Trading Spaces eyes establishment of retail brand

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 9/2/2002 11:01:00 AM

Silver Springs, MD — The Discovery Network's program "Trading Spaces" is looking to become a retail brand for home goods.

Responding to climbing viewership, the cable network has embarked on an effort to brand the show as a licensed property and is actively looking for partners to create a broad spectrum of home textiles, accessories, do-it-yourself products under the Trading Spaces brand.

Aired daily on Discovery's The Learning Channel, the show's premise is to help two neighbors redecorate one room in the other's home with a $1,000 budget, a 48-hour time limit and the assistance of two professionals — an interior designer and a carpenter.

Details such as a launch date for the license are still under development, Pamela Rucker, vp of communications, Discovery Consumer Products told HTT. But several categories have been singled out for solicitation to potential home textiles suppliers: pillows, rugs, window treatments, throws, bath products, table linens, kitchen textiles, bedding and blankets.

A design theme for the brand is also still being developed.

Home centers will be the target for the DIY goods, Rucker said. For the home textiles and accessories, specific channels are still being decided.