Home Textiles Today articles from July 2007

Home Textiles Today archives from July 2007

Atico Acquires Avonhome.
July 9, 2007... By Cecile B. Corral New Name is Style Lab Braintree, Mass. - Avonhome, the country's fourth largest table linens supplier and fifth largest kitchen textiles supplier, has sold its operations and assets to Style Lab LLC, an affiliate of...

Himatsingka Buys Divatex.(Himatsingka Seide Ltd.)(Brief article)
July 9, 2007... By Staff New York - The third-largest supplier of sheets in the U.S. market, Divatex, has been acquired by Bangalore-based Himatsingka Seide Ltd. In the completed transaction, Himatsingka purchased 80% of Divatex. Publicly traded...

Suppliers Open up to Hospitality Market.
July 9, 2007... By Carole Sloan New York - For decorative fabrics and home textiles suppliers, the hospitality segment of the contract market is one of the fastest growth opportunities in a universe of shrinking retail business outlets. The hotel and...

Portugal Exporters Invest in Product.
July 9, 2007... By Jennifer Marks Widening global competition from Asia roiled Portuguese manufacturers in 2006, but the country's leading companies adjusted by taking cost out of their operations, focusing on innovation, and hewing to higher-end goods....

After 120 Years in S.C., Springs Shuts Plants.(Springs Global)
July 9, 2007... By Don Hogsett Fort Mill, S.C. - As the American home fashions business continues to dismantle its manufacturing base and move increasingly off shore, Springs Global said it will shut down its South Carolina bedding manufacturing, closing...

Retail Briefs.
July 9, 2007... By Staff Hefner to Direct Home at Wal-Mart Staff Linda Hefner has been named evp and general manager for the home unit at Wal-Mart Stores U.S., reporting to Eduardo Castro-Wright, president of the U.S. stores division. Hefner will...

Crown Crafts Concentrating Ownership.
July 9, 2007... By Staff Gonzales, La. - Infant and juvenile bedding and accessories manufacturer Crown Crafts has taken two steps toward concentrating ownership of the already closely-held company. First, the board of directors formed a capital...

Culp Promotes Gallagher.
July 9, 2007... By Staff High Point, N.C. - Upholstery and mattress fabric producer Culp Inc. has promoted Thomas Gallagher to corporate controller, assistant treasurer, and assistant secretary. He will continue to report to Kenneth Bowling, cfo and...

Quaker Likely to Liquidate.
July 9, 2007... By Staff Fall River, Mass. - Woven upholstery and jacquard fabric manufacturer Quaker Fabric said it plans to liquidate its business. Quaker said in a prepared statement that it "has not met the requirements for committed borrowings...

Richloom Selling Berkshire Weaving.(Richloom Fabrics Group Inc.)(Brief article)
July 9, 2007... By Staff New York - Richloom Fabrics Group has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Berkshire Weaving assets to Interface Fabrics, of Grand Rapids, Mich. Interface will operate the 42 air-jet looms in its existing location...

Valdese Gets Circa 1801 in Joan Auction.
July 9, 2007... By Staff Wilmington, Del. - Valdese Weavers successfully bid for the Joan Fabrics contract units Circa 1801/Doblin and Guild 360. Mike Shelton, president of Valdese, said his company would build on the strength of the Circa 1801/Doblin...

Wearbest Withdraws from Decosit.
July 9, 2007... By Staff Garfield, N.J. - Wearbest Sil-Tex Mills will not participate in Decosit in Brussels, Belgium in September. The decorative fabrics producer, long an exhibitor at the annual fabrics show there, and for the last two years the...

Balta to Debut Curio Collection.
July 9, 2007... By Staff Dalton, Ga. - Balta U.S. has assembled a collection of rugs that are intended to make viewers smile. Reminiscent of simpler times, the Curio Collection rugs are inspired by vintage kitchen motifs but are interpreted for today's...

Crestline Home Fashions Formed.
July 9, 2007... By Staff New York - Two home textiles industry veterans with 20 years of experience in sourcing product in China and distribution in the United States, Denise Matlack and Danny Liu, have teamed up to form a new venture: Crestline Home...

Shaw Living Readies Four Rug Collections.
July 9, 2007... By Staff Dalton, Ga. - Shaw Living has prepared four new collections in time for the Atlanta International Area Rug Market next week: Impressions is a collection of modern designs from organic to geometric that have a sculptured...

Textillery Weavers Offers Throw Collections.(Brief article)
July 9, 2007... By Staff Bloomington, Ind. - Woven throw producer Textillery Weavers will debut two new collections of hand-woven chenille throws during the summer 2007 gift and home markets in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. New color combinations...

Bed Bath & Beyond Bullish.
July 9, 2007... By Cecile B. Corral Union, N.J. - Dominant big-box home furnishings retailer Bed Bath & Beyond was "disappointed" to fall "just short" of achieving its quarterly financial goals, the company said in its first-quarter earnings call. ...

Home Lags at Family Dollar.(Family Dollar Stores Inc.)(Brief article)
July 9, 2007... By Staff Matthews, S.C. - Neighborhood discounter Family Dollar singled out the home category as one aspect of its Treasure Hunt initiative that didn't perform "as we would have liked" during its third fiscal quarter, which ended June 2....

HSN Celebrating 30 Years.(Home Shopping Network Inc.)(Brief article)
July 9, 2007... By Staff St. Petersburg, Fla. - Home Shopping Network (HSN) turns 30 years old this month, and the television and online retailer began celebrating July 1 under the theme "We're Going to Surprise You," with a revamped presentation, special...

Letters to the Editor.
July 9, 2007... By Staff More than Marketing Thanks to Jennifer Marks for addressing the issue of home textiles industry market dates in her "Not Sufficiently Confusing" editorial (HTT, June 4). We appreciate her acknowledgement of the confusion that...

GTT Expands N.Y. Showroom.(GTT International )(Brief article)
July 9, 2007... By Staff Riverside, Calif. - Bedding importer and manufacturer GTT International has relocated to a larger showroom, suite 903 on the 9th floor of the 230 Fifth Avenue building in New York. Bill Spencer, national sales and marketing...

Revman to Make Reese for Anthropologie.
July 9, 2007... By Staff New York - Revman International has signed a license agreement with fashion designer Tracy Reese to produce her signature home collection, "plenty by Tracy Reese." Scheduled to launch in spring 2008 exclusively at specialty...

Royale Linens Expands, Heads to 7W NY.
July 9, 2007... By Staff Kearny, N.J. - Six months after being acquired by Pakistani home textiles manufacturer Yunus Textiles, Royale Linens is taking its first permanent New York showroom, to better highlight the fact that the one-time sheet jobber is...

Softline Opening at 230 Fifth Avenue.
July 9, 2007... By Staff Gardena, Calif. - Fabric and window treatment supplier Softline Home Fashions will open a new showroom in New York, in suite No. 1215 at 230 Fifth Avenue. The company will be showing a new line of readymade curtains and...

Wearbest Takes Bella-Dura into Window Fabrics.(Wearbest/Sil-tex Mills Ltd.)(Brief article)
July 9, 2007... By Staff Garfield, N.J. - Wearbest Sil-Tex Mills will launch its first window coverings fabrics made from its proprietary Bella-Dura yarns this summer. This major addition to its Bella-Dura Classic and Bella-Dura Chenille collections...

Williamsburg Licenses to Windham Fabrics.(Williamsburg Products)(Brief article)
July 9, 2007... By Staff Williamsburg, Va. - Williamsburg and Windham Fabrics have teamed up to produce a new line of quilt fabrics that are inspired by, or actual reproductions of, 18th- and 19th-century textiles in the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation...

Afghan Women's Carpet Logo Wins Awards.
July 9, 2007... By Staff New York - The AfghanMark logo developed for carpets made by the Afghan Women's Business Federation (AWBF) has received four marketing and design awards. The internationally registered certification trademark is attached to...

Jaipur India Expands Design Capacity.
July 9, 2007... By Staff Atlanta - Hand-knotted, hand-tufted and flat-woven area rug manufacturer Jaipur India - parent company of Jaipur Rugs based here - recently opened a new showroom at the International Home Deco Park (IHDP) in New Delhi, India. ...

Kalaty Unveils Royal Manner Rugs.
July 9, 2007... By Staff Company Partners With Former Royal Butler New York - Family owned and operated high-end rug company Kalaty recently created its first licensed program, selecting Paul Burrell, former butler to the late Diana Princess of Wales,...

Lenzing Fibers Opens New India Office.
July 9, 2007... By Staff Coimbatore, India - Lenzing Fibers opened a sales and marketing office here in one of India's key textile centers. "A central task of our team is to support the brand manufacturers who source their products in India. We help...

Miresco to Flaunt Trump Rugs in Atlanta.
July 9, 2007... By Staff Houston - Handmade and machine-woven rug manufacturer and retailer Miresco Decorative Rugs, based here, has partnered with Donald Trump to create the Trump Home floor fashion collection. A preview of the line showed recently in...

Mohawk to Acquire Wood Flooring Assets.
July 9, 2007... By Staff Calhoun, Ga. - Floor coverings manufacturer Mohawk Industries has entered into an asset purchase agreement with Columbia Forest Products for wood flooring plants and working capital. The assets include two pre-finished solid...

Surya Rugs to Open NY Showroom.
July 9, 2007... By Staff New York - Surya Rugs is moving into a 3,000-square-foot showroom in New York in time for the New York Home Fashions Summer Market in August. The space is in Suite 439 at 7 W New York. Surya will host a grand opening party for...

Abbyson Celebrates 'Power of Home' Opening.(Brief article)
July 9, 2007... By Staff Chatsworth, Calif. - Furniture and rug supplier Abbyson Corp. has unveiled its The Power of Home retail concept in the Westfield Topanga Shopping Center near here. The grand opening of the home furnishings store included...

Crowder to Design for Westgate by ADF.
July 9, 2007... By Staff New York - Veteran fabric designer David Crowder has joined Westgate by ADF as a design consultant. Crowder has worked in the industry 20 years with companies including Valdese Weavers, Mastercraft Fabrics and Wesley Mancini...

FIT Beneficiary of Roberts Gift.
July 9, 2007... By Staff New York - The Rita and Bruce Roberts Room was dedicated last month at the Fashion Institute of Technology in recognition of a gift by the couple to the school. The room is in the Martin Feldman Center on the 9th floor and...

Foreston Taps Williams.(Wendy Williams appointed at Foreston Trends )(Brief article)
July 9, 2007... By Staff Long Beach, Calif. - Table linens, kitchen textiles and shower curtains supplier Foreston Trends has appointed Wendy Williams to the newly created position of product designer, reporting to David Alden, president. Williams...

Aaron Greenberg Dies.
July 9, 2007... By Staff New York - Services were held here July 1 for Aaron Greenberg, 75, who died June 30. Greenberg had retired from the now closed decorative fabrics converter Lanscot-Arlen Co. where he was president and a principal. Afterwards...

Martha Recruits Yahoo! Sales Exec.
July 9, 2007... By Staff New York - Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (MSLO) has named Wenda Harris Millard president, media, a newly created position, effective July 16. With oversight of publishing, internet, and broadcasting activities, she will report...

ShopKo Taps Ghormley, Heralds Remodels.
July 9, 2007... By Staff Green Bay, Wis. - Upper Midwestern mass merchandiser ShopKo has named Rod Ghormley svp and gmm-home, reporting to president and chief merchandising officer Paul White. Ghormley joins the company from Amazon.com, where he was...

Confidence Falls to 10-Month Low.
July 9, 2007... By Don Hogsett New York - Americans are starting to sense that current business conditions are weakening, and that it's getting tougher to find a job - driving their confidence level down to its lowest level in 10 months, The Conference...

Housing Drags Along.
July 9, 2007... By Don Hogsett Washington - The broad U.S. housing market continued to recede during May, with all three segments heading south, taking housing prices down as well. Sales of existing homes, the largest housing sector, accounting for...

Cotton Crunch Looms.(Statistical data)
July 9, 2007... By Don Hogsett Washington - After rising an average of 3.5% so far this year, cotton prices are set to rise sharply higher next year, by more than 12%, to an average $0.65 a pound, said worldwide cotton growers in an update of their annual...

June Same-Store Sales Faltering.(Financial report)(Brief article)
July 9, 2007... By Staff New York - "Below plan sales performance continued in the fourth week of June," said Johnson Redbook analyst Catlin Levis, as the index showed comparable store sales rose just 1.2%, vs. 1.4% the previous week - and at 1.6% for the...

Manufacturing Ready to Roll.
July 9, 2007... By Don Hogsett Tempe, Ariz. - The nation's manufacturing sector rebounded strongly during the second quarter of the year and gained strength for a fifth straight month in June, getting a big boost from an unusually strong gain in...

Textiles Imports Up 250% Since 2000.
July 9, 2007... By Staff East Windsor, N.J. - U.S. imports of tariff-defined home textiles have increased by more than 250% by volume since 2000, with sheets, towels and blankets comprising 82% of the total inflow in 2006, according to a report today by...

Thoroughly Marketing Martha.
July 9, 2007... By Jennifer Marks While it's going to be interesting to see what the much-anticipated launch of the Martha Stewart Collection this fall is going to do for Macy's, it will be even more intriguing to monitor how the debut's heavy promotion...

China: A Call for Enforcement.
July 9, 2007... By Carole Sloan There has been the age-old challenge of intellectual property rights (IPR) violations in dealing with the Chinese. It's almost a given in the entertainment world, albeit, not an acceptable given. And the problem has spread...

Madeira Means to Modernize.
July 9, 2007... By Jennifer Marks Madeira, Portugal - On the island of Madeira, the tradition of hand-made embroidered linens stretches back two centuries, and little has changed in the painstaking production method since its inception. But the...

Fabrics Section to Debut at Material World.
July 9, 2007... By Staff Kennesaw, Ga. - Show operator Urban Expositions will put a special focus on Home Furnishings Fabrics as the newest growth area for the Sept. 25-27 edition of Material World New York at the Jacob Javits Center. Home...

Atlanta Rug Market Under Pressure.
July 16, 2007... By Cecile B. Corral Buyer Thrift, Competing Venues the Culprits Atlanta - When it comes to the biannual Atlanta International Area Rug market, it's not unusual for retailer traffic to be noticeably slower in July compared to the...

Plying Confusion.
July 16, 2007... By Brent Felgner Thread Count Standards Loosely Enforced New York - A large "600" catches the eye, beckoning one closer to Macy's Hotel Collection sheet sets, called out in a prominent in-store display. Much smaller print on the...

Top 50 Retailing Giants.
July 16, 2007... By Carole Sloan Bed Bath & Beyond, Kohl's Repeat as Fast Gainers New York - The Home Textiles Today exclusive Top 50 Retailing Giants in Home Textiles continued to grow its share of the total market in 2006, increasing 5.1% to $24.7...

Whoopi Bedding Ready.
July 16, 2007... By James Mammarella New York - "As long as it makes you feel good - I'm all for it," enthused Whoopi Goldberg, the irreverent entertainer who also, it turns out, has a flair for home furnishings design. In concert with the creative...

Retail Briefs.
July 16, 2007... By Staff Hudson's Bay Will Test Chip Cards Staff Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) will bring MasterCard chip card technology to HBC retail locations, including the Bay, Zellers, Designer Depot, Home Outfitters, and Fields stores. In the...

Lenders Notify Quaker Fabric of Default.
July 16, 2007... By Staff Fall River, Mass. - In the wake of its July 2 announcement that it would likely not meet its current loan requirements and would likely liquidate its assets, woven upholstery and jacquard manufacturer Quaker Fabric said it has...

RugSale.com Streamlines Website.
July 16, 2007... By Staff Holyoke, Mass. - Online area rugs retailer RugSale.com has upgraded its checkout process, reducing by more than two-thirds the number of steps customers must follow to make a purchase. The company explained that it condensed...

Home Source Acquires Karsten's Terrisol.(Home Source International acquired Terrisol Corporation from Karsten America)
July 16, 2007... By Staff Atlanta - Home textile sales, marketing and product development company Home Source International has expanded operations by the acquisition of Terrisol Corporation from Karsten America, the wholly owned United States subsidiary...

Bloomie's Holiday Hits: Throws, Lauren Spa.
July 16, 2007... By Staff New York - A new emphasis and upscaling of its throw business will be a major home textiles push as Bloomingdale's focuses on entertaining and gift-giving throughout its home division for holiday. "We're going after the...

Retail Sales in June Swoon.(Brief article)
July 16, 2007... By Don Hogsett Washington - U.S. retail sales fell by 0.9% in June, the single biggest drop in almost two years, the Commerce Department reported. Taking some of the sting out of the number, much of the damage was done by weak auto...

ABC Carpet Offers Summer of Love Rugs.
July 16, 2007... By Staff New York - Jumping on the "Summer of Love" 40th anniversary bandwagon in its own inimitable style, ABC Carpet and Home is promoting a "kaleidoscopic" assortment of hand woven, semi-antique and vintage rugs. "This is an...

Hautman Brothers Art to Grace Bedding.
July 16, 2007... By Staff Minneapolis - MHS Licensing has brokered a home textiles license between wildlife artists the Hautman Brothers and Virtual Sales Group, a Scarborough, Maine-based manufacturer of woven and printed bedding and accessories. ...

Pacific Coast Preps N.Y. Space for Jessica McClintock Debut.
July 16, 2007... By Staff City of Commerce, Calif. - Pacific Coast Home Furnishings, the licensee for Jessica McClintock soft home and bath products, has renovated its New York showroom in the 261 Fifth Avenue building, in preparation for the official...

What's New at the Atlanta Rug Show.
July 16, 2007... by Staff 828 INTERNATIONAL TRADING CO. Greenville, S.C. (800) 733-0828 Showrooms 6-F-1 and 6-F-3 The new Laguna collection is what 828 describes as an infusion of rich, ripe color and striking details on a 12-rug assortment of...

Specialty Stores Sole Gainer.
July 16, 2007... By Carole Sloan New York - The specialty store channel was the only one to increase distribution share in home textiles for 2006, and then by only a scant 1%. Five of the other six distribution channels held their own with the same...

Who's Who in the Top 50.
July 16, 2007... By Staff COMPANY (Corporate parent), Rank, Headquarters ANNA'S LINENS Rank: 18, 3550 Hyland Ave., Costa Mesa, Calif. 92626 (714) 850-0504 ARMY & AIR FORCE EXCHANGE SERVICE Rank: 45, 3911 S. Walton Walker Blvd., Dallas, Texas...

JCPenney Lures Teens.
July 16, 2007... By Staff Plano, Texas - As part of back-to-school, the jcp.com/mixitup area on the JCPenney website will offer activities, promotions and shopping to grow emotional links with younger consumers. Rock Your Dorm is a template with both...

Pillowtex Names New Licensee, Renews Maples.(agreements with International Home Fashions Inc. and Maples Rugs)(Brief article)
July 16, 2007... By Staff New York - Official Pillowtex has signed a licensing agreement with International Home Fashions (IHF) to make electric blankets, electric pads and electric throws under the Cannon and Royal Velvet brands for distribution in the...

Salon de Textile Cancelled.
July 16, 2007... By Staff Gloucestershire, England -Salon de Textile, the decorative fabrics and home textiles show that was set for Brussels, Belgium from Sept. 7 -10, is cancelled. Organized by Trade Link Co. here, it was to be held in Brussels Tour...

Hudson Debuts Down Overlays.
July 16, 2007... By Staff Richmond, Va. - Diversified sleep products manufacturer Hudson Industries has announced its first entry into the down overlay category, to complement the rest of its top-of-the-bed product classification in memory foam and other...

Wools of New Zealand Welcomes New Licensees.
July 16, 2007... by Staff Marble Hill, Ga. - Wool carpet brand Wools of New Zealand (WONZ) has announced five new partners for the North American contract and residential product markets. The new licensees - Bentley Prince Street, Eclipse, Fabrica,...

Colonial Mills Welcomes Back Thayer.
July 16, 2007... By Staff Rejoins cmi as Sales Exec Pawtucket, R.I. - After a two-year absence, Meredith Thayer is returning to braided-texture area rugs and accessories manufacturer cmi inc. (Colonial Mills), this time as sales executive - business...

Duckwall-ALCO Names Top Merchant.(Ronald Mapp appointed)(Brief article)
July 16, 2007... By Staff Abilene, Kan. - Midwestern general merchandiser Duckwall-ALCO has named Ronald Mapp svp of merchandising, Reporting to president and ceo Bruce Dale. Williams has more than 30 years of specialty store experience, including...

Feizy Hires Hill.
July 16, 2007... By Staff Dallas - Hand-knotted, hand-tufted and power-loomed rug manufacturer Feizy has appointed Justin Hill as its Southeast territory manager, responsible for sales to the company's major accounts in Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, and...

Karastan Promotes Storey.
July 16, 2007... By Staff Dalton, Ga. - Karastan has promoted Bill Storey to svp and gm of fashion brands, which include Karastan, Ralph Lauren, CustomWeave, and Helios. Storey has spent the past 20 years with Karastan, most recently as svp of...

Nostalgia Home Fashions Hires Williams.
July 16, 2007... By Staff Vernon Hills, Ill. - Nostalgia Home Fashions, a Chicago-based design house and manufacturer of bedding and other home textiles, has welcomed Greg Williams to its executive team as vp of sales and business development. ...

Safavieh Taps Tagliarino.
July 16, 2007... by Staff Port Washington, N.Y. -High-end rug manufacturer Safavieh recently hired Charles Tagliarino as its Midwest territory manager, responsible for sales in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin. Prior to joining Safavieh,...

Value Retailers Win in June.
July 16, 2007... By Don Hogsett New York - Stuck in the summer doldrums, same-store retail sales remained weak for a third straight month, with off-pricers doing most of the positive business in June and full-price department stores lagging far behind, all...

June Comps in Flaccid Finish.(Brief article)
July 16, 2007... By Staff New York - Finishing off a disappointing June performance, same-store retail sales continued to chart a downward trek during the fifth and final week of the month, edging up a mangy 0.8% and continuing to lose steam following a...

Sears/Kmart Comps Shake Wall Street.
July 16, 2007... By Staff Hoffman Estates, Ill. - Sending a shudder through retail stock prices last week, Sears Holdings Corp. (SHC) reported negative nine-week comparable-store results for both its Kmart and Sears stores on July 10. The period represents...

Small Biz Barometer Tips Down.
July 16, 2007... By Staff Northfield, Ill. - Made increasingly wary by a soft economy, high taxes and the rising price of raw materials, small manufacturing businesses say they're scaling back growth plans, and fewer than 30% plan to expand their business...

Neck and Neck.
July 16, 2007... By Jennifer Marks Despite Bed Bath & Beyond's recent hiccup - last month's lowering of second quarter expectations and the subsequent quivering of its stock price - it's worth noting that the company added more home textiles sales in sheer...

Crisis in Decorative Fabric.
July 16, 2007... By Carole Sloan That the decorative fabric business in this country is in turmoil is not a subject for challenge. But whether - and how- it will survive is truly the critical issue, as the home furnishings marketplace assesses the...

New Equity Firm Seeks Retail Targets.
July 16, 2007... By Staff Golden Acquisition Took Part in Domain Buyout Newton, Mass. - A partnership of retail industry and asset management specialists has formed Golden Acquisition LLC, a private equity firm that will focus on investing in,...