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

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

Making brands do more: Kohl's new CEO says the Chaps model should help boost home sales.(home page)
September 8, 2008... KOHL'S HOPES TO DUPLICATE THE SUCCESS OF its Chaps home brand by expanding its other exclusive apparel lines into the category, Kevin Mansell, the new president and chief executive officer of Kohl's, told HFN. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Shopko's specialty delivery.(upfront)
September 8, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE HOME DEPARTMENT OF SHOPKO'S NEW PROTOTYPE IN GREEN BAY, WIS., takes a cue from specialty-store retailing and is striking a resonant chord with shoppers. "It's doing bettor than the other home stores" in the...

Recognizing Best of Home Textiles Market.(upfront: And the Winners Are ...)
September 8, 2008... The Palace Gates knitted blanket from the Andrew Morgan Collection received the New York Home Textiles Market Week Best of Market award at the New York Gift Fair.w Made of 100 percent Innova polypropelene and stain-resistant, the blanket...

New York Gift Fair presents Accent on Design awards.(upfront: And the Winners Are ...)
September 8, 2008... Four exhibitors in the juried Accent on Design Division were recognized at the New York International Gift Fair last month. Best New Product Design was awarded to Artecnica for the WirePod. Wabnitz Editions LTD won for Best Collection and...

Fall preview.(upfront)
September 8, 2008... The word "fall" is a bit of a misnomer for a season when so much happens. Sure the leaves drop from the trees, but it's also a season of newness for the home furnishings industry. Here is a sampling of examples of why we love fall--especially...

The last quarter.(HOME ALONE 2)
September 8, 2008... It's the beginning of the fourth quarter: Do you know where your business is? Over the past decade or so, we've had back-end-of-the-year scenarios that some people thought were the end of the world, but from the way things are shaping up,...

Players old and new: simpler designs, prints are among the trends for bed ensembles.(textiles)
September 8, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE RETURN OF A NOTABLE TEXTILES BRAND AND AN INTRIGUING NEWCOMER WILL SPARK THE BED-ENSEMBLE portion of the New York Home Fashions Market. Next week will bring Springs' Global's relaunch of the venerable...

Wish list in hand: buyers seek green, geometrics and value fare at the Home Fashions Market.(textiles)
September 8, 2008... BUYERS AT THE NEW YORK HOME FASHIONS Market will be scouting the aisles for "green" fare, geometric designs and merchandise with a discount edge for recession-weary shoppers, merchants told HFN. Retailers will also be looking for more...

Toppers for top of the bed.(textiles)
September 8, 2008... Many of the vendors of bed ensembles will be experimenting with both color and fabrications during next week's New York Home Fashions Market. Bright colors are part of the mix on many of the bedding collections that will be unveiled next week,...

Talking price and value: basic bedding brands maintain to focus on price, work to expand value.(textiles)
September 8, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] PRICE HAS ALWAYS BEEN IMPORTANT TO the basic-bedding industry. But while vendors continue to focus on meeting certain price points, they are also experimenting with the bells and whistles...

Raising the curtain: the shower accessory inspires confidence ahead of market.(textiles)
September 8, 2008... THE SHOWER CURTAIN--THE ANCHOR OF TODAY'S BATH ACCESSORIES business--is fittingly the focus of the category's introductions during market week here this month. "Textiles are keeping the numbers going," said Bob Weiss, director of sales and...

Variety adds spice to kitchen.(textiles)
September 8, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The subtleties of design--whether delicate filigree, light floral motifs or the bold juxtaposition of color and pattern--are what highlight kitchen textiles introductions at the New York Home Fashions Market next...

Broad bath appeal.(textiles)
September 8, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Sophisticated or whimsical, boldly colored or subtly hued, the new shower curtains and bath accessories on display during the New York Home Fashions Market run the style gamut. Although the prevailing trend is toward...

The Robert Allen Group and JLA home are new bedfellows.(textiles)
September 8, 2008... THE SEPTEMBER HOME FASHIONS MARKET will bring the introduction of a line of finished bedding and window treatments from The Robert Allen Group targeted at retailers. The company, mostly known as a supplier of decorative fabrics and...

Color their world: bed ensemble designs at the Gift Fair had a sharp palette.(textiles)
September 8, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] VENDORS OF HIGH-END BED ENSEMBLES WERE BOLD WITH color at the New York International Gift Fair. Historically, the upper end of bed fashions has been dominated by plain vanilla colorways--white, ecru, beige,...

Exhibiting art: Nying Zemo's business model helps establish the area rug brand.(floor covering)
September 8, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] AFTER JUST A FEW YEARS ON THE SCENE, NYING Zemo has established a place for itself in the high-end area rug community, opening a dialogue among fine artists, interior designers and upscale clients that has led to...

Sunbrella opens.(floor covering)
September 8, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CMI HAS PARTNERED WITH GLEN RAVEN CUSTOM FABRICS FOR THE Renaissance Collection of braided rugs, which utilizes a new recycled Sunbrella yarn from Glen Raven's Renaissance Recycling program. As reported, CMI...

CEPC's Indian expressions.(floor covering)
September 8, 2008... THE CARPET EXPORT PROMOTION COUNCIL OF INDIA IS SET TO launch a marketing campaign in the United States designed to create awareness of and appreciation for rugs crafted in India Phase one of the program is scheduled to begin this month and...

1 Karastan.(floor covering)
September 8, 2008... 1 Karastan Karastan adds to its Sierra Mar Collection with French Quarter, a pattern-on-pattern design inspired by the hand-forged iron work found in New Orleans. Like the other rugs in Sierra Mar, French Quarter is of pure New Zealand...

2 Paula Deen.(floor covering)
September 8, 2008... 2 Paula Deen The Paula Deen collection at Kaleen continues to grow and reflect the many interests of the Southern belle. The Hutchinson design, shown here, is both sweet and serious with its delicate florals and traditional border. ...

3 Walt Disney.(floor covering)
September 8, 2008... 3 Walt Disney The Rug Market continues to expand on its Walt Disney Signature licensed collection, adding designs inspired by Disney films. This Asian-inspired design was influenced by images of cherry blossoms used in the film "Mulan."...

4 Abbyson Living.(floor covering)
September 8, 2008... 4 Abbyson Living Abbyson Living has greatly expanded its scope to include product beyond area rugs, but the company continues to grow its rug assortment as well. New rugs, such as the red stripes shown here, continue with the company's...

5 Nourison.(floor covering)
September 8, 2008... 5 Nourison Reflective of the friendly decadence of the city for is named, the Charleston Collection at Nourison pairs a dramatic and elegant pattern with a subdued palette, broadening the possibilities of the design itself. ...

Still shining brightly: Lighting By Gregory kicks off makeover to ring in its 25th anniversary.(furniture & lightning)
September 8, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] LIGHTING BY GREGORY IS MARKING ITS SILVER ANNIVERSARY WITH AN extreme makeover. The store, a fixture of the New York Bowery's iconic lighting district, is mercilessly pruning its assortment as it expands its mix...

Will they step up to the plate? The tabletop industry looks for ways to reverse sales that appear to be on the decline.(TABLETOP REPORT)
September 8, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Tabletop sales were flat--at best--in 2007, continuing a spirit-dampening, downward streak. Total retail sales, including those of dinnerware, flatware, glassware, crystal and plastic, totaled $4.91 billion last...

Vipp has hip looks in store: someone alert Oscar the Grouch: more high-end trash cans are on the way.(housewares)
September 8, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] VIPP, A DANISH COMPANY KNOWN THROUGHOUT EUROPE for its high-end trash cans, has opened a U.S. division along with a showroom in New York's Tribeca neighborhood. Founded in 1939 by Holger Nielsen after his wife...

1 Tanita.(housewares)
September 8, 2008... 1 Tanita Tanita has introduced the next wave of consumer fitness technology with its collection of wireless Bluetooth scales. The line's first product, the HD-351 Bluetooth Scale, is designed to transmit weight reading to a personal...

2 J.K. Adams.(housewares)
September 8, 2008... 2 J.K. Adams J.K. Adams' new holiday-themed cutting boards and servers are ideal gifts for teachers, friends or colleagues. Made of solid maple and treated with a food-safe antique stain, the boards feature a retro-colored edge and are...

3 Applica.(housewares)
September 8, 2008... 3 Applica For cooking and health enthusiasts alike, the Juiceman Pro helps consumers get their recommended daily allowance of fruits and vegetables. The one-handed operation of the Juiceman Pro extracts pulp-free juice in minutes, and this...

4 House of AnLi.(housewares)
September 8, 2008... 4 House of AnLi A first-time exhibitor in the New York's Newest section at last month's New York International Gift Fair, Belgium company House of AnLi specializes in creating unusual and fun accessories. One product the company featured...

5 Swissmar.(housewares)
September 8, 2008... 5 Swissmar The Nuscup measuring tool from Dalla Piazza of Switzerland has now been introduced by Swissmar in a smaller size, called the Nuscup Spice. Able to fit in all different-sized herb and spice jars, the adjustable scoop/cup measures...

Trying to find right timing.(CLOCK REPORT)
September 8, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] LIKE SO MANY OTHER CATEGORIES in home furnishings, the clock category had a tough year in 2007, slipping 0.6 percent to $648 million in sales. But it maybe making a timely comeback, as some manufacturers find that...

Dishing out products: Home Depot, Lowe's and Sears take different approaches to dishwashers.(HEAD TO HEAD TO HEAD)
September 8, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] INFORMAL VISITS BY HFN TO HOME DEPOT, LOWE'S AND SEARS show all three retailers are merchandising dishwashers in different ways. HFN conducted these visits at two locations of each retail chain in northern New...

Cooking up a home plan.(in the industry)
September 8, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WILLIAMS-SONOMA WILL EMPHASIZE kitchenware in a store-with-a-store at a new Home shop in Manhattan's Time Warner Center. That was one of the details revealed in a recent conference call to report the chain's...

Primetime players.(HFend)
September 8, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Architectural Digest and Italian kitchen cabinet supplier Snaidero-USA hosted a party for the Emmy Awards nominees for "Outstanding Art Direction." The soiree was held at the Ritz Carlton Residences Gallery at LA....

Raising the Bar.(HFend)
September 8, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] House Beautiful and Rockefeller Center collaborated to offer Bar 30 through the summer. The food bar offered a place for New Yorkers to relax and grab a bite.

Waterworks goes Hollywood.(HFend)
September 8, 2008... Waterworks took the wraps off its new Los Angeles showroom in West Hollywood, Calif. Located at 8580 Melrose Ave., the store sits a few bocks from the Pacific Design Center. The 10,000-square-foot Waterworks showroom is housed in a building...

Pier 1's CEO talks tactics.(home page)
September 22, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] EIGHTEEN MONTHS AFTER taking the chief executive officer spot at Pier 1, Alex Smith said the chain's units per transaction and sales have improved, a result of a merchandising about-face. That redo is tied to...

The new WestPoint: CEO Piazza, executive team look to focus the company on marketing and brands.(upfront)
September 22, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE NEW WESTPOINT HOME WILL EXERT A GREATER FOCUS ON MARKETING, brands and innovation than is typical for a home-textiles vendor, according to the venerable supplier's new leadership team. In an interview with...

Correction.(Correction notice)
September 22, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Sept. 8 issue of HFN included a photo of the winners for the Best of the Home Textiles Market. The photo shown was the winners from the winter market. Here is the photo of the winners of the recent summer market:...

Cable excess.(trends)
September 22, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Metropolitan Home partnered with Showtime on a showhouse inspired by the network's original series "Californication," "Dexter," "The L Word," "The Tudors," "United States of Tara" and "Weeds." Designers, including...

It's time for Freda May.(HOME ALONE 2)
September 22, 2008... They did it for the housing mortgage companies. Before that, years ago, they did it for Lee Iacocca's Chrysler. So maybe now is the time for the federal government to do it for the nation's next big industry in deep, deep trouble. It's...

Does the name say it all? HFN's exclusive brand report explores the impact the economy has on consumer choices.(in focus/brands)
September 22, 2008... WHAT'S IN A NAME? The answer is not so clear-cut when it comes to the sales-generating power of a retail or supplier home brand in tough economic times. While lower-priced brands gain appeal during an economic downturn, some brands...

Power to the retailers.(in focus/brands)
September 22, 2008... THE CONCEPT OF THE STORE as the brand is as old as retailing itself when you went to the general store, you were buying from the shopkeeper, not looking for national brands. But retail nameplates have taken on a new importance in recent...

National brands vs. store brands.(in focus/brands)
September 22, 2008... DO CONSUMERS REALLY KNOW THE DIFFERENCE between national brands, independently owned and distributed at different stores, and private brands, which are only available at one retailer? WSL Strategic Retail recently decided to find out and asked...

Domino effect: magazine survey finds young affluents are still in home shopping mode.(upfront)
September 22, 2008... THEY'RE YOUNG, AFFLUENT SHOPAHOLICS WHO consider their home furnishings as much a reflection of their personal style as their clothing--precisely the crowd retailers should be courting during this recessionary economy. That's what can be...

Springmaid awakening: springs is reinventing its venerable, one-time flagship brand after a long run at Wal-Mart.(textiles)
September 22, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] LAST WEEK'S NEW YORK HOME FASHIONS MARKET brought the relaunch of Springmaid, one of the textiles industry's iconic brands, as a complete home-decor label. The new products under the revitalized Springmaid label...

The rug source book 2008.
September 22, 2008... ABBYSON 20701 Nordhoff St. Chatsworth, Calif. 91311 Phone: (818) 534-3400 Web Site: abbysen.com Contact: Yavar Rafieha, vice president of marketing Products Offered: hand-knotted, handwoven, hand-tufted area rugs ...

And the finalists are ...(furniture & lighting)
September 22, 2008... THE FINALISTS FOR THE 20TH ANNUAL ARTS AWARDS, THE PREMIER awards program for the home decorative accessories industry, have been named. This year's gala will take place on Jan. 17 during the Dallas Total Home & Gift Market (Jan. 14-20,...

For art's sake.(furniture & lighting)
September 22, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MEMBERS OF ART--THE ACCESSORIES RESOURCE Team--did the Charleston recently when the organization gathered in the South Carolina city for its annual conference. The program featured a hands-on store merchandising and...

Aram abounds: the designer has his eye on growth, ,while maintaining the brand's integrity.(tabletop)
September 22, 2008... MICHAEL ARAM IS ON A ROLL. COMING OFF WHAT THE company called a successful New York gift show, where his eponymous company launched new categories such as candies and men's gifts, the designer is carefully extending his brand through new...

1 Abbiamo tutto.(tabletop)
September 22, 2008... Abbiamo tutto Design elements found in ancient Roman villas inspired Arabesco, one of the new collections from Abbiamo tutto. The collection includes bakeware as well as tabletop and home decor pieces, such as vases and trays. A...

2 Frances Palmer.(tabletop)
September 22, 2008... 2 Frances Palmer The pieces in the Frances Palmer Pearl Collection are pressed from molds taken from hand-thrown prototypes and finished individually. But they are made for everyday use since they are dishwasher- and microwave-safe and...

3 Midwest.(tabletop)
September 22, 2008... 3 Midwest New from Seasons of Cannon Falls are these whimsical pastel Flower Plates. Made of earthenware, they come in four colors, including soft pink, blue, lime green and peach. They are part of the Easter Sweets collection and retail...

4 Sieger.(tabletop)
September 22, 2008... 4 Sieger Sieger's Sip of Gold collection is now available in two designs, combining pure platinum and 24-karat gold. The champagne tumblers, a twist on stemless wineglasses, are made of white porcelain with interiors completely gilded in...

5 Nine Iron Studios.(tabletop)
September 22, 2008... 5 Nine Iron Studios These hand-blown bud vases are the work of glass blower and artist Michael Schunke, whose Nine Irons Studios is located in West Grove, Pa. Schunke's work has been shown primarily at juried craft exhibitions around the...

Pillivuyt's executive decisions.(tabletop)
September 22, 2008... INGERID MOHN HAS JOINED PILLIVUYT USA to work in conjunction with Alice Title as managing partners of the factory-owned distributor in the U.S. Mohn will serve as vice president of sales and operations, and Title has been appointed vice...

Luigi Bormioli's promise to keep.(tabletop)
September 22, 2008... Luigi Bormioli, confident in its new glassware formula but finding it difficult to convey its special qualities to consumers, will start offering a 25-year guarantee on some of its stemware collections this fall. Two stemware...

Thermal mugs are hot stuff: consumers' thirst for drinks on the go helps expand market.(housewares)
September 22, 2008... STYROFOAM IS SO LAST DECADE. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Looking to drink on the run, consumers are turning to thermal mugs to keep their liquids heated and close at hand. But they are also using the mugs as a...

Growing family: Ronco's parent company acquires Popular Club, plans more deals.(housewares)
September 22, 2008... THE COMBINATION THAT ACQUIRED ICONIC HOUSEWARES MANUFACTURER RONCO IN MAY HAS NOW added Popular Club, the catalog and Internet retailer, to its holdings and is looking to make other deals down the road. Larry Nusbaum, chairman, president...

From sharper to dull.(opinions)
September 22, 2008... Like many shoppers, I used to have fun going to a Sharper Image store, playing with the gizmos, changing the controls on the massage chairs from Swedish to Shiatzu and back again. Talking about this to one of my colleagues after Sharper...

1 Bissell.
September 22, 2008... 1 Bissell Bissell has added another item to its line of pet products, the Pet Hair Eraser corded hand vacuum. Specifically designed for the cleaning needs of pet owners, the Pet Hair Eraser has powerful suction for quick and easy cleanups,...

2 Proteak.
September 22, 2008... 2 Proteak Made from sustainably grown teak on Mexico's Pacific Coast, the Proteak Round Edge Grain Cutting Board is made of a classic butcher-block construction, having multiple teak boards incorporated into a collage of patterns and color...

Plugging into Vegas: the consumer electronics industry will converge on Las Vegas once again early year for the international CES, scheduled for Jan. 8-11.(consumer electronics)
September 22, 2008... MORE THAN 2,700 EXHIBITORS including such notables as Samsung, Panasonic, Sharp, Microsoft and Intel will be there. Newcomers to this year's show are Sony Pictures, Blockbuster, Hyundai-Kia and ZeeVee. The exhibitors will be spread across...

Trade show calendar.(Calendar)
September 22, 2008... october 4-6 Mid-Atlantic Gift Cash & Carry Show Dulles Expo Center Chantilly, Va. (914) 421-3383 midatlanticcashandcarry.com 10-12 Heimtextil India Bombay Exhibition Center Mumbai, India ...

Martha decorates, celebrates.(HFend)
September 22, 2008... Martha Stewart Living feted its September decorating issue with a soiree for decorators and designers at Pasanella and Son Vitners, a wine shop at New York's South Street Seaport. The shop is owned by Rebecca Robertson, deputy decorating editor...

Daytime soaps.(HFend)
September 22, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Kelly Ripa, the co-host of ABC's "Regis and Kelly" show, helped introduce Electrolux's collection of front-loaded washer and dryers to the North American market at a Manhattan unveiling. A portion of sales for the...

Star gazing.(HFend)
September 22, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Brooke Shields and Royal Velvet are soaking up the stares near New York's Times Square. The strategically placed billboard, on Seventh Avenue and 40th Street, will command attention through September.