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Posted by Cecile B. Corral on January 6, 2010
I just wrapped up my piece of what is probably one of the most heavily read – and most involved – special reports HTT compiles annually: the Top 15 Suppliers and Top 5 supplier lists. (To be featured in our issue on Monday) And I’ve got to say, I’m slightly encouraged with the overall results – at least from the companies and product categories I cover, which includes rugs, bath coordinate pieces, dec pillows, kitchen textiles and table linens. The project has many moving components, requiring me to gather data from many different sources. So I always begin ...Read More
Posted by Cecile B. Corral on May 27, 2009
My eco-obsessed husband and brother were hoping to take on a challenge that several others have attempted but few have achieved - a week without plastic."It can be done! We can do it," Oscar, my husband, optimistically said to me over dinner the other night. "Well," I said, pensively, "I don't know. I'm not so sure it is as easy as it seems." Not one bit. Consider the food we -- and our pets -- eat. Much of it comes in plastic or has plastic components on the packaging. Our yogurt, the cold cuts, the bread, milk jugs, dog food, cookies, even the veggies, are boxed, or sealed in or with plastic. Don't forget Ziplocks, which I use for my girls' school sandwiches. They, too, are PLASTIC. "We'd have to leave the kids out of this," I told Oscar. "Practically eve...Read More
Posted by Cecile B. Corral on March 23, 2009
Posted by Cecile B. Corral on March 20, 2009
I just wrapped up my coverage of New York Home Fashions Market last week, and much like HTT editor-in-chief Jennifer Marks noted in her blog, I saw that Anthropologie-esque looks abounded as the new fashion statement – and it was so refreshing. I loved to see this trend emerging. But that design direction was the exception, not the rule. For as many estate-sale, vintage type looks of mix-and-match Bohemia-inspired patterns I saw, by far and large the push was "value" offerings in ho-hum looks and basic constructions that can sell at promotional price points. ...Read More
Posted by Cecile B. Corral on February 25, 2009
Listened to Target’s fourth quarter call yesterday and was not surprised to hear its home business was down, again. With home performance lackluster for several quarters now, the chain is planning to edit its home skus and consolidate the category's brand offerings this year, while at the same time ramping up consumables and pharmacy-related assortments. Disappointing. To me, Target is just homogenizing home, giving its millions of shoppers fewer decorating choices and limited levels of quality and price points. Instead, it’s feeding me more food products and more medicines and more makeup. Why? I already have several pharmacies where I can not only buy Tylenol, diapers and my lipstick but milk, bread and even...Read More
Posted by Cecile B. Corral on February 18, 2009
A couple of weeks back I talked about my friend -- a former Macy's buyer who left the retailer last month to take over a 20-year-old children's consignment shop .
As of two weeks ago, she's the new owner. I dropped by today for a brief visit to wish her well and see how she is doing.
With a big smile, she said "I'm loving it!"
No major layout changes yet - it is still too early. But the ...Read More
Posted by Cecile B. Corral on February 18, 2009
A couple of weeks back I talked about my friend -- a former Macy's buyer who left the retailer last month to take over a 20-year-old children's consignment shop .
As of two weeks ago, she's the new owner. I dropped by today for a brief visit to wish her well and see how she is doing.
With a big smile, she said "I'm loving it!"
No major layout changes yet - it is still too early. But the ...Read More
Posted by Cecile B. Corral on February 11, 2009
I don’t get to shop Pottery Barn Kids (or any of the Pottery Barn nameplates, for that matter) much on my tight, middle-class-with-young-children budget. I’ve been very creative both in design and spending in decorating my girls’ shared room where they sleep and play. I’ve leaned on shabby chic looks with vintage fabrics, furniture and toys – and I must say, it’s worked well. But I won’t deny that I love leafing through the ...Read More
Posted by Cecile B. Corral on February 6, 2009
My mailbox mourns, for lo, no more Domino. Now that the shelter magazine that brought modish décor within reach to the masses is gone– it is permanently shutting its doors this week -- I feel adrift.
Posted by Cecile B. Corral on February 5, 2009
A sign of the times, part 2: My best friend, who two years ago left A designer who recently worked at Williams-Sonoma’s corporate offices assiting inproduct design, she suddenly finds herself out of work and forced to downsize -- fast.
Posted by Cecile B. Corral on February 3, 2009
A friend of mine recently left her post as a young miss apparel buyer for Macy’s to try something “totally different.” She bought a children’s consignment shop in our neighborhood and she took over it this week. My friend is very bright and a savvy retailer, so I know that even though she admits she knows little about the consignment business, she’ll do well. To boot, her timing is impeccable.
Posted by Cecile B. Corral on January 30, 2009
In 2009, consumers "will act rationally," meaning they will restrict their shopping to what they need, "and they don't need much," Mike Ullman, ceo of JCPenney, recently warned -- as seen quoted yesterday in the USA Today article titled "Consumers get frugal, so retailers get creative." ...Read More
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