Home Textiles Today - May 30, 2005

Costco Wholesale Corp. is heating up expansion plans for its fiscal year 2006 with more store openings than originally expected, the company reported during its third quarter earnings conference call last week. “Our expansion is deliberately and definitely ramping up,” said Richard Galanti, executive vice president and chief financial officer.

• Business Today
• Confidence at 16-Month High
• Strong Sales Boost Profits at Williams-Sonoma
• Dillard's Profits Tumble 29.4 Percent
• Housing Remains Hot
• Mixed Bag for Belk
• Same-Store Sales Remain Ahead of Plan

• News
• ITG to Close Cone Facility
• Woodworkers & Weavers Links with Heartwood Creek
• West Elm Growing Strong For Williams-Sonoma
• Targeting the Individual
• Li & Fung Takes Space at 1359 Broadway
• Retail Briefs
• Beach Suppliers Look for More in the Mid-Tier
• A Touch of Style
• A Brave, New Multichannel World
• Wal-Mart Continues to Roll
• Hospitality Driving Fabric Sales
• JLA Taps Onadein For New Post
• House Brings Customers Home
• Federated/May to Evaluate Reductions
• Allure And Raymond Waites Team Up
• Cost Plus to Focus on Home
• Weaver Joins HTT Staff

• Opinion Today
• License to Brand
• Turning the Tables

• People Today
• Foster Joins Nourison
• Federated Promotes Hoguet
• Former Mervyn’s Buyer Beaty Dies
• Aussino Adds New Designer
• Cresc Reshuffles The Deck