Home Accents Today articles from March 2006

Home Accents Today archives from March 2006

Accessories Today.
March 1, 2006... Edited by Kara Cox To keep our readers informed outside market cycles, we offer a quick look at some of the newest products. kara.cox@reedbusiness.com

Current.(Jet-Set Chic)(Luxe Life)(Hip Homework)
March 1, 2006... By Tracy Bulla Jet-Set Chic Tracy Bulla Lapin Vilardi 's fun and funky travel carryalls combine style with necessity in one chic little package. Comprising shoe bags, laundry bags and lingerie bags as well as lavender sachets,...

Deluxe Luxe.
March 1, 2006... Kara Cox Falling asleep has never looked better with the luxe top of bed offerings featuring hand-sewn crystals, rich embroidery and classic patterns. Silk, velvet and satin fabrications create a posh base for intricate detail and...

Beachy Keen.
March 1, 2006... Kara Cox Coastal looks have taken hold and the bed is not far behind with these carefree offerings. The look runs the style gamut from punchy Palm Beach brights to relaxed sea and sky shades. Shell embellishments and coral patterning lend...

Mod Living.
March 1, 2006... Kara Cox Contemporary bedding ensembles take a mod spin with graphic pop art grabbing attention on solid fields or repeating geometrics playing up tile patterns for a funky visual aesthetic. Color remains neutral with bursts of energy...

Star search.(Editorial)
March 1, 2006... Becky Smith It's either American Idol or Survivor -- or perhaps a bit of both. When you consider the themes of two of the country's most popular TV shows, you can find a remarkable parallel to the 50 Retail Stars listing we will...

High glamour, high nature.(Frankfurt's Ambiente fair)
March 1, 2006... By Tracy Bulla Sophistication defines the home with super-slick polish at Ambiente Among the many trends visible at Frankfurt's Ambiente fair was a tendency toward the high style -- polished to perfection and ready to entertain....

Fastest growing metros and their buying power.
March 1, 2006... Story by Lisa Casinger Each year consumer magazines like Money and Fortune publish lists of the best places to live in the United States based on the economy, crime, population and more. This year, Home Accents Today has compiled an...

Uncommon style in the desert.
March 1, 2006... Story By Lisa Casinger Moses Zabec is an interior designer turned retailer. He and his wife Terri had a design firm for years and business was good. Their focus was commercial interiors and model homes so when they got their first request...

Linens 'n Things sale closes.(National Realty and Development Corp. to acquire Linens 'n Things Inc.)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Staff Privately held NRDC Real Estate Advisors sealed the deal to acquire Linens 'n Things. The company paid Linens 'n Things stockholders $1.3 billion and the principal equity sponsors include affiliates of NRDC and Apollo Management, a...

Bella Rose adds new sales reps.(Kennedy Group, Chinook Sales signed)(Alan Green, Maria Turchinetz appointed )(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Staff Bella Rose by Chateau, designer and manufacturer of home textiles, appointed several new sales rep organizations and one independent representative to its sales force. OneCoast Kennedy Group will cover the Southwest region of...

PR co. hires Gunn.
March 1, 2006... Staff The Media Matters, a full-service marketing agency, hired Donna Gunn to fill the newly created position of communications manager. In this position, Gunn will direct all levels of client communications including press releases,...

San Francisco shows competing for share of gift, design markets.(San Francisco International gift fair)
March 1, 2006... Staff In response to the Las Vegas Market taking some of its home furnishings customers, the San Francisco Mart is redirecting its focus from furniture to gift buyers and design professionals. The shift puts the Mart closer to direct...

ART sets event schedule.(Accessories Resource Team)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Staff The Accessories Resource Team is planning several special events in upcoming months. In April, during the High Point market, ART will host its party on Friday, April 28, from 6-8 p.m. in the IHFC High Point Room, 11th floor,...

DJC Design Studio closing doors.
March 1, 2006... Staff After failing to find a buyer, DJC Design Studio is shutting down its New Hampshire factory and auctioning its machinery this month. Diane Jackson Cole, president, and Karen Carpenter, vice president, have announced their...

Selamat Designs to launch design challenge at market.
March 1, 2006... Staff Selamat Designs is looking for designers with innovative ideas and an entrepreneurial spirit to enter the first Create a Classic Design Challenge. The contest will be launched during the April International Home Furnishings...

Correction.(Correction notice)
March 1, 2006... Staff The producer of the mirror pictured here was incorrectly identified in the January edition. Art Dreams Home should have been listed. Home Accents Today regrets the error.

Urban Expositions revamping Miami show.(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Staff Urban Expositions has announced plans to relocate and revamp the former Miami Gift Show. Renamed the Miami Beach Gift Show, the new semi-annual exhibition will expand and move to the Miami Beach Convention Center beginning with...

Haeger producing Wright line.(Haeger Potteries)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Staff Haeger Potteries has licensed with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation to produce ceramic decorative accessories based on designs by the famed architect. Under terms of the agreement, Haeger will manufacture vases, sculptures and...

MMPI expanding free buyer parking.(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Staff The former Ice House building is being torn down to create more free buyer parking for the spring market. Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. said the demolition of the vacant structure will nearly double the capacity of the parking...

Kirkland's makes decorating an emphasis in new store prototype.(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Staff Jackson, Tenn.-based Kirkland's has developed a new store prototype for its off-mall strategy and plans to begin using the new design by the end of March. Andrew Gallina, vice president of marketing and chief strategist for new...

Karel market returning to Atlantic City.(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Staff Karel Exposition Management is returning to Atlantic City, N.J., in May to produce the Atlantic City Furniture and Accessory Market, following a 13-year hiatus. From May 7-9, retail buyers of furniture, lighting, bedding and...

Progress Lighting marking 100 years.(Progress Lighting Inc.)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Staff Progress Lighting, Spartanburg, S.C.-based residential lighting manufacturer, is celebrating its 100-year anniversary with the release of the Art Nouveau Centennial Collection. The collection reproduces a chandelier made by the...

Murray Feiss launching showroom galleries.(Murray Feiss Import Corp)(Michael J. Crow)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Staff Lighting producer Murray Feiss has partnered with Michael J. Crow, a visual merchandising specialist, to create a new program called The Designer's Gallery. The Designer's Gallery, located inside Murray Feiss showrooms, will...

Zak wins international trade honor.(Zak Designs Inc. awarded by International Trade Alliance )(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Staff The International Trade Alliance has named tabletop vendor Zak Designs a Global Business of the Year. The awards recognize internationally-active companies that have contributed in a substantial way to developing or facilitating...

Briefly ...
March 1, 2006... Staff Bye bye Marshall Field 's . Sept. 9 and 10, 2006 Federated Department Stores will officially change the iconic retailer's name to Macy's . In other Federated news, CEO Terry Lundgren hired Anne MacDonald, former top marketing...

Wal-Mart plans to open 1,500 more stores.(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Staff The largest retailer in the world, Wal-Mart, plans to open more than 1,500 stores in the U.S. in the coming years; it already has almost 3,200. John Menzer, the company's vice chairman and head of its domestic stores division,...

Ikea plans first Florida store.(IKEA North America L.L.C.)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Staff Ikea plans to build its first Florida store in the City of Sunrise, located in western Broward County, as part of the Gateway at Sawgrass. Construction could begin in late Spring 2006, with the grand opening of Ikea Sunrise slated...

Feizy names new VP, sales rep.(Steve Sorrow appointed at Feizy Oriental Rugs)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Staff Feizy Rugs has hired Steve Sorrow for the newly created position of vice president of design and product development. Sorrow's responsibilities will include managing Feizy's in-house design studio and working closely with Feizy's...

Zocalo adds to marketing team.(Michael Chua appointed, Amy Neal promoted )
March 1, 2006... Staff San Francisco furniture manufacturer Zocalo has added two marketing managers to its team. The company hired Michael Chua as its new marketing manager and promoted Amy Neal to the newly created PR/marketing manager post. She was...

Urban Expositions promotes Guess, adds Buice.(Donna Guess, Stephanie Buice )(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Staff Trade show producer Urban Expositions has promoted Donna Guess to vice president of trade shows and named Stephanie Buice as director of buyer relations. In the newly created position, Guess will oversee sales and operations for...

Honeyman named CEO at Intercontinental.(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Staff Wall decor vendor Intercontinental Art has named Kristoff Honeyman chief executive officer. Honeyman will be responsible for aligning Intercontinental Art products and services with the strategic needs of its customers. ...

Toyo expands Waites license.(Toyo Trading Co. signs a deal with Raymond Waites)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Staff Toyo Trading has signed a deal to manufacture and distribute lighting designed by Raymond Waites. Toyo has produced Waites decorative accessories for more than 20 years. Frederick Cooper/Tyndale previously held the lamp license....

Decorize reports dramatic rise in orders.
March 1, 2006... Staff Decorize Inc. reported its open sales orders of home accents grew 116% during the second quarter of fiscal 2006. This dramatic rise is due in part to record-breaking orders taken at the October market. Also, year-over-year orders...

Stein Mart reinventing its home segment.
March 1, 2006... By Cecile B. Corral Jacksonville, Fla.-based Stein Mart is ahead of schedule in its push to reinvent its home department. Kassie Jones, who joined the company last May as vice president, general merchandise manager, and her team look to...

Minka readies Casa Cristina collection.(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Staff Following a soft launch at the Las Vegas Market, Minka Lighting is set to debut its full Casa Cristina lighting collection at the April High Point market. The collection is licensed with Hispanic mega-star Cristina Saralegui and...

Johns forms new company, acquires Park Designs.
March 1, 2006... Staff Bungalow, a two-year-old importer of rugs and home accents, and Park Designs, a 22-year-old importer of textiles, gifts and home accents, merged in February to form Scout Limited. The creation of Scout is the brainchild of...

Enesco settles dispute with Department 56.(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Staff Enesco Group reached a settlement agreement with Department 56 at the end of February to resolve its litigation related to exclusivity of Jim Shore Designs. As part of the agreement, Enesco and Department 56 fully waived and...

Higher prices necessitate higher perceived value.
March 1, 2006... By Tracy Bulla Lamp and lighting vendors agree that with rising fuel and raw material costs (steel, copper and brass), one major key to success in 2006 is instilling the finished product with a higher perceived value. While increases are...

Natori Home debuts.
March 1, 2006... By Carole Sloan Signature and unique embellishments highlight the luxury bedding and home accessory collection launched by Natori Home, the new home furnishings business created by Josie Natori, founder and CEO of Natori Co., the lingerie...

Universal passes ready for High Point.(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Staff Visitors to the High Point market can now pre-register through the International Home Furnishings Market Authority for universal passes that will be accepted in all buildings. "Revamping the registration system has always been a...

Making magic: Art Dreams.
March 1, 2006... By Lisa Casinger Designer Kathleen Koszyk Background Kathleen Koszyk comes from a creative family. Growing up in Ireland she frequently watched her grandfather on TV; he was a musical savant who could pick up just about any...

Health insurance.(retailers employee benefits)
March 1, 2006... By Lisa Casinger Can you afford to join a dying trend? One of the most coveted employee benefits, health care is becoming an issue retailers can no longer ignore. Consultants say avoid it at all costs, and from a numbers point of view...

Staying in the race.(consumer spending in retail)
March 1, 2006... Lisa Casinger, Retail Editor There's good news and bad news. The good news is the government reported Americans spent freely in January; retail sales jumped 2.2% according to the Commerce Department, the best showing since late 1999....

Rock Chic.(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Kara Cox Street style marries Hollywood glamour with the look centering on ever-chic black. The details bring the sophistication level up a notch with edgy black leather and nickel nailhead trim drawing inspiration from rock star style....