Richard Tompkins
Encyclopedia
Granville Richard Francis Tompkins CBE (15 May 1918 – 6 December 1992) was a print, advertising and retail entrepreneur, best known for founding the Green Shield Stamps
company, as well as the Argos
chain of catalogue stores which became one of the largest retailers in the United Kingdom
and a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index
.
, London, and worked as an engineering draughtsman during the Second World War, before founding his first printing business in 1945.
On holiday in Chicago
in the 1950s, Tompkins witnessed the success of S&H Green Stamps
, and founded the Green Shield Stamp Trading Company in the United Kingdom
In 1973, he adapted the format of his Green Shield catalogue shops, used for redeeming trading stamp books, and founded Argos
, a catalogue store chain that took cash.
Though independent, Argos operations were closely linked to Green Shield Stamps, and Argos was sold in 1979 to BAT Industries
for £35 million.
Tompkins died of cancer in 1992 in Westminster
, a year after the stamps were withdrawn, and the same year he was honoured as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).
Green Shield Stamps
Green Shield Stamps were a sales promotion or incentive loyalty scheme using trading stamps, designed and deployed in the United Kingdom and Ireland to encourage or reward shopping, by being able to buy gifts...
company, as well as the Argos
Argos (retailer)
Argos is the largest general-goods retailer in the United Kingdom and Ireland with over 800 stores. It is unique amongst major retailers in the UK in that it is a catalogue merchant...
chain of catalogue stores which became one of the largest retailers in the United Kingdom
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...
and a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index
FTSE 100 Index
The FTSE 100 Index, also called FTSE 100, FTSE, or, informally, the footsie , is a share index of the 100 most highly capitalised UK companies listed on the London Stock Exchange....
.
Career
Richard Tompkins was born in IslingtonIslington
Islington is a neighbourhood in Greater London, England and forms the central district of the London Borough of Islington. It is a district of Inner London, spanning from Islington High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the area around the busy Upper Street...
, London, and worked as an engineering draughtsman during the Second World War, before founding his first printing business in 1945.
On holiday in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
in the 1950s, Tompkins witnessed the success of S&H Green Stamps
S&H Green Stamps
S&H Green Stamps were trading stamps popular in the United States from the 1930s until the late 1980s. They were distributed as part of a rewards program operated by the Sperry and Hutchinson company , founded in 1896 by Thomas Sperry and Shelly Hutchinson...
, and founded the Green Shield Stamp Trading Company in the United Kingdom
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...
In 1973, he adapted the format of his Green Shield catalogue shops, used for redeeming trading stamp books, and founded Argos
Argos (retailer)
Argos is the largest general-goods retailer in the United Kingdom and Ireland with over 800 stores. It is unique amongst major retailers in the UK in that it is a catalogue merchant...
, a catalogue store chain that took cash.
Though independent, Argos operations were closely linked to Green Shield Stamps, and Argos was sold in 1979 to BAT Industries
British American Tobacco
British American Tobacco p.l.c. is a global tobacco company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s second largest quoted tobacco company by global market share , with a leading position in more than 50 countries and a presence in more than 180 countries...
for £35 million.
Tompkins died of cancer in 1992 in Westminster
City of Westminster
The City of Westminster is a London borough occupying much of the central area of London, England, including most of the West End. It is located to the west of and adjoining the ancient City of London, directly to the east of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and its southern boundary...
, a year after the stamps were withdrawn, and the same year he was honoured as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).