Down Bedding News

Sleep Trouble: Is Your Pillow To Blame?

2006-06-14T14:34:00.000-07:00

Most people know what they like in a pillow. But do pillows have anything to do with allergies, neck pain, insomnia and health in general? If you're comfy with your old favorite, should you switch? Here's a roundup of what we know.

Mites and molds
Dust mites and a wide variety of fungi and pet allergens (which provoke allergies in some people) are likely to infest pillows--all kinds of pillows, new and old, feathers, polyester, foam, and other synthetics. The conventional wisdom about the non-allergenic qualities of synthetics, as opposed to feathers and down, has been overthrown. According to Dr. Ashley Woodcock, who led a study recently at the University of Manchester in England, synthetic pillows usually have more dust mites and fungi than feather pillows (there's a "miniature ecosystem" in all of them, he said). It could be that more allergens accumulate in synthetic pillows because their covers are usually more porous. More tightly woven covers may be protective, he suggested, though that remains to be investigated. Other recent studies have had similar findings.

Forecast For Spending On Furniture & Bedding

2006-06-14T14:32:00.000-07:00

According to AKTRIN, a reporting and consulting firm that specializes in the furniture industry, real GDP grew at a seasonally adjusted, annualized rate of 1.7% in the 4th quarter of 2005. This is the lowest rate recorded since early 2003. This – however – does not signify a fundamental weakness in the American economy. It was due to Katrina and an unusually cold December that took a toll on hiring and consumer spending. For the full year of 2005 GDP grew 3.5%.

Growth during the first half of this year stood at an annualized rate of 3.9%. It may slow a bit in the second half, averaging about 3.3% for the year as a whole.

Helped by an increase in job creation last year, personal income may hold up better than the economy as a whole. The growth rate stood at 5.5% in 2005. It will probably accelerate to 5.8% this year but – in conjunction with less robust employment growth in 2006 – it may slow down a bit in next year. Nevertheless, we believe personal income growth will remain above the 5% mark. If we take inflation and taxes into account, the anticipated growth rate of real disposable income will be much less, that is only about 3.1% this year and 2.8% next year. This is still a respectable rate if compared to the 1.5% in 2005.

Growth of American consumer spending stood at 3.6% last year. Due to higher interest rates, growth of consumer spending will lag behind the growth of personal income. It may remain above 3% this year but almost certainly fall below that mark in 2007.

The durable consumer good market is subject to erratic fluctuations as such goods are quite sensitive to interest rates. After growing at 9.3% in the third quarter of 2005, it fell by a staggering 16.6% in the last quarter only to rise again to 9.5% in the first quarter of this year (all rates are annualized). The average annual growth last year amounted to 4.4%. Durable good consumption will grow only at an estimated 1% in 2006 but recover a bit in 2007 if interest rates stabilize. The relatively low growth rate of durable consumer good spending is largely due to disappointing automobile sales. Excluding this factor, durable consumer spending would be noticeably higher.

Thanks to low mortgage rates, residential construction was a very strong sector of the American economy during the past two years. The performance in 2005 slowed down a bit, but at a growth rate of 7.2% (in value terms) it remained robust. The housing market is now oversupplied, and growth may drop to as low as 1.3% this year and probably suffer a decline in 2007. In volume terms, this translates to 2.07 million new housing units in 2005 but only an expected 1.89 million in 2006.

Furniture consumption in the USA was weak during the first three years of this century. After only one year with a strong growth performance of 7.9% in 2004, the market slowed down again to a meager 0.7% last year. In line with the advances of disposable income, we foresee a slightly better rate of 4.0% in 2006. This would bring the market value to about $ 82 billion this year.

Bringing Hotel Luxury Home

2006-04-10T10:38:00.000-07:00

Jennifer Candotti's husband recently gave her a gift: a quiet night away from him and their baby in a nearby hotel. "It was such a great night," she said. "I was by myself. I was so, so comfortable."

The next morning, she reflected on what made her feel so cozy - the featherbed mattress pad, the down comforter, the feather and down pillow, the 300-thread-count sheets and even the bed skirt, because it matched so nicely. Ultimately, her stay produced sensations associated with royalty.

"I just didn't want it to end," she said. It didn't have to.

Candotti went back to her home in Brookeville, Md., and did something thousands of hotel guests now do every day: She logged on to the hotel's website and went shopping. She ordered, for $1,500, just about everything her body touched. By the end of the week she had the goods, which she used to turn her guest room into a hotel at home.

The days of hotel guests stealing Ritz-Carlton towels are gone. Now they just buy the room, or even the lobby - the shower curtains, the lamps, the carpet, the chairs, the chaises, the desks, the beds, the bedding, the soap, the dishes, the flatware and pricey artwork on the wall. The hotels sell all this in an effort to tap into the dreams of the American consumer, who has already been rapidly trading up to other high-end products, such as $60 bottles of vodka, $200 designer jeans and pricey chocolate.

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Cleaning, storing winter bedding

2006-04-05T11:12:00.000-07:00

The Coin Laundry Association and sfgate.com offers tips on storing winter bedding:

-Read care labels. Laundering can save money over dry cleaning but certain fabrics, such as satin, can't be washed. Make sure you follow the directions on the label.

-Some wool blankets can be washed and dried. Use cold water on a gentle cycle and fluff dry. Add some towels to help absorb moisture and cut down on drying time.

-Wash and dry flannel sheets separately because of the lint factor. Be sure not to over-dry. Over-drying can cause wrinkles to set and colors to fade.

-- When drying your bedding, use a fabric-softening sheet as opposed to a liquid softener. Fabrics, such as down, have a tendency to absorb the liquid unevenly.

-Wash colored bedding in a mild detergent. Whites should be followed up with an oxygenated bleach. Avoid chlorine bleaches, which leave a residue that is hard to clean and can cause discoloration over time.

-Be kind to your bedding. Wash and dry in large-capacity machines. Most household washers can hold 10 to 12 pounds of laundry. This is not large enough for a queen-size comforter. Commercial-grade washers, found at most coin laundries, can handle as much as 75 pounds of wash.

Hotels Donate Linens to Homeless Shelter

2006-04-01T17:44:00.000-08:00

The Road Home Shelter is getting thousands of sheets and towels to help the homeless feel a little more comfortable at the shelter. The donation is a team effort from several companies.

In a room at Orem's Hampton Inn and Suites, bags and bags of sheets, pillow cases and towels are stacked and waiting to be laundered. Five different hotels donated the linens and then staff at the Hampton Inn and Suites agreed to launder and fold it. Tina Phillips, Exec. Housekeeping, Hampton Inn and Suites Orem: "They are doing their full eight hours of work during the day, then they punch out at 4:30 and stay until 8:00 or 9:00 at night to launder the linens, wash, fold and bag them up."

The donation is a team effort. The University Inn, two Hilton Hotels and Crystal Inns donated the linens. Proctor and Gamble Professional sponsors the program called "Linens from Lodging", and along with its distributor, Hyko, donated the Tide, Downy and Clorox to clean them.

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WestPoint Home Announces Joint Venture With Indus Dyeing for Towel Production in Pakistan

2006-03-30T11:47:00.000-08:00

WestPoint Home today announced a joint venture with Indus Dyeing & Manufacturing Co., Limited for production of towels in Pakistan. The joint venture, to be known as Indus Home Limited, will acquire and expand an existing modern Indus facility outside Lahore, Pakistan.

The resulting Indus Home complex in Pakistan will be a vertical towel production facility, including yarn preparation, weaving, finishing and fabrication. The facility is already supplying product to WestPoint Home and will ramp up production over the next several months.

"This joint venture is a vital step in restoring WestPoint Home as the
industry's low-cost vendor and advancing the Company in the global market," said WPH Chief Executive Officer Joseph Pennacchio. "We have made this commitment after an extensive analysis of a wide range of opportunities. This joint venture will further strengthen our ability to compete with all domestic and international producers, while enhancing our long-established leadership in customer service and product quality.

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Wash Bedding properly

2006-03-25T13:30:00.000-08:00

As winter melts into spring, lighter linens and cotton sheets will replace down-filled comforters and fuzzy flannels. But bedding can be an expensive investment. Before packing up the warm winter bedding, make sure to launder properly. The following guidelines from the Coin Laundry Association will help extend their life:

# Be kind to your bedding. Wash and dry in large-capacity machines. Most household washers can hold between 10- to 12-pounds of laundry. This is not large enough for a queen-size comforter. Commercial-grade washers can handle up to 75 pounds of wash and are best for cleaning bedding. Using larger machines will extend the life of your comforter and your home washer and dryer.

# Wash colored bedding in a mild detergent. Whites should be followed up with an oxygenated-bleach. Avoid chlorine bleaches, which leave a residue that is hard to clean and can cause discoloration over time.

# When drying your bedding, use a fabric-softening sheet as opposed to a liquid softener. Fabrics, such as down, have a tendency to absorb the liquid unevenly.

# Contrary to popular opinion, you can wash down-filled bedding. Be sure to read the care instructions, but most down comforters and pillows can be laundered. Use a mild detergent to wash and when drying put some clean tennis balls in the dryer to help fluff and distribute the down.

# Wash and dry flannel sheets separately. Flannel has a tendency to deposit lint in the dryer. Perhaps the most important care instruction for flannel is not to over-dry. Over-drying can cause wrinkles to set and colors to fade.

# Wool blankets can be washed and dried! Use cold water on a gentle cycle and fluff dry. Add some towels to help absorb moisture and cut down on drying time.

# Save time and use a drop-off service.

# Always read the care labels. Laundering comforters and bedspreads at the laundry saves money over dry cleaning, but certain fabrics, such as satin, cannot be washed and should be taken to a professional dry cleaner.

Care tips for Bed Linens

2006-03-21T09:06:00.000-08:00

If you wash your sheets, you're doing only part of the job.

All bed linens need to be cleaned from time to time. Here are some pointers from the Soap and Detergent Association:

All linens: Check the care label to determine whether the item can be laundered at home or needs to be dry cleaned. If the item is washable, follow the recommendations on the label.

Comforters, quilts and mattress pads: Queen- or king-size comforters may not fit in regular-size washers and dryers. If they don't, take them to a coin-operated laundry with large-capacity machines.

Pretreat heavily soiled areas with a prewash product.

Toss a few dry, clean towels into the dryer with the comforter or mattress pad to keep the filling from clumping. If you can find clean, white tennis balls, those work well, too.

Pillows: Wash two pillows at a time, agitating only one or two minutes on a gentle cycle.

Machine dry. During the drying cycle, periodically take the pillows out and fluff them to prevent clumping and promote even drying.

-- Mary Beth Breckenridge

If body aches, consider buying a better pillow

2006-03-17T09:31:00.000-08:00

Odds are, you're not paying too much attention to the pillow you cradle your head on night after night. But maybe you should. Using the wrong kind of pillow or one that is just worn out not only can lead to a poor night's sleep, but also can contribute to body aches, allergies and asthma.

"When people come in and say they have neck and shoulder pain, the first thing I ask is what (pillow) are they sleeping on," says Sandy Colley, director of sales at Joanne's Bed and Back, a Washington-area chain. (Often, she says, it's a down pillow bunched up for support, which can result in tension to neck muscles).

Colley says factors to consider when pillow shopping include: sleep habits (whether you lie on your back or side), length of neck and width of shoulders, personal preferences and budget. While the idea of spending more than $20 on a pillow may seem extravagant to some, the health benefits may be worth it.

Having a soft spot to rest one's head while sleeping is important, but "the goal of a good pillow," she says, "is to keep your neck in better postural alignment."

Hollander Home Fashions, manufacturer of one of every three pillows sold in the United States, offers more tips:

Determine your pillow style: Stomach sleepers need a soft pillow with little elevation; back sleepers need a medium pillow with moderate elevation; side sleepers need a firmer pillow with higher elevation.

Keep it fresh: Pillows should be replaced every one to two years. A pillow past its prime could contain a high level of dust mites, which can increase breathing disorders, asthma or allergies.

The telltale signs: Pillows that have reached the end of the road will often feel lumpy or flat and will not re-fluff very well.

Take the test: To determine whether your pillow needs replacing, Fold your pillow in half. Place a tennis shoe on top of the folded half. If the pillow throws the shoe off, it still has some life. If the pillow remains folded with the shoe on top, it needs to be replaced.

Down comforters can reduce home energy costs

2006-03-13T10:38:00.000-08:00

Consumers can see significant savings by lowering nighttime thermostat

With energy costs now at record levels, an investment in a down comforter can have significant returns. A local manufacturer of down comforters and accessories, reports that turning the thermostat down at night can save the typical household an average of up to $300 for the 2005-2006 winter heating season.

Sleeping under a down comforter is a very effective way to stay comfortable in a cool bedroom. Down is the best natural insulator, and because it keeps sleepers warm with minimal weight on the body, it's a good choice for children or frail elderly, who may be particularly sensitive to the cold. (Note that down bedding is NOT recommended for cribs.)

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To Take the Fight Out of Your Pillow

2006-03-10T10:13:00.000-08:00

Pick A Perfect Pillow For A Great Night's Sleep

2006-03-08T11:46:00.000-08:00

When was the last time you replaced your pillow. Do you even know what kind of pillow you have? Well considering we spend a third of our lives in bed, it's good to know where you lay your head. Before you go shopping, you need to know what to look for. NY1 stopped by Bloomingdale's for a little pillow talk.

"Most people who come in really have no idea what they are sleeping on, so there are two things to consider. First how do you sleep – do you sleep on your stomach, your back, your side – and what sort of filling do you prefer," says Elizabeth Quarta of Bloomingdales.

With so many pillows on the market, it's hard not to buy into the fluff. But, basically there are 2 types of pillows: natural and synthetic. The best natural pillow you can get is 100 percent goose down, but it's also the most expensive, so there are some alternatives.

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Creature Comforts: Readers donate squares that are turned into cat blankets for local animal shelters

2006-03-07T09:13:00.000-08:00

We who live with cats know they are heat-seeking pleasure lovers, that they will appropriate for themselves the warmest, cushiest places in the house. If an afghan rests on the back of a chair, the cat will lie on it. If a soft pillow is propped on an easy chair, the cat will cuff it down onto the seat and pat it into a bed. Leave a sweater on a chair and the resident puss will rearrange it to make itself a cozy nest.

But orphaned cats waiting to be adopted often live in confinement at animal shelters without the option of ferreting out soft, comfortable places to doze or contemplate the world. That thought prompted me in January to ask readers to knit or crochet and send to me 6-inch squares that could be sewn into bedding or what I have come to refer to as "cat mats."

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The Ultimate Pillow Fighting Championship

2006-02-27T08:57:00.000-08:00

In training for the first ever pillow fight club at Justin Herman Plaza yesterday evening, we upped our protein intake and worked on our cardio and conditioning. We honestly did not know what to expect, all we knew is that we didn't want to be out of breath, like so many laps around the school yard we completed in elementary school.

Arriving thirty minutes early, we started warming up, roadwork, push-ups, a couple of rounds of shadowboxing. Sure, we do Muay Thai, but for all intents and purposes we are an embarrassment to the sport, and a career in combat sports will never open up for us. We figured that this will be only our chance to shine. This will be our Rocky moment, our thrilla in Manila.

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Fall asleep with the Sound Pillow

2006-02-21T09:20:00.000-08:00

Do you enjoy falling asleep to music? Well this should appeal to you. A pillow with built-in secret speakers that "surround you in sound" when connected to a portable music player has been launched by the RNID in the UK.

The Sound Pillow is recommended by the RNID for listening to audio books or even podcasts, but was originally developed to help relieve symptoms of tinnitus - a ringing sound in the ears or in the head. Even if you don't suffer from hearing problems, it's still worth a look if you just want to nod off to your favourite tunes without the hassle of headphones.

The musical pillow costs $49.00usd, not a massive amount more than that other sleeping aid - the Coldplay CD.

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Memory Foam Furniture Introduces New Luxurpedic Memory Foam Mattresses and Memory Foam Couches and Chairs

2006-02-07T08:34:00.000-08:00

Memory Foam Furniture introduces Memory Foam Couches and Chairs, incorporating fine Italian leather and memory foam to create the most luxurious seating surface available today. Their line of Luxurpedic Mattresses have been redesigned to offer even greater sleep to their customers.

Luxurpedic memory foam mattresses have been redesigned to offer an even greater level of comfort. The Euphoria mattress incorporates a six inch layer of tri-zoned latex and 4 inches of 5.3 lb. memory foam. Latex provides greater support than a traditional polyeurethane base.

Memory Foam Furniture is run by a disabled veteran and his wife. The owner has Fibromyalgia, Arthritis, and permanent nerve damage due to military service. He purchased a memory foam mattress topper from Wal-Mart and has been infatuated with the product ever since. Luxurpedic Bedding is the product of over 10 years of research with design assistance from Chiropractors and Physicians. Every mattress is designed to provide the best sleeping surface for an individual and their current situation. Whether you suffer from back pain, restlessness, or just want a luxurious, pressure free sleep environment, there are models that fit your situation. Their sleep and furniture experts are on call to answer any questions and help customers find the best mattresses.

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You'll rest easy with the right comforter

2006-02-02T08:44:00.000-08:00

Choosing a comforter can be a chore.

So many options are out there and most are expensive, even at discount stores. People also use comforters differently. Many buy a purely decorative comforter, using it as a bedspread and layering blankets and sheets underneath. Others buy a down comforter and a duvet cover, so warm that no flat sheet or blanket is required.

A decorative comforter for an adult, usually filled with polyester, starts at more than $150 for a queen. A good-quality down or silk comforter costs at least $300. Plan on spending at least $100 more for a duvet cover.

Decorative comforters are best for kids' rooms because they can be thrown into the washing machine a few times a month. Although they're less expensive, they wear faster. Their colors fade, and they eventually show dirt because their bulk makes them difficult to launder in the average machine.

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Quality material, careful work produce linens that last for years

2006-01-30T10:22:00.000-08:00

Question: What should consumers look for in linens?

Answer: It depends on what your priorities are. If you want new and different all the time and you're likely to switch out your bedspread or your sheets once a year, then you might not care that much about quality. If you like things that are classic and timeless -- and will last for years to come -- then you should look for the little details of quality construction.
If you look at a well-made quilt or sheet or even a pillow, you can see the little tiny tucks, the quality of the embroidery, the fine stitching that makes a big difference over time.

When you look at antique quilts, you'll see these details. They're the reason that the quilts are still around today. If you seek out quilts made today with that same attention to detail, then you're investing in something that you can hand down to your children.

There's now this big trend toward producing linens that have an upscale appearance but aren't upscale in terms of construction. You can tell the difference between a well-constructed sheet and pillow just by looking at the lace and embroidery, looking at the tucks and the stitching. Better pillows should be filled, at least partly, with feather or down, not just foam. You can wash a high-quality sheet over and over again and you'll still be using it in 35 years. Most sheets made today won't last nearly as long.

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Luxury Linens for the Masses

2006-01-27T10:53:00.000-08:00

By: Kelli B. Grant

More and more consumers are saying "yes," as luxury bedding becomes a staple rather than a splurge in many households.

Over the past five years, consumers' obsession with bedding has shown no bounds. After taking a roll in high-end sheets (usually at hotels), they've decided this is something they need in their everyday lives, says Pam Danziger, president of Unity Marketing, which researches luxury consumer marketing.

Manufacturers have stepped up to the plate, offering high quality bedding at lower prices, says Dana Poor, a home-trend forecaster for Cotton Incorporated, a trade group. Martha Stewart started the trend with her bedding collection at Kmart, offering several price points with different thread counts. Suddenly, even the cost-conscious started to wonder if it was worth it to pay a little more for a slice of the good life.

Today, high-end bedding is the second-most commonly purchased luxury item, preceded only by electronics, according to Unity Marketing's 2005 Luxury Consumption Index. According to the firm, the average consumer spent a whopping $3,000 on luxury bedding during 2005. Of those consumers, 65% bought sheet and pillow sets, 40% bought comforters, bedspreads and throws, and 30% bought pillows and pillow accents.

Between the Sheets
If you're looking for truly luxurious sheets, expect to spend at least $500. Sheet sets from Frette, an Italian company that caters to aristocrats, luxury hotels and even the Vatican (it's rumored that they make the Pope's robes) regularly go for more than $1,000. And Poor warns that many of your local department store's heavily advertised specials say 1,000-thread-count sheets for $40 won't qualify as luxury. "There's no way anyone can produce a product for that cost that is quality," she says.

So how does one find sheets fit enough for society's most refined tastes? Here's what to look for:

Thread count
This popular buzzword is a measure of how many threads (horizontal and vertical) are in one square inch of the fabric. According to a 2005 survey by Cotton Incorporated, 34% of consumers cited thread count as the most important element influencing the sheets they bought.

Experts disagree on the lowest number acceptable as luxury, but generally the limit is 300. Thread count is "an ever-moving target," says Marcia Weiss, a visiting assistant professor at Philadelphia University's School of Engineering and Textiles, who notes that companies continue to debut higher counts. Nevertheless, the higher the thread count, the better the sheet.

But don't make this the sole factor you look for, says Poor. "Thread count is not necessarily a depiction of the quality of that product," she says. Even 1,000-thread-count sheets won't help if the quality of the fibers is inferior. Cramming in too many threads to boost thread count is a common trick, as is using bulky double-ply threads instead of single ply. The result: sheets that are lumpy, bumpy and rough. And clearly there's nothing luxurious about that.

Fibers
Look for sheets that are 100% cotton, linen or silk. Polyester blends are not considered luxury, nor is flannel or jersey bedding. The best materials are Egyptian, Pima or Supima cotton, says Weiss. They're known to have long, fine fibers, which result in a softer, more luxurious feel.

You can also go the extra mile and check the staple or length of the fibers. This affects how strong and smooth the finished sheet will be. Check the package description for "long staple" or "extra long staple."

Fiber Spinning technique
Fibers may be combed or carded into thread, though combed is preferred, says Weiss. This information is often included on the package.

Weave
The two most popular weaves, or finishes, are sateen and percale. Sateens are woven so that more of the thread is exposed on the surface-face of the cloth, which gives it a softer feel. The soft drape hugs your skin. Percale, on the other hand, is a close weave that tends to be crisper and less apt to drape. (For a more detailed explanation of these terms, click here.)

Craft
Luxury bedding includes attention to details, says Weiss. This may include added touches like pleats or embroidery. "Check for loose threads and things not well-constructed," she advises. "You need to be the detective."

Your Own Luxury Linens
Look at labels all you want. Ultimately, what set you buy (and thus, how much you spend) will depend on these two personal preferences:

Hand
The term "hand" pretty much combines all of the attributes above. It indicates texture, fineness and durability, as well as how the sheet will drape. In short, it's a term for the feel of the sheet, and is the best indicator for how happy you'll be with this bedding wrapped around you, says Poor.

To get the best sense of hand, take the sheets out of the package while you're in the store. (Ignore angry looks from the sales clerks.) "You need to feel sheets before you buy them," says Poor. If you're doing your shopping online, try to find bedding you like in stores first, she recommends. Then bargain shop.

Care
Sad but true: You can tell a high-quality sheet by its wrinkles the higher the thread count, the more it wrinkles, says Poor. Bedding with high thread counts can also be more difficult to care for there are often special washing instructions to keep the thin threads from breaking. So if you don't have time to iron your sheets (or someone to iron them for you), factor that into the bedding you select. In other words, if you're happy with the feel of 600-thread-count sheets, maybe you don't need to spend the extra money for the 800s.

Spacify Introduces Contemporary Bedroom Design Ideas and Designer Bathroom Furniture

2006-01-26T12:35:00.000-08:00

Spacify, Inc. (http://www.spacify.com), a leading provider of designer contemporary furniture on-line, announced today that it is launching a new line of designer bedroom and bathroom furniture that is in-stock, and can be shipped with short lead times. Along with the modern platform beds and bedroom suites, Spacify is also offering luxury bedding to complement the bedroom offerings.

There is also a brand new collection of designer bathroom cabinets, bathroom faucets and bathroom accessories that are in-stock, and ready to ship. These collections have been put together to provide the bedroom design ideas for designer bathrooms with an integrated look that complement each other nicely. Ample storage is provided in these bedroom suites and bathroom cabinets to provide clean, and elegant design.

"The consumer is very selective about the most private rooms of their home," commented Amita Sharma, founder and CEO of Spacify. "Customers prefer bedroom design ideas that blend the modern design of the bedroom suites, modern bedding, and bathroom cabinets for their taste," she added.

The Crono bedroom suite comes with elegant and simple lines, with maximum modularity of the components, mostly upholstered in leather & supported by stainless steel feet.

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Highlights from the Atlanta International Area Rug market:

2006-01-23T10:48:00.000-08:00

Milliken made its largest ever debut of new product -- totaling more than 2,200 SKUs. At the forefront is the company's new Milliken Design Center of coordinating broadloom and area rugs, which come in eight sizes -- four rectangles, one round and three runners. Among the patterns are traditional looks, sport themes and animal skin patterns. All of these products are made of 100% nylon.

-- Veratex, barely two years into the rug business, introduced its first company-made line, comprising only product the company designed and developed in-house. There are about 60 new rugs, including 10 Soumaks, 10 wool-and-viscose blends, four tufted cottons, six printed acrylics, six tufted acrylics and eight indoor-outdoor, among several others. The company also showed 12 scatter collections in various constructions, including cotton chenilles and basic cotton. In April, Veratex will expand its scatter offerings.

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Rest easy with high-quality sheets and quilts

2006-01-18T10:40:00.000-08:00

Name: Lynne Taylor

Position: Designer, Taylor Linens, Temecula, Calif.

Resume: Taylor began designing quilts 20 years ago. She later worked as a marketing representative for home furnishings manufacturers before opening Taylor Linens in 1998.

Quote: "When shopping for a quilt, pay attention to the small details that will tell you how it was made."

Q: What should consumers look for in linens?

A: It depends on what your priorities are. If you want new and different all the time and you're likely to switch out your bedspread or your sheets once a year, then you might not care that much about quality. If you like things that are classic and timeless -- and that will last for years to come -- then you should look for the little details of quality construction.

If you look at a well-made quilt or sheet or even a pillow, you can see the little tiny tucks, the quality of the embroidery, the fine stitching that makes a big difference over time.

Click Here for Full Interview

Linens 'n Things deal gets U.S. antitrust approval

2006-01-17T12:37:00.000-08:00

U.S. antitrust authorities said on Tuesday they approved plans by Linens 'n Things Inc. to be taken over by private equity firm Apollo Management L.P. and its affiliates.

Officials have completed their investigation of the $1.3 billion deal without taking action, the Federal Trade Commission said in a notice.

Linens 'n Things faces stiff competition from larger rival Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. and discounters such as Target Corp. ), which have expanded home decor offerings.

Under the terms of the Apollo deal, financing is contingent upon Linens 'n Things reporting a fourth-quarter comparable sales decline of no more than 6 percent and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of not less than $140 million.

Get a Comfortable Sleep with Perfect Down Comforter

2006-01-16T13:41:00.000-08:00

Choosing a comforter can be a chore.

So many options are out there and most are expensive, even at discount stores. People also use comforters differently. Many buy a purely decorative comforter, using it as a bedspread and layering blankets and sheets underneath. Others buy a down comforter and a duvet cover, so warm that no flat sheet or blanket is required.

A decorative comforter for an adult, usually filled with polyester, starts at more than $150 for a queen. A good-quality down or silk comforter costs at least $300. Plan on spending at least $100 more for a duvet cover.

Decorative comforters are best for kids' rooms, because they can be thrown into the washing machine a few times a month. Although they're less expensive, they wear faster. Their colors fade and they eventually show dirt, because their bulk makes them difficult to launder in the average machine.

But a down or silk comforter, with a duvet cover and proper maintenance, can last more than 20 years. Like quilts, they can become heirlooms. Before shopping, consider these aspects.

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Dormia Mattresses Hires Connie Post Companies To Update Retail Concept

2006-01-13T15:54:00.000-08:00

Following an extensive review process, Dormia Mattresses, a leading manufacturer and retailer of premium specialty sleep surfaces, has chosen the Connie Post Companies to recreate its growing, upscale, mall-based retail concept.

Specializing in premium visco-elastic foam and latex mattresses retailing from $1,000 to $7,000, Dormia is the retail arm of Jessup-MD-based manufacturer Classic Sleep Products. Conceived as a web-based business in the early '90s, Dormia's early growth mirrored that of the Internet and eventually led to the launch of dedicated retail stores. The firm currently operates 21 stores in as many states, as well as the District of Columbia, and plans to open nine more stores this year, with a national rollout to come.

The Connie Post Companies is a portfolio of businesses that comprise the leading design and strategic brand development firm in the home furnishings industry.

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Thread Count 350, but Who's Counting?

2006-01-12T11:02:00.000-08:00

Source: NYTimes.com

Although you may have to squint to see the discreet signs, sales abound this month at these polite Old World emporiums, discounts of 25 percent and upward. Yes, expensive: at Porthault the most basic set of bed linen in queen size, a bottom and a top sheet and two shams, begins at around $800. But since statisticians estimate you will spend about 30 percent of your life in bed, why not?

Amortization is the guardian angel of luxury (as well as the first assistant of overspending denial, I suppose). For instance, consider the nice people who save all year so they can go away on those cruise ships with umpteen hundred people. A few thousand dollars later all they have is sunburn and "experience," and how good is this after that demon tailor called memory snips away? Instead, they could have bought soft, delicious bed linen at Porthault, and it would have lasted a lifetime. (Try not to use too much soap when washing.)

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Anna's Linens withdraws IPO Offering

2006-01-11T20:53:00.000-08:00

Rapidly growing specialty retailer Anna's Linens has terminated its common stock offering.

The company filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission in May 2005, and had planned to hold its initial public offering in the fall. The impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on some of Anna's Gulf Coast stores prompted the retailer to push back the IPO to first quarter 2006.

Linens sales fall, but beat buyout criteria

2006-01-11T20:48:00.000-08:00

Linens'n Things Inc. on Friday said fourth-quarter sales fell at stores open at least a year, but the results still met the targets required to complete the $1.3 billion sale of the home decor retailer.

The company, which private equity firm Apollo Management L.P. and its affiliates are buying for $28 per share, said sales fell 2.2 percent at stores open at least a year -- a key retail measure known as same-store sales.

Under the Apollo deal, same-store sales could be down no more than 6 percent. Linens 'n Things also said it expected to far exceed its target of $140 million in full-year adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, which was another condition of the sale.

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Pillow Manufacturers Pummeled by Costs

2005-12-04T12:23:00.000-08:00

New York - In the wake of escalating transportation and petroleum-based raw material costs for poly fiber, vinyl and chemicals needed to create foam, U.S. pillow producers remain convinced price increases will be inevitable in the first quarter of '06.

"Chemical prices continue to batter all of us," said Lonnie Scheps, vice president of sales and marketing at Hudson Industries. "The greatest impact we've ever seen in the history of this classification has been taking place in the last six months. Virtually every chemical manufacturer supplying polyester and urethane foam technologies has announced no less than three increases in the last three months."

Joe Blazar, director of marketing-consumer products for Leggett & Platt's urethane division, recalled, "We saw one increase per month between October 2004 and April 2005 for chemicals used in pouring foam - basically a 30 percent total price increase." He said the increases flattened out in late spring but started up again in late August.

"Hurricane Katrina will continue to have a negative impact on the supply as local manufacturers ability to produce was interrupted," he stated.

Saks selling Northern group to Bon-Ton

2005-11-01T09:59:00.000-08:00

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Saks Incorporated is selling its Northern Department Store Group (NDSG) to The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. for $1.1 billion in cash plus the assumption of approximately $85 million of liabilities, including approximately $35 million in capitalized leases.

In the transaction, York, Pa. -based Bon-Ton will acquire 142 NDSG units (31 Carson Pirie Scott stores, 14 Bergner's stores, 10 Boston Store stores, 40 Herberger's stores, and 47 Younkers stores); the administrative/headquarters facilities in Milwaukee; and distribution centers in Rockford, Ill., Naperville, Ill., Green Bay, Wis., and Ankeny, Iowa.

The 142 stores being sold represent 15.1 million gross square feet and are located throughout 12 Midwestern and Great Plains states. NDSG generated 2004 revenues of approximately $2.2 billion.

Upon completion of the transaction, Bon-Ton will operate a total of 280 stores in 23 states with estimated annual net sales of $3.5 billion. The company plans to retain the various store nameplates of the acquired stores.

Michael MacDonald, chairman and CEO of NDSG, said, "Bon-Ton is a great fit for our Northern Department Store Group, both geographically and culturally."

R. Brad Martin, chairman and CEO of Saks Incorporated, added, "This action is a result of a strategic alternative process announced earlier this year where the company put in place a program to carefully consider its mix of businesses and their future potential to create shareholder value."

Passing the quality test

2005-10-26T14:09:00.000-07:00

Productivity, labour, production costs, efficiency, quality, logistics, environment norms, are areas that are being addressed by the industry to gain a competitive edge. This is being done by getting certifications such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, SA 8000, OHSAS, etc, and also by implementing certain TQM solutions, ERP solutions, etc. It is an established fact that such tools if implemented in the right spirit result in huge savings, and enable companies to meet their targets.

The Indian textile and clothing industry is realising the benefits of using such tools, and demand especially for the various certifications is going up each year. And it is not just the big and well established units that are extensively making use of these, but awareness has percolated down to the smaller units too.

For instance, Siyaram Silk Mills, a long established textile company, has got one of its five units ISO certified. Preparations to get the remaining four certified is on. Similarly, Donear Mills, another very flexible unit, conducted all the internal audits and put in place all the necessary systems and processes required for ISO certification, but did not go in for the certification, it is learnt. This is because implementing and following the system itself will start to bring in the results, point out experts.

Speaking to Express Textile, Dr A N Desai, director, Bombay Textile Research Association (BTRA), said, "This is a very encouraging trend, smaller companies are also going in for certifications and audits. From the time BTRA started this service, we have helped 40 units in getting ISO-9001 certification. This year, as many as 12 companies approached us for this service, double that of last year. And many of these are in the decentralised sector."

According to him, while demand for ISO-9001 certification is good, response to ISO-14001 has not been the same. "Siyaram Silk Mills is showing interest in this certification. But generally this and SA 8000 are buyer-driven."

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Hug the Sheets and a Light Goes On

2005-10-20T10:27:00.000-07:00

Source: By DEBORAH BALDWIN

WALLACE AND GROMIT take note: the next time the alarm sounds and you need breakfast in a hurry, a newfangled comforter could let you signal Mr. Coffee from bed.

With sheets and towels crowding the marketplace, rival manufacturers are striving to stand out. And in perhaps the most unusual merger of textile technology and electronics, WestPoint Home is introducing washable bedding that communicates wirelessly with lights and appliances. A simple squeeze tells dyes in the fabric to start talking.

This week the company presented smart bedding and other interactive furnishings to store buyers at its showroom in New York. One new product will be available next month: a Cinderella-theme coverlet that lights up like Broadway and makes the sound of a fairy godmother's wand sweeping through the air.

For grown-ups, WestPoint Home displayed a deep blue coverlet that keeps itself busy turning a chandelier on and off. Enabling this to work requires wiring the chandelier to an outlet, but once that's done options abound: plug in a coffee maker or a television and they will be activated too, allowing countless seconds of additional bed time in the morning.

The company's poly-fill pillows, meanwhile, can nudge you toward the land of Nod with an embedded speaker that makes the sounds of twittering birds or lapping waves. Other pillows will tune in a radio station, operate a television or hook up with an MP3 player.

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Simmons Bedding Comments on Temporary Supply Chain Disruption

2005-10-12T23:29:00.000-07:00

ATLANTA - Simmons Bedding Company today announced that two of its key suppliers of polyurethane foam have put their customers, including Simmons Bedding Company, on notice of allocation, due to a limited availability of TDI (toluene diisocyanate) in the United States, a key chemical component of polyurethane foam which is used throughout the bedding industry. The shortage of TDI resulted from the effects of the recent hurricanes that struck the Gulf Coast region.

Charlie Eitel, chairman and CEO of Simmons Bedding Company said, "As a result of our just-in-time manufacturing process, we maintain minimal inventory of polyurethane foam. We are currently evaluating and implementing contingency plans to minimize disruption to our business. We anticipate that our production schedules at various plants will be modified according to the availability of supply. We expect minimal disruption to our Beautyrest and BackCare branded products, which are the majority of our sales, and will work closely with our customers to meet their product needs to the degree possible. We believe that any potential production delays will be for a limited period of time, with no long-term impact on our business."

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United Feather & Down enters luxury linens

2005-10-05T16:49:00.000-07:00

DES PLAINES, Ill. -- United Feather & Down is getting into luxury top-of-bed with Casa Poggesi, a new line of Italian bed linens and coordinating down bedding by designer David Poggesi.

The new collection includes various styles and constructions such as the 600-count Palazzo, 400-count Milan and 300-count Versilia in a wide range of colors and patterns. A blend of Lyocell and silk is also used in some of the down bedding shells.

In addition, the company is introducing two other collections at next week's New York Home Textiles Market: Weatherproof and Pinnacle.

Royal Velvet Revisited

2005-10-04T09:52:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK -- The Royal Velvet bath towel is getting its second makeover in two years as the consortium group that owns it along with licensee partner, Li & Fung, is relaunching the line, accompanied by a national advertising print campaign.

Royal Velvet, the midtier and jeweled brand formerly owned by Pillowtex, was launched in February last year and soon after hit the shelves of Kohl's, among other retail chains. The towel, first sold at $9.99, was soon on clearance at Kohl's.

"There was nothing wrong with the towel, it was the price/value proposition," said Jack Toolan, executive vice president of Li & Fung USA's Home Brands Group, which includes licenses for Royal Velvet, and Cannon and Cannon Royal Family brands. "The initial problem with Royal Velvet is that we launched a towel, while we kept on talking of launching a brand. And that was a mistake."

Along with the bath towel, Li & Fung and other licensees gathered by Official Pillowtex LLC, the new owner, are introducing sheets, comforter set, coverlets, slipcovers and down comforters at the textiles market. The Cannon brands will also be launched at market.

PPR's (Pinault-Printemps-Redoute) luxury strategy pays off

2005-09-28T19:54:00.000-07:00

PPR's decision to focus on the luxury-goods market is finally paying off: Demand for top fashions and accessories in Gucci Group, which it owns, helped PPR's first-half earnings even as a deteriorating retail environment sapped strength from its other units, the company said Thursday.

Seventeen months after its star designer, Tom Ford, and chief executive, Domenico De Sole, left the company, Gucci Group delivered a 76 percent gain in operating profit to 107.4 million, or $133 million, helping to lift PPR's net income 13 percent to 169.6 million from a year earlier. Earnings at Gucci Group's retail division fell 4.2 percent to 269 million, PPR said.

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SLEEP - Luxury or Necessity?

2005-09-26T16:52:00.000-07:00

TO SOME PEOPLE, sleep is a waste of time. Preferring a very busy daily schedule of business and social engagements, they only surrender to sleep when extremely tired. In contrast, others, enduring night after night of tossing and turning until the early hours of the morning, would give anything for a good night's sleep.

Why do some find it so hard to sleep, while others are desperate to stay awake? Should we view sleep as a luxury or a necessity? To answer these questions, we need to understand what is going on while we are asleep.
The Mysteries of Falling Asleep

Exactly what makes a person lose consciousness and fall asleep remains a mystery. Researchers, however, have established that sleep is a complex process regulated by the brain and that it obeys a 24-hour biological clock.

As we get older, our sleeping habits change. A newborn sleeps for frequent short periods that total about 18 hours a day. According to sleep specialists, although some adults appear to need only three hours of sleep a day, others need up to ten hours.

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Revman launches Echo Home Luxury Collection

2005-09-24T12:27:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK - Revman International will debut a new luxury bedding collection for Echo Home at the upcoming New York Home Textiles Market.

The new collection features six ensembles, 400-count sateen sheeting and a variety of upscale fabrics in accessories including linen/cotton, herringbone yarn dyes, dupioni, charmeuse, metallic-accent jacquards, fine-weave sateen, and faux suede with piecing, detailed quilting, beading and embroidered touches to add depth and textural interest.

Katrina Crushing Business

2005-09-09T17:21:00.000-07:00

New York - In the days since Hurricane Katrina tore through South Florida and portions of the Gulf Coast states, the home textiles industry has worked to cope with its effects on both people and business.

Costa Mesa, Calif.-based Anna's Linens, which had to close 12 units in New Orleans, Biloxi, Miss. and Mobile, Ala., still had not accounted for all of its 100 associates in the region at press time.

"We are still waiting to hear about them, and that's the most important thing to us right now," said Alan Gladstone, president, CEO and chairman.

In the meantime,mounting crises are taking a toll on the total industry and creating some major headaches and concerns.

The market is feeling the brunt of a surge in oil prices, caused by Katrina's impact on refineries in Louisiana. Harmful weather and power outages have forced many retailers, like Anna's, Wal-Mart, Home Depot and Fred's, to shut down dozens of regional units. Flooded and obstructed roadways combined with high gas prices are causing trucking delays, leaving truckloads of goods on hold or stuck between destinations. And pricing pressures are compounding the pain for the industry.

Taking a firm position on pricing is Dalton, Ga.-based Shaw Living, a major producer and supplier of synthetic area, accent and bath rugs.

"The rising cost of oil continues to negatively impact operating margins," said Jeff Meadows, division vice president. "We have seen the price double over the past five quarters. We must pass these costs along to our customers, as they have become too much to absorb."

Gladstone said Anna's Linens does not expect to see "any inflation in this industry. We are keeping our prices the same." But he warned should gas prices soon hit $4 per gallon at the pump, "forget Anna's and the home textiles industry. The whole country will have a major problem on its hands."

Sympathetic to both sides is Kea Capel Meachum, business and brand manager for High Point, N.C.-based Bacova Guild and sister company, Gulistan Carpets Inc.

"We got many container loads of goods coming now, including polypropylene and nylon area rugs, and we're in no position to pass along a cost increase to retailers, and retailers are in no position to accept one," she said.

Many are still apprehensive about addressing the topic of product price increases.

"I simply just don't know what will happen or what we'll do," explained Wade Maples, president and owner of Scottsboro, Ala.-based Maples Industries. About 80 percent of the company's offerings comprise synthetic area, accent and bath rugs. "The sudden surge in oil prices has definitely come as a surprise, and all we can do right now is deal with it as it unfolds."

Similarly, Sugar Valley, Ga.-based Mohawk Home, also predominantly synthetic in its offerings, said it is still studying what to do about pricing. "We continue to evaluate the ever-increasing cost pressures from raw materials as well as the transportation costs throughout the entire supply chain," said Jim Quist, vice president, sales.

Oil-based product price increases are still "manageable" for Carson, Calif.-based Brentwood Originals, a supplier of decorative pillows. Loren Sweet, president, said all of its pillows contain polyester filling, "which is going up (in price) continuously." He said that if Brentwood is forced to raise its own prices as a result, "it will depend on demand. But ultimately, it will have to happen."

Barry Leonard, president and CEO of Glenoit Universal, said oil-based products - such as shower curtains - make up a major part of his business.

"We are still debating how to handle (price increases)," he said. He added that oil prices - which rose by 65 percent prior to Katrina - have already "significantly impacted" his business.

Glenoit, based in Tarboro, N.C., is just one of many home textiles companies with facilities in the South that are bracing for tougher times ahead.

Gov. Mike Easley of North Carolina last Thursday issued a statement urging people of his state to conserve gasoline. Easley said 90 percent of North Carolina's gas supply came from two major pipelines that have been shut down by Katrina. "We do not know the extent of the problem, but we do know that there will be a significant loss of gasoline in the Southeast," he said.

Easley described the problem as not only North Carolina's but also one for the region and the nation. He asked that the entire region, which is home to several companies like Springs Industries, WestPoint Stevens, Croscill Home and Capel Inc., take every measure to conserve energy.

Many store closings - both short - and long-term - are already heavily impacting retail. Wal-Mart shut down more than 80 units and at least one distribution center in the region due to power outages and flooding. It sent e-mails to vendors asking them to withhold shipments to these stores until further notice.

Home Depot also closed several units but announced last Wednesday that is would begin opening stores on the periphery in the coming weeks and months and would also relocate thousands of its workers to the Gulf Coast States to provide additional support to affected stores and communities.

Fred's, too, said more than 180 units in the region were affected and about 90 stores were shut down as of last Tuesday evening.

Gladstone said when Katrina struck South Florida, Anna's was forced to close 12 units for three consecutive days and postpone the grand opening of a new unit in Miami's Hialeah Gardens neighborhood until Sept. 15. His outlook for stores in the Gulf Coast is bleak, since eight of 12 closed stores will be unable to reopen until sometime next year.

"The damage was so bad that it's beyond words," Gladstone explained. The other four stores are expected to be back in operation in the coming week or so, he said.

Barry Sternlicht's Bedding Revolution Continues

2005-09-06T12:10:00.000-07:00

Sheraton Hotel Owners Investing More Than $75 Million in New Beds

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. - Sept. 23, 2003 -- Sleeping on the job is usually a no-no, but executives at Sheraton Hotels & Resorts have slumbered on hundreds of mattresses, pillows and bed linens to develop the brand's newest signature: the Sheraton Sweet Sleeper Bed(sm). The hotel giant and its owners and franchisees are spending more than $75 million to put 110,000 new beds in 200 hotels in North America.

The Sheraton Sweet Sleeper Bed

Some may say that Barry Sternlicht is obsessed with helping people get a good night's sleep. The Chairman and CEO of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT), Sheraton's parent, has spent the last five years upgrading the beds in his hotel rooms. In 1998 when he launched W Hotels he modeled the brand's bed after his own bed at home. In 1999, Sternlicht started a bedding revolution when he threw out all the old beds at Westin Hotels and introduced the now iconic Westin Heavenly Bed(R). Now he's tackled Starwood's most global and oldest brand, Sheraton, and developed a luxurious multi-layered custom designed bed that features an 11.5 inch thick, high coil count Sealy Posturepedic(R) Plush Top mattress, down and allergy sensitive pillows and crisp cotton sheets. In a nod to Sheraton's classic aesthetic, the beds feature a selection of duvet patterns inspired by timeless tattersall checks, hound's-tooth and pinstripe patterns in rich color tones.

"I have always been somewhat astounded by how little hotel companies invest in their beds considering that our primary product is a good night's sleep," said Sternlicht. "When we launched the Heavenly Bed in 1999, other hotel executives thought we were crazy. Four years later Westin's guest satisfaction scores, market share and global growth are up significantly, and we're selling our Heavenly Beds everyday to our guests. I am just thrilled to introduce a great new bed to our classic brand and improving the sleeping experience of more travelers."

By the end of this year, more than 50,000 new beds will be installed in hotels throughout North America - accounting for 70% of Sheraton's total room inventory here. By the end 2004, all Sheraton hotels will feature the Sheraton Sweet Sleeper Bed, totaling more than 70,000 rooms in 200 hotels. New beds will also be installed in London and Latin America.

The Sheraton Sweet Sleeper Bed is the latest in a series of enhancements designed to elevate the brand to the top of the upscale hotel segment. Since 1998, more than more than $1 billion has been invested in upgrading the Sheraton brand, primarily in renovations. Sheraton's design team, recruited from Ralph Lauren, Holly Hunt, and Williams-Sonoma has revamped Sheraton's room design and created a portfolio of five lifestyle guestroom designs that are rolling out around the country.

"During my 30-year career at Sheraton I have never seen the brand in such excellent shape with so much momentum," says Bob Cotter, Starwood's Chief Operating Officer. "Just last year we introduced The Sheraton Service Promise, and this year Sheraton rolled out a new ad campaign, a great new room design and tougher brand standards throughout the United States. And now with the roll-out of thousands of Sheraton Sweet Sleeper Beds, there has never been a better time to spend the night with Sheraton and see for yourself."

The Sheraton Service Promise, promises if you're not satisfied, just tell us and we'll take care of it. Here is how the Sheraton Service Promise works: if a guest should happen to have a problem during their stay, they need only tell a hotel associate and they'll immediately take steps to correct the problem. Plus, the guest will automatically receive compensation for their problem - an extra step to ensure the guest is satisfied. Since the introduction of The Sheraton Service Promise, guest satisfaction scores have reached the highest in the brand's history, guest complaints have declined and fewer problems are being reported.

Luxury Hotel Pillows

"We made a promise to our guests to build upon our commitment to service and provide comfort and style with our new room design," says Norman MacLeod, Executive Vice President for Sheraton Hotels & Resorts. "The Sheraton Sweet Sleeper is just yet another reason for travelers to take a new look at the new Sheraton."

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with more than 740 properties in more than 80 countries and 105,000 employees at its owned and managed properties.

Retail sales falling short of target

2005-08-31T09:07:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK -- The Johnson Redbook Retail Sales Index was up 3.4 percent in the fourth and final week of August, lowering the month-to-date increase to 3.7 percent against a targeted 3.9 percent gain.

"Sales softened in the final week of August. Consumers focused on food, home appliances and electronics," stated Redbook Analyst Catlin Levis. Some retailers believe hot weather may be delaying back-to-school activity, especially in the apparel categories. Despite the month's softness, retailers continue to expect satisfactory back-to-school and fall business in coming weeks.

In anticipation of Hurricane Katrina, consumers in Florida and other affected states made a run for food, water, batteries and other emergency supplies, with discount stores and hardware stores being the main beneficiaries, she said.

Hotels taking fresh sheets off room-service menu

2005-08-23T11:02:00.000-07:00

I found this article today while browsing. I think this is a step in the wrong direction. When I go to a hotel the number one thing I pay for is service. I hope hotels do not follow this trend.

Snippet:

"Barbara Huberman wants fresh sheets on her hotel bed every night.

She's annoyed that a growing number of lodgings are now changing them less often. "It's ridiculous," says the executive for a Washington-based charitable organization who stays up to 100 nights each year in a hotel. "I have always looked forward to that feel of clean pressed sheets every night. At $200-plus a night, I think I deserve this." (Story: More hotels try fewer sheet changes)

Hotels say that Huberman is in the minority and that most of their customers accept the less frequent sheet changes during their stays. Any guest can simply request a daily change, they add, and it will be done free of charge. But Huberman says it's not that easy. A business traveler is often busy, she says, and may forget to put a card on a bed requesting a sheet change or to make a call to the hotel staff. She says she sometimes returns to her room late at night - an inconvenient time for a linen change. She recently requested a change at one hotel and the housekeeping staff declined, saying it was against hotel policy, she says.

Luxury Hotel Linens

A USA TODAY survey of the policies of 25 hotel brands reveals that most do not require a daily change of sheets during a guest's stay. All said they would change them daily for no charge if a customer makes a request. Eleven said they provide a daily change, nine said they change sheets a few times per week or weekly and five said polices vary at their lodgings."

Full Story Here

Kohl's posts strong numbers

2005-08-15T09:19:00.000-07:00

MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. -- Kohl's Corporation had a decent spring season in home, but home did not rank among the top three business segments for the second quarter, company executives during a second-quarter earnings call late yesterday.

Down Pillows

Kohl's Chairman and CEO Larry Montgomery said, "As expected, we continued gaining momentum in comparable-store sales in the second quarter, achieving the high end of our guidance for both comp store sales and EPS. Looking forward, we continue to target comparable-store sales growth in the mid-single digit range for the fall season."

Whisper Soft to debut Crayola bedding in October

2005-08-09T09:47:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK - Whisper Soft Mills has unveiled six bedding concepts for its new Crayola home license to debut during the October New York Home Textiles Market.

The colorful new collection features an interactive theme and will be gift packed in a mesh duffle bag with a comforter, sheet set, decorative pillow and box of eight crayons for fourth-quarter shipping.

Duvet Covers

The six new designs include two girl beds: Crayola Butterfly and Crayola Fairytale; and two boy patterns: Crayola Dinosaur and Crayola Sports. The last new pattern, Crayola Pockets, comes in a version for girls and another for boys. Sheets are 200-count cotton.

Liz Claiborne expands cottage and young attitude looks

2005-08-05T11:09:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK -- Liz Claiborne Home has expanded the cottage look with several vintage-inspired florals and added a few younger attitude patterns in bedding, bath and window.

Some of the cottage looks include: Tamara, Lindsay, and Annabelle.Younger attitude patterns include Salerno and Sherbet Denim. In back-to-school, Fresh Stripe has been added to retail as mini sets for $79.99 twin or $99.99 full/queen.

The cottage influence continued in window and bath where new constructions abounded.

A mid-weight cotton viscose dobby was added in window as a new base cloth with six solids and six prints that are merchandised with reversible print shades.

Meanwhile in bath, several cottage looks were added as $39.99 shower curtains that work back to bedding.

Jeep rides into Bedding

2005-08-03T14:03:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK -- Jeep Consumer Products has signed a licensing partnership with Whisper Soft Mills for a line of active lifestyle themed bedding and room decor for young boys.

The new bedding line for Jeep, a registered trademark of DaimlerChrysler Corporation, caters to boys ages 9 to 14 and will feature outdoor-adventure, extreme sports and lifestyle basics with an emphasis on a rugged "4-x-4" appeal, the company said.

Duvet Covers

The line will include printed comforters, cut-and-sew detailed comforters, quilts and throws, printed sheets, novelty accent pillows, window fashions, accent rugs, blankets and slumber bags. The room décor line, which has been designed to coordinate with the bedding line, will include lamps, wall shelves, nested bins and other personal storage pieces.

Yves Delorme launches new looks

2005-08-01T02:01:00.000-07:00

Yves Delorme, Inc. has introduced several new looks for luxury bedding and bath to its mid-year collection that will be available in stores this September.

In bedding, they include architectural Eiffel with hand-embroidered raised French dots and hemstitch squares on white 460-count percale. Matching towels, bath robes and table linens are available. Also new is Pastorale, a classic toile de Jouy with illustrations on the grounds of Versailles paired with ticking stripes in denim and taupe.

Anna's Linens opening breaks record

2005-08-01T01:59:00.000-07:00

LAS VEGAS -- The grand opening of Anna's Linens 200th store here this morning not only marked a new milestone for the rapidly expanding home furnishings chain, it also broke the record for sales volume in the first hour of business for a new store.

Sales at the Silverado Ranch Shopping Center store during the first 60 minutes of business were double the norm, according to Alan Gladstone, chairman, president and CEO.

Baltic adds to its Wardrobe

2005-08-01T01:58:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK - Baltic Linen Co. is launching the newest addition to its Wardrobe fashion bedding line -- basic sheet sets and duvet covers.

The Wardrobe Basics assortment composes jacquard and dobby sheet sets and duvet covers in multiple solid colorways, as well as some printed sateen styles. All can stand alone but were also made to coordinate with existing Wardrobe designs.

Confidence falls in July

2005-07-26T12:21:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK - The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index slipped from 106.2 in June to 103.2 for July.

"This month's decline in consumer confidence is no cause for alarm," said Lynn Franco, director of the Conference Board's Consumer Research Center. "The overall state of the economy remains healthy, and consumers outlook suggests no storm clouds on the short-term horizon."

Luxury Pillows

The Present Situation Index decreased to 118.5 from 120.8, and the Expectations Index declined to 93 from 96.4.

Central Textiles implementing software

2005-07-24T12:01:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK - Central Textiles (Hong Kong) Ltd. plans to implement Cotton Incorporated's suite of software called the Engineered Fiber Selection (EFS) Cotton Fiber Management System in August, becoming the first licensee in Hong Kong and China.

Arlee enters new categories

2005-07-24T12:00:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK - Arlee Home Fashions is bringing its customers two new product categories at the August unofficial Mini-Market next week.

Pet beds and outdoor cushions and pads are being developed and about 95 percent of the lines will be ready for preview next month, said Bud Frankel, CEO.

Feizy Rugs takes space in Vegas

2005-07-18T10:11:00.000-07:00

DALLAS - Feizy Rugs plans to open a permanent showroom in the Las Vegas World Market Center in 2007.

"...we feel that Las Vegas will give us new footing in the western part of the nation," said owner John Feizy. "We expect Las Vegas to become as important a market to Feizy as Atlanta and High Point."

Luxury Bedding

In the past, Feizy's focus had been mainly on merchandising centers in the eastern United States, according to the company.

Retail strong in June

2005-07-18T10:09:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON - Retail industry sales for June (which exclude automobiles, gas stations, and restaurants) rose 7.5 percent unadjusted over last year and increased 0.5 percent seasonally adjusted from May, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF).

Sales at furniture and home furnishings stores rose 0.9 percent adjusted from the previous month and 4 percent over last year. Building materials and garden equipment and supplies dealers continued to see year-over-year growth with sales climbing 9.1 percent unadjusted over last June and rising 0.2 percent from May.

Growth was also seen in several other retail categories in June, including clothing and clothing accessories stores, which rose 1 percent adjusted from the previous month and climbed 9.3 percent unadjusted over last year. General merchandise stores, including department stores, also saw gains, with sales increasing 1.2 percent from May and rising 9.8 percent unadjusted over last June.

May shareholders approve Federated merger

2005-07-13T12:23:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK - May Department Store Company shareholders have approved the proposed merger with Federated Department Stores, Inc., according to May Chairman, President and CEO John Dunham, who relayed the news at the end of the company's brief annual meeting in New York this morning.

Before announcing the results, Dunham endorsed the merger, saying that the new company would be in a stronger position to deal with a broad range of competitors than either department store company would be on its own.

"Federated and May together will have the strength, presence, and economies of scale to succeed," he said, noting that the new entity will be a $30 billion organization, with stores in 49 states. "We will also be able to eliminate redundancies and implement the best practices of each company."

The new company, he continued, will be able to improve assortments and merchandising, expand proprietary offerings and customer loyalty programs and launch a national bridal gift registry.

Responding to an audience question, however, Dunham made it clear that Federated was in the driver's seat. That company, he said, would determine the fate of overlapping corporate executives, though no layoffs will take place before March 1 of next year.

Federated will also determine the fate of the Lord & Taylor store on Fifth Avenue in New York City, stated Dunham - a decision that has yet to be made.

According to the merger agreement, each share of May common stock will be converted into the right to receive $17.75 per share of cash and 0.3115 shares of Federated stock.

No surprise: Wal-Mart leads retail ranking

2005-07-05T11:52:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON - Wal-Mart topped the list of the largest retailers with 2004 sales of $288.2 billion, according to the 2005 Triversity Top 100 Retailers ranking, released by Stores Magazine - the monthly magazine of the National Retail Federation.

Those purveying home textiles, among a litany of other items, peppered the list, with Target (number five at $46.8 billion), Sears (number nine at $36.1 billion), Kmart (number 14 at $19.7 billion) and JCPenney (number 16 at $18.4 billion) all landing within the top 20.

The two main specialty stores focused on home landed in the top 100, with Bed Bath & Beyond reaching number 48 at $5.1 billion in sales and Linens 'n Things making the cut at 82 with $2.7 billion.

Home improvement centers scored two of the top 10 slots - Home Depot coming in at number two with $73.1 billion in sales and Lowe's reaching number eight with $36.5 billion.

Index shows confidence on the rise

2005-06-30T09:30:00.000-07:00

BENTONVILLE, Ark. - Overall confidence in the economy grew significantly in the last month, according to the Small Business Confidence Index released today by Sam's Club.

According to June figures from the index -- provided by market intelligence firm, BIGresearch -- 49.5 percent of 1,000 small business owners and managers surveyed were confident/very confident about chances for a strong economy over the next six months. That confidence level rose 5.6 points from 43.9 percent in May, and is the highest business confidence index since January of this year.

Luxury Linens

This latest boost in economic confidence was also reflected in how small business owners and managers feel about the U.S. employment environment. 57.3 percent of those surveyed felt that employment levels will remain the same over the next six months, up half a point from last month.

Customs looking for counterfeit imports

2005-06-30T09:27:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has initiated an intellectual property rights (IPR) audit program, targeting companies thought to be at "high risk" for importing counterfeit or infringing merchandise.

The post-entry audits may include on-site personnel interviews, documentation reviews to track related financial transaction, and warehouse inspections.

"High-risk" companies are identified after studying importer history, shipper history, country of export and commodity type. CBP has specified that its focus is no longer relegated to well-known brands and high-end products.

WestPoint bidders still behind doors

2005-06-24T07:36:00.001-07:00

NEW YORK - Corporate financier Carl Icahn arrived to join the WestPoint Stevens auction shortly after 1 p.m. today, expressing optimism he’d prevail in his bid for the bankrupt mill.

Other participants in the auction being held in WestPoint's attorney's offices at Fifth Ave. and 58th St. started arriving before 9 a.m. But after Icahn's arrival it appeared other groups of professionals involved in the bidding may also have entered.

The auction, pitting Icahn against a creditors group led by Wilbur Ross, will likely be decided no earlier than tomorrow during a bankruptcy court hearing.

But on entering the building today, Icahn seemed to expect an outcome sooner.

"I think we'll win it. I hope we'll win it, but we'll see," Icahn said as he strode up the steps outside. Icahn also seemed to quell speculation that he and Ross have been in private talks aimed at finding a compromise solution to the impasse that led to today's contest.

"I know Wilbur, but we haven't spoken in the last couple of months -- about this anyway."

Icahn is WestPoint's single largest creditor but his interests are spread over two different classes of debt. That factor has caused the Steering Committee of first lien creditors to claim Icahn's interests are subordinate to their own.

How to Buy a Luxury Down Comforter

2005-06-21T11:33:00.000-07:00

How to Buy a Comforter Comforters are cozy "must have" for a cold night. What better way to wrap yourself in warmth than with a nice, soft comforter. These considerations can help you select the right comforter

1. The first step is to decide how large of a down comforter you want. You can buy comforters for twin or for king beds, or for any sized bed in-between the two. Some people, however, like to buy comforters bigger than their beds, especially if they have a twin bed. Why? Down Comforters are often called to duty in other places besides the bed, like a couch or a floor when you are watching TV or reading. People like to have enough comforter to be able to either roll themselves up in it or to share with another person. So, you may want to buy a comforter that can do double duty as an all-around blanket.

2. The big decision involves whether you buy a comforter that is filled with all-natural down or with a synthetic material. Down, of course, is the under-layer of soft feathers found on birds. The softest down is considered to come from the eider, a large type of duck. Down comforters can be filled completely with 100% down, or they can be filled with a combination of down and less soft feathers. Be sure to check which is true of any down comforter you are considering. Of course, a 100% down comforter is the more expensive of the two.

3. A synthetic comforter filling that is gaining in popularity is the Primaloft comforter. Primaloft is a synthetic material that is antimicrobial and hypoallergenic. It mimics the lightness and spring of down, as well as down's insulating characteristics. Primaloft comforters are especially the choice of people who are allergic to feathers.

4. Another consideration when buying a comforter is whether or not it is quilted. A quilted comforter contains its filling in spaces bounded by the quilt stitching. A comforter without quilting is essentially a large bag of down or Primaloft. Many people consider quilted comforters easier to wash and control, since the filling cannot all shift to one edge or corner.

5. Finally consider the shell of your comforter. It is best to have a shell made of cotton fabric, as cotton breathes and allows some heat to pass through. Synthetic shells can actually make the comforter too warm. You can also buy a comforter with a plain, white shell that is meant to be covered with a duvet. Or you can buy a comforter that has a colored and/or patterned shell. These comforters do not require the extra expense of a cover.

Caution! Make sure you only consider comforters that can be easily washed. All bedding must be washed sooner or later, and a comforter that must be dry cleaned will cost you much in cleaning expense. A comforter that can be tossed into the washing machine is usually just as warm and useful as one that needs to be dry cleaned.

Luxury Comforters

Joanne and J.F. finish new facility

2005-06-20T13:39:00.000-07:00

TORONTO - Joanne Fabrics Canada Inc. and its subsidiary, J.F. Fabrics US Inc., have completed the grand opening of their head office, distribution center and showroom facility here.

The 45,000-square-foot facility was constructed to cope with the companies growth in North America and to prepare for expansion. The head office is now located in Oakville, Ontario -- a suburb of Toronto.

Joanne Fabrics Canada Inc. and J.F. Fabrics US Inc. constitute a wholesale distributor of home furnishing fabrics and related products, with distribution across North America.

August market dates firming up

2005-06-20T13:32:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK - Some retailers and suppliers are already pinning down appointments for the unofficial "Mini-market" in August.

While most retailers and suppliers contacted by HTT said they expect to meet between Aug. 1-4, some retailers plan to piggyback textiles appointments onto their visit to the New York International Gift Fair at the JacobJavitsCenter a week later.

It remains unclear at this point how many major retailers from outside the New York metro area will travel to showrooms. And not all suppliers said they found August appointments necessarily.

Home sales stood out in May

2005-06-16T09:53:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON - Furniture and home furnishings stores were among a handful of winning retailers in May, turning in a 0.4 percent month-over-month sales increase against a drearier backdrop of overall declining U.S. retail sales.

Total U.S. retail sales fell last month for the first time since August, dropping 0.5 percent due to weak sales of cars and falling gas prices.

Baltic takes Lipton, Fuentes on board

2005-06-15T11:25:00.000-07:00

VALLEY STREAM, N.Y. As part of its expansion into bath accessories, the Baltic Linen Co. recently appointed Rick Lipton to the newly created position of director of bath coordinates.

In a related move, the company brought on board industry newcomer, Veronica Fuentes, also to a newly created post -- vice president, sales.

Both Lipton and Fuentes started in early May and are based in the company's New York showroom at 295 Fifth Ave. They report to Barry Neilinger, president of Baltic Linens retail division.

For the past six years, Lipton was national sales manager for Creative Bath Products.

Fuentes most recently worked as marketing director for Lady Foot Locker.

Memorial Day spurs sales

2005-06-09T09:57:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK - With the nation's department stores getting a lift from strong Memorial Day sales, which offset some weakness at mass merchants, same-store retail sales came in modestly ahead of plan during the first week of June, rising 3.3 percent and besting a target of 3.2 percent growth.

Same-store sales in full-price department stores climbed 2.8 percent, easily exceeding targeted growth of 2.4 percent. But discounters missed their target during the week, with sales rising 3.6 percent, just shy of a targeted 3.7 percent increase.

Industry group asks for window safeguards

2005-06-06T09:41:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK - An industry coalition is asking the U.S. government to place a safeguard restriction on imports of cotton and man-made fiber curtains and draperies from China.

Filing the safeguard petition with the Commerce Department were four groups: National Council of Textile Organizations, which stimulated the action, National Textile Association, American Manufacturers Trade Action Association and UNITE, an association of labor unions.

The petition covers products in quota categories 369/666. The Commerce Department's Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements has 15 days to decide whether to accept the petition, which would be about June 20, according to Karl Spilhaus, NTA president.

Weather takes toll on sales

2005-06-03T11:43:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK - With unseasonable cool weather throughout Northeastern states hampering sales of seasonal goods, same-store retail sales eased off during the fourth and final week of May, rising 2.9 percent, compared with a stronger gain of 3.4 percent the prior week, the Johnson Redbook Index reported.

But even so, same-store sales for all of May still came in ahead of plan, helped by a solid performance at department stores, and rose 3.2 percent, besting a targeted 3 percent gain.

Anile to head Culp upholstery fabrics

2005-06-02T10:25:00.000-07:00

HIGH POINT, N.C. - Culp, Inc. has named Dominick Anile vice president of sales for its upholstery fabric line.

Previously, Anile was vice president of sales for the company's velvets/prints division.

Home Fashions

Liam Waters has been named director of design and merchandising for upholstery fabrics. Waters was the creative director for the company's decorative fabrics division.

These changes follow the company's earlier announcement that it was combining the sales and design activities for the Culp Decorative Fabrics and Culp Velvets/Prints divisions.

Natco moves into bedding

2005-06-01T09:16:00.000-07:00

WEST WARWICK, R.I. - Natco Home Fashions - parent company of Corona Curtain, Robertson Home Fashions, Central Oriental, Soft Impressions, and Flemish Master Weavers - is expanding with the launch of a bedding division.

Stacey Vega, who has been with the company for the past year as senior vice president of sales and marketing in the textiles division, will lead the newly created division.

Neil Levi is joining the company as vice president of design over bedding. He was previously the creative manager at Dan River.

Both report to Christine Bolton, president of Corona Curtain and Robertson Home Fashions.

Confidence bounces back

2005-06-01T09:15:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK - With Americans feeling better about the economy and the jobs outlook, consumer confidence reversed a three-month losing streak during May and rebounded 4.8 percent to a reading of 102.2, The Conference Board reported today.

But even with the spike, the confidence level is still 3.3 percent beneath its 12-month high of 105.7 recorded last July. Results were mixed on a regional basis.

"Consumer confidence improved in May, gaining back nearly all of the ground it lost in April," said Lynn Franco, director of The Conference Board's ConsumerResearchCenter. The index gauging current business conditions, she said, "despite fluctuations in recent months, is more than 26 points higher than a year ago. Consumers' concerns about the economy and jobs have eased."

Hospitality Industry Driving Fabric Sales

2005-06-01T09:08:00.000-07:00

New York - Contract business, especially in the hospitality segment, is driving sales for many decorative fabrics converters and mills this year.

As hotel chains increasingly develop new facilities and initiate refurbishing programs for existing hotels, the hospitality segment of the contract business has moved into the strongest growth area for a number of fabric companies with the HD show in Las Vegas earlier this month reinforcing that view.

Analyzing their various channels of distribution, a number of fabric executives point to a weakness at retail in the furniture channel - a mixed bag as far as the retail fabric and decorative jobber channels are concerned.

The top-of-bed business, until recently a major segment of fabric supplier revenues, has dropped - precipitously in some cases - because of direct imports by the bedding suppliers as well as retailers. In other cases, the fabric houses have initiated programs that provide either fabrics and/or the finished products for the bedding and window coverings suppliers.

Export for some fabric companies is showing gains, in some cases because of the dollar's value in relation to the euro and other currencies; in other instances because of renewed efforts on the part of the companies.

"Contract is leading the way" in an overall business picture that is just fair, according to Jim Richman, president of Richloom, who termed the retail channel "good" and jobbers "OK." An important change, he pointed out, is the trend to shorter life cycles for designs. "We are having to bring out collections more frequently."

Contract is the big gainer for Valdese - up 28 percent for the year, said Mike Shelton, president, who noted that Proposte earlier this month in Como, Italy was "great - really good. But the dollar was a big influence."

Furniture was up comfortably and jobber business, while off a bit in the first quarter, "is creating more of a selling opportunity for us with existing customers who are asking for assurances that suppliers will be around five years from now," he said. Top-of-bed is off significantly, Shelton noted.

"We saw an industry-wide slowdown in January and February in the independent retail channel," noted Tom Leahy, vice president of Waverly. He pegged that channel and export in the last three months as being the big gainers for the company. As for export, he said, "We're benefiting from exposure at offshore shows."

Overall, Leahy explained, "We've had good results from our merchandise direction change with national fabric accounts, miscellaneous manufacturers, jobbers and furniture manufacturers. Importantly, we're adding shelf space, not just substituting new for old product."

Calling furniture business "up and down, a bit of a struggle," Roger Gilmartin, executive vice president of Covington Industries, remarked, "Contract is booming. It's really strong, and we're focused on hospitality and health."

Export continues to grow for Covington, Gilmartin noted. "We had a very nice Proposte and our best jobber season in some time."

For Heritage House with its ITC division, "We're the wrong ones to complain about business," said Tom Hilb, president, who noted, "We could double our sales this year. We're up 70 percent through April, and May is up 150 percent."

He explained, "We brought out a lot of salable skus - well priced and middle of the road." The company's strengths, he added, are with over-the-counter retail, some contract, JCPenney custom decorating and jobbers.

Calling business "good," Burt Kaplan, president of Portfolio, said furniture was fair at best. "Suppliers and furniture producers are still looking for the best way to source overseas." Contract is strong - "hotels are being built like crazy, and we're getting more project business from the non-furniture manufacturing areas."

As for strong selling areas, Kaplan said, "Higher-end products are strong and prints are back in the decorative area."

"Our core converting business is dull," was the assessment of Ron Kaufmann, president of P/Kaufmann, who added that business in contract is "very nice, as well as in manufactured product. Retail, generally, is not great, and there is a contraction on the furniture side."

On the retail fabric side, "The moms and pops are healthier than the big chains which are not as aggressive as they had been," Kaufmann observed. As for export, it was up in 2004, recovering from a slump, and is up again this year.

Business is steady, not booming, explained Rocco Simone, vice president, Sunbury, who added, "We have to be more diverse than ever." Jobber business is strong especially in the Crypton and Sunbrella collections, and the residential casual market is growing especially with Sunbrella, he noted.

Federated/May: No job cuts until spring

2005-05-31T08:49:00.000-07:00

CINCINNATI - Employees of Federated Department Stores and May Co. received word from their respective chairmen yesterday that there will be no job reductions in the combined company until March 2006.

Luxury Duvets

The letters, which were filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, explain that the companies have appointed a Transition Team of executives to assess resources and business needs.

"We want everyone at May to be able to take a deep breath and realize that there is time for Federated to learn more about May, and there is time for May associates to learn more about the new company and the potential opportunities it will provide," said the letter to May employees, which was signed by the chairman/president/CEOs both May and Federated, John Dunham and Terry Lundgren, respectively.

A separate letter to Federated employees, which was signed by Lundgren only, encouraged associates at that company to focus on running the business in the months ahead, "especially as we approach the important back-to-school and holiday seasons."

Stein Mart Sees Brighter Future Ahead

2005-05-27T09:05:00.000-07:00

Source: Cecile B. Corral

Jacksonville, Fla. - Stein Mart Inc. is anticipating an upturn in its uneven home business beginning in the second half of this year and into spring as a result of new leadership and other improvements, the company said during its first quarter conference call last week.

"The home area continues to lag, but we have hired a new (general merchandise manager) over home and look forward to getting a new perspective on this important vision," said Michael Fisher, president and CEO.

He was referring to the recent appointment of Kassie Jones as vice president and general merchandising manager for the home area. Her background in retail includes management positions in the home area with Federated Department Stores, The Great Indoors and, most recently, Home Shopping Network, where she worked as senior vice president and general merchandising manager over home fashions.

Fisher added that he believes the company is better positioned in its home category for the second half of this year, "in terms of getting fundamental businesses at the appropriate levels. It will take some time before our new leadership's involvement is actually seen, but I think that will probably be visible in spring season of '06."

Stein Mart has revised its store openings/closings plans for this year, attributing the changes to "external issues, including construction delays." The company now expects eight to nine new stores - including one relocated site - to open this year and seven to shut down. Some stores originally planned for 2005 have been pushed back to 2006.

Confidence at 16-month high

2005-05-27T09:04:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON - Confidence among the nation's home builders remained strong during April, approaching its highest level in the past 16 months, spurred by strong demand for new single-family homes and continued low mortgage rates.

The monthly Housing Market Index compiled by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and Wells Fargo Bank moved up three points to a reading of 70, close to the high side of the 67-71 confidence range that builders have held for more than a year.

The component of the index which gauges sales of single-family homes rose three points to a level of 76, and the component gauging sales expectations for the next six months came in with a reading of 77.

Memorial weekend shopping outlook: Mostly sunny

2005-05-25T10:42:00.000-07:00

WAYNE, Pa. - This year's Memorial Day weekend will bring a variety of weather across the country, much of it favorable to sales of seasonal goods, according to retail forecaster Planalytics Inc.

The South Central and Southwest region - from Louisiana across to Southern California and up to Nevada - will experience summer heat and dryness, which should bode well for seasonal products, the service reported. Weather will also be positive for seasonal goods in the Southeast, Inner Mountain region, most of the West and the Northwest.

Conversely, most of the Eastern Seaboard stretching across to the Great Lakes will experience cool and unsettled weather. While not promising for sales of seasonal merchandise, the cooler, damper weather should spur store/mall traffic, according to Planalytics.

Survey says: Online retailing on the rise

2005-05-25T10:40:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON - Online sales last year rose 23.8 percent to $89 billion among 137 key retailers responding to an annual Shop.org study conducted by Forrester Research.

The report predicts that online sales (including travel) will rise 22 percent to $172.4 billion this year. Sales excluding travel are expected to reach $109.6 billion.

The study predicts a number of categories will see steep growth this year due to the growing acceptance of online shopping by women. They include cosmetics and fragrances, over-the-counter medications and personal care items, jewelry and luxury goods, and flowers, cards, and gifts.

230 Fifth launches new site

2005-05-23T12:28:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK - A new Web site focused on 230 Fifth Ave. (The New York MarketCenter) has been launched that features information about showroom locations, building information and show dates. The site is located at www.230fifthave.com.

Intertextile Shanghai shifts show date

2005-05-23T12:27:00.000-07:00

SHANGHAI - The date of Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles 2005 has been changed to Aug. 23 to 25, a month earlier than previously announced.

Organizer Messe Frankfurt said the new timing more closely aligns the fair with the home textiles buying season, and can take advantage of a larger space available at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. The show is expected to be 50 percent larger this year, according to the organizer.

How to Care for Bed Linens

2005-05-20T11:24:00.000-07:00

Caring for household linens used to be as easy as beating them on a rock and drying them on a line.

Luxury Linens

Today, however, homemakers regularly use textiles that come in a multitude of fibers, colors, and sizes, each with specific care requirements.

If you've ever stood in front of the washer trying to decide between hot and cold, permanent press and extra rinse, then you know what we mean.

One of the best ways to know how to care for an item is to save the care directions that are packaged with it. Write the product name on it ("tan floral twin sheets" for example). Tape this card up in your laundry room or stick it into a card file kept on the laundry room shelf. If you're ever in doubt about laundering instructions this information will be a good place to start.

Yet beyond specific instructions are some general, common sense tips for purchasing, cleaning, and caring for household linens like sheets, towels, and duvets. Did you know, for example, that towels should be washed with vinegar before using? Or that sheets can be partially "unwrinkled" by drying them with a damp washcloth?

Sheets

Washing

-Wash in cool or lukewarm water that's less than 104 degrees F.

-Set wash cycle on "gentle"

-Use the extra rinse cycle if available

-Use less detergent -- about half the recommended amount

-Avoid using bleach as it breaks down fabric fibers

Drying

-Dry sheets in the dryer only until they're dry

-Avoid over drying

-Remove sheets from the dryer promptly and fold immediately

Note:If sheets have cooled in the dryer and wrinkles have set, then tumble another 5-10 minutes with a washcloth that has been slightly dampened.

Pillowcases

-Buy extra pillowcases for any sheet patterns you particularly love, as these are the pieces that will wear out the fastest.

-Iron pillowcases for fresh, crisp good looks on your bed.

-Change pillowcases at least twice a week in normal climates, more often in hot and humid regions.

Storage

-Have three sets of sheets per bed. Use one on the bed, one in storage, and one in the laundry.

-Rotate the sheets you use (vs. the sets you store) frequently so they wear evenly.

-Buy extra bottom sheets for any sheet patterns you particularly love, as these are the pieces that will wear out the fastest.

-Change sheets once a week in normal climates, more often in hot and humid regions.

General Tips

-Use a mattress pad between the mattress and sheets. Wash it when needed, at least every few months.

-When sheets are used as fabric for pillow covers, shams, bedskirts, tablecloths, curtain panels and the like avoid washing them as they will lose body and become limp. Dry clean if necessary.

Hancock to undergo extreme makeover

2005-05-19T10:28:00.000-07:00

BALDWYN, Miss. - Hancock Fabrics will undergo an extreme makeover this year to re-merchandise its stores by the fall. The plan calls for the company to reconnect with its customers and stores by reevaluating everything it does from the customer's point of view in terms of product selection, store layout, merchandise presentation and advertising/marketing initiatives.

"Phase one is all about acquiring the knowledge to gain control over and stabilize our business," said Jane Aggers, president and CEO of Hancock Fabrics. "Phase two is about using the information from our customers and stores to improve the four-wall results of existing stores. (This) is already in place and very active with an aggressive timeline to support the fall season."

Hampered by a deep slide in same-store sales, thinning margins and an inventory build-up, Hancock recorded a first quarter loss of $3.3 million, compared with a small year-before profit of $816,000. Sales at the fabrics, crafts and home decorating specialist skidded 6.9 percent, to $97.8 million from $105.1 million last year. Same-store sales fell 6.9 percent, crimped in part by one less shopping day in this year's first quarter.

Government limits imports of combed cotton yarn from China

2005-05-19T10:26:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON - A government committee today agreed to put in place quotas that will limit the import of combed cotton yarn from China.

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) determined that combed cotton yarn from China is threatening to disrupt the U.S. market. Imports of men's and boys cotton and man-made fiber shirts, not knit; man-made fiber trousers; and man-made fiber knit shirts and blouses will also be limited.

As a result of the decision, CITA will request consultations with China before the end of May.

The quota levels put in place will be 7.5 percent above the level of imports reached during the first 12 months of the most recent 14 months preceding the month that the request for consultations is made. The quota level will be prorated to correspond to the number of days left in the year as of the date of the request for consultations.

Li & Fung realigns, Toolan promoted

2005-05-18T10:37:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK - Li & Fung USA has realigned its operation into a Home Brands Group and an Apparel Brands Group.

Industry veteran Jack Toolan has been promoted to executive vice president of the home group, overseeing licenses for Royal Velvet, Cannon and Cannon Royal Family brands. He was previously senior vice president/general manager for Cannon brands.

In additional, Scott Maddalene has been promoted to senior vice president for the Cannon and Cannon Royal Family brands. He had previously been vice president of global brand development for Cannon Brands.

Lou Casali, senior vice president for the Royal Velvet brand, now reports to Toolan.

In addition, Ron Ventricelli has been promoted to executive vice president of operations. He will oversee financial, customer services and all operating issues related to the Global Brand Business Group. Ventricelli, Toolan and the new executive vice president of the Apparel Brands Group, Robert Crocco, all report to Rick Darling, president of Li & Fung USA.

Amazon Hears Wedding Bells

2005-05-17T15:57:00.000-07:00

Seattle - Amazon is looking to grab a share of the $50 billion wedding industry.

The company's new Amazon Wedding registry pulls together Amazon retailer and vendor partners large and small across 25 product categories. Reflecting today's broader definition of what's registry-worthy, those categories include tools and hardware, personal technology such as home theaters, and sporting goods.

Registry pages offer product recommendations pulled together by Amazon project managers. The pages also contain a few paid links to sellers of similar merchandise.

"A lot of what we speced were items that our customers have been asking for," said Kerry Morris, divisional manager, Home & Garden Store. "We've really tried to access everybody. But brands like Henkels, Riedel and Lenox are going to naturally rise to the top."

The registry is the latest step of Amazon's thrust into home. The bedding category has been an area of particular focus over the past year, said Morris, who joined Amazon from Wal-Mart International, where she was global sourcing and private label manager.

"If you look at bedding, which is a newer category for us, in the last year we've launched 30 to 40 brands, and that's just the beginning," she said.

Amazon looks for retail partners (currently including Macy's, JCPenney and Target) as well as vendor brands to link with, which in bedding includes a large serving of WestPoint Stevens Martex brand. When Amazon approaches a vendor about a brand, "We want to put up their full assortment," Morris said. "That's something a retailer can't do."

Although Amazon buyers have just begun to visit overseas trade shows, they have been actively scouring the New York Home Textiles Market (including the mini-markets), the High Point show, the New York International Gift Fair and other gift shows, Morris said.

"We're always striving for a very comprehensive mix," she added.

The new wedding registry also boasts comprehensiveness. If offers 150 wedding planning guides on 15 topics ranging from the engagement, preparation, day-of and post-wedding stages, providing instructions, ideas (such has how to determine what style of wedding best suits the couple) and tips.

A Yellow Pages link directs couples to vendors and service providers such as florists and caterers in their region.

The registry guide offers advice about how to select everything from sheets and bake ware to home theaters and digital cameras. A registry checklist helps couples keep track of what they've requested and recommends product quantities. A Thank You list provides couples with the names and addresses associated with each gift to ease the task of sending thank you notes after the event.

Amazon has also teamed with The MiMi Girls - Michele Adams and Gia Russo - authors of Wedding Showers and hosts of The Art of the Party on the Fine Living Network. They also offer tips and suggestions.

Said Adams: "Weddings, like couples today, are becoming more casual. A lot of couples are paying for their own wedding, so they're very budget-conscious."

Government to invoke safeguards on China textiles imports

2005-05-16T10:44:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON - A government committee today has "announced affirmative decisions" in three textiles-safeguard cases that were filed in April, five days after the 30-day comment period came to a close on May 9.

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA) found that cotton knit shirts and blouses, cotton trousers, and cotton and man-made fiber underwear are being disrupted, "and that there is a threat of further disruption," stated CITA.

"Today, CITA announced its decision to invoke textile safeguards based on market disruption and threat of market disruption due to the magnitude of increases in textile imports from China and China's significant capacity to increase production and exports to the United States in these product categories," said Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez. "Today's action by CITA demonstrates this Administration's commitment to leveling the playing field for U.S. industry by enforcing our trade agreements. We will consult with the Chinese to find a solution that will permit the orderly development of trade in a quota free environment."

CITA will now request consultations with China by the end of May. Talks must be held within 30 days of receipt of the request by the Chinese government.

In addition to the cases CITA decided today, there are four cases pending for which the public comment period has closed. The four additional cases were initiated by CITA last fall in response to industry requests alleging a threat of market disruption. CITA stated that it is working to complete its analysis of the facts in those cases and will issue its determinations "as expeditiously as possible."

Karen Neuburger to unveil new infant bedding at JPMA

2005-05-13T10:44:00.000-07:00

Source: HTT

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. - The Karen Neuburger brand has expanded its line of children's and infant bedding and room accessories with a new crib collection by Crown Crafts called It's A Star that's set to preview at JPMA in Orlando from May 23 to 25.

It's A Star features prints from Karen Neuburger's comfort-inspired fabrics in a mixture of blues, greens and yellows. In addition to a four-piece bedding set and crib sheets, the ensemble includes a coordinating window valance, diaper stacker, decorative pillow, lamp, mobile and decorative wall border. Retails range from $16 to $200 for this collection that is scheduled to be in stores this fall.

Federated leaps, home lags

2005-05-12T11:00:00.000-07:00

Source: HTT

CINCINNATI - Profits at Federated Department Store jumped ahead 34 percent during the first quarter - but no thanks to home.

Comps were weakest among furniture, bedding and rugs, according to Karen Hogue, chief financial officer. Overall comps rose 2.6 percent for the quarter ended April 30, while total revenue increased a modest 2.5 percent to $3.6 billion.

During a call with analysts earlier today, Hogue noted the company has said since last year that it doesn't expect the full impact of its consolidated Macy's Home organization to kick in until fall 2005. As for the merchandising impact of the merged Federated/May buying organizations, Hogue predicted change would not be evident until fall 2006.

Skewing the year-over-year profit comparison somewhat, last year's earnings were reduced by 6 cents per share to cover store closing costs and the Macy's home store consolidation. Excluding those one-time costs, earnings per share rose at a more moderate, but still strong, pace of 20.3 percent.

It wasn't enough for hungry analysts and investors. After Hogue, during the call, cautioned that an exceptionally strong first quarter would be tough to duplicate later in the year, Federated’s stock, after initially rising higher, slipped 1.7 percent, or $1.10 per share, to $62.80 from $63.90 the day before.

Heads roll following Saks investigation

2005-05-11T11:06:00.000-07:00

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Saks Incorporated has asked a number of its senior executives to resign after the company completed its internal investigation into improper vendor markdown allowances which took place from 1999-2003.

Specifically, Donald Watros, chief administrative officer of Saks Fifth Avenue (SAFE); Brian Martin, general counsel at the time of the 2002 investigation and currently a senior vice president with responsibility for real estate matters; and Donald Wright, chief accounting officer, have all been asked to resign.

The investigation found approximately $20 million was improperly collected from vendors, whom SAFE has said it will "reimburse or otherwise compensate."

Springs sells Eureka plant to Spartan Fiber

2005-05-11T10:43:00.000-07:00

FORT MILL, S.C. - Springs Industries has sold its Eureka Plant to Spartan Fiber, which plans to use the former textiles weaving facility in Chester, S.C., for yarn storage and distribution.

Gary Mahaffey, president and owner of Spartan Fiber, said the facility will initially employ a small number of Spartan employees, and employment could grow as the business expands.

Because there is more space at Eureka than Spartan currently needs, the company agreed to lease office space to the Good Samaritan Clinic. The Springs Close Foundation has provided financial support to the clinic to buy medical and office supplies.

Nordstrom lands Exclusive "Heavenly Beds" Deal

2005-05-10T14:21:00.000-07:00

Seattle - The Heavenly Bed, the Westin Hotels signature bed and bedding collection, is now being sold at retail exclusively at Nordstrom.

Nordstrom, the fashion specialty store retailer based here, is featuring the Heavenly Bed collection in 48 of its 61 At Home departments, calling the collection Heavenly Bed at Home. Nordstrom has 95 stores coast to coast.

Luxury Hotel Linens

The program began five years ago, explained Sue Brush, senior vice president, Westin Hotels & Resorts, the result of hotel guest's requests to purchase both the mattresses and bedding following their visits to a Westin Hotel.

At the launch of the Nordstrom program in New York last week, Brush noted that in the first year Westin's sales of Heavenly Bed products were almost $1 million. Last year, sales jumped to $8.5 million via the in-room catalog and Web site.

The all-white collection, from the mattress and upholstered bed to the decorative pillows, is featured in specially designed sections of the At Home departments. While Nordstrom currently has 61 At Home departments with decorative accessories, gifts, accent furniture and some textiles, 48 are carrying the Heavenly Bed bedding, and 24 offer the full program including the upholstered beds and mattresses, said Paul Begich, national merchandise manager, At Home.

The bedding collection, which is supplied by Baker Linen, includes 300-count Egyptian cotton sheets, a lightweight goosedown blanket, a jacquard duvet cover filled with a down insert, a range of feather and down bed pillows and a boudoir pillow.

The mattress is a specially designed Beautyrest from Simmons, the upholstered bed is from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams.

Nordstrom will market the Heavenly Bed program via its own sales staff, which is known for personal shopping attributes. It will also feature the line on its Web site, Begich related. But it will not sell the products on the Internet "because we want to enhance the one-on-one relationship with the customers."

Customers shopping in stores without the At Home departments will be able to consult with sales people in those stores who will guide them to the stores that carry the products, he said. Sales people at the participating At Home stores have received special training in the past few months, Begich added.

Results in just the few days the program has been in the stores have been very good, he said.

The entire 10-layer bed sells for $3,115 to $3,615, with the mattress set priced from $1,250 to $1,450.

The expansion of home furnishings at Nordstrom "means we're absolutely looking at line extensions," in this business, Begich stated.

Amazon offers wedding site/registry

2005-05-09T11:18:00.000-07:00

SEATTLE -- Amazon Services is opening Amazon Wedding -- a Web site offering planning and registry advice, along with products.

The company has teamed with Michele Adams and Gia Russo -- authors of Wedding Showers and The Art of the Party -- to add advice throughout the wedding planning guides.

Amazon Wedding also offers checklists and planning tools to help keep track of the wedding process. The site features a local vendor search feature to help couples find florists, photographers and caterers in their local area.

Easter shift means tough April comparison

2005-05-06T11:23:00.000-07:00

Source: By HTT

WASHINGTON - The early Easter holiday which bolstered sales in March has had the opposite effect on April, according to results of the April NRF Retail Executive Opinion Survey, with the Retail Sector Performance Index dropping 7.9 points from last month and 8.8 points from last April to a reading of 50.5.

"Given the Easter shift to March, retailers were hard-pressed to compete with last April's strong gains," said NRF President and CEO Tracy Mullin.

Down Bedding

The Demand Outlook, a six-months-ahead sales outlook, dropped 8.7 points in April to 52.8.

Anna's Linen readies for IPO

2005-05-06T11:16:00.000-07:00

COSTA MESA, Calif. - Anna's Linen Company is preparing to become a public company.

The 182-store chain yesterday filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission to set in motion an initial public offering of its common stock.

In 2004, the company earned $5.4 million on sales of $225.2 million, according to its prospectus.

CIBC World Markets and Wachovia Securities will act as joint lead managers for the proposed offering, with SG Cowen & Co. and Wedbush Morgan Securities as co-managers.

Since 2000, Anna's has been steadily accelerating its expansion with an eye toward an eventual public offering. The company now operates stores from coast to coast across the southern half of the United States. Last year, it opened more than 50 new units and made its first foray into the Midwestern market with openings in Chicago.

Big Names Returning to Retail

2005-05-05T09:54:00.000-07:00

Retail Comeback

Source: By HTT

New York - The Cannon, Charisma and Royal Velvet brands are in various stages of evolution as the former pair plan their reintroduction at retail and the later looks to expand its distribution following a bumpy spring launch.

Cannon - once the largest home textiles brand by volume in the industry - is honing in on decisions about final construction in sheets and towels, and has already developed design boards for top-of-bed in the office of Li & Fung, the firm that holds the licenses for both Cannon and Pillowtex.

The line will be ready to debut at retail in the United States and Europe in February 2006, said Jack Toolan, Li & Fung's senior vice president, general manager for Cannon.

"In our view, this is a very big brand," he said. "It's known for bed and bath, but we think Cannon should populate every part of the home business."

In top-of-bed, Cannon is developing product to suit five lifestyles Li & Fung sees as compatible with the brand's history: cottage, traditional, tudor, bungalow and townhouse.

In bath, Cannon will bring out a core basic towel in 12 colors priced at $4.99, with a step-up towel in 10 colors at $6.99. In sheets, the core solid will be a 220 blend, with an all-cotton 250 step-up construction. The core sheet will retail somewhere between $32.99 and $37.99 on a queen set and the better sheet will retail for about $10 more.

Cannon is also well into the development of a consumer marketing campaign under the tagline "Cannon, Take Comfort" that seeks to evoke traditional values such as family. Li & Fung's consumer research found that Cannon still has the highest name recognition in bed and bath among consumers, and ironically, many consumers in the survey claimed to have purchased Cannon products during the past two years.

Charisma, which is being produced under license by WestPoint Stevens, will be ready to ship later in the year to high-end specialty stores and catalogs. WestPoint has developed a broad horizontal program across fashion bedding, bath and utility bedding.

"We're positioning it as a luxury brand - not at the very top, but above the moderate level for luxury," said Judi Alexander, WestPoint's vice president for Charisma Home.

Duvet covers are oversized at 100-by-100 inches. Fitted sheets feature a 19-inch pocket and all-around elastic. Coverlets are detailed with hand-applied embroidery. Blankets include a Lyocell and cotton construction, a mercerized Egyptian cotton and a cashmere and mercerized merino wool blend.

The core Egyptian cotton sheet comes in nine colors. Alexander would not discuss thread-count or finishing details beyond saying the sheet was made of compact yarn and that the weaving technique is proprietary.

Meanwhile, Royal Velvet is working to live up to expectations after a disappointing February launch in bath. The brand, which is produced under license by Li & Fung, will introduce an improved $9.99 core towel with its July shipment. The mercerized 30-by-56-inch towel is constructed of combed Supima loops and compact yarn.

"We think we've got a Cadillac product here," said Lou Casali, Li & Fung's senior vice president and general manager of Royal Velvet.

As it looks to roll out the bedding program it introduced during the New York Mini-Market in February, Royal Velvet will launch a consumer marketing campaign this fall under the tag line: "Royal Velvet, Fashion for the Bed and Bath."

The campaign features young women wearing pieces of the line as apparel along with the slogan: "If you could wear it, you would." The idea, Casali said, is to attract a younger customer to the brand.

"The traditional Royal Velvet customer is a little bit older, and we want to keep her, but we're also appealing to a new customer," he said. "We're trying to juice this business back up again."

The national campaign will target women 25 to 54 years old, skewing younger, with a household income of $50,000 and up. In addition to magazines, the marketing strategy will include television, product placement, online ads, in-store promotions, events and database marketing.

Neiman Marcus selling to investment group

2005-05-03T10:20:00.000-07:00

Neiman Marcus

DALLAS - The Neiman Marcus Group, Inc.'s Board of Directors has agreed to sell the company to an investment group consisting of Texas Pacific Group and Warburg Pincus LLC.

Under the terms of the agreement, Texas Pacific Group and Warburg Pincus will acquire all of the outstanding Class A and Class B shares of The Neiman Marcus Group for $100 per share in cash, representing a transaction value of approximately $5.1 billion. Each of the investors will own equal stakes in the company upon completion of the transaction. The Smith family, which owns a significant percentage of the equity of the company, has entered into a separate agreement to vote its shares in favor of the merger.

Said Richard Smith, chairman of the board of The Neiman Marcus Group, "This transaction provides outstanding shareholder value and represents an endorsement of the excellent performance of our entire team."

Luxury Linens

Burt Tansky, president and CEO of The Neiman Marcus Group, said, "We are excited to announce this transaction, particularly given the strengths of Texas Pacific Group and Warburg Pincus. They share our interest in the strong future of our company. Our customers, employees, and vendors should know that now, and following the completion of this transaction, it will be business as usual. We believe that our new partners will help us continue to focus on a business plan that is dedicated to luxury leadership, financial discipline, quality, and growth."

Completion of the deal is contingent on regulatory review and approval by the shareholders of The Neiman Marcus Group and is expected to occur by Nov. 1.

CEO's see the upside

2005-05-02T09:46:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK - The nation's chief executives grew modestly more bullish about the outlook for the U.S. economy during the first quarter of the 2005, and The Conference Board's quarterly gauge of CEO confidence inched up to a reading of 62, after falling to a level of 61 during the closing quarter of last year.

The business think tank's survey shows that CEO's assessment of current conditions improved over the last quarter. About 59 percent said current economic conditions have improved, up from 53 during the fourth quarter of 2004. Assessing the prospects for their own industries, close to 57 percent said business conditions are better this quarter, up from about 46 percent the preceding quarter.

But CEO's more jaundiced view of the short-term outlook "has not changed dramatically," The Conference Board reported.About 43 percent of business leaders expect economic conditions to improve in the coming months, down from 50 percent last quarter. Expectations for their own industries were also more subdued, with 47 percent anticipating an improvement, down from 52 percent the previous quarter. At the same time, fewer CEOs expect conditions, both economic and in their own industries, to worsen over the next six months.

Martha Stewart Omnimedia revenues down, home also soft

2005-04-27T00:56:00.000-07:00

Martha Stewart

Source: By HTT

NEW YORK - Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia reported revenues for the first quarter of $37.8 million, down 15 percent from last year's first quarter. The quarter's operating loss widened from $16.5 million last year to $19.8 million.

Luxury Bedding

Merchandising, revenues fell 13 percent to $9.4 million. MSO pegged the decline to lower sales of Martha Stewart Everyday products, noting particularly declines in home and paint product lines. The slump was partially offset by sales of Everyday garden and housewares products.

"Soft home, particularly our Five Star sheets and towels, has been soft," said Susan Lyne, president and CEO.

In May, Lyne said the company will expand the Martha Stewart Everyday product line into ready-to-assemble furniture, featuring 42 skus for the bedroom, kitchen and living room.

Judge OKs West Point Stevens auction process

2005-04-25T09:57:00.000-07:00

West Point Stevens Update

Source: By HTT Staff

NEW YORK - WestPoint Stevens cleared a final hurdle and headed toward the finish line earlier today after a U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge approved a set of bidding procedures that will lead to the sale of the company in just nine weeks, and its exit from a protracted bankruptcy some time in August.

After almost two hours of infighting and jockeying for position between lawyers for investor Carl Icahn and a steering committee for WestPoint creditors tied to investor Wilbur Ross, Judge Robert Drain green-lighted a blueprint that will govern the auction process for the major mill.

The date for the auction remains in place for June 21, with WestPoint deciding shortly after who has won the company - Icahn, Ross or a dark horse candidate yet to emerge. Judge Drain commented during the hearing, "There is a distinct possibility that a third party might come in."

A hearing in Drain's court is set for three days later, June 24, to confirm the auction process and the winner. Weeks later, some time in August, the company is expected to emerge from Chapter 11, virtually free of debt.

Springs, Spade part ways

2005-04-21T11:27:00.000-07:00

Retail News

Source: By HTT Staff

FORT MILL, S.C. - Springs Industries and Kate Spade have ended their licensing relationship, under which Kate Spade brand bedding and bath textiles had been produced.

The Kate Spade spring bedding collection currently out at retail marks the final collaboration between the companies. No line was shown for fall during the recent New York Home Textiles Market.

The Kate Spade Home Collection launched in 2004 in tabletop, bedding and bath.The inaugural bedding collection garnered the Elle Decor Elle Deco International Design Award.

Kate Spade plans to pursue bedding and bath in the future.

Luxury Down Bedding

WestPoint seeks auction

2005-04-18T09:28:00.000-07:00

Westpoint Stevens Update

Source: By HTT

NEW YORK - A federal bankruptcy court judge is being asked to approve accelerated bidding and notice procedures for a sale of substantially all of WestPoint Stevens' assets in an auction that would be held June 21.

The auction would ostensibly pit Carl Icahn against a group led by Wilbur Ross, along with any other bidders WestPoint may attract in a shortened marketing effort. Ross offer most recently has been pegged at $632 million, while Icahn has stated his offer amounts to $800 million.

Judge Robert Drain signed the ex parte motion seeking the hearing last Friday. WestPoint filed it one day after a Thursday status conference that was closed to the public. WestPoint is seeking a seven-step process that would include a June 10 bidding deadline and a "purchaser selection hearing" June 22, a day after the auction. That would be followed by an amended Chapter 11 reorganization plan accounting for the sale. A final confirmation hearing would take place Aug. 17.

The process is intended to follow guidance given by the bankruptcy court about two weeks ago, when Drain denied a bid by WestPoint to name Wilbur Ross and the steering committee of first lien holders the stalking horse bidders with established breakup fees if the deal did not go through. That sale would have occurred within the context of a court-ordered section 363 sale of the company.

Instead, Drain advised the mill to attempt to complete the sale within a Chapter 11 plan of reorganization, essentially holding the auction first, then seeking confirmation of the plan by creditors. Company lawyers have stated that WestPoint had attempted at least four efforts at winning a confirmed reorganization plan but failed because of feuding creditors, notably the first tier group against Icahn, who holds first and second tier debt.

Under the current proposal, a modified Asset Purchase Agreement is being put forward by WestPoint instead of Ross. It contains no stalking horse and no breakup fees and contains the court's earlier suggestions. Instead of the stalking horse bid, the new procedures call for the "highest or best bid" to serve as the opening bid of the auction. No overbid amounts are specified.

If the process were to fail, the court could order a 363 sale and potentially have the option to "cramdown" the terms over the objections of one or more groups of creditors.

Retail index rises in March

2005-04-08T13:18:00.001-07:00

Retail Index

Source: By HTT Staff

WASHINGTON - An early Easter last month helped the Retail Sector Performance Index (RSPI) rise 2.8 points from February to 58.4, its highest reading since May 2004, according to the results of the March National Retail Federation Retail Executive Opinion Survey.

Major survey indicators for March remained strong as gains in customer sales and traffic increased the Current Demand Index 2.2 points to 61.4. Retail executives also reported more pricing power in March as the Pricing Index rose 5.5 points to 45.5, the highest reading since the survey's inception in 2003.

The RSPI measures retail executives evaluations of monthly sales, customer traffic, the average transaction per customer, employment, inventories and a six-month-ahead sales outlook expectation. The RSPI is based on a scale of 0-100 with 50 equaling normal.