Zak Designs Inc., the Airway Heights-based dinnerware designer and manufacturer, says it’s set to complete another record-breaking sales year. 

Last year, the company recorded the highest sales in its 40-year history, due in part to sales of items featuring characters from Disney’s “Frozen.” This year, with the release of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” and related themed merchandise, the company is on track to climb even higher. 

Among the items that people rushed to buy on Friday, Sept. 4, when they became available at 12:01 a.m. EST were new Star Wars-themed dinnerware, drinkware, and on-the-go products that Zak Designs manufactures.

Irv Zakheim, chairman and CEO of Zak Designs, says the company already has exceeded its early sales forecast for 2015.  

“Overall, I would say domestic sales will total around $100 million and global sales over $200 million for 2015,” he says. “Percentagewise, we’ve doubled our sales from 2013. This year will be our best year ever saleswise.” 

While the company is still working on its 2016 sales forecast, Zakheim says he expects continued sales growth next year, possibly by as much as 20 percent. 

Known for its licensed children’s dinnerware decorated with images of popular Disney characters, Zak Designs has had a relationship with Disney since 1988. The big-name animator remains the largest licenser the company works with.

“Disney also entails Marvel and Lucas Film under its umbrella, so there is a lot of good content for us to work with,” says Zakheim. 

However, he admits the Star Wars films are their own special kind of phenomenon.  

 “There’s an excitement surround-ing this movie. People of all ages are sharing this incredible anticipation for what it’s going to be like,” he says. “With six movies already and three more coming out in the next few years, there’s a lot of enthusiasm right now.”  

Zakheim says this year, the company also extended its line of ceramics and glassware, launched its assortment of Toddlerific mealtime products, and expanded its Planet Zak offerings to include more stainless steel containers and a HydraTrak water bottle.

“We never set out to be a one-product company,” he says. “We’ve always wanted to be known as a mealtime company, creating dinnerware products you can use no matter where you are.”

Zak Designs has been in operation since 1976, and employs about 385 people worldwide, with eight international offices in addition to its Spokane headquarters. The company currently employs 175 people at its Airway Heights headquarters and warehouse, located at 1604 S. Garfield Rd. 

Zakheim confirms that by March of this coming year, the company also expects to expand that complex, adding a 48,000-square-foot building that will be used for storage. 

“This is something we’d been contemplating for a while,” he says. “Creating this new space will provide us with better efficiency, and additional storage space.”