About Us - Our Journey
Matthew Lovette
Matthew Lovette has over 13 years experience in the marketing, photography and visual communications fields. He holds a BFA degree from The Art Institute of Chicago, having studied both painting and photography. During the 1990's, Matthew worked for Getty Images, the world's largest photo agency, in various capacities including Photo Editor, Account Manager and Editorial Service Manager. He was subsequently appointed North American Manager of The Hulton Getty Picture Collection, one of the world's largest collections of historical photos. His responsibilities included launching the new brand in North America, marketing, and the creation of the Hulton Getty Website. In 1999, Matthew left Getty Images and purchased The Woolverton Inn, along with partners Mark Smith and Carolyn McGavin. The Woolverton Inn is a 13-room historic inn located in bucolic Hunterdon County, NJ, just outside New Hope, PA. When the inn was purchased by the trio in 1999, it came with a 20 year track record of very poor occupancy and revenue. Matthew's key contributions to the business included re-branding and re-positioning the failing inn as an upscale destination by reinventing guest services in conjunction with aggressive marketing efforts. Matthew's proactive marketing plan included direct mail, e-mail marketing, packaging, in-house marketing, photography, public relations and continual web redesigns. Matthew also used his extensive photography experience in both art directing photo shoots and in photographing The Woolverton Inn himself. Matthew's resulting photos have been published in many national and regional publications.
Mark Smith
After graduating from the University of Delaware, Mark began his career in sales at a large Midwestern bank. After three years, Mark became a Branch Marketing Manager, then advanced into Product Management, responsible for overseeing all aspects of new product development, launching, operations and marketing. Finally, he became the Marketing Manager for Bank-At-Work, where he breathed new life into work-based banking by re-branding, writing and producing all marketing materials and advertising. Fifteen years at the bank, countless mergers and--most importantly--his imminent 40th birthday prompted Mark to reconsider his opportunities and look "beyond the cubicle". He and two other disillusioned friends--Carolyn McGavin and Matthew Lovette--began a search, which ended at The Woolverton Inn. During his five years at the inn, Mark focused primarily on implementing the extensive renovations and redecoration of the entire inn--totaling more than one million dollars--dramatically increasing the inn's revenue and substantially improving its value. In addition, Mark worked with Matthew in conceiving, writing and producing the inn's marketing materials and programs. Finally, Mark drove the process of continually fine-tuning the guest experience, making it both unique and noteworthy.
The Woolverton Inn Success Story
By 2004, the dramatic turnaround of the Woolverton Inn was a renowned success story. Occupancy tripled, in spite of the serious economic downturn following 9/11. Average daily rate increased over 100% during Mark and Matthew's five-year tenure at the inn. Special attention was given to Gift Certificate marketing, and gross sales in that sector multiplied 12-fold to over $100,000 per year. Most recently, guest satisfaction was proven and the inn's reputation affirmed in 2004 when 16,000 users of Bedandbreakfast.com voted on the best Inn in the USA--with the Woolverton Inn ranked as #1. In 2002 and 2003, The Woolverton received extensive press coverage highlighting the re-invention of the inn and the construction of five luxury cottages. Press features included a full page "Inn of the Month" designation from Travel + Leisure Magazine, as well as Country Living Magazine, New Jersey Life, The New York Times Sunday Travel, Andrew Harper's Hideaway Report, Best of Philly award in Philadelphia Magazine, New York Magazine and many others. Jumping Rocks Consulting In May 2004, Matthew and Mark sold their interests in the Woolverton and began to employ their expertise to assist other inns achieve profitability and success in this challenging, low-margin business environment. In June of 2004, Jumping Rocks Consulting was launched. Disillusioned with consultants who offered a formulaic or cookie-cutter approach to the business, Mark and Matthew sought to break through this model and provide individualized approaches to success, each plan uniquely tailored to the inn's vision and personality. Their menu of services includes photography and art direction, branding and re-positioning consultation, food and guest service consultation, business turnaround, marketing planning, copy writing and execution of e-mail and direct mail marketing campaigns, as well as internet advertising campaign strategy and execution.