Retail

The Bombay Company plans to make over more than 500 stores in the United States and Canada by mid-summer to adopt a more consistent look. The company hopes to fight off its sluggish sales of the last 18 months with a fresher look. Steve Woodward, who returned to Bombay nine months ago as senior vice president and general merchandising manager, said the chain will adopt a common footprint beginning in mid-July that divides each store into a series of 2.44×3.66-meter rooms, each featuring one of 22 newly developed themes, reduced merchandise SKUs and a brighter look. Additionally, the company will continue its migration from malls to more profitable freestanding and lifestyle centers. The company plans to open 45 to 50 stores this year and close 42, for a net increase of three to eight, with about half of its stores in non-mall locations by the end of the year.Kassie Jones joined Stein Mart in May as general merchandise manager, home. She will report to Mike Fisher, president and CEO, and succeeds Pat Stagner, who left the company earlier this year. Jones most recently was merchandise manager for home at Home Shopping Network and earlier had been vice president, general merchandise manager, home, at The Great Indoors.Nordstrom is carrying The Westin Hotel's signature Heavenly Bed, the first hotel-room product to be sold by a national retailer. More and more hotels are jumping on this bandwagon and selling their wares. Some, like Le Parker Meridien New York, have their own catalog selling everything from Nambe tableware to leather furniture. Kimpton Hotels plans to launch an online catalog this summer. Westin sold $8.5 million worth of Heavenly Bed products last year. Starwood's former Chairman Barry Sternlicht devised the Heavenly Bed after buying Seattle-based Westin in 1997. The first week, Westin received inquiries from 32 customers about how to purchase the bed. The first year, it set up orders by phone. The second year, it added a catalog. The third year, it launched a Web site. Westin to date has sold more than 6,000 beds and 30,000 pillows. The Heavenly Bed At Home collection at Nordstrom is priced from $35 to $300 for linens and the whole 10-layer ensemble is between $3,115 and $3,615.Kmart is adding RTA furniture to its Martha Stewart Everyday line in the form of dining tables, beds and even a sofa, according to a report in the Detroit Free Press. This is the first Martha Stewart brand extension in three years. The company also is looking at opportunities to develop new products particularly with the recent merger of Kmart and Sears. Martha Stewart Everyday lines sold at Kmart are Home, Garden, Colors, Kitchen, Keeping, Decorating, Candles and Accessories, and Holiday. The Baby Baby line of clothing and decor was discontinued last year, said Kmart spokesman Stephen Pagnani.Amazon.com now is selling Macy's private branded products — including its red-hot Hotel Collection bedding and tabletop — and national brands on the Amazon Web site. Other retailers such as Bon-Ton department stores and retailers overseas also market Macy's private brands.St. Louis, Mo.-based Home Decorators Collection is branching out to bricks-and-mortar with plans to open 65 retail stores across the U.S. within the next five years. The company has sold furniture, rugs and home accents online and via its catalog for about 15 years. It opened one store in 2003 and another in 2004. "Our product is better when you get it than catalog customers might expect when they place orders," said Kathy Lefler, executive vice president for the company. "In the store, (customers) can actually see the quality."