LNT registers at BTS

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 6/23/2003 12:00:00 AM

NEW YORK —

Linens 'n Things will test a college registry in some markets this season, allowing the merchandise to be held and shipped later to a dorm room.

"We're working out the process issues," said David Coder, svp of store operations, who was among the speakers at Credit Suisse First Boston's Retail, Apparel, Food/Drug, Restaurant and REIT conference here last week

LNT's Back to School shops will set up within a few weeks, he said, and this year the retailer is "building on last year's assortment with more fashion for both color and style, accentuating the functional side while still offering great value." The company has also taken the most updated offerings in such areas as Nautica bedding and wicker furniture and tweaked them to appeal more to the college crowd.

The retailer continues to work on strengthening its fashion bedding to lift results in the soft home business, which remains challenging, executives said. LNT is tailoring its fashion bedding to correspond to the preferences and needs of the demographic area, said Coder.

In categories that are "not well served," he added, it is expanding its proprietary business. Duvets are a growing business that also is assorted by regional merchandising trends. The window area also "provides an important part of differentiation," he added, which LNT has supported by increasing inventory and dedicated staff, as well as restructuring store management and changes to assortment and store presentation, which has resulted in increased productivity in both the soft and hard side.