Monday, October 3, 2011
THE BUSINESS AND FASHION NEWSPAPER OF THE HOME TEXTILES INDUSTRY
HTT Conference Covers Social Media ABCs NEW YORK — HTT’s ConText mini-conference on online and social media strategies last month covered a lot of ground — from Facebook to QR codes, Twitter to blogs, and Tumblr to site metrics. If the world of social media comes off as bewilderingly complex, conference speakers were in agreement on one point: It’s not necessary for a business to participate in every facet of social media. What’s important is to select the tools that will further enhance your business’s branding and strategic goals. “Social media is relational, not transactional,” said Helaine Suval, president of Suval Consultants and former evp, general merchandise manager of macys.com. Using social media to blatantly push product can quickly SEE SOCIAL PAGE 13
Attendees at HTT’s ConText event learned how social media can be used successfully in business.
Inside This Issue Bed Bath Moving Merchandising Offices to N.J. Corporate HQ .......................................................... page 2 A Little Bit of ConText ..................................................................... page 4 Missonigate...................................................................................... page 4 WestPoint Sets a New Course ........................................................ page 6 Nestldown Linens Cozy on Luxury Linens – And Customer Service .................................................................. page 10 HTT Hosts Market Kick-off Party ................................................... page 14
|
hometextilestoday.com
| Vol. 32, No. 23 | $8.00
Anna’s Linens Debuts Exclusive Line With Latin TV Star Brazzi BY WARREN SHOULBERG COSTA MESA , C ALIF. — Hispanic TV celebrity Domenica Brazzi will be the star of a new exclusive line of home textiles products at Anna’s Linens, the 285-store value specialty chain. The new program launched with bedding in four styles in stores and online at the end of September, to be followed by bath, home décor, window and tabletop collections. It is the first home textiles program for Brazzi, the host of “Decorando Contigo,” a popular Latin American television decorating show. Her promotionDomenica Brazzi
SEE BRAZZI PAGE 23
The Nightingale bed, one of four collections in Brazzi’s program for Anna’s Linens.
HFPA Adjusts Spring 2012 Market Week Dates NEW YORK — The board of directors of the Home Fashions Products Association voted late last month to change the spring 2012 market dates to March 5 to March 8. The change was made to avoid a conflict with the Housewares show. Fall dates are confirmed for Sept. 10 to Sept. 13, 2012. HTT Showroom building 295 Fifth Avenue
htt111001_001_013_022_023 1
9/30/2011 3:39:59 PM
2
Home Textiles Today
Retail Briefs Gordmans Appoints vp, stores
G
ordmans Inc. named Andy Lundquist to the post of vice president of stores. He brings more than two decades of retail management career experience to the job. Lundquist most recently was svp of stores for Kohl’s Department Stores, where he was charged with overseeing 270 units. He was also instrumental in the opening of more than 300 new stores and six new markets for Kohl’s. Lundquist began his retail management career in 1988 as an assistant store manager with Richman Gordman Department Stores, the predecessor of Gordmans.
Family Dollar to Step up Openings
F
amily Dollar wrapped up its fiscal year by turning in its 14th consecutive quarter of doubledigit earnings increases and said it will return to the aggressive store opening pace that characterized its expansion prior to the recession. During the new fiscal year, which began Aug. 28, the retailer plans to open 450-500 new stores – including its entry into California – and remodel approximately 1,000 of its more than 7,000 units. Earnings per share rose 19.1% to $3.12 for the fiscal year. Sales rose 8.7% to $8.5 billion.
Senior Wal-Mart Exec to Retire
E
duardo Castro-Wright, who has held several prominent executive roles since joining the company 10 years ago, will retire in July 2012. Castro-Wright is currently vice chairman and ceo of the multi-national corporation’s global ecommerce and global sourcing businesses. Wal-Mart plans to fill both posts by the end of January.
Kohl’s Opens 30 New Units
K
ohl’s marked the grand opening of 30 new stores last week in 20 states, bringing its store count to 1,127 units in 49 states. The retailer also has also remodeled about 100 stores this year, up 18% from last year’s remodel pace.
Target Finalizes Zellers Deal Target has completed its assumption of Zellers leases, which now total 189. Target will convert 125-135 of those leases to its own format, with the first stores to open in 2013. The remaining leases will be sold to other retailers, including Walmart Canada.
Macy’s Inc. Ramps up RFID Adoption
M
acy’s and Bloomingdale’s stores plan to accelerate the use of radio frequency identification technology in merchandise, with RFID tags imbedded in frequently replenished goods in all stores by the third quarter of 2012. The company began testing RFID two years ago. When implemented, the amount of RFID-tagged product will account for about 30% of total sales. Categories targeted include men’s furnishings, intimate apparel, men’s slacks, denim and women’s shoes.
htt111001_002.indd 2
October 3, 2011
News
> hometextilestoday.com
Bed Bath Moving Merchandising Offices to N.J. Corporate HQ U N I O N , N. J. — Bed Bath & Beyond, which since its founding, has maintained separate corporate and merchandising offices on either side of New York City, is consolidating both of them at its headquarters here. The merchandising and buying operations, currently housed in Farmingdale, N.Y., on Long Island, will be transitioned to the operations and financial offices located here. The move will be completed by Septem-
ber 2012. It is not known how many people will make the move or are currently housed at the New York offices; the company, as is its standard policy, declined to comment on the move. The twin set-up, most unusual in companies the size of Bed Bath, grew out of the locations of where company founders Warren Eisenberg and Len Feinstein lived. While both were intimately involved in all
aspects of the company and continue as co-chairmen, each focused on a specific aspect of the business. Eisenberg, who lives in New Jersey, primarily managed the financial and operations side of the company while Feinstein, who lives on Long Island, oversaw merchandising and buying. Now, for the first time in the company’s history, all corporate offices will be housed under one roof. HTT
Latex International to Acquire Full Ownership of Pure LatexBliss BY DAVID PERRY SHELTON, CONN. — Latex Inter-
national has signed a letter of intent to acquire full ownership of Pure LatexBliss to accelerate the growth of the mattress, topper and pillow brand, officials said. Terms of the pending transaction were not disclosed. Latex International bought a 51% stake in Pure LatexBliss last year. When it acquires the remaining stake, Pure LatexBliss, founded in 2009, will be a wholly owned subsidiary. Latex International, based here, is a supplier of latex products to mattress producers. Atlanta-based Pure LatexBliss sells mattresses, toppers and pillows to mattress retailers. Latex International executives said the purchase would enable the company to better position latex in the mattress industry. Pure LatexBliss founders Kurt Ling and Joe Hunt will continue to be involved with the leadership of the brand, officials said. Latex International said it will continue to actively pursue its OEM business in North America with its key manufactur-
ing and factory direct accounts. Latex International does business in 60 countries. “In the past two years, Pure LatexBliss has become one of the fastest growing luxury mattress brands in the world, doing business in six countries,” said Latex International President and CEO Dave Fisher. “The brand has proven to be a successful alternative for retailers to maintain high tickets and increase margin dollars of specialty bedding consumers who are ready to spend $2,000 to $3,000 on a mattress but don’t like the feel of memory foam.” As a part of this new direction, Latex International will shift its Rejuvenite direct to retail pillow line to Pure LatexBliss branding, officials said. Fisher said the latex industry needs a stable of strong brands “to sit across from successful memory foam on retail floors, and retailers need more profitable alternatives in the specialty sleep market. We believe that Pure LatexBliss is a ‘pure’ stallion in our sector.” Ling added, “Latex International has been a tremendous supporter of our company since inception. This deal is good for
us personally and professionally. It allows Pure LatexBliss to go to the next level to service retailers and consumers.” Fisher said latex “deserves to be at the forefront of the specialty sleep category. This is its time. I am certain that the consumer education, retail sales training, and stature of latex as a category will be raised as Pure LatexBliss continues to succeed, no differently that what has happened in the memory foam category. We will continue to look to invest in key strategic partners who understand and are passionate about the benefits of Talalay latex.” Retail reaction to the news has been encouraging, officials said. Since its founding, Pure LatexBliss was a sales and marketing company using contract manufacturers and logistics partners. The Pure LatexBliss team initially included four people, all friends who had worked together at Simmons. The company has expanded from one fabrication site and warehouse in Atlanta to four fabrication sites with regional distribution centers in Atlanta, Miami, Phoenix, Portland, Ore., and France. HTT
9/30/2011 1:24:11 PM
4
Home Textiles Today
October 3, 2011
> hometextilestoday.com
OPINIONTodaY Missonigate
A Bit of ConText
H
T T BRUSHED OF F T HE MONIK ER for its ConText conference series during market and held a miniseminar on all things digital. It was probably the most enlightening three hours I’ve spent in some time. For the lowdown on the speakers and their points of view, see our story on page one. The following were my take-away notes from a program that did a great job of de-mystifying the rapidly burgeoning world of social media marketing: 1. It’s not necessary to plunge in to every kind of social media channel. Select those that fit your marketing goals. 2, Facebook is imperative – either to communication with B2B customers or end-use consumers or both. 3. Facebook is a dialog. Someone in the company needs to be dedicated to monitoring feedback and responding, when necessary. 4. An in-house “brand evangelist” should EDITOR-IN-CHIEF be dedicated to feeding and caring for social media efforts. But several people in the company should contribute content to widen the point of view. 5. Some of the most impactful social media marketing is about showing rather than telling. YouTube is a great tool – whether providing information, showing off product and building brand reputation by providing a behind-the-scenes look at the company. 6. Use Twitter to build excitement around an event such as a trade show, in-store appearance or new product launch. 7. Identify blogs that have a strong connection to your product or brand universe and create relationships with them – whether as an occasional expert contributor or as a give-away sponsor to promote new product. 8. Set goals and track results. You should pay attention to: • Number of unique visitors/month • Number of page views/month • How much time visitors’ stay • Number of comments/month • What posts are most popular • Aside from the major portals such as Google, what other sites are sending visitors your way? Next up: Look for HTT to start implementing these ideas as we ramp up our own social media projects. HTT
Jennifer Marks
www.hollander.com www.livecomfortably.com
htt111001_004 4
E
XCUSE ME, but I always thought the idea of the whole thing WAS to sell out as much merchandise as possible. Did I miss something? Perhaps I have gotten cynical (perhaps?), but the entire brouhaha around Target’s Missoni program is making me crazy. With the possible – and I say possible – exception of its website crashing for an inordinately long period of time, I think Target got exactly what it wanted out of the Missoni program. And what’s more, I think knew exactly what it Warren Target was doing. Just in case you haven’t Shoulberg been zoned in to this saga PUBLISHER/ EDITORIAL DIRECTOR and have been worrying about silly things like the global economic meltdown, the dysfunctional federal government we elected or the Yankees pennant race, a few moments of background: In September Target rolled out a limited assortment of Missoni-branded merchandise across the store, including home. There was a pop-up store in Manhattan and the products were available both online and in the stores. That’s when the feeding frenzy broke out. The pop-up store sold out in six hours. The website crashed within hours of going live and there were all sorts of anecdotal stories of shoppers getting their orders cancelled, postponed or simply evaporated. Many stores resembled Black Friday debacles, and by the end of the first day just about anything with the name Missoni on it was sold out just about everywhere. Now, I’m not quite sure what Missoni got out of all of this. Very few of those Target customers are going to trade up to the real stuff at prices that are ten-fold or more of their discount cous-
ins. But for Target, the hits just keep on coming. First off, at a time when the retailer has lost a bit of its cheap chic luster, this was a chance to leapfrog to the front of the fashion line again in one straight zigzag line. The residual effects will be felt for holiday and beyond, to be sure. There is also the reinforcement of a concept that is becoming ever more obvious in retailing but which remains one many stores don’t get: Limited runs have unlimited potential. This is nothing new. Go back to the Blue Light Special at Kmart (when it was still a retailer rather than a leaking cash sponge) and you’ll see that was one of the original Flash Sales. The current generation of Flash sites – Gilt, One Kings Lane and others – are using the same strategy: Choose it or lose it. They are training an entire generation of shoppers to not wait around but to make an immediate purchasing decision or miss their moment. H&M does the same thing every year or so with short-run designer programs. And really, it’s the prime motivator of the TJX group of stores. Many in the industry think it’s the prices, but the fact of the matter is you can get just as good a deal on most of that merchandise with the right combination of coupons and One Day Sales. It’s the limited inventory that is the magic of TJ Maxx, Marshalls and all the rest. It’s the reason Tuesday Morning had its original limited operating schedule. Tell them they can’t have it and they’ll want it even more. Target, I think, knows all of this and you can bet the next limited sale promotion it has will do even better. Maybe it will bring in a little more horsepower for the computers. Maybe a little more back-up stock. But the boys in Minneapolis did a brilliant job on this one. My Missoni for Target floppy hat – no longer available – is off to them. HTT
...comfort within your life
9/30/2011 1:26:39 PM
The Textile Building
Join Us at the Cornerstone of the Home Textile Marketplace For 90 years the Textile Building at 295 Fifth has been the leader in showcasing the best of the home textile industry. Put your company in a leadership position and enjoy these advantages: • More actual square footage for your rental $. 295 Fifth has the lowest loss factor in the home textile showroom market.* Compare our space measurements and you’ll see how you’re paying much less for actual square footage at 295. • The most Market Week traffic. 295 Fifth is the only building to rent exclusively to the home textiles, tabletop and gift industries for showrooms. And we have more than double the number of showrooms than any other building. • Free freight service and more freight cars running full-time, including weekends prior to each Market Week. • State-of-the-art security and 15 daytime employees—twice the staff of any comparable building to keep the building spotless and well-serviced.
Become a leader today…for less!
Call Lou Lombardi at 212-685-0530. LOU LOMBARDI, President MANHATTAN PROPERTIES COMPANY Owner/Management
295 FIFTH AVENUE • NEW YORK, NY 10016 • 212-685-0530 • ceo295@aol.com
*according to official REBNY guidelines
Untitled-3 1
8/4/2011 11:23:13 AM
6
Home Textiles Today
October 3, 2011
News
> hometextilestoday.com
WestPoint Sets a New Course NEW YORK — WestPoint Home’s
touting its fashion chops as new leadership team has been well. That includes utility bedin place barely three months, ding, where WestPoint is still the but the company came to New licensee for Lauren Ralph LauYork Home Fashion Market with ren. a message about capability, its “We’re making a concenbrands and its designs. trated effort to down alternative The focus fell on WestPoint’s to really bring fashion into it,” key licensed brands: Hanes, said Chernin. “We think there’s Izod and Caribbean Joe. How- room for a lot more technolever, the company has been ogy.” conducting consumer For the market, one research into its own focus area settled capalegacy brands – the bilities — and technolbest known of which ogy — in sheets, toware Martex, Patrician els, blankets and utility and Vellux – with an bedding. In the first two eye toward revivifying categories, products are them moving forward. presented in a range of “I was surprised by NORM SAVARIA constructions with feaWestPoint Home how positive and how tures called out and specific the results price points running were,” said Norm Savaria, who from lowest to uppermost. joined the company as president Every buyer comes in “from and ceo in June. a different angle,” noted Nancy “There’s great opportunity to Golden, svp of marketing and do things with that – to begin to brand. “We want them to see we differentiate and show fashion can work with them direct or as leadership again.” a distributor.” Taran Chernin, the former New core introductions vp of product development at included the fade-resistant So Linen ’n Things, who joined Soft sheet, snag-resistant Snag the company in June as execu- No More towel, and the ecotive vp and chief merchandising friendly Second Nature towel officer, said WestPoint also sees made of 50% Modal and 50% growth for the existing licensed cotton. properties. Izod’s fashion bedding has The company has been been redesigned to place more building its design department emphasis on the roots of the in recent weeks and plans to apparel line. “This is more of become more aggressive in what you think of as Izod,” said
Allied Home Piles on Pillows N E W YO R K — Allied Home’s sleep pillow business continues to grow with the help of a new production facility opened last spring in North Carolina. With three production lines going, “We’re already approaching capacity,” said Andy Schantz, ceo and chief product officer. Allied is already making plans to expand the facility by at least 30% and as much as 50%, he said. “We added dimension to the company by adding an East Coast FOB,” he said. “Several ports are within a short distance for hauling, and there’s a lot of
htt111001_006_008 6
skilled labor because this was a big textiles area.” The company has also added to its sales force in the Northeast, Chicago and on the West Coast. Further down the road, Allied may build production in the Midwest, Schantz said. In addition to the company’s retail business, “Our hospitality business is growing by leaps and bounds every month,” he said. “Our approach is like creating product for retail accounts with retail standards and fiber, fabrics and finishing technology the consumer shops for in stores.” HTT
Golden. “It’s fresh. It’s sporty.” The story across the multicategory Hanes program remains
“comfort and fit,” she added. Caribbean Joe fills in the casual lifestyle slot. HTT
Izod has been recast to emphasize the sports heritage in the brand’s DNA.
1888 Mills Celebrates New Collection 1888 Mills celebrated its new bedding and bath collection license with HGTV celebrity David Bromstad, host of the cable television channel’s Color Splash decorating program and the original winner of HGTV Design Star. Bromstad, left, with 1888’s Lexi Schladenhauffen and Fulton Allen.
9/28/2011 6:35:01 PM
© GLM 2011
®
®
New York International Gift Fair l PIERS 92 & 94, NYC
JANUARY 28 – FEBRUARY 2, 2012
JAVITS CENTER
nyigf.com
Classic Wasabi Couef—Couef Inc. by Jamie Schachtel Design Group
8
Home Textiles Today
October 3, 2011
News
Revman Expands Across Categories
htt111001_006_008 8
Natco, Amtex Align for New Joint Venture W EST WARWICK , R.I. — Multicategory home textiles house Natco Home is now adding bedding to its portfolio through its recent exclusive alliance with Amtex Ltd. A fully vertical manufacturer based in Faisalabad, Pakistan, Amtex’s joint venture with Natco calls for both the manufacturing and distributing of bedding products in the North American market under the name “Natco Amtex Home.” The joint venture was set to be finalized by end of September, following approval of certain Pakistani regulations and the completion of mutual due diligence. Alan Ross, Natco Home’s coo, said the company’s domestic design, marketing and distribution capabilities combined with Amtex’s size and state-of-the-art vertical manufacturing capabilities “will position this new company, Natco Amtex Home, as a major bedding manufacturer and supplier overnight.” He added that “strategically, this joint venture … adds an excit-
Tommy Bahama’s Cay Sol is a textural woven that gets its pop with a layered print quilt.
NEW YORK — Multi-brand house Revman International had no shortage of new designs on display at market last month. In a key expansion for its more recent Vera Wang program, Revman added bath towels with a matelasse feel in eight colors as well as bath accessories and robes. Vera Wang beds take their direction from the designer’s apparel collection. “I think this is a beautiful evolution of where we had been,” said Diane Piemonte, Revman’s vp of creative services. “It’s all about the details.” Another important designer brand in the portfolio, Tommy Hilfiger Home, has shifted its construction priorities away from pricier yarn-dyes in favor of prints that evoke a yarn-dye look. “That brings us to the $129 to $149 price points,” said Revman ceo Rich Roman. “We’re going to be in the sweet spot.” The Tommy Bahama collection remains a tropical story, “but we’re trying to cover all the bases,” Piemonte said. Revman is showing more toned-down, textured master bedroom looks that can get a pop from the assortment of Tommy Bahama print quilts. Revman has also extended the Steve Madden collection beyond its signature story of bold prints, adding apparel-
> hometextilestoday.com
ing new product category for the group; it complements our significant China sourcing and production capabilities and further enhances our ability to be a quality low-cost provider of all soft textile products for the long term.” Additionally, it gives the group direct-to-store, pick-and-pack capability from both China and Pakistan. “We have been working with Amtex Ltd. for over 15 years and the working relationship has always been excellent,” Ross continued. “We are certain we will find further ways to cooperate and expand globally our manufacturing, sourcing and distribution platforms in the months and years to come.” Key members of Amtex’s senior management team will be relocating to Natco’s offices here. Principles from both Natco and Amtex were at the group’s showroom at 295 Fifth Avenue during the New York Home Fashions Market and introducedthe joint venture. HTT
Cambridge Towel Stays Local, Goes Monochromatic O N TA R I O , C A N A D A — Cam-
Vera Wang has expanded into bath for Revman.
driven looks for the master bedroom. For Sean John, the direction is clean and minimal, with a nod toward hotel, she noted. The company’s house brand, Manor Hill, is giving more attention to weaves and doing more with decorative pillows. “Dec pillows are becoming more and more import ant,” Piemonte said. Manor Hill is also building out its freestanding offerings in
bath. In addition to shower curtains that tie back to bedding, Manor is showing a variety of constructions, including lighthearted prints, floral burnout overlays and appliqué embellishments. Another notable new twist in bath sees the introduction of novelty accessories for the Laura Ashley line. In addition, Revman has expanded Laura Ashley bath with rugs and towels. HTT
bridge Towel Co. Inc. focused on its color story for market, with shades of brown, pops of purple, black and blue as the fashion-forward trends. Monochromatic stripes and jacquards also got some play. “When a consumer looks at towels, it’s all about color, color and color. Eighty to eighty-five percent of the market is solid color,” noted Hugh Thompson, president of the Cambridge, Ontario-based company. “We’re very adept at color and always work to create coordinates that work back to the solids.” According to Thompson, the Canadian company has a distinct advantage as a local sup-
plier. It purchases only about 15% of goods, and manufactures the rest. As a result, its carbon footprint is “greener.” It also buys raw cotton rather than yarn, a fact that allowed the company to purchase cotton ahead and fare better than some competitors as the price of it rose. “While everyone was going offshore, we were strategic in keeping our company in North America,” Thompson said. “It makes us more agile so that we can quickly respond to our customers, not to the supply chain.” Thompson also noted that the company expects to announce a new partnership with an Indian mill soon. HTT
9/28/2011 6:36:41 PM
Too much ticking?
In a recent nationwide consumer survey, over half of consumers preferred the pillow filled with DACRON® brand fiberfill over a pillow filled with unbranded polyester and higher thread count tick.*
The DACRON® brand has innovated fiberfill technology for more than 50 years to bring the bedding industry a variety of comfort and performance options. With recent innovations like memory foam-like fibers, and fibers that are virtually indistinguishable from down, you can give consumers what they want, from a
®
®
© 2011 INVISTA. Memorelle™, DACRON , COMFOREL , ® PERFORMA and DuraLife ™ are INVISTA trademarks.
brand they know and trust.
* 2011 Online Test with nationally representative blind panel of US home textile decisionmakers. N=1041
Brand Fiberfill
10
Home Textiles Today
October 3, 2011
> hometextilestoday.com
First Monday: Specialty Retailing
Nestldown Linens Cozy on Luxury Linens – And Customer Service BY CECILE B. CORRAL S C O T T S DA L E , A R I Z . — Laura Weaver works seven days a week at her four-year-old luxury linens shop, Nestldown. Understandably, it’s a work schedule many would find grueling. N o t We a v e r. H e r h o m e away from home, Nestldown — located here at The Shops of Southbridge — is where she goes daily to surround herself with her extensive line of highend home textiles, and more so, her loyal customers. “I am not looking to globally
dominate anything. I am not looking to be a Walmart by any stretch of the imagination,” she told HTT. “I’ve just done this so long — it’s what I have done and it’s what I do. I just really enjoy my life here and my business and every day. I never get tired of coming to work. As they say, that is the difference between a career and a job.” Early in her career she ran a Scandia Down store in the San Francisco Bay area for five years. Then she moved on to Los Gatos, Calif., to work for at the high-end linens shop, The Maids’ Quarters, for owner
Claudia Mann. “I was there for about 20 years, and I really learned a lot there,” Weaver said. “It’s from where I draw a lot of my career background. Scandia Down shops are franchised and what they carry is very limited. But working for Claudia [Mann] at The Maids’ Quarters for as long as I did is how I derived most of my knowledge and history.” At the Maids’ Quarters, Weavers said she “ran the business — home textiles, baby, bedding and bath, furniture.” After about 40 years of living and working in Northern
California, Weaver got the itch to relocate to Arizona to try her hand at running her own luxury linens store. “I really felt I needed a change,” she explained. “Claudia had been living here [Scottsdale] for about 10 years running a chain of dress shops all around the country. So when I moved out here, she was getting started on her new project, and she asked me if I wanted to get involved.” With the help of Mann’s daughter, Jenny, Weaver found a space in a newly developed high-end mall that was mod-
eled after Fred Segal in Santa Monica. November 7 will mark Weaver’s fourth anniversary of her store and own business operation. Ask her to list her core business segment at the store, and Weaver points to bedding. But actually, customer service is her “most important” offering. “I think customer service is so important in this day and age,” Weaver noted. “It’s really fallen by the wayside everywhere. But if you want to stay competitive, customer service is really
There’s an easier way...
REDEFINING COMFORT. Contact Guy Eckert at geckert@outlast.com for more information. outlastsleepsystem.com
htt111001_010_011 10
9/28/2011 6:40:07 PM
> hometextilestoday.com
important. It’s just very important to me to make my customers feel welcome and comfortable here, and like they are walking into my own home — because they are. When you are in this business as long as I have been, you really develop friendships and relationships and close bonds with your customers. I connect with them. When I was at The Maids’ Quarters, our customers became like family. And I see my customers as an important part of my life.” Among Nestldown’s special services: Complimentary gift wrap all year round, monogramming, engraving, gift certificates, layaway, baby and bridal registries, special and custom orders, “you name it,” said Weaver. How about company? That, too, she said. “Sometimes people just want to come in and talk,” Weaver continued. “My customers all have different needs, and I am here for whatever that need may be. I am not here just to sell someone something. I love retail because it allows me to be able to meet and connect with people, and I get a lot of satisfaction in helping them in whatever capacity.” By category, bedding leads the business — “it’s what I sell the most,” she said. The store’s 1,100-square-foot footprint “is pretty well-packed with a lot of stuff. I offer way more than what I sell at store [including customer services]. I feature three queen-size [display] beds on the floor, beautiful cabinets.” Furniture represents only “a small part. The bedding is my primary focus,” Weaver said. Category product offerings include sheeting, top of the bed, down comforters, feather beds, “anything and everything to do with soft bedding.” Price points range from $300 to $2,000, with the most action lately in the $300 to $800 range, Weaver said. Bath textiles and baby products are also major segments. Bath is broad, encompassing towels and accessories, robes, pajamas, soaps, and rugs. Bath towels and bath sheets retail for $30 to $200. The baby department “is my happy place. It’s so, so cute, if I do say so myself. It’s small but definitely an important part of my business — small but mighty,” said Weaver. Baby goods include bedding, room décor, and accessories as well as some clothing. Also in the merchandise mix are table linens, kitchen textiles, decorative pillows, throws and some vendor-specific yardage. Among Weaver’s “hundreds of vendors” she works with regularly, the list includes: Sferra, Lintex Linens/Cobra, Home Treasures, Yves Delorme, Anne De Solene, Ann Gish, Cloud 9 Comforts, Bella Note, Eastern Accents, Leg-
htt111001_010_011 11
News
October 3, 2011
11
Home Textiles Today
Laura Weaver, who opened Nestldown four year ago in Scottsdale, Arizona, said bedding is her core product category offering. She is seen here standing next to one of three display bedding vignettes featured in her 1,100-square-foot store.
Gift items represent a major part of Nestldown’s day-to-day sales volume. Here are two of the store’s top-selling items. Left is The Cuddle Robe, by Cobra/Espalma, made of polyester microfiber and priced at $90 each. Right is the “And they lived happily ever after” decorative pillow, a 14-by-18 home accessory that Weaver says makes a good gift for almost any occasion at $70 each.
acy, and Home Source International, as well as many others. Linens as gifts represent also “a big part of my business, too,” Weaver said. In fact, two of Nestldown’s “hottest sellers,” she said are The Cuddle Robe from Espalma, which is a polyester microfiber
robe “that I can’t keep in stock at $90. I have sold probably at least 1,000 of them since I opened my store. It is the perfect gift, it comes in one size fits all, and it’s the softest thing you have ever felt.” The second best seller, which she said “I sell all day long,” is an embellished
decorative pillow that says “And they lived happily ever after.” Weaver said the pillow makes an appropriate gift for almost any occasion — engagements, weddings, registries, people who adopt kids, people who rescue animals, “or just because.” HTT
9/28/2011 6:40:34 PM
12
Home Textiles Today
October 3, 2011
News
> hometextilestoday.com
Chortex US Includes Spencer Enterprises Moves into New Permanent Bedding Among Showroom at 295 Market Intros NEW YORK — High-end bath house Chortex launched its bedding collection at market last month with two collections — a stripe and a floral. Giving a modern twist to traditional designs, Chortex’s new bedding program for the U.S. market is all 200-count 100% cotton percale for a soft feel. One bed features yarn-dyed stripes in blues, brown and a bright pink against a white ground. It includes the top-of-bed comforter and shams as well as matching sheet sets. The second is a damask-inspired floral with a more contemporary floral interpretation and palette, using blues and reds against a white ground. Also new for market from Chortex were three bath ensemble programs from Turkey, including: the 100% Egyptian longstaple cotton Rhapsody grouping in six solid colors; Irvington, a 700-gram Pima cotton towel available in six solid colors; and From Chortex’s Rhapsody collection Royal Ascot, a 100% Supima cotton product that comes in eight solid colors. The average price points for the towels are estimated at: $9 for the fingertip, $20 for the hand towel, $30 for the bath towel and $60 for the bath sheet. HTT
Ritzenthaler Expands Micro-fiber Program NEW YORK — The John Ritzen-
thaler Co. has added new looks and offerings to its “Soap & Water” microfiber-made house program as well as upped its printed kitchen and table coordinates. New to the microfiber wares are polka doted aprons, microfiber kitchen towels and microfiber sponges as well as matching plastic dish brushers and fashion latex gloves. “We’ve got everything for the kitchen sink, and we’ve made it fun to take the mundane out of the tiresome task of cleaning,” said Debby Stirner, director of design and product development. “It’s like paper clips. You’d rather use the color ones than the plain ones.” The company said while microfiber works as an alternative to cotton, it also carries
htt111001_012 12
properties conducive to the kitchen textiles category. “Microfiber doesn’t just fill a void – it has great functional attributes,” Stirner said. To its ongoing “Kitchenwear” printed program of coordinates, Ritzenthaler has added an updated version to its Vintage Damask with new colors as well as introduced the new Palm and Blue-and-White Floral groupings. The components here include: apron, comfort kitchen mat, kitchen towels, pot holders and oven mitts. Finally, to its seasonal offering the company presented its new “Inspired By Nature” collection. It comes in three styles: the poppies-themed Tranquility; he butterfly Serenity group; and the Simplicity design featuring a bird on a cherry blossom tree branch. HTT
NEW YORK — After spending the past 12-plus markets setting up shop in two large corner suites at The New York Palace luxury hotel, decorative pillow company Spencer N. Enterprises Inc. landed a roomy permanent showroom at 295 Fifth Avenue. Situated on the Textile Building’s ninth floor, the 3,000square-foot space — formerly the Homedics showroom — features at least twice as many decorative pillow styles — more than 1,500 — and upwards of five times as many soft window treatments —about 500 looks — than the
company was able to display at its former stage in the adjoining hotel suites in Midtown. Joy Stewart, president, told HTT that the move happened very quickly. “We literally signed the lease two weeks [before market began], and then moved in last Monday.” She explained the new space comes as the company is expanding its offering into a more total soft home décor source. “While our core business remains dec pillows, our window line is rapidly growing and this market we’ve added the new
outdoor cushion category,” Stewart said. “We’ve been growing but haven’t had enough space to show all of the product, so this showroom helps us do that, plus its much more convenient for our buyers.” Aside from the bi-annual New York Home Fashions market, Spencer will also regularly be using this new space — about once a month — to work with customers in this region. Spencer’s other permanent showroom is a 5,000-square-foot space at its Los Angeles-based headquarters. HTT
Natco Debuted Bath Rugs, Sheets at Market N EW YORK — Steadfast on its ongoing road to expanded category offerings, Natco Home came to market with products that represent two new business segments for the company – bath rugs and bedding. Natco’s first full-line bath rug assortment debuted during market week with a broad assortment of styles. Developed and designed by evp Bryan Bogas, this new collection includes many fashion styles under one core theme – comfort. One of the headliners is the
reversible microfiber bath mat, which is padded for comfort and soft to the touch. It comes in sage, aqua, brown, black, linen, amethyst, and white. Other constructions include: the Noodle microfiber chenille with bright poly yarn blend; Shaggy, a poodle-style knitted microfiber polyester; the Terry-Loop memory foam knitted microfiber; Multi-Shagg, a knitted microfiber poly highpile; and the Cordoroy and Cordoroy Stripe knitted microfiber chenille with bright poly
yarns. Market also marked Natco’s official foray into its newest category – bedding. Via its recent alignment with Pakistani manufacturer AmTex, the company is offering retailers an assortment of sheeting and top of bedding products. The line includes bed-ina-bag sets, sheet sets, coverlets and decorative pillows, many of them including special features like wrinkle-free finishes, said Nadeem Ifdikhar, AmTex director of marketing. HTT
Nourison Fetes New Showroom
Members of the Peykar family celebrated the opening of Nourison’s new Manhattan showroom at 295 5th Avenue during New York Home Fashion Market. Company principal Alex, center, with wife and dec pillow division chief Mina, left, and their sister-in-law Evelyn, right.
9/29/2011 2:32:32 PM
News
> hometextilestoday.com
Home Textiles Today
October 3, 2011
13
Surya Unveils New House Brand – Artistic Weavers N EW YORK — Looking to better court mass market merchants with specific product designs, Surya launched its newly developed in-house brand, Artistic Weavers at market last month. “This is our new brand that we will develop and sell to our mass market customers,” said Paul Sullivan, svp. “It’s about the value equation. It’s about product that is innovative and fashionable at competitive prices. We’re taking some design feelings and colors that are popular at the higher end of the marketplace and then reinterpreting them for Artistic Weavers.” The mass market channels Surya is targeting includes home centers, warehouse clubs and discount chains, he said. One of the new rug constructions under the Artistic Weavers brand is an over-tufted rug grouping of contemporary and transitional patterns. Made in
China of 100% polyester, these rugs are first machine tufted and then are hand-tufted for a raised effect and added texture. A 5-by8 is priced at $179. Hitting the same price mark is a rug collection made of 85% wool, 15% nylon. “The palette here is made to work with all furniture styles – leather, suede, fabric. It’s an important part of the total strategy,” Sullivan said. Hitting a slightly higher retail bracket — $199 — The third rug construction is a hand-tufted looped 100% wool grouping. “The cool thing about this collection is that we’ve washed it three times to reduce the shedding,” he said. Some new novelty looks also fall under the Artistic Weavers brand, and at a more aggressive ticket -- $129. Made of pieces of worn jeans, the Denim collection comes in a variety of patchwork styles. HTT
ConText SOCIAL FROM PAGE 1
damage a business’s reputation in that sphere, she said. “It’s not about how many fans you have [on Facebook],” she added, “It’s about how you’re going to keep your existing fans engaged.” Crystal Vilkaitis, director of social media at Snap Retail, which helps gift and home retailers expand their business through online and social media marketing strategies, also emphasized the importance of pursuing quality rather than quantity. “If you only have 100 [followers] and these are people who can buy from you, then that’s what matters,” she said. “What is the purpose of your page? I do recommend setting up some goals — just like you do in sales and marketing.” Vilkaitis offered what she called the 70/20/10 rule for Facebook: • 70% of posts should provide value to fans, e.g., tips, trend information, advice, links to relevant articles; • 20% should consist of sharing pertinent information from sources outside the company; • 10% should be self-promo-
htt111001_001_013_022_023.indd 13
Above: Crystal Vilkaitis of Snap Retail spoke of quality over quality; at left: Brett Goldberg of Synqware.com said the key to social media marketing is to create something “clickable.”
tion, including discount offers and new product information. Brett Goldberg, president of Synqware.com, a software solutions company specializing in retail, said the key to online and social media marketing is to create something that’s “findable, clickable and saveable.” The Internet has quickly moved from push marketing — e.g., unsolicited email offers — to pull marketing, through which a consumer with a spe-
cific need goes out in search of information and/or product. QR codes, which are mushrooming on consumer goods ranging from movie posters to product packages, also have application in the B2B realm, he noted. Vendors exhibiting at trade shows can put a QR tag on their booth linking to video about the company or contact information, “just as you would exchange a business card,” said
Goldberg. QR can also be used on point-of-sale material and postcards, he added. Blogs can also play an essential role in building a brand’s reputation, although a business no longer has to establish its own blog to leverage the channel, according to Chris Phillips, sales and marketing director for Apartment Therapy, a home furnishings lifestyle blog that draws 7 million unique visitors a month. He noted there are many
high-traffic blogs in existence that focus on home. “Just as you would pitch [a story about a new product] to long-lead magazines and newspapers, you should pitch bloggers.” He also recommended launching a pop-up blog. Modeled on the concept of shortlived pop-up retail stores, the pop-up blog is created around a particular event such as a trade show or new product launch. Twitter is also best deployed around a happening, offered Suval. “Twitter is a call to action,” she said, noting the deployment of Twitter recently to share event information about Fashion’s Night Out. When gauging the overall strategy, she said, a company needs to ask itself what is at the center of its brand DNA. “You don’t have to participate in every kind of social media,” said Suval. “Figure out what’s right for your brand.” A video excerpt of the speakers is available on HTT’s home page at www.hometextilestoday. com and on YouTube headlined HTTContext. Conference sponsors included Snap Retail, 295 Fifth Avenue and E.A. Hughes and Co. HTT
9/29/2011 2:42:28 PM
14
Home Textiles Today
October 3, 2011
Events
> hometextilestoday.com
HTT Hosts Market Kick-off Party 1
2
3
4
5
6
1. Eric Vergucht, left, and Onur Uyanik, both Chortex. 2. From left, Daniel McKinnon and Meike Kern, both Messe Frankfurt; and Kent Hicks, EA International. 3. Jason Carr, left, and Rodney Carr, both Softline Home Fashions.
htt111001_014 14
4. Budd Goldman, left, and Pam Edgett, both Ellery HomeStyles. 5. Dale Brown, left, and Carla Franciose, both EA International.
6. From left, Myron Mann, Brooklyn Home Ltd.; Harry Kartus, Pem America; and Bill Spencer, PMG International.
9/28/2011 6:21:06 PM
Home Textiles Today
October 3, 2011
1
15
2
4
3
5
6
1. From left, Keith Bolton, Soft-Tex; Fred Rosen, Rosen & Co.; and Art Perry, Soft-Tex. 2. Spencer Rogers, left, Greenland Home Fashions, and Holly Bliss, Bliss Designs. 3. From left, Gary Lyon, Bianca USA; PBS home improvement host Vicki Payne; and Jim Hamlin, JT Enterprises.
htt111001_014 15
4. Joe Pinelli, Sander Home Fashions; Susan Beresford, Colonial Home Textiles; and Matt Danis, Sander Home Fashions. 5. Carl Legreca, left, Croscill, and Pat Bannon, Linensource. 6. From left, Linda Cohen, Jeff Cohen, both ITM; Debbie Powell, Spark Marketing; and Tom Gallucci, ITM.
9/28/2011 6:27:02 PM
16
Home Textiles Today
October 3, 2011
Events
> hometextilestoday.com
Retailers and Vendors Meet and Greet 1 5
2
4 3
5
6 1. From left, Tony Caldeira, Lucy Nesbitt, Carolyn Winderbaum and Lindsey Foster, all of Caldeira. 2. From left, Valerie Yadron, Gerrit Swearingen and Erin Smidt, all Feizy; Jacque LeMay, Fred Meyer; and Q.M. Song, Feizy. 3. From left, Carol Cassel, Jeffrey Fabrics; John Levanchy, Ellis Curtain; Heidi Phebus, HSP Enterprises; Dustin Ellis, Ellis Curtain; and Alex Lowe, Alexander Terry. 4. Robert Ranko, Frontgate. 5. Alan Eisenberg, left, and Kyle Borreggine, both Protect-a-Bed. 6. From left, Lindsey Allison, Ralph Lauren; Linda Wright, Dillard’s; and Cathy Spinos, Croscill.
htt111001_014 16
9/28/2011 6:29:27 PM
Thank You Once again this market, more people in the industry chose Home Textiles Today than any other publication for their informational needs in print and online, for their educational needs with our first ConText Conference on Online & Beyond and for their networking needs with our Big Market Kick-off Party. Thank you to our readers, our customers and the home textiles industry.
Textiles is our Middle Name
HTT 2011 Market thank you.indd 1
9/29/11 12:32 PM
18
Home Textiles Today
October 3, 2011
> hometextilestoday.com
PEOPLETodaY Management Shift at Family Dollar MATTHEWS, NC — Family Dol-
lar has hired drugstore executive Michael Bloom as president and chief operating officer and promoted chief merchant Dorlisa Flur to the position of vice chair, strategy and chief administrative officer. They succeed James Kelly, who is retiring as president and coo after 15 years with the company. Bloom and Flur report to Howard Levine, chairman and ceo. Bloom was most recently evp
of merchandising, supply chain, marketing and advertising for CVS Caremark, a firm with which he has spent 20 year. Prior to that, he spent a decade as a manager/executive with the Virginia-based People’s Drug Stores and the Florida division of Toronto-based Shopper’s Drug Mart. Flur joined Family Dollar in 2004 as svp for strategy and business development and has been promoted twice since. Prior to that, she was a principal with global management firm McKin-
sey & Company. The new structure “reflects the result of several years of thoughtful discussion and planning as we prepared for Jim’s retirement,” said Levine. “We are pursuing an ambitious growth agenda to expand our market share and drive greater financial returns.” Although Kelly is stepping down from day-to-day operations, he will serve as vice chair for six months, assisting Bloom and Flur through the transition. HTT
Revere Hosts Party for Vanden Berge; Assembles New Top Exec Team
N EW YORK — Revere Mills bid
adieu to its longtime president John Vanden Berge with an intimate gathering of colleagues and industry friends at the company’s seventh floor showroom at 295 Fifth Ave during market. But the goodbyes are not for good. Vanden Berge, who has been with Revere since 1995, told HTT he will continue to be an active participant in Revere’s business, serving as a consultant and other functions, as needed. A d d e d c o m p a n y ow n e r and chairperson of the board, Lori Gideon: “John remains involved, still behind the scenes in a very supportive role.” At the cocktail retirement party, she made a speech about Vanden Berge in which she noted: “John has been a transformative figure and has led Revere to be the innovative company that it is today.” Upon Vanden Berge’s official departure, which was in early August, Revere has assembled a new executive team. Aside from Gideon, it also includes: Jeff Gregg, who was promoted to ceo from his former post as president; Sue Rivera, promoted to vp of operations; Elaine Aschenbrand, who remains director of marketing and product development; and Dana Levenstein, import manager. HTT
htt111001_018 18
Stein Mart Names Jay Stein Interim ceo JACKSONVILLE, FLA. — Off-price
mid-tier department store chain Stein Mart has named its chairman of the board, Jay Stein, as its interim ceo. The appointment is effective immediately and follows the retirement of David Stovall Jr., who has held that position since 2008. “On behalf of the board, I want to thank Dave for his service to Stein Mart over the last three years, and in particular, his accomplishments in returning the Company to solid profitability,” said Stein. “We wish him many happy years of wellearned retirement.”
In announcing this news, the company also noted that it has formed a search committee of the board of directors. It is led by Robert Mettler, who serves as the board’s chair of the strategic planning committee. “We have a wonderful set of strengths that give us a solid foundation for future growth,” Stein continued. “These include our tremendously loyal customer base, strong financial position, and most of all, a talented management team. I am enthusiastic about deepening my engagement with our senior leaders to move forward with our growth initiatives.” HTT
Gordmans Appoints Lundquist VP, Stores OMAHA, NEB. — Gordmans Inc.
Above: Vanden Berge’s “succession team” includes Elaine Aschenbrand, director of marketing and product development; Jeff Gregg, ceo; Sue Rivera, vp of operations; Dana Levenstein, import manager; and Lori Gideon, owner and chairperson. Below: John Vanden Berge with his wife, Nancy
named Andy Lundquist, who brings more than two decades of retail management career experience, to the post of vice president of stores. Lundquist most recently was svp of stores for Kohl’s Department Stores, where he was charged with overseeing 270 units. He was also instrumental in the opening of more than 300 new stores and six new markets for Kohl’s. Lundquist began his retail management career in 1988 as
an assistant store manager with Richman Gordman Department Stores, the predecessor of Gordmans. “Andy brings an incredible wealth of knowledge and expertise to Gordmans’ executive team,” said Jeff Gordman, president and ceo. “His tremendous experience developing talent, as well as expanding a big-box retailer from a regional presence to a national footprint, is a perfect complement to Gordmans’ expansion strategy.” HTT
Davis to Succeed Retiring Hauser C A R T H AG E , M O . — Compo-
nents supplier Leggett & Platt said Paul Hauser, the company’s senior vice president and president of its residential furnishings segment, will retire Feb. 18. Hauser, 60, will be succeeded by Perry Davis, currently a company vice president and president of the bedding group. Davis, 52, will be promoted to senior vice president and president of the
residential furnishings segment upon Hauser’s retirement. Hauser has been with Leggett & Platt since 1980 and has held several posts in the bedding group. He has been president of the residential furnishings segment since 2005. Davis has been with the company since 1981 and has been in his current post since 2006. HTT
9/29/2011 11:20:21 AM
.BUFSJBM $POOF9JPO HAS THE ANSWER 8 XXX NBUFSJBMDPOOFYJPO DPN & JOGP!NBUFSJBMDPOOFYJPO DPN
Ė
<m\ip @[\X ?Xj 8 DXk\i`Xc Jfclk`fe 1 E\n Pfib Ė 9Xe^bfb Ė 9\`a`e^ Ė :fcf^e\ Ė ;X\^l Ė @jkXeYlc Ė D`cXe .BEJTPO "WFOVF OE 'MPPS /FX :PSL /FX :PSL 1
Untitled-1 1
8/31/2011 12:50:57 PM
20
Home Textiles Today
> hometextilestoday.com
October 3, 2011
BUSINESS TodaY NRF: Retail Container BBB Reports Net Ttraffic Downturn Halts as Earnings Up Stores Prep for Holidays UNION , N.J. — Bed Bath & Be-
WASHINGTON — Import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is beginning to see cautious increases over last year again, ending a summer-long downturn as retailers prepare for the holiday season, said the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates in their latest monthly Global Port Tracker report. Global Port Tracker, which is produced for NRF by the consulting firm Hackett Associates, covers the U.S. ports of Long Angeles/Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle and Tacoma on the West Coast; New York/New Jersey, Hampton Roads, Charleston and Savannah on the East Coast, and Houston on the Gulf Coast. “With the most crucial spending period of the year just weeks away, retailers have made
careful decisions on the amount of merchandise they need to properly stock their stores during the holidays,” said Jonathan Gold, NRF vp for president for supply chain and customs policy. “This year, retailers have the luxury of importing holiday goods later than last year, which better ensures their inventory levels will accurately meet consumer demand.” Year-over-year growth is beginning to resume in September, which is forecast to be up 11.8% from September 2010 at 1.5 million TEU. October is forecast at 1.48 million TEU, up 9.5%; November at 1.33 million TEU, up 8%; and December at 1.2 million TEU, up 4.5%. January 2012 is forecast at 1.19 million TEU, down 1% from January 2011. The total for 2011 is fore-
cast at 15.4 million TEU, up 4.3% from 2010. Imports during 2010 totaled 14.7 million TEU, a 16% increase over unusually low numbers in 2009. Given the seasonal nature of cargo volume and continuing uncertainties about the economy, Hackett Associates founder Ben Hackett was cautious about cargo volume in 2012. “We should not be lulled into too much confidence by the relatively strong import volumes of August and September,” Hackett said. “These are linked to the low levels of inventory that needed to be raised to meet the return-to-school and post-Thanksgiving sales. The third quarter will be positive for the ocean carriers and retailers but that will turn into negative growth for the next two to three quarters thereafter.” HTT
Same-store sales
Comps Held Steady in September’s Fourth Week N EW YORK — The Johnson Redbook Retail Sales Index Johnson Redbook Index was up 4.2% in the fourth Fourth week of September, year-over-year % change week of September followWEEK EN DED 9/3 9/10 9/17 9/24 10/1 MONTH TARGET ing a 4.1% gain the previous Department stores* 3.2 3.0 2.7 2.5 2.8 3.8 week. Discounters 5.9 5.4 4.9 5.0 5.3 5.1 Retailers reported anothRedbook Index 4.9 4.5 4.1 4.2 4.4 4.6 er week of mixed results, not*Including chain stores and traditional department stores ed Caitlin Levis of Redbook ReSource: Johnson Redbook Index search. well as re-launching layaway programs, allow“Business continued to lack strong themes with pockets of relative strength ing shoppers to reserve an item in order to get combining with weakness,” she said. “Discount a head start to the holiday shopping season, she stores as a group managed to hold steady on noted. Month-to-date, September was up 4.4% the week, supported by basics such as household supplies and food, due in part to anticipa- compared to September 2010, relative to a tartion for Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. get of a 4.6% gain. Month-over-month showed Department stores, however, continued their a 0.1% drop compared to August, relative to a target of a 0.1% gain. falling trend.” September is a five-week month on the reSome retailers are starting to display Christmas and Halloween merchandise side by side as tail calendar, ending on Oct.1. HTT
htt111001_020 20
yond Inc. saw its net earnings, sales and comps all climb over its second quarter. Net earnings jumped 33% to $229.4 million, or $.93 per diluted share, in the fiscal second quarter ended August 27, compared to the year-ago period’s $181.8 million, or $.70 per diluted share. Net sales increased 8.3% to $2.314 billion from $2.137 billion in the 2010 same period, and comparable store sales grew 5.6%. Year-to-date results included: a 35% increase in net earnings to $410.0 million, or $1.65 per diluted share, versus $319.3 million, or $1.22 per diluted share in the corresponding period a year ago; a 9.0% rise in net sales to $4.424 billion compared to $4.060 bil-
lion; and comp gains of 6.3%. The company is now modeling net earnings per diluted share to be approximately 82 cents to 87 cents for the fiscal third quarter of 2011 and to increase by approximately 22% to 25% for all of fiscal 2011. The company ended the quarter with 1,155 stores, including: 986 Bed Bath & Beyond stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Canada; 70 Christmas Tree Shops stores; 54 buybuy Baby stores; and 45 stores under the names of Harmon or Harmon Face Values. Since the beginning of the third quarter, which started Aug. 28, an additional three Bed Bath & Beyond stores and two buybuy BABY units opened. HTT
One Kings Lane Secures Funding S AN F R ANCISCO — One Kings Lane, a home goods flash sales site, raised $40 million in Series C financing led by a new investor, Tiger Global Management. Additional participants include new investor Institutional Venture Partners (IVP) along with existing investors Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (KPCB) and Greylock Partners. The funding, which brings the total amount raised to $67 million, will be used for continued investment in the business to deliver strong customer satisfaction, new member acquisition, mer-
chandising and technology innovation, along with business model expansion. One Kings Lane surpassed $100 million in annualized revenues and added its two millionth member earlier this year. Lee Fixel, managing director of Tiger Global, will join James Slavet, partner, Greylock and Bing Gordon, partner, KPCB, as observers on the One Kings Lane Board. Aileen Lee, partner, KPCB, One Kings Lane founders Susan Feldman and Alison Pincus, and ceo Doug Mack, will continue on the board. HTT
Investcorp Buys Sur La Table SEATTLE — Upscale cooking and kitchenwares chain Sur La Table, was acquired by Investcorp, a Bahrain-based investment group. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Investcorp acquired the 86-store retailer from the Behnke family and investment firm Freeman Spogli & Co., who both will remain investors. The Behnke family purchased the first Sur La Table store in 1995 and started the retailer’s expansion. Kevin Nickelberry, a managing director at Investcorp, said the company “has multiple opportunities for growth including new store expansion and e-commerce.” HTT
9/29/2011 10:28:57 AM
Get Into Bed With
More companies choose Home Textiles Today for their marketing & advertising than all other industry publications put together.
www.HomeTextilesToday.com
HTT_Campaign "11 finals.indd 1
3/1/11 12:14:38 PM
22
Home Textiles Today
October 3, 2011
News
Jay Franco and Sons, Nickelodeon Align for Kids’ Bedding and Bath Collections NEW YORK — Jay Franco and Sons will produce juvenile bedding and room accessories under its newly inked license partnership with Nickelodeon. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Winx Club are two of several properties included in the agreement. Set to launch in spring 2012 nationwide, the program will target major discount and specialty channels of distribution. Other properties included in the deal stem from popular Nickelodeon shows, such as Dora the Explorer, SpongeBob SquarePants, Team Umizoomi, and Victorious. “We believe that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will be a very important boy brand that will allow us to offer exciting fresh products for TMNT [Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles] fans of all ages,” said Joseph A. Franco, vp, Jay
Franco and Sons. “We’re also looking forward to introducing a new line of products for girls based on the Winx Club.”
The product lineup will include: comforters, sheet sets, quilts and embellished decorative pillows as well as bath coordinates and beach towels featuring the stories and characters of each property. “We are thrilled to be working with Jay Franco and Sons to develop exciting product lines based on our newest boy property, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and our newest girl property, Winx Club,” said Hal Snik, svp, soft lines licensing, Nickelodeon Consumer Products. “This partnership also allows us to leverage Jay Franco’s relationships at specialty and department stores to introduce new products from our most popular Nickelodeon shows, including SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer, Team Umizoomi, and Victorious.” HTT
360 Park Avenue South, New York, N.Y. 10010 Tel: (646) 805-0227; Fax: (646) 365-2307 www.hometextilestoday.com EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jennifer Marks 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 PRODUCT 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 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
LEGAL NOTICE STATEMENT OFOWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION (Act of August 12, 1970; Section 3685 title 39 U.S. code) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.
A. B
C. D.
E. F. G. H. I.
Publication title: Home Textiles Today Publication number: 497-490 Filing date: 10/1/2011 Issue Frequency: 29 times a year except for the weeks of 1/3, 2/14, 2/28, 3/20, 4/11, 4/25, 5/2, 5/16, 5/30, 6/13, 6/27, 7/4, 8/1, 8/15, 8/29, 9/5, 9/26, 10/17, 10/31, 11/14, 11/28, 12/12, 12/26. No. of issues printed annually: 29 Annual subscription price: US & Canada: $169.97, Other countries: $325.99 for surface Complete mailing address of known office of publication: Sandow Media, Furniture Today Media Group, 360 Park Avenue South, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10010 Complete mailing address of headquarters of publisher: Sandow Media, 7025 Albert Pick Road, 2nd Floor, Greensboro, NC 27409 Publisher: Warren Shoulberg, Publisher/Editorial Director, Sandow Media, Furniture Today Media Group, 360 Park Avenue South, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10010; Editor: Jennifer Marks, Editor-inChief, Sandow Media, 10 Ocean Blvd. #8B, Atlantic Highlands, NJ 07716 ; Managing Editor: Julie Murphy, Sandow Media, 360 Park Avenue South, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10010 Owner: Sandow Media, 7025 Albert Pick Road, 2nd Floor, Greensboro, NC 27409 Known bondholders, mortgagees and other security holders owning or holding 1 percent or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages or other securities: None Not applicable Publication name: Home Textiles Today Issue date for circulation data below: September 12, 2011 Extent and nature of circulation Avg. no copies No. copies preceding nearest to 12 months filing date Total number of copies 7,421 6,542 1. Mail subscriptions, outside-county 5,800 5,840 2. Mail subscriptions, inside-county 0 0 3. Paid or requested outside the USPS 160 132 4. Other classes through USPS 0 0 Total paid and/or requested circulation 5,960 5,972 Nonrequested distribution: 1. Outside-county 258 214 2. In-county 0 0 3. Other classes through USPS 0 0 4. Nonrequested outside the mail 899 43 Total nonrequested distribution 1,157 257 Total distribution 7,117 6,229 Copies not distributed 304 313 Total 7,421 6,542 Percent Paid and/or requested circulation 83.74% 95.87%
This statement of ownership will be printed in the October 3, 2011 issue of this publication. I certify that all information furnished on this form is true and complete. I understand that anyone who furnishes false or misleading information on this form or who omits material or information requested on the form may be subject to criminal sanctions criminal sanctions (including fines and imprisonment) and/or civil sanctions (including civil penalties). Warren Shoulberg, Publisher
htt111001_001_013_022_023 22
Maples Develops Printing, Micro-nylon Techniques N EW YORK — Via a new companydeveloped fiber and printing construction technique, Maples Rugs has brought to market a stand-alone fashion bath rug. Wade Maples, co-owner, said the collection stems from “a new technique we developed to produce a sift yarn with a printed pattern. Normally, it’s difficult to print on a soft yarn because it doesn’t stay in position for the printer. But we’ve come up with our own method to solve this problem.” These printed bath rugs are set to retail for $19.99. Also new in Maples bath rug category for market was its micro-nylon collection. The company “changed the construction of a new Invista [branded] fiber to make it softer,” Maples explained. This collection represents the company’s “top of the market” at $24.99. “It’s our softest rug right now,” he added. “It’s got a soft hand a cushioned underfoot.” All of these rugs are solid colored and come in a broad palette. HTT
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 WEEKLY 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 1/3, 2/14, 2/28, 3/20, 4/11, 4/25, 5/2, 5/16/,5/30, 6/13, 6/27, 7/4, 8/1, 8/15, 8/29, 9/5, 9/26, 10/17, 10/31, 11/14, 11/28, 12/12, 12/26 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 ©2011 by Sandow Media LLC. Annual subscription rates: U.S. and Canada $169.97; 1 year, other countries $325.99 for surface mail and $525.00 for airmail. 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
9/30/2011 1:42:51 PM
News
> hometextilestoday.com
Anna’s Linens Teams with Brazzi ANNA’S FROM PAGE 1
al materials refer to her as “the most recognizable Hispanic female personality in the field of home décor and lifestyle.” For Anna’s, the program – the first time it has ever done a proprietary licensed line – is a
major step in offering exclusive branded merchandise to its customer demographic, which includes a larger number of His-
panic women. “We are offering a broad variety of styles in the line,” said Carie Doll, chief merchandising officer for Anna’s, based here, “which will appeal to our customers’ tastes and be offered at an affordable price point. Her audience is our customer.” The four bedding collections, inspired by nature and called Orlando, Casanova, Moonlight and Nightingale, feature items that all retail for under $120 and represent the top of the Anna’s mix. Bath products, including rugs, will arrive in the stores in December and January and window treatments
October 3, 2011
Home Textiles Today
23
will follow in the first quarter of next year. “I’ve always dreamed of creating a line that would bring great style and value together,” said Brazzi, whose shows appear on the Galavision and Univision networks. “I knew right away that Anna’s Linens was the right place for my line.” Anna’s will hold decorating workshops with Brazzi, the first of which is scheduled for Houston later this year. Print advertising will break the program, which will be in all Anna’s stores, in the middle of October with TV scheduled to follow. HTT The new Anna’s program will start with bedding, including Casanova. The bedding collections will be followed by additional products in bath, window and table.
CLASSIFIEDS THEY’RE LOOKING FOR YOU
CLOSEOUTS
www.hometextilestoday.com . www.hometextilestoday.com . www.hometextilestoday.com .
SPENCER WHITTLE: swhittle@sandowmedia.com ph 336.605.1027 fax 336.605.1143
KAREN HANCOCK: khancock@sandowmedia.com ph 336.605.1047 fax 336.605.1143
THIS
COULD BE YOUR AD
CLOSEOUTS WANTED --BOUGHT AND SOLD-Seeking Unlimited Quantities on Firsts, Irregulars and Overstocks HOME FASHIONS DISTRIBUTOR INC Mike O’Neil 207-646-1949 Email: mike@homefashionsinc.com
www.hometextilestoday.com
HELP WANTED Product Development/Production Associate Home Furnishings company, with design center in Queens, NY, is looking for liaison between design and production. Must have 5 years experience in home furnishings and a thorough understanding of how bedding products are made. Will need to take new products and create specification sheets for overseas mills. Great company and opportunity for the right person. Send resume and salary history to: response.2008@yahoo.com
LINES OFFERED QUALITY ASSURANCE MANAGER WANTED NYC based home textile company seeks a Quality Assurance Manger. Candidate must be an organized, detail-oriented, self-starter with excellent communication and computer skills. Duties include reviewing development and production samples, submitting testing and special projects. Email: jobs@tncliving.com National Sales Manager and Sales Representatives 36-yr privately held mfr and importer of home textiles and general merchandise seeks qualified NY based Nat’l Sales Manager, and, nationwide Sales Reps for a developing/expanding new division of company. Division focuses exclusively on closeout merchandise in various categories. Position reports to CEO/COO. Candidate must have min. of 8 yrs sales exp. to largest discount retailers in the country. Relationships a must. Resumes to classifieds@sandowmedia.com B162
small space
BIG RESULTS ! ADVERTISE
w w w. h o m e t e x t i l e s t o d a y. c o m
htt111001_001_013_022_023 23
9/30/2011 2:59:33 PM