Licensing: The product has to support the name
Whether licensed products drive sales is a question that splits the home furnishings industry. Some swear by the sales they enjoy through efforts with licensed lines, others say they want to build their own brand rather than one connected with a celebrity, a designer or museum. Among those celebrity names are model Kathy Ireland, actress Jaclyn Smith and now financial personality Donald Trump.
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Tabletop vendors adapt to casual lifestyles
Tabletop Manufacturers have adapted to the casual dining trend and are expecting 2007 to be good, based on an extremely strong start. Abigail Voelker, co-owner of Abigails, said its 2006 sales were up. "We had a wonderful year," she said. "Our merchandise was on point so we felt lucky. Going into this year, our sales have been strong as well, however I hear from retailers that their sales aren'...
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Turning up the lights
The lighting category is expected to stay on its growth track this year, but manufacturers say rising material costs are making it harder for them to hold prices. Changing lifestyles with consumers seeking more fashionable lighting as well as aging and growing population trends continue to drive sales growth despite the long-anticipated housing slowdown.
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Monkey lamp lawsuit dismissed
U.S. District Judge Bill Wilson dismissed a federal lawsuit that accused a former Vintage Verandah product development/sales manager of copyright infringement related to stealing a squatting monkey lamp design, producing it and selling identical versions through Wal-Mart. Wilson ruled that designer Cricket Briggs created the Bubba Monkey lamp design while working as an independent contractor an...
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Accent furniture niche stays strong despite challenges
Accent furniture remains a shining star in the home furnishings industry and manufacturers expect the category's sales to grow slightly this year or at least stay level with 2006 sales despite dwindling numbers of retailers and a slower housing market. "The home furnishings industry in general is not as strong as it was four or five years ago," said Bill Cain, president, Chelsea House.
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Rug business flat for some, rising for others
Economic challenges ranging from a soft housing market and fluctuating interest rates to declining consumer confidence are taking their toll on the area rug business, which some importers and manufacturers say leveled off in 2006. Other rug-makers report increased sales and expect more growth this year.
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Organic, soy, scent key category's growth
Despite market saturation from overseas manufacturers and mass market retailers, candles and home fragrance product vendors say sales within the category remain healthy for specialty retailers who distinguish themselves through better offerings. "Good candles and home fragrance are still selling well," said Patti Upton, president and CEO of Aromatique.
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Toland changes owner, name and sets direction for growth
After acquiring the assets and brand of Toland Enterprises, industry veteran Bruce Solly said he foresees the garden accessory vendor's future as being "more and better of the same." Toland's name change to Toland Home & Garden was his first noticeable alteration, but retailers can expect a bigger selection of product introductions, starting in January.
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Unique wall decor keeps category strong
Unusual wall decor offerings are keeping sales steady in the category, which continues to benefit from high-end, large-scale pieces designed to fit today's larger homes. "For us, sales are up (when compared) against last year," said Malanta Glassco-Knowles, vice president of marketing for Paragon Picture Gallery.
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Unusual textures, fabrics driving sales of soft goods
Unusual textures, embellishments and patterns are driving sales in the soft goods category for manufacturers of top of bed, pillows, throws and other such comfy home accents. "We're really seeing people who are looking for soft goods that are unique home accessories," said Judith Rose, vice president, Textillery Weavers.
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Taking home treasures
Wander through the homelike setting of LVNV the Home Store at the Wynn Las Vegas resort, see icons of the five-star resort hotel available for purchase and expect to find a treasure affordable enough to take home. Those shopper impressions are key to the strategy of Frank Schipano, senior retail buyer, who brought along his experience as a home shopping channel's director of product development...
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Inspiring upscale nests
Nest Featherings is a fitting name for the mid- to high-end retail store providing fine furniture and interior design options to feather the nests of Las Vegas area homeowners. Last month, Nest Featherings owner LaRayn Sorenson was overseeing renovations of her 40,000-sq.-ft., two-story freestanding store in preparation for her showroom's reopening event this month.
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Shopping as entertainment
Luana Murphy talks about talented friends, set changes and uses the word "evolve" to describe what's happening at her store, LG Gallery — Liberty Glenn, a Las Vegas home accents haven. "I think my best business idea ever was to just continually evolve the store," Murphy said. "We are certainly not what we started out to be and we are not the store that we were five years ago.
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Stores grow with Las Vegas
Growth in double-digit figures has marked the two years since Craig and Donna Staack opened their first Lane Home Furnishings store in the Henderson area of Las Vegas. That was the couple's plan as they looked at the fast-growing metro area's demographics and selected sites. They also saw double-digit growth in their second dedicated Lane store, which opened in December 2004 in Las Vegas.
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Suburban Silk to open retail store in Colorado
After fielding multiple questions from retailers in their exhibition booth, the partners operating Suburban Silk decided to open a small retail store in Boulder, Colo., and to share their first-hand knowledge with retail customers. Grand Opening of Suburban Hill is scheduled for Aug. 18, the Friday following the close of the New York Gift Show, where partners Edward Vanegas and Paul Chansingtho...
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Holton Galleries to debut in High Point
Richard Holt and Becky Minton each drew on more than 30 years of experience in the wall decor niche to create Holton Galleries, which opened last month. They are confident their long-term relationships with sales reps and suppliers will pay off. Independent retailers in home accessories, lighting and furniture are their target customers.
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Haeger Potteries celebrates 135th anniversary
Haeger Potteries is marking its 135th anniversary this year with special market giveaways. At the Las Vegas Market, buyers receive a vase based on the original one produced by the 135-year-old company. At spring markets in April, retail buyers can expect a mini-replica of the sleek panther artware piece that Royal Hickman designed and Royal Haeger first produced in 1941.
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Blyth pauses spin-off plan for CBK, Midwest
Blyth has paused its plan to spin off its wholesale business group, which includes CBK, Midwest of Cannon Falls and Colonial Candle in North America, and Kaemingk, Edelman and Euro Decor in Europe. In a Dec. 13 conference call with analysts, Blyth Chairman and CEO Bob Goergen said the company is evaluating alternatives to its previously announced plans for the wholesale division while awaiting ...
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Advanced Art partners with design group to add lamps
Advanced Art President Doug Hills is partnering with a Dallas-based design consortium in response to his customers' requests for lamps and accessories that complement styles of art and colors of furniture. "We've had just a meteor-like growth in our framed art in the furniture industry," Hills said. When he asked furniture retailers what additional product they wanted, they asked for lighting a...
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National Geographic Home branches out
National Geographic Home expanded its Tropic Winds Collection at the High Point market with several furniture, lighting and rug pieces. For the first time, the licensed collection includes permanent botanicals from New Growth Designs. Tropical orchids, coconuts and kentia palm trees were drawing market attendees' attention inside the entrance of the New Growth showroom, 200 North Hamilton, Suit...
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