P. C. Richard & Son

History

In 1909, Pieter Christian Richard, who left Holland in 1899, opened a small hardware store in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn (“Work Well Done” 14). In October of that same year, P.C.’s son, Alfred J. Richard (A.J.), was born. Born into the business less than a month after it opened, A.J. played an important role from the beginning. He spent his childhood helping out at the store, only leaving it to go to school. When he completed ninth grade in 1923, A.J. decided to drop out of school and focus entirely on helping his family and building the business (“Work Well Done” 25). A.J. was responsible for introducing the first electric appliance to the inventory, the electric clothes iron, as well as time payments so his customers could afford them (“Work Well Done” 32).

On February 1, 1947, A.J. officially took over as the company president and majority shareholder. It was around this time that he began to introduce his sons, Peter and Gary, to the family business (“Work Well Done” 58). Soon, the company grew into a chain as it expanded into Long Island. After the death of his father P.C. in 1972, A.J. promoted himself to chairman of the board in 1974, and he held that position until his death, well into his nineties. Peter and Gary were originally named co-presidents, but this arrangement changed in 1982, when Gary became president and Peter became executive vice president. Soon, Gary’s son Gregg began to work his way into the fabric of the company in the same way his father and grandfather had, until he became president in 2004. A.J. died weeks later at ninety-five years old. "The fourth generation, Gregg Richard, Bonni Rondinello and Peter Richard, III" are now involved in helping to run what their great-grandfather began.

Growth and expansion

P.C. Richard and Son expanded into New Jersey in 1993 (“Work Well Done” 111). Between 1995 and 2003, it opened fifteen new showrooms in New Jersey, Westchester County, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and Long Island (“Work Well Done” 127).

In 2009, P.C. Richard and Son opened 6 new stores in former Circuit City locations, including its first in Connecticut. It continued to expand in Connecticut in 2010, opening stores in Milford, North Haven, Danbury, Newington, Manchester, and Enfield. The first Pennsylvania superstore opened in Philadelphia in June of that year.

The company added mattresses to its inventory in 2014, featuring Sealy, Stearns & Foster, and Tempur-Pedic brands in fourteen stores.

In 2016, P.C. Richard and Son began an exclusive retail partnership with Beko, one of Europe's leading appliance brands. This is Beko's first appearance in the United States market.

Builders Division

Separate from its retail operations, the company has a unit it calls its Builders Division, to arrange bulk purchases by builders, property managers and large facilities.{{cite web

Official sponsorships

• Official Appliance, Electronics and Mattress retailer of the New York Yankees
• Barclays Center (NY)
• The Long Island Ducks (NY){{cite web
• iHeartRadio Theater (NY) (ground floor 250-seat theater at 32 Avenue of the Americas formerly known as P.C. Richard & Son Theater) {{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190710072440/https://tribecacitizen.com/2010/11/08/nosy-neighbor-p-c-richard-son-theater |archive-date=July 10, 2019 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190911050808/http://www.qromag.com/reviews/venue_reviews/iheartradio_theater |archive-date=September 11, 2019|url-status=live}}
• New York Islanders (NY)
• Brooklyn Nets (NY)
• Music Conservatory of Westchester{{cite web |website=Music Conservatory
• Nassau Coliseum (NY)
• The Somerset Patriots (NJ)
• Raceway Park (NJ)
• Splish Splash Water Park (NY)
• Sun National Bank Center (NJ)
• UConn Athletics (CT)
• Webster Bank Arena (CT)

Thanksgiving

The New York Times wrote that "the chain's commercials emphasize people over products" New York Newsday wrote about being "closed on Thanksgiving and opening at 4 a.m. on Black Friday."

Social networking supports being closed on Thanksgiving, said a 2014 New York Post opinion item.

Jingle

P.C. Richard & Son is known for its trademark whistle jingle created by Soundsmith worker Leer Leary. It plays after a pitcher strikes out an opposing batter at home games of three baseball teams: the New York Yankees, their Double-A affiliate, the Somerset Patriots, and an independent team, the Long Island Ducks.

References

References

1. (February 17, 2009). "P. C. Richard Takes On the New Jersey Turnpike". [[The New York Times]].
2. (January 25, 2018). "Thank You, P.C. Richard & Son for 20+ Great Years in Union Square".
3. (2010). "Beating the Odds: How PC Richard & Son, the largest privately held appliance and electronics retailer in the country, continues to thrive through 100 years and four generations". PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP.
4. Strugatch. (December 14, 2003). "P.C. Richard Takes a 'Down Home' Approach". [[The New York Times]].
5. link. (2010-12-20 , P.C. Richard & Son Website as of August 23, 2010)
6. "Fordham Specific Agreements and Programs".
7. (October 25, 2012). "Queens Bronx Builders Association Serving NYC".
8. (November 25, 2011). "Readers sound off on Black Friday, protest and cops". [[The New York Daily News]].
9. Morris. (November 14, 2012). "P.C. Richard & Son resists trend to open on Thanksgiving day". [[Newsday]].
10. Gelinas. (November 23, 2014). "A social boycott: Networking to roll back Thanksgiving store hours". [[New York Post]].