Mini-Market Newsflashes

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 2/8/2005 1:15:00 PM

NEW YORK — It was Christmastime in New York today as suppliers showcased their harvest and holiday wares at Mini-Market. Here are some highlights from the week so far.

— W-C Designs debuted its new collection with artist and designer Sigrid Olsen Monday night.

The line is made up of seven bedding collections, which include sheets, top-of-bed, soft window treatments and decorative pillows; four bath collections, which include shower curtains, three bath towel styles, bath accessories and rugs; and five table linens collections.

— Mohawk Home has anted-up its seasonal offerings of kitchen rugs and door mats this Mini-Market in response to "a tremendous increase in sales and sell-throughs in the category last year," said Merle Johnson, vice president, marketing.

The new line comprises 73 harvest and holiday designs in cushion comfort mats, 24 in rubber mats, 37 in synthetic coir mats, nine in coir mats, 26 in printed berber and 81 in the value decor synthetic coir mats — the latter representing the group's opening price point offering.

— Ex-Cell Home Fashions and its sister Glenoit rugs division have consolidated into a single showroom space at 295 Fifth Ave. Glenoit had been located on the ninth floor for several years, but has moved into Ex-Cell's space on the sixth floor.

The bath rugs are now displayed alongside the shower curtain and bath accessory collections, and the doormats and scatter rugs are in an adjacent room previously used to display free-standing shower curtains.

— Foreston Trends is expanding its offerings in flat-woven kitchen towels and holiday table runners.

The collection of kitchen towels — packaged in sets of four and five — has been increased by 30 percent. A five-pack is set to retail for $12.99. The company’s offering of runners, generally available only in flat-woven and dobby styles, has been built up to include every holiday pattern, or 30 skus.

— Arlee has added its trademarked "Phyzx" micro-bead pillows to its holiday offerings. Included are prints, cotton jersey solids, micro-suede and micro-plush solids.