Macy’s and Anthropologie are not the only textiles merchandising standouts. Stores such as Kohl’s, Bed Bath & Beyond, Kmart and The Great Indoors received favorable mentions from vendors.

Kohl’s was cited by one executive for its incorporation of national brands into its textiles offerings, and for being one of the “greenest” companies in the marketplace. Another executive gave kudos to Bed Bath & Beyond, a perennial favorite in textiles retailing, for its assortments and the good value it presents in both its core private-label and branded programs.

Still another executive hailed Kmart as a textiles retailer. “They have built an assortment that combines good value and good fashion,” he said. “I think that forging a strategy that takes on Walmart for price and Target for fashion is a real accomplishment.”

For its basic-bedding merchandising, Select Comfort received a surprise vote from one executive in this category. The store “does one of the best jobs in a unique, specialized way,” he said. “They have one of the most well thought-out presentations of pillows and comforters in the industry. In pillows, they have an analytical approach to fabric, fill and sleep function.”

The assortment at The Great Indoors garnered praise from another vendor executive. Citing its merchandise’s “better quality,” the executive added that The Great Indoors is “not attempting to compete with the mass merchants. They are reaching out to the consumer with brands and products with unique and distinct features. They are also very good at identifying who their customers are and what they need.”