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McKee starts product design, marketing firm

By Heath E. Combs -- Furniture Today, October 17, 2009

DALLAS — Home furnishings retail and manufacturing veteran Steve McKee is launching Home Furnishings International Brands, a product design, management and marketing company.

HFI Brands will work with retail and brand clients to launch home furnishings products and provide services to market those brands. McKee is the company's president.

He left Fort Myers, Fla.-based retailer Robb & Stucky in 2008. Earlier, he was president and CEO of Furniture Brands International's Henredon Furniture division. He also had held senior management posts at retailers including the former Home Co., Minneapolis-based Gabberts and Macy's Department Stores.

At Henredon, among other duties, he managed the Ralph Lauren Home brand and Barbara Barry licensed relationships.

The HFI Brands marketing team is in Dallas and its operations office is in High Point. The company will maintain a design and engineering office in Cebu City, Philippines.

These company's services include creative direction, design, product development, sourcing, sales, marketing, distribution, warehousing, customer service and logistical support.

HFI said it is working with Outlook International, a quality control organization in Asia. HFI also is leasing production with upholstery facilities in North Carolina.

McKee hired Britt Albright as senior vice president and creative director. She was most recently senior designer, hard home at JCPenney and worked in design and product development with Henredon.

Laura Davis, a furniture designer who had worked with Albright at JCPenney, will serve as design manager for HFI.

The company is leasing 28,000 square feet in Market Square for the April market to present two new brands — Hotel Maison for Judy George International and Barclay Butera Lifestyles Collection, with product from three of the designer's collections, Town & Country, Beach and City.

HFI said it is finalizing agreements with fashion, interior design and celebrity brands to manage their home furnishings lines.

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Steve McKee launches design, marketing company

Oct 8, 2009

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