Westgate Debuts Luxury in Dallas

Dallas — Westgate Interiors, which supplies luxury decorative fabrics and trimmings to the decoration and design trade, is launching an extensive collection of elegant bedroom ensembles, decorative pillows, table linens, and accessories at the International Gift & Home Accessories Show last week at the Dallas Market Center.

"Westgate Interiors has successfully developed an international luxury brand in decorative fabrics and achieved 30% top-line growth in North America in 2006," said David Li, ceo of Home Furnishing International, the parent company of Westgate Interiors, American Decorative Fabrics (ADF) and Home Fashions International (HFI). "It is a natural extension of our business to leverage this high-profile brand in the finished product and gift markets."

Jean Brown, who has been named vp of new business development for Home Furnishing International, will oversee this business expansion in the newly created position of president of Westgate Interiors.

Westgate Interiors currently sells to more than 40,000 customers in the high-end hospitality, contract and architectural markets. The company's customers include interior designers, decorators, independent retailers, gift shops, specialty shops, furniture stores and home accessory stores.

"Westgate Interiors will fill a void in the market for higher-end quality and designs at an affordable price to the independents," said Brown, noting, "New bedding is an affordable way to freshen up the look or change the feel in a room. We're all about fashion and options."

"Being a vertical company with factories in China puts us in a very competitive position to offer upscale designs and quality at an affordable price to independent store owners," she added.

The Westgate Interiors division encompasses leading Dallas-based jobber Westgate Fabrics and its Payne Fabrics division, which dates back to 1865. China-based Home Furnishing International purchased Westgate Interiors in 2004.

Brown has served as vp of new business development for the past two years, and will continue with those responsibilities, reporting to Tom Coughlin, president, Westgate/HFI, and Jack Cobb, president, ADF. Brown has been in the home furnishings industry for more than 15 years, holding a variety of executive and sales management positions at companies, including Manual Woodworkers and Weavers and Two's Company.

Brown also has extensive experience in corporate mergers and acquisitions, and will oversee HFI corporate acquisitions that fit in with company's long-term strategic goals.

The Westgate Interiors management team includes Mark Knight, who has been evp of new product development and design/creative director since 2005; as well as Doug Haunschild, who has joined the company as vp of sales and marketing. Haunschild has more than 20 years of experience in the industry and formerly held executive and sales management positions with several companies, including Figi.

Brown said Westgate Interiors will be expanding in the international arena as well. "Over the past few years, we have gained recognition as a luxury brand in Canada, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, China, and South Africa," she noted. "The addition of finished products will continue building our brand both in North America and the international marketplace."