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EARLE, Ark.--Whitmor Home Storage and Organization has made organizational changes in its management, including the appointment of Peter Felsenthal as president. Felsenthal served as senior vice president before his new [...]

TOWSON, Md.-Black & Decker Corp. has named Michael Hoopis president of its household products division, following the departure of Don Graber, a 12-year veteran of the appliance company. Hoopis also [...]

Mail order catalogs want to increase sales through expanding their offerings of home storage products. JC Penney has carried shoe racks, clothing racks and closet organizers and plans to carry storage boxes, portable closets and sweater bags. Taylor Gifts has had great success with this category and will introduce a new catalog, Get Organized!, in Sep 1996., NEW YORK--Aiming to increase sales by targeting the growing numbers of people with little time on their hands and scant storage space in their homes, catalogs are adding home organization [...]

Some manufacturers of floor care products are using the World Wide Web as part of its marketing strategies. Royal, Bissell and Black & Decker already have home pages on the Web, while Eureka and Hoover are considering online media. Black & Decker's site on the Web includes an information database, and the company has plans to offer comparisons of its products to competing products., NEW YORK--Floor care vendors are increasingly looking to the Internet to build brands, offer detailed product information and stimulate retail sales. Black & Decker, Bissell, Ryobi and Royal already have [...]

LITTLE FALLS, N.J.--Zeta Consumer Products Corp., which has completed the acquisition of Tucker Housewares from Mobil Corp., is moving Tucker's combined sales and marketing department here, but will continue to [...]

Floor care product vendors will increase advertising in the last months of 1996 to launch new products. Eureka Co, Black & Decker, Hoover Co, Bissell Inc, Panasonic and other companies will spend at least as much as they did in the same quarter 1995. Several new vacuum cleaners are discussed and television commercials which will run on cable and network television described., NEW YORK - Floor care vendors hope to clean up in the fourth quarter with more aggressive television advertising to drive sales of new products and create turns at retail. [...]

Target Stores Inc. is a leader in the home organization and storage market. The mass merchandiser offers an extensive selection of higher-end storage products as well as a private label program. Trend Basics is designed around the stores' own color palette and promotes a consistent and appealing look throughout the stores. Women in their mid-30s with incomes of over $45,000 represent Target's prime demographics., MINNEAPOLIS--Ask a group of storage . vendors who are the major players in home orgaruzation at retail, and Target will inevitably receive a large share of votes for MVP An [...]

Bissell Inc. hopes to broaden its line of floor care products through its acquisition of the Singer Co. floor care line. The acquisition contract gives Bissell the equipment and tooling for the floor care line as well as the rights to the Singer name. Bissell will take six months to devise a permanent branding strategy for its floor care products. Buyers expect the move to increase competition within the upright vacuum cleaner market., GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.--Bissell Inc. views its agreement to acquire the Singer floor care line as a mayor step toward achieving the company's goal of becoming a full-line floor care supplier. [...]

Racine Industries has introduced consumer carpet cleaning kits that do not need cleaning machinery rental. The Host Systems' Home Sponges Carpet Cleaner has tiny sponges with detergent, water and solvent that deep clean then are removed by vacuum cleaner. The Host Spot Removal Kit provides light cleaning. Both products are available to all retailers., RACINE, Wisc.--Racine Industries has launched two do-it-yourself carpet-cleaning kits, aiming to make its Host System of carpet cleaning more accessible to consumers and open up its retail distribution beyond dealers [...]

Hoover Co. has introduced its first steam vacuum, a mini-extractor called SteamVac Jr. The company is hoping to take advantage of he growing market for extractors, as sales in the category rose 15% in 1995. The SteamVac Jr. is intended as a spot cleaner rather than a piece of full-scale cleaning equipment, along the lines of a hand-held vacuum. Commercials for the extractor will run in fall 1996., NORTH CANTON, Ohio--The Hoover Co. has made a commitment to bolster its position in the extractor category with the introduction of the Steam Vac Jr., its first mini-extractor, as well [...]

PAOLI, Pa.--Taylor Gifts, a gift and home furnishings mail-order company, plans the September to launch Get Organized!, a new catalog focusing on home organization. The company currently offers some home [...]

Computer accessories represent a growing segment of the home office market. Home office retailers are stocking innovative products to meet consumers' demands for style, efficiency and portability. Diskette storage containers, monitor stands, wrist rests and mouse pads are among the items most popular with consumers. Computer accessory manufacturers are basing their product styles on trends in the housewares, home furnishings and apparel industries., NEW YORK - If you're the average home office user, you own a computer. You want your home work-station to have a little more pizazz than your office at work. [...]

SAN FRANCISCO--Bissell and Ryobi Motor Products officials confirmed last week at the Gourmet Products Show that the two companies are in negotiations regarding Ryobi's Singer floor care business. 'We are [...]

Hoover has introduced six lightweight stick vacuum cleaners, four of which come with attachments. The firm hopes to encourage consumers to replace their old models with these new cleaners because each is better suited to specific tasks. Hoover hopes customers will buy new vacuum cleaners even if their old one is still working well. The models are priced from $34.99 to $54.99., SAN FRANCISCO--Aiming to give consumers new incentives to trade up, Hoover has launched six lightweight stick vacuum cleaners--four of which come with on-board tools. The supplier plans to replace its [...]

The sales of work organization product makers and retailers are being boosted by the increase in the number of home offices and home-based businesses. Homeworkers and home-based business owners are a natural market for organization products, including computer disk storage units, shelving systems and storage units. Manufacturers are creating products that are more attractive and blend in better with a home environment in response to the increase in the home market., NEW YORK--Within the young and growing category of home organization, vendors identify the home office segment as one of the hottest niches. As more households set up or expand their [...]

Hardware and home center stores are increasing their share of the home storage and organization product market, according to HFN's 1995 State of the Industry Report. Recognizing the trend, stores are expanding their product assortment, increasing their promotional activity and locating the department in more prominent store areas. The category, which includes ventilated wire and wood products as well as plastic containers, is enjoying mushrooming sales in many urban communities, according to store buyers., NEW YORK--Hardware stores and home centers are claiming a bigger share of the storage and organization business, fueled by expanded offerings, increased promotions and growing consumer awareness that these stores [...]

Department and specialty stores are increasing their selection of better kitchen gadgets to differentiate themselves from supermarkets and discount stores. Many retailers hope to extend double-digit growth in high-end gadgets and counter the trend toward less traffic by increasing average receipts. Gadget manufacturers are increasing their focus on branding and product differentiation., NEW YORK--Department and specialty stores are stepping up to better gadgets in an effort to raise their margins and set themselves apart from supermarkets and discounters. Vendors are aiming to [...]

Bradlees Inc is returning to its roots in upscale retailing after years of trying to be a low-price leader, a strategy that landed it in bankruptcy. The 131-store chain is replacing commodity items like toys, automotive products and beauty aids with higher-margin home textiles, housewares and ready-to-assemble furniture. To bill its new image, Bradlee's has resurrected Mrs. B, its TV spokeswoman of the seventies and early eighties., BRAINTREE, Mass.--Bradlees is welcoming back Mrs. B. And its savvy television spokeswoman of the 1970s and early '80s is not the only thing the regional mass merchant is reviving. Bradlees [...]

Bradlees, as part of a broad makeover intended to help the company emerge from bankruptcy, has doubled the space it is allotting to home-organization products. Chairman and CEO Mark Cohen said that the mass merchant hopes to differentiate itself by offering a wider variety of home-storage products, shifting to higher-end products, and improving the department's organization and presentation., BRAINTREE, Mass.--Bradlees has doubled space for its home organization department this year, identifying storage as a key element in its plan to restore the chain's financial health, said Mark Cohen, [...]

Burwood Products is about to file a reorganization plan and could emerge from bankruptcy proceedings in late spring 1996. Burwood president Jim Taylor said that the clock vendor plans to file its plan the week of Feb 26. Burwood counsel James Croom said that the company has been working with its unsecured creditors, which should lead to their approval of the plan., TRAVERSE CITY, Mich.-- Clock vendor Burwood Products is set to file its plan of reorganization and could emerge from Chapter 11 in late spring, according to company officials. At press [...]

The home organization products market saw wholesale revenues increase from $1.43 billion in 1994 to $1.56 billion in 1995, a 9% increase. Plastic home organization products led the market niche with an 11.4% increase in its wholesale revenues increased by 11.4% from $720 million in 1994 to $802 million in 1995. Revenues from corrugated and vinyl/fabric storage products increased from $94 million to $100 million while revenues from ventilated wire and wood storage products increased from $619 million to $656 million., NEW YORK--In a year characterized by price increases and an unpredictable--and sometimes soft--retail market, the home organization category proved to be a bright spot for retailers in 1995, with plastic [...]

Lifetime Hoan Corp. is introducing a new product line of cutlery, gadgets and personal care items. The Hoffritz line, which was well received by buyers at the International Housewares Show, will be merchandised at Hoffritz shops within retail stores. Lifetime Hoan's two cutlery series, Platinum and Signature, are made in Korea and retail for $35 to $60 for open stock pieces and $200 to $300 for five-piece sets. The company hopes to ship about 300 items by the end of 1996., CHICAGO--Lifetime Hoan's Hoffritz line was the buzz among cutlery and gadget buyers at the International Housewares Show last month, with most praising the sleek new look of the cutlery, knife [...]

Food storage container manufacturers have recently focused their efforts on developing microwave oven accessories for reheating and steaming food, as well as products for such specific applications as preparing bacon or popcorn. They acknowledge that this is a niche category and not one that is likely to promote the allocation of large amounts of shelf space in stores. However, they also point out that it does allow retailers to offer added value in their food storage sections. Among the new products is Rubbermaid's Lunch Break line, which features a soup container that allows the release of built-up steam pressure., NEW YORK - Microwave cookware is resurfacing in the market in modified form from its 1980s ancestors. Several vendors have developed new food storage products with microwave-friendly features or specialized [...]

Ace Hardware stores will allocate more space for a growing inventory of plastic storage items in 1996. The 5,000 Ace dealerships will try to use the category to fuel growth in sales and to bring in more customers, especially women. The leading brands include Rubbermaid, Sterilite and Tucker. Each has introduced new, innovative products into the high-growth category. The top-selling new products are larger containers with wheels., CHICAGO - Ace Hardware is expanding its storage offering by 60 percent this year and beefing up promotions. The hardware cooperative is eyeing home organization - particularly plastic storage - [...]

Manufacturers of household storage products are adding new products, more features and better merchandising in 1996. Plastic storage containers from several vendors will feature wheels, better handles, and larger capacities than previous models. Ecko is offering a 72-quart hamper with wheels. Tucker has put cedar blocks in the lids of some containers and odor-fighting charcoal filters in others. Rubbermaid, Selfix, Closetmaid and Grayline Housewares will introduce new merchandising tools for retailers., CHICAGO - HOME organization vendors at last week's housewares show concentrated less on 'reinventing the wheel' than in offering retailers added features, revamped styling and sizing with their new introductions [...]

Tucker Housewares, known as a producer of value-priced plastic household and storage products, hopes to extend its appeal to more fashion-forward consumers. The company has introduced a selection of unique products and has adopted the slogan 'Ideas Designed Around You.' Tucker VP John Whoriskey explained that the company is attempting to use innovation to provide added value to consumers., Chicago - Tucker Housewares is out to change its reputation. With a batch of unique new products and a new slogan, Ideas Designed Around You, the plastic storage and household [...]

Neatnix is marketing two new organizers: the Cosmetic Stax for women and the Men's Toiletries Organizer. The Cosmetic Stax consists of five white trays that can be stored in a three-inch-deep drawer. Priced at $5 to $15, they provide secure and convenient storage for items such as lipsticks and nail polish. The men's organizer has space for brushes and combs plus hidden compartments for smaller gear., Chicago - Drawer organization vendor Neatnix aims to rid counter-top clutter in the bathroom, entering the category of cosmetic organizers with its launch of two new lines at the International [...]

Chicago - Storage source Whitmor Mfg. officials will be blowing out candles at next week's housewares show, celebrating 50 years in 'the business.' That business has changed quite a bit [...]

Macy's East has reorganized the sales of gadgets in its stores' housewares departments and now features complete shop displays of Pedrini items along with merchandise from other vendors. The 270 sq ft shop display features over 300 items which replace private label gadgets formerly carried by Macy's East. Products include can openers, timers, cocktail sets, corkscrews, stirrers and other barware accessories., NEW York - Macy's East is getting serious about gadgets once again. A year ago at this time the gadget department in Macy's East comprised a private label program of [...]

The School and Home Office Products Association 1995 conference show is expecting to showcase home office furniture as well as unique multi-purpose furniture for home or office environments. Many vendors are offering traditional office furniture with more aesthetically-pleasing designs and motifs to reflect the different nature of telecommuting and to blend better with home decor. Mobile products such as file carts on wheels and various organizers will also be on view., DALLAS - Storage' vendors showing at this year's School & Home Office Products Association show here focused items that are portable and can be coordinated with home office decor Suppliers [...]

Rubbermaid Inc intends to increase its efficiency and reduce its shipping time to retailers by eliminating 40% of its product line, closing nine factories around the world and laying off approximately 9% of its worldwide workforce. The product line reduction, which will generally mean eliminating the slower-turning merchandise, is the result of consultation with major retail customers to see which items would be affected. The company expects to save approximately $50 million from the cost-reduction plan., WOOSTER, Ohio - Rubbermaid Inc. officials say they expect their $50 million saving3 package reported MA week - which includes cutting 40 percent of the company's offerings - to improve [...]

The Container Store chain conducted its first dual-store opening in Schaumburg and Northbrook, in Illinois, during Nov 1995. The stores fit the larger store format that will be used to eventually convert all the firm's stores, between 23,000 sq ft to 24,000 sq ft. Both new stores had enlarged holiday giftwrap and trimmings departments, and the stores were decorated with holiday trimmings. The Container Store chain ranks 65 on HFN's leading housewares retailers list., CHICAGO--The Container Store decked the halls of its two new stores in the suburbs of Northbrook and Schaumburg, pulling off its first dual grand openings with the chain's usual flair, [...]

New York--Mass merchants, which account for nearly half the retail storage business, are under unprecedented pressure. And that means storage vendors are, too. Bradlees and Caldor are in Chapter 11. [...]

Seymour Housewares Corp's new Foldables product line consists of space-efficient laundry care units that can be folded when not in use. The line includes a Folding Hamper, a Folding Laundry Basket a Folding Hamper Junior and a 2-Bin Sorter. The products, which will retail from $11.99 to $19.99, will be sold through mass merchants, wholesale clubs, catalog-showrooms and specialty chains., SEYMOUR, Ind.--In an effort to broaden its presence in the increasingly consolidated laundry care segment, Seymour Housewares is launching Foldables, a line of cotton laundry products with collapsible tubular plastic [...]

Department and specialty stores are beginning to develop different merchandising techniques for kitchen gadgets, realizing that the rear wall is a poor location to stimulate sales. In partnerships with gadget vendors, they are displaying collections of gadgets in shops or boutiques, thus conveying a more upscale image to the customer and making a more attractive visual statement. Since gadgets often carry very high margins, stores are trying to match gadget sales to the buyers of upscale cookware and cutlery, who are more likely to pay the higher price for quality gadgets. Pedrini and Lifetime Hoan are among the vendors experimenting with store merchandising partnerships., NEW YORK--A growing number of department stores are finding that displaying higher-ticket gadgets on the back wall of the housewares department is not enough to convince shoppers that they should [...]

ONEIDA, N.Y.--Looking to broaden Wits cutlery channels and price range, leading flatware vendor Oneida Housewares is offering its own twist on mid-priced cutlery with ergonomic handles and a nontraditional knife [...]

Spartus will launch its new Talking Horoscope Clock with the help of a 2-minute infomercial. It will be the clock industry's first such production, but other housewares manufacturers have successfully marketed products using longer infomercials. The clock will sell for a regular price of $49.99 and a sale price of $39.99, mostly through mass merchants. It features over 6,200 horoscope readings for two astrological signs. Spartus hopes the TV exposure will demonstrate the unique looks of the sun-and-moon-shaped clock., STAMFORD, Conn. - Spartus plans to spread the word to consumers about its new Talking Horoscope Clock with the rollout of the clock industry's first television infomercial, timed to coincide [...]

Alco Capital has sold its upscale cutlery and kitchenware label, Hoffritz, to Lifetime Hoan Corp. Lifetime's goal is to enter the upscale market with a reputable name under which it can introduce new products that will be immediately recognized as being distinct. According to Lifetime, Hoffritz is perceived as a brand with much value, ranking fourth in a survey commissioned by Lifetime to determine the brand's ranking among other industry products., WESTBURY, N.Y.--Culminating a two-year effort to acquire an upscale brand for a new 300-item line of cutlery and kitchenware, Lifetime Hoan Corp. has purchased the Hoffritz brand from Alco Capital, [...]

Mass retailers reported an increase in sales in housewares for 1994. Sales increases follow the growing interest consumers have in decorating their homes. Target and Wal-Mart reported sales increases of about 19% above 1993 figures. Sales among discounters were increased, in part, because of new store openings. In addition, discounters added higher-priced items, and many realized the growth potential of the segment., NEW YORK--Housewares and tabletop sales in the mass market grew by 12.1 percent, fueled by newstore openings, the channel's recognition of the category as a growth vehicle, a move to [...]

TOWNSEND, Mass. - Sterilite is on a mission. In the past five years, the plastic housewares vendor has set out to 'reinvent' itself by looking at how consumers organize their [...]

Manufacturers of home organization and storage products are increasing their advertising efforts in order to build brand identity and increase consumers' awareness of the organization and storage product category. Rubbermaid has lead advertising in this category, spending $5.6 million in 1994. However, others such as ClosetMaid and Sterilite Corp have launched advertising campaigns., New York - In the relatively young category of home organization, building brand awareness through consumer advertising has been left largely to Rubbermaid, the housewares giant. Until now, that is. [...]

Cutlery manufacturers in Germany and France have had to increase their prices by 15-20% because of the weak American dollar and higher raw material costs. Henckels increased their prices by 5-6% in 1995 and will increase prices again in 1996. Some manufacturers will shift their manufacturing base to Korea or China. Henckels plans to continue manufacturing in Germany but will introduce new products at higher prices., NEW YORK--Despite robust sales gains for the cutlery business in the first half, some mid-market and high-end suppliers who manufacture overseas say the weak dollar has squeezed margins and forced [...]

The storage product category is increasing in late summer 1995 from a slow spring. There are many retailers that are selling a lot of products to college students who are trying to fit their belongings in small dormitory rooms. Other retailers complain that the hot weather has kept business from getting better but expect cooler weather in late August and early September to increase sales., NEW YORK - Most retailers say the storage category is making a healthy recovery from a sluggish spring with robust sales in the back-to-school season. Retailers who gear their back-to-school [...]

Home storage manufacturers are expanding into specific niches to increase their market share. Home storage became a product category in the mid-1980s. In 1995, there has been an expansion of the craft storage, juvenile storage and bath storage categories. Manufacturing crafts has become extremely important to several individuals. Juvenile storage products are useful for baby clothes, children's toys and travel. Bathroom storage products are useful for countertops, the shower and under the sink., NEW YORK--With the maturation of the home storage business sparking the emergence of specific-use products, vendors and retailers are targeting key niches such as juvenile, craft, and bath to help [...]

Home storage manufacturers are hoping that the second half of 1995 will be an improvement over the first half, which was affected by a weaker economy, poor weather and price increases. During the back-to-school season 1995, manufacturers will conduct aggressive promotions to help boost sales. During the year, raw materials increased up to 8%, causing prices to increase as well. Retailers compensated by cutting down on advertising, which, in turn, affected sales., NEW YORK--Storage vendors and retailers expect a strong back-to-school season and second half to help offset a slowdown in sales at retail this spring. Storage executives noted that when retail [...]

Wal-Mart has reorganized its storage department in Jul 1995. Approximately 10% more space has been allocated to plastic storage products by Rubbermaid and Sterilite. The wire storage products have been decreased by 10%. Corrugated and vinyl storage products will retain the same amount of space. Wal-Mart will review its storage department in Jan 1996 and reorganize the department again in Apr 1996., BENTONVILLE, Ark.--Wal-Mart is reconconfiguring its home organization and storage department, giving plastic storage more space at the expense of its wire organization offering, according to industry sources. Home organization vendors [...]

EASTHAMPTON, Mass.- Ekco Hosewares will unveil its first line of heavy-duty plastic storage products, under the Wright-Bernet brand name, at the National Hardware Show. 'It was a logical extension to [...]

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Anchor Hocking Plastics is repositioning and upscaling its StowAways plastic food storage line to gain greater market share with category killers, specialty chains and department stores. [...]