Home Accents Today articles from January 2004

Home Accents Today archives from January 2004

A month to begin.(From The Editor)(Editorial)
January 1, 2004... January brings a terrific time of the year. The slate is clean, new resolutions have yet to be ignored, your birthday is months away so you haven t really aged. It's an exciting time. I admit to more than a little sentimentality here, but I...

World Market Center delays first market.(News: trends retailing manufacturing licensing marketing)
January 1, 2004... THE WORLD Market Center has delayed its first Las Vegas furniture market from January 2005 to July 18-22, 2005 because construction is behind schedule. WMC's industry advisory board approved the date change during its Dec. 11 meeting in...

Oi purchased by Riddle Home & Gift.(News: trends retailing manufacturing licensing marketing)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... BURLINGTON, N.C. -- based Riddle Home & Gift has bought specialty pillow company Oi, based in San Francisco, from Rebecca and Richard Peach. After a market preview at the International Home Furnishings Market in High Point, N.C. in...

Home Accents Today associate publisher named.(News: trends retailing manufacturing licensing marketing)(Janice Lassiter )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... JANICE LASSITER WAS promoted to associate publisher of Home Accents Today, responsible for sales and marketing. Formerly advertising director, Lassiter has worked with the publishing company nearly 15 years and with Home Accents Today since it...

Decorize makes executive changes, part of new financing agreement.(News: trends retailing manufacturing licensing marketing)(Steve Crowder, Steve Fox, Jim Parsons and Kevin Bohren)
January 1, 2004... AS PART OF A FINANCING agreement with SRC Holdings Corporation, Decorize has named Steve Crowder as president and CEO. The appointment becomes effective upon completion of associated financing. Crowder currently is vice president of SRC...

Bankrupt Petals bouqht at auction.(News: trends retailing manufacturing licensing marketing)
January 1, 2004... PETALS DECORATIVE Accents Corporation, an affiliate of Ridgefield, Conn.-based investment firm Southridge Capital Management, acquired the name and assets of Petals, Inc. at a mid-December auction. The well-known permanent botanicals...

Mohawk Home new licensee for Laura Ashley.(News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... MOHAWK HOME is the new licensee for Laura Ashley's area, scatter and bath rugs and door mats. Products are slated for release in spring 2004. Laura Ashley let its license agreement with Beaulieu Rugs expire after the company was sold to...

Uttermost returns to Chicago market.(News)(Chicago Merchandise Mart )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... THE UTTERMOST Com-pany has signed a multi-year agreement to lease a 2,105-square-foot showroom at the Chicago Merchandise Mart opening for the January Chicago Gift & Home Market Jan. 21-28. The space is part of a 60,000-sq.-ft. expansion of...

The Phillips Collection joins Napp Deady rep firm.(News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... A LONGTIME FRIENDSHIP has turned into a business agreement for sales rep firm Napp Deady and vendor The Phillips Collection. Beginning with the January market in Atlanta, Napp Deady will represent The Phillips Collection in 10 southeastern...

Queer Eye guy Thom Filicia replaces Alley in Pier 1 ads.(News)(Kirstie Alley)
January 1, 2004... THOM FILICIA, one of the Fab Five from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, will succeed actress Kirstie Alley as the Pier 1 spokesperson for the company's 2004 marketing campaign. Alley has been the spokesperson for the past three years but design...

Meyda Lighting unveils Comfort Lighting and Metro line at Dallas Lighting Market.(News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... MEYDA LIGHTING, a newly established sister company to Tiffany lamp manufacturer Meyda Tiffany, is introducing two lighting lines at the Dallas Lighting Market to round out their offerings. Comfort Lighting, a fashion-forward line of...

Woolrich licenses Zrike.(News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... WOOLRICH HAS partnered with The Zrike Company to produce a tabletop collection, which will debut at the New York Tabletop Show, April 1722. The Woolrich tabletop collection will include dinnerware, glassware, flatware and tabletop...

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center licenses HK Insights, honors singers.(News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... THE LADY BIRD Johnson Wildflower Center has signed an agreement with HK Insights to produce a line of home fragrance and personal care items under the American Meadow label. The center also presented singers Willie Nelson and Don Cherry with a...

Whereoware upgrades CatalogLive.(News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... WEB-BASED technology and marketing provider Whereoware released an updated CatalogLive to make sales more efficient for retailers. The six expansions include: larger and higher quality Web images; a related products button to allow views of...

828 to open second permanent showroom.(News)( in New York City )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... FOLLOWING THE YEAR ROUND opening of 828 International's Atlanta showroom, the rug vendor has announced the establishment of a permanent New York space. Scheduled to open early this year, the new showroom will be located on the 11th floor of the...

Industry veteran launches Concept Mirror & Frame.(News)(Gregg Gold)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... THE DAY AFTER his non-compete agreement with Majestic Mirror & Frame ended, Gregg Gold was back in the mirror and frame business--only this time, as a manufacturer. "Having been in the business for almost 20 years, I felt the only way to...

Correction.(News)(Correction Notice)
January 1, 2004... The telephone number for Maura Daniel was listed incorrectly in the Lamps & Lighting Portfolio Registry of Sources in November. The correct phone number is 310-838-8844.

Resolutions for 2004.(Retail Update)
January 1, 2004... 1. Get organized. 2. Evaluate store locations. 3. Improve customer service. 4. Put advertising to 'work.' 5. Examine product mix. 6. Freshen up the place. Happy New Year! According to economists, 2004 is going to be a better year. Home...

Spring coiled.(What's hot: style)
January 1, 2004... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Caption: PREPARE TO BE MESMERIZED. The latest pattern offers a visual feast of swirls and curls that are sure to capture consumers' attention and hold them spellbound asking for more. More abstract than some of the...

It's all in the attitude.(Retail Profile)(Seldom Seen Gallery in Fort Lauderdale, Florida)(Cover Story)
January 1, 2004... Seldom Seen Gallery in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., proves retailing really is about location and attitude. Owners Don and Charlotte Gorenberg have carved out a niche for themselves with their funky specialty store on the high-traffic Las Olas...

Decanters objects.
January 1, 2004... Carafes that cap the night in style [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Captions: Ann Cichon, $170 eLink 677 Abigails, $230 eLink 516 Global Views, $86 eLink 573 Michael Weems, $170 eLink 675 Opus Crystal, $120 eLink 674 ...

All the world's a stage.(Show & sell)
January 1, 2004... SHOWROOM DESIGNERS are a combination of movie set designers, magicians and McGuyver's when setting the stage for the big show. David Gough, who wears many hats at Harris Marcus Home, one of which is showroom design, has a motto when setting his...

Current: all things worthy of note.(briefs)
January 1, 2004... Caption: 1 HIGH SOCIETY Society, a 130-yearold Italian soft goods manufacturer, cut a sumptuous swath through the home when making its first U.S. trade show foray at the International Home Furnishings Market in October. Brimming with...

2004 winter sketchbook: uptown midtown downtown.(Styles For Every Address)
January 1, 2004... Caption: ASK ANY NEW YORKER and they will proudly tell you that New York is where it is at. Based on that, the editors of Home Accents Today interpreted the three major sections of Manhattan--Uptown, Midtown and Downtown--into style statements....

The consumer counts: top spending metros in home accents.(Big Spenders)
January 1, 2004... OVER THE NEXT five years, area rugs will be the sales growth leader among home accents products if forecasts by Easy Analytics Software prove true. The New York-based data and market software analysis projects a 21% increase in area rug sales...

Star time.(Design Directions Clocks)
January 1, 2004... WITH A NOD TO RETRO STYLING, the latest clock designs focus their attention on the night sky. Showcasing an inspiration that can only be described as stellar, these timepieces reflect the shape and form of stars. Offer consumers their own...

Desk set.(Design Directions Clocks)
January 1, 2004... TIME FLIES NO MATTER WHAT you do, so you might as well watch it pass in style. These desk clock looks offer a range of decor options that go from home to work, maintaining their fashion sense all the while. Give consumers an elegant way to pass...

Time table.(Design Directions Clocks)
January 1, 2004... THE WORLD MAY BE SPINNING around, but time is totally under control. Not a multiplication nightmare, these table timepieces set the time and tone for a room. While the idea might seem pure folly, designers have turned out designs that are...

Product parade.(Dallas lighting)
January 1, 2004... IN TABLE LAMPS, introductions at the Dallas Super Market run the gamut from contemporary to whimsical. Look for splashes of color, iron and rust-tone finishes, and classic elements to step forward. 1 Multi-colored glass orbs and a cheery...

Product parade.(Dallas lighting)
January 1, 2004... 1 Pinecone motifs lend the Pacific Coast Lighting lamp a cozy, rustic, cabin-in-the-woods feel, designed by Dick Idol as part of the North Woods Collection ($149). eLink 612 2 From the Pina Collada Collection, Living Well pays homage to the...

Fixture picks.(Dallas lighting)
January 1, 2004... RANGING FROM PENDANTS and chandeliers to scones, fixture introductions at the Dallas Lighting Show reflect diversity in styling. Strong influences include retro, exotic and vintage. 1 Vintage feminine sums up the new handpainted wrought...

Winter shows.(New products)
January 1, 2004... Start the year off with a host of markets and new products. Highlighting which vendors are offering what, we showcase more than 150 companies with designs premiering coast to coast, from Atlanta to San Francisco, with stops in between. Copy was...

Lamps Plus wins patent infringement.(Retailing)
January 1, 2004... LAMPS PLUS, a specialty lighting chain, has won its patent infringement case against Patrick S. Dolan of Portland, Oregon, and two Texas companies, Craftmade International, Inc. and Design Trend, LLC. The Dallas jury found Dolan, Craftmade...

Manjit debuts five rug collections.(Retailing)(owner/designer of The Westport Company)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... MANJIT, owner/designer of The Westport Company, is marketing her own collection of private label rugs. As owner of a New York City shop and the decorator showroom in the Designer and Decorator Building, Manjit became known for her...

Bloomingdale's to open first gallery.(Retailing)(in March in Roosevelt Field oil Long Island)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Bloomingdale's, a division of Federated Department Stores, will open its first freestanding furniture, mattress and rug gallery in March in Roosevelt Field oil Long Island. Furniture will have slightly less than 40,000 square feet, rugs about...

Wal-Mart to stop accepting debits.(Retailing)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... WAL-MART WILL STOP accepting MasterCard signature debit cards early this year on the grounds the card's transaction fees are excessively high. Wal-Mart had been the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit against Visa USA and MasterCard International...

Pierre Deux opens 14th store.(Retailing)(in the United States )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... PIERRE DEUX OPENED its 14th store in the United States in December, adjacent to the Westport Country Playhouse, Westport, Conn. At 1,900 square feet, the store includes Pierre Deux's new bedding and bath category, along with a custom design...

IKEA wants second Boston store.(Retailing)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Ikea furthers its North American expansion with the announcement of its proposed second Boston-area store in Stoughton, Mass. One store already is approved for Somerville, Mass. Pending approval of town officials, construction for the store...

NCE hires Jan Slusher as director, key accounts.(People: promotions hires appointments)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... NEW CREATIVE Enterprises, a division of Decorative Concepts, named Jan Slusher as director of key accounts, effective Nov. 25. Slusher replaces Lynn Munday, who recently left the company to pursue other opportunities in the industry. ...

Young promoted to new position at Bassett Mirror.(People: promotions hires appointments)(Gloria P. Young)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... GLORIA P. YOUNG has been promoted to the newly created position of vice president of styling and merchandising for the wall decor division of Bassett Mirror (Bassett, Va). In this role, Young leads all marketing enhancements and manages...

Botanica by LABS appoints Tattrie sales manager.(People: promotions hires appointments)(appointed Mary Ann Tattrie )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Atlanta-based Botanica by LABS has appointed Mary Ann Tattrie as national sales manager. Tattrie has direct oversight of the company's sales force and trade show participation. She focuses on fine tuning and strengthening existing growth...

Distinctive Designs names Lawhead vp of operations.(People: promotions hires appointments)(David Lawhead )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... DAVID LAWHEAD WAS promoted as vice president, operations of Distinctive Designs, the Russellville, Ala.-based importer and manufacturer of permanent botanicals and related home accessories. He reports directly to Emma Hoffmann, president. ...

Buncher.(People: promotions hires appointments)(representing Paragon Picture Gallery)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... * Buncher, the Seattle-based manufacturer's sales rep agency, is representing Paragon Picture Gallery. Paragon Picture Gallery is represented by 10 additional showroom displays in rep showrooms across the nation. The agency covers Washington,...

Shop At Home Network.(People: promotions hires appointments)(named Michael S. Lubka executive vice president)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... * The Shop At Home Network (Cincinnati) has named Michael S. Lubka executive vice president and chief merchandising officer. In this capacity, Lubka manages all merchandising and sales function. He comes to Shop At Home from Neiman Marcus...

MER.(People: promotions hires appointments)(appointed Robert Moomjy)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... * Robert Moomjy has joined his father in the family business, MER, formerly known as Barsamian-Moomjy (Secaucus, N.J.). The company specializes in hand-knotted and hand-tufted rugs and carpets from China, India and Pakistan. MER also...

Milieu.(People: promotions hires appointments)(appointed Thornton Mike)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... * Mike Thornton has been named regional sales manager for the Milieu by Enesco Home and Garden business unit. He is responsible for all sales efforts of the Eastern Region of the United States. Thornton was previously with CBK.

Butera Home Furnishings.(People: promotions hires appointments)(appointed Nikki de Lemos)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... * Nikki de Lemos has joined Butera Home Furnishings (Carson, Calif.) as national sales manager. Lemo hires and trains sales personnel for the national sales team. De Lemos also focuses on expanding the customer base and revenues. Most recently,...

Colonial Mills, Inc.(People: promotions hires appointments)(appointed William J. Caffrey )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... * Rug and accessories manufacturer Colonial Mills, Inc. (Pawtucket, R.I.) has appointed William J. Caffrey to accounting manager. In this role, Caffrey manages accounts payable, product costing and other accounting functions. Prior to this...

Figi.(People: promotions hires appointments)(promoted Lora Toler to director of sales and customer development)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... * Figi (San Diego) has promoted Lora Toler to director of sales and customer development. She focuses on improving the service of the field sales force and customer development. Toler has served in many sales-capacities for more than seven...

Light+Building and Lightstyle Messe Frankfurt.(People: promotions hires appointments)(appointed Maria Hasselman-Borner)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... * Light+Building and Lightstyle Messe Frankfurt, has appointed Maria Hasselman-Borner as event manager for the International Trade Fair for Architecture and Technology as well as the International Trade Fair for Home Lighting. Borner is...

Mud Pie.(People: promotions hires appointments)(appointed Fred Pannek)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... * Fred Pannek has joined Atlanta-based Mud Pie as vice president of product development, a newly created management position. In this role, Pannek reports directly to Executive Vice President Adrienne Boyer and contributes to the development of...

Butler Specialty Co.(People: promotions hires appointments)(named three sales representatives as charter members of its new Million Dollar Club)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... * Accent furniture vendor Butler Specialty Co. (Chicago) has named three sales representatives as charter members of its new Million Dollar Club--Dennis Harris with his partners Gregg Gibhardt and Mike McDowell, Jay Jacobson and Gary White...

Zrike teams with Eileen Tramonte.(Licensing)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... EILEEN TRAMONTE IS UNVEILING a new licensed serving piece collection for Zrike at the Tabletop Show in New York. The designer, known for her whimsical yet functional ceramic tableware, will offer 14 SKUs, including hors d'oeuvre trays,...

Artist Laurie Korsgaden signs two licensing agreements.(Licensing)(MJ International)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Laurie Korsgaden Watercolors has signed licensing agreements with Saturday Knight Limited and MJ International. Korsgaden's designs will be used exclusively during the 2004 Christmas season on Saturday Knight Limited's bath products,...

Red Hat Society inspires collection.(Licensing)
January 1, 2004... The Red Hat Society, a nationwide organization for women over fifty, has spawned a range of licensed products. The society's purpose is to have fun after 50. Linda Grayson has produced the designs, entitled Red Hot and High Heeled, which...

Calendar.(Furniture, gifts and textiles shows.)(Calendar)
January 1, 2004... DOMESTIC SHOWS FEBRUARY 1-3 Edison Furniture & Accessory Market. New Jersey Convention Center, Edison, N.J. 305-792-9990, Fax: 305-792-9898, www.kemexpo.com 1-5 New York Gift Show at 225. 225 Fifth Avenue and various New York...

Victoria and Richard MacKenzie-Childs cast off.(Portrait)
January 1, 2004... Casting off their hostile take-over experience, the design duo Victoria and Richard MacKenzie-Childs has formed V&R Emprise and added partners to embark on a new creative journey. The licensing company that combines their initials symbolizes...

Editor's notes.
January 1, 2004... Well, another year is upon us--happy 2004! New years are always a time of both looking back and looking ahead--thinking about everything that's happened over the past year, and making resolutions about how we'd like to do it better next year....

Fast-growing markets may hold key for future kids business.(By the Numbers)
January 1, 2004... High Point--What are the biggest markets for kids sales? Which markets will see the biggest growth in kids sales? What are the demographic characteristics that make these--and other--markets unique? Answers to these questions can provide the...

Amy Coe expanding space at Target.(Licensing)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Minneapolis -- After a successful first year, Amy Coe will expand her space at about 200 of Target's biggest stores from four feet to eight feet. The move comes as Coe prepares her latest collection, Three Acre Farm, for the store. Three...

Franny K. Stein, Just Jimmy, top list of CopCorp's Benton properties.(Licensing)
January 1, 2004... New York -- Licensing agency CopCorp is expanding its Jim Benton properties, including Just Jimmy and Franny K. Stein, Little Girl Mad Scientist, which is based on Benton's new series of illustrated children's books. "We're absolutely...

Spade, Starck designing hip gear for Maclaren.(Licensing)(Kate Spade, Phillippe Starck)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Norwalk, Conn. -- Stroller and gear manufacturer Maclaren, already popular with the Hollywood crowd, is about to get even trendier. Hot designer Kate Spade, whose handbags are a must-have, will be designing a Quest stroller for the company,...

Curious George film offers licensing opportunities.(Licensing)
January 1, 2004... Universal City, Calif. -- Universal Studios Consumer Products Group has announced licensing opportunities for its new animated feature film and television series based on the classic children's book "Curious George." Licensing and...

Sidekicks expands licensed lineup.(Licensing)
January 1, 2004... New York -- SE Distribution is expanding its Sidekicks and Sidekicks Baby lines with new licenses from its parent company, Scholastic, as well as additional offerings from its existing Scholastic licenses. Set to launch at the New York Toy...

Harley to create licensed youth program.(Licensing)(Harley Davidson)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... New York -- Licensing agency The Beanstalk Group has announced that plans are under way for a licensed youth home furnishings program for Harley Davidson. The program will target "the Harley drivers of tomorrow," said Diana Brobmann,...

Fun 4 All licensing classic feline properties Garfield, Felix.(Licensing)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... New York -- Toy and novelty manufacturer Fun 4 All will introduce a new line of toys, soft dolls and gifts based on classic comic strip and television characters. Felix the Cat, first brought to television in 1928, will star in a new line...

Evergreen Concepts signs Alvin & the Chipmunks.(Licensing)
January 1, 2004... Beverly Hills, Calif.--Evergreen Concepts has been named the North American licensing agency for retro property Alvin & the Chipmunks. The company will also develop a new spin-off property, Little Alvin & the Mini Munks, for a preschool...

Sesame Street adds Burke, promotes Fishman.(People in licensing)(Bill Burke, Natasha Fishman)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... New York -- Expanding its efforts to educate children around the world through international programming and consumer products, Sesame Workshop has promoted Bill Burke to assistant vice president, marketing, and hired Natasha Fishman as...

Emess Design names president, manager.(People in licensing)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Ellwood City, Pa. -- Emess Design Group has named Michael Smith as president and Ken Eck as licensing and brand manager. Smith's focus will be on expanding the marketing and licensing activities for the company. He was previously president...

Marvel names Bill Rahn as managing director.(People in licensing)
January 1, 2004... New York -- Marvel Enterprises has appointed Bill Rahn to the post of managing director, Japan and Asia. Rahn will be based in Tokyo and will report to Tim Rothwell, president of Marvel's Worldwide Consumer Products Group. Rahn comes...

Jim Henson Co. taps heirs as co-CEOs.(People in licensing)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Hollywood, Calif. -- The Jim Henson Company recently announced that Brian Henson, who led the Henson family's recent acquisition of the company from EM.TV & Merchandising AG, and his sister Lisa Henson, two of the late Jim Henson's five...

FAO may have buyer for The Right Start.(News Watch)
January 1, 2004... King of Prussia, Pa. -- FAO Inc. filed for bankruptcy for a second time in early December, less than eight months after emerging from Chapter 11 this spring, and as of press time, it looked like the company may have found a buyer for its The...

Vermont Quality Wood acquires Vermont Tubbs.(News Watch)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Brandon, Vt. -- Vermont Quality Wood Products has completed its purchase of Vermont Tubbs, concluding a process that began a year ago. The third time was the charm for the solid-wood case goods manufacturer after two other buyers pulled out...

Young America launches new Web site.(News Watch)(Stanley Furniture's consumer website is www.youngamerica.com)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Stanleytown, Va. -- As part of its new branding initiative, Stanley Furniture's Young America division has launched a new consumer Web site, www.youngamerica.com, with the aim of educating consumers about youth furniture. The site features...

Flexa buys Thuka.(News Watch)(Thuka Furniture)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Mors, Denmark -- The Flexa group has bought a majority shareholding in Thuka Furniture from owners Katrine and Thue Thuesen for an undisclosed amount. Thuka Furniture will continue independent activities at its home base here and keep its...

Pastel Toys helps adults with disabilities in Israel.(News Watch)
January 1, 2004... Los Angeles -- California couple visits kibbutz, creates U.S. toy catalog retail operation. That, in a nutshell, is the story of Shai and Nicolle Magdish and PastelToys. Here's a more complete version: This past spring, the Magdishes...

Regal Lager launches feeding products line.(News Watch)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Marietta, Ga. -- Regal Lager, distributor of Baby Bjorn, Noukies and Diaper Dekor, is adding a new line of feeding products to its growing roster of juvenile products. The new line--Second Nature--will incorporate bottles, sippy cups and a...

Schiff joins Dutailier.(People around the industry; Steven M. Schiff hired by Group Dutailier )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... St. Pie, Quebec Canada -- Steven M. Schiff has joined Group Dutailier as southeast regional manager. He will have sales and marketing responsibility for the Dutailier rocker and glider business, as well as recently for the recently...

Boyds names Murley CEO.(People around the industry; Boyds Collection Ltd. hires Jan L. Murley )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Gettysburg, Pa. -- The Boyds Collection has named Jan L. Murley as its new chief executive officer and to its board of directors. Murley previously spent three years as group vice president for Hallmark Cards, which she joined following a...

Regal Lager adds Sanders.(People around the industry; hires Donna Sanders )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Marietta, Ga. -- Regal Lager has hired Donna Sanders for the position of director of sales--Noukie's. Sanders has a broad background in the toy industry, be ginning her career as the owner of two specialty toy stores, later being a key part...

Waverly taps Leahy as VP.(People around the industry; named Thomas J. Leahy promoted at Waverly Lifestyle Group)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... New York -- Waverly has named Thomas J. Leahy as vice president of sales, fabrics, for the Waverly Lifestyle Group. Leahy will direct the fabric sales effort, in line with the company's brand strategy. He has assumed the duties of Arthur...

Ethan Allen opens second juvenile store.(People around the industry; in Reston, Va)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Reston, Va. -- Ethan Allen opened its second dedicated Ethan Allen Kids store here last month. The 3,000-square-foot store aims to complement the five full-line Ethan Allen stores in the Washington and Virginia area with everything from...

Wickes opens first kids department.(News Watch; Wickes Furniture Company Inc.)
January 1, 2004... Wheeling, Ill. -- Seeing room for profitable growth, Wickes Furniture has begun attacking the youth furniture category, even as it slims down to a Rooms-To-Go-like merchandising, marketing and operations strategy. This past fall, with the...

Merry Go Round keeps on growing: this Seattle-area specialty store is celebrating its biggest year yet.(Up Close)(70% of the store is devoted in infant products, with 30% focusing on youth)(Company Profile)(Cover Story)
January 1, 2004... Bellevue, Wash. -- In this affluent suburb of Seattle where the tech industry bust has hit particularly hard, Molly and Bob Pressey have stayed the course with their children's specialty store, Merry Go Round. Despite glum economic times...