Furniture World News Desk on
2/14/2024
Homecrest Outdoor Living recently announce that Mark Bottemiller—grandson of company founder Mert “M.M.” Bottemiller—will join the company’s leadership team as Vice President of Sales. In this role, Bottemiller will oversee all sales functions for both residential and commercial markets, aiming to accelerate growth within the company.
Mark Bottemiller was born into the casual furniture industry. As a child, he walked the Homecrest shop floor with his father, Don, chatting with people as they worked. He attended his first Casual Market in 1979 at the age of 10, worked in the Homecrest showroom throughout high school and college, and officially began his career as a Regional Sales Manager for Homecrest in 1997.
“I always just knew I was going to be in the casual furniture business,” Bottemiller said. “I joke that I learned to walk on the sewing room floor—that’s an exaggeration, but not by a lot. I’ve looked at other industries over the years, but the pull of this business and the people in it is just too strong.”
After attaining his degree in speech communication and psychology from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, Bottemiller worked retail positions at Seasonal Concepts in Bloomington, MN, and Fruehauf’s in Boulder, CO. He held several positions at Homecrest Outdoor Living between 1997 and
2005, before transitioning to work as an independent sales representative covering Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah, and New Mexico. For the past 14 years, Bottemiller served as National Sales Manager at Ebel, Inc., growing the company into one of the most recognized brands in the industry.
“I am very excited to have Mark rejoin the legacy of his family and help our team continue to build,” said Homecrest CEO Randy Shorts. “Mark’s breadth of experience from all segments of the business gives him a unique understanding to help drive growth.”
Bottemiller brings many strengths to the table from his decades of experience. He primarily focuses on building relationships, living by the motto, “We can fail alone, but we cannot succeed alone.” Having worked in virtually all areas of the casual furniture industry—retail, representation, distribution, and manufacturing—he has a solid understanding of the entire business. His unique perspective of sales and management allows him to understand all sides of an issue to find an agreeable solution.
“Homecrest is on a great trajectory, and I hope to be able to help speed the growth. The feeling of going to work each day at a place that cares about the employees and the customers—it’s going to be a blast,” Bottemiller said.
Bottemiller and his wife, Kristen, have built a strong partnership over their 27 years of marriage. They will be moving back to Minnesota from the Pacific Northwest with their three cats. During his free time, Bottemiller enjoys exploring a variety of hobbies, including downhill and cross-country skiing, fly fishing, hiking, gardening, woodworking, music, and homebrewing.
About Homecrest Outdoor Living
Founded in 1953, Homecrest Outdoor Living designs and manufactures luxury outdoor furniture on location in Wadena, MN, USA. With a passion for quality, design, and an unparalleled user experience, Homecrest furniture is built to commercial specifications for use in both residential and hospitality environments.
As an iconic American manufacturer in the outdoor living category, Homecrest offers unique furniture collections and accessories that range from classic to modern in design, and specializes in custom, made-to-order furnishings available in excellent lead times. For more information, visit www.homecrest.com.