Home Textiles Today articles from March 2009

Home Textiles Today archives from March 2009

Urban Outfitters Plays it Differently.
March 2, 2009... By Carole Sloan Home Categories Part of Growth Philadelphia-- Urban Outfitters and its expanding divisions view home as a key vehicle for creating its individual brands' DNA. One of the driving forces in this regard? "Our products...

Macy's 4Q Plummets, Beats Consensus.
March 2, 2009... By Jennifer Marks Cincinnati--Weak sales, gross margin deterioration and a slew of one-time costs related to division consolidations, rollout of the My Macy's initiative and store closings sent Macy's Inc. profits tumbling by 58% in the...

Market Basket Reveals Tactics.
March 2, 2009... HTT Staff Report New York-- Some things change, some stay the same. That's why HTT editors each year check the first-hand, spring bed and bath merchandising evidence, on the store shelves and gondolas, and provide HTT's Market Basket...

Target to Pare Home Department.
March 2, 2009... By Cecile B. Corral Maintains Guidance Minneapolis--With home persisting as one of the weakest performing categories at Target stores during a most challenging fourth quarter, the 1,677-unit discount department store is reacting by...

Retail Briefs.
March 2, 2009... By Staff Fortunoff GOB Sales Underway Staff After 87 years in business in the Northeast U.S., fine jewelry, housewares and home furnishings retailer Fortunoff is seeing its inventory liquidated under a court-ordered bankruptcy...

Sunham in Angela Adams Debut.
March 2, 2009... By Carole Sloan New York--Sunham Home Fashions will launch a major bed, bath and rug collection designed by Angela Adams, a designer noted for her inspirations from nature in a contemporary mood. The collection consists of four beds --...

Springs Shifts Exec Duties.(Springs Global)(The Branded Business Unit )(The Private Label Business Unit)(Brief article)
March 2, 2009... By Staff New York--Springs Global announced last week that it will divide its U.S. operation into two distinct business units. The Branded Business Unit will be run by president Joe Granger, who had been svp of Ralph Lauren Home for...

Consumer Spending Nosedives in Q4.(Brief article)(Statistical data)
March 2, 2009... By Staff Washington--The U.S. Commerce Department reported last week that "real gross domestic purchases," a major component of the Gross Domestic Product, fell by 5.6% in the fourth quarter of 2008, compared to a 1.5% decrease in the...

Martha Stewart Swings to Loss.
March 2, 2009... By James Mammarella New York--Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia faces deeply reduced licensing revenues in 2009 even as it fights uphill in the slumping consumer economy, two factors already reflected its fourth quarter and full year 2008...

Profits Pinched, Kohl's Eyes Market Share.
March 2, 2009... By Cecile B. Corral Menomonee Falls, Wis.--While all lines of business in all regions reported a decrease in comp sales for both the fourth quarter and the year, home was among the two product categories that underperformed at Kohl's in...

Sears Holdings Hurt by Sears.
March 2, 2009... By James Mammarella Hoffman Estates, Ill.--Subpar performance at Sears stores walloped Sears Holdings with a billion-dollar reversal in operating profit during 2008, causing a big part of the 93% plunge in full year net earnings as...

More Profitable TJX Likes its Chances in Home.
March 2, 2009... By Jennifer Marks Framingham, Mass.--After a fourth quarter that, while not great was better than most, off-price retailer TJX Companies sees 2009 as a year of opportunity -- and home will be one of the bright spots. Total sales rose...

Fabric Stitching: Tietex Interiors, Burlington in Merger.
March 2, 2009... By Staff Spartanburg, S.C.-- Tietex International said it is selling its Tietex Interiors division, which sells a variety of fabrics to the residential and contract upholstery industries, clearing the way for a merger of the division and...

Antrim Co-Founder O'Neill Retires.
March 2, 2009... By Staff Syosset, N.Y.-- Antrim co-founder and vp for Antrim sales Fran O'Neill has retired from Stanton Carpet. He and Dan McGovern founded Antrim in 1997, importing and wholesaling hand-loomed carpet and rugs from India. O'Neill...

Showroom Map Produced by HFPA.(Home Fashions Products Association)(Brief article)
March 2, 2009... By Staff New York--The Home Fashion Products Association will distribute a map and directory providing the locations of its member companies that manufacture, market or supply home textiles as well as those allied to the trade during New...

Reminder: HFPA Breakfast Tuesday, March 10.(Home Fashions Products Association)
March 2, 2009... By Staff New York--As New York showrooms prepare for the upcoming market week, The Home Products Development Department at FIT and the Home Fashion Products Association (HFPA) are putting the final touches on the Scholarship Awards...

Connelly Retires At WONZ.
March 2, 2009... By Staff Marble Hill, Ga.--Wools of New Zealand executive Wes Connelly has retired from his post as North America area manager, ending his career in the floor covering and textiles industry that spanned almost four decades. His...

Sales Rep Organization Takes Shape at cmi.
March 2, 2009... By Staff Pawtucket, R.I.--For the first time in several years, braided texture rug manufacturer cmi is branching out its sales staff to include a crew of 19 independent sales representatives based around the country. The company has...

Sanitized Recruits Darrell Burnette.(Brief article)
March 2, 2009... By Staff Greenville, S.C.--Sanitized AG, producer of antimicrobial hygiene protection products for textiles and plastics, has hired Darrell Burnette as its new business development manager for North America. The company is in the...

Downlite Partners with Jessica McClintock.
March 2, 2009... By Staff Mason, Ohio-- Downlite has signed a multi-year license with the Jessica McClintock Home Collection and will launch a collection of down and down alternative bedding products at next week's New York Home Fashions Market. The...

Echo Design Teams with Baltic on Bath Collections.
March 2, 2009... By Staff New York--In time for launch at the New York Home Fashions Market, Echo Design Group has partnered with The Baltic Linen Co. to create a line of bath coordinate collections. The initial program will comprise eight collections,...

Domay to Debut Table Linen Collections.
March 2, 2009... By Staff Montreal, Quebec, Canada--Kitchen textiles and bath coordinates company Domay has inked exclusive licensing agreements with artists including Maria Donovan, Ruane Manning and Daphne B., for new table linens collections. In...

MHS Licensing Offers Keyword Search for Art Images.(www.mhslicensing.com)(Brief article)
March 2, 2009... By Staff Minneapolis--Art representative agency MHS Licensing, looking to simplify searches artwork, launched a new keyword search feature at its website, www.mhslicensing.com . "We respect the limited time manufacturers and retailers...

Iconix Profits Strong, Sees Flat 2009.(Iconix Brand Group)(Financial report)
March 2, 2009... By James Mammarella New York-- Brand licensing and marketing firm Iconix Brand Group posted a sound if slowing fourth quarter, while full year profits and sales saw robust growth overall, and the company re-affirmed its guidance for 2009....

Consumer Confidence Hits a New Record Low.
March 2, 2009... By Staff New York-- The Conference Board Consumer Index declined again in February, posting an all-time low for the second month in a row. The Index now stands at 25.0, down from 37.4 in January. The Present Situation Index declined to...

Consumables, clearance sales driving Feb. comps.(Brief article)
March 2, 2009... By Staff New York-- "Pricing and promotional activity" maintained their grip on shoppers as retailers last week kept just ahead of their February same-store sales target, the Johnson Redbook reported. The Johnson Redbook Retail Sales...

230 Fifth Avenue Welcomes New Suppliers, Amenities.
March 2, 2009... By Staff New York--The 230 Fifth Avenue New York MarketCenter has attracted a number of new manufacturers for the upcoming New York Home Fashions Market, March 9-13. Among the new suppliers at 230 Fifth: Park B. Smith, Ltd.:...

The Home Depot Tumbles to Q4 Loss.(Financial report)
March 2, 2009... By Staff Full Year Profit Down 43% Atlanta--The Home Depot reported a net loss of $54 million, or 3 cents per diluted share, for the fourth quarter - a precipitous plunge from earnings of $671 million, or 40 cents EPS in the same...

Mohawk Turns Toward Low-Price Market.
March 2, 2009... By Cecile B. Corral Calhoun, Ga--While the challenging fourth quarter took all of Mohawk Industries' businesses "down" -- including those in U.S. and European markets and in the residential and commercial categories -- a promotional piece...

Home Sales Fell 5.3% in January.
March 2, 2009... By Staff Washington--Sales of existing homes fell 5.3% in January, according to the National Association of Realtors, which speculated consumers might have been waiting to see the fine print in the stimulus package and how it might impact...

Skobe Joins WestPoint Home from Icahn.(Andrew Skobe)(Brief article)
March 2, 2009... By Staff New York--WestPoint Home announced last week that Andrew Skobe had joined the company as its new cfo, effective immediately. Skobe reports to John Piazza, president and ceo of WestPoint Home. He succeeds interim cfo Nelson...

Unitex Adds to Green Lifestyle Line.(Unitex International)(SuperGreen)(Shower Shammee)(Brief article)
March 2, 2009... By Staff Duluth, Ga.--Supplier Unitex International has launched two new products in its Green Lifestyle line: the SuperGreen kitchen towel, a microfiber construction that absorbs oil, grease and grime, but washes clean without detergents;...

Seeking Our 'Snuggie'.
March 2, 2009... By Jennifer Marks, Editor-In-Chief Our market preview visits begin in earnest early this week, and I'm looking forward to seeing what everybody's got cooking out there. I'm expecting open price point and value proposition items to be...

Let's Talk About It.(Brief article)
March 2, 2009... By Carole Sloan, Founding Editor-In-Chief Given the dire state of the world economy, and the home textiles world in particular, it would seem that the next few weeks with a major market as the centerpiece could be a kickoff for new ideas....

Retail Briefs.
March 8, 2009... Staff Creditors Gain Little in LNT GOB Staff Linens Holding Company, the entity that owned now-defunct Linens 'n Things, took in $172 million in sales receipts and tenant allowances from Nov. 23, 2008 to Jan. 3, according to a...

Orian Rugs Exporting Effort.
March 8, 2009... By Cecile B. Corral Anderson, S.C.- The effort is paying off as Orian Rugs has begun branching out its retail reach beyond U.S. borders, tapping into new distribution channels in Canada, Mexico, South America and Europe. The domestic...

Avanti Linens Acquires Tweel.
March 8, 2009... By Cecile B. Corral Moonachie, N.J.- Longtime family owned and operated embellished towel company Avanti Linens has acquired certain assets of table linens, kitchen textiles and decorative bath coordinates supplier Tweel Home Furnishings....

Buyers Lounge Opens at 295 Fifth.(Brief article)
March 8, 2009... Staff New York- Showroom building 295 Fifth Avenue will open a buyers lounge with complimentary coat and bag check as well as free coffee, rolls and danish during this week's New York Home Fashions Market. The lounge, with a range of...

For the Record.
March 8, 2009... Staff Due to an error by a press source, our article (March 2, page 18) on the newly expanded sales rep organization at cmi (Colonial Mills) contained one name that should not be on the list: Tom Morris is not contracted by cmi.

The Kahns and Croscill: 62 Years of Quality and Integrity.
March 8, 2009... By Carole Sloan New York- After 62 years, the Kahn family has bid farewell to the world of home textiles. But not before leaving an array of accomplishments in terms of "firsts," personal and business relationships, creativity in...

SaraMax Optimizes Product Range.
March 8, 2009... By Jennifer Marks New York- SaraMax will introduce three new licenses in beach towels, as well as a variety of new products in beach and kitchen textiles, at this week's New York Home Fashions Market. New beach licenses include Animal...

Market Intros.
March 8, 2009... Staff Bedding AMERICAN TEXTILE COMPANY Duquesne, Pa. (412) 948-1074 Introductions this market include the Sea Essentials pillow case and the Tourmaline Weave pillow cover, both by Rest Right. Sea Essentials offers the...

ABC's Paulette Cole, HFPA Retailer of the Year.
March 8, 2009... By Carole Sloan New York- The Home Fashion Products Association has selected Paulette Cole as its Retailer of the Year. The scion of a four-generation home furnishings retailing family, Paulette Cole is co-founder, creative director...

Commonwealth Expands Thermalogic Curtain Line.
March 8, 2009... Staff Montreal- Window treatment supplier Commonwealth Home Fashions heads to the New York Home Fashions Market with an expanded line of its trademarked, energy-efficient Thermalogic curtains - including its first set designed for kids'...

Softline Expands into Canada.
March 8, 2009... Staff Gardena, Calif.- Building upon the fabric business they started here, and now marking five years in the window curtain and drapery business, brothers Jason and Rodney Carr are opening a new front for their company Softline Home...

Catalog Unit a Drag on HSN in 4Q.
March 8, 2009... Staff St. Petersburg, Fla.- HSN Inc. last week reported a fourth-quarter loss of $2.15 billion compared to a profit of $73.1 million in the year-earlier period, largely due to $2.2 billion in after-tax asset impairment charges including...

IKEA Revamping Iconic N.J. Store.
March 8, 2009... Staff Elizabeth, N.J.- IKEA has begun a 15-month remodeling project to revamp and update its almost two-decade-old 352,00-square-foot store here - the company's first large-scale project in the United States. Completion of the project...

Kathy Ireland Extends Partnerships.
March 8, 2009... Staff Los Angeles- Kathy Ireland Worldwide has extended its partnership with three top home products manufacturers: Shaw Industries, Martin Furniture and Pacific Coast Lighting. The company also has made several executive changes. ...

Wearbest in Fresca Tela Launch.(Wearbest/Sil-tex Mills Ltd.)(Brief article)
March 8, 2009... Staff Garfield, N.J.- Wearbest Sil-Tex Mills is launching its latest jacquard decorative fabric development under the brand Fresca Tela; it is designed to fill a need in the healthcare market. The new high performance fabric answers...

Huntsman to Shift HQ.
March 8, 2009... Staff Basel, Switzerland- Textile dye and chemical treatment producer Huntsman Textile Effects plans to establish new headquarters in Singapore. A unit of Huntsman Corporation, HTE called the move "a major milestone" that will aid its...

HSN Taps Bradley for Ecommerce.
March 8, 2009... Staff St. Petersburg, Fla.- Television and online retailer HSN, or Home Shopping Network, has named Brian Bradley evp of its HSN.com business and advanced services, reporting to Mindy Grossman, ceo. Since HSN re-launched its ecommerce...

Britney Spears New Face of Kohl's Candie's.
March 8, 2009... Staff New York- Juniors fashion brand Candie's, carried exclusively by Kohl's under license from Iconix Brand Group, is in a strategic endorsement with pop star Britney Spears, who will appear in the Candie's Only at Kohl's 2009 print, tv,...

Karastan's Rug Stars at Oscars.
March 8, 2009... Staff Dalton, Ga.- Karastan played a starring role in the backstage decor of the recent 81st Annual Academy Awards, held Feb. 22. The company's Mama Mia shag rug and carpet - named after the 2008 remake of the original Broadway play...

Pacific Coast Buys N.C. Plant.
March 8, 2009... Staff Seattle- Down and down alternative bedding producer Pacific Coast Feather Company has recently completed the purchase of a production and distribution facility in Henderson, N.C. The acquisition of the 500,000 square foot...

Home 'Important' but Lagging at Big Lots.
March 8, 2009... By Cecile B. Corral Columbus, Ohio- Much like its discount chain competitors, Big Lots Inc. is turning to food and other consumables to lift its performance this new fiscal year as the retailer gears up for an expected challenging first...

Discounters Beat Modest Feb. Comp Goals.
March 8, 2009... Staff New York- Discounters slackened in the fourth week of February but still beat their full month target of 2.2% with a 2.8% comp gain, enough to offset the woeful performance of department stores, the Johnson Redbook reported. The...

Unifi Inc.to Buy Some of its Senior Debt.
March 8, 2009... Staff Greensboro, N.C.- Textured polyester and nylon fiber producer Unifi Inc. has begun a cash tender offer for up to $8.78 million in aggregate principal amount of its 11.5% senior secured notes due 2014. Unifi said it is acting "to...

'Open to Listen'.(New York Home Fashions Market)
March 8, 2009... Jennifer Marks, Editor-in-Chief Given the current state of affairs, most retailers coming in for this week's New York Home Fashions Market have severely restricted open to buy. Much of what's on the floor now is fairly safe, familiar...

Higher Price Points Live On.
March 8, 2009... Carole Sloan, Founding Editor-in-Chief As we move into the opening day of this market week, there are folks who hold to the theory that all home textiles retailing is pointed down, down, down - in terms of sales, of course, but also price...

CHF Eyes New Markets.(CHF Industries Inc.)
March 8, 2009... By Jennifer Marks Flexes Line Extensions New York- CHF Industries is changing up its market week strategy. The window division will mount a traditional presentation of new products - with some twists. CHF will show eight new Umbra...

WestPoint Home Revenue Dives to $425M in 2008.
March 8, 2009... By James Mammarella New York- WestPoint Home, once a $2 billion home textiles manufacturing goliath, saw its sales shrink by 37.8% to $425 million for the year ended Dec. 31, 2008, down from $683 million in 2007. Fourth-quarter sales...

Bardwil Leads the Way with Vera.
March 8, 2009... By Cecile B. Corral New York- The vintage, 1950s and '60s designs of Vera Neumann are returning to their home textiles roots with a new collection of table linens and kitchen textiles, this time by Bardwil Linens. The Bardwil...

Revman Adds Color, Expands Bath.
March 8, 2009... By Jennifer Marks New York- Color is king at Revman International this week as the company unveils the Steve Madden bedding collection, extends plenty by Tracy Reese into bath, and updates its other licensed brand collections. "Color...

Nautica Home Taps Menswear Looks.(Nautica Apparel Inc.)(Brief article)
March 23, 2009... Staff New York- For its fall 2009 collection, Nautica Home has turned to menswear for inspiration, with the brand's signature stripes and bolds interpreted in graphic prints across a range of fabrics. The lake lifestyle is the unifying...

Donna Karan Makes Color Count.
March 23, 2009... By Carole Sloan New York- Donna Karan Home changed the point of view of the Collection bedding to reflect more staying power for the master bedroom with Modern Classics. The top of the line for Donna Karan Home, Modern Classics focuses...

Cool Pitch, Hot Tech from Design Weave.
March 23, 2009... By Brent Felgner New York- In the high-capacity world of sheeting manufacturers, it's always helpful to have an attribute - some come-to-market story - to help stand out from the crowd. For new manufacturer Design Weave, it's Outlast...

Glenoit Expands Rug Category.
March 23, 2009... By Cecile B. Corral New York- To accommodate its growing accent rug, kitchen mat, doormat and now area rug offerings, Glenoit/Ex-Cell restructured its showroom for market with added space for the category. The Ultimate Kitchen Rug, its...

Retailers Help Orian Fete Showroom.
March 23, 2009... Staff New York- Orian Rugs celebrated the opening of its new showroom on the third floor of the 7 West NY building with a ribbon cutting ceremony on March 9 - the first day of the Home Fashions Market. The celebration continued with a...

Ellery Expands Williamsburg Patterns.(Ellery HomeStyles)(Brief article)
March 23, 2009... Staff New York- Ellery HomeStyles launched five new Williamsburg matelasse patterns in cotton bedspreads and coverlets at market. The line extension will "build on the success of William And Mary, one of the most enduring matelasses on the...

Barbara Barry Speaks Softly.
March 23, 2009... Staff New York- Barbara Barry introduced two new bedding collections, while expanding color offers in towels and her Dream silk quilt by her licensee DWI Holdings. Both beds are softly colored in tone-on-tone print renditions. Adrift...

Bardwil Adds to Lenox Bath Holiday.(Bardwil Industries Inc.)(Brief article)
March 23, 2009... Staff New York- Bardwil's Lenox Bath division continues to build on its successful holiday assortment of bath ensembles and accessories with new looks and products. The Holiday pattern comes in shower curtains and printed bath towels...

Westgate/HFI Debuts Holiday Collection.(Brief article)
March 23, 2009... Staff New York- Westgate/HFI's decorative pillow and accessories side has for the first time created a holiday collection that spans not only its dec pillows but its table linens and pet bed categories. The company has also added new...

Loftex Launches Bio-Hanger, Fun Towels.
March 23, 2009... Staff New York- Arriving just in time for market, the perfected prototype of a bio-degradable hanger made its debut at towel supplier Loftex USA. Featuring a patented zigzag design molded of a cornstarch-based polymer that breaks down...

Arlee Expands Energy-Saver Line.(Brief article)
March 23, 2009... Staff New York- Based on the success of the launch last market of its then-new Blackout curtains, Arlee Home Fashions has doubled the number of offerings in this category to eight styles of energy-saving panels. Melange is a...

Tommy Shows 'Favorite Things'.
March 23, 2009... Staff New York- Tommy Hilfiger Home took a new approach during market with "Favorite Things for Home," a theme that dovetails with an upcoming marketing campaign Tommy Hilfiger apparel will be conducting. For Tommy Hilfiger Home,...

Bell Promoted at Home Fashions Int'l.
March 23, 2009... Staff New York- In a reorganization at Westgate/Home Fashions International, David Li, owner and chairman, has assumed the title of president as well. Li replaces Tom Coughlin, who has left the company to pursue other interests. In...

Kahns, Cole Honored at HFPA/FIT Breakfast.
March 23, 2009... Staff New York- Braving the cool dawn as this year's industry icons were honored at the HFPA fundraiser for the Fashion Institute of Technology Home Products Development yesterday, home textiles vendors and retailers applauded the honorees...

Wal-Mart Taps Cornell to Helm Sam's Club.
March 23, 2009... Staff Bentonville, Ark.- Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. has hired Brian Cornell, 50, as president and ceo of Sam's Club, effective April 3, reporting to Wal-Mart president and ceo Mike Duke. The move follows the Feb. 1 naming of former Sam's...

Bon-Ton Deep in Red.
March 23, 2009... Staff Keeps Financial House in Order York, PA- Recording a steep loss in its 2008 results, Bon-Ton Stores pointed to ways it will reduce the red ink in 2009, and was rewarded by Wall Street, which sent the share price up more than 16%...

Sleep Innovations Emerges from Ch. 11.
March 23, 2009... Staff West Long Branch, N.J. - Memory foam products manufacturer Sleep Innovations has emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and has obtained $33 million in exit financing from existing lenders. The company's pre-packaged...

Discounters closer to goal in March comps.
March 23, 2009... Staff New York- Same-store sales picked up a bit of ground in both upstairs and downstairs chains in the second week of March, but month-to-date comps still trailed targets, the Johnson Redbook reported. The Johnson Redbook Retail...

Jo-Ann Stores Stymied in Q4.
March 23, 2009... Staff Sees Flat Year Ahead Hudson, Ohio- Craft and fabric retailer Jo-Ann Stores lost ground in the fourth quarter, but increased both same-store sales and overall profit for the full fiscal year ended January 31; projections were...

GHCL Bonds at Issue in London Legal Action.
March 23, 2009... Staff London- Bondholders say they will file suit in England seeking to make certain 2011-maturity bonds issued by GHCL Limited due and payable now. The India-based GHCL is a diversified company that last year moved to spin off its...

WestPoint Home Aims for New Markets.
March 23, 2009... Staff New York- WestPoint Home is taking a "glass half full" approach the recession and housing crisis by expanding distribution with its primary customers, going after the grocery and drugstores channels, and opening markets abroad. ...