Julian Richer

Career

Richer's business career started at the age of 14 while he was still at school at Clifton College, Bristol, and he opened his first shop near London Bridge aged 19. This store (now relocated to Tooley Street) in south London held the Guinness 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.

In January 2011 Richer Sounds plc received a Royal Warrant from HRH The Prince of Wales as a supplier of Consumer Electronic Products. Which? awarded Richer Sounds its prestigious ‘Best Retailer’ award for 2010 and 2015, ‘Best High Street Retailer’ for 2011, and also rated it a Which? Recommended Provider in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017. In May 2017 Richer Sounds was voted the top retailer in the UK in Which? Magazine's annual survey of shoppers

He is also a 51% shareholder of Audio Partnership, an electronics company designing, commissioning and distributing electronics to over 50 countries.

Richer developed his activities as a motivational adviser, and in the past advised some of the country’s largest organisations at chief executive level on staff motivation, customer service, cultural change, communications and suggestion schemes, although now he has stepped back from this role. 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. In July 2017 Richer signed a deal with Penguin Random House to release the 6th edition in November 2017 together with a new book on Ethical Capitalism, which is due to be published in 2018. 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.

Charitable interests

Richer Sounds gives 15% of its profits to his charitable trust to distribute. He was the first Patron of The Big Issue Foundation, is patron of Irwell Valley Housing Association, an ambassador for Amnesty International 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 John Sentamu, in June 2010. In 2013 he founded and funded a charity 'ASB Help' working for the victims of anti-social behaviour, which was launched in October of that year, dedicated to the memory of Fiona Pilkington and her daughter Francecca. He is particularly interested and active in the areas of both human rights and animal welfare.

He is also keen to help musicians via his Richer Unsigned project.

He is a Governor of Clifton College, his old school, despite his relatively poor academic performance whilst a pupil there.

Personal life

In his spare time, Richer plays the drums in the soul/funk/pop group, Ten Millennia. The band is named after the band members’ home county, Yorkshire, which is believed to have had settlements since 8000BC.

The eponymous album was released on 7 July 2017. It was produced by Andy Wright.

Lead single ‘Turn Me On’, has been featured by BBC Radio 2 DJs Graham Norton, Ken Bruce, Paul O'Grady, Craig Charles, Steve Wright and Vanessa Feltz. It has appeared on various Radio 2 playlists, and has received over 1000 plays on regional radio. Channel 4’s ‘Sunday Brunch’ premiered the video on 16 April 2017.

Ten Millennia have supported The Corrs, Jools Holland and Shakin' Stevens on tour. The band has also headlined the Riverside stage at the Cornbury Festival in July 2017.

The band have made TV appearances on Scottish TV 'Live at Five' on the 19th July 2017 and ITV's Aled Jones 'Weekend' on 13 August 2017.