HGTV's Candice Olson to visit High Point to mark launch of licensed lines
TV host and designer Candice Olson will be at the International Home Furnishings Market in High Point, N.C., this month to introduce multiple licenses in area rugs and lamps to complement her furniture license with Norwalk Furniture. She will appear at the Home Accents Today Thursday party from 6-8 p.
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Riddle Home & Gift closes
After nearly a year of uncertainty, Riddle Home & Gift closed the doors of its Burlington, N.C., facility April 11. A source close to the company said employees were told the closing plans the day before. Bob Jordan of Anderson, Bauman, Tourtellot, Vos & Co., the management firm that has been operating the company for about eight months was unavailable for comment at press t...
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Blyth 4Q sales, earnings decline, while full year sales stayed level
Blyth Inc., a Greenwich, Conn.-based designer and marketer of home decor and home fragrance products, reported its net sales declined 3.6% to $480.6 million for the fourth quarter, ended Jan. 31, compared to $498.8 million a year earlier. Fourth quarter net sales were approximately even with last year.
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Bilbrough named Quality Home Brands head
Quality Home Brands has named Thomas "Tracy" Bilbrough president and chief executive officer and a member of the board of directors. Quality Home Brands is the combination of Murray Feiss Lighting, Sea Gull Lighting Products, Monte Carlo Fan Company, Royce Lighting and other brands of lighting and home decor products along with private equity partners at Quad-C Management.
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DMC, ART seeking awards nominees
The Dallas Market Center and the Accessories Resource Team are accepting nominees for the 18th Annual ARTS Awards. The ARTS Awards, presented each January during the Dallas International Gift and Home Accessories Market, is the premier awards program for the decorative accessories industry and recognizes excellence from retailers, manufacturers, sales representatives and designer...
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Coastal Group launches retail division
Marketing agency The Coastal Group is launching a new retail division targeting consumer clients. This new division will be headed by Ed Hershey, founder Hershey Communications, a consumer marketing and catalog communications firm serving a variety of retail clients including Bloomingdales, Dillard's, Nordstrom's, Metropolitan Museum of Art and Mercedes-Benz.
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Payne Street adds transitional line
Payne Street Imports is introducing its new line, Tony by Payne Street, at the April High Point show. Tony will showcase transitional furnishings and accessories and expands on Payne Street's 20-year history of bringing to the trade an eclectic blend of designs from around the world. In addition to the collection of transitional furniture, the selection will include European glasswa...
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Knight joins HAT sales team
April Knight has joined the Home Accents Today sales team as inside sales representative. Knight has served as the administrative assistant to Home Accents Today, Casual Livingand Garden Decor for the past three years. Knight will work with Susan Prevatte, Trish Williams and Robert Larkin to help develop new business in each of their territories.
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Casinger named Kids Today editor
Lisa Casinger has been named the editor of Home Accents Today's sister publication Kids Today. Casinger has been retail editor for Home Accents Today for the last four years and before that she was editor of the National Home Furnishings Association's magazine. She replaces Jane Kitchen who has left the company.
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Spring forward
Manufacturers are going heavy on two disparate style themes at the April High Point market — Arts & Crafts, known for its simple lines and authentic materials, and Old World/Italian, elegant and ornate. In addition, four other design directions will be in the spotlight this April: Cottage, lifestyle, Art Deco and modern.
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Briefly ...
Albuquerque-retailer Objects of Desire looks to close on the purchase of one of the biggest buildings in the city's Nob Hill neighborhood — 24,000 square feet — and give it a major facelift. Objects' owner Leslie Warner made an offer on the building in January and relocated her store there March 1.
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Kirkland's names David president and COO
Kirkland's has named Catherine David president and chief operating officer. Robert Alderson will continue as chief executive officer of the company. A 20-year retail veteran, David was most recently senior vice president and general manager of Sears Essentials, Sears Grand and The Great Indoors for Sears Holding Corporation.
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THT names Kendall to merchandising post
THT Designs has named DeWitt F. Kendall as director of product development and merchandising for THT Designs. Kendall has a unique product design background that blends experiences with distributors, catalogers and several mass merchant companies, including Enesco, Department 56, Westfair/Loblaws Canada, Paragon Company Catalog, Home Decorators Collection, Target, Hallmark, and Bed...
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Adams joins Progress Lighting
Progress Lighting has hired Amber Adams for the newly created position of showroom program coordinator. With more than four years of marketing experience, she will develop and manage marketing programs for builder design centers, lighting showrooms and bath and plumbing showrooms.
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Zakheim wins Wash. small business award
The U.S. Small Business Administration has named Irv Zakheim, president and CEO of Zak Designs, as the 2006 Small Business Person of the Year for Washington State. Zakheim was selected by an independent panel of judges based on the staying power, business growth, increase in employees, response to adversity, innovation, leadership and contributions to the small business community.
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Oriental Weavers names Belak VP of sales; Sphinx adds two to sales posts
Oriental Weavers USA has promoted Sam Belak to the position of vice president of sales for its Oriental Weavers of America brand. In his new position, Belak will be responsible for the management and development of the North American importer/manufacturer's segments of business including home centers, mass merchants, and national retail channels.
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Art Evolution names Somerville sales manager
Rena Somerville is the new national sales manager for Canadian wall decor supplier Art Evolution. She was previously national sales manager at Art In Motion, where she spent six years. "Rena's reputation as a collaborative and energetic manager is well known in this industry; we feel fortunate to have her on our team," said Tod Petersen, Art Evolution president.
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GHTA hires PR agency
The Gift and Home Trade Association has retained Professional Marketing, a public relations firm in Grand Rapids, Mich. GHTA, which recently changed its name from United Sales Association, is the gift and home industry's only nonprofit professional trade association formed to help vendors, sales agencies, industry affiliates and retailers work together to improve the industry.
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Hurst joins Katherine's as sales director
Giftware supplier Katherine's Collection has hired Todd Hurst as its director of sales and marketing. Hurst's responsibilities include supervision of internal and external domestic sales teams, market research for new product development, sales management for Katherine's Collection major accounts and the continued development of a comprehensive marketing program.
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Machi rejoins Simply Home as sales manager
Ruby Machi has returned to home textile manufacturer Simply Home as the company's national sales manager. Machi was the general manager at Simply Home for 10 years before leaving the company in 2004 to care for an ailing parent. In her new position, Machi will focus on expanding sales channels, developing new product lines and strengthening relationships with sales representatives.
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