Home Textiles Today - May 20, 2002

Although it constitutes a relatively small sector in many bedding departments, the approximately $550 million quilt business is evolving rapidly — simultaneously pushing better constructions and hitting new price points at both ends of the retail spectrum. But with value-enhancing techniques such as embroidery, embellishments and piecework steadily working their way down into more moderat...

• Business Today
• Kmart feels sting of $1B in restructuring costs
• Auto sales drive retail sales increases in April
• Redbook avg. falls short of target
• JCPenney profits rise with same-store sales
• Consolidation catches up with May
• Wal-Mart profits continue to climb

• News
• Hanover focuses on core brands
• Kohl's sees 1Q profits grow 40%
• United Weavers inks deal for prints
• Hecht's to roll out new prototype
• Stainmaster area rugs unveiled
• Creative Home enters new categories
• Independent textiles group closes shop
• Retail briefs
• Fiber conference slated for this week
• American Pacific to add Dockers bedding
• P'tex sees red with 1Q losses
• JCPenney revitalizes catalog, Internet biz
• Federated promotes Walker to vp post
• WPS realigns duties for Hoffman, Golden
• Federated sees more stores in its 'future'
• Sears 'lands' back in the catalog biz
• Latex Foam rises from the ashes
• Carol Smith leaves long legacy at Park B.

• Opinion Today
• Swing your partner
• One to grow on

• People Today
• Jo-Ann adds regional vp's
• Kmart scales back field organizations to two
• Belk bulks up home department
• Meichner leaves Saks Fifth Avenue
• Cone Jacquards promotes Brodie
• Springs Baby brings Fitzgerald back as vp
• A piece of Americana

• Special Report
• Update 02
• Quilts make appeal to fashion for increased sales