Mumms The Word Inc., a Spokane-based crafts-publishing and art-design company here headed by country-style designer Debbie Mumm, is expanding its facility on Spokanes North Side to accommodate dramatic growth experienced this year.


Steve Mumm, the companys vice president and director of licensing, says year-to-date sales have increased 66 percent compared with year-earlier figures. Consequently, the company has doubled the size of its work force, to 30 employees from 15 a year ago, and currently is looking to add five more workers.


To make room for the rapid growth, Mumms The Word is adding 7,500 square feet of space to the south end of its two-year-old, 10,000-square-foot facility, at 1116 E. Westview Court.


The expansion is expected to be completed next March, and Mumm says the projects total cost, including street and parking lot improvements, will be just under $1 million.


Walker Construction Inc., of Spokane, is the general contractor on the project, and DeNeff Deeble Barton Associates, Architects & Planners, of Spokane, designed the expansion.


The increased space will allow the company to expand its art studio and warehouse area, Mumm says. It also will free up some additional space for its sales and marketing department, he says.


Mumms The Words growth mostly can be attributed to increased sales in its art-design department, in which it designs art for a spectrum of productsfrom stationery to kitchen towelsfor companies licensed to use its artwork.


Most notably, Mumm says the company has experienced surge in sales of art for Sakura Dinnerware, a line featuring country-style patterns thats sold at stores such as The Bon Marche and Macys. Mumm says the company traditionally has had strong sales in dinnerware with holiday-themed art, and now its starting to see more demand for its year-round, everyday styles.


There currently are 41 companies licensed to use Mumm artwork, including Spokane-based dinnerware distributor Zak Designs Inc.


Mumms The Word started in Spokane 13 years ago as a home-based business.