Julian Richer
Encyclopedia
Julian Richer is a prominent British
retailer, best known as the founder and 100% shareholder of Richer Sounds
, the UK’s biggest hi-fi retailer. He is also the owner of EmpireDirect.co.uk. Richer has gained a reputation for his motivational style of management and his charitable activities.
, Bristol
, and he opened his first shop in London Bridge aged 19. This store holds the record for the highest sales per square foot of any retail outlet in the world and the company has now grown to over 50 stores across the UK.
He is also a 51% shareholder of Audio Partnership
, an electronics company designing, commissioning and distributing electronics to over 50 countries.
Richer has developed his activities as a motivational adviser, and has advised some of the country’s largest organisations at chief executive level on staff motivation, customer service, cultural change, communications and suggestion schemes. His book, The Richer Way, is now in its fifth edition and was the best selling business book at WH Smith's when it was published in November 1995. He published his second book, Richer on Leadership, in January 1999.
Although not keen on public speaking, he was made the youngest ever Business Communicator of the Year for 1995. He was also awarded Honorary Doctorates in Business Administration from Kingston University
in January 2002 and from Bournemouth University
in 2003.
, is patron of Irwell Valley Housing Association, Visit Yorkshire and is a Vice President of the RSPCA. From 1998 until 2006 he was a director of Duchy Originals
, the Prince of Wales’ charitable trading company, and received an LVO (Lieutenant of the Royal Victoria Order) in 2007 in recognition of his work for them. He is the founder and a trustee of ACTS 435, a national initiative to help those in need, which was launched successfully at the York Synod by The Archbishop of York Dr. John Sentamu, in June 2010. He is particularly interested and active in the areas of human rights and animal welfare.
He is a Governor of Clifton College
, his old school, despite his relatively poor academic performance whilst a pupil there.
He has been married to his wife Rosie since 1982. In his spare time he enjoys drumming in his own jazz band which has a regular slot in a busy Yorkshire pub, travelling around Europe, chairing a regular Café Philo discussion group and hosting a weekly bible study session for friends.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
retailer, best known as the founder and 100% shareholder of Richer Sounds
Richer Sounds
Richer Sounds is a British home entertainment retailer that operates online and through a chain of 51 stores distributed across the United Kingdom. The business is 100% owned by Julian Richer, the founder and managing director of the company....
, the UK’s biggest hi-fi retailer. He is also the owner of EmpireDirect.co.uk. Richer has gained a reputation for his motivational style of management and his charitable activities.
Career
Richer's business career started at the age of 14 while he was still at school at Clifton CollegeClifton College
Clifton College is a co-educational independent school in Clifton, Bristol, England, founded in 1862. In its early years it was notable for emphasising science in the curriculum, and for being less concerned with social elitism, e.g. by admitting day-boys on equal terms and providing a dedicated...
, Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, and he opened his first shop in London Bridge aged 19. This store holds the record for the highest sales per square foot of any retail outlet in the world and the company has now grown to over 50 stores across the UK.
He is also a 51% shareholder of Audio Partnership
Audio Partnership
Audio Partnership Plc is a British manufacturer of hi-fi, home cinema and home automation products, which was founded in 1994.The company’s brands include among others the following:...
, an electronics company designing, commissioning and distributing electronics to over 50 countries.
Richer has developed his activities as a motivational adviser, and has advised some of the country’s largest organisations at chief executive level on staff motivation, customer service, cultural change, communications and suggestion schemes. His book, The Richer Way, is now in its fifth edition and was the best selling business book at WH Smith's when it was published in November 1995. He published his second book, Richer on Leadership, in January 1999.
Although not keen on public speaking, he was made the youngest ever Business Communicator of the Year for 1995. He was also awarded Honorary Doctorates in Business Administration from Kingston University
Kingston University
Kingston University is a public research university located in Kingston upon Thames, southwest London, United Kingdom. It was originally founded in 1899 as Kingston Technical Institute, a polytechnic, and became a university in 1992....
in January 2002 and from Bournemouth University
Bournemouth University
Bournemouth University is a university in and around the large south coast town of Bournemouth, UK...
in 2003.
Charitable and personal interests
His philanthropic interests include his Charity Foundation, and he also has a policy that Richer Sounds gives 15% of its profits to charity. He was the first Patron of The Big Issue FoundationThe Big Issue Foundation
The Big Issue Foundation is a registered charity in England working with vendors of The Big Issue, a street newspaper. The foundation provides vendors with information, advice, guidance and support.- History :...
, is patron of Irwell Valley Housing Association, Visit Yorkshire and is a Vice President of the RSPCA. From 1998 until 2006 he was a director of Duchy Originals
Duchy Originals
Duchy Originals from Waitrose is a brand of organic food sold mainly in Waitrose stores in the United Kingdom, but also in Booths supermarkets and small independent stores. The Duchy Originals company was originally set up by Charles, Prince of Wales, in 1990 and named after the Duchy of Cornwall...
, the Prince of Wales’ charitable trading company, and received an LVO (Lieutenant of the Royal Victoria Order) in 2007 in recognition of his work for them. He is the founder and a trustee of ACTS 435, a national initiative to help those in need, which was launched successfully at the York Synod by The Archbishop of York Dr. John Sentamu, in June 2010. He is particularly interested and active in the areas of human rights and animal welfare.
He is a Governor of Clifton College
Clifton College
Clifton College is a co-educational independent school in Clifton, Bristol, England, founded in 1862. In its early years it was notable for emphasising science in the curriculum, and for being less concerned with social elitism, e.g. by admitting day-boys on equal terms and providing a dedicated...
, his old school, despite his relatively poor academic performance whilst a pupil there.
He has been married to his wife Rosie since 1982. In his spare time he enjoys drumming in his own jazz band which has a regular slot in a busy Yorkshire pub, travelling around Europe, chairing a regular Café Philo discussion group and hosting a weekly bible study session for friends.