Spinoffs, new merchandise categories and other strategies Redcats USA is using to capture new customers.

By Paul Miller

In fact, consumer spending on housewares has increased 4.9 percent annually during the past five years, according to the International Housewares Association. Housewares sales increased by 7.4 percent in 2003, the last full year tracked by the group.

By contrast, although U.S. apparel sales increased 4 percent in 2004, it was the first annual increase in three years, according to the NPD Group, a market research firm based in Port Washington, N.Y. Apparel sales took a major dip in 2001, and continued decreasing in 2002 and ‘03 before last year’s turnaround.