Home Textiles Today articles from December 2003

Home Textiles Today archives from December 2003

A retail tree grows in Brooklyn 'hood.
December 1, 2003... BROOKLYN, NY -- Williams-Sonoma's fledgling West Elm brand--which began life as a catalog only last year--has unveiled its first store in time for the start of the holiday season. It's chosen a neighborhood across the East River--DUMBO, an...

As prices rise, demand ebbs: is cotton still king?
December 1, 2003... NEW YORK -- Although cotton prices have surged this year, threats of further increases are now being tempered. The price surge, according to economists specializing in global cotton supply and demand, is attributable primarily to an...

A bigger Bon Ton tags smaller markets.
December 1, 2003... YORK, PA -- Now merged and doubled in size, executives of The Bon Ton and Elder-Beerman department stores feel their competitive advantage lies in zooming in on secondary and tertiary markets. The Bon-Ton's acquisition of Elder-Beerman,...

Batting the blahs out of basics.(sleep product manufacturers face challenges)(Industry Overview)
December 1, 2003... NEW YORK -- With the price of cotton rising up to 20 percent, and the cost of down and polyester rising 25 to 30 percent, basics and sleep product manufacturers are stressing value and technological advances in better quality goods. If the...

ShopKo wraps third remodel.(Retail briefs)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... ShopKo has completed the remodel on the third of its new prototype stores, this one in Eau Claire, WI. The company said it plans 10 remodels for 2004, with two conversions in Omaha and one in Coeur d'Alene, ID, to be completed by spring 2004....

HSN leaps into holiday fray.(Retail briefs)(Home Shopping Network)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Looking to divert traffic to its on-line and television channels from competitors' stores last week, Home Shopping Network kicked off a Price Buster shopping promotion at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving that continued for 18 hours. "We looked at...

LVMH exec to Saks.(Retail briefs)(Fred Wilson )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Saks Inc. announced the appointment of Fred Wilson as president and ceo of Saks Fifth Avenue Enterprises, effective Jan. 1, 2004. He is currently chairman, president and ceo of the Donna Karan Company, a division of Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy...

Co-founder reduces role at Bluefly.(Retail briefs)(Jonathan Morris)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Bluefly co-founder Jonathan Morris has resigned his post as executive vp and corporate secretary, but will serve as a consultant to the company. Morris was responsible for the company's business development, legal affairs, strategic...

Gift cards poised to do big biz.(Retail briefs)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Gift cards are expected to gain even more ground during holiday 2003, with some 69.9 percent of consumers planning to purchase at least one card this season, according to the National Retail Federation's inaugural Gift Card Survey. The...

For the record.(Correction Notice)
December 1, 2003... An article in the Nov. 17 issue incorrectly stated the age of ADI's retail Home Fashion division. The division is about 10 years old. ADI has been in the textiles business since 1970, and in the institutional napery business for 15 years.

Mohawk inks link with Laura.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... SUGAR VALLEY, GA -- Mohawk Home last week signed on as Laura Ashley's new licensee for area, scatter and bath rugs and door mats with the product launch slated for spring/summer 2004. Beaulieu had been the designer brand's licensee since...

Tweel buy finds the dec side of life.(acquired Riverdale Decorative Products)
December 1, 2003... NEWARK, NJ -- Looking to grow its presence at retail and expand its offerings to include decorative pillow and more fully coordinate product lines, table linens and kitchen textiles supplier Tweel Home Furnishings has acquired domestic...

Acetate yarn prices head north.
December 1, 2003... NEW YORK -- The Voridian division of Eastman Chemical Co. will increase prices of acetate yarn products effective January 2004. The Kingsport, TN-based company will raise process globally in a range from five cents a pound to 50 cents a...

Regal Fabrics grabs Miami converter.(Krelan Corp.)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... MIDDLETOM, MA -- Regal Fabrics has acquired the Krelan Corp., a Miami-based decorative fabrics converter. All Krelan operations are being consolidated into the Regal business here, said Steve Kahan, president of Regal, but a Florida office...

Marimekko marks young, funky 50.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... NEW YORK -- Bard College hosted an exhibition and celebration of more than 50 years of Marimekko, the Finnish contemporary design firm. The exhibition at the college's Graduate Center for Studies in the Decorative Arts, Design and Culture,...

WPS realigns sheeting production; 300 cut.(WestPoint Stevens Home Fashions)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... WEST POINT, GA -- WestPoint Stevens is laying off 300 employees its Lanier Plant in Valley, AL, curtailing operations as the company aligns its capacity with other facilities better equipped to produce popular sheeting styles. The affected...

Diversity office formed.(at Wal-Mart Stores Inc.)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... BENTONVILLE, AR -- On the heels of last month's immigration raids, a federal probe of its hiring and ongoing complaints about its labor practices, Wal-Mart has formed an Office of Diversity. The company said it will serve as a focal point...

Springs shuts Lyman finish operations.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... FORT MILL, SC -- Springs Industries will permanently close a finishing operation at its Lyman Complex in Lyman, SC, and consolidate production at Grace Complex, the company's primary finishing plant in Lancaster, SC. The transfer will...

Baker named to 7-yr. term on F.I.T. board of directors.(Jay Baker )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... NEW YORK -- The Fashion Institute of Technology has appointed retired Kohl's Department Stores president Jay Baker to its board of directors. Baker will serve a seven-year term. He is an appointee of the NYC Panel for Educational Policy,...

Karsten taps Rearer.(Alison Rearer)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... NEW YORK -- Bath and beach towels and table linens manufacturer Karsten America recently appointed Alison Rearer to the newly created position of director of product manager. She reports to John Cafaro, cmo. Rearer spent the past three...

Frichtl now an independent.(Kate Frichtl)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... WEST WARWICK, RI -- Kate Frichtl, an area rug designer for Central Oriental and the company's parent company, Natco Home Products, is leaving the company to become an independent sales representative and designer. "I have decided to pursue...

Brylane boss has close company ties: French parent company will be able to keep closer tabs on U.S. operation.(Eric Faintreny )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... NEW YORK -- When he assumes his new role as chairman and ceo of Brylane (USA) January 1, Eric Faintreny will bring with him a long and extensive background within its parent division, Redcats, the home shopping subsidiary of...

McLain leads product development.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... HONEA PATH, SC -- Southern Home Accents has hired Cheryl McLain as its new new vp of merchandising. She was previously vp of sales and marketing at Riverdale. In her new position, she will be responsible for all aspects of domestic and...

Jo-Ann plumps up 3Q profits.
December 1, 2003... HUDSON, OHIO -- In spite of an increase in expenses, Jo-Ann Stores Inc. posted a strongly improved third quarter. The fabric and crafts chain pushed its net income up by nearly 35 percent in the quarter, to $12 million. The company was...

Hit-and-run retailing.(Column)
December 1, 2003... Bluefly.com has become the latest retailer to set up temporary shop in New York City for what is billed as a seasonally opportunistic selling event. Since this marks the fourth such event to hit Gotham in the past 12 months, you gotta...

Out in the classroom.(Opinion Today)(recent meeting at Fashion Institute of Technology brought together industry, faculty, graduates and students to discuss the broad issues involving textile education)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... It's time to stop and think and look ahead to the future of the domestic textiles business. For any and all of you who plan to continue in the home furnishings business for any length of time, and especially in anything that has to do with...

Saks staggers under expense load.(Business Today)
December 1, 2003... BIRMINGHAM, ALA. -- Saks Inc. continued to struggle with its numbers in the third quarter. The retail company saw its expenses balloon as a percentage of sales, and posted a drop in its operating profit of 2.9 percent, to $182 million. The...

For Restoration, a rough road.(Business Today)
December 1, 2003... CORTE MADERA, CALIF. -- Rising costs made for an ugly quarterly picture for Restoration Hardware. The retailer saw its net loss for the quarter widen to $2.9 million from $2.4 million in third quarter 2002, and its operating loss deepen from...

Cost Plus scores.(Business Today)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... OAKLAND -- Strong sales and effective cost management led Cost Plus, Inc., to yet another quarter of record earnings results. The specialty retailer posted net income of $900,000 in the quarter, as opposed to a net loss of $700,000 for the...

BJ's margin slide pinches earnings.(Business Today)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... NATICK, MASS. -- A 21 percent increase in selling, general and administrative expenses helped topple net income for BJ's Wholesale Club in the third quarter. The warehouse club's net finished the quarter at $20.4 million, off nearly 13 percent...

Home Depot cleans up in 3Q.(Business Today)
December 1, 2003... ATLANTA -- The Home Depot Inc. rode a nearly 15 percent gain in sales and strong expense controls to record earnings in the third quarter. The nation's largest home improvement retail chain reported earnings of more than $1.1 billion for the...

Analysts optimistic despite so-so October.(Business Today)(retail sales numbers)
December 1, 2003... WASHINGTON -- Despite the laggard look to October's retail sales numbers, observers inside and outside of the industry are looking ahead to the coming holiday shopping season with a great deal of optimism. As reported by the U.S....

SG&A squeezes ShopKo profits.(Business Today)
December 1, 2003... GREEN BAY, WIS. -- A 120-basis point increase in selling, general and administrative expenses (as a percentage of sales) brought a 17 percent fall in operating profit to ShopKo Stores Inc. in the third quarter. However, the discount...

Stein Mart stumbles in third quarter.(Business Today)
December 1, 2003... JACKSONVILLE, FLA. -- A whopping rise in expenses combined with declining sales to bring a poor third quarter to Stein Mart Inc. The chain experienced huge increases in both its net loss and its operating loss during the quarter just ended...

Looking toward an easier '04.(Business Today)(Stein Mart Inc.)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... JACKSONVILLE, FL -- The elimination of full-price coupons, a strategy Stein Mart started in July, will likely dampen results through the remainder of the year. Stein Mart's comps suffered every month during the third quarter because of the...

Private label leads reset as ShopKo tweaks mix.(Business Today)(Brief Article)(Company Profile)
December 1, 2003... GREEN BAY, WI -- ShopKo's linens and domestics department--an "underperforming area"--was in transition during the third quarter as the chain worked to improve its mix, said Sam Duncan, president and ceo, during the company's third-quarter...

Wall Street watch for the week ended November 25, 2003.(Business Today)
December 1, 2003... MANUFACTURERS & SUPPLIERS CLOSE % CHG % CHG. COMPANY 11/25/03 THIS WEEK YEAR-TO-DATE Burlington Industries * (O) 0.00 0.00% -0.26 Cone...

Editor's notes.(Editorial)
December 1, 2003... As 2003 draws to a close, there remains much in up the air in the world of youth and infant home furnishings. Perhaps by the time this issue is out, some of those issues will be resolved--perhaps there will be even more things that lie in...

American children increasingly 'wired' with TVs, video games, computers.
December 1, 2003... High Point--Most American kids between 8 and 17 are wired. Six in 10 have a TV set in their bedroom. At least one in three have cable TV, a VCR or video game system there. Three in 10 have a telephone and one in six has a computer in their...

Largo debuts Jaclyn Smith young adult collection.(Licensing)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... High Point--Jaclyn Smith introduced a young adult bedroom collection for Largo here that was inspired by her own daughter, Spencer-Margaret, and carries her name. The Spencer-Margaret collection is offered in a Chiffon finish, and includes...

RC2 to produce line of Bob the Builder preschool toys.(Licensing)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Bolingbrook, Ill. -- RC2 Corp. has committed to produce make a new line of Bob the Builder preschool toys based on the recently announced new animated series "The New Adventures of Bob the Builder." The license is part of HIT...

Studio RTA producing Yahoo! licensed line.(Licensing)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... High Point--Capitalizing on the ever-growing Internet, Studio RTA is introducing a line of youth office and entertainment furniture licensed with online search engine Yahoo! "Yahoo! is synonymous with everything online," said Louis Vega,...

Toy Play lands 2 new master toy licenses.(Licensing)
December 1, 2003... New York -- Toy Play is expanding its role as a serious player in the master toy licensee category with the licensing agreements signed for the ChubbChubbs and The MiJOS. The MiJOS, a new property created by Homies creator David Gonzales,...

Ragdoll names licensees for 'Boohbah'.(Licensing)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... New York -- Ragdoll has announced several licensees for soft goods for its new preschool television show, "Boohbah," including Jay Franco for bedding, beach and bath. Other new licensees include Accessory Network for backpacks and luggage;...

Jakks Pacific wins license for [??]Mucha Lucha!(Licensing)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Malibu, Calif. -- Warner Bros. Consumer Products has named Jakks Pacific master toy licensee for !Mucha Lucha!, the all-Flash animated series that blends Latin culture and masked wrestling. Jakks is developing a wide range of !Mucha...

KidsOnly Toys adding My Little Pony, Cabbage Patch lines.(Licensing)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Framingham, Mass. -- KidsOnly Toys will add to its lines of licensed youth patio furniture and toys with the introduction of Cabbage Patch Kids and My Little Pony lines in fall 2004. The Cabbage Patch line will include patio furniture, lawn...

Style Studio, Imagination Entertainment team with Brainy Baby.(Licensing: The Brainy Baby Company)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Atlanta -- Educational video and CD producer The Brainy Baby Company has added Style Studio and Imagination Entertainment to its growing roster of licensees. Style Studio will produce crib bedding and nursery decor featuring stylistic...

Build-A-Bear licensing brand.(Licensing)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Beverly Hills, Calif. -- Build-A-Bear Workshop has named Evergreen Concepts as its licensing agent to develop a line of consumer products based on the personalized teddy bears. The Build-A-Bear concept, first launched in 1997, involves...

'Guess How Much I Love You' adds two licensees.(Licensing)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Mahwah, N.J. -- RJM Licensing has added two new licensees to its roster for the popular "Guess How Much I Love You" property. York Wallcoverings will make a line of licensed borders and wallpaper, and Wink Inc. will produce wooden room...

ShoPro named North American licensing agent for Sonic X.(Licensing)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... San Francisco -- ShoPro Entertainment, the U.S. affiliate of ShoPro Japan, has been named North American licensing agency for "Sonic X," a flew television program on FoxBox featuring the Sega video game icon Sonic the Hedgehog. The company...

Global Icons sets Cirque du Soleil program.(Licensing)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Los Angeles -- Licensing agent Global Icons has been named to represent Cirque du Soleil in developing a lifestyle merchandising program based on the company's touring productions. Cirque du Soleil's productions include a combination of...

Beverly Hills Teddy Bear making 'Shrek 2' line.(Licensing)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Santa Clarita, Calif. -- Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Company is making a line of licensed "Shrek 2" merchandise, including toy and novelty items. The initial designs will focus on Shrek, Donkey Fiona and Puss-n-Boots, and will include...

People around the industry.(Licensing)
December 1, 2003... Sesame Workshop names new legal VP New York -- Sesame Workshop has promoted Valerie Mitchell-Johnston to vice president, legal and business affairs, Mitchell-Johnston will continue to be responsible for advising, counseling and closing...

Antidumping effort will impact youth business.(News Watch)
December 1, 2003... High Point -- The American Furniture Manufacturers Committee for Legal Trade's antidumping petition may have far-reaching implications for youth bedroom furniture, even though as a category, it remains far less saturated with Chinese imports...

Antidumping petition heads to trade commission.(News Watch)
December 1, 2003... Editor's Note: This article is a truncated version of one that appeared in the Nov. 10 edition of Furniture/Today. For the full text as well as extensive ongoing coverage, see www.furnituretoday.com. Washington, D.C. -- After months of...

Durham debuts youth bedroom at High Point market.(News Watch)
December 1, 2003... High Point -- Durham Furniture showed its youth and juvenile bedroom furniture for the first time in the United States here last month--the first step in a long-term plan to grow sales in the category. The Canadian solid-wood case goods...

River's Edge offering youth line.(News Watch)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Lynchburg, Va. -- With eight new youth bedroom collections, River's Edge is showing that it wants to grow with kids. An importer primarily from Asia, River's Edge made the big push into youth bedroom furniture in order to tap into what it...

FAO Inc. in default of loan.(News Watch)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... King of Prussia, Pa. -- FAO Inc.'s lenders have told the retailer that it is in default under its loan agreement and that they would no longer consider themselves obligated to make further loans or extend letters of credit. The notice of...

Capel debuts kids line at market.(News Watch)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... High Point -- Rug Manufacturer Capel debuted a new line of children's rugs at the International Home Furnishings Market here last month. Dubbed Capel Kidz, the line includes two collections: Pep Rally, a group of all-cotton chenille...

Youth market poised for upbeat 2004.(News Watch)(Industry Overview)
December 1, 2003... High Point -- Youth furniture manufacturers and retailers are generally optimistic about what's in store for 2004, and many sense a positive consumer outlook leading up to the end of this year. Despite the economic slump most of the country...

Giggle by Oh! launches in San Fran.(News Watch)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... San Francisco -- The giggle by Oh! line of baby products launched with the October opening of the first giggle by Oh! Boutique at 2110 Chestnut Street here, followed by a catalog and Web site in early 2004. Home delivery and local...

All About Kids lives up to name: Pittsburgh store carves out niche by focusing on youth furnishings.(Up Close)
December 1, 2003... Pittsburgh--Despite being relative newcomers in the independent specialty store scene, Mike and Rebecca Taylor have made big strides with their children's furniture store here, All About Kids. In a market saturated with a number of baby...

Targeting teens with hip styles, cool colors.(Up Close)
December 1, 2003... Hip styles for teens were all the rage at the fall home furnishings market, with contemporary looks and anything-but-kiddie color seen in many manufacturers' showrooms. By adding bold colors to metal beds and incorporating school and...

White continues reign as dominant kids color.(Up Close)
December 1, 2003... White has always been a color for kids furniture, and this fall's High Point furniture market saw its share of classic looks in youth bedroom with particularly strong introductions in all shades of white. While white furniture is...

High Point serves up some new faces: newcomers to market as well as to youth arena indicate growing reach of category.(Show Biz)
December 1, 2003... Vaughan launched its licensed, NASCAR collection, including the Victory Lane bed, complete with changeable tires. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A Shade Different unveiled this Teddy Bear lamp with a removable plush bear and a retail of $95....

Retailers continue upward trend in 2Q.(Departments)(Kids Today's second quarter 2003 scorecard )
December 1, 2003... High Point -- Eight out of the 11 retailers on Kids Today's second quarter 2003 scorecard reported revenue increases compared with second quarter 2002 results. Leading the way in percentage revenue growth was once again textiles specialty...

Industry calendar.(Departments)(Calendar)
December 1, 2003... DECEMBER 3-5 Furniture/Today Leadership Conference, Ritz Carlton, Orlando, Fla., (336) 605-1066. JANUARY 2004 3-6 Philadelphia Gift Show, Fort Washington Expo Center, Fort Washington, Pa., (678) 285-3976. 4-6 Orlando Gift...

Products on parade.(Furniture * Lamps & Accessories * Textiles * Playthings * Gear)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: The Noah's Ark crib by French producer Adele Le Floch features inlaid wood detailing to create the characters. Coordinating cross-stitched bedding also is available. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption:...

Home performs AOK in early Holiday buys.
December 8, 2003... NEW YORK -- Home-related merchandise seems to have warmed customers' hearts--as well as rung a high note at cash registers--this holiday season, showing a strong start over the Thanksgiving weekend. Whether chasing values or decorative...

Revived brands to face hurdles.(Interview)
December 8, 2003... NEW YORK -- The future of the Pillowtex brands should become clearer before Christmas. Five months after the defunct mill entered bankruptcy and commenced its liquidation, four separate deals for the brands will be announced over the next...

Flame standards debate burns on.
December 8, 2003... NEW YORK -- While California's rule-making on mattress flammability standards is now in its final stages, home textiles suppliers are still working with the California Department of Consumer Affairs and the U.S. Consumer Products Safety...

Chains fight the grinch who might steal season.
December 8, 2003... NEW YORK -- With the holiday selling season well underway, some retailers had a merry start to the season and their home businesses, while others did not get what they wished for. Warehouse clubs, such as Costco and BJs, along with other...

Wal-Mart's Harris to retire, Watts adds some home.(Retail briefs)(Don Harris)(Claire Watts)(Brief Article)
December 8, 2003... Wal-Mart Stores has announced that Don Harris, evp, general merchandise, for the Wal-Mart Stores division, is retiring after 23 years with the company. He will stay on until April 30, 2004, to help in the transition of his responsibilities. As...

Hanover Direct control moves to hedge fund.(Retail briefs)(Brief Article)
December 8, 2003... Hanover Direct completed the recapitalization of its company with hedge fired Chelsey Direct, which now controls the company. Hanover agreed to, exchange 564,819 shares of a newly issued Series C preferred stock and 81,857,833 shares of newly...

Lowe's expanding DC network.(Retail briefs)(is opening 130 new stores during the fiscal 2003 year)(Brief Article)
December 8, 2003... Dovetailing with Lowe's aggressive new store opening schedule, the home center retailer is building a new regional distribution center in Plainfield, CT, on a 215-acre site on Tarbox Road. The 1.3 million-square-foot facility will be Lowe's...

Home Depot plugs into Weather Channel.(Retail briefs)(Brief Article)
December 8, 2003... Home Depot will launch a series of spots called "The Home Depot Project of the Month" on The Weather Channel that spotlight weather-related borne improvement projects. The cable network's home expert. Danny Lipford, will host the program. Five...

Gottschalks converting to transaction data system.(Retail briefs)(Brief Article)
December 8, 2003... Gottschalks has signed an agreement with Global eX-change Services to covert the retailer's 1,200 suppliers to the B-to-B's network for end-to-end solutions. The new system will give Gottschalks and suppliers real-time transmission and...

Bluefly store.(Retail briefs)(opened a temporary outlet shop)(Brief Article)
December 8, 2003... Just for the holidays, Bluefly.com opened a temporary out let shop at 42 West 24th Street, NYC, though the company did say that it will evaluate the store at the end of the month and decide whether or not to continue operations. Right now...

Kmart cuts losses, bumps margin.
December 8, 2003... TROY, MI -- Kmart Holding Corp. decreased its net loss 94 percent from a year ago, down to $23 million for the third quarter, compared to the $383 million loss a year ago. But net sales for the same period also decreased 21.2 percent to...

Home & Harmony branching out.(Brief Article)
December 8, 2003... ATLANTA -- Home Source International hits inked deals with rep firms in Atlanta, Dallas and Los Angeles to open 600 to 700-square-foot showrooms for Home & Harmony, its high-end product division. The showrooms will open by January 2004 to...

A 50 pct. add-on has Arlee DC in the clouds.(Arlee Home Fashions)(Brief Article)
December 8, 2003... NEW YORK -- Arlee Home Fashions is about to complete a 50,000-square-foot high cube extension to one of its warehousing centers in West Plains, MO. The additional space to the 100,000-square-foot site is being made to accommodate...

HFPA sets meet date.
December 8, 2003... NEW YORK -- The annual meeting of the Home Fashion Products Association will be held here Dee. 16 at 41 Madison Ave., in the lower level meeting room. The meeting begins with a continental breakfast at 8 a.m., with elections at 8:30 a.m.,...

Pierre Deux adds on.(open its 14th US store)(Brief Article)
December 8, 2003... WESTPORT, CT -- High-end furnishings company Pierre Deux will open its 14th US store here Dec. 12 in a location adjacent to the Westport Country Playhouse. At 1,900 square feet, the store will include Pierre Deux's new bedding and bath...

Ex-retailer Dale passes.(Roberta Fortune Dale)(Obituary)
December 8, 2003... DARIEN, CT -- Roberta Fortune Dale, a long-time retailer and entrepreneur, (died in late November at 55 after a 15-year battle against ovarian cancer. Most recently the founder of The Yoga Source here, she earlier founded Fortune's Almanac...