EXHIBIT 99
                                     
                               STANHOME INC.
                     NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK PLAN


1.    Purpose.

      1.1   The Stanhome Inc. Non-Employee Director Stock Plan is intended
to increase the proprietary interest of non-employee members of the Board
of Directors of Stanhome Inc. by providing further opportunity for
ownership of the Company's common stock.  By means of such increased
proprietary interest, the Plan is intended to enhance their incentive to
contribute to the success of the Company's business.

      1.2   The Plan is intended to comply with Rule 16b-3 and shall be
interpreted in a manner consistent with the requirements thereof, as now or
hereafter construed, interpreted and applied by regulations, rulings and
cases.  In particular, the provisions of Article 4 hereof are intended to
comply with the "formula plan" requirements of Rule 16b-3 and such Article
shall be construed so as to comply.

2.    Definitions.

            As used in this Plan, the following words and phrases shall
have the meanings indicated:

      (a)   "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

      (b)   "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
from time to time.

      (c)   "Committee" shall mean the Compensation and Stock Option
Committee of the Board.

      (d)   "Company" shall mean Stanhome Inc., a corporation organized
under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or any successor
corporation.

      (e)   "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended from time to time, and as now or hereafter construed,
interpreted and applied by regulations, rulings and cases.

      (f)   "Participant" shall mean a non-employee member of the Board.

      (g)   "Plan" shall mean this Stanhome Inc. Non-Employee Director
Stock Plan, as amended from time to time.

      (h)   "Plan Year" shall mean the calendar year, except that the first
Plan Year shall begin on the day the stockholders of the Company approve
the Plan as adopted by the Board and shall end on the next December 31.

      (i)   "Rule 16b-3" shall mean Rule 16b-3, as in effect from time to
time, promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section
16 of the Exchange Act, including any successor to such Rule.

      (j)   "Shares" shall mean the common stock of the Company, par value
$0.125 per share.

3.    Number and Kind of Shares.

            The maximum number of Shares which shall be reserved for the
grant of Shares under the Plan shall be fifteen thousand (15,000) Shares,
which number shall be subject to adjustment as provided in Article 5
hereof.  Such Shares may be either authorized but unissued Shares or Shares
that shall have been or may be reacquired by the Company.


4.    Grants of Shares.

      4.1   Grants.  In the case of an individual who is a Participant on
the day following the Annual Meeting of the stockholders of the Company
during a Plan Year, he or she shall receive a grant of two hundred (200)
Shares made on such day for that Plan Year.  In the case of an individual
who becomes a Participant at any later time during a Plan Year, he or she
shall not receive a grant of Shares for that Plan Year in which he or she
becomes a Participant.

      4.2   Sale Restriction.  Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof,
no Shares granted hereunder may be sold or otherwise transferred until at
least six months after their date of grant.

5.    Effect of Certain Changes.

            In the event of any extraordinary dividend, stock dividend,
recapitalization, merger, consolidation, stock split, warrant or rights
issuance, or combination or exchange of such stock, or other similar
transactions, the number of Shares available for grant shall be equitably
adjusted by the Committee to reflect such event and preserve the value of
such grants; provided, however, that any fractional Shares resulting from
such adjustment shall be eliminated.

6.    No Rights to Continuance as Director.

            Nothing in the Plan or in any grant made pursuant hereto shall
confer upon any Participant the right to continue to serve as a member of
the Board or to be entitled to any remuneration or benefits not set forth
in the Plan.

7.    Administration.

            The Plan shall be administered by the Committee which shall be
composed of not less than three directors of the Company elected or to be
elected as members of the Committee by the Board.  None of the Committee
members shall be, during service on the Committee, nor shall have been,
during the one year prior to service on the Committee, granted or awarded
Shares or options to acquire Shares under any other plan maintained by the
Company or any of its affiliates, other than the options pursuant to
Section 9 of the Stanhome Inc. 1991 Stock Option Plan, as amended from time
to time.  Members of the Committee shall be subject to any additional
restrictions necessary to satisfy the requirements for disinterested
administration under Rule 16b-3.  The Committee shall have the authority to
make such interpretations and constructions of the Plan as are necessary to
administer the Plan in accordance with, and subject to, the Plan's
provisions.  All determinations of the Committee shall be made by a
majority of its members either present in person or participating by
conference telephone at a meeting or by unanimous written consent.  All
decisions, determinations and interpretations of the Committee shall be
final and binding on all persons, including the Company, the Participant
(or any person claiming any rights under the Plan from or through any
Participant) and any stockholder of the Company.

8.    Amendment and Termination of the Plan.

            The Board at any time and from time to time may suspend,
terminate, modify or amend the Plan; provided, however, that an amendment
which requires stockholder approval in order for the Plan to continue to
comply with Rule 16b-3 or any other law, regulation or stock exchange
requirement shall not be effective unless approved by the requisite vote of
stockholders of the Company; and provided, further, that the provisions of
Article 4 shall not be amended more than once every six months, other than


to comport with changes in the Code (or the rules thereunder) or the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (or the rules
thereunder).  Except as provided in Article 5 hereof, no suspension,
termination, modification or amendment of the Plan may adversely affect any
grant previously made, unless the written consent of the Participant is
obtained.

9.    Governing Law.

            The Plan and the rights of all persons claiming hereunder shall
be construed and determined in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts without giving effect to the choice of law principles
thereof, except to the extent that such law is preempted by federal law.

10.   Term.

      10.1  The Plan shall take effect upon its adoption by the Board, but
the Plan shall be subject to the approval of the holders of a majority of
the Shares present, or represented, and entitled to vote at a meeting of
stockholders of the Company held in accordance with applicable law, which
approval must occur within twelve months of the date the Plan is adopted by
the Board.  In no event shall any delivery of Shares be made to any
Participant or any other person under the Plan until such time as the
stockholder approval of the Plan is obtained.

      10.2  The Plan shall remain in effect until December 31, 1999, unless
sooner terminated by the Board.