Specialty Report: High-end Retailers

Cecile Corral -- Home Textiles Today, 10/27/2010 12:43:31 PM

Check out HTT's latest reports below on high-end retailers from our July and October print issues.

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October Specialty Report

High-end Retailers Cautiously Optimistic
New York - Convinced that  "Christmas parties are coming back with a bang" this holiday, Phoebe Howard is concentrating her assortment on entertaining and decorative items at her four-unit upscale specialty retail chain, Mrs. Howard.

While shopping the High Point Market last week in North Carolina, Howard told HTT that she is expanding her offering of table linens, tabletop, candles, hurricane lamps, and other festive wares to help her customers prepare for at-home entertaining - something she is sure her customer is itching to do after two recession-cramped years.

 "People are tired of not celebrating the holidays and not entertaining, so they want to celebrate this year in great style," she explained. Her four stores are located in: Atlanta; Jacksonville and Jacksonville Beach, Florida; and Charlotte, N.C.

Click here to view the complete Specialty Report from HTT's Oct. 25 print issue.

July Specialty Report

High-end Retailers Using New Tactics to Tap New Customers
New York - When traffic and sales began to drop noticeably at high-end home textile and furnishings store Birdcage in Solana Beach, Calif., husband and-wife team owners - Brett Dorson and Caroline Reyes-Dorson - considered several options to keep their 25-year-old store in business.
Like many upscale independent specialty home furnishings retailers feeling the effects of the recession, Birdcage cut expenses, diversified the merchandise mix, and offered sale price points in select areas.
But the Dorsons also came up with a different tactic that resulted in rings at the cash register as well as new aspirational customers.