Home TExtiles Today Dec 20th

Monday, December 20, 2010

THE BUSINESS AND FASHION NEWSPAPER OF THE HOME TEXTILES INDUSTRY

Heimtextil Tweaks Layout

BY CAROLE SLOAN FRANKFURT, GERMANY — Home textiles fashion trends, sustainability and new aspects of the contract business will be key themes at Heimtextil here next month.

A three day program during this major international trade fair – which runs January 12 to 15 – will focus on how fashion influences home textiles in terms of color, pattern and ma-

terials as one key element. Sustainability in home fabrics and products will be discussed in terms of statutory regulations, ethical rules and global standards as well as eco-labels during sustainability sessions and a discussion of the standards and changes in the contract segment will be the focus for the discussions in this segment.

For home textiles and other product categories, Heimtextil SEE LAYOUT PAGE 23

Claude Litton Celebrates Retirement Business associates and tenants of New York showroom building 295 Fifth Avenue gathered last week to see off building president and ceo Claude Litton, who is retiring.

In his 32 years of managing the property, Litton, seen here with his wife, Rosalee, transformed 295 into a major hub for the home textiles industry.

See page 23 for additional party photos.

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It’s a White Christmas Online

BY WARREN SHOULBERG SEATTLE — Everyone knows that e-commerce will be one of the shining retail stars of this holiday season, but hardly anybody knows what home textiles products are actually selling online.

Nobody, that is, except for Amazon … and now us.

Amazon posts lists of its best selling products in a variety of product classifications and the information on best-selling home textiles products confirms several anecdotal assumptions the industry has had about this channel: • Pillows and other white goods are a very strong online business. Four of the top 10 Amazon bed and bath sellers fall into the product category.

• Specialized products that may be hard to find at conventional retail outlets sell well online. Silk and specialty bedding and pillows dot much of the list.

• Fashion remains a tough sell through the internet. There is only one fashion bedding group to break into Amazon’s top 10.

• Brands really don’t matter much in home textiles. Out of traditional home textiles brands, only Martex shows up in the Amazon rankings.

By the time the holiday season is over, the actual final rankings may change, but as of late last week, the 10 best-selling home textiles products on Amazon showed that white is most certainly right online. The best-selling bed and bath SEE SALES PAGE 23

Ann Gish Preps Retail Store

BY CAROLE SLOAN N EW YORK — Ann Gish Inc., the luxury linens designer/supplier, will open a retail store here and change its marketing strategy dramatically in 2011.

The company no longer is represented in sales

by Codarus. Its sales efforts now are being headed

by Anne Maas, formerly of Robb & Stucky, who will lead the newly forming sales team, said Ann Gish, president.

New sales reps are Kathy Stafford for West Florida, Sebum Bass for the Carolinas and Adriana Riddle for Mexico. The company will exhibit in highend temporary exhibition spaces at HD Home in

Atlanta, Accent on Design in New York, Home Finds in Dallas, and Interhall in High Point, N.C. The company’s new facilities here will include a retail store, wholesale showroom, and design studio at 150 Fifth Avenue — a landmark building — on the southwest corner of 20th Street and Fifth Avenue. The space is about 4,000 square feet on the street floor for the retail store, and almost 3,000 square feet in the basement for storage.

The store will not be a typical linen store, Gish commented.

“I’m excited to be able to buy things for a linens store my way — with special furniture pieces, case goods for bedrooms, lighting, art work SEE GISH PAGE 23

Online Marketplace Keeps Pace CHICAGO — The online marketplace is growing, and furnishing sales along with it, according to Jennifer Vlahavas, senior director of Comscore, a digital marketing media intelligence provider.

Her presentation at the Sandow Media Online Technologies Conference in Chicago looked at the overall world of

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ecommerce, then drilled down to furnishings-specific data.

Comscore uses a 2 million member panel of consumers, representing more than 170 countries and 43 markets, to gather its data.

According to its data, following a soft 2009, total e-commerce sales through Q2 2010

were up 7% vs. a year ago. Last year recorded $209 billion in online sales.

Also notable, ecommerce continues to gain share of retail spending, hitting 8.1% of overall sales in the first quarter of 2010.

The middle-income segment ($50,000-$99,000 household in SEE COMSCORE PAGE 12

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Retail Briefs Cost Plus, Bed Bath & Beyond Partner for Test

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ost Plus has acknowledged conducting a merchandising test in three Bed Bath & Beyond stores, which are carrying some Cost Plus consumables.

The stores are located in: Totowa, N.J.; Elmsford, N.Y.; and San Diego.

“Cost Plus continually evaluates merchandising initiatives, including the merchandising test taking place with Bed Bath & Beyond,” the company said in a statement.

TJX Decides to Fold A.J. Wright

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he TJX Companies plans to shutter its A.J. Wright operations, converting 91 stores to its T.J. Maxx, Marshalls or HomeGoods formats, and closing the remaining 71 stores plus its two distribution centers and home office.

The move will cut 4,400 jobs from the company payroll, nearly half of them part-time positions.

The company now expects the Marmaxx division to grow to 2,300 to 2.400 stores, which is 300 to 400 more stores than its had originally projected.

The stores are to close between late January and mid February.

Duckwall-Alco 3Q Sales Slip

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uckwall-Alco said third-quarter sales fell 0.6% to $110.5 million and same-store sells dropped 2.3%.

Net loss for the quarter ended Oct. 31 widened to $2.0 million, or 53 cents per share, from a net loss of $1.4 million, or 38 cents per share. Year to date, the net loss was $5.3 million, or $1.37 per share, compared to net earnings of $1.5 million, or 40 cents per share, in the year-ago period.

Earnings were impacted by a $484,000 charge related to the reset of 214 Alco stores, a $210,000 charge for integrating a pair of Associated Wholesale Grocers’ brands into the product mix and $60,000 in severance related to layoffs in the home office.

New Macy’s DC to Support Online Biz

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acy’s Inc. will build a new distribution center about 80 miles northwest of Washington, D.C., to services its growing online business.

The 1.3 million-square-foot fulfillment center, located in Berkeley County, W.Va., is scheduled to begin shipping in summer 2012.

In the first 10 months of 2010, the company’s online sales were up 29% — on top of 20% growth in 2009.

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Ralph Lauren Home to Assume Lauren Bed and Bath Ops in ’11 N EW YORK — After 29 years of working with WestPoint Home for its bedding and bath programs, Ralph Lauren Home said that it is assuming operations for this business segment, effective May 1.

WestPoint Home will remain the brand’s exclusive licensee for the Lauren basic bedding program, which includes utility and blanket products.

But Ralph Lauren Home will now handle the manufacturing, sourcing and development its

Lauren-branded bed and bath categories, integrating them into the Polo Ralph Lauren overall supply chain and global manufacturing process.

“This move allows us to leverage Polo Ralph Lauren’s worldwide sourcing capabilities to offer the highest quality and value in a very large scale bedding program,” said Frank Guzzetta, president of Ralph Lauren Home, which is a division of Polo Ralph Lauren Corp. “This shift will ignite growth and further our

position as a leading designer brand in department stores.”

Added John Piazza, president and ceo of WestPoint Home, “We have enjoyed this record-setting 29-year association. We look forward to a prosperous future with Ralph Lauren as we continue to be their basic bedding licensee and, through our strategic vendor relationship, continue to produce product for Ralph Lauren out of our bedding and bath facilities in Bahrain, Lahore and Chipley, Fla.” HTT

Kohl’s Extends Simply Vera Vera Wang deal M E N O M O N E E FA L L S , W I S . —

Kohl’s Corporation has signed an early renewal of its long-term license agreement with designer Vera Wang’s Simply Vera Vera Wang brand. The excusive program will expand into cosmetics by spring 2012 in stores nationwide and on its Kohls.com website.

Kohl’s is the exclusive provider and marketer of all Simply Vera Vera Wang merchandise in the United States. The partnership began in 2006 when Simply Vera Vera Wang was first licensed by a subsidiary of Vera Wang Group to Kohl’s.

The current merchandise roster includes bedding and bath for the home as well as apparel, intimates and sleepwear, handbags, leather accessories, jewelry, and footwear.

“Leveraging the strength of our exclusive and private brand portfolio allows us to broaden our cross-category representation of existing brands and continues to differentiate Kohl’s in the marketplace,” said Kevin Mansell, chairman, president and ceo of Kohl’s.

For Kohl’s, the expansion of Simply Vera Vera Wang into cosmetics demonstrates the

strength of its exclusive and private brand strategy, which accounted for 48% of sales in the third quarter of 2010, “up significantly from 2009,” the retailer noted.

“Since its launch in 2007, Simply Vera Vera Wang has consistently been a strong performer and is the leading exclusive brand in the women’s contemporary category,” Kohl’s added.

Upon its launch early next year, the Simply Vera Vera Wang branded line of cosmetics will include make-up and color, skin care, bath and body products and beauty accessories. HTT

Liora Manne Awarded Best Booth at Showtime Tom Byrnes, marketing manager for Liora Manne accepted the Best Booth award on behalf of his company. This award is given each Showtime event to the company that goes the extra step to create an engaging product display within their space.

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December 20, 2010

JLA Home Lands Woolrich License WOOLRICH , PA . — Multi-cate-

gory home textiles resource JLA Home has signed an agreement with outdoor apparel manufacturer Woolrich to produce topof-bed, dec pillows and textiles wall art. The collection will debut next month at the Atlanta International Gift and Home Furnishings Market.

It will show again at the High Point market in April.

JLA’s Woolrich collection will launch with five bedding ensembles. Queen sets will include a comforter, adjustable bed shirt, two Euro shames and two standard shams. Throw, dec pillows and sheets will be sold separately.

“JLA Home is well known for its high quality, fashionable products,” said Sharon Kepley, licensing manager of home furnishings for Woolrich. “Their

innovative approach and strong presence at retail will play a key role as we expand the Woolrich line to include a broader range of styles beyond our traditional outdoor-inspired, rustic niche.”

Woorich also has licensing arrangements with Mohawk Home for rugs, Lynn Haney Collection for handcrafted Santas, Picture Source for wall art, Row Potter Works for pottery and garden décor, Shadow Mountain for home furnishings, Shady Lady for lighting and accessories, and Whitecraft for indoor and outdoor furniture.

“Our bedding and decorative items will be a stylish complement to the popular Woolrich line of home furnishings, providing consumers with new options for decorating their homes,” said George Kerr, president of JLA Home. HTT

Duckwall-Alco Realigns, Shifts Focus to Alco Name A BILENE , K AN. — Midwestern retailer Duckwall-Alco will shift its focus to the Alco nameplate, closing 44 Duckwall units and changing its corporate name to Alco Stores.

Alco units, now numbering 214 stores in 23 states, gener-

ate higher returns, the company said in a st atement. Duckwall stores, which are nearly four times smaller than Alcos, “account for only 3.9% of sales and little or no profit,” said Rich Wilson, company president and ceo. HTT

Bark Cloth Exhibit Set for Heimtextil FRANKFURT, GERMANY — As part

of its sustainability push, the Heimtextil international trade fair feature a special show-inshow highlighting bark cloth, which it says is manufactured in an economical, ecological and socially sustainable way from tree bark in Uganda.

The manufacture of bark cloth as been designated as an immaterial UNESCO World Cultural Heritage activity, a distinction given by UNESCO to cultural expressions and practices.

Barktex was launched in 1999 as developmental aid project. It now provides hundres of

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small farming families with an income, according to Heimtextil organizers Messe Frankfurt. The handcrafted fabric looks like leather and is “soft but robust.” During the January 2011 fair, Ugandan seamstresses will demonstrate how the cloth is made in an exhibit in the foyer between Halls 5.1 and 6.1.

This year, Messe Frankfurt commissioned a study of sustainably manufactured home textiles. It found the European and North American markets are expected to reach $400Million, or roughly $545 million US. HTT

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Clariant Hiking Prices up to 15% for Textiles Products MUTTENZ, SWITZERLAND —

Major industry supplier Clariant Business Unit Textile Chemicals announced price increases for its range of textiles chemicals and dyes, effective immediately.

The increases will run up to 15%, according to the company.

“Continuing shortages in raw materials are creating an ongoing situation of rising feedstock prices for our business.

This, in combination with everhigher energy and transportation costs, leaves Clariant no alternative but to adjust the prices of

our textile ranges for our customers,” said Thomas Winkler, head of BU Textile Chemicals at Clariant International Ltd. Clariant plans to contact customers individually to specify the price increases that apply to their products and regions. HTT

Welspun’s Sharma to Lead Deesan MUMBAI, INDIA — Industry exec Anurag Sharma has become the new president and ceo Deesan, the textiles division of Patel Brothers, which also has interests in education, oil refining, infrastructure, aviation.

“After 12 years of long and exciting career with Welspun, I have decided to move on and add different dimensions to my personal life and my career,” he

said.

He added: “I remember having joined Welspun in 1998 when our total turnover was around $20 million, and when I leave it, it is little over $500 million, with an impressive bottom line.”

Deesan has been involved with cooperative farming for several years and now cotton is being cultivated on more than

100,000 acres of land under the Deesan umbrella, he said.

The company’s facilities are located in Shirpur, roughly 280 kilometers northeast of Mumbai. Deesan produces towels, sheets, knitted fabrics and garments, woven fabrics and garments, yarn-dyed shirting fabrics and garment and cotton yarn.

Sharma will be based at headquarters in Mumbai. HTT

NYIGF Enhances Website WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — The New

York International Gift Fair has upgraded its website – www. nyigf.com – to offer its exhibitors additional interactive search tools.

The new product search tool, which was made to complement NYIGF’s Online Catalog Gallery, gives retailers access to more detailed product and vendor information through a simple keyword search.

“Buyers can now search in broader strokes for product information, and get a more complete picture of the breadth and depth of products available at NYIGF,” said Dorothy Belshaw, director of NYIGF and senior vice president of GLM. “Not only does this make searches more efficient, it also facilitates the identification of complementary resources.”

Keyword searches will now extend beyond exhibitor-supplied product category designations to include relevant product listings found in exhibitor catalogs posted to NYIGF’s Online Catalog Gallery, increasing the potential to find suitable resources.”

Additionally, keyword search results are now weighted based on relevance, and search results are

prioritized based on the greatest number of product matches. And buyers are also now able to identify which field – for example, Catalog Gallery, category, etc. – m a t c h e s t h ei r request.

Buyers can create and save “walking lists” of NYIGF exhibitors upon conducting searches on the site. This service can be used onsite during the Fair events, and archived searches can be adjusted and updated with each show cycle to reflect new product offerings and information.

NYIGF said usage of its online interactive features have grown “exponentially” since they were first introduced two years ago.

Buyers who create an online profile can access customized exhibitor lists, exhibitor show specials and new product announcements. Attendees also can register online, in advance, for free admission to NYIGF. Those who have

attended past shows can update their contact information, and add or delete names of additional staff. The website also provides access to seminar and event information as well as travel and hotel discounts.”

NYIGF noted it continues to offer an on-site mobile application for basic exhibitor and category searches for ease of navigation and orientation on the exhibit floor. The mobile application will be adapted for all smart phone platforms and will be available for download as of January 1, 2011.

The upcoming New York International Gift Fair is scheduled Jan. 29 to Feb. 3 at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City. HTT

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December 20, 2010

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Gracious Home Finds a White Knight N EW YORK — Local home fur-

nishings chain Gracious Home, which filed a pre-pack bankruptcy in August, has been acquired by Americas Retail Flagship Fund LLC. Principals of the private investment group include: Joel Kier of the Kier Group, a construction and civil engineering firm; Frank Sciame and John Randolph of

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Sciame Development Inc., the real estate development arm of a New York construction company; and Isidore Mayrock, the former principal partner of Fortunoff and head of his family’s investment and real estate office.

“We look forward to working with the Gracious Home team and using our resources, and

financial, real estate and retailing acumen to further develop the company, and serve our customers by building on the heritage and culture of wonderful service and exceptional quality the original founders have brought to discerning New Yorkers since 1963,” said Kier.

Gracious Home operates three retail stores in Manhat-

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tan as well as a home improvement design store and showroom in Chelsea, which it previously operated as a retail store.

“All of us at Gracious Home are highly motivated about our future and look forward to partnering with such experienced investors who understand and respect the Gracious Home values and customer-focused culture,” said Jordan Smilowitz, president and coo. HTT

PrintSource Offers Trend Programs NEW YORK — The Printsource

New York trade show taking place Jan.10-12 at 7W New York has lined up a number of seminars covering trends.

They include: • “Influences for Spring 2012,” Rita Nakouzi, director, Promostyl; • “Key Silhouettes for Spring 2012,” Jerome LaMaar, trend consultant, Promostyl; • “Italian Lab Spring/Summer 2012,” Ionnis Voinis, Italian Lab; • “Be Inspired,” Fran Yoshioka, consultant; • “Woolworks International Spring 2012,” Philippe Bertrand, Woolworks International; • “Brasil & Argentina,” Philippe Bertrand, Woolworks International; • “Trendlab Spring/Summer 2012,” Shari Hershon, fashion and trend editor, ESP Trendlab; • “Color & Surface Trend Forecast Spring/Summer 2012,” Lauren Deatherage, product trend analyst, Cotton Inc.; • “Color Stories,” Mark Woodman, global color research, Mix Publicatons; • “Early Color & Trend Directions, Women’s Spring/ Summer 2012,” Paul Pelessers, Paul Pelssers Ltd.; • “Carlin International Spring/Summer 2012,” Nicki Gondell, Trend House; • “The Magical Business of Color,” Laurie Pressman, Pantone; • “Reinventing Color and Style: The Major Trends,” Laurie Pressman, Pantone; • “Emerging Trends for the Home Décor Market,” Patti Carpenter, president and creative director, Continuum Home; • “Benjamin Moore: Color Pulse 2012,” Doty Horn, director of color and design, Benjamin Moore; • “Home Interior Trends for Spring/Summer 2012,” Estela Lugo, Trend Bible.

7W is located at 7 W. 34th St. For additional information about the show and seminar schedule, visit www.printsourcenewyork.com or call (212) 3521005. HTT

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LIVE FROM HEIMTEXTIL Look to our website, www.HomeTextilesToday.com for our daily broadcast from Frankfurt, Germany on the latest news from Heimtextil. Each day at the fair, Home Textiles Today will be webcasting video coverage of Heimtextil, including interviews with key industry executives. Â For the first time ever, we will be bringing you coverage direct from the show! Be sure to check back often to catch all the latest comments and interviews with attendees and exhibitors.

Sponsored by

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Home Textiles Today

December 20, 2010

News

Furnishings Execs Urge Transparency for Green Claims

BY MARILYN NASON A SHVILLE , N.C. — If you can’t

prove it, don’t call it “green” or “eco-friendly” or any similar term. That was the underlying theme of the two-day American Home Furnishings Association Sustainability Summit here earlier this month.

While the three previous AHFA annual summits for home furnishings executives had also dealt with this concept, this year’s summit speakers emphasized the critical importance of total sustainability transparency today to combat greenwashing misinformation. Several encouraged attendees to initiate programs throughout their entire company from selecting raw materials to production methods to final assembly that clearly demonstrate and can prove the levels of sustainability commitment they have achieved.

This proveable transparency should appear online, should be thoroughly det ailed to a company’s vendors and their suppliers, so they, in turn, can explain it to their ultimate customers—consumers and the public. Where applicable in promotional materials and even on hangtags, a company’s commitment should cite not only its sustainability claims but also how these claims have been certified by reputable third party sources.

As evidence of the importance of complete transparency of its environmental commitment, Ernesta Ballard, senior vp, corporate affairs, Weyerhaeuser, outlined details of the

company’s program. “You just can’t say it, you must be able to prove it,” she declared, terming it a “greenwashing antidote,” adding, “Sustainability is the new viability for corporations like ours.”

She warned home furnishings executives they must go beyond just st andard profit reports to show certified transparency in their tot al commitment from raw materials through waste and recycling programs and make certain their customers underst and it themselves and can then explain it to their customers.

Acknowledging achieving certifiable transparency in a company’s sustainability commitment is complex to initiate and properly oversee, she encouraged companies to include participation from all employees, suppliers, vendors, as well as the community/communities in which they operate .

Ballard and other speakers emphasized sust ainability commitment and transparency is becoming more critical in business, as governmental and industry rules, regulations and guidelines become more focused on discouraging unsubstantiated greenwashing claims in the marketplace. Consumers are demanding it as well, all agreed.

In addition to Weyerhaeuser, other case studies underscoring the same detailed commitment to sustainability were presented by Rod Miller, La-Z-Boy Inc. director of environmental affairs; Kevin Boyle, Century Furniture Industries plant manager case goods facility;

Meagan Hubbard, Bassett Furniture Industries store planning project manager.

Because of the importance of company-wide sustainability commitment and resulting transparency programs, Oren (sp) Jaffe, founder/managing partner, Sustainable Supply Network Consulting Group, urged all home furnishings executive s to come together as an industry to share sustainability programs, especially in defining what sustainability means to their own company.

He also encouraged companies to include a Code of Conduct in their sustainability program commitment, as a guide for their vendors, suppliers, as well as their stockholders and the public in general.

Also addressing the critical nature and corporate impact of a total sustainability transparency commitment were Paul Hepperla, vp product strategy, Verisae, who discussed how to establish creditable carbon footprints.; Dina Dunn, North American representative, International Oeko-Tex Assn, who outlined the complexities of certifying leather to meet environmental/social performance standards.; Steve Linton, sustainable technologies director, Deltec Homes, who noted his companies’ circular-shaped homes “have 78% less waste than conventional homes”; Brock Landry, chairman, government division chairman, Venable LLP., who listed FTC Green Marketing updated guideline home furnishings executives should include in their commitment plans. HTT

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Safavieh Adds Ralph Lauren Home to “Couture” Designer Rugs Collection NEW YORK — Upscale area rug house Safavieh is growing its “Couture” collection of designer brands with the newly inked exclusive licensing partnership with Ralph Lauren Home.

Effective January 2011, Safavieh will produce area rugs under both the Ralph Lauren Home and Lauren Ralph Lauren Home brands, which are divisions of the Polo Ralph Lauren Corp.

“Our approach in this launch was to develop luxury area rugs infused with the spirit of the Ralph Lauren brand, addressing a complete range of lifestyles to further complement the pieces within the Ralph Lauren Home collection,” said Arash Yaraghi, principal, Safavieh.

The program will include handmade and machine-made rugs in a full range of sizes and styles, and will be made in the company’s manufacturing facili-

ties. The first collection is scheduled to be launched in January during the Atlanta International Rug Market.

Safavieh Couture, the company’s umbrella term for the rug company’s collection of designer brands, also includes Martha Stewart, Thom Filicia, Thomas O’Brien, Suzanne Kasler, Jamie Drake and David Easton.

“Safavieh’s passion for quality and craftsmanship coupled with their firm grasp of both the Ralph Lauren and Lauren brands make them an ideal partner as we enter into this new line of business,” said Frank Guzzetta, president of Ralph Lauren Home.

For Ralph Lauren Home, this new partnership is poised “to strengthen and grow the Ralph Lauren Home business in markets throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.” HTT

American Textile Co. Readies New Facility in Georgia P ITTSBURGH — American Textile Company will open a new manufacturing plant and distribution center by the end of the first quarter 2011 in Tifton, Ga., to support its accounts in the Southeast.

The 218,000-sq.-ft. plant will initially produce sleep pillows, a growing business for the manufacturer. American Textile also produces pillows

at facilities in Duquesne, Pa., Salt Lake City and Dallas.

“The opening of the Tifton facility completes our strategic nationwide pillow distribution strategy,” said John Riccio, cfo.

About 50 people will work at the plant when it opens. But the end of 2016, American Textile expects the facility to employ about 120 people. HTT

Target Outlines Environmental Sustainability Efforts MINNEAPOLIS — Target Corp. is outlining an aggressive approach to sustainability with its newly released company-wide commitment to the environment.

Target’s environmental efforts also include several newly set milestones to achieve over the next five-year period.

“We believe the commitments announced today will guide our ongoing efforts to further engage Target suppli-

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ers, team members and guests in our sustainability initiatives,” said Gregg Steinhafel, chairman, president and ceo.

The company has listed its commitments to environmental sustainability, along with additional sustainability efforts, at its hereforgood.target.com/environment website.

These commitments include: • Expanding the selection of

sustainable product choices; • Creating buildings that use space more efficiently; • Using resources responsibly, eliminating waste, and minimizing its carbon footprint.

The longer-term milestones for 2016 for resource use, waste elimination and carbon footprint reduction include: • Reducing the percentage of operating waste sent to landfills by 15%;

• Reducing water usage by 10% percent per square foot; • Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 10% per square foot and 20% per dollar of retail sales; • Earning the “Energy Star” label from the Environmental Protection Agency for at least 75% of its buildings; • Improving the efficiency of general merchandise transportation inbound to distribution cen-

ters by 15% and outbound by 20%, and supporting the adoption of cleaner and more fuel-efficient transportation practices.

“Target’s portfolio-wide approach to tracking energy performance exemplifies how benchmarking can drive improved energy efficiency and carbon reductions,” said Alyssa Quarforth, national program manager for commercial property markets, Energy Star. HTT

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Portico Bedding in Deal with Hyatt Hotels N EW YORK — Organic cotton

bedding from Portico Home + Spa is launching in premier suites at 14 Hyatt hotels in the U.S. and Aruba, the inaugural move in the brand’s hospitality strategy.

Next spring, Hyatt plans to add Portico’s organic cotton towels, bathrobes and bath rugs to the suites. Hyatt has long carried

Portico shampoo, condition and bath soap.

“We look forward to expanding ‘green’ hospitality initiatives with Hyatt and other companies around the world, by being a onestop-shop organic and sustainable solution provider of amenities, bed, and bath linens, and utility products,” said Gregg Haft, Portico Home + Spa president. HTT

Valley Forge Fabrics Receives Second Editors’ Choice Award F T. L AUDERDALE , FLA . – Valley

Forge Fabrics received Editors’ Choice distinction during the opening ceremony of the International Hotel, Motel and Restaurant Show in New York City for the second time in three years.

Valley Forge won in the Linens category for the Expand-AGrip bedding product, which

was introduced earlier this year.

Expand-A-Grip, patented by Louisville Bedding, combines a “fits-like-a-glove” design that allows the fitted skirt to stretch in two different directions to fit a wide range mattresses and box spring widths. The product is made in the USA by Louisville Bedding. HTT

Beaulieu Expands Bliss Brand at Winter Markets DALTON, GA. — Carpet and rug manufacturer Beaulieu of America is playing up its Bliss brand this winter at several markets in early 2011.

Keeping specific det ails about the newest batch of offerings close to the vest, svp of marketing Patricia Flavin instead offered a more general summary, describing the product expansion as “a totally new and fresh approach to the Bliss brand, with new collections, features and displays that are unique in the industry. Bliss for 2011 provides dealers with more of what

the carpet-buying customer is looking for and that spells a real advantage for Bliss dealers.”

As in the past several years, Bliss and the other Beaulieu brands will occupy a major booth space at Surfaces in Las Vegas, which is scheduled Jan.25 to 27.

Beaulieu will also be showing at: • Dallas Regional Show, Grapevine, Texas, Jan. 13-14; • Atlanta Regional Show, Atlanta, Ga., Jan. 13-14; • Tunica Regional Show, Tunica, Miss., Feb. 4-5. HTT.

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Louis Hornick & Company FR Draperies Featured on “Designing Spaces” D EERFIELD B EACH , FLA . — WE

network décor program Designing Spaces recently featured Firefend flame-retardant, residential draperies as part of a special “Holiday Spaces” program.

The show aired Nov. 12, 14, and 15 “There aren’t any other curtains or drapes sold retail or online that self extinguish, and every production lot is independently tested and certified to

meet strict commercial flame retardant codes,” said Tripp Hornick, coo. “Appearing on ‘Holiday Spaces’ gives us the perfect opportunity to share with viewers the design, style, and safety benefits of the Firefend collection.”

The collection includes fashion drapes, kids drapes, and semi sheer batiste panels. In addition, all the colors and prints can be purchased by the yard in bolts for upholstery uses or to create

other finished textiles.

Lysa Liemer, Designing Spaces’ executive vp of programming and chief operating officer, said: “We are always exploring exciting topics and trends to inspire viewers to take on all holiday home challenges — and Louis Hornick and Company, along with their flame retardant ready-made drapery collection delivered the perfect solution.”

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Texworld USA Announces Seminar Line-up NEW YORK — Next month’s Tex-

world USA fabric fair here at the Javits Center will offer a slate of informational sessions covering sustainability, fashion trends and more.

The show runs Jan. 18-20.

Seminars, which were organized by fiber manufacturer Lenzing, include: “An Eco Index for Everyone,” a panel discussion featuring Karla Magruder, president, Fabrikology; Jamie Bainbridge, director of fabric and product development, Nau, Inc.; Steve Lamar, executive vp, American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA); and Celeste Lilore, co-founder Restore Clothing.

“Spring Summer 2012:

Mega + Materials,” with Sophie Lucie Dewulf, materials editor, Stylesight of Milan, and Andrea Praet, trend director, Stylesight USA. “Crossing the Bridge to Spring/Summer 2012,” by Laurie Pressman, director of marketing and sales development, Pantone.

“Fashion: Fact or Francy,” featuring David Wolfe, creative director, The Doneger Group.

“Color Trends: The West Coast Perspective on Color and Lifestyle Trends,” with Fran Sude, president, and Arnold Sude, coo, both of Design Options.

“Fiber Innovations,” a panel discussion with Karla Magruder,

president, Fabrikology; Andreas Dorner, global marketing director, Lenzing; Kenneth Barker, ceo, Naturally Advanced; Steven Usdan, founder, MDC Group.

“Spring/Summer 2012 Youth Culture,” by Andrea Praet, trend director, Stylesight USA. “Sourcing North America: Discover New Resources,” by Susan Power, publisher, AboutSources.

“Get St arted,” advice for new designers about how to set up and run a business, featuring Mercedes Gonzalez, director, Global Purchasing Companies.

For additional information, visit www.texworldusa.com or call 770.984.8016 ext.401. HTT

Suxtex Announces Conference Program WHITE PLAINS, NY — The 2011

Surtex show, which features original art and design available for licensing, will also include conference session around the theme: “Future Focus: Profit from Design.”

Taking place during the fair at the Javits Center in New York from May 15-17, the program includes: • Core Basics of Licensing 1: Practicality, with Steve Harris, founder of Harris-Sachs, and Marty Segelbaum, president/ owner, MHS Licensing.

• Core Basics of Licensing II: Creativity: with Sam Abell, president, Courtney Davis, and Jeff Grinspan, owner, Grinspan & Co and artmoid.com.

• Core Basics of Licensing III: Marketing & Presentation: with

Tara Reed, founder, ArtLicensingInfo.com, and Khristian A. Howell, owner, Khristian A. Howell Surface Design.

• Manufacturers and Artists Working Together -Secrets of Successful Relationships: with David North, vp marketing, Croscill Living; Paul Brent, owner, Paul Brent Designer, Nicci Henry, licensing account manager, Mead Westvaco, Charles Gallagher, sr. vp sales and marketing, PTS America, Inc., and Alan Korsgaden, president, Image Connection.

• Business Practices: Nuts & Bolts of Licensing Agreements: with Joshua Kaufman, Venable LLP. • Business Practices: Protecting Your Creative Designs – Legally: with Jeanne Hamburg, Norris McLaughlin & Marcus PA.

Business Practices: Structures, Leases, Staffing, Insurance and More: with Lara Kisielewska, owner, Optimum Design & Consulting.

• Trends in Art Licensing Business: with Susan January, vp/product management, Leanin’ Tree, Gus Walbolt, co-owner, Mosaic Licensing, Mary Beth Freet, creative director, Pink Light Design, and Francesca Ash, publisher/editor, Total Licensing LTD, • Retail Trends - A Savvy Look at the Future: with Maggie Gilliam, owner, Gilliam & Co. • Digit al Trends: From Homepage to the Latest in Social Media: with Tom Shapiro, president/owner, Digital Marketing NOW. For details, visit www.surtex. com or call 800-272-7469. HTT

12/14/2010 4:45:38 PM

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Home Textiles Today

Showtime Parties

December 20, 2010

> hometextilestoday.com

The social bees buzzed at Showtime in High Point, N.C., earlier this month with major events 2 hosted by event sponsor International Textile Market Association, as well as Valdese Weavers and MMPI, the landlord for Market Square.

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1. At MMPI’s event, Roberta Hayes, Valdese, left chatted with Dan Carroll of Adesai Jacquards and Jana PlatinaPhipps of Classical Elements.

2. Lara Lund, left, Edinburgh Weavers, with Suzy MurphyPhipps, Edinburgh Weavers and Lady Fabrics, and Luis Almeld, Lady Fabrics.

3. Alice Guercio, left, Kravet, with Katherine Hable, Hable

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Construction, Ron Fiore, Hickory Chair, Susan Hable, Hable Construction, and Laura Levinson, Valdese.

6. Tish Zagaroli, left, of Circa 1801, with Susan Moore of Dos Rios, Blake Millinor of Valdese.

4. Mindy Marcus, left, of Circa 1801, with Zack Taylor of Valdese, Jennie Wilde of Robert Allen, Christy Almond of Robert Allen, and Martha Clifton of Valdese.

7. Linda Skeen and Perry Skeen, left, both of Brentwood Textiles, with Jack Cobb and Suzanne Theodore, both of Morgan Fabrics.

5. Corey Faul, Newport, Ann Hackney and Jennifer White, Valdese, Vickie Miller, Macy’s, and Mike Shelton, Valdese.

8. Jonathan Ostrow, left, of Blue Moon Printworks, with Ronnie Gold and Lee Kabat, both of Home Accent Fabrics.

12/13/2010 1:25:27 PM

News

> hometextilestoday.com

Social Media Panel Shares Secrets to Success on Facebook, Twitter CHICAGO — Social media is the hottest topic in the online world, but in the B2B environment, the rationale and strategy for a social networking campaign are not always clear.

The final session at the Online Technologies Conference in Chicago was Social Media and the Real World, a panel discussion about how businesses have leveraged social media and how they measure the return on investment.

Panelists were Kelly Ellis, director of integrated marketing for Serta International; Julia Rosien, former communications director for Natura World and founder of social media consultancy Social North; Jessica Koster, commercial manager of Cargill BiOH; and Chris Phillips, director of Apartment Therapy Media. The discussion was moderated by Crystal Vilkaitis, the newly named director of social media for Snapretail.

The panelists agreed that while making the leap into the world of Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites can be intimidating and timeconsuming, it’s a great way to build a brand, extend a company’s reach and build a very direct relationship with customers and end consumers.

“You don’t engage in social media as a PR arm of your company,” Rosien said. “Your company should embody the transparency that you can get through social media.”

Ellis agreed that this transparency can be difficult to embrace, but it’s the key to a successful social media effort, even when (and perhaps especially when), you are dealing with an

The social media panelists were, from left, Chris Phillips, Apartment Therapy; Jessica Koster, Cargill BiOH, Julia Rosien, Social North; and Kelly Ellis, Serta. Crystal Vilkaitis of Snapretail, far right, moderated the discussion.

unhappy customer.

“Be prepared to be completely transparent – especially when it comes to customer service,” she said. “Be prepared with time and resources, and get someone to be a brand advocate – someone who is passionate about your brand.

“You also have to be prepared when you enter this space that you will get disgruntled customers who find you. They will threaten to use these media against you. Make it a quick resolution – don’t be afraid of it, but be prepared to work handin-hand with your customer service department.”

Because of the open nature of social media, there are opportunities for companies to learn what consumers are saying about them.

“Your customers are talking about you,” Rosien said. “Isn’t it better that you’re there to hear about it?”

“That’s the benefit of social

media – you can create a real dialog,” Koster added. “We may end up that we agree to disagree, but we have created a respectful commentary.”

Blogs are a good way to start the conversation, but you don’t necessarily have to create your own, Phillips said. Instead you can leverage the content that others are already producing to help build your own community. “Lots of blogs already cover your field,” he said. “You can get your feet wet by pitching them, joining the conversation and getting to know those editors and influencers.”

Social media influence tends to grow organically, but it’s most effective when it’s used to create conversation.

“Once you’ve started a community, watch what people are talking about and join the conversation,” Phillips said.

“Look around you and back and forth,” Koster added. “Don’t make it just about your business.” HTT

2011 ICON Honors Set With Sandow as Media Partner ATLANTA — The ICON Honors, the awards program for the home and gift industry launched this past summer by AmericasMart Atlanta and the Gift & Home Trade Association, is returning next year with a new media partner: Sandow Media, parent of Home Textiles Today.

The event, which recognizes superior achievement, contribution and innovation in a variety

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of industry business classifications, is scheduled for July 14, 2011 during the summer market at AmericasMart here. Last year’s inaugural event attracted more than 1,000 attendees.

The new member of the sponsorship triumvirate next year will be the Sandow Media group of home furnishings retail publications, also including Gifts & Decorative Accessories, Home Accents Today,

Home Textiles Today

December 20, 2010

Furniture Today and Casual Living.

“ICON Honors emerges as both a dream realized and the promise of a resurging, renewing vision for 2011 and beyond,” said Jeff Portman, AmericasMart president, “now made stronger through the Sandow Media partnership.”

Details and deadlines for the 2011 event will be announced after the first of the year. HTT

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Marlo Lorenz, Thro to Launch Outdoor Cushion Collection for Spring NEW YORK — Encouraged by favorable reviews from buyers during a sneak preview last year, designer Marlo Lorenz and her team at Thro Ltd. have decided to launch a permanent collection of outdoor cushions for the spring 2011 season.

Hitting stores just in time for the warm weather, Lorenz’ new outdoor cushion collection transforms classic prints and employs new designs, with cushions in a variety of shapes and sizes.

“There is something for everyone and every style,” she said.

“It is a new and exciting time at Thro, many changes are happening and I couldn’t be happier.”

Lorenz, company founder and chief designer, launched her first brand, Thro Ltd., in 1999 with her signature opulent style interpreted on a line of accent pillows and throw blankets.

As the company grew, Lorenz was inspired to launch a second brand, Marlo Lorenz Signature Collection, in 2006, as a highend home décor offering of home textiles. HTT

Feizy Taps Robetor for vp, Sales Post DALLAS — Feizy Rugs sion of Feizy’s national has hired and appointaccounts, which coned 35-year area rug insist of furniture stores, dustry veteran Doug flooring and rug retailRobetor as the compaers, and home accent ny’s new vp, sales. dealers. He reports to Robetor comes to Cameron Feizy, senior Feizy from Loloi Rugs, vice president. where he was national DOUG ROBETOR “Doug’s knowledge Feizy sales manager. Prior to of the industry and his that, he worked at OW/ sales and business acuSphinx as its Southern regional men are well-known and remanager. spected. We are excited that he In his new role, he is respon- will be leading our sales team sible for the development and and helping to grow our busisupervision of Feizy’s regional ness,” said John Feizy, president sales managers and the expan- and ceo. HTT

Safavieh Promotes Yaraghi PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. – With its roster of designer licenses continuing to grow, high-end area rug house Safavieh has created the new post of executive account manager, licensing, and has promoted Tiffany Yaraghi to fill it.

Yaraghi joined the company early this year, working in Safavieh’s wholesale and manufacturing division. Since then she has been involved in various merchandising capacities, including the development of home accent product line extensions set to launch in 2011.

“With the growth of our de-

signer licensing portfolio, which now includes the top style icons in fashion and home furnishings, Safavieh Couture now requires a full time manager coordinating every aspect from product development to market introduction,” explained Arash Yaraghi, principal.

The company’s Safavieh Couture line encompasses a bevy of designer licensed programs, including Martha Stewart, Thomas O’Brien, Thom Filicia, Jamie Drake, David Easton, Suzanne Kasler, and most recently Ralph Lauren Home. HTT

12/15/2010 2:03:26 PM

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Home Textiles Today

December 20, 2010

News

> hometextilestoday.com

Online Technologies Conference Helps Industry Move Ahead on the Internet

BY JENNY HEINZEN YORK C HIC AGO — Online technologies are shaping the future of the business world, and the most successful companies now are finding ways to leverage the new tools available to them.

The first Sandow Media Online Technologies Conference, held at Chicago’s Merchandise Mart in November, sought to explain some of those tools and why companies need to aggressively enter the digital space to lay the groundwork for longterm success. Sandow Media is HTT’s parent company.

“Technology and its impact on the way we do business are accelerating,” said Penny Schneck, online manager for the Sandow’s Retail Group of publications. “Just when you think you’ve got your Internet program all set, some new technology emerges. What’s the next big thing? Will it be a fad or a gamechanger? And how applicable is it to our businesses?”

The day-long event, attended by more than 100 representatives from all areas of the gift and home furnishings universe, was designed to answer some of those questions.

Comscore kicked off the day with a session on the State of Home Furnishings Online (see related article, page 1).

Next up was Mark Grodin, senior vice president of Shopatron, who spoke about in-store pickup as the future for e-commerce.

Grodin said that selling online, but offering in-store pick-

Comscore Presentation COMSCORE FROM PAGE 1

come), which had shown little signs of growth in prior quarters, grew at a rate of 11% in Q3 versus year ago; it contributed 5% of the total e-commerce growth for the third quarter of 2010.

When it comes to researching products online, six in 10 consumers said the Internet has become important when making buying decisions, and 59% of them say that has increased

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up, avoids shipping costs, leads to add-on sales and closes a sale before a shopper can get distracted. He said many key retailers use in-store pickup, with Circuit City being the first to offer the service broadly.

Now, he said, 30% of WalMart, 40% of REI, 77% of Ace Hardware online orders are picked up in-store. At WalMart, 60% of those lead to addon sales, averaging $60 each.

He also said that 37% of American online consumers have used in-store pickup, and the trend toward immediate order-fulfillment is demonstrated by Amazon.com now offering same-day service in seven cities. Using instore pickup also can solve some of the issues with online purchasing: legal, shipping, security and installation, he said.

Grodin’s presentation was followed by a panel discussion: What Works Online. Speakers were Irene Jeremic, president and CEO of The Tableau; Ron Goswell, CEO of Ayr1; and Robert Williams, director of fun/ marketing/ecommerce/social media for Texas retailer Gallery Furniture.

Williams said Gallery Furniture has found success by trying new things in the digital world.

“It’s not always easy to determine the return on investment, but you have to be there,” he said.

Gallery uses scannable QR tags on every piece of merchandise, so a customer or sales rep can immediately access more information about a piece of furniture. The retailer also actively uses social media, with nearly

7,000 fans on Facebook. It has built its online following through creative contests, including one in November to outfit teachers’ lounges at area schools that get the most votes on the company’s profile page.

“Mobile technology, social media, your website … it all gives you the opportunity to go out and reach people as never before,” he said. “You may not like it, you may not use it yourself … but you have to go where your customers are.”

Which is exactly the point made by Ayr1’s Goswell, who said that most personal online shopping happens between 9 p.m. and 1 a.m. -- when most brick-and-mort ar stores are closed.

“Every morning, long before you open your stores, America has been surfing and shopping,” he said. Retailers need to operate their online business with that in mind – e-commerce sites are different businesses and need to be treated as such.

Adam Schrier, executive director of sales, marketing and business development for Whereoware, shared the Five Secrets to Sell More with Targeted Marketing.

Schrier made the point that for an online message to be most effective, it needs to be targeted to a specific reader.

“Don’t send 10,000 emails,” he said. “Send 2,000 to the people who want to get them.”

His five “secrets” or steps to marketing success are: Profile, segment, target, measure and adjust.

in the past year, according to Comscore research.

“Consumers are becoming more comfortable buying bigger ticket items online, and that shows in the total spend,” Vlahavas said.

In the first eight months of 2010, online home furnishings sales showed strong growth over 2009 — up 10.1% to reach more than $2.7 billion, she said.

Vlahavas said about half of consumers will abandon an online shopping cart if free shipping is not offered. But, 66% of those said they would be more

likely to continue their purchase if special pricing or discounts/rewards on future purchases were offered.

Among the home furnishings sites popular with the Comscore panelists, Ikea was by far the most visited, followed by Pottery Barn and Crate & Barrel. The strongest year-over-year growth was posted by Rent-a-Center, up 32% for 2010.

Flash sale sites, such as OneKingsLane.com, HauteLook.com and Gilt.com, all also showed significant growth in 2010, up more than 100% each

More than 100 members of the gift and home furnishings industry attended the first, sold-out conference.

An example of effective targeted marketing: Contacting customers who abandoned online shopping carts. Schrier said 69% of these shoppers will open the reminder email if you send it to them. Many of those will go on to purchase the cart items, especially if you offer them a discount or free shipping at that point.

The next session – The Digital Media Landscape – was led

by Matthew Klein, co-founder and CEO of online ad agency Fuor Digital. He shared new technologies and some of the marketing campaigns made possible by implementing them.

The most important thing to remember with online marketing, he said, is to be everywhere and offer a complementary message across platforms

and media.

“A Facebook campaign, display ads, Google Ad Words … everything works together,” he said. “There is no silver bullet when it comes to digital marketing.”

He said that because television is a marketers “holy grail,” web advertisers can ease their way in by creating web videos, noting that there were 1.5 times more video views online in the month of September than there were online searches.

The session closed with a panel on social media (see related story, 11).

Sponsors for the event were Merchandise Mart Properties Inc., Whereoware, Shopatron, Ayr1, Snapretail and Myriad Software. HTT

as the flash sale trend continues to build momentum.

“Flash sale sites are becoming a new way to shop online and for consumers to feel smart about the way they shop,” Vlahavas said.

She also got into details about the online search for furniture.

She reported 18.5 million searches on furniture so far in 2010, an 8% growth increase in terms of searches and 11% increase over 2009 in the number of searchers entering the term “Furniture.” All households with income of more than $25,000

increased their share of searches by double-digits, while the strongest growth came in the 55-64 age group, which was up 16%.

While search (paid keywords, for example) was more effective than display advertising, the most effective home furnishings promoters online use a combination of search and display advertising, Vlahavas said.

The top home furnishings advertisers by total display impressions are La-Z-Boy, Sleepy’s, Ashley Home Stores, RC Willey, Wal-Mart, Pier 1 and Value City. HTT

12/15/2010 1:20:01 PM

> hometextilestoday.com

News

December 20, 2010

Home Textiles Today

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Santa Fux Comes To Miami M IAMI — Michael Fux, former Sleep Innovations founder and president, brought his gift of Christ-

mas cheer to seriously ill children and their families at his annual Holiday Party at the Miami Children’s Hospital.

Some 300 people were on hand for the event, which featured visits from local sports stars, entertainment, face painting and other activities all geared to the kids who are the beneficiaries of the Michael Fux Foundation. The event, held on Saturday, Dec. 11 at the hospital, was capped off with a visit from Santa Claus himself who distributed special gifts to the special kids. HTT

At left: Michael Fux and Gloria Rubin, with an event volunteer, were hosts for the annual event. Above: Former basketball star Alonzo Mourning was one of several sports personalities on hand.

The big star of the party was Santa himself who handed out holiday gifts.

Below: Miami Heat Dancers helped kick things off at the party.

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Face painting was a highlight of the activities geared toward the 300 guests, including seriously ill children and their families.

12/15/2010 2:34:31 PM

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Home Textiles Today

December 20, 2010

> hometextilestoday.com

PEOPLETodaY Perfect Fit Adds McAlear C H A R L O T T E , N.C . — Perfect

Fit Industries has named Brian McAlear its national representative for the Canadian market, a new position.

He is charged with expanding the company’s distribution as well as its manufacturing

beyond the United States.

Previously, he served as vp of Canadian operations for Dan River.

“Brian’s track record, his understanding of the Canadian market, and his extensive experience working with both the

Canadian majors and independents, make him a terrific addition,” said Dan Hammer, Perfect Fit’s president and ceo.

He said the move was part of the company’s plan to support global retailers, adding: “Canada is just the first step.” HTT

Lalampuria Joins Indo Count MUMBAI — Industry veteran KK Lalampuria has become executive director on the board at Indo Count Industries here.

He has spent 27 years in the textiles industry, 10 of them as president at Welspun. He opened Welspun’s first U.S. showroom and helped lead the company’s shift from a supplier

to US importers to a retail-direct resource.

After leaving that company, he started his own consulting business.

“I advised companies like Trident and Alps. I was also for a couple of years president at Bombay Dyeing the oldest Home Textiles Mill in India,”

he said.

Indo Count is currently doing a turnover of $175 million, with $110 million done in the export of sheet sets.

“We are fully vertical in manufacturing and our mission is to grow the company to $500 million in the next three to four years,” he said. HTT

American Textile Company Wins Award P IT TSBURGH — American Tex-

tile Company has been named the Pittsburgh Business Times Manufacturer of the Year in the mega business category.

The program annually recog-

nizes area manufacturers in the Pittsburgh region for achieving growth through sales revenue, innovation and process improvements.

“We’re proud of our manu-

facturing achievements and are thankful to be recognized for them,” said Jack Oullette, president and ceo of the manufacturer, which produces utility bedding. HTT

Valdese Promotes Zagaroli, Smith C ONNOLLY S PRINGS , N.C. — Tish Zagaroli and Townson Smith have been promoted to senior design positions at the Circa 1801 division of Valdese Weavers, part of a major personnel restructuring activity for the division.

Zagaroli promoted to the new position of creative director, was senior designer for Circa 1801.

She has been with the company for 11 years.

Smith, now the company’s design director, has been with Valdese since 1999 and joined Circa 1801 in 2009. They report to Laura Levinson, senior vp of product development for Valdese.

For Showtime, as part of the division’s expanded product launch, it will introduced more than 200 skus from Hable Construction, a New York-based design group headed by sisters Susan and Katherine Hable. The company has been designing for the casual accessory market as well as other finished products such as handbags and has a young, whimsical, hip signature. HTT

TISH ZAGAROLI Valdese

TOWSON SMITH Valdese

Mill Veteran Tabasco, 82 BELLE HARBOR, N. Y. — Services

were held for Steve Tabasco, 82, who died in September.

Tabasco, a long-time mill executive, was one of the pioneers in the licensing of sports and cartoon characters in the

home textiles industry. He was one of the Bibb Co.’s leaders in the licensing world, bringing Star Wars and Strawberry Shortcake to the market.

He is survived by his wife Lois, two daughters and a son. HTT

J.Queen Luncheon Reunites Former Croscill Execs NEW YORK — J. Queen celebrated the Thanksgiving holiday with a “family” reunion of former Croscill colleagues at a luncheon in its showroom. HTT

At left: Stanley Kahn, Croscill, Julie Brady, J. Queen, and Lenny Soifer, Croscill Mike Kahn (Croscill) left with Chip Scala, Waverly Homestyles, and Dave Talbert, alum. At right: Dave Talbert, left, with Jerry Mobley, J.Queen, and Stanley Kahn, all Croscill alums. formerly of Croscill.

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12/13/2010 4:49:48 PM

We Wrote the Book on Home Textiles Research… …And you need to be part of it.

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Your Home Textiles Today advertising representative can give you all the details on the extraordinary opportunities available in the 2011 Business Annual.

And to order advance copies of this special issue at the pre-publication discount price of $65 – a $20 saving – call: 866-456-0405, or email HTTcustserv@cdsfulfillment.com.

Textiles is our Middle Name

16

Home Textiles Today

> hometextilestoday.com

December 20, 2010

BUSINESS TodaY Dollar General to Ramp up New Stores, Remodels in 2011

BY CECILE B. CORRAL G OODLETTSVILLE , TENN . — En-

couraged by its ability to maintain increases in net income and sales over the past several quarters, Dollar General Corp. is ramping up its new store and remodel program in 2011 and expanding for the first time into three untapped U.S. states.

In the new year, the 9,273unit discount chain expects to open approximately 625 new sites, some of them for the first time in Connecticut, New Hampshire and Nevada. Additionally, Dollar General plans to remodel or relocate about 550 existing stores.

Overall, selling square footage in 2011 is expected to increase about 7%.

However, the company said, its shoppers are still spending carefully.

“Customers are as sensitive as I’ve seen them,” said Rick Dreiling, chairman and ceo, during the company’s earnings conference call Dec. 6. “[They] are still being frugal, and I expect

competition to remain fierce,” he continued.

When asked to described activity over the third quarter, Dreiling said Dollar General “had a very strong August, and I was pleased with it because this was indicative of our back-toschool offering. In September, while comps dipped down, the company stayed positive. As we moved through the quarter, we saw an uptick again in October.

We’re seeing customers being very need-based. In August, they needed [school supplies.] Then, September was when they took a break [from spending], and they did.”

This analysis is supported

by Dollar General’s consistent growth in its consumables business, which experienced strong sales “in nearly every category.”

But “also paying off” have been the retailer’s efforts to improve its offering and presentation of some of its key non-consumable offerings, including housewares and home, which lately “has been contributing meaningfully to comps…

We are especially pleased that our home category comps were positive.”

Net income for the third quarter, ended October 29, hit $128 million, or earnings per share of 37 cents, up 68% from $76 million, or 24 cents per share, in last year’s third quarter.

Results were impacted by an $8 million pre-tax charge from the early repayment of some longterm obligations.

Sales climbed 10.1% to $3.22 billion, and same-store sales were up 4.2% on top of a 9.2% increase in 2009’s third quarter.

Both customer traffic and average transaction were up, said Dreiling.

Year to date, net income was $405.3 million, or $1.18 per share, up 61% from a profit of $252.2 million, or 79 cents per share during the year-ago period.

Sales rose10.9% to $9.5 billion, with comps up 5.3% on top of a 10.3% gain a year ago.

The company raised its fullyear guidance to earnings per share of $1.78 to $1.81. HTT

Same-store sales

Comps Softened a Bit During December’s Second Week N EW YORK — After a frenetic shopping pace “soft-middle” of the holiday season as most reat the beginning of the holiday sales season, mained cautiously optimistic in sitting out the comps eased up a bit during the second week pre-Christmas wait,” said Catlin Levis, Redbook of December, according to the Johnson Red- analyst.

She noted there is one extra shopping day book.

Same-store sales for the week ended Dec. before Christmas this year, “which should add 11 rose 2.5% after a 3.8% hike a week earli- some growth.” HTT er. Comps for the department Johnson Redbook Index store sector showed to 1.8%, Second week of December, year-over-year % change while discounter segment comp came in a 3.2%.

“With the month significantly back-loaded with last minute holiday shopping along with the new year, retailers entered the expected

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WEEK ENDED

12/4

12/11

Department stores* 3.4 Discounters 4.0 Redbook Index 3.8

1.8 3.2 2.5

12/18

*Including chain stores and traditional department stores Source: Johnson Redbook Index

12/25 1/1

MONTH TARGET

2.6 3.4 3.1

2.9 3.4 3.2

Belk’s Fall Rebranding Effort Pays Off in 3Q

BY CECILE B. CORRAL C H A R L O T T E , N .C . — Three

times is a charm for Belk Inc., as the regional department store enjoyed its third consecutive earnings period of comp store growth and solid margins in its third quarter.

The 305-unit chain in 16 Southern states reported a 2.6% increase in total sales to $746.6 million, and a 2.5% gain in comps for the 13 weeks, ended Oct. 30.

“We are investing in strategic areas, including branding, IT infrastructure and merchandising headcount, which has raised our costs for the quarter but which we believe will boost performance over the long term,” said Tim Belk, chairman and ceo. “We are encouraged by our profitability to date and are positive about the remainder of the year.”

The top performing merchandise categories included home furnishings as well as shoes, men’s apparel and children’s apparel.

Less lustrous news came in the $4.2 million net loss for the third quarter compared to net income of $0.4 million for the yearago period. The company said the decrease was due primarily to increased expense of approximately $11 million, of which approximately $10 million reflected costs that were incurred during the period for the company’s re-branding and other corpo-

rate strategic initiatives.

Excluding non-comparable gains and losses, asset impairments and store closing costs, the net loss was $6.1 million compared to net income of $1.3 million for the same 13-week period last year.

Belk’s year-to-date sales totaled $2,338.2 million, an increase of 4.0%, compared with last year, and comps rose by 4.4%.

Net income for the first 39 weeks was $32.6 million compared to $10.4 million. Excluding non-comparable items, net income was $30.5 million compared to $11.8 million.

Ushering Belk’s growth in the quarter was its companywide re-branding and corporate marketing initiative in October that includes a new logo and tag line, “Modern. Southern. Style.”

Signs are being installed in 60 stores before year-end with the balance scheduled for installation by November 2011.

Newly designed charge cards were issued in October to Belk Elite and Premier customers, to be followed by Belk Rewards cardholders in March 2011.

Belk added that its new corporate identity is being supported by an “extensive branding and advertising campaign that includes market-wide television and print advertising, circulars, direct mail and social media, all of which incorporate Belk’s new graphic elements and brand messages.” HTT

NRF ups Holiday Forecast WASHINGTON — The “solid” start to this holiday selling season has given cause to the National Retail Federation to revise – and raise -- its forecast up a notch to 3.3% from its original 2.3% projection for the season’s sales increases over November and December.

NRF explained this shift comes as a result of the “im-

provement in a variety of economic indicators, including stock market gains, recent income growth and savings built up during the recession - all giving consumers the capacity to spend.”

As found by the NRF, November retail industry sales (which exclude automobiles, SEE HOLIDAY PAGE 18

12/15/2010 11:31:45 AM

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Home Textiles Today

December 20, 2010

Big Lots Profits Down in 3Q, Home Highlighted COLUMBUS, OHIO — Big Lots reported a drop in profit from last year and cut its outlook for the fourth quarter, yet cited home as a hot category in the third quarter as consumers looked to keep warm.

“Customers continue to be selective but were willing to spend money where they saw tremendous values,” said Steven Fishman, chairman, ceo and president, during the retailer’s earnings call earlier this month. “ From a merchandising perspective, furniture, seasonal and home continued to lead the way.”

“Home comped up in the low single-digits on top of improving trends from a year ago. So comp on comp—which I believe is an indicator of the category gaining momentum,” Fishman added.

Going into the all-important fourth-quarter holiday selling season, Big Lots reported a successful start over the threeday Thanksgiving weekend. “We made some major investments in a couple of categories. We had a good Thanksgiving weekend,” Fishman continued. He

singled out blankets and microfiber items in the $15-$20 range as particularly good sellers.

The 1,389-unit closeout retailer reported net income of $17.7 million, or 23 cents per diluted share, and income from continuing operations of $17.7 million, or 23 cents per diluted share, for the third quarter of ended Oct. 30, 2010. This is down 42% from net income of $30.3 million, or 37 cents per diluted share, for the third quarter of fiscal 2009. Net sales for the third quarter increased 2% to $1,055.8 million, compared to $1,035.3 million for the same period in 2009. Comparable store sales increased 0.7% for the quarter. The company cited higher expenses in the quarter as a factor, including costs related to adding merchandise and associates for the holiday selling season.

Based on these results, the company has updated its outlook for the fourth quarter and lowered its full-year guidance to between $2.75 to $2.81 per share, from prior guidance of $2.75 and $2.85 per share. HTT

NRF: Retailers Rest Easy as Shoppers Plan to Use Gift Receipts WASHINGTON — Retailers can

breathe a sigh of relief – more shoppers than last year are planning to give gift receipts with gifts, making the return process less painful than in the past, post holiday.

The National Retail Federation’s Holiday Returns Survey found that six out of 10 – or 60.7% – of shoppers said they will provide a gift receipt most or some of the time when giving a gift, up from 58.5% who said so last year and 56.9% in 2006.

More good news for retailers: Nine out of 10 (88.4%) said they find stores return policies to be fair.

The survey polled 8,778 consumers and was conducted for NRF by consumer research firm BigResearch from Nov. 3

htt101203_016_018 18

to 9.

“The final week of December brings a variety of shoppers to stores, including people redeeming gift cards, bargain shoppers looking for next year’s gifts and of course, gift recipients who need to make returns,” said Matthew Shay, NRF president and ceo. “With crowds still at peak levels on most days after Christmas, retailers will have extra staff and customer service representatives to assist, but gift receipts really do help make the return process a smooth one.”

But the lines to return unwanted gifts shouldn’t be too long, anyway, as two-thirds (66.3%) of holiday shoppers said they didn’t return a single gift last holiday season, the NRF survey showed. HTT

Business

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Costco Q1 sees Double-digit Increases for Housewares I SSAQ UA H , W A S H . — Costco Wholesale Corp. saw many of its high-margin discretionary categories, including housewares and jewelry, grow 10 to 25 basis point during its strong first quarter.

Net income for the quarter, ended November 21, grew by 3.75% to $312 million, or 71 cents per share, from $266 million, or 60 cents per share.

Sales jumped 11% to $18.8 billion from $16.9 billion a year ago. That includes the company’s 50% owned Mexican joint

venture. Without those sales the increase would have been 8%.

Comparable sales for the quarter, were up 5% for the U.S. division, 14% for the international business, and 7% for the total company.

Inflation in gasoline prices and strengthening foreign currencies had a positive impact on comparable sales. Excluding these effects, comparable sales for the twelve-week period increased 4% in the U.S., 10% internationally, and 5% for the total company.

Costco expanded its club count in the first quarter by eight new units – seven in the U.S. and one in Alberta, Canada. Two more sites slated to open in the second quarter have been opened, bringing the current club count to 582 -- including 425 in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, 80 in Canada, 22 in the United Kingdom, seven in Korea, six in Taiwan, nine in Japan, one in Australia and 32 in Mexico.

For fiscal 2011, 27 new total sites are planned – 15 of them in the United States. HTT

WSL’s The Pulse: Department Stores Shoppers’ Choice for Repeat Visits N E W Y O R K — Department stores – specifically Kohl’s, JCPenney and Macy’s – are the retailers where most shoppers said they would make extra trips to do holiday shopping this season.

That is according to the WSL Strategic Ret ail How America Shops-The Pulse of Shopping Life, which found that 79% of shoppers said they would consider making extra shopping trips to take advantage of a retailer’s sale or coupon, and of those 57% selected department stores Kohl’s, JCP

and Macy’s as their preferred channels.

Second in place were “mass merchandisers” Walmart and Target with 56%, followed by warehouse clubs Costco and Sam’s Club with 55%.

In third place came in drug stores Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, which staked 54%.

The report also found that the leading gift-giving categories for which shoppers are willing to make extra trips are electronics (51%), and computers and computer software (48%).

The majority of shoppers say

they will consider making an extra trip to save, “regardless of age or income,” the report said.

“Gender influences willingness a bit, but not as much as you might think.”

Here are some other findings: • More women (84%) said they would make the extra trip, but 75% of men do too; • Non-Caucasians (Hispanics and African Americans) especially, take advantage of retailer sales by a margin of 10 percentage points over Caucasians. HTT

Holiday Forecast

November retail sales released today by the U.S. Commerce Department show total retail sales (which include non-general merchandise categories such as autos, gasoline stations and restaurants) increased 0.8% seasonally adjusted over October and 9.2% unadjusted year-over-year.

“Consumers have not been suffering from a lack of spending power, they’ve just been missing the confidence to use it,” added Jack Kleinhenz, NRF chief economist. “With noticeable improvement in key economic indicators combined with great deals on merchandise, consumers have certainly shown they shouldn’t be counted out this holiday season.”

Solid gains across the board

indicate some pent up demand as consumers stocked up on items such as apparel, accessories, and books and music. Sales at clothing and clothing accessory stores increased 2.7% seasonally adjusted over last month and a strong 9.6% unadjusted year-over-year.

Sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores sales increased 2.3% seasonally adjusted monthto-month and 15.5% unadjusted year-over-year.

Health and personal care stores sales increased 0.9% seasonally adjusted over last October and 7.3% unadjusted over last year. General merchandise stores sales increased 1.3% seasonally adjusted over last month and 4.2% unadjusted year-overyear. HTT

HOLIDAY FROM PAGE 16

gas stations, and restaurants) increased 0.8% seasonally adjusted over October and 6.8% unadjusted over last year.

Matthew Shay, NRF president and ceo, said this holiday season has “surpassed all expectations. While employment data is still a concern, we are starting to see improvement in other economic indicators that support an increase to our forecast. In order to sustain this momentum for retailers and the U.S. economy, there must be a renewed focus on jobs as we enter the new year.”

Similar to NRF’s findings,

12/14/2010 3:02:30 PM

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20

Home Textiles Today

December 20, 2010

> hometextilestoday.com

Calendar January 2011 10 – 11 Dallas Fabric Show Dallas Market Hall, Dallas (214) 655-6100 www.dallasmarketcenter.com

10 – 13 National Retail Federation Convention Jacob K. Javits Convention Center New York www.nrf.com (202) 626-8162

12 – 15 Heimtextil Frankfurt Fair & Exhibition Center Franfurt am Main, Germany (770) 984-8016 heimtextil.messefrankfurt.com

12 – 19 Atlanta International Gift and Home Furnishings Market AmericasMart, Atlanta (404) 220-3000 www.americasmart.com

13 – 16 The Atlanta International Area Rug Market AmericasMart, Atlanta (404) 220-3000 www.americasmart.com

Dallas Holiday & Home Expo Dallas Market Center, Dallas (214) 655-6100 www.dmcfinds.com

19 – 25 Dallas Total Home & Gift Market Dallas Market Center, Dallas (214) 655-6100 www.dallasmarketcenter.com

21 – 24 F!NDS Dallas Temp Show World Trade Center, Market Hall, Dallas (214) 655-6100 www.dmcfinds.com

21 – 25 Maison & Object Parc des Expositions, Paris-Nord Villepinte, Paris, France (888) 522-5001 www.maison-objet.com

23 – 26 Interiors Birmingham The National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham, UK +44 (0) 20 7921 8408 www.interiorsbirmingham.com

29 – February 3 New York Home Textiles Market Week At the New York International Gift Fair, Jan. 29 - Feb. 3 At 230 Fifth Avenue, Jan. 30 - Feb. 4 At 7 W New York, Jan. 28 - Feb. 3 (800) 272-7469 www.nyhometextilesmarketweek.com

29– February 3 New York International Gift Fair Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, Passenger Ship Terminal Piers, New York (800) 272-7469 www.nyigf.com

30 – February 3 CGTA Gift Show Toronto International Centre; Toronto Congress Centre, Toronto, Canada (416) 679-0170 www.cgta.org/Assoc/Home.aspx

30 – February 2 Intirio Flanders Expo, Gent, Belgium +32 09/24 38 450 www.intirio.be

February 2 —4 Tex Trends India Pragati Maidan New Delhi, India +91-124-2708082 textrendsindia2011.com

15 – 18 The Canadian Home Furnishings Market (TCHFM) The International Centre Mississauga, Ontario, Canada (514) 866-3631 www.tchfm.com

6 – 10 Spring Fair The National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham, UK (609) 921-0222 www.springfair.com

15 – 18 Texworld Paris Le Bourget Exhibition Centre, Paris, France +33 155 268 989 www.texworld.messefrankfurt.com

18 – 20

18 – 23 imm cologne The Exhibition Center Cologne, Germany www.imm-cologne.com (773) 326-9920 or +49 221 821-0 www.imm-cologne.com

19 – 25

htt110101_020_021 20

ASD Las Vegas Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas (310) 481-7300 www.asdamd.com

March 12 - 14 The Atlanta International Fine Linen and Home Textiles Market & The Atlanta Spring Gift, Home Furnishings & Holiday Market AmericasMart, Atlanta (404) 220-3000 www.americasmart.com

7 – 10

DOMOTEX Hannover Hannover Fairgrounds, Hannover, Germany (609) 987-1202 www.domotex.de

Texworld USA Jacob Javits Center, New York (770) 984-8016 www.texworldusa.com

27 – March 2

8 – 10 24 – 28 Las Vegas Market World Market Center, Las Vegas (702) 599-9621 www.lasvegasmarket.com

Expofil Parc des Expositions, Paris-Nord Villepinte, France +33 (0) 4 72 60 65 00 www.expofil.com

25 – 27

11 – 15

Surfaces Mandalay Bay Convention Center Las Vegas (866) 860-1975 www.surfaces.com

Ambiente Frankfurt Fair & Exhibition Center, Frankfurt am Main, Germany (770) 984-8016 www.ambiente.messefrankfurt.com/ frankfurt

13 Home Textiles Today’s New York Winter Market Kickoff Party The Penthouse Lounge and Rooftop Garden at 230 Fifth 6 p.m- 8 p.m.

(646) 805-0226 www.hometextilestoday.com

Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd. (852) 2238 9917 www.interstoff.messefrankfurt.com

24 – 27 Dallas Total Home & Gift Market Dallas Market Center, Dallas (800) 325-6587 www.dallasmarketcenter.com

22 – 24 Domotex asia/CHINAFLOOR Shanghai New International Convention Center, Shanghai, China +86 21 6247 7668 www.domotexasiachinafloor.com

April 2–7 High Point Market International Home Furnishings Center (IHFC), High Point, N.C. (336) 869-1000 www.highpointmarket.org

14 – 18

6–8

New York Home Fashions Market Home Fashion Products Association (212) 297-2122 (Kellen Co.) www.homefashionproducts.com

Lineapelle Fair District, Bologna, Italy +39 02 8807711 www.lineapelle-fair.it

26 – 28 16 – 18 Interstoff Asia Essential— Spring

gulfBID Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre, Manama Kingdom

12/15/2010 10:35:54 AM

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of Bahrain +973 1729 3131 www.gulfbidexhibition.com

(800) 677-6278 www.merchandisemart.com/neocon

18 – 20

26 – 28 Vision10: International Window Coverings EXPO Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta (651) 293-1544 www.wf-vision.com

May

Hospitality & Design Show Sands Expo Center, Las Vegas (508) 743-8502 www.hdexpo.com

18 – 22 Evteks CNR EXPO, Istanbul, Turkey +90 212 465 74 75 www.itf-evteks.com

4–6

June

Proposte Villa Erba in Cernobbio, Como, Italy +39 02 6434054 www.propostefair.it

1–3

14 – 17 International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York (914) 421-3200 www.icff.com

15 – 17 Surtex Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York, (914) 421-3200 www.surtex.com

Home Textiles Today

December 20, 2010

Interior Lifestyle (Ambiente/ Heimtextil/HomeDesign) Japan International Exhibition Center (Tokyo Big Sight), Tokyo, Japan +81 3 3262 8453 www.interior-lifestyle.com

5–8 Showtime Fabric Fair Market Square, Textile Tower, High Point, N.C. (336) 885-6842 www.itma-showtime.com

13 – 15 American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) National Conference at NeoCon The Merchandise Mart, Chicago (202) 546-3480 www.asid.org/foryou09

14 – 16 Licensing International Expo Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas (212) 951-6612 www.licensingexpo.com

22 – 28 Dallas Holiday & Home Expo Dallas Market Center, Dallas (800) 325-6587 www.dallasmarketcenter.com

22 – 28

13 – 15

Dallas Total Home & Gift Market Dallas Market Center, Dallas (800) 325-6587 www.dallasmarketcenter.com

NeoCon World’s Trade Fair The Merchandise Mart, Chicago

24 – 27

F!NDS Dallas Temp Show World Trade Center, Market Hall, Dallas (214) 655-6116 www.dmcfinds.com

30 – July 3 & July 7 – 10 New Designers Business Design Centre, London, UK 020 7288 6738 www.newdesigners.com

July 13 – 20 The Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market AmericasMart, Atlanta, GA (800) ATL-MART or (404) 220-2435 www.americasmart.com

21

www.asdamd.com

August 1–5 Las Vegas Market World Market Center and Pavilions Las Vegas (702) 599-9621 www.lasvegasmarket.com

13 – 18 New York International Gift Fair Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, Pier 94, New York (914) 421-3200 www.nyigf.com

14 – 18

The Atlanta International Area Rug Market AmericasMart, Atlanta, GA (800) ATL-MART or (404) 220-2437 www.americasmart.com

New York Home Textiles Market Week 7 W New York, 230 Fifth Avenue, Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York, NY (800) 272-SHOW www.nyhometextilesmarketweek.com

31 – August 3

14 – 18

ASD/AMD Las Vegas Sands Expo Center & Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV (310) 481-7300

Gourmet Housewares Show Jacob K. Javits Convention Center (914) 421-3200 www.thegourmetshow.com

15 – 18 (TBD)

CLASSIFIEDS SUBSCRIBE Home Textiles Today is the fashion and business source home textiles industry executives turn to every week to learn the latest developments bound to affect their businesses.

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22

Home Textiles Today

December 20, 2010

OPINIONTodaY

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360 Park Avenue South, New York, N.Y. 10010 Tel: (646) 805-0227; Fax: (646) 365-2307 www.hometextilestoday.com EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jennifer Marks 375 South End Avenue #32U New York, N.Y. 10280 (212) 945-9151 | jnegley@hometextilestoday.com FOUNDING EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Carole Sloan 16 E. 96th St., New York, NY 10128 Tel: (212) 831-8266 | Fax: (212) 831-0814 PRODUCT EDITOR Cecile B. Corral 428 Bianca Ave. Coral Gables, FL 33146 (305) 661-7493 | cbcorral@aol.com

The Ones to Watch “Herewith, my list of the top five developments I’m most keen on watching in 2011.”

T

HE Y E A R-EN D is always a glorious time for To repeat a long-cherished rule of thumb employed by news junkies. It’s a time for looking back and the gentleman to my right, you can pretty reliably meaprojecting forward. This column chooses for- sure the health of the middle class by seeing whose comps ward. Herewith, my list of the top five develop- are doing better — Walmart’s or Target’s. Target execs like ments I’m most keen on watching in 2011: what they see coming from Target’s remodels, which offer 1. Consumer reaction to the 2011 price increases stepped up food assortments to drive more everyday visits.

Will she notice that what used to be an eight-piece Will it help Target claw back those middle-class shoppers bedding ensemble is now a four-piece at a slightly high- who down-shifted during the worst of the recession? er price? Not unless she’s in the habit of regularly buying 4. Springs’ global branding initiative bedding ensembles. Will she take to the thinAnyone who still thinks of Springs as a big ner, more affordable “quick-dry” towels, or is American company needs to rub the sand out of she still hooked on the chunkers — and if the their eyes. Springs is a global mill based in Bralatter, how much will she be willing to pay? zil, whose strong growth in its home market is 2. Walmart vs. the dollar store giants EDITOR-IN-CHIEF working overtime to offset continuing declines in Although executives dance around the subthe U.S. business. But! Springs is clearly pouring ject when asked directly, Walmart’s recently anmajor buckeroos into the global branding businounced strategy to accelerate the rollout of ness headed by Ralph Lauren Home alum Joe smaller format stores and reach inside urban marGranger — and moving well beyond textiles into kets clearly suggests Dollar General and Family hard goods, including tabletop and furniture. It’s Dollar are taking a bite. In fact, Walmart’s own one of the boldest moves this industry has seen numbers show little rebound in business from in a long time. Will it pay off? what was originally its core customer. In Con5. Welspun marches on necting Northwest Arkansas’ recent survey of Walmart venThe future No. 1 supplier to the U.S. market (at last dors, suppliers named Dollar General and Family Dollar as count No. 3). My bet: Within three years. the greatest competitive threat to the retailer.

Here’s wishing the industry a busy and prosperous New 3. Target vs. Walmart Year. HTT

Jennifer Marks

Learning from the Past “Even in the bad spots, there were many lessons from the year that going forward will benefit individuals and companies alike. “

N

OW TH AT THIS T UMULT UOUS year is fi- ways — but most of all in terms of demands on pricing. nally coming to a close, it’s time to look back When a price commitment won’t hold more than a nano— analyze —and see what can be learned and second, and often results in a higher price just hours later, used from 2010 for the year ahead. there is trouble ahead.

Granted it was a year that few would wish to repeat — Style-outs and market tests that go on for eons, just but then it was not all bad. For even in the bad won’t cut it in the new world environment of spots, there were many lessons from the year that supply and demand. The stuff just probably going forward will benefit individuals and comwon’t be available when the super retailer is fipanies alike. nally ready to place the really big order.

FOUNDING First, we learned that even the really, realThere’s a whole new world out there where ly big guys — aka the retail giants — can only EDITOR-IN-CHIEF consumers are shopping. They’re non-traditionswing their weight so far in a global marketal spaces and formats — some probably not even place. It happened this year, many times over and quite ready to roll as this is written — but still on the horizon publicly. nonetheless.

Then, of course, we had lesson after lesson as to how This is not to say the traditional forms of retailing are small a player in the global marketplace that the world of being abandoned — but that new competition is quickhome textiles really is. This scenario played out whether ly forming. It’s time for everyone in home textiles land to in terms of pricing, commodity availability, transportation keep this in mind and act on it.

— or just about anything else.

And, as we have every year at this time, we wish one The retail community got its comeuppance in many and all a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year. HTT

Carole Sloan

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COPY EDITOR Julie Murphy (646) 805-0224 | jmurphy@hometextilestoday.com DIRECTOR OF MARKET RESEARCH Dana French (336) 605-1091 | dfrench@sandowmedia.com PUBLISHER/EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Warren Shoulberg (646) 805-0226 | wshoulberg@hometextilestoday.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Jeff Reeves (336) 605-1009 | jreeves@hometextilestoday.com ACCOUNT MANAGER NORTHEAST/MIDWEST/CANADA Mary McLoughlin (646) 805-0227 | mmcloughlin@hometextilestoday.com CLASSIFIED AD SALES Spencer Whittle (336) 605-1027 swhittle@sandowmedia.com Karen Hancock (336) 605-1047 khancock@sandowmedia.com MANAGER, CHINA Nancy Yu Tel: 86 (0) 21 5126 0111; Fax: 86 (0) 21 6539 0321 nancy@oceaniamedia.net MANAGER, EUROPE Mirek Kraczkowski Tel: 48 22 401 70 01; Fax: 48 22 401 70 16 | kraczko@aol.com MANAGER, INDIA Kaushal Shah Cell: 91-9821715431; Tel: 91-22-6663 4597 / 24988658 Fax: 91-22-66634596 | kj_reeds@yahoo.co.in ONLINE SALES MANAGER Penny Schneck (336) 605-1084 | pschneck@sandowmedia.com PRODUCTION MANAGER Rich Lamb Tel: (336) 605-1074; Fax: (336) 605-1143 | rlamb@ sandowmedia.com MANAGER, CLIENT SERVICES, WEB ADVERTISING Dan Sage | (336) 605-1080 | dsage@sandowmedia.com E-MEDIA PROJECT MANAGER Missy Axe | (336) 605-1005 | maxe@sandowmedia.com DIRECTOR OF AUDIENCE MARKETING Allison Ternes (704) 573-9007 | aternes@sandowmedia.com VP, PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Kevin Castellani (336) 605-1034 | kcastellani@sandowmedia.com

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12/16/2010 3:33:29 PM

Amazon

Top 10 Amazon Home Textiles Sellers

SALES FROM PAGE 1

Presents of Mine “The location may change, but not the time of year. “

F

OR T HOSE R E A DE R S who may have been following yours truly around these assorted pages for oh-so-many sorted years, you PUBLISHER/ know it’s that time again; that time when EDITORIAL DIRECTOR humbly offered up are some holiday giftgiving suggestions for the truly needy, the truly beloved and the truly challenged in the home business.

No expense is spared in the pursuit of this endeavor, although certainly every expense possible is avoided in the actual procurement of said gifts.

That would sort of defeat the purpose of the whole thing, wouldn’t it?

Last year at this time, it was said it had not been a fun — much less funny — year and 2010 has turned out to be not very light-hearted. There are still serious problems and serious issues that all of us face individually and personally.

But that doesn’t mean we can’t laugh a little, too. You just can’t take this stuff too seriously.

So with tongue placed once more firmly in cheek, we offer up some special gifts for some special people.

Warren Shoulberg

Mike Duke: Yet another home strategy at Walmart … but maybe this time one that actually works.

John Piazza: Another pony to ride in 2011.

Cotton growers: Less acreage to plant next year so prices are higher.

Carol Meyrowitz: More of the same.

Mike Ullman: The only Kohl’s sale he really wants to see, the one with the letters GOB ahead of it.

Alan Gladstone: The Nobel Prize for mathematics for being the only one in the home textiles business smart enough to know that there are more windows in a house than beds.

Joe Granger: DVF for WM. Eddie Lampert: The ghosts of retail past – Richard Warren Sears, Alvah Curtis Roebuck and Sebastian S. Kresge – visiting on Christmas eve.

Cotton growers: Much less acreage to plant next year so prices are much higher.

Steve Temares and Art Stark: More new orders for more new opening order discounts.

Laura Albers: Howard’s old calculator.

Barry Leonard: Sully getting a map for the Ganges River.

Terry Lundgren: A new My Macy’s program that merchandises assortments by zip code.

Cotton growers: Much, much less acreage to plant next year so prices are much, much higher.

Kevin Mansell: Apartments 10, 11 and 12.

Josue Gomes de Silva: Lucro, lots and lots of lucro.

Greg Steinhafel: Less expectations, more pay for shoppers.

Cotton growers: Virtually no acreage to plant next year so prices are virtually through the roof.

Cotton users: Cotton.

Polyester suppliers: Chapstick for all the lip licking they have been doing recently.

And to all: Peace on Earth. HTT

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product, according to Amazon, is the Spasilk Facial Beauty Pillow at $14.99. The Spasilk brand also turns up in the fifth spot with a silk crib sheet.

Other pillows include a memory foam leg pillow at number four and a cervical pillow finishing at number ten.

Other specialized products in the top rankings include an Aerobed, at No. 2, and the most expensive product on the list, an organic Hungarian down comforter from Downtown at $1,050, No. 9.

Those looking for traditional home textiles brands will be disappointed. The Martex label shows up at No. 7 with a twopack towel at decidedly nonpro-

Retail Store GISH FROM PAGE 1

and decorative accessories,” she said. “The store will be a reflection of the individual — I’m going to put in pieces that I love” and that point of view will

Heimtextil LAYOUT FROM PAGE 1

is changing the layout for the 2011 event. The halls are organized by product groups to make navigation easier.

The designer bed and bath categories that in 2010 were showcased in Hall 11, continue with Premium Collections: Classic housed in Hall 11.0 while Premium Collections: Fashion will be in Hall 11.1.

In addition, table linens, bedding, mattresses, and bath linens and accessories will be show-

23

Home Textiles Today

December 20, 2010

> hometextilestoday.com

Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Brand Spasilk Aerobed Ginsey Hudson Spasilk Luxury Resort Martex Home Collection Downtown Deluxe Comfort

Product Price Facial Beauty Pillow $14.99 Queen-size Bed $147.90 Rubbermaid Bath Mat $14.38 Foam Leg Pillow $72.00 Crib Sheet $27.99 Hotel Blanket, Full/Queen $34.99 Big Bath Towel 2-Pack $59.99 7-piece Bed-in-a-Bag $51.95 Goose Down Comforter $1,050 Medicaid Cervical Pillow $18.91 Source: Amazon, 12/16/10

motional price of $59.99. The only other brand recognizable to those in the home business is a Rubbermaid rubber bath mat, from Ginsey, finishing third.

No unit numbers for any products are posted but if you’re curious, the top selling home product on the Amazon list is a Wagner steam cleaner. HTT

also be expressed in the showroom. In years past, Gish operated retail stores in addition to her wholesale collections at Coral Gables, Fla. and on Worth Avenue in Palm Beach, Fla. She operated a leased de-

partment at nearby ABC Carpet & Home until about three years ago.

The new facility is expected to open in mid to late spring 2011. The company warehouse will remain at 599 11th Avenue here. HTT

cased in Hall 11.1. Table linens also will be in Hall 9.0 and 11.0, while bedding, mattresses and throws also will be in Halls 6.0, 9.0 and 11.1.

Bath and bath accessories will also be in Halls 8.0, 9.0 and ll.0.

Asian origin products will be housed in Hall 10, separated as categories as Asian Vision for the premium segment in Hall 10.2; with Hall 10.1 highlighting quality bed, bath and table linens and Hall 10.3 focusing on Asian Feeling suppliers, including joint venture partners and quality suppli-

ers in similar categories.

Window and upholstery fabrics will be highlighted in Halls 3.0, 3.1 and 4.1, while floor coverings, wall coverings and sun systems will be featured in Hall3.1.

Asian suppliers also will be showcased in Halls 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3.

The first issue of the Green Directory will be available at Heimtextil 2011 and lists the qualified suppliers and their products as well as products that stand out based on significant quality standards as well as a special show in Hall 8. HTT

Litton Celebrates Retirement

Fred Buonocore, recently retired from Blue Ridge Home Fashions, left, and Steve Lewis, Aussino Home Fashions.

Incoming 295 president Lou Lombardi, second from left, with (left to right) his wife Augusta Lombardi; Kyle Brandit of Protech Interiors; Luise Barrack of law firm Rosenberg Estis; and David Karel of law firm, Wilkofsky, Fiedman, Karel & Commins.

12/16/2010 3:59:06 PM

GIFT & HOME TEXTILES ® MARKET WEEK JANUARY 28 – FEBRUARY 3, 2011

HOME FASHIONS MARKET MARCH 14 – 18, 2011

7 W NEW YORK IS YOUR DESTINATION RESOURCE MARKETPLACE FOR THE GIFT, HOME, TABLETOP AND TEXTILES INDUSTRIES.

7 W N E W YO R K .CO M 7 W 3 4T H S T R E E T AT 5T H AV E . | 212 . 279. 6 0 63 4LSXS 'VIHMXW 0IJX XS 6MKLX MARY HARPER GROUP, ROBELY, ISADORA & MIZRAHI, KENSINGTON HOME FASHIONS 7 W New York is registered trademark of MMPI. Home Textiles Market Week is a registered trademark of GLM.

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12/13/2010 6:59:04 PM