home textiles today january 23rd issue
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Home Textiles Today January 23rd IssueTRANSCRIPT
Monday, January 23, 2012
THE BUSINESS AND FASHION NEWSPAPER OF THE HOME TEXTILES INDUSTRY | hometextilestoday.com | Vol. 33, No. 3 | $8.00
Vegas Marketers Bet on Black
Ready, Steady, Go for NYIGF/NY Textiles Week
Inside This IssueFingers Crossed ................................................................. page 4
Of Twinkies and Brownies ............................................... page 4
Eurozone Woes Impact Heimtextil Attendance ..................................................... page 4
Winter 2012 Rug Preview ................................................ page 18
NRF Forecasts 3.4% Sales Growth in 2012 .................... page 32
BY WAYNE MARKS
NEW YORK — With fourth-quar-ter sales up sharply and first-quarter orders fueling a cau-tious optimism, many exhibitors at the New York International Gift Fair and New York Textiles Week at Javits and in the show-rooms may fi nally be feeling the wind at their backs.
“Pendleton’s fourth-quarter business was spectacular. Sell-throughs at retail were above plan, resulting in fourth-quarter reorder activity.” said Bob Christ-nacht, division manager, home, Pendleton Woolen Mills.
The manufacturer is see-ing larger commitments from core customers for spring and fall 2012 bookings, he added. At NYIGF, Pendleton will in-troduce a throw program using Alpaca fiber sourced from the United States, a new jacquard towel program featuring the company’s well-known Chief Joseph design, and 12 new bed-ding groups as well as new table-
top and dinnerware collections.Keith Sorgeloos, president
and ceo at Home Source Inter-national, also saw a pickup in business as 2011 closed. “Believe it or not, fourth-quarter business was the best it has been in four
years … although that is not re-ally a surprise in lieu of the eco-nomic conditions we have been through for the past three years, not to mention the cotton crisis we faced.”
LAS VEGAS — Like their NYIGF counterparts, exhibitors heading for the Las Vegas Market, which runs Jan. 30-Feb. 3, have seen strong fourth quarter sales and many positive lead-ing indicators, putting them in a hopeful but careful mood with respect to the upcoming show.
Kami Navid, vp, Jaunty Co. Inc. is seeing upside potential. “Overall, we see people very optimistic about the economy. The rug industry has been slow in the last two years, if not lon-ger, so I think everybody is now anticipating a better econo-my, better days, and for business to get back on track.” Kami said. Jaunty’s sales increased in 2010 versus 2009 and it had double-digit increases in 2011, according to Kami.
At Hudson Industries, Q4 was “surprisingly strong” accord-ing to senior vp Lonnie Schepps, who is leaving the company this month for a new post elsewhere. “Being able to fulfi ll last minute volume —as we are a vertical manufacturer — helped immensely,” he said.
However, recent developments are not enough to make Hudson double down just yet, “Q1 & Q2 of 2012 appears to be stable as we see it coming through. There’s still inventory out there, so we think it will not be blockbuster business [in the fi rst half].”
Hudson will display its latest cool foams at the Las Vegas
BY WARREN SHOULBERG
FRANKFURT, GERMANY — More-Textile Group, the newly created owner of three of Portugal’s larg-est home textiles suppliers, had its offi cial coming out party here earlier this month at Heimtextil.
And now the company is ready to become a bigger play-er in the international market-place.
MoreTextile was created last year as the corporate owner and overseer of Coelima, JMA and Antonio Almeida & Filhos. Each of these Portuguese com-panies had experienced finan-cial issues over the past years, as had many European suppli-ers in the industry, their business
moving to less expensive Asian resources.
Financial lenders to the indi-vidual fi rms decided to combine the three companies, although Artur Soutinho, president and ceo of MoreTextile, told HTT they are not calling it a merger.
Each company, he said, will maintain a separate face to the public and the industry and only activities behind the scenes — operations and fi nance — will be combined. At Heimtex, each company occupied its own stand, though the three did jointly participate in an open-ing night reception attended by more than 100 people.
Each of the three compa-nies — Coelima and Almeida
in bedding and JMA in bath — has been a signifi cant supplier of product to the American market over the years, but all have re-duced their American exports due to the combination of in-creased competition from Asia and the stronger Euro making their products more expensive in the United States.
Together the three compa-nies did about 110 million Euros last year, or about $142 million, the majority through exports. Soutinho said with the dol-lar gaining strength against the Euro again, MoreTextile expects to increase its export business to the United States and become more active in the American market. HTT
SEE NYIGF PAGE 2
New Portuguese Powerhouse Ready for More
SEE VEGAS PAGE 6
Bedford’s new Buckingham throw is woven at its New Hampshire mill using a new domestic chenille yarn to create a fresh texture and pattern. See page 8 for additional NYIGF introductions.
Home Source International is showing Pearl Finish sheets constructed from a patented formula using real pearls.
See page 14 for additional Las Vegas introductions.
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Monday, January 23, 2012
THE BUSINESS AND FASHION NEWSPAPER OF THE HOME TEXTILES INDUSTRY | hometextilestoday.com | Vol. 33, No. 3 | $8.00
Vegas Marketers Bet on Black
Ready, Steady, Go for NYIGF/NY Textiles Week
Inside This IssueFingers Crossed ................................................................. page 4
Of Twinkies and Brownies ............................................... page 4
Eurozone Woes Impact Heimtextil Attendance ..................................................... page 4
Winter 2012 Rug Preview ................................................ page 18
NRF Forecasts 3.4% Sales Growth in 2012 .................... page 32
BY WAYNE MARKS
NEW YORK — With fourth-quar-ter sales up sharply and first-quarter orders fueling a cau-tious optimism, many exhibitors at the New York International Gift Fair and New York Textiles Week at Javits and in the show-rooms may fi nally be feeling the wind at their backs.
“Pendleton’s fourth-quarter business was spectacular. Sell-throughs at retail were above plan, resulting in fourth-quarter reorder activity.” said Bob Christ-nacht, division manager, home, Pendleton Woolen Mills.
The manufacturer is see-ing larger commitments from core customers for spring and fall 2012 bookings, he added. At NYIGF, Pendleton will in-troduce a throw program using Alpaca fiber sourced from the United States, a new jacquard towel program featuring the company’s well-known Chief Joseph design, and 12 new bed-ding groups as well as new table-
top and dinnerware collections.Keith Sorgeloos, president
and ceo at Home Source Inter-national, also saw a pickup in business as 2011 closed. “Believe it or not, fourth-quarter business was the best it has been in four
years … although that is not re-ally a surprise in lieu of the eco-nomic conditions we have been through for the past three years, not to mention the cotton crisis we faced.”
LAS VEGAS — Like their NYIGF counterparts, exhibitors heading for the Las Vegas Market, which runs Jan. 30-Feb. 3, have seen strong fourth quarter sales and many positive lead-ing indicators, putting them in a hopeful but careful mood with respect to the upcoming show.
Kami Navid, vp, Jaunty Co. Inc. is seeing upside potential. “Overall, we see people very optimistic about the economy. The rug industry has been slow in the last two years, if not lon-ger, so I think everybody is now anticipating a better econo-my, better days, and for business to get back on track.” Kami said. Jaunty’s sales increased in 2010 versus 2009 and it had double-digit increases in 2011, according to Kami.
At Hudson Industries, Q4 was “surprisingly strong” accord-ing to senior vp Lonnie Schepps, who is leaving the company this month for a new post elsewhere. “Being able to fulfi ll last minute volume —as we are a vertical manufacturer — helped immensely,” he said.
However, recent developments are not enough to make Hudson double down just yet, “Q1 & Q2 of 2012 appears to be stable as we see it coming through. There’s still inventory out there, so we think it will not be blockbuster business [in the fi rst half].”
Hudson will display its latest cool foams at the Las Vegas
BY WARREN SHOULBERG
FRANKFURT, GERMANY — More-Textile Group, the newly created owner of three of Portugal’s larg-est home textiles suppliers, had its offi cial coming out party here earlier this month at Heimtextil.
And now the company is ready to become a bigger play-er in the international market-place.
MoreTextile was created last year as the corporate owner and overseer of Coelima, JMA and Antonio Almeida & Filhos. Each of these Portuguese com-panies had experienced finan-cial issues over the past years, as had many European suppli-ers in the industry, their business
moving to less expensive Asian resources.
Financial lenders to the indi-vidual fi rms decided to combine the three companies, although Artur Soutinho, president and ceo of MoreTextile, told HTT they are not calling it a merger.
Each company, he said, will maintain a separate face to the public and the industry and only activities behind the scenes — operations and fi nance — will be combined. At Heimtex, each company occupied its own stand, though the three did jointly participate in an open-ing night reception attended by more than 100 people.
Each of the three compa-nies — Coelima and Almeida
in bedding and JMA in bath — has been a signifi cant supplier of product to the American market over the years, but all have re-duced their American exports due to the combination of in-creased competition from Asia and the stronger Euro making their products more expensive in the United States.
Together the three compa-nies did about 110 million Euros last year, or about $142 million, the majority through exports. Soutinho said with the dol-lar gaining strength against the Euro again, MoreTextile expects to increase its export business to the United States and become more active in the American market. HTT
SEE NYIGF PAGE 2
New Portuguese Powerhouse Ready for More
SEE VEGAS PAGE 6
Bedford’s new Buckingham throw is woven at its New Hampshire mill using a new domestic chenille yarn to create a fresh texture and pattern. See page 8 for additional NYIGF introductions.
Home Source International is showing Pearl Finish sheets constructed from a patented formula using real pearls.
See page 14 for additional Las Vegas introductions.
htt120103_001_002_005_006 1 1/20/2012 12:03:10 PM
2 Home Textiles Today > hometextilestoday.comNewsJanuary 2, 2012
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T
Others approach the seas ahead with a similar wariness. Owner of Linen Me, Inga Lu-kauskiene told HTT, “We find that our fourth-quarter business was steady. We are just fi nishing up at another trade show and our current customers are plac-ing conservative orders, with newer customers placing larg-er orders.”
Lukauskiene sees areas of growth in both new product in-troductions as well as the re-tail channels and has added four new colors to Linen Me’s Lara Collection. The company is also introducing dec pillows, scarves and linen throws as well as aprons, tote bags and more clothing styles at NYIGF.
Jason Needleman, ceo and president of Peacock Alley, de-scribed buyers as, “conserva-tively ordering, and we fore-see that through 2012. We have been working with them close-ly to hold inventory and keep a healthy fl ow of key items.”
Despite positive Q4 sales, the fact that navigating the current environment can be difficult was summed up nicely by Prad-nya Korde, partner and creative director at relative newcomer Black Pepper Dessin.
“Business can never be taken for granted,” Korde said, “It’s going to be a very tough year. However, I believe it is in the tough times that new and in-novative ventures rise and help change things in an industry. I believe the industry can use a makeover anyway.” Black Pep-per will be introducing a range of hand-made soft furnishings at the show.
The once elusive volume of the online business netted in-creased sales last year with pros-pects for this year strong for many exhibitors who do busi-ness with fl ash sites such as One King’s Lane, Haute Look and Rue La La.
Eric Vergucht from Chor-tex sees the trend, “Our busi-ness is growing very well in this [online] area. It is now part of doing business. We have invest-ed in servicing in this segment of the market place and are very pleased with the results.” Chor-tex is presenting its new Honey-comb & Oxford line of sculpted
bath towels made of 100% Turk-ish combed cotton at NYIGF
Others see business from websites and fl ash sites comple-menting growing volume from more traditional retailers.
“Requests from online re-tailers and fl ash sites have been picking up,” said Richard Sher-man, president, Bedford Cot-tage/Kennebunk Home “but you have to pick your spots.”
Brick and mortar retailers have been finding success on-line as well, Sherman contin-ued. Many retailers are now looking for product Made in the USA. Bedford will debut two new textured chenille throws, in-cluding an indoor/outdoor throw that is machine washable, stain, odor and mildew resistant. Sher-man described the new products as, “unlike anything we’ve ever done before”. Displaying at both NYIGF and the Las Vegas mar-ket, the company will also be presenting new spring colors in some of its best-selling styles.
Cathy Deale, founder and ceo of Jacaranda Living, has been having a similar experi-ence. “We are being asked more than ever before to drop-ship for both our retail stores and web customers, which we are happy to do. More stores are adding websites to their brick-and-mor-tar stores and asking us for sup-port with product pictures and copy. Many of them have Face-book pages for their stores ei-ther in addition to or instead of a website which is increasing their sales. Our investment in the professional photography of our products gives us a great re-turn as they are used by our re-tailers to increase their sales.”
Deale is also finding more demand for domestically pro-duced goods, “We are finding retailers are questioning where products are made more than ever before. They express a pref-erence for fair trade and USA made,” she said.
Jason Carr, co-founder of Softline, agrees with the positive online/traditional trend. “We see areas of growth in both re-tail and internet, both in ready-made curtains and decorative pillows. We are looking for fur-ther growth by acquiring compa-nies and continuing to build the Softline brand.” Carr told HTT that the company will be intro-ducing new grommeted pan-els, novelty sheers, and a 90-sku program named Silk Road in 30
colors with three coordinating designs. Softline will also partic-ipate in the Las Vegas show.
But it’s not all about online growth.
“We work with fl ash sites on a limited basis. However, our main focus continues to be with the full-price in-line merchan-dise and our brick and mor-tar customers.” said Steve Sch-neider, president, Sferra.
Schneider added that Sfer-ra’s primary focus is on specialty stores, “We continually strive to provide the highest level of sup-port for these stores in terms of customer service, product avail-ability, collateral material and sales training. That said, many of our customers maintain a website and more are consider-ing expansion on the Internet.
Including new colors, Sfer-ra is excited about a number of new introductions at the NYIGF. Among them, the Sonya featur-ing a jacquard constructed with Italian-woven Egyptian cotton sateen.
Some companies are taking it more slowly when it comes to fl ash sites. Meg Woodhouse, di-rector of marketing at John Ma-touk & Co. said: “We usual-ly limit our involvement with flash sale sites to discontinued items.”
This minimal involvement doesn’t appear to have hurt the company. Their bath busi-ness grew signifi cantly, Matouk had a “great” fourth as well as a good show in Atlanta earlier this month and is looking for a strong performance in New York. HTT
NYIGF/NY Textiles Week
NYIGF FROM PAGE 1
Chortex’s honeycomb sculpted bath towels
Pendleton’s jacquard bath towels
Softline’s travel themed pillows
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Softline.indd 1 1/17/2012 9:39:55 AM
4 Home Textiles Today > hometextilestoday.com
OPINIONTodaY
I F A N Y O F U S E V E R N E E DE D yet another reminder of the fragility of busi-ness in general and brand names in par-ticular, there were two more very visi-
ble — and very painful — examples over the past few weeks.
Both are case studies of what happens when bad things happen to good brands.
The fi rst was the bank-ruptcy filing last month of Hostess Brands, the company that makes Twinkies, among other baked goods. For this cor-porate entity it’s a return trip to bankruptcy court, giving it that Chapter 22 designation that econom-ic pundits love to point
out.Hostess’ problems are many, from an ex-
pensive overhead to a consuming public that is increasingly moving away from eat-ing unhealthy stuff — at least unhealthy stuff that tastes like crap. If you have not eaten a Twinkie since you were 12, you should keep it that way. It is a dreadful thing to put into your mouth and you should stick with your memo-ries, which are much more tasty.
The other news involves Kodak, which also fi led for bankruptcy, doing so last week after a slow death spiral that began nearly a decade ago. Kodak — which many of us of a certain age fi rst came into contact with when we pur-chased a Brownie camera — has suffered for years from the decline in printable photog-
raphy and the move toward digital pictures. No amount of Paul Simon-inspired imagery could slow that process down.
The irony is of course that Kodak is credited with inventing the digital camera, but it never pursued it as a viable commercial product, choosing instead the razor/razor blade model of selling fi lm. Even more ironic is that in the product category Kodak chose to try to resur-rect its business — printers for computers — it went with a model that put the profi t on the machine rather than the ink. In other words, the exact opposite of both conventional practic-es and its own successful experience in fi lm.
In hindsight, it’s easy to dissect and sec-ond guess what both Hostess and Kodak should have been doing. The former need-ed to branch out into products better suit-ed to changing consumer tastes and the lat-ter needed to capitalize on its own strengths. But the damage has already been done and while no doubt some of the names and some of the products will outlive their corporate owners, neither company will ever be what it once was.
The take-away here is that all business en-tities need to examine their own organiza-tions to make sure they are not committing the same sins. The roles of both home tex-tiles suppliers and general merchandise re-tailers are full of companies that did not do that and paid the price … often the ultimate one.
The stories of Hostess and Kodak once more are proof that business plans that are neither fully baked nor completely developed are rarely well done. HTT
Of Twinkies and Brownies
TO SAY T HE MOOD AT HEIM T E X T I L earlier this month was upbeat would be stretching things, but it was defi nite-ly hopeful.
Where the 2011 business mantra was: “A fl at year will qual-ify as a good year,” at the recent show I detected a sense that the coming 12 months might actually produce some growth, however modest.
Several manufacturers are expanding capacity again — even as many acknowledge there exists an overabundance of pro-duction availability on a global basis. Some suppli-ers who do the majority of their business with the United States are looking to open new accounts in other markets. By the same token, exporters who concentrate on non-U.S. markets expressed an in-terest in jumping into the big pool.
There was a fair amount of chatter about Sears Holdings, parent of Sears and Kmart. The news from Women’s Wear Daily late last week that CIT Group would shortly resume factoring the com-pany will perhaps ease some concerns — depend-ing upon the terms.
As has been the case for a few years now, the roster of U.S. retailers in attendance did not equate to an accounting of actual buyers. More often, the big chains now send members from their sourcing team, product development division or design group.
In terms of product, even the European exhibitors were fairly sub-dued — often interpreted as a sign of caution. It’s not that European offerings were completely devoid of color, but there was a lot of brown on display in the continental outpost of Hall 11.
I saw only one new product introduction that turned my head. (And, of course, I didn’t see every item offered at the show.) It’s a top-of-the-line towel from Shri Lakshmi Cotsyn. It’s densely woven, but not a fatty. The words that sprang to mind when I picked it up were “baby blanket.”
We’ll soon be making our way through the New York International Gift Fair and the Las Vegas Market. The pre-market point of view for both from exhibitors planning to show there is also hopeful.
Maybe this is the year the industry will move decisively forward. HTT
JenniferMarks
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Fingers Crossed
January 9, 2012
Warren Shoulberg
PUBLISHER/EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
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5 Home Textiles Today> hometextilestoday.com January 23, 2012
Another Apple Alum for JCP
JCPenney has hired Kristen Blum as executive vp and chief technology offi cer, effective Jan. 23. Her
25 years of experience at consumer goods and retail companies includes stops at PepsiCo, Abercrombie & Fitch and Apple.
Blum reports to chief operating offi cer Mike Kramer, also a one-time Apple executive - as are JCP’s new ceo, Ron Johnson, and the company’s recently hired HR chief, Daniel Walker.
Said Kramer: “Having worked with her for many years, I have seen fi rsthand Kristen’s extraordinary ability to match strategic business objectives with technological solutions.”
Blum described JCPenney as “the most exciting place to be in retail today.”
Amazon Leads in Customer Service
Consumers rank Amazon No. 1 in customer ser-vice, according to the recent NRF Foundation/
American Express Customers’ Choice survey, con-ducted by BigInsight.
Amazon.com came in at number one, up from second place last year. Other leaders included: L.L.Bean (No. 2), Zappos.com (No. 3), Overstock.com (No. 4), QVC (No. 5), Kohl’s (No. 6), Lands’ End (No. 7), JCPenney (No. 8), Newegg (No. 9) and Nordstrom (No. 10).
The survey polled 9,374 consumers in September.
Gordmans Gearing up for Growth
Midwestern retailer Gordmans earlier this month announced plans to open nine stores
this year, including four new market entries. The company sees a potential for 300 to 500 stores, exec-utives said at the 14th Annual ICR XChange Confer-ence in Miami.
The apparel and home décor retailer operates 74 stores in 16 states. Home décor represents about 30% of revenue and includes a vast assortment of items from wall décor to accent furniture and table-top items. Across all categories, the retailer carries 100,000 skus at moderate prices.
NRF Adds Five Retail Execs to board
The National Retail Federation added fi ve retail executives to serve on its board of directors,
electing them during its 101st annual convention and expo in New York last week.
The new members are:•Thomas (Tim) Belk, chairman and ceo of Belk Inc.;•David Jaffe, president and ceo, Ascena Retail Group;•Craig Levra, chairman, president and ceo, Sport Chalet.;•David Ratner, president, Dave’s Soda and Pet City;•Laura Sen, president, ceo and director, BJ’s Whole-sale Club Inc.
Each will serve a three-year term.Macy’s chairman, president and ceo Terry Lun-
dgren was re-elected to serve another full-year as chairman of the NRF board.
RetailBriefs
In the Jan 9 edition, C&F Enterprises was incorrectly listed as C & F Industries. Additionally on page 24 and again on page 14, its Parfait collection is described as “treated” for resistance to fading and water, but in fact the product is not. Also in the Jan. 9 issue, a Jaipur rug image was incorrectly identi-fi ed as being part of the manufacturer’s Utopia collection. The rug is actually called Alsace and is from the Poeme collection.
For the Record
FR ANFURT, GERMANY — The number of visitors to this month’s Heimtextil trade fair here fell 5% to 70,000, according to the So-ciety for the Voluntary Control of Fair and Exhibition Statistics, which audits attendance.
“The decline is primarily due to a fall in numbers from those European nations that have been particularly hard hit by the debt crisis, especially Italy,
Spain, Greece, France and The Netherlands,” explained Detlef Braun, member of show orga-nizer Messe Frankfurt’s execu-tive board.
The event drew a higher num-ber of visitors from the Russian Federation, the Middle East, Turkey and the Far East than last year. The biggest visitor countries after Germany were Italy, Turkey, China, Great Britain, the U.S.,
France, Spain, the Russian Fed-eration, The Netherlands and Po-land. Altogether, the proportion of visitors from outside Germany amounted to 64.2% compared to 65.4% in 2011.
The number of companies showing at the fair rose 2.4% to 2,634 exhibitors from 61 coun-tries.
Next year’s show will take place from Jan. 9-12. HTT
Eurozone Woes Impact Heimtextil Attendance
MUMBAI, INDIA — Indo Count Industries, now the fourth largest supplier of sheets to the U.S. market, debuted several new sheeting and top of bed introductions with an emphasis on chambray at Heimtextil earlier this month.
Classic Chambray is a 200-count, all-cotton construction. The plain weave sheet features a white warp and a colored filling of combed fi-bers.
End-on-end chambray is also a 200-count cot-ton with threads woven in two different colors to provide an irregular effect. The sheet features high-twist, vat-dyed yarns.
Pin Point Chambray is a 300-count cotton with two warp yarns running in parallel — one of them a heavier, softly-spun and bulky fi lling yarn that gives the effect of a poplin/oxford mix.
Faux Wood Chambray is a 270-count cotton with the opaque feeling of a twill.
All are available in sheet and/or duvet sets. HTT
Chambray Dreams for Indo Count
ST-LAURENT, QC, CANADA —Multi-category supplier Famous Home has formed an alliance with Dutch fashion bedding company Van es Home through which the North American company will li-cense Van es products for the U.S. and Canadian markets.
This past fall, Famous Home previewed the Van es Home col-
lection in its New York showroom. The line, which is manufactured in Asia, debuted during Heimtextil. Famous Home will also show the collection at the New York Home Fashions Market, which takes place March 5-8.
Van es Home, based in Am-erongen, Netherlands, was found-ed in 1961. The bedding and bath
manufacturer’s brands include its own Essenza Covers & Co. as well as several licensed brands: PiP Stu-dio, Love!, Stapelgoed, At Home with Marieke, Miffy, Playboy and Emma Bridgewater. Van Es Home recently launched a home collec-tion for the styling design label Marcel Wanders. HTT
Famous Home Teams With Van es Home
News
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6 Home Textiles Today News
show, “Growth may be in new technologies—especially in the specialty foam arena. I see lots of changes with the newer foams coming on strong.” Schepps said. He believes the lower end may be the surprise winner next year and that suppliers “absolute-
ly must” keep feeding the low to mid-end customer in order keep the higher-end “halo” in place and available for lead-ins.
Brian Berk, president of the Howard Elliott Collection said he also experienced a nice surge at the end of 2011 with increas-es in the company’s line of pil-lows and occasional slip-covered seating collections. Yet, Berk re-mains cautiously optimistic about the fi rst half of 2012.
“The buyers are trending to-ward the conservative side, but there is open to buy,” he said. Berk believes there is unlimited upside in the e-commerce space and has had success with many of the sites that other show par-ticipants have been using such as One King’s Lane, Haute Look , Rue La La, Ideeli, and Joss & Main. The bullish outlook for on-line retailing is one that is shared by many of Berk’s colleagues.
At Softline, co-founder Jason Carr said the company is deal-ing with 90% of the fl ash sites of-fered today. Softline is presenting at NYIGF as well.
Also, presenting at NYIGF and Las Vegas Market is Home Source International. The com-pany’s president, Keith Sorgoloos is similarly engaged in Internet opportunities. “Areas of growth will be centered on affordable luxury and ‘better goods’ show-
Las Vegas Market
VEGAS FROM PAGE 1
ing great value that will lead the way. Channels that present that story and merchandise mix will be winners for 2012 such as the membership only fl ash sites.”
Covering all the basis is Rich-ard Sherman, president at Bed-ford Cottage/Kenebunk Home. Sherman had “a heck of a fourth quarter,” he’s attending both the Las Vegas and New York shows, involved in online, including fl ash sites and is reasonably pos-itive about the future. Sherman also has a succinct take on the near-term outlook: “I feel pretty good about the first six months of 2012. People need inventory.” HTT
By Wayne Marks
ACTON VALE, QUEBEC — Beau-lieu Canada has updated its “Your Homestyle” retail mer-chandising program with mod-ern spin.
The company’s marketing team has redesigned the “Your Homestyle,” or (YHS), brand image and expanded it to now in-clude hard surfaces such as hard-wood, resilient and laminate in addition to rugs and carpets.
Marketing data highlight-ed the need for a fourth lifestyle movement in order to more ac-curately portray the ever-chang-ing segments of society: Boho Chic, which targets young adults who are both ecologically con-scious and reformative and pre-fer a handmade, casual look with nature inspired themes.
The other trends are: Cozy Casa, Studio Urbano, and Clas-sik Elegance.
The redesign includes “both bold use of bright color and an innovative display package de-signed specifically with the fe-male in mind,” according to Beaulieu Canada.
Cozy Casa centers on the fam-ily, offering budget friendly and practical options to create a com-fortable, colorful and dynamic at-mosphere. Studio Urbano’s assort-ment consists of modern, sensible pieces to complement a cosmo-politan lifestyle. Classik Elegance addresses more traditional cus-tomers who can appreciate time-less and upscale designs. HTT
Beaulieu Canada re-launches Homestyle
Program
Janaury 23, 2012
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1. Manual Woodworkers & Weavers’ Martha’s Choice II indoor/outdoor pillows use Climaweave inks and finishing process and are made in the U.S.
2. Uptown Artworks’ urban vibe collection of customizable wall art and pillows is inspired by vintage subway signs.
3. Dallas Sauders pillows and throws are artisan-made in the U.S. and printed on Belgian and Irish Linen, including this piece from the Wilton Collection featuring motifs from contemporary artists.
4. Bulgar’s blankets, throws, shawls, pillows and rugs are made from virgin sheep’s wool in naturally occurring colors.
5. Kevin O’Brien Studio employs abstract paintings from O’Brien’s original artwork in the Seascapes printed pillow collection.
6. Ox Bow Decor’s linen pillows feature invisible zippers and informative gift tags outlining the history or folklore surrounding the front image.
7. Cuddledown is introducing expanded line of specialty throw pillow inserts made at its facility in Portland, Maine.
8. Traditions by Pamela Kline offers six new Signature bedding ensembles, including Bansuri Blue, which interprets an ancient Ikat for the modern American home.
9. Softline Home Fashions newest pre-made drapery panels include Montok, a two-color faux silk embellished with a horizontal pleat where the two colors meet.
10. Commonwealth Home Fashions’ Neapolitan is a candy cane, horizontal stripe jacquard with a grommet panel.
11. Saturday Knight’s Butterfly Bliss printed polyester shower curtain features frolicking butterflies as well coordinating accessories licensed by artist Daphne Brissonnet.
12. Susan Hahn’s space-dyed towels are made of 100% cotton khadi and woven by hand of hand-spun yarn.
13. Chilewich introduces Kyoto, a reversible tablemat featuring a subtle motif from classic Japanese kimonos on one side and a dusty coloration on the other.
14. C&F Enterprises’ Heirloom table linens employ a homespun design in restful colors with a fringed edge.
15. M&Z Marketing Group is adding two-tone micro fiber sheet sets in fashion bright colors, available in twin and full size. A 400-thread count cotton down alternative will also be shown.
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1. Woven Workz introduces fluffy yet beefy throws in six colors: camel, sky, lilace, snow, gray and willow.
2. Creative Women expands its Dots collection from bath into table linens, tea towels and beach blankets. Each item is hand-woven from Ethiopian cotton by women-owned studios in Addis Ababa.
3. Serenity Fair Limited’s 100% double-faced throw employs yarn from Inner Mongolia.
4. Audrey Home translates historic patterns into designs printed on indoor/outdoor fabric or organic cotton for tablecloths, napkins, shower curtains, window treatments, upholstery and throw pillows.
5. Textillery collaborates with textiles designer Joe Ruggiero on a collection of washable throws that weave Sunbrella yarns into classic Italian designs.
6. Vietri Linens’ accent napkins come in a riot of bright colors.
7. Baum Essex curved oval hapao rattan bath set Warrington comes in Grey Wash and Brown.
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8. LinenMe will show towels from its Lara collection, which includes 19 colors.
9. Jacaranda Living’s 100% cotton percale boudoir covers and cotton throw pillows are embroidered and made by Zulu women in South Africa.
10. Frankie Slaughter Designs debuts with a collection of home accessories, including one-of-a-kind pillows.
11. Jessie Steele’s Sweethearts apron includes a coordinating children’s apron as well as a pot mitt and oven mitt.
12. Wallace Sewell will show the Brockenhurst throw, which is hand-woven of wool and chenille cotton.
13. Downright’s three-in-one Anytime comforter features removable snaps so one can create a light-weight comforter for warmer temperatures. Anytime uses a hypoallergenic white goose down with a 600+ fill power.
14. Romy & Rosie is adding all-cotton, woven hooded towels to its line of infant products made in South Africa.
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1. Snow Leopard Trust supports nomadic herders living in the remote mountains of Mongolia through sales of hand-felted rugs produced in that country of 100% sheeps’ wool. Participating herders work with the trust to protect the snow leopards.
2. LuRu Home makes its NYIGF debut with the Chickadee tea towel, part of the Procelain Collection, which is hand-dyed with indigo on 100% linen using an ancient Chinese dye process.
3. Global Handmade Hope, a fair trade company, is showing patchwork napkin and placemat sets in navy and light blue made by a women’s cooperative Rwanda.
4. Emdee International has added new linen and burlap collections using natural fabrics as a base for applique and embroidery techniques.
5. Aalamwaar Textiles’ Hand Stamps Collection employs casement cotton fabric that is hand-dyed with AZO-free low-environmental impact dyes and is then hand block-printed and tailoredby master artisans at Aalamwaar’s workshop in Hyderabad,India.
6.Libeco Home introduces Tahoe, a collection of 100% Belgian linen napkins, runners and tablecloths — the latter
in four sizes.
7. Merben handmade rugs are constructed in India from leftover leather scraps, cotton rags and denim jeans.
8. Pendleton’s Fossil Leaf is an intricate jacquard design with the look of a photographic negative made in the U.S. of wool and cotton.
9. Sam Salem and Son’s Dublin plaid wool comforter set comes from the Joseph Abboud collection.
10 . Mia + Finn, which debuted its first products last summer, introduces Andrew quilts. The reversible block-printed and hand-quilted pieces marry Indian textiles tradition to European design sense.
11. Antiochia, a first-time exhibitor, produces traditional Turkish bath towels known as peshtemal that are hand-woven Denizli, India.
12. Dea’s Marea is part of its new pre-washed linen collection, which is available in 16 colors.
13. Ortolan Organic’s hand-made Lobster pillow is made of hemp and organic cotton with a Kapok fill.
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1. Sphinx by Oriental Weavers is showing the Revival collection of machine-made rugs with an over-dyed look in washed shades of aqua, plum, crimson and neutral grays with vintage Persian styling.
2. Foreign Accents’ Chelsea features a field of poppies on a heather brown background and was hand-tufted in India of pure wool.
3. Karastan’s Whitman Place rug is part of the Carmel Collection and a modern take on a traditional Persian panel rendered in warm grays and cream with accents of ochre and amber.
4. Loloi Rugs introduces the Oliver Collection, a jacquard-woven dhurrie with effervescent polyester silk in a series of colorways.
5. Branches is one of over 20 designs being introduced from the Julia Wong Designs collection for The Rug Market America. The rugs are hand tufted of wool and silk.
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1. Soft-Tex’s Spriiing Pillow features latex clusters with an all-cotton cover with woven stripe pattern and gusseted side walls for support.
2. Leggett & Platt Consumer Products Group adds to its bedding accessories with the Brisa Gel memory foam pillow, which combines pressure-relieving support of open-cell visco-elastic foam with a cooling gel to dispel heat accumulation.
3. JLA Pets, a division of JLA Home, offers a rectangular pet bed featuring Simmons ComforPedic NxG Memory foam, ultra-soft Silktouch surface and a non-skid bottom.
4. Miracle Sleep’s Extreme Comfort topper is made of Talalay laytex for maximum comfort and support.
5. Vintage Seaside is part of Manual Woodworkers and Weavers’ Nature’s Sketchbook collection of pillows, placemats and runners.
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1. Shaw Living is complementing Tommy Bahama’s Ocean Club and Road to Canberra home collections with several new designs in tribal, ikat, Greek key and suzani themes — the latter seen here. These rugs are machine woven in the United States with Shaw’s own “EverTouch” recyclable nylon.
2. Karastan is expanding its Carmel collection with the addition of Portola Sage, a lush garden-inspired pattern featuring earth-tone philodendron leaves nearly blanketing an ivory field that is framed in a simple solid ivory border. Made in the United States, this new rug is woven on Wilton looms of two-ply nylon yarn.
3. Nourison offers an alternative to wool rugs with its new Rainforest collection of hand-tufted, 100% polypropylene indoor/outdoor rugs. The rugs, which are made in China, feature contemporary, bold, oversized floral and leafy patterns on a variety of background colors.
4. C & F Enterprises is offering its own brand of “fun in the sun” with its new collection of washable rugs called Parfait.
Winter 2012 Rug PreviewJanuary 23, 2012
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1 Peking Handicraft Inc. is in bloom with its new Flower Vase accent rug, made of 100% wool and cotton on a hooked construction.
2. Couristan uses natural fibers and dyes to produce its new handmade Azari rug, the latest addition to the company’s eco-friendly Chobi collection of 100% hand-spun and hand-knotted rugs.
3. Company C’s new Fly Away rug is adapted from a vintage fabric and features colorful larger-than-life butterflies that sparkle against an un-dyed ground. The butterflies’ wings are enhanced by a mix of hooked and tufted textures as well as novelty high-twist yarns.
4. Jaipur’s new Alsace rug seen here in the antique white ashwood colorway is from the Poeme collection.
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1. Harounian Rugs International is launching its Destiny collection of wool, cut-and-loop rugs machine-made in India. It comes in six designs and colorways, like this scroll black-and-white style.
2. OW/Sphinx’s new Revival collection pairs easy care with fashion. These machine-made rugs feature an over-dyed look in washed shades of aqua, plum, crimson and neutral grays interpreted on vintage Persian styling.
3. Kas is introducing Meridian, a collection of 100% UV-treated polypropylene rugs designed for outdoor/indoor living. The construction is both high/low and multi-textured with space-dye techniques. Seen here is seafoam; it is also available in mocha and saffron orange colorways.
4. Homefires and artist Mossy Brook have created the new Painted Rain Forest collection of hooked indoor/outdoor area rugs. The designs feature happy colors to help create a welcome setting in living spaces.
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Winter 2012 Rug Preview
1. Kalaty Rugs’ new Gramercy collection is handcrafted on a Lori loom and is made of 100% wool and bamboo silk.
2. Central Oriental honors its home state of Rhode Island with a new U.S.-made collection of area rugs named after the capital, Providence. These pieces employ an extensive double point and drop stitch construction and are made of 100% heat-set polypropylene. The Marquette Black design is seen here.
3. Momeni draws its inspiration from nature for its new Summit collection, seen here in the sand colorway. These 100% polyester rugs are hand-hooked and feature bold floral and ethnic patterns.
4. cmi beckons Brooklyn with a new collection named after the NYC borough. These oval-shaped rugs are flat braids that are made of 100% polypropylene and feature the company’s Cablelock construction.
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1. Creative Touch Design Studio is introducing the Modern Sari collection of silk rugs that are hand-knotted in India and come in plain and ikat designs.
2. Capel Rugs’ newest ikat-themed hand-tufted rugs are called Pow Wow, not inspired by Native American meets but rather “the power of ikat designs to wow.”
3. Ebisons Harounian Imports’ in-house design team has developed a new collection of handmade rugs that are produced in China of 100% viscose.
4. The Rug Market is introducing the Astra Gray collection, and adding it to its Ecconox line of value-priced rugs. Seen here in the floral gray colorway, Astra pieces are hand tufted of wool and viscose and are made in China.
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28 Home Textiles Today > hometextilestoday.com
PEOPLETodaY
SAN BRUNO, CALIF. — Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has named Neil Ashe the new president and ceo of the company’s global ecom-merce business.
He was most recently president of CBS Inter-active, leading online properties that included CBS.com, CNET.com, C B S N e w s . c o m a n d CBSSports.com, in addi-tion to others.
Ashe replaces Edu-ardo Castro-Wright, who
announced his upcoming retire-ment this past September.
Mike Duke, Wal-Mart’s presi-dent and ceo, said the company intends to create “the next gener-ation of e-commerce, combining the latest in online innovations with physical stores to give our customers a unique and seam-less shopping experi-ence.”
The retailer has
ecommerce businesses in the U.S., the U.K., Canada and Bra-zil.
Prior to his most recent post at CBS, Ashe was ceo of CNET Networks, which focused on technology information, and managed the sale of CNET to CBS. His earlier career includes a partnership at private invest-ment firm Crest Communica-tions Holdings as well an associ-ate position at investment bank Smith Barney, which is now part of Citigroup. HTT
Wal-Mart Taps CBS Exec to Head Ecommerce
GUELPH, ONTARIO — Protect-A-Bed has named industry veteran Marc de Grave as its vp of busi-ness development for the Cana-dian market in the wake of the protection specialist’s split from Caber Sure Fit.
Protect-A-Bed will service the Canadian market directly under de Grave’s leadership. For the fi rst time, the company will also have its own presence at the Canadian Home Furnish-ings Market, which opens Satur-day in Toronto.
“We’re excited to bring our global resources and brand awareness to our new office in Canada, which will position us for expansion in many business channels,” James Bell, ceo of Chicago-based Protect-A-Bed, said in a statement.
Bell said Protect -A-Bed intends to bring “a rich value proposition to the Canadian office,” including innovative product, customer service sup-port and access to product train-ers.
“We have a commitment to release new products that will exceed consumers’ expecta-tions,” he said. “We’re excited to have Marc’s vast experience and knowledge of the marketplace to lead this effort in Canada.”
De Grave has worked in sales and marketing for more than 25 years, including as vice president of sales and marketing for Coats, a thread manufacturer whose clients include furniture and mattress producers. He was also vice president of Caber between November 2009 and late 2010.
“I am truly delighted to be part of the PAB team. Protect-A-Bed is the leader of the pack when it comes to mattress pro-tection and their global mar-keting initiatives are second to none,” de Grave said. “They bring to market not only great quality products, but products that are needed by all and the sales and marketing support that few companies can actu-ally provide.”
Bell said Protect-A-Bed will offer its full “Healthy Sleep Zone” offering to Canadian retailers as well as its enhanced warranty registration program.
Canadian retailers signing on with PAB also will get access to its sales associates, trainers, cus-tomer service representatives and administrative personnel. HTT
INDIANAPOLIS — Vision Fab-rics has hired industry executive Tom Leahy to join its growing sales team.
Over the past 30 years, he has held various executive sales and management positions in the textiles business. At Vision Fab-ric, he will be responsible for the retail, jobbing and specialty market segments the northeast-ern U.S.
“We are extremely excited to have a sales professional of Tom’s caliber and industry experience join our sales team” said Tom Carter, national market man-ager. “He is a true student of the textile trade and possesses a great passion for our industry.”
Leahy is based in Exeter, N.H. Vision Fabrics USA is a division of J. Ennis Fabrics. HTT
NEW YORK — Industry veteran Amanda Houck has become vp of product development and design for Famous Home.
She was most recently vp of product development and Mar-keting for Maytex.
“Famous Home shares my vision for trend setting design that sells in the North Ameri-
can marketplace,” said Houck, who will report to Barry Sam-berg, president and owner.
Samberg described Houck as “a highly skilled leader who can understand our customer’s vision and apply it to our business by integrating her branding, mar-keting and design expertise.”
Famous Home produces
shower curtains, bath coordi-nates, window curtains, table linens and bedding. Its brands include Famous Home, Inno-vations, Ez Hold, Fifth Avenue, Waverly (bath) and Elegantia. New bedding brands include Jonatex, Essenza, PIP, Covers & Co., Stapelgoed and At Home with Marialu. HTT
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — Penny Sikalis has been named vp of busi-ness development at trade show organizer GLM.
In her new role Sikalis will be responsible for new show launches and potential show acquisitions.
Prior to GLM, Sikalis served more than 17 years in the home textiles and fashion industries, including marketing and communications posi-tions with the former Springs Industries (Wam-sutta division) and Dawson Home Fashions as well as Gear Holdings, a licensing and design fi rm.
She joined GLM in 1994 and was named vice president in 2000. She has held management positions for the New York Home Textiles Show segment of the New York International Gift Fair, Ex-Tracts, GLM Temporaries at the Dallas Inter-national Gift & Home Market, Global Home
Décor, Global Home Textiles and Surtex.She will report to GLM ceo Charles McCurdy and maintain her
current position as vp/show manager for Surtex. HTT
NEIL ASHE
Wal-Mart
Houck Joins Famous Home
Sikalis Promoted at GLM
PENNY SIKALIS
GLM
FORT MILL, S.C. — Laura Ash-ley Inc. has named Penne Cai-roli president. She will over-see licensing and ecommerce operations for North and South America.
She rep laces Ng Kwan Cheong, who has been named ceo of Laura Ashley Holdings PLC, which is headquartered in London.
Cairoli has been with Laura Ashley since 1987, most recently as a vp of licensing. At Laura Ashley, she has also held man-
agement positions in licensing, design, buying, product develop-ment and sales.
“Her longevity with the brand and industry experience will pro-vide us with valuable direction as we continue to grow Laura Ash-ley’s business in North America and South America,” said Ng.
Laura Ashley Inc. concen-trates on licensing the Laura Ashley brand name in North and South America as well as running the company’s ecom-merce operations. HTT
Vision Fabrics Adds Leahy for Northeast Sales
Cairoli to Head Laura Ashley in the Americas
Protect-A-Bed Hires Marc de Grave to Run new Canadian Operation
Janaury 23, 2012
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M A K E Y O U R
CONNEXIONON MARCH 3, 2012
I N N E W Y O R K
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Kalin Fabrics Inc., a well known home furnishings fabrics company with a good customer base is looking for:
Independent Sales Agents in various USA and Canada territories. Sales agents only with good experience and good references should apply.
Very good commissions offered.Please fax resumes to: 770-587-3964 or Email: [email protected]
Established California home textile co. seeks Director of Sales & Marketing for new division of English luxury bed linens (www.peterreed.com) being introduced to U.S. retail markets. Requirements include: - Exp. selling home furnishings to hi-end department stores and/or boutiques- Self-starter to lead the development of this brand in the U.S.- Understanding of e-commerce retail channels for luxury goodsApplicants to submit resume, salary history to hr@standardfi ber.com
David Textile Inc. - Growing baby products mfr seeks commissioned
sales reps, many territories/accounts open. Products include: receiving blankets, bibs, crib sheets, security blankets, hooded towels and more. Email: [email protected]
A leading home textile supplier requires reps with followingOff good retailers, Drugs and
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Production/Merchandising ManagerHome Textile Importer based out of New Jersey seeks a
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Will act as a liaison between China and the USA offi ces. Must have Soft Home Product knowledge.Send Resume to [email protected]
Does your idea of a successful day involve a fresh coat of paint on the walls and rearranging the furniture? Do your friends ask you to decorate their homes?
Are you a “home fashionista”? Let your passion meet business!
Mohawk Home, the largest manufacturer of area rugs, indoor and outdoor mats, and washable rugs in the United States, is now accepting resumes for the
position of Home Stylist. As part of Mohawk Industries, the world’s largest manufacturer of fl oor covering, Mohawk Home can get your fashion ideas in
front of buyers from retailers globally.
The Home Stylist, through intensive market research, would identify emerging trends entering the home fashion market such as color, texture, pattern, and
fi ber ensuring that the newest and most innovative ideas/products are added to the brand. Essential in driving the creative process, the home stylist would
liaison with retailers, merchandising, design, and production to create product lines that are budget minded yet esthetically pleasing.
Qualifi ed candidates should possess a minimum of a four year degree in a fashion related fi eld such as, surface design, interior design/décor, textile design or any other fi eld related to home fashion. A minimum of 5 years progressive work related experience is required. Candidates for this position should have an overall understanding of home fashion, color schemes, patterns, textures,
and fi bers and be able to incorporate those elements to create product lines that are fashion forward. This position requires a sense of creativity coupled with a
higher than average business sense. Travel to industry trade fairs, fashion shows, and fi ber vendors to understand product lines as a whole is required.
Advising retail buyers in making inventory purchases is an essential function of the job requiring not only above average communication skills, but also an
impeccable sense of personal style. Knowledge of sales, marketing and merchandising a plus.
We offer competitive wages and a great benefi ts package containing medical, dental/vision, short-term disability, life insurance, vacation pay and 401K Plan.
Equal Opportunity Employer (M/F/VET/D/AA)To apply please go to:
www.mohawkcareers.comLocation: US-GA-Sugar Valley
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Do you enjoy working in a fast-paced environment that encourages you to develop and explore your creativity? Do you want the opportunity to be able to interact with the customers who use your designs? Do you feel that you are suited to lead a team of creative people? If you said yes then we are looking for you!
Mohawk Industries is seeking a Senior Director of Design.
The ideal candidate should be passionate about home textile design, with an above average ability to recognize design talent in others. A well rounded understanding of color, composition,
texture, and pattern required. Demonstrated ability to direct a diverse creative team, while bridging communications
between creative and corporate a must.
Qualifi ed candidates should have a minimum of a 4 year degree in design/art or a related fi eld. Eight to 10 years prior experience
directing the day to day tasks within a design department is required. Prior experience in home textile design preferred.
A working knowledge of Photoshop, illustrator, and/or CAD helpful.
Company offers very competitive total compensation package including: competitive wages, medical/dental/vision insurance,
401(k) with very nice company match and much more.
Equal Opportunity/Affi rmative Action Employer (EEO/AA M/F/D/V)
To apply for this position please go to:www.mohawkcareers.com
Location: US-GA-Sugar Valley
Mohawk Home, the rug, bath, and mat division of Mohawk Industries is currently accepting resumes for
our Area Rug Design team.
As a part of the world’s largest fl ooring company, Mohawk Home offers a dynamic fast paced environment where creative
people are encouraged to explore new ideas and concepts. We give you the opportunity to be hands on with your designs,
traveling around the country personally interacting with teams from major retailers.
Qualifi ed Candidates should have a minimum of a 4 year degree in design/art or a related fi eld. An understanding of
color and composition, excellent drawing skills, above average communication skills, creativity, and an interest in home
furnishings are all a must. Prior professional experience in rug design, textile design, or home furnishing design preferred.
A working knowledge of Photoshop, Illustrator, and/or CAD helpful. Portfolio required.
We offer competitive wages and a benefi ts package that includes medical/dental/vision insurance, prescription plan,
disability, life insurance, 401(k) with company match and more.
To apply please go to:www.mohawkcareers.com
Location: US-GA-Sugar Valley
Spencer Whittle:[email protected]
ph 336.605.1027Fax. 336.605.1143
Karen [email protected]
ph 336.605.1047Fax. 336.605.1143
Contact
32 Home Textiles Today
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January 23, 2012
NEW YORK — The National Retail Federation projects total retail sales to grow this year by 3.4% to $2.53 tril-lion. Last year, sales grew 4.7%.
NRF expects high unemployment and uncertainty over jobs to hold back a better rate of growth.
NRF added that many economists estimate that real U.S. gross domestic product will rise approximately 2.1% to 2.4% this year.
“Over the last 18 months, retail-ers have been on the forefront of the economic recovery - creating jobs, en-couraging consumer spending, and in-vesting in America,” said NRF presi-dent and ceo Matthew Shay.
NRF is advocating for the federal government to level the playing fi eld between brick-and-mortar and online retailers on the subject of sales taxes
(Internet retailers are not required to collect state sales taxes) and reforming the visa system so more foreign trav-elers can come to the U.S. to spend money.
Shay and NRF’s chairman, Terry Lundgren, who is Macy’s chairman, president and ceo, together outlined the industry’s priorities in a letter to President Obama last week.
A number of factors contributed to NRF’s 2012 economic forecast, in-cluding:
• Employment: NRF notes, “The number of Americans out of work is at its lowest level in nearly three years, and the rise in employment and hours worked should bolster income and spending”;
• Income growth: Modest income growth continues to dampen consum-
er spending, according to the NRF. The organization is urging Congress to extend the cuts in payroll taxes and unemployment benefi ts beyond the two-month window it already ap-proved;
• Housing: NRF expects home sales and construction will improve slightly in 2012 with low interest rates and af-fordability at an almost 30-year high;
• Infl ation: NRF expects infl ation to slow down near 2% but cautioned that rising gas prices may put pressure on spending;
• Consumer credit: Recent eas-ing in lending standards makes credit more available and increases in revolv-ing credit show consumer confi dence toward debt;
• Consumer confi dence: NRF still sees this measure as “fragile.” HTT
WASHINGTON — With the winding down of the holiday spending season, import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expect-ed to be nearly fl at during January com-pared with the same month last year.
But “significant year-over-year in-creases” are expected come springtime, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released today by the Na-tional Retail Federation and Hackett As-sociates.
“We’re headed into the slow season for cargo shipments, but forecasts indi-cate that retailers will be stocking up this spring in anticipation of a moderate re-covery as the year progresses,” said Jona-than Gold, NRF vp for supply chain and customs policy. “Cargo volume doesn’t translate directly into sales volume, but when retailers import more it’s because they expect to sell more.”
Global Port Tracker covers the U.S. ports of: Long Angeles/Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle and Tacoma on the West Coast; New York/New Jersey, Hampton Roads, Charleston and Sa-vannah on the East Coast, and Hous-ton on the Gulf Coast.
These U.S. ports handled 1.25 mil-lion Twenty-foot Equivalent Units in November, the latest month for which after-the-fact numbers are available. That was down 2.1% from October since most holiday merchandise was al-ready on the shelves but up 1.2% from November 2010.
One TEU is one 20-foot cargo con-tainer or its equivalent.
December was estimated at 1.21 mil-lion TEU, up 5.9% from a year ago. The total for 2011 was estimated 14.86 mil-lion TEU, up 0.7% from 2010’s 14.75 million TEU.
January 2012 is forecast at 1.21 mil-lion TEU, up one-tenth of 1% from January 2011. February, historically the slowest month of the year, is forecast at 1.06 million TEU, down 3.3% from a year ago. March is forecast at 1.2 million TEU, up 10.5% from last year; April at 1.26 million TEU, up 3.8%; and May at 1.3 million TEU, up 0.9%.
“Continuing uncertainty and the run-up to the elections raise a cloud, as does the pressure on declining incomes as firms hire at lower rates,” said Ben Hackett, founder of Hackett Associates. “Nevertheless, the consumer managed to increase savings during most of 2011 and now has a tidy safety net from which to increase consumption as the risk of unemployment recedes. All of these in-dicators suggest that we are not heading for another recession, but rather for a sustained level of low growth.” HTT
NRF Forecasts 3.4% Sales Growth in 2012
Retail Container Traffic to Bounce Back this Spring
Business
NEW YORK — Same-store sales rose 2.8% in the second week of January following a 3.3% gain in the previous week, according to the Johnson Redbook Re-tail Sales Index.
The discount channel posted a year-over-year in-crease of 3.2% while the department store sector ex-perienced a 2.1% gain.
“Sales cooled off in the second week as consumer appetite for clearance bargains became partially sati-ated and year-end clearance dominated sales activity,” noted Catlin Levis, Redbook analyst.
“Sales leader lists varied widely from store to store, fairly typical of a transitional, trend-less month,” she added. Colder temperatures in some parts of the country boosted sales of cold weather apparel, said Levis. “At the same time, retailers
don’t read too much into the month, since January is considered a transitional month with low volume business driven by price mark-downs and focusing on shifting goods to make room for Valentine’s Day and spring lines.”. HTT
Same-store sales
Comps Soften Slightly During January’s Second weekJohnson Redbook Index
Second week of January year-over-year % changeWEEK ENDED 1/07 1/14 1/21 1/28 MONTH TARGET
Department stores* 2.7 2.1 2.4 1.9Discounters 3.6 3.2 3.4 3.3Redbook Index 3.3 2.8 3.1 2.9*Including chain stores and traditional department storesSource: Johnson Redbook Index
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