outdoor portable business at the October edition of the International Home Furnishings Market in High...

BRIGHT LIGHTS, SMALLER NUMBERS; STYLISH PRODUCTS FROM FEWER EXHIBITORS MARK MILAN'S MACEF FAIR.(trade shows in Italy)
September 12, 2005... Byline: Stephanie Epiro MILAN, Italy-Quieter halls occupied by fewer exhibitors at Macef proved European housewares manufacturers were still subject to a stagnant market. The fair, showcasing new trends in tabletop and housewares, was...

MANUFACTURERS, RETAILERS EYE `KEY' TO HOLIDAYS.
September 12, 2005... Byline: Carla Webb, Allison Zisko and Barbara Thau contributed to this report. NEW YORK-Key items are going to drive the fourth-quarter shopping season, according to manufacturers and retailers. According to Joe Laneve, senior vice...

THE TABLETOP REPORT.(top sales )(Brief Article)
September 12, 2005... Tabletop sales barely budged in 2004, although glassware, plastic and upstairs dinnerware showed modest increases. Specialty stores and mass merchants enjoyed slim gains, at the expense of department stores. Retail consolidation's negative...

SERVING UP THE FUTURE; VENDORS TRANSFORM OFFERINGS AS THEY CATER TO A MORE CASUAL LIFESTYLE AND A CHALLENGING ECONOMIC CLIMATE.
September 12, 2005... Byline: Allison Zisko, Barbara Thau and Carla Webb contributed to this report. NEW YORK-Another year of flat sales in the tabletop category only hints at the sea change the industry has been undergoing, as well as its struggles to remain...

FLAT PERFORMANCE REFLECTS FLAT PATTERNS; DESIGNER PROGRAMS PROVIDED A SMALL UPTICK IN SALES DURING AN OTHERWISE LACKLUSTER YEAR.
September 12, 2005... Byline: Carla Webb NEW YORK-The continuing success of such designer programs as Kate Spade and Vera Wang may have accounted for the slight upswing in upstairs dinnerware in 2004. Meanwhile, housewares dinnerware, still the larger of the...

RULING GLASS; THE GLASSWARE SEGMENT CONTINUED TO GROW, AS MANUFACTURERS BENEFITED FROM IMPROVEMENTS IN DESIGN AND QUALITY.
September 12, 2005... Byline: Carla Webb NEW YORK-As improvements in design and quality in glassware continue to grow, so does the category itself, picking up 2.8 percent in sales last year over 2003. What used to be a very conventional category of basic...