Debbie Mumm Inc., a Spokane-based company that creates designs for quilt patterns, home decor items, fabric, stationery, and other products, has moved its operations nearer to downtown.

Steve Mumm, chief operating officer and co-owner of the company, says it recently completed the move, from 1116 E. Westview Court, just off of North Nevada Street, to its new offices in an office building at 1015 N. Calispel, near Washington Street and Boone Avenue.

Mumm says the company had built and owned the building on Westview, and had been located there for more than 10 years. The company sold the about 10,000-square-foot building just before the real estate sector turned sour in 2007, but continued to lease the 3,500-square-foot space it occupied there for another three years, he says.

"We have a similar space at the new location, but it's better fitted to our needs," he says, adding that the new 1,900-square-foot space is more aesthetically pleasing, with 25-foot-high ceilings and unusual wall angles.

Mumm says the new location has six offices, a design studio, and a large graphic production area.

The company, which has been based in Spokane since it was established 25 years ago, employs anywhere from 10 to 15 people here at any given time, which includes part-time employees and freelance designers, he says.

Despite the economy, Mumm says the business has seen its biggest increase in sales ever during the last three years.

"The biggest cash cow product now is fabric," he says. "Since we started, women have bought more fabric now than ever, even during the current recession."

Since the company began, it has sold more than 41 million yards of fabric, or almost enough to circle the Earth, he says.

Another recent development for the company has been a renewed interest from companies that formerly held licenses for Debbie Mumm's designs in the 1990s and recently have expressed interest in using those designs again, Mumm says.

He says the company is working on either renewing or opening new licensing accounts with about eight companies, and that in the last six months, it added four new licensing partners. According to its Web site, Debbie Mumm Inc. has about 25 licensing partners in all, not including some of its newest applicants.

Mumm says both the company's new location and the growing interest from manufacturers wanting to use Debbie Mumm's designs, as well as an increase in consumer sales, has pumped a lot of energy into the company and created excitement about its future prospects.

"It's been a huge gift to us, so we are very grateful for that," he says.