Martha Wants Kmart Power

By Stephen M. Silverman

Thursday September 24, 1998 12:00 AM EDT

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It's not enough that Martha Stewart supplies Kmart with products ranging from flower seeds to cans of paint. The domestic doyenne wants more, according to the Wall Street Journal: Martha seeks a seat on the retail behemoth's board of directors. No way, says Kmart, which has a rule against putting any of its suppliers on the board. But, the Journal points out, Martha, 58, has incredible clout: Since joining forces with her three years ago, Kmart's annual sales have increased from $32 billion to $36 billion. She also draws a bigger spender into the chain. "The average Martha (shopping) basket is more expensive than the average Kmart basket," she tells the Journal, which suggests that it's in Kmart's best interest to keep Martha very happy.