Home Textiles Today articles from August 2008

Home Textiles Today archives from August 2008

New York Exhibitors Fight Cautious Mood.
August 11, 2008... By Carole Sloan New York - Home textiles exhibitors at the New York International Gift Show and Home Textiles Market here this week are putting a positive face on prospects despite the macro- and industry-wide economic conditions. For some...

China Stuns Bath Accessories Makers.
August 11, 2008... By Cecile B. Corral Sudden Plant Shutdowns Spark Scramble New York - The rash of factory closings in China over the past several months - whether for environmental, economic or bureaucratic purposes - has dealt a blow to some members...

LNT Stalking Horses Hard to Find.
August 11, 2008... By Brent Felgner Wilmington, Del. - Perhaps it's just another sign of tough economic times, but Linens 'n Things has put off a hearing to set bid protections for a stalking horse bidder on its second round of store closings - because there...

New Accounts for Some at Vegas Market.
August 11, 2008... By James Mammarella Las Vegas - Activity in the halls and throughout many showrooms started strong at the summer Las Vegas Market at the World Market Center here, but exhibitor reaction was decidedly mixed. Some soft home suppliers were...

Retail Briefs.
August 11, 2008... By Staff Boscov's in Ch.11, to Close 10 Stores Staff Privately held mid-Atlantic department store chain Boscov's filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on August 4, saying it will close 10 of its 49 stores: Danville, Va.;...

Martha Stewart Taps Pollack for Merchandising.
August 11, 2008... By Staff New York - Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia has recruited Donna Karan Home ceo Patsy Pollack as evp of merchandising, a new position reporting to president of merchandising and co-ceo Robin Marino. Pollack will oversee the...

Home Holds Back Polo Profit.
August 11, 2008... By Staff New York - A decline in home royalties proved a drag on Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation's licensing revenues during the first quarter ended June 28. Polo's quarterly licensing revenues rose 1% to $47 million. Revenue from the...

Target Pumps Fashion to Help Home.
August 11, 2008... By Cecile B. Corral Minneapolis - Target Corp. ceo Gregg Steinhafel said the 1,613-unit discount chain is "pushing the envelope" on fashion in apparel and home to give customers a more compelling reason to spend money on discretionary...

American Homeland Showing at 7W.
August 11, 2008... By Staff New York - American Homeland, Inc., the U.S.-based subsidiary of China's Shanghai Homeland Textiles Ltd., will for the first time participate in the New York Home Fashions Market, which takes place Sept. 15-19. American...

Milliken will Acquire Thomas Inds.
August 11, 2008... By Cecile B. Corral Dalton, Ga. - With its late-July filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, carpet manufacturer Thomas Industries, based here, has also filed to be acquired by diversified textiles supplier Milliken & Co. Thomas Industries -...

Richard Cohen to Bow Natori Line.
August 11, 2008... By Staff New York - A broad line of Natori luxury decorative pillows and throws will be unveiled by tabletop and giftware specialist Richard Cohen Collection at the New York Home Textiles Market, under a new distribution partnership. ...

Town & Country to Debut Royal Velvet.(Town and Country Living)(Iconix Brand Group)(Brief article)
August 11, 2008... By Staff New York - Table linens and kitchen textiles are the latest new product offerings to carry the Royal Velvet brand from Iconix Brand Group, via a licensing partnership with longtime family-owned and operated Town and Country...

Cornerstone Still a Drag on HSN.
August 11, 2008... By Cecile B. Corral New York - Direct-to-consumer retailer Cornerstone Brands was the worst-performing segment of IAC/InterActive Corp. in the second quarter, and home was the hardest-hit area at Cornerstone. "Cornerstone revenue...

Hancock Fabrics Gets Funding.
August 11, 2008... By Staff Norwalk, Conn. - GE Commercial Finance Corporate Lending will provide $100 million to fabric retailer, converter and distributor Hancock Fabrics to complete the company's reorganization as it emerges from Chapter 11 bankruptcy....

Iconix Bullish on Good Results, Widening Programs.(Iconix Brand Group revenue report)(Financial report)(Brief article)
August 11, 2008... By Staff New York - Brand management firm Iconix Brand Group posted strong results for the second quarter ended June 30 and year to date, with net income rising 11% to $16.5 million for the quarter, and up 26% to $34.7 million for the...

Martha Stewart Looks Abroad.(Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc.)(Financial report)
August 11, 2008... By Cecile B. Corral New York - With its merchandising segment posting a "proud" 56% revenue gain year-over-year in the second quarter, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia said it is set to expand internationally. "Now more than ever we're...

EcoSnug Brings Silk Goods to U.S.
August 11, 2008... By Staff New York - International silk bedding manufacturer EcoSnug has established a U.S. division and will make its market debut this fall during both the New York International Gift Fair/New York Home Textiles Market (Aug. 14-21) and...

Hudson Industries Employs Sustainable Foam.(Brief article)
August 11, 2008... By Staff Richmond, Va. - Inspired by emerging call for earth-friendly products, foam pillow and mattress cover producer Hudson Industries recently collaborated with major foam technology providers to come up with sustainable memory foam...

Manhattan Kids Bows Green Baby.(Brief article)
August 11, 2008... By Staff New York - Manhattan Kids is rolling out a new line of eco-friendly infant goods for the upcoming trade fairs in August and September. Debuting under the Green Baby label, the line includes: A 100% organic cotton knit...

Softline Bows 'Evidence of Evolution' Green Line.
August 11, 2008... By Staff Gardena, Calif. - With the motto "Beauty today & a more beautiful tomorrow," Softline Home Fashions had launched Evidence of Evolution, a developing line of eco-friendly fabrics and finished goods. "Some of the retailers are...

Riegel Bolsters Hospitality Sales.
August 11, 2008... By Staff Johnston, S.C. - Riegel Consumer Products, a division of Mount Vernon Mills, has opened a sales support office in Highland, Ill. Debbie Zobrist and Kim Hagler have joined Riegel as inside sales specialists focusing on sales...

Discounters Rescue July Comps.
August 11, 2008... By Staff New York - While department store operators finished July lagging comparative store sales goals, discounters ramped up comps each week and finished well ahead, resulting in an overall on-target retail month, the Johnson Redbook...

Bon-Ton Affirms Bergren Until Feb. 2010.
August 11, 2008... By Staff York, Pa. - The board of directors of The Bon-Ton Stores unanimously requested that president and ceo Byron ("Bud") Bergren continue in those roles through Feb. 5, 2010. Bergren's contract had stipulated he would be president...

828 Int'l Taps Coloian for Ohio.
August 11, 2008... By Staff Greenville, S.C. - Area rug resource 828 International Trading Co. has appointed 40-year floorcovering industry veteran Chuck Coloian as the company's new account manager for the Ohio market. Based in Westlake, Ohio, he...

Feizy Hires Garrett for Western Region.
August 11, 2008... By Staff Dallas - Area rug manufacturer and importer Feizy has appointed Aylin Garrett as its new western region territory manager, assigned to service the company's retail customers in California, Arizona and New Mexico. She replaces...

Guzzetta Takes Helm at RL Home.
August 11, 2008... By Staff New York - Department store veteran Frank Guzzetta has been named president of Ralph Lauren Home Collection, a unit of Polo Ralph Lauren Corp., effective Aug. 11. He will report to Roger Farah, president and coo of Polo Ralph...

Top Exec Named at Zellers.
August 11, 2008... By Staff Toronto - Zellers, the discount division of Hudson's Bay Company, has named Mark Foote president and ceo. Foote was most recently president and chief merchandising officer at Loblaw Companies; he is known for his 20-plus-year...

Avanti Linens Expands Ultima Line.
August 11, 2008... By Cecile B. Corral Moonachie, N.J. - Family-owned and operated embellished towel manufacturer and importer Avanti Linens is appealing to its upscale specialty customer base with the expansion of its fledgling drop-ship monogrammed bath...

TexStyle Joins Juvenile Source Whisper Soft.
August 11, 2008... By Staff Cincinnati - Home textiles producer TexStyle is merging with Babine Lake Corporation, parent of Whisper Soft Mills. TexStyle specializes in window treatments, slipcovers, decorative pillows and shower curtains. Whisper Soft...

Middle-Market Blues in July.(Company rankings)
August 11, 2008... By James Mammarella Consumers Focusing on Necessities New York - Evidence mounted that consumers are focused on the necessities - meaning that back-to-school shopping for fashion goods will be sluggish - as retailers dependent upon...

Design as Differentiator.
August 11, 2008... By Jennifer Marks At the beginning of the year, most retailers looking out toward the coming 12 months warned of "economic headwinds" and "macro-economic factors." And quite rightly. The headwinds, they are a-blowing. As for the...

Furniture Stores Beckon.
August 11, 2008... By Carole Sloan As more mainstream home textiles suppliers begin to search the ranks of retailers beyond the HTT Top 50, there were clearly more of them participating in regional markets from Dallas to Atlanta to Las Vegas and now to New...

Annie Selke Home to Launch.
August 18, 2008... By Carole Sloan Pittsfield, Mass. - Annie Selke Home, a new home furnishings program created by Selke, the founder and creative head of Pine Cone Hill and related companies, launches at retail with Calico Corners in October. The...

JCP Gaining in Slowing Market.(JCPenney company Inc.)
August 18, 2008... By Jennifer Marks Plano, Texas - The economy may be tough and consumers under pressure, but JCPenney believes it is positioned to gain share throughout the downturn. Speaking to analysts last week during the company's quarterly...

LNT Retrenches Further.
August 18, 2008... By Brent Felgner West Palm Beach, Fla. - As shoppers picked over the sparse remains of a closing Linens 'n Things store here late last week - literally selling out to the bare walls - the retailer reported continued steep sales declines,...

My Macy's to Help Home Locally.
August 18, 2008... By Cecile B. Corral Cincinnati - Macy's poorly performing home textiles category is in for an infusion of new life under the department store chain's new "My Macy's" localized initiative, which envisions big plans for a new fashion...

Anna Giannis Opens NYC Showroom.
August 18, 2008... By Staff New York - Designer Anna Giannis opened a showroom here in the 230 Fifth Avenue building to launch her U.S. business this week during the New York Gift Fair/New York Home Textiles Show. Giannis, an Australian interior...

Soft Home Bleak at Kohl's.
August 18, 2008... By Cecile B. Corral Menomonee Falls, Wis. - In a weak overall home business at Kohl's Corp. during the second quarter, soft home performed so poorly that expectations for the category through yearend are bleak, the company reported during...

Retail Briefs.
August 18, 2008... By Staff Meryvns to shutter 15% of store base Staff Mervyns plans to close 26 of its 176 units by late October or early November as part of its reorganization under Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Mervyns is exiting Idaho and Texas,...

Springs Global Turns 2Q Profit.(Financial report)
August 18, 2008... By Staff Sao Paulo, Brazil - Springs Global turned out of second-quarter profit - albeit small - despite sales declines in three major product categories of business in the United States. "Our results year-to-date have been impacted...

Wal-Mart Reaps Another Record Quarter.
August 18, 2008... By Cecile B. Corral Bentonville, Ark. - Wal-Mart's recent investments on better quality but affordable goods and a revised layout and presentation in its U.S. stores' home department are "paying off," the discount chain's executives said...

Frette Preps Holiday Items.
August 18, 2008... By Staff New York - Frette is preparing its fourth limited edition luxury bedding collection along with its holiday gift collection. The Cristina bed is named for the 17th Century queen of Sweden known for her independence and the...

TJX Raises Outlook.
August 18, 2008... By Staff Framingham, Mass. - In the wake of a strong second-quarter performance, TJX Cos. last week raised its earnings guidance for the third quarter and full year. For the third year, TJX now projects earnings per share of 59 cents...

TJX raises Guidance, Readies HomeGoods Test.
August 18, 2008... By Staff Framingham, Mass. - A down-market consumer shift helped TJX turn in a strong second quarter performance - with sales, margins and profits all getting a boost. "In down economies we tend to catch a new customer," president and...

WestPoint Cuts Loss Amid Sales Slide.(WestPoint Home)(Financial report)(Brief article)
August 18, 2008... By Staff New York - Although WestPoint Home's sales continued to tumble in a tough retail environment, the company more than sliced its operating losses by more than half during the second quarter. WestPoint, a division of Icahn...

Wilansky to Exit RVI.
August 18, 2008... By Staff Columbus, Ohio - Retail Ventures (RVI), the parent firm of off-price chain Filene's Basement and footwear discounter DSW, said the contract of RVI president and ceo Heywood Wilansky will end on Jan. 31, 2009 and not be renewed, as...

Aid to Artisans Set to Display.(handmade products by artisans)(Brief article)
August 18, 2008... By Staff Hartford, Conn. - Aid to Artisans, an international non-profit group, is displaying a collection of hundreds of handmade items at the New York International Gift Fair at the Javits Center, Aug.16-20. Aid to Artisans (ATA) is...

Babies "R" Us to Carry Amy Coe Bedding And Infant Gear.
August 18, 2008... By Staff Wayne, N.J. - Babies "R" Us has signed an exclusive partnership with designer Amy Coe to carry a collection of modern infant furniture, bedding, room decor, gifts and other infant accessories. The line will debut this month in...

BabyGap Ventures into Home Arena.
August 18, 2008... By Staff San Francisco - BabyGap has unveiled the "BabyGap home" collection, its first foray into home goods. Available online and at a few test stores, BabyGap home is described as the apparel retailer's "premium line" of bedding,...

IFDA Opens SoCal Chapter.(International Furnishings and Design Association opens southern California chapter)(Brief article)
August 18, 2008... By Staff San Diego - The International Furnishings and Design Association (IFDA) recently opened a chapter in southern California. Rita Orland of Wings, Inc. Design, has been designated as the chapter's president. Designcorp International...

Soft-Tex Moves to New Manufacturing Facility.(Soft-Tex Manufacturing)(Brief article)
August 18, 2008... By Staff Waterford, N.Y. - After 10 months of planning, basic bedding supplier Soft-Tex Manufacturing, recently moved to a new 125,000-square-foot factory here. "We located to a new plant which offers efficiencies we could not realize...

Iconix vp Exiting Company.
August 18, 2008... By Staff New York - Iconix executive vp David Conn will leave the company. He employment contract expired earlier this year, according to Iconix, which owns the Royal Velvet, Cannon, Fieldcrest and Charisma brands. "David has been a...

Jesson To Steer Beaulieau Canada Back into Area Rug Biz.
August 18, 2008... By Staff Acton Vale, Quebec, Canada - Beaulieu Canada has appointed Paul Jesson vice president of its new area rug division, marking the broadloom company's return to the product category after several years absence. Jesson was with...

Macy's Profit Slips, Forecast Lowered.
August 18, 2008... By Staff Cincinnati - Last week, Macy's reported a 1.35% decline in profit to $73 million, or 17 cents per share, and subsequently lowered its outlook for the year. Results were impacted by $26 million in costs to consolidate three...

Designer Tayo Leaves JLA Home.(Tayo Onadein)(JLA Home Fabrics)(Brief article)
August 18, 2008... By Staff Reidsville, N.C. - Veteran home furnishings fabric designer Tayo Onadein has resigned as vp design at JLA Home Fabrics. Onadein join the company in June 2005, a month after the company was started by George Kerr, president,...

Mattress Makers Don't Predict Turnaround.
August 18, 2008... By Staff High Point, N.C. - As the mattress industry heads into two of its strongest sales months, hopes are dimming that a significant rebound is on the way this year. In fact, leading producers are not particularly bullish about...

Crown Crafts Sales Surge in First Quarter.(Financial report)(Brief article)
August 18, 2008... By Staff Gonzales, La. - Crown Crafts' acquisition of the Springs infant division nine months ago provided a lift to first quarter sales, the producer of infant and toddler products reported last week. Sales jumped 28.6% to $19.8...

Foreign Accents Bows Handmade Rug Collection.
August 18, 2008... By Cecile B. Corral Albuquerque, N.M. - Contemporary area rug company Foreign Accents is launching a new ultra-modern collection it calls Elementz. The rugs are hand-woven in India of a soft blend of metallic colored polyester fibers,...

Design Weave to Intro Outlast Sheets at Market.(Outlast Technologies')(Brief article)
August 18, 2008... By Staff New York - Design Weave will introduce sheets constructed with Outlast Technologies' temperature-regulating material, the first time Outlast has been used in sheets. The product line will include 300-count through 400-count...

TJX Promotes Execs.
August 18, 2008... By Staff Framingham, Mass. - TJX announced a series of senior management changes during the second-quarter conference call last week. Ernie Herrman has been promoted to senior executive vp and group president with responsibility for...

Vivatex to Debut at Market.(Brief article)
August 18, 2008... By Staff New York - Vivatex will make its first market showing next month at 295 Fifth Ave., Suite 713. Founded seven months ago by 40-year industry veteran Hyman Gindi, Vivatex offers window, fashion bedding, sheet sets, bath rug...

AmericasMart to Meld Shows.
August 18, 2008... By Cecile B. Corral Rug, Gift Events Start in Tandem Atlanta - Looking to more effectively cross-pollinate buyer activity among its related market events, the AmericasMart here has readjusted the schedules of its biannual Gifts and...

Foamax Sales Drop in Second Quarter.(Financial report)
August 18, 2008... By Staff Linwood, Pa. - Polyurethane foam supplier Foamex International said second-quarter sales were 22% below last year's second quarter, but a one-time gain boosted net income above year-ago levels. The company said sales declines...

New Restricted Substances List Published.(American Apparel and Footwear Association)(Brief article)
August 18, 2008... By Staff Arlington, Va. - The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) published today its third release of the global AAFA Restricted Substances List (RSL), covering home textiles, apparel and footwear. The list is available...

Sam's Club Awards Springs.
August 18, 2008... By Staff Fort Mill, S.C. - Springs Global US has received an outstanding performance award from Sam's Club for the company's Serta Two Pack Bed Pillows, which were recognized for strong sales and product sustainability. "We are...

Vendors Shift Styles to Attack Price Points.
August 18, 2008... By James Mammarella Suppliers Invest and Innovate New York - Suppliers of window treatments are trying something new. Among themselves, some competitors are moving in opposite directions - but the key thing in a challenging market...

IFDA Hosts Color Forecast.
August 18, 2008... By Staff New York - The New York Chapter of The International Furnishings and Design Association (IFDA) will present a color forecast at this week's New York International Gift Fair and Home Textiles Market. The IFDA seminar, to be...

Port Traffic Expected To Soften.
August 18, 2008... By Staff Washington - Container shipping into the United States is expected to drop by 4% this year, according to a study by Global Insight conducted for the National Retail Federation. The Port Tracker report shows that cargo volume...

7W Adds Exhibitors.
August 18, 2008... By Staff New York - During the New York International Gift Fair/Home Textiles Market Week, which kicked off Aug. 15, buyers will find several new exhibitors in the showrooms at 7 W New York (7 W. 34 St.), including: Grace Home...

230 Fifth Exhibitors Prep for Markets.
August 18, 2008... By Staff New York - Among the latest developments by home textiles tenants at the 230 Fifth Ave. showroom building: Luxury bedding and kitchen textiles maker Premier Fine Linens has moved into Suite 1214. Part of India-based Premier...

Overstock Promotes Johnson to President.(Overstock.com)(Jonathan Johnson III)(Brief article)
August 18, 2008... By Staff Salt Lake City - Overstock.com has named Jonathan Johnson III president. He had been the company's svp of corporate affairs and legal since joining the online retailer in September 2002. "Jonathan has developed into a...

Consumers Begin to Eye Back-to-School.(Johnson Redbook Retail Sales Index )(Brief article)
August 18, 2008... By Staff New York - The Johnson Redbook Retail Sales Index rose 1.5% in the first week of August, and was up 1.5% compared to August of last year. Month-over-month, the index fell 1.9% below July, compared to a target 1.8% drop. ...

Glen Raven Nabs Eco Award.
August 18, 2008... By Staff Glen Raven, N.C. - Glen Raven Custom Fabrics, a global producer of in performance fabrics including the Sunbrella[R] brand, has been recognized as one of the newest members of the South Carolina Environmental Excellence Program...

Russell-Newman Acquires Karen Neuburger.(Brief article)
August 18, 2008... By Staff San Rafael, Calif. - Luxury intimate apparel and sleepwear supplier Russell-Newman has acquired the KN Karen Neuburger business, an apparel and home lifestyle brand. KN Karen Neuburger began as a designer sleepwear collection,...

Veken Fights for IP Rights.
August 18, 2008... By Staff Jiangnan, China - Veken Group last month prevailed in court case involving intellectual property rights for patent protections on its "corral fleece" blanket technology. The Intermediate People's Court of Ningbo City, Zhejiang...

Going for the Gold.
August 18, 2008... By Jennifer Marks Welcome to the Retail Olympics, a global competition pitting the world's savviest merchants, designers, manufacturers, importers and exporters against one another in a quest to bring to market hot new products at...

Maximizing Technology.(merchandising)
August 18, 2008... By Carole Sloan Talking with a number of retailers in recent months, the role of technology in merchandising is becoming more and more of a factor in their overall business activities. For some, it's a matter of giving consumers a...