Monday, July 19, 2010
THE BUSINESS AND FASHION NEWSPAPER OF THE HOME TEXTILES INDUSTRY
Ikea Pushes Sustainabilty
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hometextilestoday.com
| Vol. 31, No.17 | $8.00
Top 50 Retailing Giants BY CAROLE SLOAN NEW YORK — The top 50 retailers of home textiles slightly outperformed the entire home textiles universe last year, with each segment recording declines, according to the annual Home Textile Today Top 50 Retail Giants survey. While both the total universe and the Top 50 declined, the drops were not as severe as they were for the Top 50 and the universe in
the 2008 rankings. The Top 50 had a decline of 1.8% for fiscal 2009, accounting for 93.2% of the total universe, versus 91.1% the prior year. Totals for the Top 50 were $22.28 billion, down from $22.68 billion in 2008. Among the Top 50, 28 retailers posted sales declines in home textiles in 2009. The total universe beyond the Top 50 was SEE TOP 50 PAGE 14
New bedding and storage-oriented room pieces from Ikea’s 2011 catalog.
N EW YORK — Ikea is putting a push on sustainability with a program that will impact its home textiles collection. The multi-national retailer is among the companies participating in the World Wildlife Federation’s Cotton Initiative. WWF is working with farmers, government agencies, buyers and investors in the market chain to impart methods that will reduce that amount of water and
chemicals used to grow cotton. Lisa Davis, responsible for sustainability for Ikea US, said the program acknowledges that while organic cotton is important, most cotton goods are made from nonorganic cotton. “This is looking at how to produce cotton in a better way,” she said last week during an Ikea press event to introduce the 2011 catalog. SEE IKEA PAGE 10
New York Summer Markets New York Home Textiles Market Week Held concurrently with GLM’s New York International Gift Fair. Aug. 13-19 at the New York International Gift Fair (Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and Passenger Ship Terminal Piers, Aug.15-19); at 230 Fifth Avenue (Aug. 13-19); and at 7 W New York (Aug. 13-19).
HTT Market Kick-Off Party Sunday, Sept. 12 Penthouse, 230 Fifth Ave, 6 p.m to 8 p.m.
New York Home Fashions Market Monday, Sept. 13 – Friday, Sept. 17 In the showrooms
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Wal-Mart retains top spot
High-end Retailers Using New Tactics to Tap New Customers BY CECILE B. CORRAL NEW YORK — When traffic and sales began to drop noticeably at high-end home textile and furnishings store Birdcage in Solana Beach, Calif., husbandand-wife team owners — Brett Dorson and Caroline ReyesDorson — considered several options to keep their 25-yearold 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. Reyes-Dorson told HTT that she organized a “Gallery Night” cocktail party event in early May
Birdcage, located in Solana Beach, Calif., layers bedding collections from different brands to offer its high-end clientele more design options for their bedroom.
to exhibit and fete the latest works of a prominent local artist. She personally invited Birdcage’s loyal customers and sent invitations to others via social media and direct mail. The result: “A huge event for our store, with a great turnout,”
Reyes-Dorson said. “We had it fully catered with wine, food and entertainment, and that is what people were looking for — something different. People are so down these days that they are looking for something to do and SEE SPECIALTY PAGE 36
7/16/2010 4:20:48 PM