PARIS--Twenty projects from French product designer Patrick Jouin are the highlight of the Patrick Jouin -- La substance du design exhibition that opens here today.
At the Galerie du Musee through May 24, the exhibition includes objects, scripts, texts, drawings, samples and prototypes. Among the items are Jouin’s Pasta Pot, created in collaboration with chef Alain Ducasse for Alessi, and Optic Cube, a container cube for Kartell that has mirrored and transparent parts.

CHARLOTTE, N.C.--Accessories Resource Team will hold its annual industry conference May 20-23 at the Westin Mission Hills Resort & Spa in Rancho Mirage, Calif.
Joining the lineup of speakers this year are Leslie Newby, Brand Communications; Randy Eller, Eller Enterprises; Warren Shoulberg, HFN Magazine; and Fashionsnoops.com.
Category roundtables and the popular retail workshop are also on the agenda. The evening and free time plans include Palm Springs Homes Tour and team building fun and games.

NEW YORK–Forty One Madison said it has “seen a steady increase in buyer traffic and showroom participation,” over the past three New York Gift Shows.

NEW YORK–Bloggers on design and trend Web sites picked their favorite gift, home and lifestyle products in Accent on Design, the design-focused section at the New York International Gift Fair.
Among the winners of the Bloggers Choice Award were Umbrellas by Brelli; Miller Goodman Playshapes by neo-utility; neó baskets, bags and jewelry; Table Manners set by Funfam; Style de Vie for its booth display; and the Oly Children’s Chair.

NEW YORK–Gift for Life, the gift, stationery and home decor industries’ leading charitable organization, announced today that Randy Eller will be honored with the Gift For Life Industry Achievement Award during the Gifts & Decorative Accessories 59th Annual Retailer Excellence Awards, taking place here in August.

LAS VEGAS–The winter edition of the Las Vegas Market is up and running.
The market, which takes place at the World Market Center here, runs from today until Friday, Feb. 5. Among the social events planned for today are a ribbon cutting at the Midwest/CBK showroom, C-999; parties at Global Views, room A-454, AICO featuring Jane Seymour in C-1601, AF Lighting in A-406, Sphinx/Oriental Weavers in B-580; and Kalco Lighting in A-950.

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.–NYC Restaurant Week runs through Feb. 7, conveniently coinciding with the winter edition of the New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF), which takes place through Feb. 4.

NEW YORK–Gift for Life, the gift, stationery and home decor industries’ charitable organization, has partnered with the New York International Gift Fair for a new designer competition that will debut at the summer 2010 market.
Competing for a People’s Choice Award and a Designer Distinction Award, emerging and established designers are invited to submit product design concepts for the inaugural theme of “Make Change,” for which designers must reinvent the piggy bank design icon or the more contemporary digital coin collectors and counters.

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.–The New York International Gift Fair has established systems that allow participants in the fair to make individual donations to support relief for the victims of the Haitian earthquake.

NEW YORK–Twelve new permanent tenants will debut their showrooms at 7 W New York during the upcoming New York Gift & Home Textiles Market Week.

DALLAS–Twenty-five ARTs awards, along with the Academy of Achievement Award, were presented during the 21st Annual ARTs awards gala on Jan. 16. Taking place during the Dallas Total Home & Gift Market, the event saw more than 500 attendees and are given by the Dallas Market Center and the Accessories Resource Team.

LAS VEGAS–The Ante 4 Autism fundraiser Texas Hold’em tournament is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, Feb. 2, during the upcoming Las Vegas Market.
The event will begin at 7 p.m. at Binion’s and will benefit Autism Speaks. The entrance fee is $125, and registration and donations may be made online at ramarketing.com/ante4autism beginning at 6 p.m. on the day of the tournament. Players must be at least 21 years of age.

CANNON FALLS, Minn.–Having merged in May of this year, Midwest-CBK has now combined the showrooms of its two former companies in Atlanta’s AmericasMart and the Dallas Market Center to present both collections in one spot, and grand-opening celebrations will be held during the January markets.
The Atlanta showroom, located in AmericasMart’s Building 1, Suite 16A7, is now about 20,000 square feet in size.
The company’s party will be held on Friday, Jan. 8, at 4 p.m., during the Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market.

EXTON, Pa.–HomeStyle and Ivystone Group, two home decor-products sales agencies, will merge on Jan. 1 and combine for a showroom at the AmericasMart building in Atlanta.
According to a statement from the two agencies, the joined company will maintain the two names, with HomeStyle serving as the brand for home-accents and lifestyle products and Ivystone the brand for gift products. The company will have more than 150 field sales representatives and 20 key-account representatives. Along with the AmericasMart space, the company will have showrooms in Dallas, Chicago and Las Vegas.

ASHEVILLE, N.C.–Biltmore’s licensing division, including core brands Biltmore For Your Home and Biltmore Chateau Reserve, will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2010.
Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, Biltmore House and gardens were constructed in 1895 for George W. Vanderbilt, who decorated his home with a unique combination of high fashion decor, artifacts from his world travels and regional folk art.

NEW YORK–For the upcoming New York International Gift Fair, Jan. 30 to Feb. 4, 230 Fifth Avenue New York MarketPlace has a number of events planned for buyers and other attendees.
Now represented by the Euroletto Linens & Home showroom in Lobby Suite 10, Colomba Living will debut its home textiles collection made from such natural fibers as linen, cotton, silk and wool. Greenhorn Trading Company, also part of the Euroletto showroom, will premiere its Scottish cashmere collection of throws.

WOOLRICH, Pa.—Woolrich has launched a comprehensive digital catalog accessible at woolrichhome.com/catalog.

FRANKFURT, Germany-Tendence 2010 will return to its traditional August schedule, as the show moves to Aug. 27 to Aug. 31.
Show organizers Messe Frankfurt said the move reflects an extensive poll of exhibitors and visitors, with two thirds of those polled recommending early autumn dates. Tendence 2008 and 2009 were held in early July.

NEW YORK–Gift for Life, the gift, stationery and home decor industries’ charitable organization, has announced that three people have joined its board. Pamela Graves, editorial director of HomeFashion & Hospitality magazine; Doug Miller, president, Urban Expositions; and Patricia Norins, founder and publisher of Pinnacle Publishing Group, now bring the total number of Gift for Life board members to 35, who represent such industries as sales, manufacturing, media, technology, marketing, management, retail and tradeshow management.

NEW YORK–The 7 W New York showroom building has scheduled keynote presentations for the first NYC Baby & Kids Fair, which will take place from Jan. 30 to Feb. 1, 2010.

DALLAS–Dallas Market Center and the Accessories Resource Team (ART) have announced that Don McEvoy of Donald McEvoy Ltd. will receive the Academy of Achievement Award at the 21st annual ARTS Awards event on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010. The Academy of Achievement award is given to someone who has made significant contributions to the decorative accessories industry. The gala will take place during the Dallas Total Home & Gift Market, Jan. 13 to 19.

NEW YORK–The New York Design Center will host its fourth annual Masquerade Ball this Thursday, Oct. 29, as the NYDC lobby and 11th floor will be transformed into a 1930s tinsel movie musical created by The Alpha Workshops, the event’s benefiting organization.
Called “C’mon Get Happy,” the ball will have a night of music, dancing, food, as well as a photo booth and tarot card reader. Guests are encouraged to wear whatever makes them happy.

RYE BROOK, N.Y.–Benefitting the Cerebral Palsy of Westchester here, the inaugural Designer Showhouse of Westchester—located in Purchase, N.Y., is open to the public.
Held at a Georgian estate donated by Georgio Custom Builders, one of the presenting sponsors, the showhouse features more than 30 designers and decorative artists in a 17,000 square foot, 25-room mansion. Houlihan Lawrence and Cottages and Gardens Publications are also sponsors.
Tickets are $30 and include a showhouse journal. The event runs through Sunday, Nov. 8.

PITTSBURGH–OneCoast said it will separate its sales rep group into two companies to better focus on its retailer customers, and will launch a new company named SnapRetail to enable independent retailers to more easily buy and sell their product lines.
OneCoast’s two national groups, ND ONE and OneCoast Collegiate, will operate under the OneCoast name. The Home Décor & Lifestyle sales team, renamed HomeStyle, will represent home, lifestyle & gift lines on a regional basis. The Key Account Team will be part of HomeStyle.

CHARLOTTE, N.C.—Accessories Resource Team, the association for thedecorative accessories industry, will hold its annual conference next May at The Westin Mission Hills Resort & Spa in Rancho Mirage, Calif., in the Palm Springs Valley. Scheduled for May 20 to 23, the conference will include its popular Retail Face Lift exercise, where teams compete to re-merchandise stores in the area, as well as other creative workshops.

NEW YORK–The New York Design Center, the showroom building at 200 Lexington Avenue, is holding its first-ever building-wide event tomorrow, showcasing hundreds of new product introductions from nearly 100 participating showrooms.

CHARLOTTE, N.C.–Bill Fortson of BJ’s Home Accents, has been elected president of the Accessories Resource Team, the association for the decorative accessories industry. Also elected were Steve Crowder of Guildmaster, as executive vice president, and Kris Lindsey of Kinder Harris. The three will begin serving their terms Nov. 1.

AT THE LAS VEGAS MARKET–Attendees to the Las Vegas Market this week saw companies expanding their product categories to offer a more coordinated look, as well as launching new designer licensed collections.

TULSA, Okla.–IMAX Worldwide Imports has announced a partnership with rep groups, Appelman Schauben and In-Detail.
Appleman Schauben now represents Imax in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. In-Detail now represents the company in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.

ATLANTA–The Home Depot today announced an agreement to develop an exclusive Martha Stewart Living brand of home improvement products in categories including outdoor living, home organization and home decor.

WILLIAMSBURG, Va.–Williamsburg, the home brand of The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, is scheduled to return to QVC Friday, Sept. 25 at 9 a.m. for the Williamsburg: Home for All Seasons broadcast. During the one-hour show, Williamsburg home stylist Cindy Cragg will share her tips for decorating the home for the holidays as well as offer shoppers signature new pieces from the Williamsburg Home for All Seasons collection.

NEW YORK–The Jay Companies, manufacturers and importers of tabletop, dinnerware, crystal, candles, wall art, and decorative accessories, will relaunch the American Atelier line of casual dinnerware and coordinated accessories at next month’s tabletop show.

BOULDER, Colo.–AeroGrow has allied with the National Gardening Association to create National Indoor Gardening Day, which has been set for Sept. 1.
The day will include free one-hour classes about how to bring an outdoor garden indoors, how to grow fresh produce indoors and how to start outdoor garden seedlings in the spring. The classes will be taught by AeroGrow employees, and will include giveaways of free AeroGardens. They are scheduled for Anchorage, Ala., Burlington, Vt., Chicago, Denver and Philadelphia.

CHICAGO--Leading exhibitors and showrooms were honored for their innovation, design and creativity with Best In Show Awards at the Chicago Market: Living and Giving, which took place in the Merchandise Mart July 15 to 22.

NEW YORK–The New York Design Center has unveiled a revamped Web site at nydc.com.

NEW YORK—Lladró will participate in the new Spanish Mile in Soho, which takes place here on Thursday, June 25.
This event, which will be in its fourth year, is intended as a celebration of Spanish fashion and highlights the work of Spanish designers. Lladró will be part of the Valencian Design showroom on 50 Greene St., and will present the Fantasy collection by designer Jaime Hayon. The show space will highlight fashion designed an produced in the Valencia region of Spain, including footwear, apparel and accessories.

NEW YORK–The next edition of Printsource New York is scheduled for Aug. 4-6 at 7 W New York here.
A showcase for providers of textile and surface designs, the show includes exhibitors of hundreds of collections from textile- and surface-design studios from around the world. Exhibitors come from the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain and Australia, as well as the United States. Attendees include manufacturers of home textiles, apparel and paper goods.

TULSA, Okla.–IMAX Worldwide Imports is moving its Chicago Merchandise showroom to a new floor in time for the upcoming market. The new showroom will be located at the Merchandise Mart, 13-401, on the giftware floor.
The move is in conjunction with the company’s efforts to diversify their product line with giftable home decor.

CHARLOTTE, N.C.–The Accessories Resource Team has announced that rates for rooms at the Naples Grande Resort & Club in Florida during the ART conference in May have dropped to $159 per night, a $20 per night savings for attendees.
Scheduled for May 28 to 31, the ART Conference will include such seminars as “Rebuild Your Personal and Professional Growth Motivation,” “Growing Green: 10 Steps Toward Sustainability” and “Outrageous Design and Show Stoppers.”

DALLAS–Dallas Market Center will hold the Dallas Total Home & Gift Market between March 12 and 15 with a beefed up merchandise mix.
This upcoming market, the show will offer new gifts, decorative accessories, furniture and gourmet products.
”Now more than ever it is important for buyers to diversify and strengthen their merchandise mix,” said Cindy Morris, chief operating officer of Dallas Market Center, in a statement.

NEW YORK–The Window Covering Manufacturers Association has issued a call for entries to its Product Innovation Awards.
The awards honor manufacturers of window coverings for their design creativity, technical advancement and overall innovation. They are scheduled to be presented at a reception on May 13, to be held in conjunction with the International Window Coverings Expo in Atlanta. The deadline for entries is March 16, and the competition is open to all manufacturers and suppliers of window coverings in the United States and Canada.

DINGHU, China–The Phoenix Art Comany has created PAC Trading and Sourcing, a separate division of the American-owned manufacturer of handmade home furnishing products.
PAC Trading and Sourcing will assist clients with sourcing, design, price negotiation, quality control and shipping. The company will start with an office in Guangdong Province and plans to open additional offices in Beijing and Shanghai as required.

TULSA, Okla.–Home accessories maker IMAX Corporation is celebrating 25 years in business this year.
Starting in 1984 as a small, home business selling copper flower containers, founders Al Bulak and Faye Bulak have grown the organization into one of the top U.S. import companies serving the at home market.
The IMAX product line covers over 3,000 active SKU’s displayed in showrooms in Tulsa, Okla., Las Vegas, Atlanta, Dallas, High Point and Chicago, along with international market presence in China and Germany.

LITCHFIELD, Conn.–Rug manufacturer Emma Gardner Design has added distribution in two more markets, as it has partnered with Kuhl-Linscomb in Houston and Apadana Fine Rugs in the Cos Cob neighborhood of Greenwich, Conn. Both showrooms are open to the public but receive most of their business from the trade.

NEW YORK–Bloggers from design and trend-watching Web sites chose innovative products and emerging trends at the Accent on Design division of the recently completed New York International Gift Fair.
The first-ever Bloggers’ Choice Awards included the following:
• Hollister Hovey of HollisterHovey.blogspot.com chose the Strida MOOF bike by Areaware for its classic European bike elements and modern, simple construction.

NEW YORK–Permanent showroom building Forty One Madison has opened its doors during the Gift Show here this week, with several tabletop showrooms open for business and a lobby product display that reflects the diversity of products in the building.
“We have had a record number of showrooms open this market and I’m pleased to see traffic has been steady since Sunday,” said Laurie Burns, senior vice president, director of the building, in a statement.

HIGH POINT, N.C.–High Point Market is turning to a pair of musical institutions for its spring Stars Under the Stars concert series and gala Centennial Celebration.
Blood Sweat & Tears will kick off the festivities on April 25th under the Main Event Tent adjacent to the Transportation Terminal on Commerce Avenue. The next evening, legendary ’70s R&B group The Spinners will take the stage armed with their long playlist of hits. On April 26, the Beatles tribute band 1964 plays songs made famous by John, Paul, George and Ringo.

LAS VEGAS–The upcoming Las Vegas Market will feature more than 100 new exhibiting companies, according to a statement from the World Market Center.

MINNEAPOLIS–Target will bow an exclusive home decor line from designer Orla Kiely on Feb. 1. Kiely is known for her bold colors, graphic patterns, use of texture and upbeat design aesthetic.
The line will be available for a limited time at Target stores, with select items available on Target.com.
“The Orla Kiely for Target collection combines fun and function with products that are adorable and available for a great price,” said Gina Sprenger, senior vice president merchandising for Target, in a statement.

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.–GLM, owner and manager of Surtex, has opened online registration for the show.
Scheduled for May 17 to 19 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York, Surtex features exhibitors among vendors of original art and design for home textiles, floor coverings, wallcoverings, apparel, gift products, stationery, housewares and other consumer products. Attendees can register for the show on the surtex.com Web site or by calling (800) 272-SHOW.

NEW YORK–Dorothy Roberts, chairman of Echo Design Group, has been given a Hall of Fame award by the Accessories Council.

HIGH POINT, N.C.–High Point’s sponsoring manufacturers have set spring premarket for March 23 to 24 and fall premarket for Sept. 14 to 15 after voting late last month to retain the previously established schedule.
High Point has revitalized and repositioned premarket over the past two years, and it has become an important special event offering a competitive advantage for retailers and manufacturers, according to show organizers.

UNION CITY, Tenn.–Emmy award-winning television journalist Cristina Saralegui will sign autographs at the CBK showroom in the Dallas Market Center on Jan. 17 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
She will also introduce her outdoor furniture collection, expanding upon her home decor collection. The Casa Cristina Garden Collection includes a garden bench, chair and side table, all featuring either a black metal design embellished with an amber glass detail or a terra-cotta-colored mosaic design.

COMPTON, Calif.–ICA Home Decor has swung a deal to acquire Art In Motion, an art publisher and wall-decor manufacturer.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The acquisition, which takes effect on Jan. 1, will bring Art In Motion’s wall-decor and decorative-accessories products under the ICA banner. In addition, Art In Motion’s Website, artinmotion.com, and online catalog will be combined into an ICA online catalog and Website, ica-art.com.

NEW YORK–HFN is preparing its coverage of the New York International Gift Fair in January and February’s Las Vegas Market.

LAS VEGAS–Decor Place, a supplier of decorating products, has issued its top 10 home-decorating trends for the coming year:
•Color Your World: Lively colors and sophisticated, grounded hues are expected to be popular, based on a forecast from the Pantone Color Institute.
•Light Up Your Life: More light will be needed to properly illuminate rooms, including chandeliers with more arms or multiple lights per arm.
•We’ve Got You Covered: Wall murals will continue to be in high demand in 2009.

LAS VEGAS–The World Market Center has opened the first floor of Building B to showroom spaces.

LAS VEGAS–The Forecast Series, a group of seminars on home-products trends, will take place during Las Vegas Market in February.

LAS VEGAS–C&F Enterprises has leased a showroom in Building C at the World Market Center here, and will open it during the September 2009 Las Vegas Market.
Measuring 10,540 square feet, the showroom is located in room C-599. It will showcase C&F’s collections, including the Gallerie II program and the April Cornell and Colonial Williamsburg licensed lines, along with the company’s products under the C&F label. The new space is the company’s first showroom location in the western half of the United States.

NEW YORK–Interior Design Hall of Famer Jamie Drake tapped three up-and-coming interior designers as “rising stars” of the design world at an event held in their honor by the International Furnishings and Design Association at the New York Design Center.
Drake named Kristen McGinnis, Peter Lenz and Brad Ford as the top new designers of the year in the second event of its kind.
“The economy may be tanking,” Drake said, “but these rising stars are shooting straight up.”

UPPER SADDLE RIVER, N.J.–Hunter Douglas has appointed Michele Watson director of brand management for its Metal & Alternative Wood Blind business unit.
In this newly created position, Watson now oversees all product design, color development, merchandising support, sample and display programs, price lists, marketing direction, promotions and systems coordination for all Metal & Alternative Wood Blind products and programs. She reports to Kevin Armstrong, vice president and general manager of Hunter Douglas’ Horizontal Blinds division.

UPPER SADDLE RIVER, N.J.–Hunter Douglas has agreed to make an annual contribution to the Arbor Day Foundation, which promotes conservation efforts for trees and forests.

LAS VEGAS–The World Market Center has scheduled “Passport to Glamour,” an event designed to highlight the luxury home-furnishings market, for Nov. 13.

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa.–The International Home Furnishings and Design Association has founded a chapter in Japan.
The new chapter—which was formed by Yasue Ishikawa, executive director of Risa Braire Co., a firm that designs custom window treatments and soft goods—held its first meeting recently at the headquarters of Decorative Mode No. 3, a design and architectural firm based on Osaka. An IFDA statement said the new chapter is already working on Japan’s first designer showhouse, which will debut in Yokohama in February, and is pursuing other civic projects.

LAS VEGAS–In what amounts to a direct conflict with the High Point Market, World Market Center Las Vegas just announced this afternoon that it will shift to a fall and winter schedule for its market weeks in 2009, instead of the summer and winter rotation it has had since its start.
The winter 2009 dates, Feb. 9 to 13, had previously been announced, but the big news is the second show, which will now be held Sept. 14 to 17, instead of the last week of July. Each Vegas show will be reduced by one day to a four-day schedule as well.

DALLAS–The Dallas Market Center, along with the Accessories Resource Team, which represents the decorative accessories industry, has announced that Murray Fleiss will receive the Academy of Achievement Award at the 20th annual ARTS awards due to his significant contributions to the industry.
It will be presented along with more than 20 category winners at a gala event during the Dallas Total Home & Gift Market, which is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 17, in the Grand Pavilion at the Trade Mart.

NEW YORK–High Point Market exhibitors are invited to submit new product photography and press releases to HFN for its High Point Market show coverage. The deadline is Monday, Sept. 29.

Pacific Market Center Hosts Independent Retailer Event
SEATTLE–As part of a new initiative to support independent retailers and buyers, Pacific Market Center, together with its showrooms and local downtown associations, is hosting a VIP: Vibrant Independent Proprietor event for independent businesses.
The interactive event takes place Sept. 22 and 23; hosts independent retailers and businesses in the region; and includes educational sessions, giveaways and networking opportunities.

NEW YORK–High Point Market exhibitors are invited to submit new product photography and press releases to HFN for its High Point Market show coverage. The deadline is Monday, Sept. 29.

LAS VEGAS–The Las Vegas Design Center at the World Market Center has named Randy Wells vice president.
In this newly created position, Wells is responsible for the management of the design center—a professional design and hospitality resource comprising 70 showrooms that feature fine furniture, fabric, lighting, floral products, accessories, rugs and wall decor. Wells reports directly to Robert Maricich, president and chief executive officer of the World Market Center.

LOS ANGELES–Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc., has named Mark Furlet vice president and general manager for the L.A. Mart, where he will oversee all operations, marketing, leasing and building support for the nearly 250 showrooms housed there. He replaces Michael Kessler, who left earlier this month to pursue other interests.
Furlet was previously the leasing director for The Chicago Market: Living and Giving at Chicago’s Merchandise Mart. He will begin his new role immediately.

DALLAS–Dallas Market Center has appointed its 2008 Total Home & Gift Retail Advisory Board, selected by DMC management and exhibitors, to provide feedback on the gift and home decor industry and how markets can better serve retailers.
The Retail Advisory Board is comprised of 10 members who represent a variety of gift and home decor stores located throughout the United States. Members serve terms of up to two years.
The 2008 Total Home & Gift Retail Advisory Board members are:

DALLAS–Dallas Market Center has released market dates for 2009, with no changes in date patterns for the Total Home & Gift and International Lighting markets.

NEW YORK–This is the last call for Las Vegas Market exhibitors to send product photos and releases to be considered for HFN’s special market coverage in our daily show issues and the national issue that get distributed at market.
Please send as soon as possible, but no later than this Wednesday, July 9. After that, we cannot promise that any materials received after the deadline will get in.

WOOLRICH, Pa.–Woolrich has partnered with Picture Source to launch a collection of wall art.
A soft launch will be held during the Las Vegas Market, July 28 to Aug. 1, with a full-scale launch at High Point, N.C., in October.
The initial debut includes nearly 50 pieces in an array of mediums, including paper prints, hand-hooked textiles and oils on canvas. Botanicals, landscapes, animals and vintage themes make up the core of the collection.

LAS VEGAS–Larry Laslo, owner of Larry Laslo Designs, has been honored as the summer Las Vegas Market’s Design Icon.
The designation is part of a lecture series in which noted designers share their experiences during the Las Vegas markets. Laslo is the second designer so honored, the first being Vladimir Kagan at the winter market in January. Laslo will deliver his lecture on Thursday, July 31, at 2:30 p.m. in the new Building C, on the third floor.

STUTTGART, Ark.–Kinder Harris is rebuilding its wall decor factory here and working out of a temporary office after damages sustained during a tornado that ripped through the area on May 10.
The factory’s roof has been replaced and water damage is being cleaned up, while building repairs are completed.
“Our relocated offices are up and running now while building repairs are nearing completion,” said Kris Lindsey, president of Kinder Harris. “We are accepting orders for early August delivery.”

NEW YORK–Metropolitan Home has launched Fulcrum, a branded trade magazine spinoff, with its July/August issue.
Fulcrum will provide designers and architects with the latest “need-to-know” information about the design process and practice, the Hachette Filipacchi Media supplement said in a statement.

MCLEAN, Va.–Grant Dawson Collections, creator of upscale, earth-friendly decorative accessories, has secured Isadora & Mizrahi Inc. and John R. Walker Co. to represent its growing line.
Isadora & Mizrahi, with a permanent showroom space at 7 W New York, will represent Grant Dawson Collections throughout New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
John R. Walker Co., located in Dallas, will introduce Grant Dawson Collections to its account base throughout the Midwest.

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa.–The International Furnishings and Design Association has authorized the formation of a new chapter in Southern California.
The association has designated Rita Orland, owner of Wings Inc., as the new chapter’s coordinator. The Designcorp International office in Solana Beach, Calif., will serve as the location for the new chapter’s meetings.

NEW YORK–OneCoast, a provider of sales and marketing services to home decor and gift vendors and retailers, will sell the complete line of America Retold on a nationwide basis.
OneCoast will represent America Retold, which makes whimsical home products inspired by memories of the past, across the country through its field and key account sales teams, showrooms and on its Web site, onecoast.com.

DALLAS–The judging panel has been named for the 20th annual ARTS Awards, which recognizes excellence in design, manufacturing, retailing and sales representation in the decorative accessories industry.
The 20th Annual ARTS Awards, co-hosted by the Dallas Market Center and the Accessories Resource Team, the trade association representing the decorative accessory industry, will be presented during a gala event on Jan. 17, 2009. The ARTS Awards are held each January during the Dallas Total Home & Gift Market.

ALBERTVILLE, Ala.–Paragon will launch a line of children’s art, including work by Georgia artist Vikki Weigel, at the summer markets.
The collection features 20 SKUs by Weigel; all are exclusive hand-painted multi-originals and will come with an “art necklace” to match the print. Additionally, most are gallery-style framed, rather than artwork under glass, so are appropriate for children’s rooms, Paragon said.

NEW YORK–Photo frame introductions at the National Stationery Show here expanded upon popular, top-selling themes: sentiments and unique finishes and textures.
Detailed finishes in woods and metals also defined many of the new products at the show, which wraps up today.

BURBANK, Calif.–Artisan House has named Mark Hearne director of international business development, a new position in which he will lead efforts to grow the company’s overseas business in Europe.
Hearne previously was vice president of sales and marketing for The Lam Lee Group. During his 20-year tenure, he was directly involved with the company’s U.S. sales force and international distributors. In 2005, Hearne left to establish a retail home furnishings venture, which his family continues to operate, according to a statement.

NEW YORK–The Trump Organization has partnered with Pearlessence Ltd. to create a collection of home fragrance products, which will launch at the Las Vegas Market in July.
The Trump Home fragrance collection will include reed diffusers, scented candles, aromatic decorative objects and exclusive botanical-inspired items.

LAS VEGAS–The Global Textiles and Global Home Decor shows are taking place this week amid continuing uncertainty over both the U.S. and world home-textiles markets.
Exhibitors at the shows said the shape of the global economy, in particular the U.S. economy, has held back sales growth for them so far this year. However, they still hope for positive results from the two shows.

LAS VEGAS–The Gourmet Housewares Show, the National Hardware Show, Global Home Textiles and Global Home Decor all open here today. “Going green” and sustainability is expected to be a big trend for vendors exhibiting at the shows. The events, being held at the Sands Expo & Convention Center, run through Thursday, May 8.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.–AMC Liquidators, known for its hotel and office furniture liquidation, asset recoveries and salvage operations, has expanded its offerings to include items such as tabletop products, wall art and furniture. The company hopes to attract more home owners to its two stores here, as well as to its online site, with the product expansion.

HIGH POINT, N.C.–When times are tough, many vendors pull back on product development, but that wasn’t the rule at this market, which runs through Sunday.

RICHMOND, Calif.–Lisa Frudden has resigned her post as creative marketing director for Palecek, effective May 2.
After 24 years with the furniture and decorative home decor importer, Frudden is looking for a change of venue, she said. “I want to explore something different, like freelancing and consulting,” she told HFN.
Frudden, who has worked on many facets of the company’s marketing, merchandising and creative strategies, has already been asked to do some consulting for home furnishings firms, she said.

NEW YORK–Interior designer/potter Jonathan Adler and Elle Decor Editor in Chief Margaret Russell will be honored at the SCAD Style Etoile Awards, held here at the Cultural Services of the French Embassy on April 10.
The awards are bestowed by the Savannah College of Art and Design.
The SCAD Style Etoile Awards honor innovative, trend-setting leaders in the fields of style and design. The awards ceremony will also kick off SCAD Style.

RONKONKOMA, N.Y.–Sculpture and home decor company Austin has announced that Maura Murphy has rejoined the company as director of marketing, reporting to Andrew Cymrot, senior vice president. She formerly served as district manager and director of special markets, where she gained experience in territory and product development and marketing. She also worked at Ellery Homestyles as merchandising manager of the decorative pillow, throw and bedding division.
In her new position, she will provide a greater level of service to Austin’s customers and sales team.

NEW YORK–High Point Market exhibitors should send new product photography and press releases to HFN editors for coverage in our April Market issue. We’re accepting product submissions now—please don’t send them any later than Thursday, March 13.

DALLAS–In an effort to increase its membership, the home accent industry’s Accessories Resource Team is offering an after-hours VIP tour of Texas Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, to anyone who recruits five new members between now and the end of April.
Awardees will tour the famed stadium—including locker and training rooms—during the June market here.
Members of ART, an education and networking group for the industry, reflect manufacturers, sales representatives, retailers and various trade publications.

SANTA FE, N.M.–The Museum of New Mexico Foundation has signed licensing deals with three new partners—T.S. Berry, King Hickory and Berry Creek—and will launch a new home decor collection at the July Las Vegas Market and the High Point Market in North Carolina in October.

DALLAS–Market Center Management Co. has signed a multiyear agreement to help develop and manage the LatinAmerican Trade Mart, a new wholesale trade center in Bogota, Colombia.
The 2.5 million-square-foot trade complex is scheduled to open in 2011 as the largest wholesale mart in South America. It will be the first wholesale marketplace on the continent to serve both international and domestic markets, according to a release.
MCMC is the management company of wholesale trade centers around the world, including the Dallas Market Center.

NEW YORK–Linon Home Décor Products has appointed Dan Dunham to the position of regional sales manager, a new position. Dunham’s primary responsibilities will be to increase Linon’s presence in the Midwest and West, as well as increasing sales with the existing accounts in that territory, the company said.

NEW YORK–HFN is preparing its High Point Market coverage, and invites all exhibitors to submit new product photography and press releases to us by March 3.

HERNANDO, Miss.–Stylecraft Home Decor has signed a deal to produce lamps and decorative accessories under the Cabana Joe’s name and will unveil a full collection at the April High Point Market, officials told HFN.
At the High Point Market in October, Stylecraft unveiled the first Cabana Joe’s wall decor line, which met with a strong response, prompting executives to pursue the other categories when they came available, said Charlie McCaffrey, Stylecraft president. Pacific Coast Lighting most recently had the Cabana Joe’s license for lamps and accessories.

DALLAS–Dallas Market Center will attempt to set a world record for the largest kazoo band, at the grand opening of its KidsWorld temporary show at 9 a.m. Friday during the Total Home & Gift Market here.

ALBERTVILLE, Ala.–Paragon and Propac have closed their corporate showroom in the Chicago Merchandise Mart in order to focus on existing and growing exhibit space in other markets.
“The closing of Chicago will allow us to focus our efforts on promoting and enhancing our corporate showrooms in Las Vegas and High Point,” said Malanta Glassco-Knowles, vice president of marketing for Paragon.

HONG KONG–Phoenix Art Co. has appointed Alan Wertheimer to the new title of president.
For the past two and a half years, Wertheimer has served as vice president of international sales for Phoenix Art, a China-based home furnishings manufacturer that sells accessories, furniture and lighting to importers. Wertheimer, who is based in New York, will focus on growing sales through European Union companies. He continues to report to Michael Kraft, chairman and founder.