Australian-owned textiles and wide format printable media company Ricky Richards turned 40 years old this year, and proudly celebrated the milestone with staff and guests.
The company has come a long way over the last 40 years; its unchanging core values and exceptional team has helped make it what it is today.
Founded in 1983 by the late Norman Gottlieb, his father Eric and his brother Ron, the business has been committed to sales excellence, large stock holdings and customer satisfaction. This milestone marks a momentous journey of growth, success and above all else, trust.
Over the years, Ricky Richards has expanded from a modest family startup to become one of Australia’s leading suppliers of specialised textiles and printable media.
Through the dedication and loyalty of its team, Ricky Richards has successfully launched its own brands, expanded into new markets and built relationships all over the globe.
With the Gottlieb family’s desire to pursue philanthropic initiatives, Ricky Richards has also formed partnerships with Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation, Australian Skin Cancer Foundation and Melanoma Institute Australia, proudly donating over $500,000 to support their causes.
Over the years, the Gottlieb family has instilled in its team a work environment where employees were family-like – they enjoy spending time with each other, while helping the company grow.
“There is a ‘Ricky’ culture that we have cultivated since the very beginning,” Ricky Richards director Ron Gottlieb said.
“Trust plays a large part of our success, and we recognise the importance of people within the company, we treat them as an extension of ourselves. Our team are trusted and valued; we empower them to make decisions.”
As Gottlieb fondly looks back on the last 40 years, he remembers the first order he took when he started to work with his brother in January 1984 and laughs about brotherly arguments that could sometimes be heard beyond the walls at the Homebush office.
“Those arguments were all in the name of passion and came from a place of deep care for the business,” Gottlieb said with a smile.
Today the values and spirit of Ricky Richards remains the same.
General manager Kathryn Polgar leads a team that is both passionate and reliable.
“As the company grew, it naturally split itself into three divisions – Technical Textiles, Sun Control Fabrics and Wide Format Printable Media, which has widened our market reach and given us the opportunity to extend our partnerships,” Polgar said.
“We are incredibly grateful for our loyal customers, suppliers, dedicated employees and friends, who have been integral to our success. Thank you for joining us on our ever-evolving journey.
“Whether you’re in search of high performing technical textiles, sun control fabrics that withstand extreme Australian conditions or wide format printable media products, Ricky Richards has a team and products you can rely on.”
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