Pacific

Pacific is another new group we're showing in Las Vegas. We've had this one in the works for a long time, and we think the time is finally right for it. Pacific is a clean, modern group that still manages to have some curves and soft edges. The best part? Pacific will be priced in line with our other products, representing the exceptional value that Westwood has become known for.

The crib has a very unique conversion system that allows as many as 10 different configurations (an industry first), including both twin and full size options. Unlike most crib conversions, it converts to a more modern platform bed- which is also much easier for kids to get in and out of.

New Group: Stratton

We're headed to the ABC show in Las Vegas next week, where we will have a huge amount of new product. Normally these things are shrouded in secrecy, but we thought it would be a nice change to show you what we've got coming. Not all of it will end up in production, so if there's something you like, tell us!

First up is the new Stratton collection. This one will go into production, and will be available in stores starting in November. Stratton is scaled very big (this is hard to show in photos, but it's big) with a rich, elegant finish. We like this one, and we think it's going to be a big hit.

Westwood Gets Top Marks from Baby Bargains Book

We are very pleased to announce that Westwood received the highest mark, A, for both our cribs and cases from the industry bible, the Baby Bargains book. This is the first year we've been reviewed, so we're very pleased that all our efforts have been noticed. A few excerpts:

As for quality, the first reviews from parents are in and the word is quite positive. "Sturdy and high quality" is how one mom described her Westwood crib and dresser.

...the overall view is Westwood is worth the money (and possible wait). One telling review: when one reader's Westwood hutch arrived cracked, the president of Westwood himself personally contacted the customer to apologize and pledged to make it right. In an era of customer service in the nursery biz that ranges from abysmal to abhorrent, *that* is refreshing.

The Baby Bargains book is really a great resource for new parents- the authors exhaustively and honestly review just about every product available for babies, and throw in a lot of good advice as well. We're not just saying that because they like our stuff! It really is a good book- we used it ourselves when my daughter was born. You can get more information here:

Baby Bargains book

Safety

With all the recent recalls of products made in China, a lot of people are starting to be concerned about where and how the products they buy are made. We think this is great. From the very beginning, all of us at Westwood have taken a very active effort in ensuring the safety and quality of our products. We not only test to the minimum government standards, but also go well beyond that. All of our products are made in a new, state of the art factory in Vietnam, because it was the best factory we could find. In the next week or so, we're going to post more behind the scenes photos and information detailing our manufacturing and testing process. We believe in complete openness, and we think you'll appreciate it too.

In the meantime, we wanted to make a statement specifically about lead content. We have taken strong steps to ensure that lead stays out of our products. Again, this is not a reaction to current events, this is what we have been doing all along. Our finish partner, Valspar, is strongly committed to using only lead-free material (read their letter here). We, of course, also use an independent third party test lab to check our finished products not just for lead, but for other heavy metals and hazardous substances.

You will not find any company more deeply committed to product safety than Westwood Design.

You can read more about what we do here, including copies of our actual finish test reports: Link (with much more information to come soon).