Home Textiles Today - March 17, 2003

Fourth-quarter profits at ShopKo Inc. slipped by 6.3 percent, to $32.7 million from $34.9 million, as sharply stronger profits at the retailer's rebounding Pamida division were offset by weaker returns at the larger ShopKo Stores unit. Taking a further bite, ShopKo rang up $6.0 million in pre-tax restructuring costs stemming from an earlier operations overhaul.

• Business Today
• March starts out with a whimper
• Rising costs offset BJ's sales increases
• Saks sees strong 4Q profits
• Slowdown continues into February
• Stein Mart continues profit climb
• Sales up, profits down for Costco
• Weather and war chill February retail sales
• Jo-Ann sees turnaround in fourth quarter

• Fabrics Today
• Larger format gains share at Jo-Ann
• Textile accord reached between U.S and Japan
• Swatches

• News
• J.R. United to Reign on market
• Retail briefs
• Charles Craft partners with Pima
• Company C names national sales mgr.
• East meets West in Bloomingdale's home promotion
• Global influences steer solid color direction
• Stein Mart pursues conservative expansion
• Howse of Karastan passes away at 51
• Strouds names interim ceo
• Anna's Linens pushes into Atlanta
• Mervyn's bows new ads
• Ex-Cell loses Hufnagel
• Sears grows home with Lands' End
• Springs: size matters but design's the thing

• Opinion Today
• Perp walk
• This 'n that