Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, August 31, 1995                   TAG: 9508310021
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

IN BUSINESS

Home Shopping Network Inc. said Wednesday it is seeking a buyer for its Ortho-Vent Inc. subsidiary, a Salem mail-order retailer of Stuart McGuire shoes for men.

"Selling Ortho-Vent makes good sense in our overall strategic plans," said David F. Dyer, Home Shopping president and chief operating officer. "Our focus is on our core business, which is television and catalog retailing to a predominate audience of women.

"While Ortho-Vent is a viable business, it clearly does not fit into that realm," he said.

Company officials were unavailble Wednesday to provide details or proposed terms of any sale of the unit. Home Shopping acquired Ortho-Vent in 1986. The Stuart McGuire line of business and leisure shoes dates from 1975.

Home Shopping, based in Clearwater, Fla., also operates a warehouse and distribution center, employing about 450, in Salem for its television retailing operations.

This month, the company announced a cost-cutting reorganization but said it plans to add its jewelry distribution to apparel operations already handled by the local warehouse. Other distribution centers are at the company's headquarters and in Waterloo, Iowa. The reorganization would mean the loss of 200 jobs, or about 4 percent of the company's work force.

- Staff report

Halmode parent elects 2 to board

Kellwood Co., St. Louis apparel, camping goods and home textiles company and parent of Halmode Apparel Co. of Roanoke, said Wednesday shareholders elected two new board members are Hal J. Upbin, its president and chief operating officer and Leonard A. Genovese is chairman of the board and president of Genovese Drug Stores Inc.of Melville, N.Y.

- Staff report

Columbia/HCA selling hospital

PETERSBURG - Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corp. is selling a Petersburg psychiatric hospital to clear the way for its purchase of John Randolph Hospital in Hopewell.

The Federal Trade Commission said the sale of Poplar Springs Hospital will allow the health-care company to buy the Hopewell hospital. The commission had said if the Nashville, Tenn.-based hospital company owned both facilities, it would damage competition in psychiatric care in south-central Virginia.

Poplar Springs has 100 beds. John Randolph is a 150-bed general-care hospital that includes a 34-bed psychiatric department.

Columbia/HCA Healthcare operates Lewis-Gale Hospital and Lewis-Gale Psychiatric Center in Salem and Montgomery Regional, Pulaski Community and Alleghany Regional hospitals.

- Associated Press

Goody's earnings

Goody's Family Clothing Inc., Knoxville, Tenn.-based retailer, reported net earnings of $917,000, or 6 cents per share, on sales of $155.1 million for its second quarter ended July 29, compared with year-earlier $261,000, or 2 cents per share, on sales of $132.4 million. For its first half, Goody's net earnings were $3.2 million, or 20 cents per share, on sales of $300.1 million, compared with year-earlier $3 million, or 19 cents per share, on sales of $256.7 million.

Talbot's earnings

Talbot's Inc., Hingham, Mass., women's apparel retailer, reported net income of $8.3 million, or 24 cents per share, on sales of $226.9 million for its second quarter ended July 29, compared with year-earlier $6.9 million, or 20 cents per share, on sales of $195.8 million. For the first half-year, net income was $29.9 million, or 86 cents per share, on sales of $457.5 million, compared with year-earlier $25.5 million, or 73 cents per share, on sales of $399.4 million.