Home Textiles Today - May 28th by Sandow Media

Monday, May 28, 2012

THE BUSINESS AND FASHION NEWSPAPER OF THE HOME TEXTILES INDUSTRY

Bath Rug Suppliers Find Shortcuts To Offset Price Pressures BY CECILE B. CORRAL NEW YORK — Bath rugs have not had the same success moving retail price points as other less discretionary businesses. Maybe if

Bath rugs from Mohawk

bath rugs were edible, the story might have been different. While consumers are paying higher grocery prices for reduced product quantities in smaller packages, the same is not true for bath rugs — and some key category suppliers are baffled. Long-standing price points of $9.99, $12.99, $14.99 and $19.99 remain stuck in those slots even though the cost of doing business went up last year and the year prior, due mainly to increases in raw materials. To compensate for retailers’ resistance to ante the ticket, suppliers have been forced to make product adjustments in size and

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| Vol. 33, No. 12 | $8.00

Regional Rivalry Dillard’s, Belk Push Brands BY GARY JAMES R ALEIGH, N.C. — Battling for a growing share of consumer spending in the competitive category of collection bedding, regional department store majors Dillard’s and Belk each have staked out their own turf through distinct merchandising, marketing and pricing strategies. As it does in apparel, Dillard’s puts a heavy emphasis on house brands. In the case of bedding, key lines include Luxury Hotel, Noble Excellence and Studio D. The chain also carries several big-name brands on an exclusive basis, including Candice Olson and Reba Home. SEE FACE PAGE 8

SEE RUGS PAGE 5

Bullish Arlee Ramps up Table Division Inside This Issue N E W Y O R K — Looking to broaden distribution, familyowned Arlee Home Fashions’ brothers David and Sean Frankel have forged a new alliance with a team of veteran players to expand more deeply into the table linens category with new products, new brands and new channels. Derek Pierce, who spent the past 25 years of his career at Bardwil, has joined Arlee along with his longtime colleague

Julie Chisholm-Polich to expand Arlee’s Table Trends division with a broader assortment of table linens as well as the addition of kitchen textiles categories to the mix. David Frankel, Arlee’s president, told HTT that he and Sean, who serves as the company’s executive vp, “have spent the past three-and-a-half years looking for ways to improve and enhance our business. We’ve SEE ARLEE PAGE 27

Target to Debut “Threshold” Home Brand ........................page 2 JCPenney Unveils New Home Brands .............page 2 Penney Pivots......................page 4 Right Guess… Wrong Industry...................page 4 Design Today: In-Store Review ..................page 18 Earnings Digest...................page 22

Derek Pierce and Julie Chisholm-Polich, center, with Arlee’s David Frankel, far left, and Sean Frankel, far right.

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Home Textiles Today

May 28, 2012

News

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Target to Debut “Threshold” Private Label Home Brand that are part of the “Target Home” line, which in home textiles includes bedding, bath, rugs, table linens and kitchen textiles. “Target Home is already our largest own brand, but we found opportunities to better clarify its positioning and point of views,” Tesija continued, calling it the company’s “biggest rebranding effort in our history.” She said: “Everything was on the table for this effort,” including product, quality, packaging, and positioning. On a smaller scale, Target engaged in a similar effort to redefine its Room Essentials brand a couple of years ago, “and we’ve

BY CECILE B. CORRAL M INNEAPOLIS — As an improving economic climate encourages Target shoppers to shop discretionary categories, the discount chain is giving a facelift to its private “Target Home” brand with a name change and a revamping of merchandise. Dubbed “Threshold,” the new house brand is set to launch this fall and roll out further into spring 2013 at stores and online, said Kathryn Tesija, evp, merchandising, during the company’s first quarter earnings conference earlier this month. Threshold will stretch across all home furnishings segments

been very pleased with the results.” Threshold will debut this fall with an assortment of “entertaining essentials,” accent pieces, and decorative accessories with a full extension into the entire home assortment by next year. The timing for Threshold is “opportune,” she said, “as the economy continues to improve and more guests are beginning to feel comfortable about trading from good to better brands.” Yet, earlier in the call, Tesija said wavering economic conditions in recent months have given the retailer cause for some concern in the coming months. “In the first quarter, research

indicated that consumers were feeling a bit more confident in their financial situation, making then somewhat more comfortable about spending across all categories,” she stated. “However the consumer optimism about the future reached a peak in February and again began to decline in March and April. In addition, the percent of consumers planning to cut near-term spending increased in April, suggesting the possibility of softer growth in the near-term.” On a positive note, she continued, “recent declines in gas prices may lead to improvements in sentiment and stronger household budgets.” HTT

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JCPenney Unveils New Home Brands N EW YORK — In nine months, JCPenney will unveil its new home department as it moves to develop shop concepts across the store in all categories. The reconceived home shop will open March 1, 2013 with a 20,000-square-foot footprint anchored by a Martha Stewart home shop. The department will also include shops or boutiques featuring products designed by Sir Terrance Conran, Jonathan Adler, Michael Graves and Bodum. The Royal Velvet brand, an exclusive to JCP, will also be part of the home area. During the retailer’s meeting with analysts here earlier this month to discuss first quarter results, executives did not go into detail about the contents of the Stewart shops. However, president Michael Francis said JCP and the Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia team recently reviewed more than 3,000 potential products for the space. HTT

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Protect-A-Bed Some of the new and existing brands that will be the focus of JCPenney’s turnaround strategy.

Tracking Textiles

Amer Rugs Wins Best Catalog Award

GENERATION CASUAL Share of Market in Dollars by Head of Household Age 18-24

18-24

65+ 13.4% 10.0%

18-24

65+ 14.3% 4.4%

65+ 13.4% 6.0%

BY ALEX LEMONDE-GRAY

25-44

36.6%

39.2%

43.4%

45-64

40.1%

4/09-3/10

45-64

42.0%

4/10-3/11

45-64

37.2%

4/11-3/12

The 25-44 age group, which has gained nearly 7 share points over the past two years, has focused on more casual, family-friendly living spaces over the past two years as well, driving the overall home fashions market in this direction. There has been a shift away from spending on the more formal areas of the home, such as the dining room, living room, as well as the master bedroom and bathroom, though they are still the top rooms of use in terms of dollar share. Purchases made for rooms that benefit younger family members, or guests in a more casual setting, such as child and teen bedrooms and bathrooms, and the den/family room, have gained market share. Source: The NPD Group, Inc. / Consumer Tracking Service

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N ORCROSS , GA . — Amer Rugs received the Best 2012 Catalog Award from Graphic Design USA magazine in the American In-house Design category. Amer Rugs launched the winning 320-page catalog, which bested more than 4,000 entries, during January’s Atlanta International Area Rug Market at AmericasMart. The catalog is available in print and digital formats. “What makes our catalog so special is the fact that it is very user friendly,” said Monika

Gupta, COO, Amer Rugs. Amer Rugs’ catalog is divided into three categories according to construction: hand-knotted, tufted and woven rugs. The company spent about 9 months making the catalog, taking particular care to have the color-corrected product images match the actual product. According to Gupta, the new catalog has spurred positive response from customers across the United States and Canada and has motivated the company’s sales force, which has upped sales since the catalog’s release.

Softline Home Fashions

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May 28, 2012

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OPINIONTodaY Penney Pivots

F T ER L IST ENING TO JCPEN N E Y ’S executive team a couple of weeks ago announce a marketing shift to emphasize item discounts in its advertising I had to wonder: Did the retailer’s everyday pricing message resonate a little too well? Penney’s multi-media “fair and square” campaign had been its central message since it streamlined its pricing policy Feb. 1. The company had expected sales to falter in the short term as shoppers adjusted to the new strategy. However, the 20.1% drop in first-quarter sales was steeper than expected, executives acknowledged. While JCP execs continue to insist they will EDITOR-IN-CHIEF not return to couponing and one-day sales, as of mid-May the message is now focused on highlighting month-long price breaks on specific products as well as “best price” clearance items. “A lot of people think we’re an everyday low price retailer. We’re not,” ceo Ron Johnson told analysts during a face-to-face meeting in New York on May 15. I confess to a moment of whiplash there. But he continued: “We have promotions, but we don’t have 590 of them. We have 12 — and they last all month, but people don’t know that.” Another misconception, executives said, revolves around “best price” sales, which have been advertised as “Best Price Friday” on the second Friday of each month. Consumers mistakenly believe these are oneday sales. JCP is also sharpening its messaging there. There was a silver lining behind the first-quarter numbers. Among customers who shopped the store during the period, 21% actually bought something — not far off the 22% conversion rate in last year’s first quarter. The average spend was $46, down 2% from the $48 average spend a year ago. And 67% of sellthroughs were at the highest ticketed price — an improvement from last year when 70% of merchandise sold at 50% off or higher. But overall traffic was off by an unspecified number. Said coo Mike Kramer: “We did not realize how deep” the commitment to coupons ran. Ay, there’s the rub. The new Penney team has set a five-year term for turning around the operation. Will the new brands and shop-in-shops headed to JCP prove more of a lure than the coupons of old? Can JCP do holiday 2012 with month-long specials alone? As I’ve written before, it’s the retail story of the year. Possibly the decade. HTT

Jennifer Marks

Right Guess … Wrong Industry

T T H E R I SK OF GE T T I NG all nostalgic and caught up in the past, the celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of the Guess fashion brand have taken me back to the company’s ill-fated attempt to get into the bed and bath business in the mid-1990s. certainly made Warren its Guess mark in the denim Shoulberg and juniors market, bePUBLISHER/ coming one of the iconic EDITORIAL DIRECTOR labels in those fields and helping to invent the entire “designer jeans” classification. Its mix of denim and sex — as personified by model Claudia Schiffer — instantly hit a nerve, and there had to be an entire generation — male and female — permanently transfixed by the Guess advertising campaign. It was against this success in the fashion business that a member of the Marciano family that owned Guess decided to get into the home textiles business. Unlike many apparel brands that moved into bed and bath, Guess came in as a direct seller of its goods instead of just as a licensor renting out the brand to an existing vendor. And while many brands from the fashion world — from Laura Ashley to Bill Blass to Ralph Lauren – were already well established in home, Guess was the first, at least in my mind, to bring a true fashion marketing sensibility to its textiles offering. Everything it did said fashion … not home textiles. The goods themselves were stylish and absolutely related back to the apparel lines, though frankly it wasn’t the merchandise itself that made Guess stand out.

The ads and packaging were sexy and hot, two adjectives rarely used for sheets and towels — even today. Guess, as I remember it, was the first to use actual sheeting fabric as product packaging. The pricing — probably as much due to the sourcing and distribution model as it was to any master plan — was full mark-up, a step up from the competition, which is saying something for an era when retail price points were still not ridiculously lame. But the crowning moments of the Guess home textiles program were the runway fashion shows for the trade. These were not modest little showroom events with a model or two wrapped in sheeting fabrics. The one I remember most distinctly was a spectacular show at the Puck Building in lower Manhattan. There was a real live runway with real live models … lots of them. Men and women … and a few kids, too, if memory serves, for the children’s bedding line that was part of the overall Guess program. There was cool music, lighting and staging. And there was sex … lots and lots of sex. It was an amazing night. And none of it worked. Stores said it was too expensive. They hated the packaging because it could get shopworn on the sales floor. And while no one would come right out and say it, they didn’t believe the sex card would translate from fashion into home … into the bedroom where you actually do have sex. Hmmmmm? Guess stuck around for a few seasons, eventually licensed its brand to somebody else and finally pulled out of home. Just another case of a missed opportunity for the home textiles business and another reason why the industry is so mired down in the crap-in-the-bag business. Just another example of the industry guessing wrong. HTT

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5/24/2012 6:45:44 PM

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Retail Briefs

Bath Rugs RUGS FROM PAGE 1

construction and enhance the value equation to keep shoppers interested. “The mentality, particularly in this economy, is not to raise prices,” said Arnold Stevens, vp, Maples Rugs. “Now, it is funny because in food and other things, you look and see [suppliers] get the prices they want.” Maples has responded by enhancing its product development strategies, he said. “For example, instead of downsizing the rug or talking quality out, we might advocate a change to the rug and that change would give great value to the customer and also the retailer,” Stevens continued. “We look at those types of things. That is a way to try to expand your market without trying to do other things. With that said, through product development we are able to, in certain cases, keep value of the rug and importance of program.” Mohawk Home addressed raw material price increases last year through size and construction changes, said Bart Hill, general manager of bath and area rugs. “There have been a lot of size changes in the market.” Whereas a 21-by-34 was the lead size in bath rugs pre-recession, today the most popular sizes include the smaller yet likepriced 20-by-34 and 20-by-32, suppliers said. “We didn’t get many retail increases, but we were able to make some small size reductions to hit the same retails,” he explained. Taking away from product to meet ticket price demands hasn’t always worked. Faze 3 Ltd. vp Joe Shafran noted that “when a product was de-specified to maintain a retail price point we did see a bigger fall off in those situations. It suggests that the consumer evaluated the value versus the price.” That’s not to say the company has shied away from making changes in its own line. “We have developed alternative products that provide a better value for our customers,” Shafran said. “On the man-made side we continue to see growth in micro polyester bath rugs as customers recognize that its attributes offer benefits to their customers. With cotton pricing stabilizing there is movement in that area to build

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Home Textiles Today

May 28, 2012

TJX: HomeGoods Growing in Importance

Maples Rugs is trying to move bath rug retails up with differentiated constructions such as the TruSoft program seen here.

better, higher weight products to demonstrate value to customers. Cotton pricing should remain relatively stable, but with the experience we’ve had one is always a bit wary that speculation may arise again.” While Shaw Living’s bath rug assortment focuses solely on synthetic fibers, the company, too, is cautious about its outlook for this year. Asked about any issues impacting the business over the past year or expected this year, divisional vp Jeff Brown responded: “Just the competitive market and concern of consumer demand with a softening again in the economy.” That said, “soft with great value is still the play” in trends, as well as “more lower lusters with big hand,” Brown added. The boom in memory foam bath rugs offers proof that softness matters. A relative newcomer to the category, it perseveres into 2012. Suppliers and retailers alike see the memory foam construction as a successful add-on business at better-bracket price points: $14.99 to $19.99 for a 17-by-24 size and $19.99 to $24.99 for a 20-by-34. “Memory foam actually elevated retails in the market,” Hill said. “These rugs sell at smaller sizes but higher prices — 25% to 30% more for an equivalent product — and that is because the customers really respond to the foam aspect, the cushioning. They respond to the difference and the innovation.” Memory foam rugs offer a thick, cushioned underfoot that justifies a higher. As a result, “almost every major retailer had a presence in memory foam,” Hill

said. In 2011, Hill said the memory foam segment of the business went from “basically non-existent to about 10% of the market — a big jump.” But this year that growth may level off as new innovations move into the market, he warned. “It’s flattening out because most of the business is done promotionally or on an end-cap,” Hill said. “So now, we think memory foam will make up about 8% of the market.” In dollars that translates to about $72 million out of the estimated $900 million bath rug industry in sales. With the emergence of micropolyester in bath rugs as a new offering, nylon’s dominance has somewhat decreased to 70% of the business from its peak at 80% a couple of years ago, suppliers said. But the top category suppliers, all of whom employ nylon, are working to develop new innovations to reclaim the fiber’s presence at the store level. Mohawk Home, for example, is creating new programs that can compete more aggressively against memory foam and soft micro-poly products. Maples continues its partnership with Invista and has developed a new collection dubbed TruSoft that hits a better retail with improved tactile qualities. “This year, we think prices will be increasing with newness and better quality out in the marketplace,” Stevens said. “Just selling the same thing at a higher price doesn’t always work. But newness and adding value to a program can get a higher price — and that is what we are doing.”

JX’s HomeGoods nameplate”is becoming a more and more powerful brand every day,” said ceo Carol Meyrowitz. “Customers cannot stop talking about how much they love HomeGoods. We have over 100 markets in the U.S. where we operate a TJMaxx or Marshalls without a HomeGoods store” – presenting new opportunities for the nameplate’s expansion. By the end of Q1, HomeGoods’ store count had grown to 383 units. By comparison, TJX currently operates 990 units and Marshalls is up to 888.

Target Teams with Berkus for Home

arget will launch a new home collection with award-winning designer and TV talk show host Nate Berkus on Oct. 21. The Nate Berkus Collection will include more than 150 home décor pieces, including bedding, bath, accessories, lighting, rugs and window treatments. Price points will range from $5.99 to $149.99.

Williams-Sonoma Pushes Personalized Marketing

illiams-Sonoma Inc. is moving aggressively with technology that personalizes the offerings that pop up when a consumer visits one of its web sites as well as promotions sent through email. Personalized online offers generate four times the response that a general landing page does, and personalized email offerings draw 10 times better response, evp and chief marketing officer Pat Connelly said during last week’s quarterly corporate call with analysts. “We’re really just getting started,” he added.

Ikea Building Largest North American Store in Montreal

kea Canada has begun the expansion of one of its two stores in Montreal, which when completed in summer 2013 will be the company’s largest outlet in North America with 469,694 square feet of retail space. Ikea has been undergoing something of a building boom in Canada over the past couple of years. The Swedish home furnishings giant opened a replacement store in Ottawa in December and another in Richmond, British Columbia, two weeks ago. Later this year, it will open a third replacement store in Winnipeg. When finished, the company says the new Montreal store, at 9191 Cavendish Blvd. in the suburb of Saint-Laurent, will have some 54 inspirational room settings and three full home settings as well as a restaurant that sits 600 guests and more than 1,400 parking spots. It will also have a play area for children and will feature a new Markethall layout to showcase more inspirational product presentations. Much like the new Richmond store — which is somewhat smaller at 334,000 square feet — the new Montreal unit will incorporate the latest available building technologies and should be at least 40% more energy efficient than the stores Ikea built in the early 2000s, officials said.

HTT

5/24/2012 5:37:46 PM

Home Textiles Today

May 28, 2012

Soft-Tex Signs Licensing Deal with Vicki Payne

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A Gilt-ed Evening

WATERFORD, N.Y. — Specialty sleep product man-

ufacturer Soft-Tex has signed an agreement to manufacture basic bedding for designer and TV personality Vicki Payne, host of the nationally syndicated television program “For Your Home.” Soft-Tex will introduce a line of bed pillows and mattress pads which will speak to the designs and patterns in Payne’s other For Your Home collection VICKI PAYNE — products which include bedding from Royale Linens, towels from American Dawn, rugs, pillows and throws by Rizzy Home, fabrics by Westminster and bath accessories, window shades and draperies by Universal Home. “My style speaks to quiet luxury, comfort and ease. I truly believe that living simply and with quality is the highest form of luxury. There is no place within the home where this is more important than in the bedroom,” said Payne. Although the line consists of basics, Soft-Tex intends that each collection will “give customers something special,” said Jeff Chilton senior vp of sales and business development for Soft-Tex. HTT

Crown Crafts Inks Deal With Carter’s L OS A NGELES — Crown Crafts

Infant Products, a subsidiary of Crown Crafts Inc., has entered a licensing agreement with Carter’s, producer of baby and toddler apparel under the Carter’s and OshKosh B’gosh brands. Crown Crafts will produce Carter-branded toddler bedding, blankets and room décor accessories to launch in spring 2013. Carter’s clothing and accessories are sold at more than 600 company-operated retail stores as well as Babies ‘R Us, Belk, BonTon, JCPenney, Kohl’s, Macy’s, and Sears. The agreement with Crown Crafts marks Carter’s first foray into toddler bedding. “We take great pride in our

ability to serve the needs of growing families, generation after generation,” said Kimberly Northup, Carter’s vp of domestic licensing. “We are thrilled to work with Crown Crafts to provide adorable and whimsical bedding for children after they outgrow their cribs.” Nanci Freeman, president and ceo of Crown Crafts Infant Products, said: “By any measure, the Carter’s brands are iconic within the industry. To have the opportunity to partner with them on this new bedding line is tremendous validation of the consistent and reliable quality Crown Crafts is known for across all of our products.” HTT

Kevin O’Brien Studio Relocating PHILADELPHIA — Kevin O’Brien Studio next month will move into a new space that is triple the size of its current studio. “We are re-purposing an old movie theater, and inventing and building new equipment that will allow us to make an even greater variety of fabrics,” the company reported on its web site. “Since we will make everything there we will have more control over our environmental impact. No fabric will

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be wasted, scraps will be made into stuffed animals or patchwork quilts.” The new, 9,000-square-foot facility is located at 1412 South Broad St. The scheduled movein date is June 20. The new space “will allow us to paint larger pieces of fabric making our production more efficient and enable us to grow with the increasing demand for our product,” the company said. HTT

Flash sales retailer Gilt Home touted this month’s Summery Brights and Man Cave Essentials collections with an NYC event in the Greenwich Village home of creative director Tom Delavan. From left, Delavan, general manager Jason Golberger and divisional merchandise manager Alex Ogof.

Kalaty Rug Corp. Adds Solar Electrical System at Headquarters, Warehouse HICKSVILLE, N.Y. — Kalaty Rug

Corporation has added an ecofriendly solar electrical system to its headquarters and warehouse here. “We feel a responsibility to reduce our carbon footprint as a business,” said Farshad Kalaty, company spokesman. “After careful study and consideration, we have invested in a photovoltaic solar electrical system to power our warehouse.”

“We feel it is important to do our part for the environment,” Kalaty continued. “With this new solar electrical system in place, we are dramatically reducing the amount of ‘off-thegrid’ electrical energy we consume each year.” According to Kalaty, the new solar power system will save the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent of driving 72,500 miles in the average car per year. From

another perspective, the offset in emissions equals planting 825 trees per year. O t h e r g r e e n i ni t i a t i v e s undert aken by Kalaty Rug Corporation include the sole use of natural fibers like wool, cotton and bamboo silk in its rugs, according to the company. And the rug source’s recently introduced paperless invoicing option for customers. HTT

Feizy Import & Export Co. Launches Design Contest DALLAS — With social media sites Facebook, Twit-

ter and Pinterest as its venues, Feizy Rugs has created its first annual design contest and is inviting consumers nationwide to enter. The “Design It Yourself” contest asks applicants to submit a maximum of two entries per person via email. Feizy will post the submissions to

its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ FeizyRugs. The company will consider fan votes when choosing winners. Entries will be accepted through July 13 and winners will be announced on Aug.1. The first prize is $500, second is $300 and third is $150. HTT

5/24/2012 3:27:13 PM

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5/16/12 10:23:08 AM

Home Textiles Today

May 28, 2012

News

Face to Face FACE TO FACE FROM PAGE 1

Dillard’s BRAND

NUMBER OF COLLECTIONS

PRICE RANGE (QUEEN)

NUMBER OF PIECES

STYLES

EXCLUSIVES

Candice Olson 6

3 sets @ $260

2 scrolls

1 set @ $174

1 floral

3 sets @ $260

1 paisley

1 set @ $139*

1 modern

1 set @ $129*

1 animal

Yes

Croscill 9

1 set @ $300

5 florals

2 sets @ $250

2 medallions

1 set @ $225

1 paisley

3 sets @ $200

1 patchwork

1 set @ $165 1 set @ $135* Daniel Cremieux 2

1 set @ $145*

2 plaids

Yes

1 medallion

Yes

1 set @ $139* Dena Home 2

2 sets @ $200

1 floral/ikat Echo Design 1

$225

1 set @ $280

1 paisley

J. Queen 3

2 sets@ $250

1 floral 1 cameo 1 damask

Luxury Hotel 1

$350

1 set @ $270

1 solid

Yes

10 florals

Yes

Noble Excellence 2 sets @ $260

2 decorative

1 set @ $240

1 paisley

1 set @ $230

1 Jacobean

1 set @ $161*

1 scroll

2 sets @ $149*

1 diamond

3 sets @ $139*

1 toile

3 sets @ $122* 1 set @ $115* 2 sets @ $104* Reba Home 3

2 sets @ $300

1 set @$180*

1 diamond

Yes

1 grillwork 1 floral

Rose Tree 7

4 sets @ $300

5 florals

1 set @$374

1 paisley

1 set @ $180*

1 medallion

1 set @ $140* Studio D 1

$279

1 floral

2 sets @ $250

2 paisleys

Veratex 1 set @ $225

1solid

Waterford 2

1 set @ $275 1 set @ $250

* clearance item

htt120502_001_008_009_010 8

1 damask 1 filigree

Yes

Belk also plays the house brand card actively, with large assortments of its Home Accents and Madison Home bedding lines on store shelves. But Belk has a more extensive in-store offering of big-brand names than Dillard’s, with a roster that includes Tommy Bahama, Woolrich, Nautica and Biltmore For Your Home, an exclusive partner in bedding and other home-related products. In pricing, Dillard’s leans a bit higher than Belk, concentrating on four-piece sets (comforter, bedskirt and two standard shams) in the $200 to $300 range, but also offering a number of discounted specials under $150. Belk, by contrast, emphasizes the $179 to $249 range, and also has a deep assortment of sale items under $150, including 3-piece “mini-comforter” and 8-piece “bed in a bag” sets as low as $64. HTT visited both stores in the Triangle Town Center mall in north Raleigh, N.C., twice during consecutive weekends in late April and early May as part of “Face to Face,” an ongoing series that compares similar product classifications at pairs of competing retailers. The Dillard’s store at Triangle Town Center is a 206,000-square foot site; the Belk store has a footprint of 180,230 square feet. Both stores are anchors at the two-level upscale mall, along with Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue and Sears. Dillard’s has 300 locations in 29 states. Belk has 303 stores in 16 southern states. At its Triangle Town Center store, Dillard’s greets shoppers entering the department with the Valmont collection from its proprietary Luxury Hotel line. Priced at $350 for four pieces in a queen size, the set represents the high end of the retailer’s in-store assortment. Based on a detailed analysis of all collection bedding in the department, Dillard’s Triangle Town Center focuses its efforts on the $200 to $300 price range for four-piece queen sets, with a strong selection at both ends as well as intermediate steps such as $225, $250 and $275. But clearance pricing also plays an important role at Dillard’s and, during the weekends HTT visited, a variety of sets were on sale with deep discounts, including collections from Candice Olson, Croscill, Daniel Cremieux, Reba Home and Rose Tree. The house brand Noble Excellence accounted for the majority of markdowns, with sets running from $104 to $161. Most of the Noble Excellence sets were originally priced from $299 to $349, with a few as high as $399. Markdowns across the department ran from 30 percent to as high as 65 percent. The front of the department spotlights bedding in the $200 to $280 range from sources such as Veratex, Waterford, J. Queen, Rose Tree and Dena Home. Products are grouped by brand, with wood or metal racks holding coordinated items such as decorative pillows and valances, in addition to comforters. A sale table near the front included $115 comforter sets from Lauren Ralph Lauren — a 50 percent discount. On a rack near the back was a clearance set from Raymond Waites, also marked down 50 percent to $149. Most of the left rear corner of the department

5/24/2012 12:21:30 PM

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Dillardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pricing tends to skew higher than Belk, although Dillardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also offered a number of deep discounts at the time of HTTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s visit.

is devoted to Noble Excellence, with more than a dozen collections on display in cubbyhole wall shelving. Nearby are freestanding racks with a deep assortment of related items, including coordinated sheet sets, Euro shams, pillows and quilts.

The back walls spotlight nearly 10 collections from Croscill and a half-dozen collections from Candice Olson, with nearby racks showcasing additional comforter sets and accessories. Also featured in this area are collections from Reba Home and

Studio D. The bedding department at Dillardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Triangle Town Center store features an airy, easy-to navigate floorplan. Nearly two dozen accessorized beds are scattered throughout the area, with

Home Textiles Today

May 28, 2012

nearby racks of related products. Spotlight beds include Candice Olsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Frill Seekers, J. Queenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Portrait, Rose Treeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Marseilles, Studio Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hannah, Veratexâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Valverde and Waterfordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fontyne.

Dillardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website lists a total of 123 bedding collections from 21 brands. In addition to deeper assortments from in-store sources such as Noble Excellence (19 collections), Croscill (12), J. Queen (11) and Candice Olson (11), the website features collections not seen in the Triangle Town Center store from Vera Wang (5 sets) and Steve Madden (5). Shoppers can sort the website by brand, color and price range, as well as by â&#x20AC;&#x153;recent arrivals.â&#x20AC;? At Belk, several collections from the Biltmore For Your Home shown on beds at the department entrance immediately convey the spirit of the chainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s slogan to shoppers: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Modern. Southern. Style.â&#x20AC;? While Dillardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s relies on simple shelf and bed tags to guide bedding shoppers, Belkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hangs several colorful banners over its spotlight beds to draw attention. The Biltmore area features one such banner, along with signage promoting free tickets to the estateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Festival of Flowers with a qualifying purchase. Other banners in the central walkway area that leads through the department promote Tommy Bahama and MaryJaneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Home. The walkway is lined with more SEE FACE TO FACE PAGE 10

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5/24/2012 5:30:30 PM

Home Textiles Today

May 28, 2012

News

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Face to Face FACE TO FACE FROM PAGE 9

than a dozen beds, a mix of comforters and quilts. In addition to three sets from Biltmore For Your Home, the beds spotlight collections from Waverly, Croscill and Home Accents. Behind each bed are lucite racks with inventory of featured items. Comforters share space on one side of the bedding department with pillows, sheets and

protectors. On the other side, they are shown with decorative pillows, quilts, bedspreads, coverlets and blankets. Each category is clearly identified with signs above the racks. While the overall presentation of the department is more crowded than Dillard’s, it’s still easy to shop because of its clear organization and visible signage.

Lining one side of the department is a long wall of cubbyhole shelving featuring the bulk of Belk’s collection bedding assortment. This area includes comforters from key sources such as Croscill, Harbor House, Home Accents, Madison Home, MaryJane’s Home, Waverly and Woolrich, all grouped by brand. A good deal of Belk’s bedding activity centers on the $179 to $249 range, with product from Biltmore and its sister line Hotel Biltmore, Croscill, Harbor House, MaryJane’s Home, Tommy Bahama, Wa-

verly and Woolrich. Virtually all of the products in that range were marked as being on sale, first for a “one-day sale” and the next weekend for a “customer appreciation” event. The original pricing for these items was listed from $240 to $358. Belk also targets the valuedriven shopper at its Triangle Town Center location with a variety of eight-piece “bed in a bag” collections from Home Accents. Prices range from $64 to $149. And it offers a selection of three-piece, mini-comforter sets from Home Accents and Waverly priced as low as $79 and

$129, respectively. Belk’s online assortment of bedding collections includes nearly 200 collections and 30 brands. On the site, selections are grouped by style, including casual, coastal, floral, formal, modern and solid. Shoppers can sort the collection bedding category by brand, style, color and price range, as well as by “new arrivals.” Additional bedding brands available on the Belk website but not seen in the Triangle Town Center store include Barbara Barry, Calvin Klein, Izod and Perris Ellis. HTT

Belk BRAND

NUMBER OF COLLECTIONS

PRICE RANGE (QUEEN)

NUMBER OF PIECES

STYLES

EXCLU-

SIVES

Biltmore for Your Home 4

1 set @ $400

2 florals

2 sets @$229

1 medallion

1 set @$199

1 Neoclassic

2 paisleys

Yes

Croscill 5

$249

2 florals 1 jacquard Harbor House 4

1 set @ $199

2 florals

Yes 1 set @ $179

1 paisley

2 sets @$149

1 animal

Home Accents 14

3 sets @ $149

6 florals

2 sets @ $139

2 geometrics

4 sets @ $119

2 paisleys

3 sets @ $99

1 ikat

3 sets @ $79*

1 medallion

1 set @ $64*

Yes

1 Suzani 1 modern

Hotel Biltmore 2

1 set @ $249

1 floral

Yes 1 set @ $150

1 rosette

Madison Home 3

1 set @ $134*

3 florals

5 florals

1 set @ $99

2 modern

1 set @ $69*

5 sets @ $249

Yes 2 sets @ $99* MaryJane’s Home 5

4 sets @ $179 1 set @ $169

Pem America 2 Tommy Bahama 5

Belk’s House of Biltmore holds a prominent place on the floor along with national brands such as Waverly.

3 island 1 solid 1 paisley

Waverly

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5/24/2012 5:24:05 PM

News

> hometextilestoday.com

Home Textiles Today

May 28, 2012

Libeco Lagae Makes A Permanent Address in High Point NEW YORK — Fine linens house

Libeco Lagae, a five-generation family-run Belgian supplier of high-end home furnishings, has made High Point, N.C. a permanent new home with the recent opening of its showroom at Market Square Tower. Located on the Tower’s

third floor in space 382, the new showroom measures 1,500 square feet. Libeco Lagae previously showed its wares at the bi-annual High Point Market in a temporary space. Parent company Libeco Lagae N.V. claims to be the larg-

est weaver of “Belgian Linen” product in the world. For more than 150 years, owners the Libeert family has offered high-quality pure and blended linen fabrics for furniture, upholstery, windows, apparel, decorative accessories, pillows, blankets, and rugs. The company is also known

for its piece-dyed linen, plaids, stripes, wide-width, glazed, and chintzed linen styles. But as Libeco Lagae continues to grow and expand its product line, the showroom became a necessity, and is “a perfect space for customers to explore the diversified, high added value

linen products,” the company said. At the upcoming Showtime event in June, Libeco Lagae will be introducing a new line that includes a plaid collection, core solids, stripes, and other 100% “Belgian Linen”-branded styles. HTT

Executives Working In Home Textiles Contributes To Travel Fund For FIT Home Students NEW YORK — The steering com-

mittee for the industry group Executives Working in Home Textiles (EWHT) has donated $1,000 to the FIT Foundation to help support 2012-13 travel expenses for students to attend the International Furnishings Market at High Point, NC, the International Housewares Show in Chicago and Maison & Objet in Paris.

“Student exposure to major trade shows is a learning component that benefits our industry over many years.” —LINDA KULLA, Bardwil Industries

“The Home Products Development Program at FIT graduates the best job candidates for our industry. Student exposure to major trade shows is a learning component that benefits our industry over many years,” said Linda Kulla, vp of the bath division of Bardwil Industries and treasurer of EWHT. For more information about the Home Products Program or how to support it, contact Ingrid Johnson, acting chair home products, at (212) 217-4988 or Ingrid_Johnson@fitnyc.edu. Donations to the fund can be made to: FIT Foundation, 227 West 27th St, New York, NY 10001. HTT

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5/24/2012 5:32:12 PM

Made in

NORTH AMERICA Cambridge Towel Cambridge, Ontario 1. What can you tell us about the products you make in North America? What we make here represents the backbone of the towel business, the solid color towel, in a variety of styles and colors, using primarily USA Cotton. One hundred percent of our yarn is spun in the USA. Solid color still represents 80 percent of our business. Our shipments of solid colors to high style houses such as Avanti Linens happen each week and are delivered overnight; quick changes to sizes and colors are easily accommodated.

2. Why do you choose to make your products here versus overseas?

Hugh Thompson, President and COO, Cambridge Towel

My operating partner and chief executive officer Daniel Tamkin and I regard proximity as a key strategic advantage. The ability to react quickly to the market needs and to ship each week the required goods on time and 100 percent complete is more important today then ever before! Also, we live here, work here and are engaged in this market. We’re always available and responsive to all of our customers.

3. How do you convey your “made domestically” message to consumers? All of our domestic made goods are labeled made in Canada and are supported by national ads saying the same. We’re very active on all social media outlets and are building quite a following through them, in particular among those interested in our local manufacturing with regard to our very low carbon footprint and sustainability. We stress the use of US cotton and spinning and our goods are duty free to the USA and Mexico under NAFTA.

4. Where does country of origin rank within the purchasing criteria for the typical consumer? Are shoppers today willing to pay a premium for domestically made products? No question the origin of all goods is being noticed by consumers. The relentless flight of jobs overseas coupled with quality and delivery issues is more and more top of mind with consumers. Goods made here are preferable even if a tad more expensive.

5. Do you see more manufacturing returning to North America and, if so, in what time frame? We believe the return of jobs here is underway; we see it in our sector and we see it in other sectors. Proximity to the market again is very key. Wages are rising in India and China, freight costs remain high and as the future economy/marketplace diversifies and e-commerce continues to grow, availability of goods for quick shipping is crucial, that is to say the required amount of goods on a just-in-time basis. Cambridge Towel Luxury Egyptian, Made in Canada.

Made in NA.indd 1

There remains a bright and exciting future for us all in the textile business: Towels and bedding used every day by every one in a dynamic and expanding market.

5/23/12 2:20 PM

Made in Canada

and around the world

295 5th Avenue Suite 1605 New York (212) 683-3286 (800) 265-3359 www.cambridgetowel.com

Cambridge.indd 1

5/21/2012 8:50:43 AM

Made in

NORTH AMERICA 1888 Mills LLC Sales and marketing headquarters: Oakbrook, IL Manufacturing plant: Griffin, GA 1. What can you tell us about the products you make in North America? Our mill in Griffin, Ga., specializes in high-end terry products. We make bath, hand and beach towels, as well as washcloths, tub mats and bath sheets. We specialize in premium yarns, 2 ply and other value-added fibers. A majority of our product is for high-end hotel properties with a smaller percentage going to better/best retailers. We currently have products available on Amazon.com and Costco.com and will soon feature a Made in USA towel at a major retailer.

2. Why do you choose to make your products here versus overseas? We make product both overseas and here in the USA. When the major U.S. factories were shutting down and moving off shore, we felt there was a need to keep some manufacturing here. We knew that as long as we managed it properly and took on businesses that fit our capabilities, we could be cost competitive and could be successful in the U.S. Lexi Schladenhauffen, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Design, 1888 Mills

We employ over 200 people in the U.S. and many of them have been in the industry for years. We choose to make products here because we want to keep jobs in the U.S. and we know that means something to the consumer. We also know that Made in USA quality is still important to the consumer.

3. How do you convey your “made domestically” message to consumers? We recently developed a new branding strategy for our Made in USA product including a new logo and an 1888 Mills - Made in USA Facebook page. We’re really trying to educate the consumer about the importance of Made in USA. We’ve also enjoyed very organic growth with our Made in USA messaging. Because we’re the largest remaining terry mill in the U.S. we’ve been featured on World News Tonight with Diane Sawyer and the ABC website offers visitors interested in Made in USA product a link to our website. We’ve also donated product to Extreme Makeover Home Edition and our reviews on Amazon.com have been tremendous.

4. Where does country of origin rank within the purchasing criteria for the typical consumer? Are shoppers today willing to pay a premium for domestically made products? People say they would do anything to support Made in USA products and that it does truly mean something to them, however, with the shape of the economy people are watching every penny and chances are they will opt for the lower price. What we do see is if the story is marketed properly they will see the value. That’s why the dot com channel has been great for our Made in USA product. We’re able to tell a story and consumers post feedback about the quality. That shows a value equation and consumers are then willing to spend more.

5. Do you see more manufacturing returning to North America and, if so, in what time frame? Yes, we do; we hear of new potential ventures every day. We don’t believe it will ever get back to where it once was, but we think there will be new manufacturing in the U.S. within the next five to 10 years. It’s not easy, and anyone looking to do it will need to be very strategic in order to be successful, but there’s nothing we would like more than some friendly competition here in the U.S. that would equal more jobs, more textile technology and innovation and more opportunity for U.S. manufacturing.

Made in NA.indd 2

1888 Mills product featured on Costco.com and Amazon.com is made in the USA with yarns from Africa. This product supports a dual sustainability story supporting jobs and manufacturing in the USA and supporting local cotton farmers in Africa.

5/23/12 1:26 PM

Find us on Facebook! facebook.com/1888MadeInUsa

1888_HTT_May28th.indd 1

5/18/2012 5:03:20 PM

Made in

NORTH AMERICA HomTex, Incorporated Vinemont, AL 1. What can you tell us about the products you make in North America? Jerry Wootten, CEO/President, HomTex

Jeremy Wootten, COO, HomTex

We produce the vast majority of our sheeting product here in the U.S. All of our fiber-filled products, such as sleeping and decorative pillows, are filled here. We produce basic bedding domestically to manage the fluctuating demand in certain styles and sizes that are imported. We’re in the process of expanding our domestic product line to include more home and bath products.

2. Why do you choose to make your products here versus overseas? When we develop a particular product, we examine the manufacturing costs at every step in the supply chain. We evaluate the overall purpose of the product: whether it is for a large volume program, a certain price point, drop-ship, etc. Once those factors are determined, we then decide where it makes the most sense to manufacture each process in the supply chain. Sometimes it’s better to manufacture in the USA due to inventory management, competitiveness or uniqueness of the product. I hold over 9 patents with several applications in process. I believe in innovation, performance and quality. I have tried to craft every product we produce with those principles in mind. At times it is necessary for us to manufacture in North America in order to provide those features and to be satisfied with every shipment to every retail partner.

3. How do you convey your “made domestically” message to consumers? Due in large part to our current domestic economic situation and the political environment, we feel there is a need to market Made in the USA. It hasn’t been a focal point of our marketing strategy, but it is promoted when possible. We find that the wholesale buyer appreciates and understands our domestic production and how it fits into our hybrid manufacturing structure of domestic and foreign production. In most cases we are able to respond much more quickly to their needs in an ever evolving retail landscape.

4. Where does country of origin rank within the purchasing criteria for the typical consumer? Are shoppers today willing to pay a premium for domestically made products? It’s very difficult to provide a specific number, or even a range, but I think there is something instinctive that makes the average consumer prefer to buy Made in the USA product. We believe the typical consumer believes the American made product is of greater quality and that there is a greater likelihood the product will perform as the packaging says it will. She is simply trying to decide if she can afford what she perceives as the better product. There are devoted consumers who will always buy the Made in the USA product if it is available and affordable, but that is certainly not the typical consumer. The typical consumer wants to know that she is getting what she is being sold. When she brings it home, washes it, and puts it in her bedroom or bathroom, is it going to do everything that she expected it to do? I believe, for the typical consumer, the Made in the USA label increases her confidence in that product

5. Do you see more manufacturing returning to North America and if so, in what time frame? I founded HomTex 25 years ago. During that period the U.S. home textile industry experienced a major shift that forced every organization to adjust. We managed to acclimate to the new environment and continuously manufacture for 25 years. Some years have been easier than others. Today, we find that global economics are shifting more quickly than many of us expected and these movements have created more opportunities for domestic manufacturing. We’re seeing more potential for increased U.S. production. There are a litany of factors including the burgeoning Chinese economy, the consistently higher priced freight, the growing cost of labor in Asia, and raw material costs. While this creates interest in U.S. production, we face the obstacle that the infrastructure just does not exist in the U.S. and so we’re working with key partners to explore where it is most reasonable to invest in infrastructure. The time frame will be slower than desired, but we are committed to the growth of U.S. manufacturing.

Made in NA.indd 3

HomTex’s patented quilted sheet set combines the style of a quilt or coverlet set with the luxury and comfort of a sheet set for a convenient and functional, complete 4-piece bedding ensemble.

5/24/12 8:26 AM

American Innovation. American Quality. American Service.

25th Anniversary We are proud to be celebrating 25 years of continuous, uninterrupted manufacturing of home textile products here in the USA. We want to thank our retail partners for the support they have given to our domestically produced programs. We are very excited to announce that we are expanding our bed and bath offerings while also increasing our commitment to domestic production of home textiles. ContaCt Us: 256-734-3937 or info@homtex.com Headquarters & Vinemont Plant: 15295 AL Hwy 157, Vinemont, AL 35179 sylva Plant: 330 Scotts Creek Road, Sylva, NC 28779 Design Center and Distribution Center: 4133 S Church St. Ext., Roebuck, SC 29376

new York showroom: Opening Fall 2012 Las Vegas showroom: World Market Center, Building C, Showroom 1540 offiCes in: Hangzhou, China and Mumbai, India

www.homtex.com

Home Textiles Today

May 28, 2012

Design Today

> hometextilestoday.com

In-Store Review Program:

Fieldcrest Store:

Target

Home Textiles Today continues this series critiquing branded private and captured label programs at retail, shopping one particular store as well as the website for a specific retailer. Rankings are from one star (least) to five stars (most) with the overall score an average of the five individual evaluations. Disclaimer: The reviewer Julian Tomchin worked for the Fieldcrest-Cannon Co. from 1989 to 1993 as head of design. After his departure the company was subsequently sold to Pillowtex, which eventually went out of business after filing bankruptcy. The Fieldcrest brand today is owned by Iconix, and Tomchin has no relationship with the brand’s owner, the retailer or the product.

Shopped at Emeryville, Calif. store

Reviewer:

Julian Tomchin Former senior vp for Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s West and Fieldcrest Cannon

1 Design “The collection is not what I expected. Fieldcrest as a brand is represented by an enormous range of solid color bedding which has nothing to do with its history in the marketplace. Towels were always where the color and pattern excitement were, and that history is not represented here. I have to assume this is a carefully plotted plan by Target and that my perspective comes from the past and my own history. Bedding colors are very impressive: 29 colors on a single shelf will make you stop. But bath colors and styles are dull and boring. That’s a miss.”” Rating:

★★★★

2 Visual Presentation “I am enormously impressed by the cleanliness of the store in general as well as the simplicity of structure and the elimination of all excessive fixturing, signing and graphics. The symbolic Target graphic is Red and red is the color used throughout for identity. It defines space and confirms where you are and why you are there. Signage in bedding could not be simpler or more efficient. The strip edge of each shelf is minimal, neat and effective. The store gets the full five.” Rating:

★★★★★

3 Packaging “Target has directed a major change in the traditional. All sheet, pillowcase and duvet sets are packaged in the cloth itself of what is contained inside. No plastics. (Only the bulky three-piece comforter sets are in plastic bags.) If this is an environmentally based decision or not, it is certainly very effective as you clearly know what texture and color you’re buying. But the bedding has no photography and the lack of an image of what the made-up bed will look like can make it very difficult to understand what you are buying. Overall bedding packaging is new, innovative and impressive. It is non-existent in bath. That’s a miss and a design challenge for Target.” Rating:

★★★

4 Relevance to Store Customer “Appropriate? I guess so. There is no competitive merchandise in bedding so I give it 4-1/2 stars. Bath is so unimpressive it gets two stars. This is a brand strategy, not a designer approach. I have enormous respect for Target, but some of their decisions seem odd to my mind — yet I defer to their greater knowledge of their customer.” Rating:

★★★

5 Relative Value “As I seem to keep repeating, I respect Target for decisions they have made, but this is not what I would have chosen for this brand name. My perception is that the consumer I saw in the store has no knowledge of – or interest in – the Fieldcrest name or history. Does anybody know or care that this brand was created by Marshall Field? So, for bedding, as it’s basically alone, I assume it is seen as a value. But in bath? None.” Rating:

★★★★

Overall Rating: 3.7

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★★★★ 5/24/2012 12:32:46 PM

Home Textiles Today

May 28, 2012

> hometextilestoday.com

PEOPLETodaY Nourison Taps Kennedy As VP, Home Textiles SADDLE B ROOK , N.J. — Nouri- ceo. He is responsible for develson has hired 35-year industry oping and strengthening Nouriveteran Kevin Kennedy to head son’s home accent products its growing home texprograms, including tiles division. area rugs, scatter rugs Most recently, Kenand decorative accesnedy worked at his own sories. consulting company “We are very pleased in New York. Prior to to have someone with that, he was coo of GleKevin’s experience on noit LLC and Gle- KEVIN KENNEDY our team,” said Peykar. noit’s Consumer Prod“He is a highly accomNourison ucts Division. He has plished, results-oriented person and I am certain also held various management positions at Couristan he will help us increase our marInc. ket share in this important and In his new position he reports growing category for our comto Steven Peykar, Nourison’s co- pany.” HTT

Lowe’s Revamps Exec Roles M O O R E SV I L L E , N.C . — After

naming Gregory Bridgeford chief customer officer last month, a new position, Lowe’s is re-crafting key posts in merchandising, operations and strategic development. Bob Gfeller, previously exec vp of merchandising, has been named customer experience design executive. Tom Lamb, who had been senior vp of marketing and advertising, is now chief marketing officer. Mike Mabry, formerly exec vp of logistics and distribution, has been named digital interfaces

executive. All three report to Bridgeford. In operations, Dennis Knowles, who had been senior vp of specialty sales and store operations support, has become U.S. stores executive. Brent Kirby, senior vp of store operations - north division, is now sales and service fulfillment executive. Gary Wyatt’s title has become real estate executive. The three report to Rick Damron, chief operating officer. In addition, Richard Malts-

barger’s title changed from senior vp of strategy to business development executive. Brian Peace, previously senior vp of corporate affairs, is now corporate administration executive. Doug Robinson, formerly senior vp of international operations and customer support, is now head of international operations and development. Robert Niblock, chairman, president and ceo, said the changes reflect Lowe’s focus on “creating and delivering seamless customer experiences.” HTT

IFDA Celebrates 65 Years, Honors Circle of Excellence Winners

Savannah College Senior Tops In Surtex Competition W HITE P L AINS , N.Y. — Kirby Lee Smith, a senior at Savannah College of Art and Design, was named the Grand Prize winner of the designext international student competition organized annually by the Surtex surface design show. She is a student in the Fibers Department and will received a $1000 cash award. Smith has already received academic scholarships from the design community and participated in juried exhibitions in Atlanta and France. After a summer internship in domestics design at Target last year, she will join the company after graduation. “This year, 50 participants in the designext competition took the opportunity to develop portfolios that position them for entry into the surface design industry. All students have benefitted from the learning experience: to prepare work that will translate to diverse surfaces. Each year, the four winners

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have utilized the contacts they made at Surtex to launch promising careers,” said Penney Sikalis, Surtex show manager and vp of show organizer GLM. The panel of judges included: Nancy Fire, design director, HGTV Home Brand and Founder, Design Works International; Ragna Frodadottir, creative director, Edelkoort Inc.; Lynne Hopkins, vp of woven design, P/Kaufmann; and Robert Warden, design/creative director, Paperchase. The judges also critiqued the portfolios of all four designext winners. In addition to Smith, they were Tai Lin Hsieh, a senior in textile design at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco; Suzanne Lefebvre, a senior in the Graphic & Interior Design Department at Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY; and Poppy Maxfield, a third-year student in printed textiles and surface patterns at Leeds College of Art in Yorkshire, England. HTT

The International Furnishings and Design Association celebrated its 65th anniversary at its Circle of Excellence awards earlier this month in New York City. Honorees included from left: Kate Kelly Smith, House Beautiful; Claire Coleman; IFDA founder; Cary Kravet, Kravet Inc.; Barbara Friedmann, Elle Decor; Dara Caponigro, Veranda; Michael Boodro, Elle Decor; Susan Weber, Bard Graduate Center for the Decorative Arts; Jennifer Levene Bruno, Veranda; Charlotte Moss, Charlotte Moss LLC.; David Carey, president of Hearst Magazines accepting on behalf of Newell Turner, House Beautiful.

5/24/2012 11:36:55 AM

News

> hometextilestoday.com

Home Textiles Today

May 28, 2012

Showtime Debuts New International Pavilions H I G H P O I N T , N .C . — Next

month’s Showtime fabric show here will feature three new international pavilions with 21 companies from Turkey, Taiwan and China making their U.S. show debuts. The exhibitors will show in Suites at Market Square, which International Market Centers owns and operates. International Textile Market Association hosts Showtime, which is set for June 3-6. The new companies will join more than 165 exhibitors that already participate, including 80 permanent showrooms and 85 temporary exhibitors. “We are ecstatic with what has happened with the International Pavilions in such a short period of time,” said Bob Patton, president of the ITMA board of directors. “We, as an association, don’t have the resources to be as aggressive as IMC who has been an invaluable partner to us. This is the best thing that has happened to Showtime in years.” “We are fortunate to have had the full support on this initiative from Bob Patton and the ITMA from day one,” said Bob Maricich, ceo of International Market Centers. “Not only does this group of exhibitors represent a 24% increase in temporary exhibitors for the June event, but really demonstrates a global trend in the fabric and textiles industry. With the stagnant European economy, these foreign companies view the United States as an opportunity to grow their business, and we are positioned to help them do that.” IMC said it has contracted with Al Bolton, a longtime fabric industry executive, and his agents in Turkey, Taiwan and China to assist in the development and coordination of the Pavilions effort. The agents include Sevim Keskinci in Turkey and western Europe and Carol Huang in Asia, concentrating on Taiwan and China for this first effort. The International Pavil-

htt120502_020_021 21

ions will be separated into three sections showcasing sources from each of the three countries. Below are descriptions of the new exhibitors. Turkish National Pavilion The group of Turkish companies has been organized by UIB (Uludag Ihracatci Birlikleri), whose mission is to increase exports and ensure that the development of foreign trade is in accordance with the interests of the country. Participating companies include:

Akarca Founded in 1990 in Bursa, Akarca specializes in the production of decorative curtains, fantasia tulle curtains and table cloths. Akarca, which exports 60 % of its products worldwide, produces 3 million square meters a year.

Burkay The company utilizes the latest technology and modern machines to produce woven, embroidered and jacquard fabrics. With 30 years of experience, Burkay Tekstil says it’s one of the five largest home textile companies in Turkey.

Dersiyon Dersiyon Tekstil, which was founded in 1997, is a manufacturer of fabrics for home decoration and contract business. The company sells its products to manufacturers of ready mades, retail fabric stores, distributors, wholesalers and hotels all over the world under the brand names Stella and Tendenza. The company has a factory and headquarters in Bursa and branches in Istanbul, Bulgaria and the Ukraine. Its fabrics range includes high end, exclusive fabrics and first quality fabrics for the middle and lower segment of the market.

Vanelli In business since 1929, Vanelli has earned a reputation for offering a wide variety of exclusive designs from its design team and technical department.

Elvin Elvin is a producer of decorative sheers and drapery and exports to more than 40 countries, including Italy, Germany, the United States, Japan, Korea, Russia and China.

pure, brocade and appliqué production began. Twelve new production facilities have been set up since 1986. Tanriverdi Group says it is an integrated curtain manufacturer that exports to more than 80 countries.

Guleser

Teksko

Guleseer Tekstil was founded in 1985 in Ankara and now is in Bursa with modern jacquard looms. It has high capacity production and exports to more than 70 countries. Guleser is the worldwide brand name, and the Done brand is for the domestic market.

Teksko was established for production of home textiles in 1980, specializing in velvet, curtain and interior weaving. With international high tech quality standards, Teksko produces jacquard and plain textiles with various quality options. In expanding its production line and product range, Teksko offers natural fibers (linen, cotton, silk, cashmere, wool and others), as well as TR CS, polyester, acrylic and outdoor textiles. The company exports 80% of its production to 52 countries.

Kacar Textile Kacar Textile is one of the oldest jacquard upholstery and drapery fabrics manufacturers in Turkey. Founded in 1945, it is dedicated to customer satisfaction and the use of contemporary technology. It has monthly production capacity of 300,000 square meters, of which 70% is exported to more than 50 countries worldwide.

Moral Founded in 1985, Moral Textile says it is one of the leading curtain fabric producers in Turkey, specializing in the production of sheer and jacquard fabrics for curtains. The company exports 90% of its products to more than 50 countries.

Polyteks Polyteks was founded in 1986 in Bursa. The factory specializes in the manufacture of synthetic yarns. The company has steadily increased its production capacity and its product diversity in accordance with customer needs. Its production capacity is more than 2,000 tons per month including POY, raw white and spun dyed FDY, texturized, air covered and twisted yarns.

Tanriverdi Mensucat Tanriverdi Mensucat A.S. was incorporated in 1970 for the wholesale and retail sales of home textile products. Construction of the group’s first plant at Çatalca was completed in 1986, and gui-

Taiwan Pavilion The Taiwan Textile Federation has been servicing the Taiwan textile industry since 1975 through market promotion, product design, fashion information analysis, online information, technology training, collection and analysis of market information, certification of functional textiles, publications of textile information, issuance of Certificate of Origin, and other textile-related services. TTF has acquired ISO 9001 certification from the British Standards Institution for quality control systems. The organization is bringing six companies to Showtime.

Australia. Its home furnishings brand is Salamanka.

Sarich Textile Co. Ltd. Sarich specializes in woven jacquard and dobby fabric purposes including drapery curtain and upholstery.

Tri Ocean Textile Co. Ltd. Tri Ocean is a developer and manufacturer of polypropylene fiber, yarns and fabrics. Dreamfel is the registered trademark for its filament, which is made of 100% polypropylene in a production process that is UNI ISO 9001, Oeko-Tex 100 class 1 and Bluesign certified.

China Pavilion The Yuhang Fabric Assn. has sponsored a group of four manufacturers at Showtime. Yuhang has a long history in the home textiles industry and was honored as the Famous Cloth Art City of China by the China Textile Industry Assn. and the China Home Textile Industry Assn.

ZheJiang Maya Fabric Co.,Ltd. Mayafab is a supplier of high quality dobby and plain fabrics to the furniture and home textiles markets with more than 15 years of international experience.

ZheJiang Futurism Fabric Co. Ltd. Futurism is an upscale quality producer targeting residential, hospitality and contract fabric markets with a full range of plain and textured constructions in a wide array of colors.

Everest Textile (Shanghai) Ltd.

Hangzhou Kampf Textile Co. Ltd.

Everest SH, a weaving, dyeing and finishing manufacturer, has an annual capacity of 36 million square meters. Everest SH supplies fabrics for home textiles and the contract market.

Kampf is a broad value producer of body and decorative fabrics for the furniture trade. It has more than 15 years of experience working with jobbers, wholesalers, and volume cut and sew internationally.

Li Peng Enterprise Co. Ltd.. Lealea Enterprise Co. Ltd. Merryson Corp. Merryson’s products are exported to North America, Europe and

Kentex Mills Kentex is a weaver creating original designs and constructions for the European and U.S. upholstery markets. HTT

5/24/2012 5:34:23 PM

Home Textiles Today

> hometextilestoday.com

May 28, 2012

BUSINESS TodaY QUARTERLY EARNINGS DIGEST

Big Lots 1Q ended April 28 Net income: $40.7 million, -22.4% Total sales: $1.29 billion, +5.5% U.S. sales: $1.26 billion, +2.8% U.S. comp: -0.8%

Sears Holdings 1Q ended April 28 Net income: $189 million vs. year-ago net loss of $170 million Total sales: $9.3 billion, -2.8% Total comp: -1.3% Kmart comp: -1.6% Sears US comp: -1.0%

Costco 3Q ended May 6 Net income: $386 million, +19.1% Total sales: $21.85 billion, +8.2% Total comp:* +5% U.S. comp:* +4% * Excludes fuel

Cost Plus 1Q ended April 28 Net loss: $74K vs. year-ago net loss of $3.4 million Sales: $214.6 million, +7.4% Comp: +7.9%

Stein Mart 1Q ended April 28 Net income: $11.8 million, -25.8% Sales: $303.4 million, -0.3% Comp: -0.4%

The Bon-Ton Stores 1Q ended April 28 Net loss: $40.8 million vs. year-ago net loss of $36.0 million Sales: $640.8 million, -1.4% Comp: -1.3%

Gordmans Plans IPO O M A H A , N E B . — Gordmans Stores, the regional value-priced department store for apparel and home, announced that it is preparing an initial public offering of its stock, according to its filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In the most recent fiscal year, Gordmans reported net income of $25.2 million on sales of $551.5 million. For the first quarter ended April 28, the 78unit retailer posted $8.05 million on sales of $133.9 million. “While we technically compete within the off-price segment of the industry, we are actually a unique hybrid of specialty, department store, big box and off-price retailers,” the company states in its prospectus, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In September 2008, Sun Capital Partners acquired 100% of the retailer’s outstanding

stock. Currently, 40,000 share of the stock are held by the founding Gordmans’ family members. With approximately 19 million share of stock now outstanding, the sale would involve approximately 15% of all shares, which the Omaha Word Herald estimated as worth about $55 million. Gordmans’ shares are listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol GMAN. It held its first public offering in August 2010 of more than 5.3 million shares of common stock at a price of $11 per share, according to the Herald. During fiscal 2010, Gordmans paid Sun more than $2.3 million in consulting fees and dividends. The retailer severated the services agreement with Sun in August 2010 in preparation for an IPO and paid Sun Capital Management a termination fee of $7.5 million. HTT

Same-store sales

Fred’s 1Q ended April 28 Net income: $10.5 million, +10.5% Sales: $500.5 million, +3% Comp: -0.4%

Home Depot 1Q ended April 29 Net income: $1.0 billion, +23% Sales: $17.8 billion, +5.9% Total comp: +5.8% U.S. comp: +6.1%

TJX Cos. 1Q ended April 28 Net income: $419 million, up 41% Total sales: $5.8 billion, up 11% Total comp: +8% Marmaxx sales: $3.9 billion, +8% Marmaxx comp: +8.0% HomeGoods sales: $359 million, +18.5% HomeGoods comp: +9% Canada (Winners and HomeSense) sales: $640 million, +8% Canada comp: +6%

JCPenney Inc.

Lowe’s 1Q ended May 4 Net income: $527 million, -14.3% Sales: $13.2 billion, +7.9% Total comp: +2.6% US comp: +2.7%

htt120502_022.indd 22

N EW YORK — Same-store sales slacked off a bit during the third week of May as consumers wound down from Mother’s Day spending and began to consider upcoming Memorial Day offerings, according to The Johnson Redbook Retail Sales Index.

Johnson Redbook Index Third week of May, year-over-year % change

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. 1Q ended April 28 Net loss: $74K vs. year-ago net loss of $3.4 million Sales: $214.6 million, +7.4% Comp: +7.9%

Shoppers Pause to Catch Their Breath

1Q ended April 30 Net income: $3.7 billion, +9.2% Walmart US sales:* $66.3 million, +5.9% Walmart US comp:* +2.6% Sam’s Club sales:* $13.85 billion, +7.9% Sams’ Club comp:* +5.3%

Williams-Sonoma Inc. 1Q ended April 29 Net income: $30.7 million, +126% Total sales: $818 million, +6.1% Total comp: +5.4% Pottery Barn comp: +9.1% Pottery Barn Kids comp: -0.8% PBTeen comp: -6.0% West Elm comp: +22.1% Williams-Sonoma comp: -3.2%

WEEK ENDED

5/5

5/12

5/19

Department stores* Discounters Redbook Index

1.9 2.9 2.6

2.6 4.3 3.7

1.6 3.2 2.7

5/26

MONTH

2.0 3.5 3.0

TARGET

2.1 3.2 2.8

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

Comps rose 2.7% during the week ended May 10 after rising 3.7% in the previous week. In the discount channel, comps increased 3.2%. They were up 1.6% in the department store sector. “Cooler and wet weather in some regions suppressed volume in seasonal business such as apparel, lawn and garden equipment and sporting goods,” said Catlin Levis, Redbook analyst. “Department stores and, to a lesser extent, discount stores, have been particularly affected since this type of merchandise represents a relatively large percentage of their business.” Lower gas prices heading into the Memorial Day weekend could provide a boost to holiday sales, she added. HTT

5/24/2012 12:08:44 PM

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5/24/2012 9:32:44 AM

Home Textiles Today

May 28, 2012

Ecommerce Sales Rose 17% in 1Q R ESTON , VA . — Retail ecommerce sales posted their 10th consecutive quarter of positive year-over-year growth during the first quarter, up 17% to $44.3 billion, according to digital analytics firm comScore Inc. “The first quarter of this year was especially strong for retail e-commerce as we returned to year-over-year growth rates in the high teens, numbers we haven’t seen since 2007,” said comScore chairman Gian Fulgoni. Although the overall economic recovery is slow, “the channel shift to ecommerce appears to be accelerating, he added.

Nearly half (48.8%) of all ecommerce transactions during the quarter included free shipping — the highest incident of this perk outside the fourth quarter. “Only Q4 2011 (51.8 %) and Q4 2010 (49.3%) have been higher overall,” comScore reported. The most popular online shopping categories included digital content and subscriptions, computer software, consumer electronics and jewelry. The use of tablets for ecommerce is also on the rise, with 38% of tablet owners using their devices to make purchases. HTT

News

Target, Kohl’s and Nordstrom Tops in Poll N E W YO R K — For the second year in a row, consumers named Target the Value Retail Brand of the Year, according to the 2012 Harris Poll EquiTrend (EQ) study. Kohl’s was top-ranked among department stores, and Nordstrom scored the highest among luxury department stores. Target earned top scores on three key measures in its category: familiarity, quality and purchase intention, according to The Harris Poll. Among department stores, Kohl’s earned the highest overall brand equity score, with strong

Currey & Company Produces First Rug Collection ATLANTA — Currey & Company, a lighting and decorative accessories manufacturer, debuted its first collection of rugs at the recent High Point Market. Following two years of design and development, the initial rug collection consists of eight designs available in 6x9, 8x10, 9x12 and 10x12 sizes. Inspired by historical and tribal designs, all rugs in the collection are hand-knotted in India of a New Zealand wool blend and achieve subtle colorations with Swiss dyes. Minor irregularities exist from one piece to the next due to the

rugs’ handmade construction. All rugs are “ethically produced,” according to a rel e a s e f r o m t h e c o m p a n y. Cecil Adams, creative director, Currey & Company provided guidance and expertise in the collection’s creation. “Traditional designs have been interpreted in new color palettes to appeal to 21st century sensibilities,” Adams said. “Rugs have been processed to achieve an antique patina and a well-loved appearance.” Among the collection’s designs are Khyber and Kerman-

> hometextilestoday.com

shah. Khyber rug is inspired by a Khotan rug from Central Asia with cream and pale aqua colored medallions on the rust colored field enclosed by an Asian fretwork border. Kermanshah Rug presents a new twist on the classic floral motif in tones of pale blue, cream and gray. The entire new rug collection is on display in Currey’s showroom, IHFC M110. “Finally, we can say that we give our customers a true floor-toceiling shopping experience,” the company stated in a release. HTT

marks in purchase consideration. Earlier this year, Kohl’s also was the top mid-tier department store brand in the Harris Poll Customer Relationship Series, which measures customer experience with brands. “The fact that Kohl’s ranked first in both surveys indicates that its brand promise is being successfully fulfilled through the actual shopping experience,” said Mike Chadsey, a senior consultant in the Customer Solutions Group at Harris Interactive. “This is probably why we see such strong scores for Kohl’s in connection and momentum.”

JCPenney ranked No. 2 in the category. Among luxury department store brands, Lord & Taylor and Bloomingdale’s were included in the study for the first time this year and placed second and third, respectively. Harris added a new category to the polling — Daily Deal Brand of the Year. Here woot.com bested Eversave.com, Google Offers, Groupon and Living Social. Harris Poll EquiTrend conducted its online survey from Jan. 31 to Feb. 20, receiving responses from more than 38,500 consumers. HTT

Sander Creates Performance Fabric Lines For Hospitality S I N T- N I K L A A S , B E LG I U M — High-end fabric supplier to the hospitality market Sander International NV is launching a broad variety of new products employing “Diolen Safe” yarn qualities. Featuring different designs and structures, the new jacquard are woven with the “Diolen Safe” FR staple fiber filament as well as chenille and bouclé yarns of FR Safety Yarns GmbH & Co. KG. Varous weaving structures include: three-dimensional structures, leather-like looks, wool and

linen effects, and dobby fabrics. Fabric uses include upholstery and decorative, draperies, blackout, and wall coverings - such as sound absorbing wall panels that are geared mainly to the hospitality and transport markets. “In today’s always fiercer competition we strive to optimize our flexibility towards the customer. This is a team effort and only possible with the right partner at your side,” said Alexander Liessens, managing director, Sander. HTT

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5/24/2012 5:24:28 PM

How do you make your company stand out from the hundreds of other suppliers calling on the same ten retail accounts? 1888 Mills llC a.l. ellis, inc . aaa Bath Fashions aarGree iNC aB Home Fashions, inc. abert, italy abhiasmi inc., abhishek abode Fine Home abrahami rugs & décor aceco Mills achim importing Co. adams & Hartford addy Home Fashions adorable Pillows aeolus down, inc allegra industries, inc . allied Home allure Home Creation Co. alok alpha Home Fashions aM H ome Textiles american Century Home american decorative Fabrics american Green rug american Home essentials american Homes & Textiles, inc . american Mills, inc. american Textile Co mpany american Trading H ouse, inc. amity Home anchor Home Products angelo: HoMe apache Mills, inc. aptations aQ Textiles arister Gifts arlee artex linens ashley McBride international aurora General Box aussino (usa) austin Horn Collection avanti linens inc. Bacova Guild Balta u.s., inc. Baltic linen Co., inc. BaTHseNse llC BCP Home Beacon looms, inc . Beacon Products, inc . Beatrice Home Fashions Belle epoque Bellino Fine linens Ben Kaufman sales Benson Mills, inc . Berkshire Blanket Bess Home Fashions Better sleep, inc Bicor Processing Biddeford Blankets Blissliving Home Blue ridge Home Fashions, inc. Bobrum linens Bolan Trading / Hira Terry Mills Bombay dyeing Brentwood originals, inc. Brian Trading Co mpany Brownstone Gallery ltd Brumlow Mills, inc. Brunton international, inc . Buettner usa inc. by em C&F enterprises, inc. C.C. Premiums, inc . Calik usa/Calik denim Cambridge Towel Co mpany inc. Carnation Home Fashions, inc . Carpet art deco Carpet enterprises, inc Catalina rugs Cathay Fashions Cedar america Central oriental CGG Home Fashions Charisma C Chesapeake Merchandising, inc . Cindy shamp Clean B edroom, The Cloud Nine Comforts CMN international Coelima usa, inc . Colomba living Comfort revolution Comfort, inc Commonwealth

Compact Novelties Concord Global Trading inc. and sirma Carpet inc. Connecticut die Cutting Cosmic, inc. Cotton Valley Home, inc. Createx Corporation Creative Bath Products, inc. Creative Home Furnishings Croscill Home Custom sleep design Products d. Kwitman & son, inc . daniel anderson Collection dea dena designs design Weave usa designstyles devgiri exports / aBC industries divatex Home Fashions inc. doMaY iNC donna sharp, inc. down décor down lite dsQ by donna sharp duck river Textile, inc. dweck associates, inc . dynamic rugs, inc. eagle Global Group eastern accents ecoarts/Transconnection edgar Fabrics, inc . editex Home Curtain Corp. edward Greeman & Co., inc . elbaz Trading elico ltd. elite Home Fashions ellery Homestyles llC elrene Home Fashion emson usa envogue int’l ericyan industries ii, inc. espalma by Cobra euroletto linens and Home, inc. euro-Ware, inc. ex-Cell Home Fashions, inc. extreme linen Famous Home Fashions Feizy rugs Fiber Mark Fino lino Fiori Home Collections, inc . First impressions Fisher Home Products Forestron Trends, inc. FraMe sourCe Framestyles usa Franco Mfg. Franco, J. and sons, inc Future Foam, inc. G. a. Gertmenian & sons, inc. Gallery on six Gappa Textiles, inc. Garland Carpet and rug Garland sales, inc. Geo Crafts Gerbrend Creations, inc. Ginsey industries, inc. Glenoit llC Global Home living Global interiors Home Collection Gloria Cressler Collection Grace edwards Fashion designs Grace Home Fashions Grassi associates, inc. Great Grabz Greenland Home Fashions Greg Giordano H. C. international, inc. Hallmart Collectibles inc Hamburg House, inc. Harman Hautman Brothers Hds Trading Corp. Hedaya Home Fashions Henson sleep relief High Q Trading Co., llC HlH Group, inc. Hollander Home City, inc . Home dynamix Home expressions, ltd. Home Fashions distributor, inc . Home Fashions international Home source international, inc. HoMedics Hot Headz international

i.N. living iMJ Marketing inc. indigo Home indo Count Global inc. inovatex integrated design Products intellatex llC interdesign, inc. international Textile Manufacturing isaac Jacobs international ivy Hill Home J& s Housewares J. Queen New York JaB distributors, llC Jack sorenson Jaunty Home JdY Home, llC Jeffco Fibres Jessica sanders JMB international, inc Jonco industries Joseph abboud Js Fiber Co. Js royal Home usa, inc . Judaica Maven Ka and F Group Kalaty rugs Kaleen rugs Kas rugs & Home Kashi enterprises, inc. Kassatex, inc. Kathy ireland Keeco Kemp & Beatley Kennedy international, inc . Kenney Manufacturing Co. Kensington Home Fashions Kevin daniel KG denim limited Kimball & Young Klear-Vu Kumi Kookoon lacey rug Mills larochelle Collection laVie international lawrence essentials le Jacquard Francais lenos Bedding Collection lenzing levtex llC libeco Home liberty Fashion Textiles, inc. lichtenberg, s. linda spivey linens N essentials linens ‘N’ essentials lintex linens log Cabin rug Company loloi rugs london luxury loretta lee ltd. lorraine Home Fashions of China louis Hornick louisville Bedding luxury Home Textile, inc . M & Z Marketing Group M. C. Z. Merchandising Corp. Macra lace Company Magna linens Mindsinsync Makroteks Textile Mangal exports (usa) Manhattan Kids Manual Woodworkers and Weavers, inc. Maples industries, inc. Marcel Miller Marcella Fine rugs Marketing resource Marlo lorenz Mary Harper Group, The Mazel Company, The McCarthy industries Medici 888, llC Mega international, inc., The Melange Home, llC Melissa anne designs, inc . Messina & Zucker Microtex Millworks Mirabello Mirror image MMK Corporation Mod lifestyles, inc. Mohawk Home Montage Group Morgan Home

Multy Home Myriam schneider & Co. Mytex llC N. i. Teijin shoji (u.s.a.) inc. Nance Carpet and rug Nanshing america Nasdek industries, inc . Natco Home Fashions, inc. Natori Home collection Natura World, inc. Nautica Home Collection NC Home Fashions, inc . New York Times Collection Newpoint international Newport/layton Next Creations Niki international Nishat Chunian ltd. Nishat Mills Northwest Nostalgia Home Fashions Nourison rug Corp. Nusteel by Tatara Nutsteel oBaC orian rugs, inc. oriental Weavers of america orion Trading P & a Marketing, inc. Pacific Coast Home Furnishings, inc. Pacific Coast Feather Paliwal exports PVT. lTd. Panier des sens Park B. smith, ltd. Patton Picture Company Paula scaletta Pegasus Home Fashions Peking Handicraft, inc. Pem america, inc. Pendleton Perfect art Perfect Fit industries, inc . Phoenix down Corp. Phoenix Home Fashion, inc. Pillow Perfect, inc . Plazatex / sheradian Poly Commodity Corp Pom Pom at Home Popular Bath Products Pradip overseas Premier Fine linens Prestige Home Textiles Protect-a-Bed Queensland import export Quilts by donna sharp r&F Marketing rablabs ramallah Trading Company, inc. raymond Waites Bedding regal Home Collection regence Home llC retro (usa) revere Mills, inc. revman international richard Cohen Collection, inc. richloom rio Home Fashions, inc . ritz-ritzenthaler, John Co riviera Textiles 416 rizzy Home robely robertson Home Fashions robin Wilson Home rose Tree royal Heritage Home royale linens/Yunus rug & décor, inc . ruia Home, inc. s.s. dweck & sons, inc. sabry rug and Textile, llC safdie international, inc. sally Textile inc sam salem & son sander sales enterprises, lTd. sandy Clough saro saturday Knight ltd. sB Marketing, inc. scandia Home secondhand rose shanghai J&C Mills sharadha Terry Products shavel Home Products shaw living sherry Kline Home Fashions sherry Kline Baby

shri lakshmi Cotsyn ltd. signature Cabinetworks llC signature Plumbing specialties signoria di Firenze sinomax-usa inc. sleep innovations sleep studio llC sleepwell sM Products, inc. smartful Home, llC smokey Mountain designs spencer Home Fashions society Hill Textile softline Home Fashions soft-Tex Manufacturing Co. somma for Muse source Global enterprises sphinx by oriental Weavers splash Home standard Textile stanley roberts star Bedding star silk & Wollen Mills strands Textile Mills usa, llC stratford Home strauss’ inc . studio sri, inc . stupell industries styles Corporation suburban Home suntex designs inc . sun-Yin usa surya rugs sweep Bedding systems sybaritic industries synergy Global Home, inc. Tag Tatara Group Taymor industries inc. Terri Puma Texstyle / Bolan usa Textile City Textiles Plus, inc . Textrade, inc. The 319 Vision by Gussco The Gallery Thomas Kindade Thro, ltd Today’s Curtain Todd Taylor uK Town & Country living Trade lines inc. Trade linker international, inc . TransForm Trendex Home designs Triangle Home Fashions Trump Turkish Towel Co. TV Products usa, inc ulster linens united linens universal Home Vantage ind./leggett & Platt Venezia Ventex Home Fashions Venus Home Fashions Veratex Versailles Home Fashions Verticom Vicki Payne Home Collection Victoria Classic Vijayeswari usa llC Visions in Towels Vista Home Fashions Vivatex Home VTx Fine Bed linen W.G. Gry Warner Bros Water Works Waverly Home Fashions/ellery Welspun usa inc . Westco sales Westone, inc WestPoint Home Westport linens, inc . Windham Weavers World dynast Woven Workz Y & H international llC Y. M. F. Carpet, inc. Your True Nature Yunus Yves delorme Z2astore.Com, llC Zambaiti usa, inc . Zorlu usa, inc.

A marketing and advertising plan using Home Textiles Today in both print and online can help your company stand out from the crowd as well as introduce you to new buyers at those key retail accounts. Your HTT sales representative can give you all the details.

TexTiles is our Middle NaMe

Home Textiles Today

May 28, 2012

Calendar June 1–3

12 – 14

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

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

20-26 3–6 Showtime Fabric Fair Market Square, Textile Tower, High Point, N.C. (336) 885-6842 www.itma-showtime.com

11-13 NeoCon World’s Trade Fair The Merchandise Mart, Chicago (800) 677-6278 www.merchandisemart.com/neocon

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

22 – 25

11 – 18

24 – 26

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

The Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market AmericasMart, Atlanta (404) 220-3000 www.americasmart.com

Home Textiles Sourcing Jacob K. Javits Center, New York 770 984 8016 www.HomeTextilesSourcing.com

27 – 30 & July 4 – 7

12-15

New Designers Business Design Centre, London 020-7288-6738 www.newdesigners.com

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

30 – August 3

July

Las Vegas Market World Market Center and Pavilions, Las Vegas (702) 599-9621 www.lasvegasmarket.com

August

20 – 26

10 - 12

24 – 26

12-15

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

Global Sources China Sourcing Fair Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami tradeshow.globalsources.com

Texworld USA Jacob K. Javits Center, New York (770) 984-8016 ext. 401 www.texworldusa.com

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

CLASSIFIEDS HELP WANTED Senior Global Account Executive Greater New Jersey based importer of Home Textiles seeks an individual with 5+ years Sales exp. in Soft Home Goods. JCP and Target Sales exp. a must; Macy's a plus. Understand compliance requirementss and B2B Supply chain. working exp. with oversea factories and extensive travel required. Send resume to: hometextileshr@gmail.com

LINES OFFERED REPS WANTED One of the biggest home textiles manufacturers in India is looking for result oriented Sales Reps speciﬁcally targeting retailers like Macy’s and Lowes, BBB , JCP for ready-made Curtains and Dec pillows business Reply : Attn: BB169 to: classiﬁeds@sandowmedia.com

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May 28, 2012

Home Textiles Today

360 Park Avenue South, New York, N.Y. 10010 Tel: (646) 805-0227; Fax: (646) 365-2307 www.hometextilestoday.com www.facebook.com/httmag EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jennifer Marks 10 Ocean Blvd #8B Atlantic Highlands, N.J. 07716 (732) 204-2012 | jnegley@hometextilestoday.com PUBLISHER/EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Warren Shoulberg (646) 805-0226 | wshoulberg@hometextilestoday.com SENIOR EDITOR Cecile B. Corral 428 Bianca Ave. Coral Gables, FL 33146 (305) 661-7493 | cbcorral@aol.com MANAGING EDITOR Julie Murphy (646) 805-0224 | jmurphy@hometextilestoday.com CONTRIBUTING GRAPHIC ARTIST Desiree Nunez (646) 805-0233 | dnunez@giftsanddec.com DIRECTOR OF MARKET RESEARCH Dana French (336) 605-1091 | dfrench@sandowmedia.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER, ACCOUNT MANAGER CHINA Jeff Reeves (336) 605-1009 | jreeves@hometextilestoday.com ACCOUNT MANAGER NORTHEAST/MIDWEST/ WEST COAST/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, 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 | Kaushal@kaushals.com 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 DIRECTOR, WEB OPERATIONS Chris Schultz | (336) 605-1076 | cschultz@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 PRESIDENT, FURNITURE TODAY GROUP Kevin Castellani (336) 605-1034 | kcastellani@sandowmedia.com FOUNDING EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Carole Sloan 1979-2011

SANDOW MEDIA PRESIDENT AND CEO Adam I. Sandow CFO/COO Christopher Fabian VP CREATIVE AND EDITORIAL Yolanda E. Yoh EVP, GROUP PUBLISHER James N. Dimonekas SUBSCRIPTIONS: U.S.A. (866) 456-0405 All other countries: (515) 247-2984 HTTcustserv@cdsfulfillment.com FAX SUBSCRIPTIONS: 1-866-310-7181 THE BUSINESS AND FASHION NEWSPAPER OF THE HOME TEXTILES INDUSTRY® 360 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010 Telephone: (646) 805-0227 Fax: (646) 365-2307 USPS 497-490 HOME TEXTILES TODAY (USPS 497-490) (ISSN 0195-3184) is published 29 times a year except for the weeks of 1/16, 2/6, 2/20, 3/12, 3/26, 4/9, 4/23, 5/7, 5/21, 6/4, 6/18, 7/2, 7/16, 7/30, 8/13, 8/27, 9/17, 10/1, 10/15, 10/29, 11/12, 11/26, 12/10, 12/24 by Furniture/Today Media Group, 360 Park Avenue South, 17th fl., New York, NY, 10010 a subsidiary of Sandow Media LLC, 3731 NW 8th Ave, Boca Raton, FL 33431. Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY, and additional mailing offices. HOME TEXTILES TODAY copyright ©2012 by Sandow Media LLC. Annual subscription rates: U.S. and Canada $169.97; 1 year, other countries $325.99 for surface mail . All payments must be made in U.S. currency. Subscription inquiries: HOME TEXTILES TODAY, PO Box 5879, Harlan, IA 51593-1379. Phone: (866) 456-0405. HOME TEXTILES TODAY and THE BUSINESS AND FASHION NEWSPAPER OF THE HOME TEXTILES INDUSTRY are registered trademarks of Sandow Media LLC, used under license. Sandow Media LLC does not assume and hereby disclaims liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions in the material contained herein, regardless of whether such errors result from negligence, accident or any other cause whatsoever. (Posted under Canadian International Publication Agreement No.40624074. Sandow Media/CDS (Mint Hill) POSTMASTER: Send address changes to HOME TEXTILES TODAY, P.O. Box 5879, Harlan, IA, 51593-1379 Email: HTTcustserv@cdsfulfillment.com. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: RCS International; APC; PO Box 503, RPO West Beaver Creek, Rich Hill, ON L4B 4R6

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NYIGF Lines Up Events For At Home WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — The At Home section of the New York International Gift Fair will host a variety of events during the summer session, which takes place Aug. 18-22 at New York’s Javits Center and Pier 94. There will be an At Home welcome celebration Aug. 18 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Pier 94. At the event, ASID’s NY Metro Chapter will bestow its “Best of the Best NYIGF Summer 2012 Awards” to At Home exhibitors in seven categories: Imaginative Product Presentation; Innovative Product Design; Social Responsibility / Ecological Sensitivity; Lighting; Accessories; Textiles; and Wall Art. Also Aug. 18, the ART (Accessories Resource Team) will facilitate “Retailer Roundtables,” open forum discussions will address social media, in-store

events, store operations, retail competition, open to buy budgeting, credit card policies and more. The sessions will run from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the Pier 94 Café. “Open House - What’s Hot in Home Design?” will take place Aug. 19 from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Warren Shoulberg , editorial director of Home Textiles Today and Gifts & Decorative Accessories, will lead a panel discussion featuring Susan Feldman, One Kings Lane co-founder and chief merchandising officer, and Laurie Pressman, Pantone vp of fashion, home + interiors. New York’s Chapter of the International Furnishings & Design Association (IFDA) will sponsor “Color Trends and Practical Applications” on Aug. 20, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Doty

Horn of Color Voyant, a color marketing company, will preview color trends for 2013-14. Lisa White, creative director of WGSN, the online trend-analysis and research, will present seasonal Macro Trends which predict interior and fashion translations of these color directions. In a first-ever partnership with NYIGF, the Fashion Group International will host “Double Dossier: Fashion Designers on Home. Home Design Redefined” on Aug. 21 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Designer, Ralph Rucci of Chado Ralph Rucci, and others will address lifestyle trends between the worlds of fashion apparel and home design. The Home Textiles Market Week “Best New Product Awards,” selected by a panel of trade and consumer editors, will be announced Aug. 21. HTT

Arlee

it and had a strong response from customers.” He explained that Pierce and his team “have worked together for quite some time and have the experience and an established relationship base. Because of that, they were able to join the company and hit the ground running.” Pierce described the expanded Table Trends program as “a full line table linens and kitchen textiles resource. And for it, we are taking advantage of our relationships domestically and overseas from the past 25 years.” David noted that Pierce “brings a customer base that is different from ours, a different class of trade, and that is appealing to us.” He is referring to better specialty and department stores. For Arlee, Table Trends’ new approach is actually on par with the company’s recent shift. Over the past 12 to 18 months, Arlee has added special new collections of “better” – or a step up from basics and opening price point – goods that cater to specialty shoppers. “We’ve been making it a priority to shift the perception and offering of our company in the marketplace,” Sean said. Added David: “Sean and I have been working toward pushing the needle in our product in terms of design and offering.” The effort has been paying off, as “we have already secured new business with some first-tier accounts,”

Sean said, for all of the company’s existing categories – decorative pillows, soft window treatments, place mats, chair pads and soft pet beds. With Pierce’s team now on board, “they are looking to us for ideas and what we do well and we are looking to them for ideas and what they do well, and as a result there should be a fair amount of cross pollination in design, product, and sourcing. It is not our desire to turn Derek into us but rather for us all to come together and benefi t from what each of us if very good at.” Aside from bringing a broader line of goods that reach a new segment of distribution for Arlee, Pierce’s team is also serving as a catalyst to add new branding strategies to Arlee. David said that for the first time in the company’s history, which dates back to 1975 when his late father Bud Frankel founded Arlee, it is now “aggressively pursuing licensing. We are looking for a mix of brands, and we want to pursue them for all of our categories.” While customers are already getting previews of the new line, a formal launch is set for September during the New York Home Fashions Market. In time for that, Arlee is overhauling its nearly 10,000-square-foot showroom at 261 Fifth Avenue “to show the breadth of our line in easier way,” David said. Construction is set to start in a few weeks. HTT

ARLEE FROM PAGE 1

looked at companies to buy, people to hire… But ultimately nothing ever met the criteria or we felt the people we spoke to weren’t the right fit.” Until an industry friend told David about Pierce. The rest is history. Or to use their words exactly, it was “a love fest.” “David, Sean and I selected each other,” Pierce chimed in. “After only a couple of meetings, we realized there was an unbelievable opportunity for us, and it’s an opportunity that doesn’t come often in this environment.” “He was doing something different from what we were doing with both product and customers that could meld with that what we were doing at Arlee,” David said. Added Sean: “One of the things that is so appealing about Derek and his team is that they are able to pursue new accounts across [the table linens and kitchen textiles categories] without jeopardizing what we are doing with our other product categories.” Once he joined the company April 1, Pierce and his team – which includes Chisholm-Polich as senior designer, Stephanie Greco as vp of sales, and Emily Jaramillo as general manager – got to work on new line. “We didn’t have to wait six to nine months for them to create a line,” David said. “They did it very quickly. And they’ve already hit the road with

5/24/2012 7:44:47 PM

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