Bye Saddam, Hello Easy Chair

March 22, 2004

Bye Saddam, Hello Easy Chair

It's not unusual for entrepreneurs to be risk takers. In fact, it's typically a job requirement in the war for consumer dollars.

But few are willing to set up shop in a war zone. Among the few is Chris Exline, president of the Dallas-based Home Essentials.

His Baghdad, Iraq, office opened recently, becoming what is believed to be the first foreign furniture leasing operation to have a direct presence in the country.

"In the first few weeks, we brought in truckloads of beds, mattresses and office furniture and, this may surprise you, school desks for Iraqi children," Exline said. "Whatever is needed, we're there to help."

Relying solely on internally generated cash flow and having no connections or previous government contract experience, Exline made his first trip to the Middle East last April. By July, he had networked his way into Iraq.

Now the company, established in 1997, also has a distribution operation in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and the company is fulfilling requisitions for home and office furnishings for the United States Agency for International Development, a governmental agency that provides humanitarian aid.

-- Stephanie Patrick