Home Textiles Today articles from October 2004

Home Textiles Today archives from October 2004

BBB founders kings of compensation.(Bed Bath & Beyond)
October 4, 2004... NEW YORK -- If it's tough to make money producing home fashions products, it's a whole lot easier selling them. Making that point the easy way are two of the savviest and most successful merchants in all of U.S. retailing, Warren Eisenberg...

Top producers hail from industry's fringe.(salaries of executives from textile industry)
October 4, 2004... NEW YORK -- It probably" says a lot about the state of the U.S. home fashions business that the five highest paid executives in the industry last year were on its periphery--producing carpets, tiles or decorative fabrics, rather than mainstream...

Glenoit comes roaring back.(textile industry)
October 4, 2004... NEW YORK -- Only two years after emerging from bankruptcy, a slimmed and newly profitable company, Glenoit Universal, parent of Excell, has upped sales, doubled its product categories and lines, made its first acquisition in several years, and...

Anna's Linens goes up a size.(textile industry)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... COSTA MESA, CALIF. -- Anna's Linens continues to snap up opportunistic property, leases, most recently closing on eight former Factory 2-U locations that will push the number of new Anna's openings for 2004 above 50. More importantly, the...

Kohl's hires EVP, product development.(Kohl's Department Stores Inc.)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Kohl's Department Stores has hired Peggy Eskenasi as executive vice president of product development, a newly created position. Eskenasi will oversee private-brand development for Kohl's. Her appointment completes the previously announced...

Sears ups store count.(Retail Briefs)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Sears will acquire six off-mall locations from Wal-Mart, while also gaining 50 locations from Kmart. The deal with Kmart has Sears paying the company $575.9 million, including $172 million in net cash proceeds to be received this quarter. ...

Axelrod Joins Maidenform Board.(Retail Briefs)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Norman Axelrod, chairman and CEO of Linens 'N Things, has been elected to the Maidenform, Inc. Board of Directors. Axelrod also serves on several other boards including Reebok and Jaclyn, Inc. Tom Ward, Maidenform chairman and CEO, is a...

Family Dollar wraps FY.(Retail Briefs)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... With its soft-lines sales significantly off plan and its gross profit margin declining, Family Dollar reported a 9.9 percent decline in net income to $47.7 million for the fourth quarter ended Aug. 29. Sales for the quarter were $1.3...

Quota makes WTO agenda.(World Trade Organization)
October 4, 2004... GENEVA -- Last Friday's World Trade Organization Council on Trade in Goods session represents the first time the WTO has taken up a discussion of the economic ramifications--including labor, social and security concerns--associated with the...

Revere Mills sells stakes.(News)(Regal Textile Industries (Pvt) Ltd)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... DES PLAINES, ILL. -- Revere Mills has sold stakes in its business to two of its longtime product suppliers in Pakistan. Regal Textile Industries (Pvt) Ltd. and Eastern Textiles (Pvt) Ltd.--Revere suppliers for more than 18 years in...

Executive shakeup at Marshall Field's.(News)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... ST. LOUIS -- Linda Ahlers, president of Marshall Field's, will retire on Dec. 31. In response, the company has made some promotions. Frank Guzzetta will become president and CEO of Marshall Field's effective Jan. 1. He is currently...

Home Source and Karsten launch sheeting collection.(News)
October 4, 2004... ATLANTA -- Home Source International and Karsten America have launched a sheeting collection geared toward providing better sleep comfort. The collection consists of six sheeting constructions. "We are trying to give consumers another...

EA promotes Brown, Mills.(News)(EA International Ltd)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... ATLANTA -- EA International Ltd, a Georgia-based design and manufacturing company of vinyl packaging and soft-sided cases, has promoted Dale Brown to vice president of global sales and marketing. He was previously head of sales and...

Baltic, Sheridan find new space.(News)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... NEW YORK -- Baltic linen has moved to a larger showroom at 295 Fifth Ave. in time for the New York Home Textiles Market. The suite, 1218, is the former site of Sheridan Home and measures 7,415 square feet. Sheridan Home has also...

Melange Home hires account executives.(News)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Melange Home has hired two account executives to handle major accounts and assist in everyday aspects of the company. Herb Gershkowitz and Laura Ward will be located at the company's New York showroom at 230 Fifth Ave., in...

Springs allies with Universal Studios.(News)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... FORT MILL, S.C. -- Springs Industries has formed an alliance with Universal Studios Consumer Products Group to create home fashions for various Universal brands, including Universal Pictures' upcoming movies "Curious George" and "King Kong,"...

Dohler sets sights on matelasse business.(News)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... NEW YORK -- Dohler USA, a subsidiary of Dohler SA Brasil best known in North America for its bath aim beach towel lines, is entering the metalasse business with the debut of new products during the New York Home Textiles Market. The...

Caesarea conquers with innovation.(News)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... NEW YORK -- Caesarea Creations will offer new bath rug constructions during the New York Home Textiles Market, building on the introduction earlier this year of its HydroMagic rug, which employed activewear fibers to absorb more moisture and...

Discounters' sales best department stores'.(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... NEW YORK -- Helped by cooler weather and stronger bedding sales, same-store retail sales ticked up 2.9 percent during the fourth week of September, improving modestly on a 2.6 percent increase the week before, the Johnson Red book reported. ...

Women's group to host branding breakfast.
October 4, 2004... NEW YORK -- Target's Nancy Webster and industry guru Dave Tracy will discuss branding and private label development at a New York Market Week breakfast hosted by the Executive Women in Home Textiles on Oct. 10. The event will take place in...

Maples adds to its stainless reputation in the industry.
October 4, 2004... Scottsboro, Alabama -- Maples, the industry's leading manufacturer of tufted accent, area and bath rugs announces an exciting new relationship with STAINMASTER,[R] the prominent brand of high-quality luxury floor coverings. This new partnership...

Executive compensation report.(News)
October 4, 2004... Methodology Home Textiles Today's Executive Compensation Report is based on data from public documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All files are for the companies' 2003 fiscal year and the comparable fiscal year two...

Executive compensation report: retailers.(News)(Illustration)
October 4, 2004... THE TOP 3 RETAILER PAYCHECKS $53,805,000 Warren Co-Chairman, Bed Bath & Beyond Leonard Feinstein, Co-Chairman Bed Bath & Beyond $30,224,000 Executive Compensation Report RETAILERS dollar amounts in thousands ...

Players scorecard.(News)
October 4, 2004... Appointments and personnel changes since Spring Market (as of Sept. 27, 2004) Date following entry indicates the issue of HTT in which the entry appeared ADAMS, CECIL Resigned as vice president, creative director, Trade Am, 7/19/2004...

New home sales strong.(Brief Article)(Column)
October 4, 2004... WASHINGTON -- Sales of costly new homes shot up faster than expected during August, jumping 9.4 percent, but otherwise the housing market turned in a more muted performance, with housing starts largely unchanged, and sales of existing homes...

Federated hurt by hurricanes.(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... CINCINNATI -- Federated Department Stores Inc. said a series of hurricanes that battered parts of Florida, closing stores and hampering sales, will take a toll on third fiscal quarter profits, reducing earnings by about 4 to 6 cents a share....

Dixie sales hurt by storms.(Business Briefs)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... The Dixie Group Inc., a Chattanooga, Tenn.-based producer of carpets and rugs, said storm-related suspension of operations at some of its plants will take a minor bite out of sales, holding a projected third-quarter-sales gain to 25 percent,...

Bank of America boosts Wal-Mart.(Business Briefs)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Bank of America Analyst Aram Rubinson has raised his rating on mega-retailer Wal-Mart to a 'buy" from a "neutral," and at the same time raised his price target for the stock to $60 from $55. "Today, the stock is cheaper, sentiment is...

Culp names five directors.(Business Briefs)
October 4, 2004... Culp Inc., the High Point, N.C.-based fabric producer, has named five to its board of directors. Three directors were re-elected to serve three-year terms: Howard Dunn Jr., H. Bruce English and Kenneth McAllister. Two new directors,...

Wall Street watch: for the week ended September 30, 2004.(Illustration)
October 4, 2004... MANUFACTURERS & SUPPLIERS CLOSE % CHG % CHG COMPANY 9/30/04 THIS WEEK YEAR-TO-DATE Cone Mills (N)(L) 0.00 -9.09% -95.56%...

Blood bath or bubble bath?(What will elimination of quotas mean?)(Column)
October 4, 2004... WE ALL KNOW the old fable from India about the blind men and the elephant. One man grabs the tusk and concludes that the elephant is very like a spear. Another slams up against the elephant's belly and declares it is very like a wall. When...

Anything but routine.(Home Textiles Market Week.)(Column)
October 4, 2004... IF ANYONE THINKS the upcoming home textiles market week will play anything like "same old, same old," they have another thing coming. Challenges are coming from every, corner, and no No companies will be able to address them alike. And...

Brick is back: execs make the case for production ownership.(executive)
October 8, 2004... NEW YORK -- Long given up for dead as American retailers and suppliers stampeded over the waters in a rush for low-cost product, bricks and mortar are staging a comeback, and now may even be crucial to a textiles company's survival, say a...

Dan River rolls out licensed lines.(News)
October 8, 2004... NEW YORK -- Dan River has unveiled six bed patterns in its extensive new Caribbean Joe home license and four Country Living bedding designs that coordinate back to the collection's new throws, accent rugs, dec pillows and matelasse coverlet....

Haywin history, Haft founds Fayette.
October 8, 2004... NEW YORK -- Former Haywin CEO Gregg Haft has launched a new company that focuses on servicing all aspects of the home textiles industry. The new company--Fayette--will be a multi-faceted operation dealing in four areas: licensing/strategic...

Albani Decotex making 'strides'.(News)
October 8, 2004... GLOVERSVlLLE, N.Y. -- Albani Decotex will introduce its new Cherry Valley Home label in window, shower curtains and table top at the upcoming New York Home Textiles Market. The three-year-old company, based in upstate New York, is an...

John Ritzenthaler expands in kitchen.(News)
October 8, 2004... WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, PA. -- The John Ritzenthaler Co. is boosting its printed kitchen textiles offerings this New York Home Textiles Market to 60 design groups, from just l0 to 12 in previous markets. Debby Stirner, director of design and...

Balta widens market intros.(News)(Brief Article)
October 8, 2004... DALTON, GA. -- Balta U.S. Inc. will reconfigure its lines at the New York Home Textiles Market, placing new emphasis on heat-set, polypropylene and New Zealand wool area rugs. "We have intentionally kept our product offering very narrow...

Cacella's back at Sure Fit as SVP sales.(News)
October 8, 2004... NEW YORK -- Sure Fit Inc., a manufacturer and marketer of ready-made slipcovers, has rehired Dan Cacella us senior vice president of sales. Cacella was with Sure Fit for 22 years. He was mostly at Beacon Looms, where he was senior vice...

Rugs Direct plans new store.(News)(Brief Article)
October 8, 2004... WINCHESTER, VA. -- Area and accent rug retailer Rugs Direct will open a store in Richmond. Va., nearby company headquarters here in November. The 10,000 square-foot unit will house more than 2,000 rugs for immediate sale. The company will...

Pierre Cardin takes on Canada.(News)
October 8, 2004... TORONTO -- Pierre Cardin is set to launch a line of home fashion products in Canada this fall. The line consists of 10 patterns for top-of-bed with coordinating bath lines. The line, under license to JFC Licensing, Inc., will be...

Maples adds to its stainless reputation in the industry.
October 8, 2004... Scottsboro, Alabama -- Maples, the industry's leading manufacturer of tufted accent, area, and bath rugs announces an exciting new relationship with STAINMASTER[R], the prominent brand of high-quality luxury floor coverings. This new...

Seminar addresses "Made in the USA" questions.
October 8, 2004... NEW YORK -- A Nexco-sponsored seminar--"Made in the USA--Does Your Product Qualify?"--will be held on Oct. 15 flora 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon at The Williams Club, 24 East 39th St., between Park and Madison Avenue, 6th floor. The seminar will...

Movers and shakers: the following companies have either taken new space or relocated within one of New York City's three main home textiles buildings.(News)
October 8, 2004... 261 Fifth Ave. * Felpinter Sofil, Ltd., has committed to suite 514. * Sun-Yin, USA has relocated from the fifth floor to suite 1504 and tripled its showroom space. * Universal Home Fashions has doubled its existing showroom space...

MSM finishes expansion.(News)(Brief Article)
October 8, 2004... SMYRNA, TENN.--MSM Industries has finished a 140,000-square-foot plant expansion here. The new addition gives MSM 240,000 square feet of manufacturing and distribution space. MSM, a producer of non-slip rug pads, also produces a complete...

Bedding.(Product Gallery)
October 8, 2004... BEDDING ARROW HOME FASHIONS Anaheim, Calif., (714) 688-1200 Global, a textural design, is one of the new patterns in the Kathy Ireland Home by Arrow Home Fashions line. This design is from the Architectural Style Guide and will be...

Bath shop.(Product Gallery)
October 8, 2004... THE ARLEE GROUP New York (212) 689-0020 From its bath division, Lee's Shower Curtains, the company is showing these five groups, among other new additions. The faux suede collection comes in six colorways--blush, straw, sky, merlot, moss...

Kitchen & tabletop.(Product Gallery)
October 8, 2004... KITCHEN & TABLETOP THE ARLEE GROUP New York (212) 689 0020 The company's Table Trends division is adding to its 100 percent cotton woven stripes grouping from last market. A new table linens collection being shown is a...

Rugs.(Product Gallery)
October 8, 2004... AREA RUGS 828 INTERNATIONAL TRADING Greenville, S.C., (800) 733-0828 The company's GT Road collection, inspired by India's Grand Trunk Road that links India and Pakistan, is debuting. It comprises rugs made in India of 100 percent...

Decorative pillows.(Product Gallery)
October 8, 2004... DECORATIVE PILLOWS ACECO INCORPORATED Brooklyn, N.Y., (718) 485-0100 The company is showing a line of faux for decorative pillows and throws that reverse to berber or faux animal skin designs. THE ARLEE GROUP New York...

Pillows, pads, blankets & throws.(Product Gallery)
October 8, 2004... PILLOWS, PADS, BLANKETS & THROWS THE ARLEE GROUP New York (212) 689-0020 Arlee's Sutton Place division has several introductions lined up: a grouping of pleated faux suede panels in six colorways; Poodle, a collection of throws in...

Window coverings.(Product Gallery)
October 8, 2004... WINDOW COVERINGS CHF INDUSTRIES New York (212) 213-8130 The new Canyon window panel by the Peri brand is available in cinnabar, a casual yarn-dyed jacquard stripe. Also new from CHF is a 100 percent polyester Bako window panel...

Infants & juveniles.(Product Gallery)
October 8, 2004... 1. KAS's Savannah collection of rugs is made in a hand-hooked construction in linen. Sizes include accent to room and a round. * 2. MESSINA AND ZUCKER's new Fun-a-muls animal-shaped pillows include Happy Frog and Cuddly Chicken. * 3. CHF's...

Gottschalks hires new GMM of Home.(People Today)
October 8, 2004... FRESNO, CALIF. -- Gottschalks Inc. has appointed Donald Engelman rice president and general merchandise manager of the Home Store Division. He will oversee Gottschalks' home division, including housewares, tabletop, textiles and furniture....

Hancock expands board.(People Today)
October 8, 2004... BALDWYN, MISS. -- Hancock Fabrics, Inc. has increased its board to seven members and appointed Wellford Sanders Jr. as a director of the corporation. Sanders has been a managing director with Wachovia Securities, Inc. since 1997. His prior...

Lepore out at Wal-Mart.(People Today)
October 8, 2004... BENTONVILLE, ARK. -- Dawn Lepore has resigned as a member of the board of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. She has accepted the position of CEO and chairman of the board of drugstore.com, Inc., a competitor of Wal-Mart. Lepore has served on the...

60-year Charles Curtain worker going strong.(People Today)
October 8, 2004... DALLAS -- For 60 years, Mary Rial has been making draperies on her sewing machine, and she has no plans to close the curtain on her long career any time soon. The 80-year-old Rial said she recalls having had "no work experience" when she...

Groups file quota petitions.(News)
October 18, 2004... WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Mass retailers are opposing them outright. And during last week's New York Home Textiles Market, petitions filed on behalf of trade groups to slow the impact of Chinese imports were met with skepticism and indifference in...

New CEO charts sure fit course.(News)
October 18, 2004... NEW YORK -- Recently appointed Sure Fit CEO Salo Grosfeld plans to take the company in new directions, such as expanding into decorative pillows, throws and window, while discontinuing bedding, he said in an interview with HTT. "We want to...

WPS to strike U.S./offshore balance.(News)
October 18, 2004... NEW YORK -- WestPoint Stevens' chief calls the mill's recently completed reorganization plan, "the most sweeping plan this company has ever put together." Although the company can non yet publicly disclose the details, WPS President and...

A West Elm grows in Chelsea.(News)
October 18, 2004... NEW YORK -- Just two years old as a catalog and online presence and a barely a year into its shakedown cruise as a see me, feel me, touch me retailer, West Elm has opened its second store, coming home to Manhattan's young and hip Chelsea...

LNT lowers forecast, stock drops.(Retail Briefs)(Brief Article)
October 18, 2004... Hoisting a yellow flag and bracing Wall Street for an earnings disappointment, Linens 'n Things warned that third-quarter profits will come in beneath its previous forecast, hampered by slower traffic, lower same-store sales, weaker margins and...

Mizrahi headed for home at target.(Retail Briefs)(Brief Article)
October 18, 2004... Target recently announced it will launch the Isaac Mizrahi brand into home next spring, an expansion of the co-branded apparel association the designer and the retailer debuted in 2003. The collection will include bedding, bath, decorative...

Hecht's/Strawbridge promotes Kantor.(Retail Briefs)(Brief Article)
October 18, 2004... The May Department Stores Company has promoted Jeffrey Kantor to president and CEO of the Hecht's/ Strawbridge's division, located in Washington, D.C. Kantor succeeds Frank Guzzetta on Nov. 1. Guzzetta is joining Marshall Field's Nov. 1...

Saks opens new Proffitt's.(Retail Briefs)(Brief Article)
October 18, 2004... Saks Incorporated will open a 120,000-square-foot Proffitt's store in Colonial Pinnacle at Turkey Creek, a new mail development in Knoxville, Tenn. The center and Proffitt's store are expected to open in April 2006. The location increases...

Calvin Collections spring to life.(News)
October 18, 2004... NEW YORK -- Six new beds using a variety of subtle fabric constructions were added to Calvin Klein Collection and four to the Khaki Collection for spring 2005. In Collection, Rustic Metallic offers an unusual effect with a trio of panels...

Bardwil comes through on luxury line.(News)(Brief Article)
October 18, 2004... New YORK -- The Lenox bath towel line by licensee Bardwil Linens that debuted this New York Home Textiles Market carried a number of luxury attributes. Marking Bardwil's first ever entry into a new product category outside table linens and...

Associated changes name, shakes up structure.(News)
October 18, 2004... NEW YORK -- Associated Textile Converters Inc., the owner of Swavelle/Mill Creek Fabrics and Piermont Fabrics, is changing its corporate name to Swavelle/Mill Creek Fabrics, Inc. Along with the name change, Swavelle/Mill Creek Fabrics Inc....

For the record.(Correction Notice)
October 18, 2004... The caption for picture 1 on page 14 of last week's Market Daily should have read: Carrie Mechner and Kelly Ganswindt, both of Mohawk Home.

Kathy Ireland & Arrow unwrap bedding.(News)
October 18, 2004... NEW YORK -- Kathy Ireland Home officially unveiled its first bedding line by Arrow Home Fashions at the New York Home Textiles Market last week. The easy care Kathy Ireland Home by Arrow Home Fashions collection offers deep-pocket sheets,...

Retailers enjoy calm after storm.(Johnson Redbook Index)(Brief Article)
October 18, 2004... NEW YORK -- Getting past last month's hurricanes and flooding, and helped by increased traffic, same-store sales got off to a stronger start during October, rising 2.8 percent over year-before levels, slightly ahead of a planned 2.7 percent...

Avanti branches out in bath products.(News)(Brief Article)
October 18, 2004... NEW YORK -- Responding to customers' requests for more coordinated product offerings, embellished towel manufacturer Avanti Linens branched out this New York Home Textiles Market with the addition of shower curtains, tub mats and decorative...

Scott to Bed Bath: 'I'm watching'.(News)(Lee Scott )
October 18, 2004... BENTONVILLE, ARK. -- Wal-Mart's most senior executives earlier this month preached the retail gospel according to Sam with a renewed passion, insisting to an audience of financial analysts it's a softer, kinder, gentler giant with growth fires...

Shaw becoming 'full service' in bath rugs.(News)(Brief Article)
October 18, 2004... NEW YORK -- Branded luxury bath rugs are the latest addition to Shaw Living's growing portfolio of product category offerings. Titled the StainMaster collection after the stain-resistant technology brand employed in these rugs, the program...

ITC buys Heritage House.(News)
October 18, 2004... NEW YORK -- Heritage House Fabrics has purchased the business assets of International Textile Corp. ITC, a converter and importer of decorative fabrics, drapery and upholstery constructions, markets primarily to upper end jobbers and...

DKNY goes solid color.(Product Introductions)
October 18, 2004... NEW YORK -- An emphasis on texture, more focus on hand-detailing techniques like cut work, smocking and pin tucks, and block prints are key themes at the DKNY division of Donna Karan Home. Expanding its solid color sheet program, the...

Tommy launches plaids.(News)
October 18, 2004... NEW YORK -- Strong apparel influences and classic American beach destinations serve as inspiration for much of Tommy Hilfiger's spring home collection. A touch of glamour also runs through the line with ensembles addressing a modern, elegant...

Hoppen on stage at Bergdorf Goodman.(News)
October 18, 2004... NEW YORK -- The Kelly Hoppen collection of luxury home furnishings made its American debut at Bergdorf Goodman here. The British lifestyle interior designer, who has branched out into product design and a London retail store, is noted for...

Evandale launches loft style label.(News)(Brief Article)
October 18, 2004... NEW YORK -- Decorative pillow and window treatment manufacturer Evandale, a division of JWE, Inc., is launching a new label that targets the contemporary lifestyle. Called Loft Style by Evandale, the label will feature modern looks...

Li & Fung hires industry vet Toolan.(People Today)(Brief Article)
October 18, 2004... NEW YORK--Li & Fung USA, a subsidiary, of Hong Kong-based global sourcing group Li & Fung Ltd., has hired John "Jack" Toolan as senior vice president and general manager of the Cannon and Cannon Royal Family global licenses. Toolan's...

Shlensky emerges at Maytex Mills.(People Today)(Brief Article)
October 18, 2004... YONKERS, N.Y.--Maytex Mills Inc. has hired former Sure Fit CEO Bert Shlensky to lead the development of a major effort in the ready-made slipcover business. Maytex showed a complete line at the New York Home Textiles Market and plans to...

Bardwil fills new VP sales post.(People Today)(Brief Article)
October 18, 2004... NEW YORK--Bardwil Linens recently appointed Maureen Granger to the newly created post of vice president of sales for the company's new Lenox bath division. She reports to Nancy Kristoff; president of sales and marketing. Granger most...

Gottschalks hires new GMM of Home.(People Today)(Brief Article)
October 18, 2004... FRESNO, CALIF.--Gottschalks Inc. has appointed Donald Engelman vice president and general merchandise manager of the Home Store Division. He will oversee Gottschalks' home division, including textiles, housewares, tabletop and furniture....

Jackson sets sail for Wal-Mart.(People Today)(Brief Article)
October 18, 2004... GOODLETTSVILLE, TENN.--Dollar General Corporation President and Chief Operating Officer Lawrence Jackson has quit the company to take the position of executive vice president of the People Division at Wal-Mart. He will be responsible for...