Hooker Furniture announced that Art Raymond, a well-known consultant to the furniture and wood products industries for 40 years, is joining Hooker Furniture in the position of senior vice president of operations.
Beginning February 1, 2010, Raymond will be responsible for all wood furniture corporate operations, including forecasting, supply chain management, warehousing and distribution, product quality, process improvement and customer service.
“We are extremely pleased to have Art join our company,” said Paul Toms, chairman, chief executive officer and president of Hooker Furniture. “We’ve worked closely with him over the last twenty years on projects ranging from manufacturing to distribution to forecasting and strategic planning. We believe he’s a perfect fit for our company and culture. He’s a great strategic thinker, and should hit the ground running.”
Raymond brings extensive international experience in the home as well as contract furniture sectors plus cabinetry, millwork, and other value-added wood products. A graduate of North Carolina State University in wood technology, he serves as an adjunct professor for NCSU’s wood products program, and is a regular speaker for industry associations such as the American Home Furnishings Alliance, the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Assn. and at events such as the International Woodworking Fair.
According to Toms, one of Raymond’s key roles will be in mentoring, as he “takes a strong group of managers and develops and prepares them for additional responsibilities.”
Raymond said he will relish the mentoring role and is excited about joining Hooker. “In this position, I will get a chance to practice what I’ve preached as a consultant and to implement the solutions the Hooker team develops,” he said. “Hooker Furniture, with its experienced management team and financial strength, is poised to gain market share as the economy recovers. To do so, we must continue differentiating our products, services, and brands.”
About Hooker Furniture: Ranked among the nation's top 10 largest publicly traded furniture sources based on 2009 shipments to U.S. retailers, Hooker Furniture Corporation is an 86-year old residential wood, metal and upholstered furniture resource. Major wood furniture product categories include home entertainment, home office, accent, dining, and bedroom furniture in the upper-medium price points sold under the Hooker Furniture brand , and sold at moderate price points under the Envision by Hooker Furniture brand. Youth bedroom furniture is sold under the Opus Designs by Hooker Furniture brand. Hooker’s residential upholstered seating companies include Cherryville, N.C.-based Bradington-Young LLC, a specialist in upscale motion and stationary leather furniture, and Bedford, Va.-based Sam Moore Furniture LLC, a specialist in upscale occasional chairs with an emphasis on cover-to-frame customization. For more information visit: www.hookerfurniture.com, www.envisionfurniture.com, www.bradington-young.com, www.sammoore.com and www.opusdesigns.com.