Home Textiles Today articles from February 2006

Home Textiles Today archives from February 2006

Anna's Linens roars into the Carolinas.(News)
February 6, 2006... Gastonia, N.C. -- Anna's Linens boosted its square footage by 5% in a single day last week, opening a dozen of the 14 former Plej's stores it acquired late last year. As the Costa Mesa, Calif.-based retailer adds new markets along the East...

Furniture maker takes aim at textiles retailers.(Ashley Furniture Industries Inc.)
February 6, 2006... Arcadia, Wisc. -- Ashley Furniture Industries, a $2.72 billion producer of furniture and related home furnishings, is expanding its top of the bed program beyond its current channel of distribution of furniture retailers. The company's...

O'Connor outlines new springs global structure: U.S. in sales 'overhaul;' Brazil overseas manufacturing.(knits Springs Industries, Springs Global, Tom O'Connor)(Company Profile)
February 6, 2006... Fort Mill, S.C. -- With the ink freshly dry on a deal that knits Springs Industries and Coteminas together as an international powerhouse, Springs Global, the company has hammered out an operating structure that leaves sales, marketing and most...

Strong reviews for Las Vegas market.(News)
February 6, 2006... Las Vegas -- A new and different audience created a very upbeat market for home textiles suppliers showing at the home furnishings market at the World Market Center and Mandalay Bay Convention Center here last week. The roster of home...

Suppliers head into last mini-market.(News)
February 6, 2006... New York -- Behold, the last-ever February Mini-Market. This week marks the end of a long era of vendors pitching their Santas and sleigh bells to buyers during a scaled-down event set aside just for the selling of holiday-specific goods....

Pamida names Johnson. president and CEO.(Larry Johnson)(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Pamida, which operates 216 general merchandise stores across the Midwest, has named Larry Johnson president and ceo. Johnson was most recently vp of the Wal-Mart Stores division Sam's International. Prior to his tenure at Wal-Mart, Johnson...

Garnet Hill licensed rugs by trans ocean are all natural.(Retail Briefs)(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Natural fiber home product catalog Garnet Hill is collaborating with area rug supplier Trans-Ocean in creating a collection of rugs. Consistent with Garnet Hill's tradition in selling natural goods, all of the rugs are made of 100% wool and are...

LNT in transition.(News)
February 6, 2006... Clifton. N.J. -- Linens 'n Things had a busy week, releasing preliminary fourth-quarter and full-year sales and operating profit figures; announcing that shareholders approved the Apollo Management buyout offer; and naming Robert DiNicola the...

For the record.(News)(Correction Notice)
February 6, 2006... Due to a proofreading error HTT incorrectly identified two job titles on page 23 in the article "Global Business" (Jan. 30). The correct wording is: Springs Global will be jointly led by Crandall Bowles and Josue Gomes da Silva. She was...

Newness trades briskly at NY Int'l Gift Fair.(New York International Gift Fair)
February 6, 2006... New York -- In the continuing struggle against stale, and the never-ending search for new customers and merchandise--incremental business--the New York International Gift Fair has become the perfect bazaar to tap into someone else's business....

Gilmartin details new Covington strategy: challenge is to become a one-stop global source with multi-tier focus for contract business growth.(News)
February 6, 2006... New York -- The new owners of Covington will focus on decorative jobbers, manufactured products, retail and the hospitality segment of the contract business for growth. "Our goal is to make this complicated business as simple in execution...

Feizy names Swearington to Nat'l sales: overseeing national accounts, he'll head chain stores, new business development.(News)
February 6, 2006... Dallas -- Feizy Imports & Exports has appointed Gerrit Swearingen national account manager, heading the area rug supplier's national chain store business and new business development. Prior to joining Feizy, Swearingen was vp national...

Ashley McBride debuts Venice Home.(Ashley McBride International Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... New York -- Ashley McBride is introducing the Venice Home Collection, a super luxury bed, bath and custom tabletop textile program this week. A supplier-importer of high end home textiles, Ashley McBride is featuring the bedding in linen...

Down council launches labeling effort.(American Down and Feather Council)(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... New York -- The American Down and Feather Council has created a quality certification and labeling compliance program comprising an ADFC Seal of Approval based on products meeting testing standards set by the International Down and Feather...

CMI, AMS in rug deal.(Colonial Mills Inc., AMS Imports Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Pawtucket, R.I. -- A new collection of weatherproof, Cablelock-branded braided rugs is being developed through a recent partnership between CMI (Colonial Mills Inc.) and AMS Imports Inc. These indoor/outdoor braided rugs are made using a...

Micro for mid-tier.(News)
February 6, 2006... Coimbatore, India -- Sharadha Terry Products Ltd. has introduced a mid-tier level for its upmarket MicroCotton brand of zero-twist bedding products. The mid-price collection will be branded as Dew rather than MicroCotton. It includes seven...

Gulistan launches bedding.(Gulistan Group)
February 6, 2006... Frankfurt, Germany Gulistan Group, a long-time Pakistani yarn and greige-goods producer, has launched its first manufactured product collection: decorative bedding. New York designer Peter D'Ascoli has created three bed collections under...

Calendar.(Calendar)
February 6, 2006... February 5-8 Winter Mini-Market New York Showrooms (212) 297-2122 5-9 International Spring Fair National Exhibition Centre Birmingham, England 44 (0) 845 051 2610 www.springfair.com 10-14 Ambiente Frankfurt, Germany 49 69 75 75 0...

Mini-market preview.
February 6, 2006... 1. HOLLANDER HOME's Cashmere bedding collection, made in India, includes this 27"-x-23" sham. * 2. REVERE MILLS' new Flip-Flops bath towel collection comprises reversible two-tone brightly colored towels. They coordinate with bath rugs. * 3....

Confidence hits 3-year high.(home furnishing, consumer behavior survey)(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... New York -- With Americans feeling more bullish on the current state of the economy, and optimistic about the outlook for jobs, consumer confidence climbed for a third straight month in January, rising by 2.4% to its highest level in more than...

Housing sales coming in for a soft landing.(real estate market)
February 6, 2006... Washington -- The air continued to leak out of the housing bubble during December, further contracting what had been in recent years a red-hot real estate market and positioning it for a relatively soft landing and more sustainable levels of...

Builder confidence holds steady.(housing demand and forecast)(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Washington -- A drop in mortgage rates and a boost in consumer confidence helped stabilize market expectations of single-family home builders during January. Builder confidence held steady for a second straight month, after a six-month slide....

Retailers warm to big January volume.(Business)
February 6, 2006... New York -- Getting a big lift from warmer weather and consumers cashing in their gift cards to take advantage of post-Christmas sales, most American retailers posted solid gains during January, enjoying a big up-tick after a lackluster...

January comp sales ahead of plan.(same-store retail sales)
February 6, 2006... New York -- Helped by warmer weather and steep post-holiday markdowns, same-store retail sales jumped up by 4.1% over year-ago levels during the fourth and closing week of January, putting sales for the entire month solidly ahead of plan, the...

Manufacturing, purchasing dipped in January.(Business)
February 6, 2006... Tempe, Ariz. -- The manufacturing sector, a major driver of the U.S. economy, remained stuck in neutral during January, still growing, but only modestly and at a steadily slowing pace. In a widely watched canvass of manufacturing companies,...

Wall street watch: for the week ended February 2, 2006.(Business)(Illustration)
February 6, 2006... MANUFACTURERS & SUPPLIERS CLOSE % CHG % CHG. COMPANY 2/2/06 THIS WEEK YEAR-TO-DATE Crown Crafts (CRWS) * 0.60 3.45% -14.29%...

Distribution matters, too: "smaller niche suppliers ... have always known there's a much bigger world out there.".(planning to market production internationally)(Column)
February 6, 2006... IF THERE'S ONE THING you can always count on hearing during a New York market week (mini or maxi), it's this: "The business is really tough right now--except for us. We're having a great year." Now, either I am peculiarly gifted in...

Shaping your marketplace: "the mattress guys for sure were ahead of anything else in Las Vegas in terms of impact.".(Column)
February 6, 2006... MARKETS. They can be the bane of everyone's existence especially as they now are seeming to proliferate--not just in this country, but increasingly around the world. But they also can be instructive. The second home furnishings market...

Editor's notes.(kids today[TM])(Biography)(Column)
February 6, 2006... It is with great sadness that I write this column, having just learned of the passing of an industry icon, Gary Hoffman, owner of Minneapolis-based retailer Treasure's Island. Back when I first took the job as editor of Kids Today, Gary and...

Minority population, spending continue to rise.(By the numbers)
February 6, 2006... High Point -- America's crazy quilt of varied cultural backgrounds has grown more diverse in recent decades and promises to become more so in the near future. In a seeming contradiction of terms, demographers have now declared four states...

BabyUniverse buys e-tailer PoshTots.(News Watch)
February 6, 2006... Fort Lauderdale -- Online retailer BabyUniverse has acquired Richmond, Va.-based luxury online retailer PoshTots in a $12 million-plus deal, which includes cash, stock warrants and stock. Consideration paid for PoshTots includes $6 million...

Bain Capital planning to acquire retailer Burlington coat factory in $2 billion deal.(News Watch)
February 6, 2006... Burlington, N.J. -- Private investment firm Bain Capital Partners, one of three partners that acquired the Toys "R" Us chain last year, is acquiring Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation in a $2.06 billion transaction. Founded in...

Genius Products sells Baby Genius brand back to creators.(Pacific Entertainment Corp)
February 6, 2006... San Diego -- Genius Products has sold its Baby Genius brand to Pacific Entertainment Corp., a newly formed company headed by Klaus Moeller and Larry Balaban, creators of the Baby Genius brand. Moeller will act as CEO of Pacific Entertainment,...

Schaffer leaves manufacturer Baby's Dream.(Michael Schaffer, Baby's Dream Furniture)(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Columbus, Ga. -- Baby's Dream president and CEO, Michael Schaffer, has stepped down and Ross Felfeli has been named the new president and CEO. David Felfeli will continue to act as chairman of Baby's Dream. Schaffer held his position with...

Retailer Mathis Bros. buys furniture importer Bedtime.(Mathis Brothers Furniture)(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Oklahoma City -- A group of investors led by retailer Mathis Bros. has bought juvenile furniture importer Bedtime Inc. Retailer and wholesaler Mathis Bros., owned by Bill and Larry Mathis, long has been a high-volume Bedtime dealer with...

Joseph Plata Corp. buys Susan Turner.(Susan Turner Baby )(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Atlanta -- Women's apparel manufacturer and designer Joseph Plata has bought textile manufacturer Susan Turner Baby for an undisclosed amount. As part of the deal, Susan Turner herself will remain involved with the company as designer, but the...

AmericasMart debuts Children World floor.(new showrooms for the kids at the trade show)
February 6, 2006... Atlanta -- The Atlanta gift market got under way last month at AmericasMart with the launch of an area dedicated to permanent and temporary showrooms for the kids market. Dubbed Children's World, the area takes up more than 100,000 square feet...

New products reflect diverse backgrounds.(Special Report)
February 6, 2006... High Point -- Although the number of minority births continues to increase in the United States, finding products that reflect those diverse heritages can be difficult. In fact, many of the manufacturers entering the juvenile industry with...

L.C. creations lands tween property.(L.C. Creations, contract)(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... New York -- Juvenile furniture manufacturer L.C. Creations has signed a deal to produce a line of furniture based on the tween and teen property Apricot Brown. R&R Licensing represents the brand, which is geared toward girls ages 8 to 14. ...

Wildflower Group to handle Beatrix Potter brand.(Frederick Warne contract)
February 6, 2006... Atlanta -- The Wildflower Group has been named the North American licensing agency for The World of Beatrix Potter property, owned by Frederick Warne, an imprint of the Penguin Group. To help celebrate the partnership, a human-size Peter...

Graphic to the extreme.(Up Close)(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Primary colors, dynamic patterns add fun, funky dimension to rugs Global Home's vivid blue rug reveals colorful sea life. Prices range between $65 and $330. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Super vivid colors and lots of action make this a...

House in tune with today's mom: textiles supplier builds brand with upscale boutique.(Up Close)
February 6, 2006... Santa Monica, Calif. -- In 2004, Annette Tatum, owner of textile manufacturer house, decided to open her own store here to better understand her retail customers. Almost two years later, the 800--square-foot store has taught Tatum much not only...

City boasts high incomes, lots of customers.(Easy Analytic Software Inc)
February 6, 2006... Charlotte -- Dubbed the Queen City, Charlotte sits just north of the South Carolina border in North Carolina, in the heart of NASCAR country and home to the National Football League's Carolina Panthers. In 2005, the Charlotte metro area...

Babytown tries new concept.(Metro Report: Charlotte)(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Charlotte, N.C. -- With 12,000 square feet to its name, Babytown has enough space for consumers to find just about anything baby-related they're looking for. Owner Karol Radmard opened the store in 1982, and at one point, she did carry just...

Custom designs, staff strong points at Bellini.(Metro Report: Charlotte)
February 6, 2006... Charlotte, N.C. -- Charlotte's Bellini store makes its home in the established, tree-lined neighborhood of Myers Park, in a small, gently curving shopping center. The 3,500-square-foot store, which has been in business since 1989, has been run...

Slumber kids features choices for every age.(Metro Report: Charlotte)
February 6, 2006... Pineville, N.C. -- Every city has a Furniture Row," and in the Charlotte metro area, the suburb of Pineville hosts a slew of the latest big box furniture stores, including Rooms To Go, Haverty's, Boyles, La-Z-Boy, Ethan Allen, Storehouse and...

USA baby franchise keeps it all in the family.(Charlotte's USA Baby franchise)
February 6, 2006... Charlotte, N.C. -- While many juvenile specialty stores are family businesses, Charlotte's USA Baby franchise really is a family affair. The 10,000-square-foot store is run by Allen and Debbie Nickel, along with Allen's sister Deidra Franklin...

Looby Loo fits high-end, fashionable niche.(building facilities of furniture stores)
February 6, 2006... Charlotte, N.C. -- Located in the bottom floor of a 1905 house in Charlotte's historic Dilworth community, Looby Loo is full of fun energy and color, and one of those stores that when you walk in, you instantly want to buy something. With...

Levels of discovery's: 'special touches' help create memories for today's generation of children.(toys for toddlers & tots)(Advertisement)
February 6, 2006... Levels of Discovery is a juvenile furniture and decorative accessories company that has come to represent more than just an exceptional product line. Behind founder and CEO Jeff Hutsell's leadership, Levels of Discovery's objective is to create...

KidKraft: designs toddler toys for open-ended, imaginative play.(toys for toddlers & tots)(Advertisement)
February 6, 2006... For timeless toys that inspire kids to play, or the perfect accessory to brighten a room, KidKraft strives to have it all. With imagination, innovation and inspiration, KidKraft creates timeless, heirloom-quality toys, furniture and gifts that...

Sunshine kids: features two new Playgro toys for toddlers this year.(Sunshine Kids)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
February 6, 2006... Sunshine Kids has added a number of additions to the Playgro plush series this year, with two of the highlighted new introductions being the Zany Zoo Discovery Gym and the Zany Zoo Tunnel Gym. Each features bold colors and a host of special...

Mascotopia[R]: taps into baby market with collegiate & sports-themed products.(toys for toddlers & tots)(Advertisement)
February 6, 2006... For those adults who want to share fond memories of their Alma Mater or favorite sports team with the new babies in their life, comes the Mascotopia[R] line of mobiles, puzzles, blocks and brand new matching game. Unlike more traditional baby...

Wallables: family grows with the addition of soft smiles, angel babies.(Wallabies Products)(Advertisement)
February 6, 2006... Wallabies Products enters this year with great momentum, after recording 2005 sales results that tripled the previous year's total. "Our marketing goal last year was to establish a strong presence for the Wallabies products on the Internet,...

HABA: USA gains momentum with strong introduction, positive market trends.(toys for toddlers & tots)(Advertisement)
February 6, 2006... Last year's ABC Kids Expo was exceptional for HABA USA, attracting a record number of buyers interested in high quality, European-inspired toys and accessories. "These customers have realized that carrying the HABA line offers a perfect...

Atlanta: more than gifts.(Show Biz: Gift Markets)(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Furniture, bedding compliment wide selection of sweet, trendy gifts These canvases are a unique way to announce baby's birth. From Creative Concepts, the retail price is $60. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Kalencom's hip grommet tote bag...

Toy fair intros designed for teaching, hugging.(Show Biz: Toy Fair)
February 6, 2006... Retailers sure to find products for all ages, price ranges The Neurosmith Busy Bee Storyteller comes with three hats: cowboy, fireman and clown. Place a hat on the bee's head and he'll tell a story in that character's voice with music and...

Overall retail revenues top $ 108 billion.(Departments)
February 6, 2006... High Point--The number of companies on the Kids Today quarterly retail scorecard is dwindling: Toys "R" Us and ShopKo Stores have both completed merger agreements that have taken them private. And Linens 'n Things and Burlington plan to join...

Target seeks better home mix, presentation: blames packaging for HT price resistance.(Target Stores Inc.)
February 20, 2006... Minneapolis -- Target Stores admitted to feeling some price resistance in its home textiles department during the fourth quarter, a problem company execs partly ascribe to packaging. During its earnings call last week, Target president Gregg...

JCPenney cites Home Textiles in strong 2005: will boost brands in intensified marketing.(News)
February 20, 2006... Plano, Texas -- Bedding and window were among the categories turning in a "noteworthy" performance during the fourth quarter, JCPenney executives said during an analysts call last week. Fourth-quarter operating profit grew to $655 million, up...

Mini-market mood upbeat, eye on April.(home furnishing stores)
February 20, 2006... New York -- It wasn't a typical Mini-market with lots of holiday cheer. And it truly wasn't a real market. For both buyers and sellers it was a dress rehearsal for the April market. For most of the manufacturers showing here last week,...

Natori Home debuts luxury collection.(of bedding)
February 20, 2006... New York -- Calling the debut collection of Natori Home's bedding and accessories "upmarket" is a bit like calling the space shuttle an airplane. With opening price points at $700 and extending to $2,700, it may safely be said the...

Federated selling 25 mall stores.(Federated Department Stores Inc. sold the stores to Westfield Group)(Brief Article)
February 20, 2006... Federated Department Stores will sell 10 mall units to Boscov's and 15 mall stores to The Westfield Group, a real estate developer. Both transactions involve duplicate locations stemming from the May Co. acquisition. The $27 billion...

Pier 1 ignores rumors, sells debt.(Retail Briefs)(Brief Article)
February 20, 2006... Pier 1 Imports had no comment last week on reports that the $1.9 billion retailer has hired a recruiter to seek new top executives. Meanwhile the company's $160 million debt offering, seen in part as a tactic to ward off any potential takeover...

Ikea to build first Florida store.(IKEA UK Ltd.)(Brief Article)
February 20, 2006... Ikea will build its first Florida store in Sunrise, with an opening slated for summer 2007. The 20-acre site, dubbed Gateway at Sawgrass, will accommodate a 293,000-square-foot store, to be set adjacent to 40,000 square feet of other retail...

DK gets solid for fall bedding.(Donna Karan Home)
February 20, 2006... New York -- Donna Karan Home debuted two new solid color programs plus updated fashion bedding during the New York Mini-market. Under the DKNY fashion brand, the Scattered Garden program consists of a solid color, embroidered silk quilt,...

Joan Fabrics enters JV in China.(News)
February 20, 2006... Tynsboro, Mass. -- Joan Fabrics Corp. has entered into a joint venture with the Hangzhou Yongsheng Textile Group to build a new state-of-the-art textile manufacturing complex in Hangzhou, China. Construction will begin in early summer 2006 and...

Homestead heads to contract.(News)
February 20, 2006... NEW YORK -- Homestead Home Fashions Group has moved into the hospitality segment of the contract home textiles business, with the formation of Homestead Hospitality. Heading the division is David Dee, who sold his David Dee & Co....

HFI's pet bed business far from 'Ruff'.(Home Fashions International )(Brief Article)
February 20, 2006... Just four months after adding the pet bed category to its offerings, Home Fashions International is more than tripling its category assortment, based on "more than triple" the requests from merchants. "Interest from retailers has really...

Bardwil debuts Lenox and Liz holiday collections.(Bardwil Industries Inc. introduces bath towels and table linens)(Brief Article)
February 20, 2006... Bardwil Industries introduced its first Lenox holiday bath collection, which includes the line's first printed bath towel offering, titled Holiday Nouveau, splashed with glittery accents. At $12.99, this group is set to retail more aggressively...

Town and Country jumps into bed.(Town and Country Linen Corp. licensing agreement with Currier and Ires and introducing bed accessories)(Brief Article)
February 20, 2006... Via a recent licensing partnership with Currier & Ires, Town and Country Living has added flannel sheet and duvet cover sets. They come currently in seven patterns, featuring plaids and wintry scenes. Each set includes a flat sheet, a...

Arlee gets cozy with comforter sets.(Arlee Home Fashions Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 20, 2006... Top of bed is now top of mind at Arlee Home Fashions. The company has added four-piece and seven-piece comforter sets to its ever-growing roster of home textiles categories. All of the sets include a comforter, two shams and a dust ruffle....

Creative Home gets into the holiday spirit.(Creative Home Furnishings Inc. introduces its decorative pillow line)(Brief Article)
February 20, 2006... Creative Home Furnishings showed its first ever holiday decorative pillow line during this week's Mini-market. The initial program comprises 20 styles, including a healthy offering of tapestries donning Christmas motifs from licensing...

John Ritzenthaler's Elves are cooking with Santa.(introducing aprons and other various home furnishings)(Brief Article)
February 20, 2006... After a successful run with its Santa group the previous year in kitchen textiles, John Ritzenthaler Co. added Elf aprons and chef hats for adults and children to its holiday assortment this year. The waist-tie aprons feature an elf suit with a...

Quaker Fabric reports $17.2 million '05 loss.(News)
February 20, 2006... Fall River, Mass. -- Hobbled by a deep slide in sales and thinning margins, Quaker Fabric Corp. recorded a worsening $4.8 million loss for the final quarter of fiscal 2005, compared with a smaller year-before deficit of $1.9 million. Hit...

Parimatex upgrades infrastructure.(Parimatex Group will improve its communicationslinks between its facilities)(Brief Article)
February 20, 2006... Dayton, N.J. -- Parimatex Group is improving its communications link between corporate headquarters here and production facilities in Pakistan. As head of the upgrade, Iftikhar Shah will install new videoconferencing technology that will...

Wal-Mart ads chase better shoppers.(Wal-Mart Stores Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 20, 2006... Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores has launched a series of 15-second TV commercials touting the "aspirational merchandise" available in its stores. The project is part of Wal-Mart's on-going effort to sell more general merchandise to the...

Rose Tree launches "O by Oscar'.(News)(Brief Article)
February 20, 2006... New York -- O by Oscar has been launched by Rose Tree Linens, the licensee for the Oscar de la Renta bedding collection. O by Oscar is the third segment of the licensed bedding created in conjunction with the famed designer of couture and...

Meet me at the Plaza, via Christie's.(News)
February 20, 2006... New York -- It will be a little late for Valentine's Day, but romantic and nostalgic items from New York's famed Plaza Hotel will be auctioned off at Christie's on March 15. Bed linens, chandeliers, flatware and candlesticks, robes and...

Warm thoughts.(Letter to the Editor)
February 20, 2006... To the editor: By luck, all of us who had to travel to New York for the February Mini-Market just missed the worst snowstorm on record. With the February market becoming the major market starting next year, isn't it time to start...

Franco Manufacturing to make Op beach towels.(Franco Manufacturing Company Inc. licensing agreement with Ocean Pacific Apparel Corp. to produce beach towels)(Brief Article)
February 20, 2006... Metuchen, N.J. -- Franco Manufacturing has acquired from surf brand Ocean Pacific the license to produce and market beach towels bearing the Op logo; the license covers U.S. distribution. Calling the brand "synonymous with the beach...

India manufacturers crossing categories.(TOP INTERNATIONAL MANUFACTURERS)
February 20, 2006... India's home textiles exports to the United States boomed in 2005, thanks to the elimination of quota and the almost year-long uncertainty about whether safeguard caps would be leveled on Chinese-made goods. Although India's year-over-year...

Inter-link to provide sourcing savvy.(Inter-Link Enterprises )(Brief Article)
February 20, 2006... Charlotte, N.C. -- A trio of former Springs Industries vets has formed a new venture to bridge the gap between U.S. retailers and off-shore manufacturers. While a handful of major volume retailers already have direct sourcing operations in...

Competition drives new product features in kitchen textiles.(comparision between table linens and kitchen textiles industries)
February 20, 2006... New York -- Simple logic suggests there has always been a cross pollination between the sister categories table linens and kitchen textiles. But in no year was that truer than 2005, when a pair of leading table linens suppliers became two...

Brands, seasonal drive small gains at the table.(growth in home textiles sales)
February 20, 2006... New York -- It is no surprise that once again, it is largely thanks to recognized brands and designer labels that the table linens category grew, even if only nominally, by 1.2% percent in total sales to $830 million in 2005 over the prior...