Last September, bedmaker Hypnos rounded out its senior leadership team with the appointment of Mark Cort as commercial director. Previously MD at Jay-Be – and a Bensons mainstay before that – Mark has brought both leadership and commercial focus to the bedmaker’s sales team, following a year of significant change and investment across the business. Having given Mark eight months to ‘bed in’ at Hypnos, Furniture News decided it was time for a catch-up …
How’s business in the current market? What factors are influencing demand for your beds?
We’ve had a very strong start to 2025. Retail sales continue to outperform last year, both with our national and independent customers.
It feels like we’ve maintained the momentum from before Christmas, and sales have remained buoyant. We’ve invested significantly with our retail partners over the last two years, with new ranges and greater digital and marketing support – and confidence in our brand remains high, due to our ongoing investment in all the right areas.
We’ve also enjoyed some great projects with some beautiful international hotels, and March was particularly strong in order intake, both home and abroad.
Eight months into the role, how are you settling in?
I’m really enjoying it, and already feel very much part of the Hypnos family! I already knew many of the team and board ahead of joining, which certainly helped the settling in process, but we really do have great people across all key functions.
We have a very strong and experienced commercial team, who have all made me feel very welcome – and, more importantly, have continued to bring in really strong sales numbers since I joined!
My focus so far has been to spend time with the team on the road meeting as many of our customers as possible. It’s been great to have met so many already, and I’ve been really impressed with how our brand has been represented across the store portfolio.
What are your principal duties at Hypnos as commercial director?
I’m responsible for all retail and hospitality sales at Hypnos Beds – both in the UK and internationally. We have a great diversity of sales channels, which incorporates field teams in the UK as well as agents and licensee partners across the globe. I’m fortunate to oversee the commercial team and work with teams across the business who look after all of these exciting sales opportunities.
Have there been any notable changes to the teams you’re working with?
We have a really strong and experienced team, many of whom I already knew. I’ve taken the opportunity to align the UK retail team to our evolving customers needs, which includes the promotion of Michael Galloway to national training manager to support our UK retailers to enhance the retail brand experience with our partners.
Also, a thank you from me and the Hypnos team to Gary Randall, who, after working with the team and our customers for several years, retired at Easter, and I know he will be greatly missed by all!
Read the rest of our interview in May's issue.
