Home Textiles Today articles from December 2006

Home Textiles Today archives from December 2006

Chain Sales Falter.(Financial report)(Statistical data)
December 4, 2006... By Don Hogsett New York - Even getting a lift from a strong 'Black Friday' and an aggressive spurt of early holiday promotions that had consumers storming the malls, same-store sales were something of a disappointment during November,...

Charlie Chinni Checks Out.(JCPenney Company Inc. vice president Charles Chinni to retire)
December 4, 2006... By Staff Plano, Texas - Charles Chinni, JCPenney's executive vice president, home and leisure, women's accessories and family footwear, will retire on Feb. 2, 2007, wrapping up a 40-year career in retailing. Until his retirement he...

Simple Elegance to Seduce at Showtime.(home textiles)
December 4, 2006... By Carole Sloan Technologies Drive Luxury Fabric Looks High Point, N.C. - Metallic looks, fabrics that reflect a more luxurious pedigree, a color palette tending to the blue family, and a 21st century interpretation of traditional...

Springs Global Sales Down 15%.(Financial report)
December 4, 2006... By Don Hogsett Fort Mill, S.C. - With U.S. consumers shunning home fashions as they head to the malls, stretching every dollar to make up for rising gas and higher interest rates on credit cards, Springs Global, perhaps the world's...

American Trim Promotes Paust.(promotion of Bob Paust )(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... By Staff Durham, N.Y. - Bob Paust has been promoted to national sales manager for American Trim Co., reporting to Richard Gangi, president and owner. Paust joined the company in 2004, and was formerly with Conso. In other sales...

Bon-Ton Operating Metrics Improve.(Bon-Ton Stores Inc.)(Financial report)
December 4, 2006... By Staff York, PA - Weighed down by soaring interest costs and takeover debt as it builds a department store empire, The Bon-Ton Stores Inc. recorded a widening third-quarter loss of $10.9 million, compared with a year-ago deficit of...

HTT Welcomes Sara Orlando to Sales Team.(Home Textiles Today )(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... By Staff New York - Sara Orlando is the newly promoted Account Manager for West Coast, Midwest and Canadian accounts at Home Textiles Today . Orlando has worked in sales and sales support for nearly three years. She was most recently...

Images wanted from Heimtextil Exhibitors.
December 4, 2006... By Staff Deadline for Images is December 12 New York - If your company will be exhibiting at Heimtextil from Jan. 10-13, 2007 in Frankfurt, Germany, please consider sending HTT images of your new product introductions for inclusion in...

Retail Briefs.(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... By Staff Sears Acquires 70% of Sears Canada Staff With its offer deadline expiring last week, Sears Holdings Corporation now holds considerably less than the 100% of Sears Canada shares it had sought. The company said its...

Revman Promotes Kartus.(Revman International promotes Harry Kartus)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... By Staff New York - Revman has promoted Harry Kartus, currently vp and general manager of the Tommy Hilfiger Home division, to senior vp and chief merchandising officer of Revman International. He succeeds Norm Savaria, who has left the...

Craftex Plans Collection.(Craftex Mills Inc.,)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... By Staff High Point, N.C. - Craftex Mills is featuring its Antiques Roadshow decorative fabrics collection in a separate show space during Showtime this week. The collection is targeted at fabric retailers, and the presentation will...

Gottschalks Sees Marketing Results.(Financial report)
December 4, 2006... By Cecile B. Corral Fresno, Calif. - At the onset of its board of directors' evaluation, which includes exploring the possibility of selling the company, Gottschalks Inc. recently embarked on a new marketing campaign intended to help...

Showtime Events Planned.
December 4, 2006... By Staff High Point, N.C. - During Showtime, ITMA will host a reception on Sunday at 6 p.m. at the Sammy G Steakhouse. On Monday and Tuesday, there will be a reception at Level One, Suites at Market Square, beginning at 5:30 pm and...

Studio Area Fills Up for Showtime.(Event overview)
December 4, 2006... By Staff High Point, N.C. - The first-ever Studio design section, set to debut at Winter Showtime here Dec. 3 - 6, has been filled, according to John Kearns, president of the International Textile Market Assn., which sponsors the...

Valdese Fetes Designer Mancini.(Valdese Weavers Inc.)
December 4, 2006... By Carole Sloan New York - With more than 100 patterns, all domestically produced in Valdese, N.C., the Wesley Mancini by Valdese Weavers brand decorative fabrics collection was launched here last week. The collection will be shown...

Court Approves Foamex Plan.(Foamex International Inc. to reorganize)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... By Larry Thomas Linwood, Pa. - A U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware has approved a financing plan and disclosure statement for foam producer Foamex International, a move that could lead to the company's emergence from Chapter 11...

Dollar General: New President, Strategic Changes.(appointment of David Bere )(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... By Staff Goodlettsville, Tenn. - Dollar General has named David Bere president and coo, and the retailer also said it will close about 400 stores during 2007. Bere, who has served on the board of directors since 2002, will report to...

Domay Debuts Better Line.(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... By Staff Montreal - Domay has launched a new line featuring better quality goods at higher price points. The collection, under the name Team Domay, targets big box and specialty stores. Some portions of the line target mass merchant...

New Show for Luxury Market.(Event overview)
December 4, 2006... By Staff White Plains, N.Y. - George Little Management (GLM) and Reed Exhibitions (affiliated with HTT parent Reed Business Information) will launch Cadeaux, The Luxury Gift Collection at JCK, a new market to augment the offerings at...

Restoration Hardware Looking Up.(Financial report)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... By Staff Corte Madera, Calif. - Coming off a third quarter during which it beat analysts' expectations, Restoration Hardware is "encouraged" by its early holiday trends and expects comp increases during the fourth quarter. During...

Sale Promotes Sure Fit Site.(introduction of new consumer website)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... By Staff Allentown, Pa. - Slipcover manufacturer Sure Fit has launched its new consumer website with a major sale event, offering 20% off products ordered online through Dec. 24. Besides a full product range shopable by color, price...

Trading Up Test at Family Dollar.(Family Dollar Stores Inc.)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... By Cecile B. Corral Matthews, N.C. - Looking to attract customers at somewhat higher income brackets than its typically modest clientele, Family Dollar will roll out in January about 200 new stores featuring a more polished concept. ...

New Fibers, Fabrications Broaden Lines.(home textiles)
December 4, 2006... By Jill Rowen Improved Technology Driving Many Alternative Down Offerings Advances in fibers, fabrics, and production techniques have shifted the ground under down and down alternative products. Once a marketplace where 20% of...

Dalyn Rug Announces Hires.(Dalyn Rug Co. appoints Michael Shapow and Brian Vanderwerf )(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... By Staff Dalton, Ga. - Michael Shapow and Brian Vanderwerf are in new posts at rug importer and distributor Dalyn Rug Co. Vanderwerf has been named regional vp for sales, responsible for the Midwest. He most recently was vp of sales...

Hasper Joins Soft-Tex.(appointment of Eric Hasper)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... By Staff Cohoes, N.Y. - As Soft-Tex Manufacturing continues to expand its branded lineup of bed pillows, mattress pads, featherbeds and memory foam products, Eric Hasper has been named product manager, with responsibility for design and...

Lane Sales Taps Cascio for New Jersey.(appointment of Dan Cascio )(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... By Staff Long Island, N.Y. - Lane Sales has hired Dan Cascio as territory manager, with responsibility to drive the rug and floor covering sales company's expansion into central and northern New Jersey. Cascio will report to Lane Sales...

Safavieh Names Kraus to Northeast Post.(Safavieh Rugs and Home appoints Scott Kraus)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... By Staff New York - Area rug resource Safavieh has appointed Scott Kraus as its new territory manager, responsible for rug sales in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio. He reports to John Thompson, national...

Sunbrella Expands Rosendale's Duties.(Greg Rosendale )(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... By Staff Glen Raven, N.C. - Glen Raven Custom Fabrics has named Greg Rosendale the Sunbrella residential furniture fabrics manager, expanding his overall responsibilities that also include managing Sunbrella placements in specialty...

TMS/Menagerie Hires Wilde.(appointment of John Wilde )(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... By Staff Casselberry, Fla. - Home decor and drapery hardware manufacturer TMS Inc./Menagerie has appointed John Wilde national sales manager. Wilde is a 20-year veteran of the gift and home accessory industry, having held a range of...

Valdese Weavers Launches VM Textiles.(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... By Staff Valdese, N.C. - Valdese Weavers, in realigning its Southeastern sales force, has created VM Textiles, a sales agency concentrating on residential accounts in North Carolina, Virginia, eastern Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia...

Consumers Hedge on Confidence.(Statistical data)
December 4, 2006... By Don Hogsett New York - Raising some questions about December holiday spending, consumer confidence fell for a second straight month in November as Americans continued to fret about a softer job market and an uncertain short-term...

Department Stores Widen Comp Advantage.(Financial report)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... By Staff New York - Driven by early and aggressive promotions, free gifts and early-bird specials, same-store retail sales improved by 2.9% during the fourth week of November, but not as much as they had in the three prior weeks, when...

Home Sales, Starts Dampen.(Brief article)(Statistical data)
December 4, 2006... By Staff Washington - The broad U.S. housing market continued to lose steam during October, hobbled by falling home prices and buyer and builder skittishness. The big market for existing homes, which accounts for more than 70% of...

Lots of Pop in Department Stores.(home textiles)
December 4, 2006... By Jennifer Marks, Editor-in-Chief Have you been watching the numbers lately? Somebody apparently forget to tell department stores their channel is dead - because some of those dinosaurs are looking pretty frisky. At least, that's the...

One Size Fits All ... Not.(American Home Furnishings Alliance)
December 4, 2006... By Carole Sloan, Founding Editor-in-Chief Folks in the world of home textiles often need to look beyond their borders for information, directional signals and the like. Often, it helps bring significant things into perspective. A case...

Blair Consolidating Returns Operations.(planning to close Returns Center )(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... By Staff Warren, Pa. - Blair Corporation, the $450 million multi-channel direct marketer of apparel and home products, plans to close its leased Returns Center in Erie, Pa., and move all returns operations to the Blair Distribution...

Indian Fair Boasts 1,800 Exhibitors.
December 4, 2006... By Staff New Delhi, India - The Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts will host the 23rd Indian Handicrafts & Gifts Fair from Feb. 22 - 26, 2007 at the India Expo Mart on the Greater Noida Expressway here. Among the 1,800...

Dalmia Sets GHCL Course.(GHCL)
December 18, 2006... By Don Hogsett New York - The scrappy Indian conglomerate that earlier this year bought Dan River is now on the prowl to buy a major American home fashions retail chain - guessing games begin here - creating an entirely new business model...

Suppliers Express Optimism.
December 18, 2006... By HTT Staff 2007 First Half Outlook New York - Home textiles suppliers have battled retailer consolidation, soaring raw material costs, downward price pressure, that popping sound coming from the housing market, and a host of other...

Strong Sales at Showtime.
December 18, 2006... By Carole Sloan High Point, N.C. - Decorative fabric retailers and jobbers provided the sales push for exhibitors at Showtime here earlier this month. The show is largely appointment-only with few drop-ins. While many exhibitors...

Call For February Market Sample Submissions.
December 18, 2006... By Staff New York - The New York Home Fashions Market (the official name for the casually-referred to 'New York Market Week') will take place Feb. 12-16, 2007. HTT coverage is in the planning stages now. To make sure your company's new...

Retail Briefs.
December 18, 2006... By Staff Ross Stores Promotes Panattoni Staff Off-price retailer Ross Stores has promoted Lisa Panattoni, executive vp, merchandising for the home businesses at Ross Dress for Less, the main chain with 733 stores, giving her...

Icahn to Invest $200 Million More in WestPoint Home.(Carl Icahn)(Brief article)
December 18, 2006... By Staff New York - In a show of support for WestPoint Home, investor Carl Icahn, who controls the major mill through his American Real Estate Partners holding company, said he will invest up to $200 million more in WestPoint. ...

Asian Vision to Debut at Heimtextil.
December 18, 2006... By Carole Sloan Frankfurt, Germany - Asian Vision will be introduced as the high quality exhibit of Asian textiles at Heimtextil here next month from Jan.10 to Jan.13. Asian Vision is the counterpart to Dreamland, the premium high...

Breakfast Aids FIT/Home Products Program.
December 18, 2006... By Staff New York -Save the date: the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) will host its Home Products Development Breakfast on Monday, April 23, to support the college's program. The award recipients have been announced: ...

Momeni Coy On New Concept.(Brief article)
December 18, 2006... By Staff New York -Area rug supplier Momeni will be unveiling a new rug concept in January during the Atlanta International Area Rug market - but the company is keeping details about the collection a surprise until the launch. Other...

Parimatex Lines Target Demographic Groups.(Brief article)
December 18, 2006... By Staff Dayton, N.J. - Parimatex Group is readying five collections for the New York Home Fashions Market in February, including lines for tween and infant/kids. 'We are now tailoring our products to different market segments, which...

Chinese Towel Giant Sunvim Goes Public.(Sunvim Group Co. Ltd. )(Brief article)
December 18, 2006... By Staff Shenzhen, China - One of China's largest home textiles manufacturers has recently gone public. Sunvim Group Co. Ltd. celebrated its Initial Public Offering of class A stock on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange late last month. The...

Caldeira Arrives in U.S.(Brief article)
December 18, 2006... By Staff New York -The United Kingdom's leading decorative pillow and throw company is headed across the pond. Caldeira Ltd. has incorporated in the United States as Caldeira USA Inc. and taken a showroom here at 261 Fifth Ave. The...

Scoperta Readies 'Made in Europe' Certification.(Brief article)
December 18, 2006... By Staff Cernobbio, Italy - Next year's Scorpeta will launch a Made in Europe certification program (MEC). Products on display carrying the MEC mark will have been audited to confirm the entire manufacturing progress was undertaken in...

Evteks, designEX to Host Suppliers.
December 18, 2006... By Staff Washington - The U.S. Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) will sponsor USA Sample Pavilions at two trade shows next year. The first will appear at designEX, the home/contract/hospitality design expo in Melbourne, Australia....

HFPA Urges California on Flammability.(Home Fashion Products Association)(Brief article)
December 18, 2006... By Staff New York - The Home Fashion Products Association (HFPA) is concerned that the proposed California product flammability standards will require its members to treat bedding fill with toxic chemicals. The California standards are...

Carpenter Website Tells the World: Sleep Better.(www.sleepbetter.org)
December 18, 2006... By Jill Rowen Interaction the Key to Buying Decisions Richmond, Va. - Thousands of people have gotten a better night's sleep since Nov. 15, according to Dan Schecter, vp sales and marketing, Carpenter Co. That's when the company's new...

Down Lite Explains: Why Buy Down?(www.WhyBuyDown.com )
December 18, 2006... By Jill Rowen Educating Buyers, Consumers to Improve Business Cincinnati - Why buy down? Down Lite is happy to tell you in one of two websites it produces specifically to promote the virtues of down products to both consumers and...

Chandra Rugs Doubles Atlanta Showroom.(Brief article)
December 18, 2006... By Staff Adairsville, Ga.- Less than one year since establishing itself, handmade Indian rug company Chandra Rugs is more than doubling the size of its showroom at the Atlanta AmericasMart. The sixth-floor space is at 6-G-5 and now...

828 Int'l Adds to Lauren Brooks Line.(828 International Trading Co)(Brief article)
December 18, 2006... By Staff Greenville, S.C. -Based on demand, 828 International Trading Co.'s Lauren Brooks collection by designer Kathy Imes will again be the focus for the company at the January markets in Atlanta and Las Vegas. This collection...

After Restructuring, Culp Turns a Profit.
December 18, 2006... By Staff High Point, N.C. -Helped by gains in its mattress ticking business, diversified fabrics producer Culp Inc. recorded a small second-quarter profit of $812,000 - despite a continuing slide in sales. This reversed a year-before loss...

Park B. Smith Wine Fetches $5 Million.(fund raising)(Brief article)
December 18, 2006... By Staff New York - The auction last month of wine from the Park B. Smith Collection at Sotheby's totaled $5,328,833. The wine, a small part of Smith's collection, was auctioned to benefit his alma mater, The College of the Holy Cross....

Hellenic Rug Updates Candice Olson Collection.(Hellenic Rug Imports)(Brief article)
December 18, 2006... By Staff High Point, N.C. -Hellenic Rug Imports has several new collections lined up for the upcoming markets, including the Atlanta International Area Rug show and the Las Vegas World Market, both in January. Its designer program with...

Westgate by adf Taps Sousa.(new appointment)(Brief article)
December 18, 2006... By Staff New York - In a move designed to expand its international business, long-time international sales specialist Billy Sousa has joined Westgate by adf. Sousa, who most recently was with Belgium-based Bru, and earlier Quaker...

Silver State Names Sales Director.(appointment of Judy Robbins )(Brief article)
December 18, 2006... By Staff Salt Lake City - Fabric producer Silver State Inc. has hired Judy Robbins as sales and marketing director. Robbins will lead all sales support functions, including direct marketing communications. She reports to Manoli Sargetakis,...

Home Accents Today Editor Targets Affluent Consumer.
December 18, 2006... By Staff New York -During the New York International Gift Fair, Becky Smith will present a program detailing how to gain business in the luxury demographic. Smith is editor-in-chief of Home Accents Today, a sister publication of HTT. ...

Unifi Cuts Forecast as Inventories Back Up.(Brief article)
December 18, 2006... By Staff Greensboro, N.C. -Yarn producer Unifi has revised its expectations downward for the quarter ended December 2006, from a previous forecast of $10 million to $12 million EBITDA to a new projection of 'less than 50% of this...

Surya Rugs Expands Atlanta Showroom.(Brief article)
December 18, 2006... By Staff Atlanta - Handmade rug supplier Surya Rugs has expanded its AmericasMart showroom here to 6,000 square feet. Located in 6-A-7, this space will also serve as the headquarters office. 'Our line has matured to more than 40...

Ronile Growing on All Fronts.(celebration of Ronile Inc.)
December 18, 2006... By Cecile B. Corral Rocky Mount, Va. - Ronile Inc. is celebrating the close of its first full year as a complete soft floor covering supplier, with a product range that runs 'from the front door to the bedroom.' The second-generation,...

Comphy at Home Luxury Spa Line Debuts.
December 18, 2006... By Staff Los Angeles - Comphy Co., a four-year-old linen company for the four- and five-star spa market has created a new line that it will market, to the luxury retail community. Comphy at Home will consist of spa-quality linens,...

Wools of New Zealand Augments Lines.(Brief article)
December 18, 2006... By Staff Atlanta -Under their respective licenses with the Wools of New Zealand (WONZ) brand, both Capel and Karastan will show new collections of area rugs at the International Area Rug Market here in mid January. Capel, based in...

Custom Comfort Coming Home to Fifth Avenue.(Custom Comfort Mattress Co)(Brief article)
December 18, 2006... By Staff Santa Ana, Calif. - Custom Comfort will return to New York with a showroom at 230 Fifth Avenue for the February New York Home Fashions Market. The bedding company, which closed its showroom in the building earlier this year, will...

Cupron Offers Bedding that Beautifies.(introduction of sheet sets, pillowcases, and sleep pillows)
December 18, 2006... By Staff Greensboro, N.C. - New anti-wrinkle bedding is headed for the market - but the wrinkles it smoothes out aren't in the sheets. Cupron's 'Beauty While You Sleep' pillows, pillowcases and sheets incorporate technology that...

Merida Bolsters Central Park Line.(Merida)
December 18, 2006... By Staff Boston - Area rug supplier Merida is building on the success of its Metropolitan collection of New Zealand wool rugs with the addition of two colorways to its Central Park group. The colors are blaze, which is inspired by...

Feizy Rugs to Debut Sandra Lee Home.
December 18, 2006... By Staff Dallas - Feizy Rugs and Food Network show host Sandra Lee have partnered to create a collection of machine-made and hand-tufted rugs. This new licensed program, titled the Sandra Lee Home collection, comprises casual, urban,...

Cost Plus Taps Whitney.(appointment of George Whitney )(Brief article)
December 18, 2006... By Staff Oakland, Calif. - Specialty retailer Cost Plus has appointed George Whitney senior vp of merchandising. Most recently the founder of a Hong Kong-based home products development trading company, Whitney had previously spent 17...

Lectra Taps Jerry Inman for North America.(Brief article)
December 18, 2006... By Staff Paris - Lectra, producer of software, CAD/CAM equipment and related services to large-scale users of textiles, named Jerry Inman vp of marketing of North America. Inman will be based in New York, reporting to Lectra North...

Huffman, Sutton Win GH Award.(Felicity Huffman and Terry Sutton win Annual Good Buy Awards)(Brief article)
December 18, 2006... By Staff New York -Good Housekeeping magazine announced that 'Heads Up,' a pillow concept created by actress Felicity Huffman in conjunction with Terry Sutton & Associates, is a winner in the 12th Annual Good Buy Awards. Winning...

Duckwall-Alco Hires Hixon.(appointment of Phillip Hixon)(Brief article)
December 18, 2006... By Staff Abilene, Kan. - Midwestern regional discount operator Duckwall-ALCO Stores has named Phillip Hixon vp store development, reporting to Rick Sturdivant, senior vp of stores. Hixon was most recently vp of store planning and...

Nourison Elevates Several, Eyes Expansion.(business expansions)(Brief article)
December 18, 2006... By Staff Saddle Brook, N.J. - Area and accent rug supplier Nourison has promoted several of its executives in preparation of the new year, when the company plans to expand its business into new categories. The execs and their new...

Wools of New Zealand Appoints Parsons.(Steven Parsons appointed as a international product development manager)(Brief article)
December 18, 2006... By Staff Atlanta -Wools of New Zealand has appointed Steven Parsons as its international product development manager. He is set to begin in January. The post's responsibilities were previously handled mainly by Malcolm Sims, who left...

Home Flat at Dollar General.(company earnings)(Financial report)
December 18, 2006... By Staff Goodlettsville, Tenn. -Hit by the $79.2 million cost of getting out of its failed 'packaway' inventory model and shutting down unprofitable doors, Dollar General recorded a third-quarter loss of $5.3 million, compared with a...

Retail Up, Home Décor Flat.(Brief article)
December 18, 2006... By Don Hogsett Washington - Catching Wall Street and analysts by surprise, U.S. retail sales unexpectedly surged by 1.0% in November, the biggest one-month gain since July, when sales rose by 1.4%. It was good news for American...

December Comp Sales Slipping.(company sales)(Brief article)
December 18, 2006... By Staff New York - With shoppers trained like Pavlov's dogs to wait for deeper discounts closer to the holiday, and with unseasonably warm weather chilling out apparel sales, consumers continued to bide their time, pushing same-store...

Housing Slump to Ease in 2007.(forecast of housing)
December 18, 2006... By Don Hogsett Washington - With interest rates ticking up and consumers still jittery, a broad-based slowdown in housing is forecast to extend into 2007, with home sales falling for a second straight year, the National Association of...

Losses Mount at Pier 1 Imports.
December 18, 2006... By Staff Fort Worth, Texas - With its costs soaring higher and margins shredded, Pier 1 Imports recorded a seventh straight quarterly loss, $72.7 million, more than 10 times the size of a year-before loss of $7.2 million. During seven...

Costco Wholesale Surges Ahead.(company earnings)(Financial report)
December 18, 2006... By Staff Issaquah, Wash. - Helped by rising same-store sales, lower borrowing costs and interest it earned on money it put in the bank, first fiscal quarter profits at Costco Wholesale Corp. climbed by 9.8%, to $236.9 million from $215.8...

Suppliers a Retailer's Best Friend.
December 18, 2006... Jennifer Marks, Editor-in-Chief A softening real estate market. Rising wages at factories in China. Wavering consumer confidence. And yet, most of the suppliers HTT contacted for our story on the outlook for the first half of 2007 were...