Now and Then
With the success of our recent Heritage Open Day Event, we have been looking more into our history and it seems being around for 125 years brings its share of challenges. It been an unusual few years however now, as in the past, here at Ritherdon we have not only overcome these obstacles but prospered because of our never give up attitude.
In 1936 we were nearly on the verge of closure. At the time we were a much smaller company, specialising in creating electroplating, mantlepieces and general metalworking products when unfortunately, our founder Percy Ritherdon, was tricked into building a substantial debt with a rival business. The great depression exacerbated this debt, shrinking profits for most businesses threatening the livelihoods of big and smalls business alike.
Things came to a head when clients, who were responsible for building Ritherdon’s debt, approached Percy’s widow Alice at her husband’s funeral to attempt to buy the company from her to pay the debt.
Percy’s son George however declined the offer, refusing to give in, taking over the company and using his knowledge as an accountant to eventually raise enough money pay off the debt within twelve months. George’s never give up attitude saved the business, tiding us over until the beginning of World War II helped, (ironic), raise sales to a once again comfortable level.
Now, 76 years later, different kinds of adversity are affecting our business. The legal avalanche that is Brexit complicating shipping our products abroad and component and supplier delays that could have prevented us from finishing and shipping certain products on time.
However much like George we haven’t buckled. Following his example we have been proactive in dealing with supply issues, familiarizing ourselves with Brexit paperwork to make every sale abroad smoother each time as well as contacting backup couriers and wholesalers, so we are always able to transport and build our products no matter what.
I think it is important as a business and as people to remember that, while the challenges were different, people in the past have been through similar and, in some cases, worse experiences and come through the other side.
