EXHIBIT 10(r)   
  
                     AMENDMENT OF RETIREMENT AGREEMENT
                            WITH BRUCE H. WYATT
  
      Agreement made as of  December 15, 1997 by Stanhome Inc., a
 Massachusetts corporation, with its principal place of business at 333
 Western Avenue, Westfield, Massachusetts 01085 (the "Company") and
 Bruce H. Wyatt, 11 Bittersweet Lane, Wilbraham, Massachusetts 01095
 ("Wyatt"). 
  
      Whereas, the Company and Wyatt have previously entered into a
 Retirement Agreement made June 5, 1997 (the "Agreement"); 
  
      Whereas, the Agreement provides for a reduction of the monthly
 retirement benefit payable to Wyatt thereunder by the value of the
 benefit which Wyatt is entitled to receive from any other qualified or
 non-qualified plan maintained by the Company and further provides that
 the value of the benefit in the case of a defined contribution plan
 shall be determined by reference to an annuity table set forth in
 Exhibit A to the Agreement; 
  
      Whereas, since the Company Employees' Profit-Sharing Retirement
 Plan has been terminated as of September 3, 1997 and there will not be
 any further changes in the account balances thereunder, it will no
 longer be appropriate to determine the Profit-Sharing offset under the
 Agreement by reference to Exhibit A thereto; and 
  
      Whereas, the Company and Wyatt agree that the offset to the
 benefit under the Agreement should, in the case of the Profit-Sharing
 Plan, henceforth simply be determined by using the same offset method
 as used in the Company's Pension Plan; 
  
      NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual
 agreements hereinafter maintained, the parties do amend the Agreement
 as set forth below, effective as of the date hereof; 
  
      The second paragraph of Section 1(b) of the Agreement is amended:
 (i) to substitute the words "Subdivision 18 of Article 1 of the
 Stanhome Inc. Pension Plan as in effect on the date hereof" for the
 words "the annuity table set forth in Exhibit A attached" after the
 phrase "by reference to" in the fourth line thereof; (ii) to delete
 the last two sentences of the paragraph; and (iii) to delete Exhibit A
 to the Agreement. 
  
      IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties have executed this Amendment
 effective as of the date first written above. 
  
                               STANHOME INC. 
  
 /s/ Bruce H. Wyatt            By:/s/ H. L. Tower             
- ----------------------            ----------------------------
 Bruce H. Wyatt                   H. L. Tower 
                                  Chairman, President and CEO 


 ATTEST: 
  
 /s/ Mark I. Cohen       
- ----------------------
 Assistant Secretary