Daily News
From Home Furnishing Business
Hooker’s Contract Division Taps Mark Craven for VP Sales and Merchandising
June 10,
2020 by Jane Chero in Business Strategy, Designer Weekly, Industry 
H Contract, Hooker Furniture’s contract division and supplier of upholstered seating and case goods for the senior living market, has tapped industry veteran Mark Craven for the new position of vice president of sales and merchandising. The move is part of a reorganization of its sales management, marketing and product development operations in an effort to accelerate sales growth.
Craven, who served in executive positions for senior living specialist Fairfield Chair over 12 years before joining H Contract’s parent company Hooker Furniture in 2018, “is uniquely positioned to support our reps and customers in creating new sales opportunities,” said Dean Jarrett, vice president and general manager. “He can leverage his product development talent, industry experience and outstanding customer relationships to drive growth.”
Craven will oversee a sales organization comprised of 26 sales territories and will work with the company’s customer base including commercial interior designers and specifiers, senior living and retirement center end users and commercial furniture retailers. “Mark’s eye for product and his experience and leadership abilities will help us bring innovative and relevant products to the senior living market and continue to expand into new categories offering incremental growth opportunities,” Jarrett said. “Mark has an in-depth understanding of customer needs and an ability to help them better serve senior living residents.”
Jarrett continued, “As a result of the challenging environment created by COVID-19, companies like ours are looking for opportunities to emerge from the downturn and accelerate growth back to pre-pandemic levels and beyond,” said Jarrett.
Since its founding in 2013, H Contract has achieved double-digit year-over-year sales growth.
“I look forward to working with our sales force and customers and raising awareness about H Contract and the value that the brand brings to the senior living market. Our products are designed to bring style, function and grace to the senior living facility,” Craven said.