Monday, July 12, 2010
THE BUSINESS AND FASHION NEWSPAPER OF THE HOME TEXTILES INDUSTRY
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Suppliers Hopeful for Summer Rug Market BY CECILE CORRAL ATLANTA — While the winter market is usually the more trafficked event, this summer’s counterpart of the bi-annual Atlanta International Area Rug Market is being anticipated with more fervor by rug suppliers as they await higher-than-usual numbers of customers to replenish inventories in expectation of improving second-half business. “As far as July market is concerned, I think retailers are continuing to be hopeful and optimistic about the fall selling season and are continuing to update their assortments in anticipation of a better second half,” said Wendy Reiss, key account manager of sales and marketing, Somerset,
N.J.-based Kas Rugs. “Turnout for summer markets is always hard to know, as it is always slower than winter/spring markets, but appointments are shaping up nicely, so we are feeling very positive that it will be a good market.” Troy, N.C.-based Capel Rugs has seen this year so far, “a real upswing in the amount of retailer traffic in our market showrooms,” noted Allen Robertson, vp, sales, “and we expect that SEE ATLANTA PAGE 8 Shaw Rugs is expanding the Kathy Ireland Home International First Lady collection with 14 new traditional and transitional rugs woven in the U.S.A. with Shaw’s EverTouch recyclable nylon. Seen here is Somerset House in the empress light blue colorway.
Williams-Sonoma Sees Permanent Change in Consumer Behavior NEW YORK — Williams-Sonoma Inc. believes the recession has recalibrated consumer attitudes about how they shop, and the company is repositioning the pricing of key merchandise categories and items. “Above all, we believe the consumer’s focus on price and value will endure long after the economy begins to recover,” evp and chief marketing officer Pat Connolly told attendees at the William Blair 30th Annual Growth Stock Conference here last month. The company continues to work on reducing store costs, a plan that will entail shuttering some units, renegotiating leases on others and experimenting with smaller stores, he said. The Pottery Barn nameplate is driving traffic through opening price point goods, and its West Elm brand is expanding opening price points along with its assortment of non-furniture product. Connolly said the country is in “a reset economy that may not fully recover for three to five years.” HTT
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Soft Home Sales Help in June’s Mixed Bag BY JAMES MAMMARELLA NEW YORK — .Department store chains reported fairly solid comparable store sales gains in June, but things were ho-hum at Target, while the major off-price operators continued to impress, and raised their profit projections. Home furnishings categories were a mixed bag – less than stellar at most merchants, quite strong at others – but soft home has clearly started to put years of absolute, dead-last doldrums behind.
All but two of the 13 major retailers tracked monthly by HTT reported positive comps in June. JCPenney saw comp sales rise 4.5%, a sweet turnaround from the June 2009 comp decline of 8.2%. The home segment lagged behind apparel at JCP – but there was upbeat news regarding home textiles. While the home division “continues to be a work in progress,” the company said in its recorded sales statement, “sales in soft home merchandise were pos-
itive, and considerably outperformed the hard home and window covering categories.” The 6.5% comp gain for June at Macy’s Inc. featured a 37.6% year-over-year increase in online sales; the company includes its e-commerce sales in its comps. Terry Lundgren, chairman, president and ceo, pointed to the “My Macy’s localization and the increased effectiveness and efficiency of our unified national organization” as factors in overall gains. SEE SALES PAGE 18
MasterCard: Sales Slow to Modest P URCHASE , N.Y. — A MasterCard Advisors survey found that while eCommerce posted a solid 9.7% gain in June, the month marked the first time this year the channel’s year-overyear growth rate fell below double digits. “While there were spending shifts from May to June between industry sectors and segments, several sectors continue to show very modest growth, compared to
the building sales momentum in the first quarter of 2010,” said Michael McNamara, vp, research and analysis for the monthly SpendingPulse survey. The survey tracks national retail and service sales, including restaurants and food stores. “When analyzing the data, some of the variables to consider include calendar shifts related to Memorial Day that pushed some spending from May into
the retail month of June,” McNamara added. “In addition, financial market performance coupled with weaker consumer confidence figures correlated with weakness in sales in higher priced, discretionary items, as well as durable goods.” Indeed, the SpendingPulse found luxury sales declined 3.9% in June, breaking a sixmonth streak of positive gains. HTT
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Home Textiles Today
Retail Briefs Target Opening First Manhattan Store
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arget will celebrate the grand opening of its first Manhattan store July 25. To commemorate the opening, Target will launch the Harlem Designer Collection in select stores next month, mostly on the East Coast. The limited-time programs include: • Marcus Samuelsson for Target: aprons, placemats, kitchen towels, potholders and napkins, as well as men’s, women’s and kids’ tees (available only at the East Harlem store); • IsabelandRubenToledo for Target: psychedelic swim suits and towels; • Stephen Burrows for Target: knitwear with an urban-street aesthetic.
Macy’s Gearing up for BTS Online
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s part of its back-to-school marketing effort, Macy’s will launch on online style lab for teens. Beginning Aug. 12, www.macys.com/mstylelab. com will cover trends through fashion videos, provide insights from Seventeen Magazine editor-in-chief Anne Shoket and allow teens to post images of themselves to show off their personal style.
Sears mobile efforts draw kudos
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igital marketing company Acquity Group’s annual Mobile Commerce Audit has deemed Sears Holdings “Overall Best-in-Class” for mobile reach as well as “Best-in-Class” for mass merchants. The audit examined metrics in 18 categories such as device detection across various browsers, mobile apps and ease of checkout. Sears’ mobile shopping options include Sears2go, Kmart2go, Sears Personal Shopper, Manage My Life and mygofer2go.
HSN Going All Out with Multi-Product “Eat Pray Love” Promo
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SN will devote three days to selling product associated with the new movie Eat Pray Love, including goods from home textiles designer Sarita Handa. Seventy-two hours of original programming will air Aug. 6-8, in advance of the film’s Aug. 13 nationwide release. HSN will highlight more than 400 products in a variety of categories: beauty, electronics, home décor, travel, cooking, jewelry, accessories and ready-to-wear.
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July 12, 2010
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Family Dollar Rings Up Double-digit Profit Jump MATTHEWS, N.C. — Family Dollar’s earnings per share for the third quarter shot up 24.2% to 77 cents, with net income up 19.0% to $104.4 million. It was the ninth consecutive quarter of double-digit earnings growth for the retailer. Sales rose 8.4% to $1.8 billion for the quarter ended May 29, while comps increased
7.0%. The top-performing categories were seasonal, electronics and consumables. Looking ahead, “the environment remains challenging for consumers, and customers continue to buy close to need,” said Howard Levine, chairman and ceo. With fourth-quarter comps running around 5.5% in June,
the company expects comps to climb 5% to 7% for the full quarter. EPS is estimated at 46 cent to 51 cents per share, compared to 43 cents in last year’s fourth quarter. For the full year, Family Dollar expects EPS of $2.53 to $2.58. Earnings in the previous fiscal year were $2.07. HTT
MarcelMiller Expands Bedding Line with New Bespoke Sheet Collection A T L A N TA — Luxury bedding
house MarcelMiller is coming to the upcoming Atlanta International Gift & Home Market later this month with a new addition to its line. The Bespoke bedding program represents the company’s entry into sheeting, expanding MarcelMiller’s signature “Marcel” collection of handmade coverlets and shams with new classic menswear tailored duvets and hem-stitched sheets sets made of Peruvian pima percale cotton. The company said it decided to add sheeting to accommodate customer requests. “The sheets are particularly pleasing,” the company noted, as the designs were a collaborative effort with Peruvian
“We are attempting to fuse classic tailoring and crisp contemporary styling to create never-before-seen bespoke bedding.” —ARTHUR TITUS, MarcelMiller
designer Natalie Barhumi. Arthur Titus, founder and ceo of MarcelMiller, added: “We are attempting to fuse classic tailoring and crisp contemporary styling to create neverbefore-seen bespoke bedding. Natalie successfully executed our vision of bespoke bedding, which we believe represents a
compelling new statement of style for the discerning luxury linen buyer.” In related news, the company is also planning to unveil in August at the New York Gift Show a new organic bedding program as an extension of its award-winning organic cotton PUR collection. These new organic cotton bedding pieces “will further establish the PUR Collection as quite frankly the most appealing Eco-luxury collection available in fine linens market,” the company said. MarcelMiller’s showroom in Atlanta is at the AmericasMart in Building 9, space E-5. The market is scheduled from July 16 to 20. HTT
BJ’s Leaning on Perishable Foods to Drive Traffic, Sales in 2010 BY CECILE B. CORRAL N A N T U C K E T , M A S S . — BJ’s
Wholesale Club is increasingly counting on its consumable offerings, specifically perishable goods, in 2010 and beyond to drive frequent customer traffic and transactions and grow its overall business. At the company’s presentation during the Jefferies & Co. Inaugural Consumer Conference in late June, BJ’s president and ceo Laura Sen singled out supermarket business as the company’s “biggest opportunity for taking market share.” The reason is two-pronged. “ Pe r i s h a b l e f o o d s d r i v e
member visits. Our goal is to become the primary source for weekly shopping needs,” Sen said. “And perishable foods have higher margins than any other category of merchandise sold in our club.” BJ’s estimates that the wholesale club industry’s share of the $750 billion grocery market in U.S. is “still only about 10%,” Sen said. “Outside of wholesale clubs, our primary competitors include supercenters, specialty retailers and supermarkets. And of all BJ’s competitors, supermarkets represent our biggest opportunity for taking market share. Based on our operational efficiencies and of course lower
prices, our biggest advantage over supermarkets is our significantly lower cost structure.” In addition, she continued, BJ’s on average offers shoppers a 30% savings on a basket of like items, as well as a bevy of “treasure hunt” non-food items for added “excitement and fun.” Also in the cards for this year: seven to nine new clubs, including one relocation, and five or six major renovations, which include installation of more refrigeration units as part of the perishable food expansion; and updated staff training and development coupled with an upgraded ecommerce site. HTT
7/8/2010 3:24:54 PM
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Home Textiles Today
July 12, 2010
Perfect Fit Has New Owner, New Execs CHARLOTTE , N.C. — Perfect Fit
Jeff Chilton, most recently Industries has been acquired senior vp, was promoted to presthrough an entity created by pri- ident of the company. vate equity firm The Anderson “For a long time, the comGroup in an asset sale/purchase pany has been constrained by transaction. Financial details financial issues. Now, with a were not disclosed. new infusion of capital and The Anderson Group’s hold- Anderson’s aggressive growth ings also include home strategies all of us are textiles supplier Texhighly energized,” said Style and awning proChilton. ducer King Canopy as Last week, Perfect Fit well as companies that Industries named John produce piston rings, Believeau senior vp of sausage, marine prooperations. pellers, logging serWith more than 25 JEFF CHILTON vices, and other diverse years overseeing manuPerfect Fit products. facturing operations in Industry veteran the United States and Dan Hammer has joined the China, Believeau previously company as ceo. worked in the aerospace and Most recently, Hammer has construction industries. He also been running his own consult- developed a patented system for ing business. Prior to that, he improving indoor air quality and served as president of Dan River, energy efficiency for residential Global Consumer Products; and commercial structures. president of The Bibb ComThe company also announced pany; and held various manage- it is relocating its New York showment positions at Springs Indus- room to 230 Fifth Avenue, taktries, Consumer Products. ing a 5,300 square foot space in “I look forward to working Suite 1305. with the company’s highly capaThe utility bedding producer ble staff to build a ‘best in class’ has been in business since 1932. company,” said Hammer. HTT
Sam’s Club to Offer Small Business Loans B ENTONVILLE , A RK . — As Wal-
Mart Stores continues making inroads in financial services, its Sam’s Club division is testing a program through which it will lend up to $25,000 to its small business members. Sam’s Club is working with Superior Financial Group, one of 13 federally licensed nonbank
lenders. The program focuses on businesses owned by minorities, women and veterans. The retailer said its research found 15% of the club’s business members reported being denied a loan in fall 2009, up from 12% earlier in the spring. Business membership at Sam’s Club costs $35. HTT
iPad Leaps Ahead as Shopping Device SA N L U I S O B I S P O , C A L I F. —
eCommerce solutions provider Shopatron Inc. is reporting that sales conversion rates on the relatively new Apple iPad are running much higher than rates for standard mobile devices, and in some cases, double PC conversion rates.
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The iPad’s average conversion rate of 2.04% far outstripped the average 0.37% for mobile devices such as iPhone, Android and iPod, according to analysts of more than 800 branded stores in 35 industries that use Shopatron’s eCommerce platform. HTT
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New Chief for Walmart U.S. Stores B ENTONVILLE , A RK. — Walmart
earlier this month promoted chief operating officer Bill Simon president and ceo of Walmart U.S., effective immediately. Vice chairman Eduardo Castro-Wright will become president and ceo of Global.com and Global Sourcing as of Aug. 1. He will also maintain his current title. The appointment will allow him to relocate to California to be with his ailing wife, the company said. “As we continue to become a truly global company and address the business challenges of a rapidly changing world, it is clear that Global.com and Global Sourcing are critical to our future growth and success,” said Walmart president and ceo Mike Duke, to whom both men report. Simon joined Walmart U.S. in March 2006 from Brinker Inter-
national, where he was senior vice president of global business development and was responsible for the growth of the company’s restaurant portfolio outside the United States. Prior to Brinker, he served as Secretary of the Florida Department of Management Services, appointed by then-Governor Jeb Bush. There he oversaw the state’s operations and administrative functions, including health care benefits, human resources, the Florida retirement system and facilities management. He is also a retired officer from the U.S. Navy and Navy Reserves after 25 years of service. “Bill transformed the customer experience at Walmart through faster service, a friendlier shopping environment and cleaner stores. He also helped develop and launch our game-
changing $4 prescription drug program and has continued to drive innovation and improvement throughout Walmart U.S.,” said Duke. In the aftermath of the announcement, chief merchandizing officer for Walmart U.S. John Fleming resigned from the company after 10 years. In a letter to Walmart’s employees, Walmart US president and ceo Bill Simon said Fleming had made “a personal decision” to step down. Fleming’s former duties will be divided. John Westling, executive vp of planning, pricing and replenishment, will take on the general merchandising and replenishment teams. John Sinclair, exec vp and general manager for grocery, will also oversee the food and health & wellness merchandizing staffs. HTT
Home Depot on Path to Recovery with Three-Pronged Initiative BY CECILE B. CORRAL N ANTUC KET , M ASS . — At the
Jefferies Consumer Confidence conference here in late June, The Home Depot discussed during its presentation the details of its three-pronged strategy to boost business this year and onward. Marvin Ellison, evp, U.S. stores, explained that Home Depot views 2010 as a transitional year, as reflected by the home improvement chain’s positive first quarter results. “For us, we define transitional as sales moving from negative to positive territories. [In the first quarter] we exceeded our internal expectations. We had positive comps in U.S. stores for the first time since the fourth quarter of 2005. We grew transactions and we had year-over-year positive inventory turnover.” Ellison offered an outline of the strategy, which includes: supply chain transformation; merchandise transformation;
and customer service. “From a store operations perspective, each of these initiatives will assist us to drive not only improvements in customer service and simplification of stores. We think it will help us to just drive a better business in general,” he said, adding the initiatives will also “continue to allow us to improve our performance and create a better shopping environment for our customers.” The supply chain transformation relates to the rollout of company’s new rapid deployment centers (RDC). With 14 in place to date, about 70% of Home Depot’s stores are being serviced by these RDCs. The company expects to have all units serviced by RDCs by yearend. “Our RDC network has dramatically improved the store environment already,” Ellison said. “For example, it allows us to shift payroll from just moving freight to taking care of customers. They’ve improved our
in-stock levels to 99%, they’ve improved our lead times, and they’ve improved our overall turns. And we think this will continue quarter by quarter.” The merchandising transformation initiative focuses on providing “great value and reestablishing product authority.” Specifically, this includes an assortment maintenance tool that allows merchants to set assortments below market level for a more productive inventory and fewer markdowns in seasonal business, and an automated clearance process in which markdowns are applied based on weeks of supply by store to shorten the clearance cycle and reduced clearances. At the core of the strategy is the customer service initiative, which is broken into two segments: “taking care of associates” with improved benefits; and “taking care of customers,” with an easier return process, guaranteed price matching and other bonuses. HTT
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Home Textiles Today
July 12, 2010
Rugs
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ATLANTA RUG MARKET
Rug Market ATLANTA FROM PAGE 1
trend to continue this summer in Atlanta.” Feizy Rugs, based in Dallas, has already booked “quite a few appointments,” according to vp sales, Cameron Feizy. “We definitely expect retailer traffic to be
stronger than last year’s turnout — as has been the case with all of this year’s markets thus far.” More guardedly optimistic about the retail attendance at market is John Shepherd, president of Greenville, S.C.-based 828 International Trading Co. While 828 is preparing for a “good July market,” he neverthe-
less said he expects “some of the same trends of the last two markets — such as slow traffic — to continue as the industry bounces back from the recession.” Lynne Minchello, marketing director for Pawtucket, R.I.based cmi (Colonial Mills Inc.), also noticed a slow start to 2010 in the first half. But business has
picked up lately for the braided texture rug company’s signature offerings, with a “significant increase in customer spending,” she said. The company has cause to expect “a positive turnout for our customer base” in Atlanta. For high-end rug house Obeetee Inc., retailer traffic at market will be about quality,
Obeetee Inc. emphasizes texture in its new Luxe collection.
not quantity. “Summer markets are not as well attended as the January markets. We are not expecting very high traffic. But any buyer present at the market would be serious about adding fresh products to their inventory for the fall and winter high season,” said Sheila Rahmanan, product manager of the Secaucus, N.J.based company. “We have seen an increase in business in 2010, and we are optimistic that the trend will continue.” Encouraged by its customers’ taking more and more of an interest in working more collaboratively “to find solutions of how to sell more product at retail” is Calhoun, Ga.-based Surya Inc. “That is our major focus,” explained Seth King, vp, sales and marketing. “Although we have high expectations, we don’t necessarily expect to write large orders [at market]. We want to be able to review our current customers performance and learn about what we are doing right and what we are doing wrong, and most importantly develop programs to make them more successful in the coming months. We gauge our market performance on the number of customers and the caliber of customer who come into the showroom.” What will ultimately determine the outcome of the summer market is suppliers’ tilt on its offerings. And this July, most suppliers agree, the focus will be value. “We have some solid appointments in all categories, so I am very positive on the outcome. Business has picked up but mostly on the valued rugs,” SEE ATLANTA PAGE 7 Manhattan Properties.indd 1
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Rugs
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Rug Market ATLANTA FROM PAGE 6
explained Steve Mazarakis, vp, rug division, Mineola, N.Y.based Linon Home Décor Products. “We have been focusing on rugs that retail for less than $199 for a 5-by-8 that looks good, is a good quality, and works with today’s furniture price points. This will change, though, as the economy gets better.” Long-lasting products are part of the value equation, Robertson said. “Right now consumers are looking for home furnishings that are fashionable, but also durable,” he said, which is why Capel is “considerably” increasing its assortments in braided and transitional categories. But the value message is ultimately relayed through price points, suppliers said. That is why Fort Lee, N.J.based Couristan said it is adding almost two dozen new rugs that lean on the casual and contemporary design side and are priced affordably for market, explained Donielle Arabia, director of public relations. Outdoor rugs, which also retail aggressively and have been a strong point for Couristan for the past several years, are being enhanced with new offerings for the existing Five Seasons, Recife and Urbane collections. At 828 International Trading Co., Shepherd said, “product development is geared toward creating value for the retail customer — as always, color and quality are important with price points being a big factor.” 828 emphasized that priceconscious retailers shopping for handmade rugs specifically will need to practice patience this market “Customers may have to be patient as handmade manufacturers are experiencing slower order fulfillment and freight costs are rising with longer transit times,” Shepherd said. Getting a headstart for next winter market is cmi, which is making its largest new product introduction for a market in its 32-year existence. The company’s new lineup comprises new product prototypes for 2011 – a new direction for cmi, which typically only presents new product offerings once a year during the January Atlanta rug market. HTT
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Atlanta Rug Introductions 828 INTERNATIONAL TRADING CO. Greenville, S.C. (800) 733-0828 828 is introducing new collections and making additions to existing ones this market. The company is adding several new styles to its Rhine collection of traditional Persian and European designs updated with transitional patterns. These are 100% heat-set polypropylene, machinemade rugs from Turkey. There are four new handhooked designs in the Accents collection of hand-hooked, 100% cotton rugs made in a cut-andloop construction. Sienna, a new collection, features floral designs set on a twotoned background for a spacedyed effect. Sienna rugs are made of 100% polyester and are hand-hooked in China. Like Rhine, the new Talas collection mixes traditional Persian and European designs with transitional patterns for a new batch of runners that are Turkish-made of 100% heat-set polypropylene. Smithfield is a green, red, cream, chocolate and ebony color story interpreted on 100% heatset polypropylene, stain-resistant rugs produced in turkey. The machine-made Triton collection of roll-runners from Turkey of heat-set polypropylene is designed to look high-end with its floral patterns in red, blue, green and ivory. Laguna, a top-selling collection for 828, is being expanded with new patterns. The rugs are machine-made in Belgium of 100% heat-set polypropylene with point-on-point construction paired with drop stitching. The Momentum collection is another new 100% heat-set polypropylene grouping. Its designs span transitional, kaleidoscopic, Art Deco and garden floral looks enhanced with hand-carved effects. CAPEL RUGS Troy, N.C. (800) 334-3711 The Hampton collection is Capel’s new basket weave-style woven rug grouping. Reminiscent of menswear-inspired furnishing fabrics, Hampton rugs are woven by hand with sturdy wool blend
yarns and are crafted with a low pile for comfort and durability. Floral Silhouette is a collection of sweeping floral patterns created on high-cut viscose over a field of 100% wool for a textured effect. The low-cut loop, hand knotted ground is woven by hand in an ancient Nepalese construction in India. Graphique collection rugs from India are hand-tufted and carved. American Legacy is a braided collection using a Capel design that dates back to the 1800s. Reversible and made in the United States, American Legacy rugs are made of wool blend yarns in rich colors. COURISTAN Fort Lee, N.J. (800) 223-6186 The company is adding nearly two dozen new rugs — both power-loomed and handmade — to its assortment, with a heavy focus on casual-contemporary looks at affordable price points. Couristan is also building its outdoor/indoor category with several new additions to the Five Seasons, Recife and Urbane collections. An example of a new handmade rug is Oleander, which is from the new Super Indo-Colors collection. It is made of 100% wool in a heavy pile and features bold, over-sized floral patterns In the power-loomed category, the new Everest collection is made in a one-million-point construction. Patterns replicate the look of traditional antique Persian panel rugs, such as the Basheer design. The surface of these rugs is made of 100% heat-set, Courtronbranded polypropylene. FEIZY RUGS Dallas (214) 747-6000 Feizy has divided its new product introductions into three lifestyle trends — Nomad, Ethereal and Alchemy. In Nomad, rich spice tones color traditional, tribal and eclectic patchwork designs. Casual in style, these pieces evoke visions of gypsy camps and vagabonds. Ethereal’s transitional patterns and soft colors are minimalist in feel. Alchemy styles include revitalized traditional and tribal looks
that feature an updated palette. Also new are the Saphir Mah, Zam and Azar collections, all of which are being added to the Feizy Home collection. These powerloomed groupings feature transitional and contemporary designs in a high/low pile in three distinct color palettes. KALEEN Dalton, Ga. (888) 452-5336 The company is expanding its Paula Deen Home & Porch collection with several new designs reflective of the Food Network celebrity chef’s Savannah lifestyle. The rugs, all hand made in China of 100% polypropylene, are UV treated against excessive fading and are water protected. Also at market, Kaleen is launching two new collections: Regale, a monochromatic soft backed Tibetan look made of 100% wool in 12 colorations, and Premier, a poly-acrylic collection in 12 designs. KARASTAN Dalton, Ga. (800) 234-1120 Karastan is introducing the Cantilena design to the Shapura col-
Kas Rugs’ new Chateau represents the company’s updated look for a border rug. Hand-tufted in 100% wool, the rugs come in seven sizes. sophisticated border. Cantilena is woven on Axminster looms in the United States of fully worsted New Zealand wool. KAS RUGS Somerset, N.J. (732) 545-1900 Kas is showing more than 100 new rugs that mainly focus on relaxed and casual looks in both machine-made and handmade constructions.
Karastan’s new Cantilena is the latest addition to the company’s Shapura collection. Meant to coordinate with its predecessor, Bel Canto, Cantilena also features of palette of honey, pepper red, yellow, gold, aqua and ocean blues depicted on a design of branches, leaves, and stylized floral motifs framed with a border. lection. Designed to coordinate with the Bel Canto rug, also from the Sahpura collection, Cantilena features a subtle palette of honey, pepper red, yellow, gold, aqua and ocean blues on a classic composition of branches, leaves, and stylized floral motifs that are more formally framed within a
There are introductions to the popular Florence and supersoft Shag Bliss collections as well as some new trend traditional handmade looks at “amazing price points,” the company said. The new Chateau rug is an updated look for a border SEE INTROS PAGE 8
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Home Textiles Today
July 12, 2010
Rugs
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ATLANTA RUG MARKET
Atlanta Rug Introductions INTROS FROM PAGE 7 rug. Hand-tufted in 100% wool, it comes in seven sizes. LINON HOME DÉCOR PRODUCTS Mineola, NY (516) 699-1000 Linon’s area rug division is unveiling several new collections as well as additions to strong selling existing programs. The Trio traditional collection is getting 10 new designs. Unlike the Trio contemporary and transitional rugs, which are made in China of poly-acrylic, new Trio traditional rugs are made of 100% wool and are hand-tufted in India. This collection now has more than 60 designs in stock and an additional 140 designs for private label. The Westervelt collection is a new licensed group of rugs by artist Dan Westervelt. They feature his eclectic designs of transitional elements using nature and cotemporary trends such as rays of rainbows. They are power loomed in a 13-mm pile height and are hand-carved for a fine definition to the designs. The Gem collection is a machine-made group that resembles classical tribal and traditional hand-knotted rugs. For the younger set, Linon is
Linon Home Décor Products is introducing the Westervelt collection, a licensed program with artist Dan Westervelt. The rugs are power-loomed in a 13-mm pile height and are made of heat-set polypropylene, with hand carving on the nature-inspired designs by the artist.
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debuting many new concepts for children and teens. New styles include hand-tufted rugs made of 100% polyester in cut and shag and 100% wool reversible handwoven berber rugs in youthful colors. 5 by 8’s retail for $199. To its Southern Living Home collection with the shelter magazine by the same name, Linon is making several new design additions to the various rug categories, including indoor/outdoor. MOMENI Carlstadt, N.J .(201) 549-7238 Conscious of pricing demands, Momeni is presenting a new selection of machine-made rugs that can sell at affordable price points. The new Dream collection is power-loomed of 100% polypropylene and features an abrashlike effect for a rich finish. The new Magic collection features a drop-stitch technique that gives each design added texture. Momeni is also introducing a whimsical group of polyester hooked rugs to compliment its Spencer and Old World collections. In addition, new designs are being added to the Elements, Veranda, and Zarin collections. NOURISON Saddle Brook, N.J. (201) 3686900 Nourison’s new Symphony collection features an extra-dense premium wool pile. Its designs are sophisticated and traditional and feature borders that are highlighted by art silk. Skyland, another new collection, presents contemporary and transitional designs that are hand-tufted of 100% wool with hand-carved lines that accentuate patterns such as eclectic florals and animal prints. From Nourison’s “Fifty To Infinity” program, which offers custom sized area rugs from the company’s best-selling broadloom collections, the new Miami presents hand-embossed, toneon-tone, eye-teasing designs in extra-densely woven wool blend pile with an abrashed effect. OBEETEE INC. New York (212) 633-9744
Obeetee is introducing its Luxe collection, which spans eight texture-driven designs in a range of subtle neutrals to vibrant colors. Also new are additions to several existing collections: five new colorways and designs to the Gabbeh collection; three new designs to the Fine Gabbeh collection; and two new designs to the Shiraz collection. Obeetee is also expanding the breadth of its growing custommade and private label-oriented offerings with new weaves and constructions. ORIAN RUGS Anderson, S.C. (864) 224-0271 Orian is building on the response to many of its existing collections with new design additions. The Big City collection now includes Kyoto among other new patterns. The jacquard woven polypropylene rugs are made in the United States. Carolina Wild, also a jacquard woven polypropylene group, is being enhanced with new colors and styles like Logan Rouge. Made in the United States, the rugs feature organic patterns in serene hues and rich texture. In the Shakespeare collection, new looks include Westbury. Jacquard woven in the United States of polypropylene fiber, the 1.5 million-point constructed rugs are densely woven with Orian’s fine-denier, twisted and heat set yarns to create distinct design definition. In Visions, another jacquard woven polypropylene collection made domestically, new looks include Parthenon RIZZY HOME Calhoun, Ga. (706) 602-8857 The new Colours collection was deigned to blend colors of yarn like brush strokes in a painting. Hand-tufted with New Zealand-blended wools, the rugs are made in India and come in a rainbow palette. Rizzy’s latest addition to its area rug line-up is its new machine-made offerings. The Galleria collection is an example of this. Made of heat-set polypropylene with drop stitch detail, these rugs come is a range of sizes.
SHAW LIVING Dalton, Ga. (706) 965-0954 Woven Expressions is a new broadloom and area rug collection that represents the first collaboration between the company’s two floor-covering divisions. The collection is available in two levels of luxury: “Platinum” and “Gold” — respectively 1.5 million points of density per square meter and 500,000 points, which features a softer sweep. Woven Expressions designs are woven of Marquesa Solution Dyed olefin, a synthetic fiber that is inherently fade and stain-resistant. All Woven Expressions wallto-wall carpet styles are available in rug sizes. Shaw’s Kathy Ireland Home International First Lady collection is expanding with 14 new traditional and transitional styling rugs. The palette consists of rich colors like vivid ancient red, earthen brown, deep corals, warm greens, glowing brown, true gold and turquoise blue. Machine woven in the United States with Shaw’s EverTouch recyclable nylon, each rug is soft and durable. Tranquility is a new collection of transitional and soft contemporary styles in cool shades of beige, silvery gray, taupe, fresh green, tobacco brown, amethyst, and mid-tone blue. The rugs are machine woven in the United States of 100% olefin. Shaw Living is also adding several new shag offerings with its Artistry collection, comprising machine tufted in the United States of 100% recyclable Anso nylon.
SPHINX BY ORIENTAL WEAVERS Dalton, Ga. (800) 832-8020 The new Lotus by Sphinx collection is a collection of handcrafted pieces boasting soft shades of lilac, birch and warm linen with accents of darker violet, peacock and gold. Styling is simple and organic in nature and the inherent texture of the construction adds surface interest. The rugs are made of 100% polyester. SURYA INC. Calhoun, Ga. (706) 625-4823 A set of 18 new rug designs from Surya for market include 12 hand-tufted pieces from the licensed Smithsonian collection and six hand-knotted rugs in the New Heritage collection, which are also part of the Smithsonian line of rugs. All of the designs were inspired by artifacts selected from the Smithsonian Institution’s vast archives and libraries. These elegant rugs are direct, modern translations of some of the museum’s collections, including Japanese Art, Early American Arts and Crafts, and Classic American tile work and wallpaper from the early 20th century. Also included is an array of 22 artfully designed and crafted decorative accent pillows that were created to coordinate with Surya’s Smithsonian rug lines. Each pillow is available in an 18-by-18 size and all covers are fitted with zippers. They feature custom details such as embroidery, piping and flanged ribbon.
Surya’s latest best-selling collection is Summit, a grouping of rugs that are hand-knotted in felted wool that is bundled and arranged into rows for a textured, pebbled look. These rugs are available in steel gray, white, and black.
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1. Nourison’s Fantasy collection of contemporary and transitional designs in striking palettes and made with high-density hand-hooked yarns. The rugs are 100% polyacrylic.
4. Mystique from Central Oriental is a heavy weight transitional collection featuring metallic colors mixed with earth tones. The designs feature extensive double point and drop stitch giving the collection added depth and texture
2. Feizy Rugs’ new Saphire line of power-loomed high-low pile constructed rugs in transitional and contemporary looks come in three design groups — Mah, Zam and Azar — all of which are being added to the company’s Home collection. Seen here is an example of the Mah collection in a dark gray and green color combination.
5. Texcraft Innovation India Pvt. Ltd. is offering a new line of rubber-backed wool rugs that are hand-loomed and are offered in a range of shapes, colors and design patterns, like this colorful striped and star pattern.
3. Peking Handicraft’s new Yellow Sun Flower rug, designed by artist Trina Turk, is made in a hooked construction of a 100% wool-and-cotton blend.
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6. Rizzy Home’s new Colours Collection of area rugs is hand-tufted with New Zealandblended wool and is made in India. Using what the company described as a “rainbow” of colors, the designs include this one titled Fluxe.
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1. Capel Rugs’ Floral Silhouette rug is meant to portray design on a striking palette, emphasized on high-cut viscose woven onto a 100% wool ground. The construction is hand-knotted and low-cut loop, and the rugs are woven in India in a Nepalese style. 2. Couristan is introducing the new handmade Super Indo-Colors collection, which is made in India and constructed of 100% wool, two-ply yarns. Seen here is the Oleander design in the beige-and-white colorway.
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3. Orian Rugs is building on its Carolina Wild collection of domestically made polypropylene jacquard woven rugs with this new Logan Rouge design. 4. Oriental Weavers’ new Lotus By Sphinx collection, a 100% polyester grouping, encompasses handcrafted pieces in soft shades of lilac, birch and linen accented with darker violet, peacock and gold colorways. 5. Jaipur adds Blossom to its Blue Collection. It is hand-tufted in handspun wool with accents of art silk and large-scale floral patterns.
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6. Momeni’s new Dream collection comprises power-loomed rugs made of 100% polypropylene. The contemporary designs feature an abrash-like effect for a rich finish. 7. Harounian Rug International is emphasizing a new custommade rug program, offering within it the new Himalaya and Artistic collection of rugs that are hand-woven in India. Rugs can be ordered as wool with artificial silk or wool and pure silk blends. 8. 828 International Trading Co. debuts Sienna, one of at least six new collections the company is unveiling at market. Sienna comprises floral designs on a two-toned background for a spacedyed effect. They are made of 100% polyester and are hand-hooked in China. 9. CMI is expanding its indoor/outdoor accent and area rug program with several new solid and striped looks.Seen here is the Wide Stripe in the lake blue palette.
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10. Mohawk Home is featuring new additions to the Woolrich-branded program. This is Cedar Run, a 5-by-8 indoor rug set to retail for $199. 11. Trans-Ocean Inc’s Liora Manne collection continues to grow this market with several new additions. This is the Koi design from the new Ravella collection of indoor/outdoor 100% poly-acrylic rugs that are hand-tufted in China.
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Arrow Home Fetes House of Dereon
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Museum of Arts and Designs Plans Pop-store at NYIGF W H I T E P L A I N S , N.Y. — The Store at MAD (Museum of Arts and Design) will open a popup location this summer at New York’s Javits Center dur-
“Our product selection appeals to a sophisticated customer who appreciates workmanship and design. NYIGF buyers fit this profile” —FRANCI SAGAR, Museum of Arts and Design
Arrow Home Fashions threw a party to celebrate the unveiling of its Dereon/House of Dereon bedding collections - the first foray into home for the Beyonce and Tina Knowles fashion house. Above, Arrow’s Doug Hartman, Jody Folino and Peter Weintraub. Below, Tina Knowles flanked by Weintraub and his wife, Ellen.
ing the New York International Gift Fair. The store will offer exclusives to fair participants on a
cash and carry basis from Aug. 14 to Aug. 19. Product categories will include jewelry, glass, ceramics, wood, home design and fashion accessories as well as a select children’s products and books. “Our product selection appeals to a sophisticated customer who appreciates workmanship and design. NYIGF buyers fi t this profi le, making the Fair an ideal platform for MAD to have a pop up store,” said Franci Sagar, MAD vice president and director of retail and brand development. In addition, NYIGF participants will receive free admission to the museum, located at 2 Columbus Circle, during the week of August 14-19, with a NYIGF badge. HTT
Zenith Global Opens Atlanta Warehouse C ONOVER , N.C. — Home furnishings supply chain provider Zenith Global Logistics has opened a regional freight hub in Atlanta to support its home delivery service and its split container program. “Increased demand for our home-delivery service in the Atlanta area was a key factor in
establishing our latest hub in that region,” said Jack Hawn, president and ceo. The new facility becomes Zenith Global’s third domestic expansion within the last year. Now with six facilities, the company is planning additions in Seattle, Chicago, Orlando and Elizabethtown, N.J. HTT
Alibaba.com Acquires Vendio H ONG K ONG — B-to-B ecom-
merce provider Alibaba.com has signed a deal to acquire Vendio, which allows merchants to sell through multiple channels including eBay, Amazon and their own Vendio store. Vendio services more than 80,000 small businesses in the U.S., according to Alibaba.com. Alibaba.com claims 50 million
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registered users in more than 240 countries and regions. After the transaction closes, the Vendio platform will add and AliExpress tab allowing Vendio’s users to access sources on the Alibaba.com site. Vendio users will also be eligible for promotions and special deals on AliExpress wholesale products. HTT
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News
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Iconix Plans Candie’s Stores in China N E W YO R K — Iconix Brand Group, owner of several home brands, and its joint venture partner in China plan to open free-standing Candie’s stores there. Iconix China Limited, owned 50-50 by Iconix and Novel Fashion Brands, are working with Shanghai La Chapelle Carment and Accessories Co. Lt. and private equity group Trust Bridge Partners on the store project. The first Candie’s store will open this August in Shanghai, to be followed by 50 more openings before the end of the year. Markets will include Beijing and Chongjing, according to Iconix. Over five years, the JV plans
to open more than 500 Candie’s units in China. “We are extremely pleased with the early progress of our current partnerships in China for Rampage, London Fog, Rocawear and Badgley Mischka, and excited about our new business with Candie’s and the well established business of Peanuts in the region,” stated Neil Cole, ceo, Iconix Brand Group. Pe a nu t s , w h i c h I c o n i x recently acquired, through Iconix China operates 700 Snoopy Stores, Charlie Brown Cafes and Snoopy Bakeries in China. Over the next three years, Iconix Brand Group hopes to open up to 5,000 stores or shop-in-shops in the country. HTT
Springs Global Takes Top JCP Home Vendor Prize PLANO, TEXAS — Springs Global
won the home furnishings division 2009 Supplier Summit Award presented last month at the company’s Supplier Summit Meeting here. Springs Global received the award for its participation in the Cindy Crawford Home collection, which launched last fall across the division’s product categories. Extreme Linen received the bedding and bath award. Regal Home won for window cover-
ings. Yu Wei Co. took the furniture award, and Senglo won for housewares. In addition, Fabricut received an award for “outstanding performance and an outstanding partner” in 2009 in the Custom Decorating department. Going forward, the JCPenney Summit program will take place every two years. This year, participants contributed $3.4 million to the JCPenney Afterschool Program, a new record. HTT
Employment Drops as Census Jobs Evaporate WA S H I N G T O N — W h i l e t h e
private sector added 83,000 jobs in June, the termination of 225,000 temporary census worker positions resulted in a net loss of 125,000 jobs, the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. The unemployment rate declined slightly to 9.5%. “While this steady private
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sector job growth is encouraging, the large number of Americans without a job reminds us we need to continue working to create jobs and grow the economy,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis. During the first half of the year, the private sector has created 600,000 jobs, she said. HTT
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International Exhibitors Prep for NYIGF W H I T E P L A I N S , N.Y. — The
New York International Gift Fair in August will include new government-sponsored groups of suppliers from Egypt, India, Spain and Thailand in addition to more than 300 international exhibitors exhibiting independently. The upcoming shows exhibitors include companies from: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Ghana, Hong Kong,
India, Ireland, Israel, It aly, Japan, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mali, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, Niger, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Senegal, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom (England and Scotland) and the United States of America. “No other U.S. market provides such an extensive collection of international resources,” said Dorothy Belshaw, NYIGF
director and GLM senior vice president. “NYIGF gives retailers unparalleled access to a wide range of export-ready suppliers with top-quality goods.” Two new international pavilions - the Egyptian Exporters Association-Expolink and the Thai Silk Association - will show home textiles within At Home featuring Home Textiles. The fair will take place Aug. 14-19 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and Passenger Ship Terminal Piers 92 and 94 in New York. HTT
Thom Felicia Designs Fabric Line for Kravat B E T H PAG E , N.Y. — Designer
and television personality Thom Felicia has signed on to produce a collection of fabrics for Kravet for its to-the-trade home furnishings, including furniture, fabric, wall coverings, trimmings, carpet and accessories The collection is available in Kravet showrooms in North America, the company said. Felicia is known for richly
layered textures and colors. He said the Kravet collection introduces a style that is “fresh, modern and accessible and empowers consumers to express their unique personalities through design.” It features prints and weaves in patterns and colors such as yellow, grey, blue, orange and natural. “I chose to partner with Kra-
vet for this collection because they really allowed me to convey my point of view and design aesthetic,” said Felicia. Felicia is best known for his design work for clients such as Jennifer Lopez and the W Hotel chain, as well his roles as a producer and designer on television shows including “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,” “Dress My Nest” and “Tacky House.” HTT
Foreign Accents Takes New Vegas Showroom L AS V EGAS — Contemporary
rug resource Foreign Accents will move to a new showroom for the August 2010 Las Vegas Market. The new showroom location is in Building B, Suite 707. The company formerly exhibited in Building B, Suite 749. “We are extremely pleased with our new location,” said Trish Rem-
pen, president and CEO of Foreign Accents. “It gives us a larger area to display new designs and expands our ability to showcase various sizes. It is also very easy for market attendees to find, being on the same floor as we were previously, in the same ‘neighborhood’ as many of our contemporary case good and upholstery peers, which
works well for us and our mutual customers.” To celebrate the new location, Foreign Accents will have refreshments and live entertainment during the late afternoon hours every day during market. A special market promotion will also be offered to all existing and new dealers. HTT
Unifi Inc. Investing in Recycling Equipment GREENSBORO, N.C. — Yarn pro-
ducer Unifi Inc, is investing in equipment that will expand its recycling capabilities. The company said the new technology will allow it to recycle post-consumer and postindustrial waste into its Repreve family of fibers. The investment will improve the availability of recycled raw materials and provide greater control over produc-
tion of the recycled chip used to make Repreve polyester fibers, the company said. Unifi currently sources the recycled chip from suppliers. The new equipment is scheduled to come on line in February. “Bringing the extrusion process in-house is a natural next step for us,” said Roger Berrier, executive vice president. “Being
more vertically integrated will significantly increase our product development and capacity.” Unifi has been recycling goods like paper tubes, pallets and corrugated boxes for more than a decade, and also donates bio-solids to area farmers. It also has been selling the Repreve family of fibers, using 100% recycled polyester, for several years. HTT
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PEOPLETodaY Macy’s Shuffles Execs N EW YORK — Jeff Kantor, cur-
rently Macy’s president and gmm for home, has been named president, merchandising for macys.com. He will oversee all merchandising for macys. com and succeeds Helaine Suval, evp, merchandising, who announced her retirement effective spring 2011. Kantor will report to Peter Sachse, chairman of macys. com. Lisa Magann has been named Macy’s evp, gmm for home replacing Kantor. She will report to Jeff Gennette, chief merchandising officer in her new role. Suval will assume a new role until her retirement and will oversee the development of an accelerated growth strategy in
the e-commerce business. She will work with Sachse and Kent Anderson, president operations for macys.com. Kantor has been president merchandising home since May 2009. Previously, he was president for furniture for Macy’s Home Store from February 2006. He was president of Hecht/Strawbridge’s from November 2004 to February 2006. Earlier he held senior merchandising positions in non-home areas at Filene’s/ Kaufmann’s. He joined Filene’s, then a division of Federated, in 1981. In the mid-90s he was a dvp for mens furnishings at T.J.Maxx. Magann has been gvp-dmm of housewares/confections since May 2009. She began her career
at G.Fox and later developed her merchandising career throughout the home organizations at May Co. and Macy’s. In 1992 she was promoted to dmm of home textiles at Filene’s, given a larger assignment at Robinson’s/ May as vp/dmm housewares and in 2008 she was named vp dmm mattresses and rugs at Macy’s Home Store. Suval has played an instrumental role in the growth of Macy’s e-commerce business since joining the organization in 2000. Prior to joining macys. com, she had extensive experience both in store and e-commerce retailing with living. com, Avon, Bloomingdale’s and Bullock’s. The executive changes are effective Aug. 1. HTT
Stein Mart Re-elects 12 Board Members at Shareholders’ Meeting J ACKSONVILLE , F L A . — At the
annual shareholders’ meeting last month, mid-tier department store chain Stein Mart Inc.’s shareholders elected 12 members of the board of directors. Re-elected for one-year terms each were: Jay Stein, chairman of the board, Stein Mart; David Stovall Jr., president and ceo, Stein Mart; Alvin “Pete” Carpenter, former vice chairman of CSX Corporation and lead director; Ralph
Alexander, managing director of Riverstone and former ceo of Innovene; Irwin Cohen, senior advisor with the Peter J. Solomon Company and former global managing partner, retail and consumer products practice, Deloitte and Touche LLP; Susan Falk, former group president of Womenswear, Hartmarx Corporation; Linda McFarland Farthing, former president/ceo, Stein Mart; Mitchell Legler, Esq.,
general counsel to Stein Mart; Richard L. Sisisky, president of The Shircliff and Sisisky Company; Martin “Hap” Stein Jr., chairman and ceo of Regency Centers Corporation; and John “Jack” Williams Jr., vice chairman of the board and former ceo, Stein Mart. Also re-elected was Bob Mettler, former chairman/ ceo, Macy’s West, who was appointed to the board in August 2009. HTT
The Rug Market Adds Rep Groups LOS ANGELES — Continuing to
expand its brand in the industry, The Rug Market recently partnered with three new rep groups to help sustain good business relationships in the Southeast, Midwest and West Coast regions. Casa Bella, a Midwest sales agency developed by a team of sales associates, will be responsible for covering a nine-state territory. The area includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan,
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Ohio, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota. Southern Accessories Today, an Atlanta-based rep agency, will be responsible in the Southeast area. SAT’s 34 years of experience in the home decor industry is expected to boost sales in Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Mississippi, Florida, West Virginia and Washington, D.C.
Rep organization BassmanBlain will oversee sales in the states of California, Nevada and Arizona. “We are pleased to have Casa Bella, SAT and BassmanBlaine as part of our growing sales force. Their experience and dedication will be an asset to The Rug Market,” said Mike Shabtai, president, The Rug Market. “We will do whatever it takes to support their needs and achieve our goals.” HTT
Nourison Appoints Woods to Account Executive SADDLE BROOK , N.J. — Nourison has appointed Theolene Woods to account executive, covering a territory tat includes Connecticut, Rhode Island and Upstate New York. Woods is responsible for servicing and developing business with Nourison’s dealer base in the area, handling the company’s extensive rug line that includes more than 60 active collections, Nourison’s broadloom and runner lines that span thousands of skus, and its growing Nourtex brand, which includes more moderately priced decorative broadloom and runners. Woods comes to Nourison with more than a decade of
industry experience, including several years in sales and management positions in upscale retail and decorative supply environments in the Fairfield County, Conn., region. Earlier in her career, Woods earned wholesale experience abroad, handling outside sales for a ceramic tile distributor overseas. “Along with her strong decorative background and proven sales talent, [Woods] also brings extensive experience in the local market and a passion for the Nourison product line,” said Gerard O’Keefe, vp, sales. “We fully expect her to add to the success of this traditionally strong and important territory.” HTT
Lane Sales Expands Reach in Connecticut L O N G I S L A N D , N.Y. — Floor covering sales representative firm Lane Sales is expanding its reach to now include all of Connecticut. The company previously focused only on Southern Connecticut. Heading the effort is Ken Benson, territory manager, who is based in Stamford. He has been with Lane Sales since 2006, when joined with the company managing the Lower New York State and southern Connecticut territories. Earlier in his career, Benson owned Car-
pet Kingdom, a Flooring America store, in Brooklyn. “Our formula is to provide better comprehensive sales coverage to the mills we represent and better service to the dealers we serve by having more concentrated local sales coverage than normally provided by other agencies,” explained Larry Lane, president. “We added this area on to our servicing territory to expand our businesses.” Many manufacturers Lane Sales represents “wanted us to cover more area,” Lane continued. HTT
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July 12, 2010
BUSINESS TodaY BBB Comps Revive and Earnings Jump in Q1 BY CECILE B. CORRAL UNION, N.J. — Bed Bath & Be-
yond experienced increases in sales, comparable store sales and earnings – the latter showing the biggest double-digit leap during the home textiles specialty chain’s first quarter. The company reported earnings of 52 cents per share, or $137.6 million, in its first quarter ended May 29, up about 53% compared to 34 cents per share, or $87.2 million, in the year-ago period. Sales climbed 13.5% to $1.923 billion, and comps made a turnaround, rising 8.4%, compared with a 1.6% decrease in the first quarter of 2009. BBB remains “cautiously optimistic” about fiscal 2010, said Leonard Feinstein, co-chair-
man, during the company’s quarterly earnings call in late June. “While the economic environment appears to be showing some signs of stabilizing, it appears the consumer continues to face some economic challenges, and the pressures of the macro economic environment persists,” he continued. Store count stands today at 1,105 units, comprised of: 968 BBBs in 49 U.S. states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and Canada; 61 Christmas Tree Shops, 31 buybuy Baby, and 45 Harmon and/or Harmon Face Values. Additionally, the company is a partner in a joint venture in Mexico to operate stores under the “Home & More” nameplate. Feinstein said the company
still sees an opportunity to grow to excess of 1,300 stores within the United States and Canada as well as grow its other concepts. Real estate developments to come in the second quarter include the opening of BBB’s first store in Hawaii – representing its 50th U.S. state presence. For all of fiscal 2010, the company expects to open 55 to 60 stores in all concepts – including the five units opened to date this year – as well as remodel, renovated and/or relocate existing sites. The outlook for the second quarter calls for earnings per share of approximately 59 to 63 cents. For fiscal 2010, earnings per share are expected to increase by approximately 15%. HTT
BigResearch: High-income Shoppers Still Hesitant C OLUMBUS , O HIO — Despite a
more comfortable financial position, upper income consumers are feeling the effects of the sluggish economy like their more modest-income counterparts. That is what consumer research firm BigResearch found in its June Consumer Intentions and Actions (CIA) Survey. Although confidence among consumers with an annual household income of $100,000 or more (35.3%) is higher than adults 18 and older (30.2%), levels for both segments remain flat since June 2009, when the rate was 34.5% versus 30.2%, respectively, “a point that appears to be reflected in purchase intentions,” BigResearch noted. A higher percent age of $100,000-plus household income consumers plan to make big dollar purchases compared to adults 18 and older, but over-
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all percentages for both segments remain relatively flat from June 2009. Year-over-year, planned purchases are flat for car/truck and home improvement/repair among the $100,000-plus set, after having increased for a short time as a result of stimulus packages. However, BigResearch added, “there seems to be a glimmer of hope” for the electronics category, as more high-income consumers are planning to buy computers and TVs, representing a slight up-tick from last year but down slightly from pre-recession levels in June 2007. With the expiration of the home buyer tax credit, tight lending standards and overall high unemployment rates, the housing market is also slow to rebound. Purchase intentions for homes among high-income consumers is up slightly — by
4.0% — from June 2009, when it was 3.1%, while 3.4% of adults 18 and older said they plan to buy a home (versus 3.3% a year ago). Reluctance to spend is further shown by the percentage of consumers keeping an eye on their budget: 33.9% of $100,000plus income consumers have become more budget conscious in the last six months, compared to 40.7% of adults 18 and older. Almost half, or 44.5%, of upper-income consumers say they are focusing more on needs over wants, compared to 53.8% of adults 18 and older. “While fewer upper income consumers are tightening their purse strings compared to consumers overall, it is evident that the current economic state is impacting consumers at all income levels,” BigResearch said.
Crown Crafts Wraps Fiscal Year with Profit Bump GONZALES, L A. — Crown Crafts fiscal year net income rose 22.2% to $4.8 million, or 52 cents per share. In the previous fiscal year, net income was $4.5 million or 47 cents per share – excluding charges. Including a goodwill impairment charge, Crown Crafts reported a net loss for fiscal 2009 of $17.1 million, or $1.83 per share. Sales for the fiscal year ended March 28 fell 1.5% to $86.1 million. Sales of bed, blankets and accessories decreased to $66.4 million vs. $71.9 million due to discontinued programs and lower replenishment orders, the company reported during its quarterly conference call. Because the company already holds 25% of the market in those categories, making it more difficult to grow, said Randall Chestnut, chairman, president and ceo. “So growth is going to come organically from product line ex-
pansion to complement what we do. Our room décor items have grown exponentially over the last few years,” he said. $352 to $619 – there is a surcharge related to one major customer. Factoring fees. We hope is can be resolved and reduced later. Sales of bibs, bath and disposable products expanded to $19.7 million vs. $15.5 million during the year. Asked during Q&A about China, Chestnut said Crown Crafts over the past six months has been moving orders into some other countries to spread risk. For the fourth quarter, net income rose 15% to $2.3 million, or 25 cents per share, from the year-earlier period’s $2.0 million, or 21 cents per share, after excluding a one-time charge. Including the charge, Crown Crafts reported a loss of $10.6 million during the comparative fourth quarter. Sales for the quarter increased 5.7% to $26.0 million. HTT
Same-store sales
Steamy Weather Drives Sales NEW YORK — Summer heat helped drive sales during the final week of June, according to the Johnson Redbook. Comps rose 3.1% for the week ended July 3, with a 4.1% samestore sales boost in the discount channel offsetting a more anemic 0.8% gain at department stores. Month-over-month, June’s comps fell 0.5% compared to May. Redbook had projected a 0.3% decline. Redbook analyst Catlin Levis characterized July as “typically a relatively low volume period, with sales driven by discounting as stores clear summer goods and restock for fall.” Redbook’s preliminary target for July comps is a year-over-year gain of 2.9% and a month-over-month decline of 0.6%. HTT
Johnson Redbook Index Fifth week of June, year-over-year % change WEEK ENDED
6/5
6/12
6/19
6/26
7/3
Department stores* 1.3 Discounters 4.4 Redbook Index 3.4
0.0 3.9 2.7
1.1 4.2 3.2
0.0 3.7 2.5
0.8 4.1 3.1
MONTH TARGET
0.7 4.1 3.0
1.3 4.2
*Including chain stores and traditional department stores Source: Johnson Redbook Index
HTT
7/8/2010 5:46:44 PM
Coming July 19, 2010
HOME TEXTILES TODAY’S ANNUAL TOP HOME TEXTILES RETAILER REPORT Once a year, the industry comes to a stop when Home Textiles Today’s top retailer report is published. Now’s the time for suppliers to highlight their products and services by advertising in the top retailers report. Key positions are now available.
Space close: July 2, 2010 Ad material due: July 9, 2010
Contact your Home Textiles Today manager early. Joe Carena, Publisher, 203 321 0232 jcarena@hometextilestoday.com Jeff Reeves, Manager, 336 554 5009 jreeves@hometextilestoday.com Mary McLoughlin, Manager, 646 805 0227 mmcloughlin@hometextilestoday.com
18
Home Textiles Today
July 12, 2010
June Sales SALES FROM PAGE 1
Noting calendar shifts, Lundgren stated, “It is important to note that Macy’s, Inc.’s samestore sales in May/June combined, plus the Sunday and Monday of Independence Day weekend, were up approximately 5% over the prior year. This is consistent with our year-todate trend. We are optimistic as we look ahead to our fall merchandise offerings.” Kohl’s posted a 5.9% comp gain for the month, led by the
Business
JUNE SALES FOR KEY RETAILERS
in its recorded sales statement, “with a mid-single-digit increase in lawn and patio, and the softest performance in domestics.” In sharp contrast, both leading off-price operators sounded a high note on home. At TJX Cos., June comps rose 3% — but home convincingly outperformed this gain. At the 328-store HomeGoods unit, June comps were up 8%, and that was against a robust 10% comp gain in June 2009, said Sherry Lang, senior
Five weeks ended July 3 (dollar amounts in millions) a 2010 SALES
2009 SALES
TOTAL %CHG.
SAME-STORE %CHG.
BJ’s Wholesale Club b The Bon-Ton Stores
$1,080.0 $244.4
$1,001.1 $241.5
7.9 1.2
3.8 1.4
Costco Wholesale Corp. c Dillard’s Inc.
$7,330.0 $506.4
$6,870.0 $497.2
7.0 2.0
9.0 2.0
Duckwall-ALCO d Fred’s Inc. J.C. Penney Company Inc. Kohl’s Corp. Macy’s Inc. Ross Stores Stein Mart Target Corp TJX Cos.
$45.3 $178.3 $1,550.0 $1,605.0 $2,229.0 $725.0 $107.2 $5,918.0 $2,000.0
$47.9 $174.7 $1,495.0 $1,471.0 $2,044.0 $666.0 $108.8 $5,690.0 $1,800.0
(5.4) 2.0 3.7 9.1 9.0 9.0 (1.5) 4.0 7.0
(6.6) 1.7 4.5 5.9 6.5 5.0 (0.6) 1.7 3.0
10.0% 8.5%
22 WEEKS
June Same-Store Sales Johnson Redbook Index
7.0%
3.1%
5.5%
2010 year-over-year
4.0% 2.5% 1.0% -0.5% -2.0% -3.5% -5.0% JUN
JUL AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN
Source: Johnson Redbook Retail Sales Average, a unit of Instinet, a Reuters company.
footwear and men’s divisions. Kevin Mansell, chairman, president and ceo of the 1,067unit mid-tier retailer, said that e-commerce sales are running “almost 50%” above 2009, yearto-date. Kohl’s called its current inventory position “comfortable.” Dillards posted a 2.0% comp gain for June; the southern regional department store operator’s terse sales statement did not mention home as either above or below trend. Bon-Ton Stores saw a comp gain of 1.4%, with home among the weaker-performing departments. Tony Buccina, vice chairman and president – merchandising, still waxed optimistic as he said the 278-store retailer anticipates “new home assortments for our July semiannual Home Sale.” Home performed in the middle of the merchandise segments at Target, as the big upscale discounter posted a modest comp store gain of 1.7% for June. “Comparable store sales in home were down slightly,” the 1,740-store company said
htt100701_016_018 18
> hometextilestoday.com
WINNERS Same-store sales % change
WINNERS Costco. Macy’s Kohl’s Ross Stores JCPenney BJ’s Wholesale TJX Cos. Dillard’s Target Fred’s
9.0% 6.5 5.9 5.0 4.5 3.8 3.0 2.0 1.7 1.7
LOSERS Duckwall-ALCO Stein Mart
(6.6) (0.6
vp, global communications. “We are extremely pleased with the consistency of HomeGoods’ performance, particularly as this division begins to anniversary very challenging comparisons,” Lang said, adding that comps were also up 8% in home fashions at the cornerstone MarMaxx Group (Marshalls and T.J. Maxx). TJX raised its second-quarter earnings guidance to 70 cents to 73 cents per share (in the range of 15% to 20% over the same period one year ago),
2010 SALES
2009 SALES
BJ’s Wholesale Club b The Bon-Ton Stores
$4,500.8 $1,092.4
Costco Wholesale Corp. e Dillard’s Inc Duckwall-ALCO (d) Fred’s Inc. J.C. Penney Company Inc. Kohl’s Corp. Macy’s Inc. Ross Stores Stein Mart Target Corp. TJX Cos.
$57,170.0 $2,365.3 $195.7 $791.5 $6,707.0 $6,978.0 $9,589.0 $3,274.0 $506.9 $25,698.0 $8,600.0
a. Reporting periods may vary from chain to chain. b. BJ’s: Excluding gasoline sales, June merchandise coms increased 3.2%; YTD merchandise comps increased 3.8%. c. Costco: 5 weeks ended July 4. Excluding inflation in gasoline prices and stronger foreign currencies, comps were up 3% for the total company, up 1% in the U.S. division and up 8% in the international division. d. Duckwall: 5 weeks and 22 weeks ended July 4.
and its full-year EPS to $3.24 to $3.33 (up 14% to 17% over last year). Ross Stores’ comps climbed 5% in June. “Home, dresses and shoes were our strongest merchandise categories,” said Michael Balmuth, vice chairman and ceo. The gains for these segments were “in the low-double-digit percentage range,” added John Hall, senior vp and cfo. Ross raised its second-quarter earnings guidance to $1.00 to $1.02 per share. Hall said, “This updated guidance represents a projected 22% to 24% increase on top of a 52% gain in last year’s second-quarter when EPS were 82 cents.” The warehouse membership clubs fared well, although Costco saw much of its June comp increase of 3% coming from its
TOTAL %CHG.
SAME-STORE %CHG.
$4,043.1 $1,075.0
11.3 1.6
6.6 1.9
$52,150.0 $2,344.3 $204.0 $768.0 $6,633.0 $6,365.0 $8,987.0 $2,922.0 $533.7 $24,509.0 $7,700.0
10.0 1.0 (4.1) 3.0 1.1 9.6 6.7 12.0 (5.0) 4.9 12.0
7.0 2.0 (4.9) 2.3 1.6 6.2 4.9 8.0 (3.1) 2.3 7.0
e. Costco: 44 weeks ending July 4. Excluding inflation in gasoline prices and stronger foreign currencies, YTD comps were up 3% for the total company, up 2% in the U.S. and up 9% in international.
international unit, which posted a comp gain of 8%; cutting out the effect of inflation in gasoline prices, the U.S. division gained just 1% in merchandise comps. Subtracting for inflation in gasoline prices, Eastern regional club BJ’s posted a June comp gain of 3.2% in merchandise. Neighborhood discounter Fred’s Inc. reported a comp sales gain of 1.7% for the month, compared to an increase of 0.2% in June 2009. That brought the year-to-date comp gain to 2.3% at the 672store chain, on top of a firstfive-months gain of 1.7% last year. At soft lines specialty chain Stein Mart, comps were off 0.6% in June — but home was among the stronger performing categories, the company said. Rural general merchandis-
er Duckwall-ALCO Stores saw comps dip 6.6% in June; comps are down 4.9% year-to-date. Rich Wilson, president and ceo, said the 256-store company’s inventory position is favorable for the coming back-to-school season, and that “recent organizational re-alignment has significantly improved our operational disciplines and efficiencies.” The 31-company Johnson Redbook Same-store Sales Index (SSI) for June was up 3.1%, coming after a 2.6% gain in May and a 0.9% gain in April. About three-fourths of the 31 merchants posted positive comps for June. Department stores were the standout for the month; this eight-company group posted a 5.9% comp gain, dramatically reversing its 9.1% comp decline in the June 2009 SSI. HTT
7/8/2010 5:36:14 PM
THEY’RE LOOKING FOR YOU
Capture their attention by advertising in
SPENCER WHITTLE: swhittle@sandowmedia.com ph 336.605.1027 fax 336.605.1143
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s d e fi i s s cla Lines Offered (Reps) Help Wanted Retail Recruitment Real Estate Showroom Space
For Sale/Lease Factoring Services Announcements Legal Notices Parts
20
Home Textiles Today
July 12, 2010
> hometextilestoday.com
Calendar July
13 – 14
October
14 – 21
6–8
The Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market AmericasMart, Atlanta (800) ATL-MART or (404) 220-2435 www.americasmart.com
HD Boutique Exposition & Conference Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Beach, Fla. (770) 291-5400 www.hdboutique.com
15 – 18
14 – 16
4–6
The Atlanta International Area Rug Market AmericasMart, Atlanta (800) ATL-MART or (404) 220-2437 www.americasmart.com
Mood Brussels Textirama, vzw 34 9 243 8450 www.moodbrussels.com
Heimtextil India Bombay Expo Center Messe Frankfurt Trade Fairs India, Pvt. 91 (0) 22 2202 1377 mllie.contractor@ india.messefrankfurt.com
14 – 16
August
Heimtextil Russia IEC Crocus Expo Exhibition Center, Moscow, Russia +7 (495) 721 1058 www.messefrankfurt.ru
2–6 Las Vegas Market World Market Center and Pavilions, Las Vegas (702) 599-9621 www.lasvegasmarket.com
2–6 Vegas Kids World Market Center and Pavilions, Las Vegas (702)599-3064 or (702)599-9621 www.vegaskidslv.com
Indigo (Home Furnishing Edition) Brussels Expo, Brussels, Belgium +33 (0) 1 70 38 7000 www.indigo-salon.com
24 – 26
11 – 13
14 – 17
Intertextil Shanghai Home Textiles, China Shanghai New International Expo Centre, Shanghai, China (852) 2238 9983 www.messefrankfurt.com/hk
Atlanta Fall Gift & Home Furnishings Market AmericasMart, Atlanta (404) 220-3000 www.americasmart.com
Expolfil Deco Brussels Belgium Premier Vision S.A. 33 (0) 4 72 606500
September
7–9
3–7
Gourmet Housewares Show The Moscone Center, San Francisco (914) 421-3200 www.thegourmetshow.com
Meuble Paris / Maison & Objet Parc des Expositions, Paris-Nord Villepinte, Paris, France (888) 522-5001 www.maison-objet.com
8 – 11 ASD/AMD Las Vegas Sands Expo Center & Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas (310) 481-7300 www.asdamd.com
13 – 19 New York Home Textiles Market Week 7 W New York, 230 Fifth Avenue, Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York (914) 421-3200 www.nyhometextilesmarketweek.com
15 – 17 11 – 13 Dallas Total Home & Gift Market Dallas Market Center, Dallas (800) DAL-MKTS www.dallasmarketcenter.com
Textile Expo Uzbekistan UzExpo Center, Tashkent, Uzbekistan +998 71 113 01 80 www.textileexpo.uz
15 – 17 11 – 13 F!NDS Dallas Temp Show World Trade Center, Market Hall Dallas, (214) 655-6116 www.dmcfinds.com
CAITME UzExpo Center, Tashkent, Uzbekistan +998 71 113 01 80 www.textileexpo.uz
ABC Kids Expo Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, (210) 691-4848 www.theabcshow.com
11 – 15 JSWB Shanghai Furniture Sourcing Show JSWB Global Home Furnishing Center, Shanghai, China
China Textile & Apparel Trade Show Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York (718) 261-1181 www.nychinashow.com
12 HTT Market Kick-Off Party 6 p.m-8 p.m. Penthouse & Roof, 230 Fifth Ave. (646) 746-7421 www.hometextilestoday.com
13 – 18
New York International Gift Fair Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, Passenger Ship Terminal Pier 94 New York, (914) 421-3200 www.nyigf.com
New York Home Fashions Market Home Fashion Products Association N.Y. Showrooms and hotels (212) 297-2122 (Kellen Co.) www.homefashionproducts.com
16 – 21 High Point Market International Home Furnishings Center (IHFC), High Point, N.C. (336) 869-1000 www.highpointmarket.org
November 8 – 11 Index Dubai Dubai International Exhibition Centre, Dubai United Arab Emirates +971 4 885 0854 www.indexexhibition.com
13 – 16 International Hotel / Motel Show Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York (914) 421-3200 www.ihmrs.com
24 – 25 16 – 18
14– 19
htt100701_020_021 20
10 – 13
14 – 17
2–6 Gift+Home World Market Center and Pavilions, Las Vegas (702)599-3064 or (702)599-9621 www.giftandhomelv.com
Interstoff Asia Essential – Autumn Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong (852) 2238 9917 www.interstoff-asia.com
20 – 23 China (Dalian) International Garment & Textile Fair World Expo Center (Dalian) Dalian Foreign Trade & Economic Cooperation Bureau www. Cigf.com.cn
The Sleep Event Business Design Center, London, UK www.thesleepevent.com
December 5–8 Showtime Fabric Fair Market Square, Textile Tower, High Point, N.C., (336) 885-6842 www.itma-showtime.com
26 – 28 Cmc Gift & Home Market Los Angeles www.californiamarketcenter.com
7/8/2010 1:12:46 PM
News
> hometextilestoday.com
21
Home Textiles Today
July 12, 2010
Intertextil Shanghai Adds Another Hall Latex International SHANGHAI – At this year’s Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles show here in August, the event will expand from nine to ten halls. “Exhibitors who benefit from the expansion include suppliers exhibiting in the international hall, especially those participating under the Taiwanese and Turkish pavilions, which have significantly increased by 40% in scale,” according to fair organizer Messe Frankfurt. With the Chinese market becoming more important and
sophisticated, Mr Ibrahim Burkay, the president for Uludag Exporters’ Association and the person in-charge of the Turkish Pavilion will bring more leading home textile brands to exhibit in the 2010 show. Among them include Verdi, Vanelli, Demor, Elvin and Guleser. “We are seeing an outstanding increase in Turkish home textile exports to China, up 44% in the first quarter of 2010,” said Ibrahim Burkay, the president for Uludag Exporters’ Association and the coordinator for the
Turkish Pavilion In addition, the fair said Ikea and Target (U.S.) have both confirmed their attendance and will be participating in the business-matching program. Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles will take place Aug. 24 – 26 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. Coorganizers with Messe Frankfurt include the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT; and China Home Textile Association (CHTA). HTT
PrintSource to Offer Home Forecasts NEW YORK — Two forecast presentations related to home will be among the trend seminars scheduled for the Printsource show, which takes place here at 7W New York from Aug. 2-4. On Tuesday, Aug. 3 the subject will be “PantoneView Home + Interiors 2011 - Color Trends: The Catalysts That Cre-
ate Change,” presented by Laurie Pressman, vp for fashion, home and interiors at Pantone. The session takes place at 2:30 p.m. On Wednesday, Aug. 4, Joanna Feeley, founder and creative director of the Trend Bible, will offer “Home Interior Trends for Fall 2011/Winter 2012.” The
presentation takes place at 12:30 p.m. Pre-registration is required and a $125 entry fee covers access to all seminars taking place during the show. 7W New York is located at 7 W. 34th St. For information email info@ printsourcenewyork.com or call (212) 352-1005. HTT
Building Plant in Malaysia SHELTON, CONN. — Latex International, a producer of Talalay latex mattresses and pillows, has broken ground on a 251,000square-foot latex plant in Malaysia to support its growth in the Asian and European markets. The new facility, Dunlop Latex Foam (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, will be a subsidiary of Latex International. It will be operational in the summer of 2011, and will be the only facility by a major latex supplier to produce both Talalay and Dunlop process latex foams, the company said. “This is a major step in our company’s expansion,” said Latex International CEO Kevin Coleman. “We are building a worldwide infrastructure to support the growth we are experiencing. “With the North American
market headwinds that we have seen over the past two years, the company has focused on new opportunities internationally,” Coleman said. “We have established sales and service organizations in South America, Europe and Asia during this time period and our sales to markets outside the U.S. have grown to over 25% of our total revenue. This plant is necessary to better serve the needs of these customers both from a latex production perspective but also from a delivery perspective.” The new Malaysian facility will feature an eco-friendly design, including a waste water treatment plant that will recycle water for use in the production process, a power management system, and high-efficiency production equipment. HTT
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logo National Retailer Seeking Senior Buyer for Housewares Anna’s Linens located in Costa Mesa, CA; seeks a Senior Buyer for Home Décor and Housewares. The ideal candidate should have 10 years+ experience as a Retail Buyer in Home Fashions and have a successful track record meeting margin and department goals. To apply for this position go to www.annaslinens.com and click Careers. Job code 419-166
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7/9/2010 4:33:02 PM
22
Home Textiles Today
July 12, 2010
OPINIONTodaY
> hometextilestoday.com
360 Park Avenue South, 17th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10010 Tel: (646) 805-0227; Fax: (646) 365-2307 www.hometextilestoday.com EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jennifer Marks 375 South End Avenue #32U New York, N.Y. 10280 (212) 945-9151 | jnegley@hometextilestoday.com FOUNDING EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Carole Sloan 16 E. 96th St., New York, NY 10128 Tel: (212) 831-8266 | Fax: (212) 831-0814 PRODUCT EDITOR Cecile B. Corral 428 Bianca Ave. Coral Gables, FL 33146 (305) 661-7493 | cbcorral@aol.com
Back to School’s in Session “We’ll also get a indication of second-half buying intentions in a few weeks when the Back-to-School season kicks off. “
H
ER E W E GO AGA IN. Now that we’ve gone retailer. Kohl’s fans can nominate and vote for any pubthrough the Independence Day holiday week- lic or private schools that serve kindergarten through 12 end, it’s time to prepare for the cycle of late grade students. summer and fall shows that whiz by so quickMy favorite BTS promotion is American Eagle Outfitly the next thing you know it’s October 1 and everybody’s ters, which plans to give a free smartphone to every customwondering why they didn’t get more out of the summer. er who tries on a pair of AE jeans from July 21 to August 3. We’ll also get a indication of second-half buying inten- (In truth, the phone is free after a rebate.) I initially had two tions in a few weeks when the Back-to-School reactions to this news: 1) How crappy are those season kicks off. Will consumers hold off on free phones? And 2) Don’t most of American Eabuying until the very last minute, the way they gles customers already have smartpones? did last year? My guess is yes. Retailers may susBut according to ComScore, which amasspect as much, too, because they’re really gear- EDITOR-IN-CHIEF es demographic data related to online browsing ing up the marketing. and buying, smartphone penetration in the UnitMacy’s is pulling out all the stops, launching ed States is around 20% overall, though growing eight BTS-targeting apparel lines — including rapidly. So maybe this is a genius plan. Glee, Jessica Simpson as well as lines created No doubt we’ll see more promotions anby Madonna and Kimora Lee Simmons — denounced in the next few weeks. I expect a lot of buting the Kinect for Xbox 360 in select stores campaigns tied to Facebook and mCommerce. with gaming stations for the new controller-free According to the Forrester Research, 75% of ongames and launching an online style lab where line retailers are ramping up their mobile marfashion lovers can interact. keting initiatives, while one-fifth claim to already operate Kohl’s is combining digital with do-goodery, driv- a fully fledged mobile operation. ing fans to its Facbook page to vote on which 20 schools That’s good news for the American Eagle kids, now that should split a $10 million charitable donation from the they’ll all be running around with free smartphones. HTT
Jennifer Marks
Growth vs. Recovery “For this business, it’s a recovery that isn’t quite happening yet – and needs a lot more creativity in product and marketing to make it happen.”
L
OOK ING AT THE June same store sales results Even Stein Mart, which has been struggling, appears to from most of the major players in a number of be regaining traction under a new management team and retail segments, it almost seemed to be a ban- approach to business. quet of good news. But still, the results need to be compared with 2008, But stepping back a bit and looking at the numbers, which for many retailers was not an all-bad year. When we shouldn’t be getting ready to party like it’s looking at those numbers compared with June New Year’s Eve. 2010, there’s still a long way to go to get back Yes, for those retailers that sell home furto a “normal” sales pace. nishings — and home textiles in particular on Add to this what seems to be a universal atFOUNDING the listings — June wasn’t a bad month. But betitude that the recovery is not here in a broad EDITOR-IN-CHIEF fore the celebrations begin, let’s look at where brush manner — and it looks like we’re back these companies are — and where they were a to “recovery” not growth for the next few quaryear ago— and just sneak a peek back two years ago. ters. Looks like all of the reporting department stores in the Back-to-School is not going to hack it for the home home textiles world came out ahead of 2009 in comps. world in the next quarter, so we can definitely expect to But if they hadn’t there would be even more of a crisis. see more coupons, more bottom of the barrel promos and Even a couple of the most challenged managed to pull more degradation of price points. into the plus lane for June. For this business, it’s a recovery that isn’t quite hapAnd in the mass merchant/discounter segment, the pening yet – and needs a lot more creativity in product same held true — and here with more emphasis on gains. and marketing to make it happen. HTT
Carole Sloan
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COPY EDITOR Julie Murphy (646) 805-0224 | jmurphy@hometextilestoday.com DIRECTOR OF MARKET RESEARCH Dana French (336) 605-1091 | dfrench@sandowmedia.com PUBLISHER Joseph V. Carena Jr. (203) 321-0232 | jcarena@hometextilestoday.com ACCOUNT MANAGER SOUTH/EAST Jeff Reeves (336) 605-1009 | jreeves@hometextilestoday.com ACCOUNT MANAGER Mary McLoughlin (646) 805-0227 | mmcloughlin@hometextilestoday.com CLASSIFIED AD SALES Spencer Whittle (336) 605-1027 swhittle@sandowmedia.com Karen Hancock (336) 605-1047 khancock@sandowmedia.com MANAGER, CHINA Nancy Yu Tel: 86 (0) 21 5126 0111; Fax: 86 (0) 21 6539 0321 nancy@oceaniamedia.net MANAGER, EUROPE Mirek Kraczkowski Tel: 48 22 401 70 01; Fax: 48 22 401 70 16 | kraczko@aol.com MANAGER, INDIA Kaushal Shah Cell: 91-9821715431; Tel: 91-22-6663 4597 / 24988658 Fax: 91-22-66634596 | kj_reeds@yahoo.co.in ONLINE SALES MANAGER Penny Schneck (336) 605-1084 | pschneck@sandowmedia.com PRODUCTION MANAGER Rich Lamb Tel: (336) 605-1074; Fax: (336) 605-1143 | rlamb@ sandowmedia.com MANAGER, CLIENT SERVICES, WEB ADVERTISING Dan Sage | (336) 605-1080 | dsage@sandowmedia.com E-MEDIA PROJECT MANAGER Missy Axe | (336) 605-1005 | maxe@sandowmedia.com DIRECTOR OF AUDIENCE MARKETING Allison Ternes (704) 573-9007 | aternes@sandowmedia.com VP, PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Kevin Castellani (336) 605-1034 | kcastellani@sandowmedia.com
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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 30 times a year except for the weeks of 1/18, 2/1, 2/15, 3/15, 3/29, 4/5, 4/19, 5/3, 5/17, 5/31, 6/14, 6/28, 7/5, 8/2, 8/23, 8/30, 9/20, 10/4, 10/18, 11/1, 11/15, 11/29, 12/13 and 12/27 plus extra issues 1/26 and 11/22, 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 ©2010 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.4202803. 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; Box 697 STN A, Windsor Ontario N9A 6N4. Printed in the USA.
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Shaw Launches “Web Studio” Online Tools Program DALTON , G A . — Shaw Floors recently launched the Shaw Web Studio program for flooring retailer customers. Shaw Web Studio comprises new web products that allow Shaw’s customers to create new web sites or add Shaw product catalogs and other content to existing web sites. Misty Hodge, Shaw’s web services manager, said Shaw Web Studio is designed to address retailers’ hurdles – such as difficulty with time, cost and technology expertise – related to using the Internet as a busi-
ness tool. “Research indicates that almost 70% of consumers shop online before entering the store,” she said. “Shaw Web Studio allows Shaw’s retailers to become a virtual storefront that is always open.” Shaw’s program helps retailers customize websites, automatically update product cat alogs, create micro-sites within existing sites, and automate delivery of product images and data, among other capabilities. Retailers can choose from
20 design templates and get the site up and running in minutes at a cost that starts at $95 per plan monthly. To enhance an existing site, tools include a Shaw-powered product catalog that is customizable and maintenance-free and is continuously updated with carpet, area rug, hardwood, laminate and tile and stone products. Additionally, dat a stream automatically delivers product data and images so retailers can keep their Shaw product information up to date. HTT
NRF Backs House-Senate Conference Committee Approval of Debit Card-related Fee WASHINGTON — The National Retail Federation said last month that it welcomed a House-Senate conference committee’s decision to include a fix for rapidly rising debit card swipe fees in the final version of financial services reform legislation approved early this morning. “The conference committee has struck a blow for small retailers and their customers,” said Mallory Duncan, svp and general counsel, NRF. “For years, these soaring fees have been taking billions of dollars out of consumers’ pockets and driving up prices.” If adopted by Congress and implemented by the Federal Reserve, he continued, “this legislation will put an end to retailers being forced to accept ‘Visa dollars’ that are only worth 98 cents today and whatever Visa decides they’re worth tomorrow. This bill will take us a lot clos-
er to a dollar really being a dollar again.” In late June, a House-Senate conference committee negotiating over financial services reform legislation voted 27 to 16 in favor of its final version of the bill. A House vote was expected to take place June 29 followed by a Senate vote later next week. The conference report includes an amendment sponsored by Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin, D-Ill., that would require the Federal Reserve to set regulations resulting in “reasonable and proportional” swipe fees for debit cards. Specifically, the Fed would be required to take into account banks’ actual costs for processing the transactions and the fact that paper checks drawn on the same accounts are paid at face value. The amendment would also make it easier for merchants to
offer discounts or other benefits for customers who don’t use credit cards, and to set minimum purchase amounts for credit cards. Swipe fees, which are officially known as “interchange fees,” are a percentage of the transaction charged by card company banks each time a card is swiped to pay for a purchase. The fees average between 1% and 2% for debit cards and 2% or more for credit cards. Overall swipe fees charged to retailers and other business by Visa and MasterCard banks totaled $48 billion in 2008. The pass-along to consumers resulted in higher prices estimated by NRF at $427 for the average household, according to the association. Debit swipe fees alone amount to about $20 billion of the annual total, the NRF noted. HTT
Harlequin Seeking Licenses in Home NEW YORK — Harlequin Enterprises Limited, publisher of series romance books for women, has signed with Brandgenuity to develop a strategic licensing program in home, gifts, collectibles and other merchandise categories.
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“We are thrilled to be working with Harlequin, a brand that encompasses excitement, inspiration and, best of all, romance,” said Adina Avery-Grossman, managing director at Brandgenuity. “Through extraordinary licensing partnerships and brand-right prod-
ucts and experiences, we hope to transport Harlequin beyond books and further into the lives of women who love to read.” Harlequin, which releases more than 110 titles each month, has sold nearly 6 billion books. HTT
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WithIt Announces 2010 Scholarship Winners G REENSBORO, N.C. — WithIt, the women’s leadership network serving the home and furnishings industries, has awarded Jena and Stephen B. Hall Scholarships to two students pursuing degrees in careers related to design and home and furnishings industries. The 2010 recipients are: Sarah K. Callaham, an Appalachian State University student pursuing degrees in architectural technology/design and interior design; and Amarinh Kongmanivong, an interior design student attending Randolph Community College. Both are being awarded $2,500 each, which is to be applied toward tuition expenses. “WithIt is pleased to award this year’s ambitious recipients, one of whom is just beginning her college experience, while the other is a career-change professional who is following her AMARINH KONGMANIVONG passion for design after a multi-year military career,” said Cameron Cook, WithIt’s Scholarship Foundation vice president and public relations manager for Four Hands. Scholarships are presented annually by WithIt - www.WithIt.org - in July to college students enrolled full-time in fields of study that will lead to careers in the home and furnishing industries, including decorative accessory design, architecSARAH tural design, forestry, furniture design, textiles CALLAHAM design, graphic design, interior architecture, sustainable design or other majors related to the home and furnishings industries. HTT
Increasingly Plugged in Cell Phone Users Spell Opportunity WASHINGTON — As more American use their cell phones for web browsing, m-commerce is creating “a paradigm shift” in retailing, according to the National Retail Federation. “Americans expect more from their phones than the ability to talk to family and friends,” said NRF president and ceo Matt Shay. “Aside from sending pictures and sharing stories and experiences over social networking sites, consumers want to be able to connect with their favorite retailers in a way they never have been able to before - instantaneously.” Nine in 10 americans now have cell phones, according to a recent survey by BigResearch for the National Retail Federation’s Mobile Retail Initiative. The survey found 41.5 per-
cent of adults want a cell phone with internet access, compared to just under one-third (32.6%) who said so in July 2008. More than half (51.4%) of adults 1834 years old say they want to be able to surf the web on their phone, compared to the 41.0 percent who said so in July 2008. “The combination of new technologies coupled with consumers’ desire to adopt these new apps are redefining the cell phone into a ‘consumer communicator’,” said Phil Rist, executive vp of strategy, BIGresearch. “Marketers and retailers should leverage shopper’s needs to stay connected by providing information and communications to assist them with their purchase decisions.” HTT
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