DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a wide recall
Wednesday of about 5.5 million roll-up window shades sold by such
retailers as IKEA International AS, Williams-Sonoma Inc. (WSM) and
Target Corp. (TGT) because of strangulation risks and deaths.
Of six separate recalls, the largest was one urging consumers to
stop using 4.2 million roll-up blinds imported by Lewis Hyman Inc.
after two infant boys were strangled in the blinds' lift cord. The
shades were sold exclusively at Target stores and on its Web
site.
Another 763,000 roman shades imported from China and sold by
Target were recalled because of a risk of strangulation.
The CPSC also recalled 120,000 roman blinds distributed by Ikea
and 85,000 roman shades sold by Williams-Sonoma's Pottery Barn Kids
after some near strangulations.
The CSPC also recalled some blinds made by Vertical Land Inc.
and Virginia Iron and Metal Co.
Target shares were recently up slightly at $46.61.
Williams-Sonoma rallied 13% to 17.54 after reporting a surprise
profit for the latest quarter and boosting expectations for this
quarter.
-By Joan E. Solsman, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2291;
joan.solsman@dowjones.com