Home Textiles Today articles from July 2006

Home Textiles Today archives from July 2006

Showroom Shifts at 295 Fifth.(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... By Staff Several New Leases in Effect in Time for August Market New York-- Several new leases are in effect, and some showroom shifts are taking place, at the Home Textiles Building at 295 Fifth Avenue in time for the August market....

7 W New York Adds Tenants.(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... By Staff New York Home decor showroom building 7 W New York announced that two new home textiles tenants have taken showrooms in the facility. Now Designs/Danica Imports will share the April Cornell space in Suite 1007. April Cornell...

Retailers Set August Dates.
July 3, 2006... By Cecile B. Corral Most Suppliers Open to Early Arrivals New York -- As if the shift from October to August for the biannual market did not create enough upheaval in the home textiles community, the Home Fashion Products...

Bed Bath & Beyond Coming Down to Earth?
July 3, 2006... By Staff Union, N.J. -- Showing signs of coming down to Earth after a quarter century of explosive growth, and entering a new cycle of slowing earnings growth, Bed Bath & Beyond reported its most disappointing quarterly results since...

The Biennale Returns.(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... By Staff Paris --La Biennale trade fair for high-end home furnishings has been scheduled for Sept. 2-10 of this year at the Carrousel du Louvre in central Paris near the Jardin des Tuileries. In the past, the event took place every...

Consumers Still Fighting Jitters.(consumer confidence)
July 3, 2006... By Don Hogsett New York -- Staging a modest rally after a major slide the month before, consumer confidence edged up 1.0% during June to a reading of 105.7 as Americans say they feel better about business conditions looking six months...

Cotton Inc. Forecasts 2008 Color Trends.
July 3, 2006... By Carole Sloan Six Palettes Presented Range from Muted Cools to Bolder, Brighter Shades New York - Perspective, a palette that combines edgy brights with muted cools, and Chameleon, a melange of subtle color variations, will be the...

Cotton Price Projection: Up 20% Next Year.(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... By Staff Washington --Taking another bite out of the bottom line of home fashions producers, world cotton prices are expected to soar sharply higher next year, running up by more than 23.0%, as demand for cotton rises and production...

Craftex Mills Promotes New Lines.(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... By Staff Blue Bell, Pa. --Craftex Mills is taking a three-pronged marketing approach with its new program as the licensee for decorative fabrics for the Antiques Roadshow. For the Antiques Roadshow collection, the company has...

Credit Managers Cringe.
July 3, 2006... By Staff Columbia, Md. --The roundhouse combination of rising oil prices and rising interest rates is starting to rattle the nation's corporate credit managers -- who track how well companies are paying their bills -- and a recent...

Crown Crafts Names Controller.(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... By Staff Gonzales, La. -- Crown Crafts Inc. has promoted Robert Wagnon to vp and controller. Wagnon has been with the infant and juvenile soft lines supplier for four years and served as the vp of finance and information systems for...

Producer Culp Turning Corner.
July 3, 2006... By Don Hogsett High Point, N.C. -- Steering toward a turnaround in a sweeping overhaul of operations after years of being pounded by the rising tide of low-cost off-shore imports, fabric producer Culp parlayed stronger margins, lower...

Gehm Joins Dan River.(Bob Gehm)(Dan River Inc. )
July 3, 2006... By Don Hogsett New York -- Laying the cornerstone of a refocused global home fashions business, Dan River Inc. has hired major mill veteran Bob Gehm, one-time president of sales at the former WestPoint Stevens, as senior vp of sales and...

Garland and Log Cabin Team Up on Rugs.
July 3, 2006... By Cecile B. Corral Dalton, Ga. -- For the first time together, sister companies Garland Carpet & Rug and Log Cabin will showcase their wares in New York at a permanent showroom during the home textiles market in August. Steve...

GorillaCareers.com Opens Textile Category.(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... By Staff Aiken, S.C. -- Online employment search firm GorillaCareers.com has added the textile industry to its service. Textiles becomes the 15th industrial category on the site. "With so many companies seeking qualified individuals...

Hollander Polls Sleep Preferences.(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... By Staff Boca Raton, Fla. -- Hollander Home Fashions, in its first-ever Pillow Poll, has found widely different sleeping styles between the sexes. While both men and women overwhelmingly report sleeping on their sides, men are more...

Housing Stats Show Consumer Concern.
July 3, 2006... By Don Hogsett Washington -- Confounding expectations and still alive and kicking, the nation's broad housing market, at least the newest part of it, continued to expand during May as consumers continued to buy brand new houses, and...

Gottschalks Chairman Levy will Retire.(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... By Staff Fresno, Calif. --Gottschalks Inc. said chairman of the board Joseph Levy will retire at the end of the year; he will remain on the board thereafter. A member of Gottschalks founding family, Levy has served as chairman since the...

LNT Pares Merchant Team.(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... By Staff Clifton, N.J. -- Reorganization at Linens 'n Things swept aside some senior merchants last week. Among those let go were Loretta Groller, who had been promoted to senior vp only three months ago, HTT has learned. Also...

U.S. Manufacturers Losing Steam.(Industry overview)
July 3, 2006... By Don Hogsett Tempe, Ariz. -- The nation's big manufacturing sector, a key driver of the U.S. economy, was still growing during May, if only modestly, but momentum has slowed sharply over the past four months, raising serious questions...

Milliken Expands Sports Licensed Rugs.(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... By Staff LaGrange, Ga. Milliken's new My Team area rug collection doesn't play favorites to any particular college and professional team -- but rather offers sports fans their choice in football, soccer, basketball, baseball and tennis....

Show Me the Market(s).
July 3, 2006... By Jennifer Marks Yes, the New York Home Textiles Market is really just five weeks away. The New York Home Textiles Show and the New York International Gift Fair are six weeks away. The showroom-oriented Market isn't supposed to...

Dare to Design.(home textile design trends)
July 3, 2006... By Carole Sloan The summertime doldrums often provide a window for reflection - and this year is no exception. This year's reflection in part centers on markets, the whys and wherefores of them. Granted we have a new market...

June Retail Comps Just Outpace Plan.(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... By Staff New York --Same-store sales momentum continued to build during the fourth week of June, rising 3.4%, helped by the Father's Day promotion and increasingly warm weather, which helped spur sales of seasonal merchandise, the...

Retail Briefs.(Federated Department Stores)(Pier 1 Imports)(Cost Plus Inc.)
July 3, 2006... By Staff Apollo to Buy Lord & Taylor Staff Federated Department Stores has agreed to sell Lord & Taylor for $1.195 billion in cash to NRDC Equity Partners, a partnership between principals of Apollo Real Estate Advisors...

Harris Leaves Revere Mills Development Firm.(Dan Harris)(Revere Mills International Group )(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... By Staff Des Plaines, Ill. --Bath towel supplier Revere Mills International Group will soon say goodbye to Dan Harris, its longtime vp of marketing and product development. After 10 "great years" with Revere, Harris told HTT , he...

GHCL to Buy U.K. Retailer Rosebys.(GHCL Limited)(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... By Staff Dan River Owner Going Vertical New Delhi, India -- GHCL Limited has signed an agreement to acquire Rosebys, a major U.K. home textiles retailer. GHCL said the acquisition price is $40 million. The deal is expected to close...

Sears Salutes Vendor Partners.(Sears Holdings Corp.)(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... By Staff Hoffman Estates, Ill. --Peking Handicraft won the 2005 Partners in Progress supplier of the year award in home fashions at Sears Holdings. The awards are presented annually to less than one percent of the more than 10,000...

Sleep Studio Offers Memory Foam.(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... By Staff New York -- Sleep Studio is unveiling new memory foam that breathes, returns quickly to its original size, and eliminates odors. "We are very excited to introduce enhanced performance and solutions for the three most common...

Textiles Show, Gift Fair to Provide Extra Programs.(New York International Gift Fair )(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... By Staff White Plains, N.Y. --George Little Management will offer a variety of programs during the upcoming New York Home Textiles Show (held at the Metropolitan Pavilion, Aug. 13 - 16), addressing design, consumer trends and product...

WestPoint Home Gets Major Credit Line.(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... By Staff New York --WestPoint Home has gained stability and flexibility by obtaining a $250 million, five-year revolving credit facility from Bank of America. The fund is earmarked for "operations, capital expenditures, and future...

WestPoint Promotes Shine, Yerg.(Shine, Tim)(Ray Yerg)(WestPoint Home )(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... By Staff New York --WestPoint Home has promoted two veteran executives into key positions: Tim Shine to senior vp, sales; and Ray Yerg to senior vp, bath division. The appointments are effective July 1. Shine has been svp, bath...

Bochang Towel Obtains Micro Wic License.(Bochang Towel Mfg. Co purchased the Micro Wic patent from Chesapeake Textiles Company)(Brief article)
July 17, 2006... By Staff Taipei, Taiwan - Bochang Towel Mfg. Co. has purchased the Micro Wic patent from Chesapeake Textiles Company. Previously, Bochang had manufactured Micro Wic products for the U.S. company. Micro Wic is a construction of cotton...

Crown Crafts Clears Up Finances.(finance of Crown Crafts Inc)
July 17, 2006... By Don Hogsett Gonzales, La. - In a move that cuts its debt in half and slashes the interest rate it pays, Crown Crafts Inc. has completed a sweeping refinancing that should substantially boost profits going forward, and at the same time...

Dan River Offering Last U.S. Plant.(Brief article)
July 17, 2006... By Staff Danville, Va. - Dan River is in talks to sell its last remaining production facility in the United States, a sheet and pillow case finishing and fabrication plant in Brookneal, Va. Two weeks ago, the company announced that...

New Companion Show for Decosit.(PVE S.A)(Brief article)
July 17, 2006... By Staff Brussels, Belgium - PVE S.A., the company that organizes the Première Vision, Expofil and Indigo exhibitions, will launch a new event in the yarns and fibers sector. Expofil Deco will be held in Brussels, alongside...

Dow Latex Raises Prices.(prices and rates of carpet industry )(Brief article)
July 17, 2006... By Staff Midland, Mich. - Dow Latex is increasing the prices of all latex products sold into the carpet industry by US$0.04/lb (dry), effective Aug. 1. The company said the price increase 'is being driven by increased raw material,...

Remembering An Industry Legend.(Letter to the editor)
July 17, 2006... By Staff To the Editor: Regarding the Rose York obituary (HTT , 6/19/2006). She was not 'one of the first women' to run a business in our field - she was the first . In 1948, Rose York was an Atlantic Beach housewife rearing a...

Revman Debuts Michael Kors Home.
July 17, 2006... By Carole Sloan New York - Apparel designer Michael Kors is bringing his unique mix of traditional and contemporary design from the world of apparel into his home furnishings launch collection for Revman. Kors is noted for mixing...

Melrose in Vegas Wedding with VillaNova.(Brief article)
July 17, 2006... By Staff Los Angeles - Melrose Home Collection will formally 'marry' its sister company, VillaNova Decor, exhibiting side by side in Convention Center booth 63551 at the Las Vegas World Market, July 25 to 28. Bedding and soft...

Will Adversity Yield Diversity?(increase in retail trade prices)(Brief article)
July 17, 2006... By Jennifer Marks Throughout the first four years of the current decade, as quotas began peeling away and retailers insisted on ever-lower prices, one question arose repeatedly: How low can they go? Today, there's a new question to...

Want an Order? Ask for It!(retail stores supplies)
July 17, 2006... By Carole Sloan Now that the numbers crunching for the latest installment of Home Textiles Today's Top 50 Retail Giants is done, the big news is that there was no real big news. Most all of the expected players wound up as anticipated....

Reale Letto Bows.(Reale Letto Collection has opened its showroom and design facility in Orange County)(Brief article)
July 17, 2006... By Staff Foothill Ranch, Calif. -Reale Letto Collection, maker of fine luxury bedding and accessories, has opened its showroom and design facility in Orange County. This is one of several firsts for the business, which exhibited at its...

Retail Briefs.(Jo-Ann Stores)(Sears Holdings Corp.)(Federated Department Stores)
July 17, 2006... By Staff Jo-Ann Recruits Fred Meyer Execs Staff National craft and fabric retailer Jo-Ann Stores named Darrell Webb chairman, president and ceo; and Travis Smith evp, merchandising and marketing. Webb was president of the...

Middle Market Up, Wal-Mart Off, in June Comps.
July 17, 2006... By Staff New York -With consumers sucker-punched by the double whammy of rising gas prices and higher credit-card bills as interest rates climb, America's big retailers took it on the chin during June, with same-store sales softening,...

Sin in Linen to Debut Pirates and Pin-ups.(bedding ensembles )(Brief article)
July 17, 2006... By Staff Seattle - With the tagline 'Try something new in bed!' Sin in Linen will debut bedding ensembles featuring retro pin-up art and tattoo motifs at the New York Home Textiles Show, Aug. 13-16, at the Metropolitan Pavilion on W....

Specialty Stores Increase Share of Home.
July 17, 2006... By Carole Sloan New York - Specialty stores and home improvement centers were the only channels of distribution gaining share in home textiles in 2005 compared with 2004, with a scant one-percentage-point-each increase to 24.0% and 2.0%...

Top 50 Retailing Giants.(rankings of departmental stores)
July 17, 2006... By Carole Sloan Bed Bath & Beyond, Kohl's, Pottery Barn Major Gainers New York - While Wal-Mart and JCPenney retain the top two spots in home textiles retailing, the big news is the rise to third place by Bed Bath & Beyond,...

Who's Who in the Top 50.
July 17, 2006... By Staff COMPANY, (Corporate parent) Rank, headquarters ANNA'S LINENS Rank: 19, 3550 Hyland Ave., Costa Mesa, Calif. 92626 (714) 850-0504 ARMY & AIR FORCE EXCHANGE SERVICE Rank: 47, 3911 S. Walton Walker Blvd., Dallas...

Welspun Snaps Up Christy.(Welspun India acquired CHT Holdings Limited)(Brief article)
July 17, 2006... By Staff Mumbai, India -Rapidly growing Welspun India has acquired an 85% interest in CHT Holdings Limited, the parent company of Christy ghmb, Christy USA, and Christy UK - the 156-year-old towel manufacturer and the United Kingdom's...

WestPoint Closing Towel Plant.(WestPoint Home closing its facility )(Brief article)
July 17, 2006... By Staff Mill Shifting to Foreign Production New York - WestPoint Home will close the Scotland plant, a terry towel-weaving facility located in Wagram, N.C., in September. About 370 employees will be affected, the company said....

WestPoint Home to Assert Design Leadership.(WestPoint Stevens Home Fashions)
July 17, 2006... By Staff New York - The word at WestPoint Home is 'content.' WestPoint's new design chief is leading the charge to inject more fashion into product design and stake out a point of view. 'I understand the pressure [buyers] are...

WestPoint Teams with Tactix.(licensing agreements between WestPoint Home and Tactix Towels )(Brief article)
July 17, 2006... By Staff New York -WestPoint Home has signed a licensing agreement with Tactix Towels to produce a luxury towel line for select department and specialty stores. Tactix is a patented, engineered toweling brand made from fibers 30...

Williams-Sonoma Building Brands.
July 17, 2006... By Staff San Francisco -Williams-Sonoma Inc. has more brand-building initiatives up its sleeve in the immediate term, including this week's unveiling of a Pottery Barn paint program with Benjamin Moore, next month's launch of e-commerce...

Areen Indian Craft Decor Collection Debuts in U.S.(United States)(Brief article)
July 31, 2006... By Staff Chester, N.J. -Fresh from the Atlanta International Gift and Home Furnishings Market, Areen, based here, is introducing a collection of home accessories for the fall. The India-made line includes cushions, throws, bed...

Avonhome Debuts New Lines.
July 31, 2006... By Staff Company Adding Designer, Apron Styles to Its Roster New York -Avonhome is adding some new names to its design stable. The company has licensed the artwork of artist Alan Giana to launch a line of seasonal tapestry place mats...

Builder Confidence Down 46% Year-to-Year.(Brief article)
July 31, 2006... By Staff Washington - As sales of new homes continue to cool, now off by more than 17% since last July, the nation's home builders are growing more antsy and cooling their jets, and a June canvass of builders shows their confidence level...

Capel Intros Fresh Air.(introduction of carpets)(Brief article)
July 31, 2006... By Staff Las Vegas -Capel debuted a new collection under its The Anywhere Group of indoor/outdoor rugs at the Las Vegas Market last week. The new Fresh Air collection is constructed of polypropylene and consists of nine pieces in an...

Chargebacks: Vulnerable Suppliers Seek Fairness.
July 31, 2006... By Don Hogsett Vendors Are Joining Forces to Fight Back Against Chargeback Policies New York - In what looms as a defining moment in American retailing, aggrieved suppliers have joined forces to protest what they call a systematic,...

Consumer Confidence Holds Steady.
July 31, 2006... By Don Hogsett New York - Consumers' spirits perked up modestly for a second straight month during July, rising by 1.0% to a level of 106.5 and coming back from an April slide, The Conference Board reported. Consumers are still...

Croscill Breaking New Ground.(product intorductions)
July 31, 2006... By Jennifer Marks New York - Croscill is headed into the New York market with a branded premium label program, a branded contemporary line, and a new executive ready to make Croscill's design team a serious player in the private label...

Down & Feather Session Planned.(The American Down and Feather Council)(Brief article)
July 31, 2006... By Staff New York -The American Down & Feather Council will host a Market Week session with updates to the ADFC Labeling Compliance Program. Topics include the Program's objectives, retailers' role, and the testing of down and...

EbayExpress Caters to Inventory Concerns.(www.ebayexpress.com)(Brief article)
July 31, 2006... By Staff San Jose, Calif. -Ebay, which claims 203 million registered users in 33 countries, is promoting its www.ebayexpress.com section, which provides fixed-price products from its highest-quality sellers, aimed at time-pressed...

Hansen Calls on Suppliers to Stiffen.(Chuck Hansen)
July 31, 2006... By Don Hogsett Dallas - Railing angrily against what he calls the 'fraudulent,' 'coercive' and 'institutionalized' practice of unauthorized deductions, Chuck Hansen, the maverick former ceo of Pillowtex Corp., a company driven first...

Westgate Brand Key for ADF-HFI.(marketing campaign of Home Furnishing International)(American Decorative Fabrics)(Home Fashions International)(Brief article)
July 31, 2006... By Staff New York - Home Furnishing International, the parent company of American Decorative Fabrics (ADF), Home Fashions International (HFI), and Westgate Interiors, is launching a major marketing campaign under the Westgate brand. ...

Housing Sector Still Cooling.(forecasts and trends of home selling )(Brief article)
July 31, 2006... By Don Hogsett Washington -With the air still leaking out of the nation's housing bubble, all three segments of the broad housing market cooled off during July, with sales and housing starts all subsiding. Sales of moderately-priced...

ITG Taps Monks for Dorma U.S. Launch.(International Textile Group)(Ed Monks)(United states)(Brief article)
July 31, 2006... By Staff Greensboro, N.C. -International Textile Group has named Ed Monks national sales manager for the U.S. launch of the Dorma brand bedding collection. Dorma luxury bed linens have been marketed in the U.K. since 1923. During the...

Anniversary a Hit for Las Vegas Market.
July 31, 2006... Staff report Location Key as Suppliers Focus on Creating and Fostering West Coast Accounts Las Vegas - The Las Vegas Market marked its first anniversary last week with its third semi-annual show, which featured a still small but...

Chargebacks Case in Point: Linens'n Things.(Brief article)
July 31, 2006... By Staff New York -As a lesson in how quickly chargebacks add up, or how crucial they are to a retailer's bottom line, consider the case of Linens' n Things. The retailer discovered just how much chargebacks can mean to the bottom line -...

LNT Recruits Three Merchants.(Paul Callaro, Bob Gordon and Nancy Borchers join Linens 'n Things Inc.)(Brief article)
July 31, 2006... By Staff Clifton, N.J. -Veteran home furnishings retailers Paul Callaro, Bob Gordon and Nancy Borchers Wallace have joined Linens 'n Things as vp/dmms. Callaro is responsible for window coverings, table and kitchen linens, throws,...

Macy's Checks in With New Hotel Shop.(Macy's Herald Square)(Brief article)
July 31, 2006... By Staff New York - Macy's Herald Square launched its new Hotel Collection Shop last week with a special customer event hosted by Jason Oliver Nixon, style director for the magazines Gotham and Hamptons , who gave decorating tips using...

A Good Start by Las Vegas Market.(trade shows of home furnishings industry)
July 31, 2006... By Jennifer Marks The fledgling Las Vegas Market has anniversaried itself, and it's fascinating to see how the event has evolved since the inaugural semi-annual show in July 2005. Among textilians, rug manufacturers have the biggest...

Martha Stewart Company Returning to Profitability.(revenue and appointments of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia)
July 31, 2006... By Staff More than one Good Thing: Revenues Up and Operating Loss Down New York - Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (MSLO) reported a second-quarter operating loss of $1.8 million, dramatically narrowed from the $34.2 million loss for...

Martha Stewart Sales Soar.(sales report of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc.)(Brief article)
July 31, 2006... By Don Hogsett With Namesake Leader Back at the Helm, Retailer Reports Substantial Gains New York -With the doyenne of home couture back on the job full time, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia reported substantial improvement in...

Mohawk Up 22% in 2Q.
July 31, 2006... By Staff Calhoun, Ga. -Buoyed by a recent acquisition, deep cuts in capital spending, and a $6.3 U.S. customs refund, second-quarter profits at Mohawk Industries jumped up by 21.9%, to $119.5 million from $98.1 million last year. ...

Pillowtex Inks International Licenses.(Brief article)
July 31, 2006... By Staff New York -Official Pillowtex LLC has signed two international licensing agreements for the Fieldcrest brand and, in conjunction with Li and Fung, six licensees for the Cannon and Cannon Royal Family brands. The new...

Pillowtex: Hounded Beyond the Grave.(chargebacks of Pillowtex Inc)
July 31, 2006... By Staff Retailers Sought Last Chargeback Dollars Even after Company's Demise New York - As if to prove that absolutely no one, not even the dead and buried, are immune from retailers grasping after chargeback collars, Target,...

One Out of Five Profit Dollars?(sales report of home furnishings industry)
July 31, 2006... By Staff New York -Just how much retailers siphon out of their suppliers' pockets each year in the way of chargebacks and allowances - some authorized, some not - is anybody's guess. But clearly, it's likely to be many billions of...

Quaker Fabric Loss Widens.
July 31, 2006... By Don Hogsett Fall River, Mass. - Hammered by low-cost imports and sliding sales, then hit by $13.7 million in restructuring and asset impairment charges, upholstery and jacquard fabric producer Quaker Fabrics Corp. recorded a widened...

QVC Chief Merchandiser Ronning to Retire.(Randy Ronning)(Brief article)
July 31, 2006... By Staff West Chester, Pa. -Randy Ronning will retire as executive vp, chief merchandising officer at QVC at the end of this year. Ronning, who joined QVC in 2001 as executive vp, QVC.com, will be succeeded by Bob Ayd, currently...

Comps Sagging in July Heat.(sales report of retail industry)(Brief article)
July 31, 2006... By Staff New York -As heat waves kept consumers tethered to their air-conditioned homes, and gas prices pressed lower-income families, same-store retail sales were below target during the third week of July, up just 2.1%, the Johnson...

Retail Briefs.(Mike Hopkins joins Macy's Home Store)(Neil Watanabe joins Anna's Linens)(Federated Department Stores sells mall department stores to Target Corp.)
July 31, 2006... By Staff Macy's Home Store taps Hopkins Staff Veteran retail Mike Hopkins has joined Macy's Home Store in a newly created position of senior vp, assistant to the chairman Tim Adams. Hopkins most recently was president of...

Revere Mills Names Gregg to Top Sales Post.(Revere Mills International Group)(Jeff Gregg)(Brief article)
July 31, 2006... By Staff Des Plaines, Ill. -Revere Mills International Group has appointed Jeff Gregg its new senior vp of sales and marketing, in time for the New York Home Textiles Market. Gregg assumes his new position July 31, marking three...

Shaw Living Co-founder Retiring, Showroom Expanding.(Robert Shaw)(Vance Bell and Randy Merritt joins Shaw Industries Group )
July 31, 2006... By Staff Dalton, Ga. -Robert Shaw, co-founder and ceo of floor covering company Shaw Industries Group, said he will step down from his post effective Sept. 1. He will remain a member of the company's board of directors, and upon the...