Uttermost will unveil its first collection of lighting fixtures exclusively at this month's Dallas market.

"This is the largest product development effort we have ever made," said Mac Cooper, Uttermost president. "It makes our lamp introduction three and a half years ago look small."

Cooper said that the collection is aimed at retailers who are professionals at fixed wire lighting because of the technical nature of the product. Fixtures have been a topic of conversation at Uttermost since the successful portable introduction, he said, but "we didn't take the leap until we knew we had all the skills we needed."

Carolyn Kinder, who led the creative development of Uttermost's lamp debut, also is the creative force behind the fixture line.

Uttermost uses a more "in the factory" approach to product development, rather than doing the design work long distance, then traveling overseas to see the samples.

"All of our top management travels to China regularly, and our designers and China staff are there from start to finish in development," Cooper said. "We're there, editing, correcting and changing as the process unfolds. It cuts a huge amount of time out of the cycle, and results in a far more edited product."

"The shocking thing is how fast Carolyn, Mac, and the factories can get things done," said Maria Scutaro, executive sales director. "We go from ideas to production to shipping in a very short period of time, which allows us to be more current on trends and style changes."

"The potential is huge," said Cooper, adding that Uttermost has almost $2 million at their cost of (fixtures) inventory in production or on the water right now. "We have prepared the product line, and our inventory and infrastructure for a phenomenal Dallas market."