Top Stories

• HFPA announces 2013 market week dates
  
  HTT Staff, February 2, 2012
  New York - The Home Fashion Products Association has announced the dates for the showroom-based New York Home Fashions Markets next year.
  
• Big Lots sees comps, sales jump above plan in Q4
  
  HTT Staff, February 2, 2012
  Columbus, Ohio - Big Lots Inc. beat its fourth quarter comp sales expectations, nearly doubling plan.
  
• Kohl's, Macy's, Ross and TJX update guidance
  
  HTT Staff, February 2, 2012
  New York - Encouraged by healthy results at the close of the fourth quarter, four key retailers have updated their earnings expectations.
  
• Ambadi floor coverings receive OekoTex certification
  
  HTT Staff, February 2, 2012
  Channai, India - Rug and carpet manufacturer Ambadi Enterprises has received Oeko-Tex certification for its latest line of polyester carpets, ensuring they are free from harmful chemicals. Ambadi's newest rugs also have an antimicrobial story as they are made with Sanitized from Clariant.
  
• Oeko-Tex webinar to address textiles manufacturing 
  
  HTT Staff, February 2, 2012
  Greensboro, N.C. - The International Oeko-Tex Association will present a free online seminar Feb. 15 about the Oeko-Tex Standard 1000 certification for eco-friend textiles production facilities.
  
• Coton price 93 cents
  
  HTT Staff, February 2, 2012
  New York - Yesterday's end of day price Cotton #2 futures for March contracts was 93 cents. The price on May contracts was 95 cents.
  
• Klein retirement prompts exec shuffle at Macy's
  
  HTT Staff, February 2, 2012
  Cincinnati - Peter Sachse will become chief stores officer Feb. 13 when Ron Klein retires from the position. Klein has been with the company for 36 years and will stay on for two months to assist with the transition.
  
• Von Furstenberg home diffusion line hits BBB.com 
  
  HTT Staff, February 1, 2012
  New York - The high-end Diane Von Furstenberg Home line produced by Springs Global has spawned a diffusion line called DVF Studio that has begun rolling out online at Bed Bath and Beyond's ecommerce site.
  
• Dillard's takes stake in ecommerce company 
  
  HTT Staff, February 1, 2012
  Little Rock, Ark. - Department store company Dillard's has invested $4.0 million in Acumen Brands, an ecommerce company that operates 12 niche online retailer sites, including fulfillment.
  
• Qi blanket named "Best of Market" for textiles at NYIGF 
  
  HTT Staff, February 1, 2012
  New York - Five exhibitors in the Home Textiles Market Week section of the New York International Gift Fair received Best New Product Awards yesterday, with Qi's plaited cable blanket taking the prize for "Best of Market."
  
• Morgan Home takes new NYC showroom 
  
  HTT Staff, February 1, 2012
  New York - Multi-category supplier Morgan Home has moved into a new showroom at 72 Madison Avenue at the corner of 28th Street.
  
• Surya entices Facebook Fans with rug-design sweepstakes 
  
  HTT Staff, February 1, 2012
  Calhoun, Ga. - Area rug and home accessories manufacturer Surya Inc. is launching its first Designer's Choice sweepstakes from its Facebook page.
  
• Bon-Ton board elects Bergren chairman  
  
  HTT Staff, February 1, 2012
  York, Pa. - The board of directors of regional department store chain The Bon-Ton Stores Inc. has elected Bud Bergren as its chairman, effective Feb. 7 - the day after he is set to retire from his eight years as president and ceo of the company.
  
• TJX names Goldenberg cfo 
  
  HTT Staff, February 1, 2012
  Framingham, Mass. - The TJX Companies Inc. has promoted Scott Goldenberg to cfo. He also retain his executive vp title.
  
• Cotton price 93 cents
  
  HTT Staff, February 1, 2012
  New York - Yesterday's end of day price on Cotton #2 futures for March contracts was 93 cents. The price on May contracts was 95 cents.
  
• Early sales of spring merch aided comps
  
  HTT Staff, January 31, 2012
  New York - Same-store sales rose 2.0% in the fourth and final week of January following a 2.5% gain in the previous week, according to The Johnson Redbook Retail Sales Index.
  
• Cotton price 94 cents
  
  HTT Staff, January 31, 2012
  New York - Yesterday's end of day price on Cotton #2 futures for March contracts was 94 cents. The price on May futures was 95 cents.
  
• Macy's home labels to be offered on ShopNBC
  
  HTT Staff, January 31, 2012
  New York - ShopNBC will debut a curated selection of Macy's house brands in home textiles and housewares next week - marking the first time the labels will be offered on television.
  
• Triangle Home Fashions adds to exec team
  
  HTT Staff, January 31, 2012
  New York - Jenny Zhu, President and ceo of Triangle Home Fashions, has announced three new executive appointments to the multi-category, retail-direct home textiles manufacturer based in China.
  
• Protect-A-Bed spreads the word in Las Vegas
  
  HTT Staff, January 31, 2012
  Las Vegas - With the Las Vegas Market for home furnishings underway here this week, Protect-A-Bed is buzzing along the Strip with a new mobile billboard.