Home Textiles Today articles from November 2006

Home Textiles Today archives from November 2006

Brookstone Moves into Soft Home.(Brookstone Company Inc.)
November 13, 2006... By Brent Felgner Merrimack, N.H. - Multichannel gadget-retailer Brookstone has entered home textiles with high-profile moves in its stores, in print and online, marking upwards of a 10% incursion into its total merchandise mix. Its...

Icahn's WestPoint Making Progress.(WestPoint Home )
November 13, 2006... By Don Hogsett New York - Steering a slow course toward a turnaround, and building a platform for lower costs and future profits by beefing up its off-shore operations, WestPoint Home recorded a third-quarter operating loss of $24.1...

New Merchandising Onslaught Looms for Martha Stewart.(Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc.)
November 13, 2006... By Don Hogsett and James Mammarella New York - Sales of Martha Stewart licensed merchandise at Kmart continue to downtrend, but the stage is set elsewhere for a strategic advance, in line with the company's overall approach, which Martha...

Pottery Barn Bed + Bath Goes Brick-and-Mortar.
November 13, 2006... By Jennifer Marks New York - Pottery Barn Bed + Bath is virtual no more. The six-year-old brand extension has moved beyond catalog and e-commerce into bricks and mortar with the opening of stores in Orlando and Manhattan. A third...

Amy Lichstein Signs with Chris Stone.(Amy Karyn Lichstein )(Brief article)
November 13, 2006... By Staff Vernon, Calif. - Textile designer Amy Karyn Lichstein has signed a licensing agreement with decorative fabrics mill Chris Stone to produce a collection of her antique inspired textiles designs at popular prices. The...

F. Schumacher to Merge Branding.
November 13, 2006... By Staff Company Repositioning Three Brands New York - Luxury fabric supplier F. Schumacher & Co. will merge its Decorators Walk, Greeff, and Schumacher brands and reposition these brands' product offerings exclusively under...

Kohl's 3Q Profits Boom.(Financial report)(Brief article)
November 13, 2006... By Staff Surging Retailer Ups Earnings Guidance Menomonee Falls, Wis. - "Robust" is an accurate term to describe third-quarter results for Kohl's, which last week reported earnings per diluted share of $0.68 versus $0.45 a year ago,...

Kris Deaton Returns to Macy's West.(appointments)(Brief article)
November 13, 2006... By Staff New York - Kris Deaton has left the Macy's Home Store organization here to rejoin Macy's West in San Francisco where she will be responsible for business development activities for the home store in that Federated division. ...

Retail Briefs.
November 13, 2006... By Staff Sears Taps ShopKo Merchant Wurl Staff Doug Wurl has joined Sears as vp, general merchandise manager for home fashions. He is responsible for bed and bath, home decor, housewares, RTA furniture, and mattresses....

TexStyle Recruits Cacella.(appointment of Dan Cacella as executive president)(Brief article)
November 13, 2006... By Staff Cincinnati - Dan Cacella has joined TexStyle as executive vp, a new position. Cacella, who had been senior vp of SureFit, reports to Ken Hendrick, who joined the company as ceo in October from PemAmerica. Cacella will be...

Cotton's Livingston to Retire.(Ira Livingston)(Brief article)
November 13, 2006... By Staff New York - Ira Livingston, a 30-year veteran of Cotton Inc. and currently senior vp of consumer communications, will retire on Jan. 1, 2007. Livingston, who is responsible for trade, consumer and retail communications, was...

Federated-May Fit Grows, But Shows Scant Profit.
November 13, 2006... By Don Hogsett Cincinnati - Still picking up the tab for last year's buyout of rival May Department Stores Co., Federated Department Stores Inc. recorded a small third-quarter loss of $3 million, compared with a year ago-profit of $424...

JC Penney Reports Profitable Trends.(J.C. Penney Corporation Inc.)
November 13, 2006... By Don Hogsett Plano, Texas - Buoyed by stronger sales and wider margins, third-quarter profits at JC Penney jumped up by 22.6% to $287.0 million from $234.0 million last year. Sales improved by 6.7% to $4.8 billion from $4.5 billion...

Liz Claiborne to Acquire Kate Spade.(Brief article)
November 13, 2006... By Brent Felgner New York - Liz Claiborne will purchase fashion design house Kate Spade LLC for about $124 million, including the retirement of debt. The deal is expected to close during the current fourth quarter. Positioned as...

Blau Gallery Offers Rugs.(Brief article)
November 13, 2006... By Staff New York -The Doris Leslie Blau Gallery will unveil carpets created by Tommy Hilfiger and Nanette Lepore. At the March 8, 2007 launch, four signed carpets will be auctioned in a fundraiser for Gilda's Club Worldwide. "The new...

Calvin Klein Rug Wins Award.(Brief article)
November 13, 2006... By Staff Saddle Brook, N.J. - A Calvin Klein area rug design by Nourison Rug Corporation was chosen as a top winner for Home Magazine's 12th Annual American Furniture Awards at last month's International Home Furnishings Market in High...

Networking with EWHT.
November 13, 2006... By Staff New York - Two events by Executives Working in Home Textiles offer extra content along with networking. "Cultural and Technical Challenges as you travel and work in Asia" will be a presentation by Bhawna Singh at the...

Trading Up is Key for Mattress Pad Makers.
November 13, 2006... By Jill Rowen Category Contenders are Updating Materials, Constructions - and Packaging New York - The trend toward high-tech product innovation continues to lead the mattress pad industry. This category is updating materials and...

Holiday Catalogs: Home Textiles Close-up.(Brief article)
November 13, 2006... By Staff Tis the Season for Linens and Bedding New York - Table linens, bedding and pillows for kids, and flannel sheets are the key categories of home textiles in many retailers' Christmas catalogs this season. Overall, the...

Bob's Taps Former TJX Exec.(Bob's Discount Furniture appoints Ted English as chief executive officer)(Brief article)
November 13, 2006... By Staff Manchester, Ct. - Regional powerhouse Bob's Discount Furniture has recruited former TJX president and ceo Ted English as its own ceo. At Bob's, English will take the place of Stan Adelstein, recently named chairman, while...

HFPA Meeting to Cover Chargebacks.
November 13, 2006... By Staff New York - The Home Fashions Product Association (HFPA) will hold its annual meeting on Wednesday, Nov.15 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), and will feature a presentation by Charlie...

Holiday E-sales Up.(Brief article)
November 13, 2006... By Staff New York - Consumers will flock to e-tailers this holiday season, with online commerce research firm eMarketer projecting a 22.1% boost over 2005. While most brick-and-mortar retailers would be ecstatic over such an...

Judy Altmeyer Remembered.(Obituary)(Brief article)
November 13, 2006... By Staff Delmont, Pa. - Judy Altmeyer, a vital member of the second generation ownership of Altmeyer Home Stores, passed away recently. The Pittsburgh-area company was founded in 1941 by George Altmeyer, whose son Rod took the reins...

Springs Sells Rug Business.(C.S. Brooks World Carpets to acquire Springs Decorative Floor Inc.)(Brief article)
November 13, 2006... By Staff Fort Mill, S.C. - Springs Industries has signed an agreement to sell its area and accent rug business - Springs Decorative Floor Inc. - to C.S. Brooks World Carpets. As part of the transaction, CSB World receives a license to...

Steel Associates to Promote GLM Shows.
November 13, 2006... By Staff White Plains, N.Y. - Cathy Steel, who has worked with exposition operator George Little Management (GLM) for 18 years, has formed a marketing and communications firm, Steel Associates, which has been retained for services on...

Consumer Confidence Cooled in October.
November 13, 2006... By Don Hogsett New York - Consumer confidence subsided slightly during October after making a big run up the month before, as Americans continue to fret about the jobs market and current business conditions, The Conference Board...

Cotton Price Acceleration Seen.
November 13, 2006... By Staff Washington - With Chinese textile plants expected to exhaust about 40% of worldwide cotton consumption during the 2006/07 cotton year, and consumption still exceeding production around the globe, prices for the basic raw...

Discounters in Comp Sales Rally.(Brief article)
November 13, 2006... By Staff New York - With last-minute Halloween shopping providing a boost to the nation's discounters, same-store retail sales improved by 3.4% during the first week of November, breezing past a target of 3.2% growth and offsetting...

Upstairs Chains Outperform Discounters.
November 13, 2006... By Don Hogsett Sales Notably Lackluster for Most Big Retailers as Holidays Approach New York - Sending out a signal that Santa may come late and leave early at this year's Christmas party, making for a sluggish and promotional retail...

Hot Times for Home Textiles.
November 13, 2006... By Jennifer Marks, Editor-in-Chief A few weeks ago, I ran into a home textiles designer/product development specialist who had recently lost her job because her employer decided to get out of the product category in which she is an...

Spend that Shoe Leather.
November 13, 2006... By Carole Sloan, Founding Editor-in-Chief It's not a groundswell by any stretch of the imagination. Nor is it more than just a mere glimmer of change. It, however, is the sign of a beginning of change in thought process among the...

Dan River Hires Mandell for Licensing.(appointment of Neil Mandell as senior vice president)(Brief article)
November 13, 2006... By Staff Danville, Va. - Dan River has recruited Neil Mandell as senior vp - licensing and marketing, to be based in the New York office and reporting to Dan Hammer, executive vp and president - sales and marketing. Mandell, most...

HFPA to Write Production Standards.(Home Fashion Products Association)
November 27, 2006... By Staff Group Sets Market Dates Through 2010 New York -- The Home Fashion Products Association has launched a drive to create production standards for industry products -- beginning with sheets and an attempt to codify the...

HomeGoods a Star at Fast-Growth TJX.(TJX Companies Inc.)(Financial report)(Brief article)
November 27, 2006... By Staff Framingham, Mass. -- Home furnishings were a factor in the strong gains at The TJX Companies, Inc., which reported third-quarter net sales of $4.5 billion, up 11% over the same period one year ago. Sales increased 8% at the...

Heavy Costs Weigh Down Linens 'n Things.(Linens 'n Things Inc.)(Financial report)(Statistical data)
November 27, 2006... By Don Hogsett Clifton, N.J. -- Hit with soaring interests costs and rising debt as its stockpiles swell at a double-digit pace in advance of the holiday season and squeezed by sharply higher costs, Linens 'n Things recorded a $27.4...

Sears Outshines Kmart in 3Q.(Sears Holdings Corp.)(Financial report)
November 27, 2006... By Staff Home Fashions Product Categories Slump at Both Chains Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Getting a big $140 million boost from money it put in the bank, and further buoyed by strong improvement in its Sears U.S. stores which offset...

JLA Home Signs Candice Olson.(Brief article)
November 27, 2006... By Staff Roswell, Ga. -- JLA Home has struck a licensing agreement with interior designer Candice Olson to create a full range of home textiles products for retail, catalog and Internet channels. JLA previewed 10 beds at its new showroom...

Li & Fung Acquires Homestead.(Li and Fung USA)(Homestead Fabrics Inc.)
November 27, 2006... By Brent Felgner New York -- Li & Fung USA's newly acquired Homestead fashion bedding division will debut Royal Velvet and Cannon bedding lines during this February's market week, according to David Greenstein, who now heads the...

Retail Briefs.
November 27, 2006... By Staff Big Lots Results Yield New Outlook Staff Big Lots Inc. raised its guidance for the fourth-quarter earnings per diluted share (based on continuing operations) to $0.62 to $0.67, compared to the $0.33 recorded for...

Target Booms as Banker.(Target Corp.)(Financial report)
November 27, 2006... By Don Hogsett Minneapolis -- Helped by a 4.6% gain in same-store sales and a big 63.0% jump in income from its increasingly important credit-card operation, Target Stores Corp. drove third-quarter profits up by 16.2%, to $506 million...

Pier 1 Mum on NYSE Inquiry.(Pier 1 Imports Inc.)(New York Stock Exchange )(Financial report)(Brief article)
November 27, 2006... By Staff Fort Worth, Texas - Pier 1 Imports said it was notified by the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) of unusual trading activity in the company's stock on Nov. 14. In response, the company only said, "The NYSE has asked the company to...

Realtors See Home Prices Drop.(Brief article)(Statistical data)
November 27, 2006... By Staff Northeast Hardest Hit, Where Home Prices Fell 4.8% Washington-- Spelling bad news for home owners, the median price of a single-family house fell during the third quarter by 1.2% to $224,900 from year-ago levels, the...

Target: 'Turned the Corner' on Home Lines.(Brief article)
November 27, 2006... By Cecile B. Corral Minneapolis -- Target is "pleased" with the progress it has made so far this year in home furnishings, according to president Gregg Steinhafel. "We are focusing on getting our good-better-best balance more...

Textiles a Positive at Pottery Barn.(Williams-Sonoma Inc.)(Financial report)(Brief article)
November 27, 2006... By Staff San Francisco -- Third-quarter sales at Williams-Sonoma were up modestly -- but profits were sharply down -- and Pottery Barn division president Laura Alber said of her brand, "Revenues were negative in all key product...

Chris Stone to Debut Amy Karyn Collection.(Chris Stone and Associates to deal with Amy Karyn Lichstein)
November 27, 2006... By Carole Sloan Vernon, Calif. -- Bringing her signature look of antique-inspired decorative fabrics to the mainstream marketplace has been one of Amy Karyn Lichstein's goals, as she seeks to expand her reach with consumers beyond the...

Hanover Direct Selling Out to Chelsey Direct.(Brief article)
November 27, 2006... By Staff Weehawken, N.J. -- Hanover Direct said that its board of directors had unanimously approved a cash merger agreement with Chelsey Direct, the company's largest shareholder. In the merger agreement, Chelsey planned to pay...

Home Categories Sizzle at Ross Stores.(Financial report)(Brief article)
November 27, 2006... By Staff Pleasanton, Calif. -- Home was one of two leading departments in the third quarter, said Ross Stores vice chairman, president and ceo Michael Balmuth on the company's conference call recently, as the 798-store off-price retailer...

Lustig Joins ITG Interior Fabrics Unit.(International Textile Group appoints Debbye Lustig)(Brief article)
November 27, 2006... By Staff Greensboro, N.C. -- Debbye Lustig has joined the interior fabrics division of the International Textile Group (ITG) and is directing the entire product area for the business that includes Burlington Contract and Cone Jacquards....

U.S. Exhibitors Heading to Heimtextil.(Brief article)
November 27, 2006... By Staff Washington -- Eight companies will be part of the American pavilions at Heimtextil in Frankfurt, Germany from Jan. 10 -- 13, 2007, with two in the fabric pavilion in Hall 4.1, and six in the bed and bath pavilion in Hall 9.0....

Cost Plus Seeks Smarter Home Mix.
November 27, 2006... By Cecile B. Corral Oakland, Calif. -- Cost Plus Inc. has seen its home business sales tumble and is reacting by streamlining sku count in the coming months, the variety retailer said during its third quarter conference call. Barry...

Fashion Leading Utility at Stein Mart.
November 27, 2006... By Cecile B. Corral Jacksonville, Fla. -- Stein Mart is enjoying a positive reaction to its evolving home department, and is expecting strong activity from its designer Nina by Nina Campbell line, the 268-unit retailer reported during...

Glen Raven's Petot Directs 'New Frontiers'.(Philippe Petot appointed at Glen Raven Inc.)(Brief article)
November 27, 2006... By Staff Glen Raven, N.C. -- Fabric solutions provider Glen Raven Inc. has created an innovations-directed "New Frontiers Department," to be headed by vp Philippe Petot. "Innovation must be our single greatest competitive advantage...

Soft Home Rebounding at BJ's.(BJ's Wholesale Club Inc.)(Financial report)
November 27, 2006... By Cecile B. Corral Natick, Mass. -- BJ's Wholesale Club boasted that its fashion departments -- including soft home -- recently experienced a rebirth in comp sales -- while noting that last year's economy was slowed by already high fuel...

EXPO Names Nourison Partner of the Year.(Nourison Ltd., EXPO Design Center)(Brief article)
November 27, 2006... By Staff Saddle Brook, N.J. -- For the second time in four years, EXPO Design Center has chosen area and accent rug supplier Nourison as a 2006 Partner of the Year. The first time was in 2003. Nourison was also named a finalist for...

Home Lags as Dillard's Logs Quarterly Turnaround.
November 27, 2006... By Staff Net Income Sharply Increased in the Quarter Little Rock, Ark. -- Home furnishings sales lagged the general trend at Dillard's, which reported third-quarter net income of $13.6 million -- a major turnaround from the net loss...

Matouk to Debut Lulu DK Bedding.(Brief article)
November 27, 2006... By Staff New York -- Luxury linen supplier Matouk has signed a license to produce bedding by Lulu de Kwiatkowski, founder and chief designer of Lulu DK Fabrics, which will debut at the International Gift Show in New York in January...

Mohawk Unveils Kaleidoscope Rugs.(Mohawk Home)(Brief article)
November 27, 2006... By Staff Sugar Valley, Ga. -- Mohawk Home is introducing its Kaleidoscope collection of woven rugs, which employs a newly developed construction that creates a handmade look. The space-dyed yarns used in the machine-made rugs...

Shaw to Exhibit in Vegas.(Shaw Living.)(Brief article)
November 27, 2006... By Staff Dalton, Ga. -- For the first time, Shaw Living has inked a lease for a temporary space at the upcoming Las Vegas Furniture Market, set for mid January. "We have heard such positive things about not only the high traffic...

Three Rug Makers Update Atlanta Showrooms.(Ebisons Harounian Imports, Dynamic Rugs)
November 27, 2006... By Staff Atlanta -- Three area rug companies with permanent showrooms at the AmericasMart here are renovating their spaces in time for the next International Area Rug market, which will run Jan. 18 to 21, 2007. Ebisons Harounian's...

Vipac to Mark 60th Anniversary.(Vipac Inc.)(Company overview)(Brief article)
November 27, 2006... By Staff Edison, N.J. -- Vipac Inc. will celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2007. Founded in 1947 as a distributor of paperboard boxes, family-owned Vipac has evolved into a leading international supplier of vinyl packaging for a variety...

Hunter Douglas Taps Andrew Nazari.(Brief article)
November 27, 2006... By Staff Upper Saddle River, N.J. -- Window treatment producer Hunter Douglas has promoted Andrew Nazari to vp, senior director of new business development. Previously director of fabricator engineering services, Nazari will continue...

Oriental Weavers Promotes Dennard.(Upper Saddle River)(Andrew Nazari promoted to VP, Senior Director of New Business Development of Hunter Douglas)(Brief article)
November 27, 2006... By Staff Upper Saddle River, N.J. -- Window treatment producer Hunter Douglas has promoted Andrew Nazari to vp, senior director of new business development. Previously director of fabricator engineering services, Nazari will continue...

People Briefs.(Anna's Linens has named Tony Sullivan)(Crandall Bowles joined JPMorgan Chase and Co.)(Lisa Gabriele Maurer joined Parimatex Group)(Brief article)
November 27, 2006... By Staff Anna's Names Vp Ops Staff Specialty home textiles retailer Anna's Linens has named Tony Sullivan vp store operations, a new position. Sullivan was most recently vp operations at the Foot Locker, Kids' Foot...

Roces to Head Wal-Mart 'Store Experience'.(Wal-Mart Stores Inc. promoted Santiago Roces)(Brief article)
November 27, 2006... By Staff New York -- Wal-Mart Stores is creating a new organization it calls "Store Experience" to delve more deeply into store planning, space management, and the retailer's store-of-the-community initiative. Santiago Roces, who...

Glen Raven Names Hunnicutt Brand Manager.(Hal Hunnicutt appointed at Glen Raven Custom Fabrics L.L.C.)(Brief article)
November 27, 2006... By Staff Glen Raven, N.C. -- Hal Hunnicutt has been named brand manager for fabric supplier Glen Raven Custom Fabrics, a new position for the company, which produces Sunbrella performance fabrics. He will report to vp marketing Harry...

Lorelli Resigns from Latex Int'l.(Mike Lorelli resigns from Latex International West.)(Brief article)
November 27, 2006... By Staff Shelton, Ct. -- Mike Lorelli has resigned as president and ceo of latex foam supplier Latex International, to pursue other interests. Lorelli joined Latex International in 2004. Kevin Stein, vp of marketing, said the company's...

Nourison Promotes Two.(David Forman and Matt Blitz appointed at Nourison Ltd.)(Brief article)
November 27, 2006... By Staff Saddle Brook, NJ -- Nourison recently appointed David Forman director of marketing. In his new post, Forman is responsible for all marketing and promotion efforts, including participation in consumer and trade events,...

Sears Holdings Loses Canadian Vote.(Sears Canada Inc.)(Brief article)
November 27, 2006... By Staff Toronto -- Sears Canada's minority shareholders and the Ontario Securities Commission have thwarted U.S.-based Sears Holdings' plan to take the Canadian retailer private this year. At a special meeting of shareholders, 81.3%...

Consumers Embrace Essentials.
November 27, 2006... By Staff Washington -- Dragged down largely by falling gas prices, otherwise a plus for the U.S. economy, and with consumers focusing on the basics and turning their backs on luxuries, October retail sales slipped by 0.2% from...

Crown Crafts Shows More Profit.(Crown Crafts Inc.)(Financial report)
November 27, 2006... By Don Hogsett Gonzales, La. -- Still building sales and margins in a tricky retail environment, and chalking up a $4.1 million gain as it slashed its debt as part of a sweeping refinancing, Crown Crafts Inc. recorded a second fiscal...

Santa Claus Steals Holiday Sales.
November 27, 2006... By Carole Sloan, founding editor-in-chief When was the last time you saw a feature about a home textiles product on the front of a marketing section of The Wall Street Journal? Perhaps never. But just in the last couple of weeks, the...

Wal-Mart Cuts Inventory to Boost Profits.(Financial report)
November 27, 2006... By Staff Bentonville, Ark. -- Helped by continued deep cuts in stockpiles and rapid growth in its international operations, which offset sluggish sales in its core U.S. store base, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. pushed third-quarter profits up by...

Imitate the Action of the Tiger*.(promotions during Christmas)(Editorial)
November 27, 2006... By Jennifer Marks, editor-in-chief Sorry, Fox News. It appears there will be no societal "War on Christmas" this year. Wal-Mart employees will wish shoppers a "Merry Christmas," and Target -- three years after booting Salvation Army...

Fred's Not Happy for Holiday.(Fred's Inc.)(Financial report)(Brief article)
November 27, 2006... By Staff Memphis, Tenn. -- Fred's stumbled in the third quarter; its earnings fell by 6% to $6 million vs. $6.3 million during the year-ago period. The culprit: October. Following several months of steady sales and comp gains,...

Jo-Ann Tightens Seasonal Strategy.(Jo-Ann Stores Inc.)(Financial report)
November 27, 2006... By Cecile B. Corral Retailer Aiming to Improve Sell-Through Rates and Reduce Markdowns Hudson, Ohio -- Jo-Ann Stores is revamping its lagging seasonal business with new buying practices and a more meaningful merchandise mix. "We've...

Merchant Paquette Joins Nourison.(Paula Paquette appointed)(Brief article)
November 27, 2006... By Staff Saddle Brook, N.J. -- After more than 20 years working in retail, Paula Paquette has switched to the supplier side of the business, joining area and accent rug producer Nourison, assuming the newly created post of vp, soft home....

Wedge Resigns as BJ's Top Exec.(Herb Zarkin promoted by BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. as president and ceo for Mike Wedge resignation)(Financial report)(Brief article)
November 27, 2006... By Staff Natick, Mass. -- Mike Wedge last week announced his resignation as president and ceo of BJ's Wholesale Club. Herb Zarkin, chairman of the board, was named interim ceo. Jointly, Wedge and Zarkin said, "While the company has...