Darren brings 30 years of customer-focused furnishing experience to the team. He’s focused on external furnishing products. Loves hearing the relief in a customer’s voice, when they realise that even though they don’t know where to start, he already has the solution.

1- What year did you start at Ricky Richards?

Jan 2017

2- In words that potential customers, who know nothing about Ricky will understand, what is your role?

To offer a Textile Solution and make dealing with Ricky’s a great experience.

3- What are your professional strengths in this role?

Coming up with a solution to a customer’s problem, sometimes things are not perfect, but I always say to my team, let’s find a solution to offer.

4- Looking back on the year 2020, how has your role changed and how have you adapted to the ‘new normal’?

One of the noticeable changes has been technology, probably fast forwarded everyone, Zoom Meetings are the normal, especially in Melbourne, work from home flexibility has increased which saves time in traffic and more family time.

5- What was one job that you did well in the last 12 months that you know made a big difference to your customer or your team?

Keeping everyone positive and having fun in uncertain times.

6- If you could be a superhero for a day, who would you be?

7- Favourite sports team?

Carlton Football Club

8- What is one thing on your ‘bucket list’?

Re-visit New York, went in 2019 and just touched the surface, magic city.

1- What year did you start at Ricky Richards?

2017

2- In words that potential customers, who know nothing about Ricky will understand, what is your role?

My role as a Business Development Manager involves fostering long-term business relationships with senior and junior stakeholders, identifying client needs, generating sales & developing growth strategies and plans.

3- What are your professional strengths in this role?

I’m a driven, organised and passionate individual

4- Looking back on the year 2020, how has your role changed and how have you adapted to the ‘new normal’?

I am thankful that COVID-19 has had minimal impact on the way I operate. I must say that I do enjoy working from home once a week.

5- What was one job that you did well in the last 12 months that you know made a big difference to your customer or your team?

Working alongside Jack Ferle (Product and Market Development Manager), I was able to create a new revenue stream for the business by assisting my client with his unique product request.

6- If you could be a superhero for a day, who would you be?

Iron Man

7- Favourite sports team?

Chicago Bulls

8- What is one thing on your ‘bucket list’?

Road trip across Europe

1- What year did you start at Ricky Richards?

2022

2- In words that potential customers, who know nothing about Ricky will understand, what is your role?

I introduce our wonderful outdoor quality textiles to suit customers fabric needs

3- What are your professional strengths in this role?

My textile & product development background helps me understand customer manufacturing & their requirements. Keeping my glass half full.

4- Looking back on the year 2020, how has your role changed and how have you adapted to the ‘new normal’?

I am grateful to be working with a wonderful supportive team at Rickys & take each day as it comes by living in the moment. Health & nutrition is a priority for longevity and remember to Breathe.

5- What was one job that you did well in the last 12 months that you know made a big difference to your customer or your team?

I am new to the team however I see good things coming.

6- If you could be a superhero for a day, who would you be?

Xena- Demi Goddess Warrior Princess.

7- Favourite sports team?

I don’t follow sports sorry

8- What is one thing on your ‘bucket list’?

To live on a greek island village overlooking the sea in a white villa.

In 2021, Ricky Richards and HL Jessop have been working together for 17 years. As an agent for Ricky, Mark and his team deliver our premium sun control fabrics in WA as well as keeping stock of our textiles to ensure a quicker delivery time for those customers further away from our Sydney head office. HL Jessop themselves have been in the textiles industry for over 35 years and they are an incredible extension of team Ricky.

1- What year did you start at Ricky Richards?

2021 Before that 2000 - 2016

2- In words that potential customers, who know nothing about Ricky will understand, what is your role?

My role is to inform, educate, and service the customers of Victoria and Tasmania in everything Ricky Richards has to offer from Sun Control to Technical Textiles.

3- What are your professional strengths in this role?

I believe my diverse knowledge and experience managing many various varieties of textiles would be a key advantage in my role. I have been in the industry for almost 20 years and have developed great relationships and friendships within the industry that I truly value.

4- Looking back on the year 2020, how has your role changed and how have you adapted to the ‘new normal’?

I believe the biggest change that we have all had to go through is adapting to the way we engage with each other and how we develop relationships both business and personal. The reliance on technology such as Zoom has taken some time to adapt to but now offers a new communication approach. Phone communication replaced the face-to-face meeting approach in the short-term during 2021 and remains an essential communication tool when assisting our clients.

5- What was one job that you did well in the last 12 months that you know made a big difference to your customer or your team?

Adapting to not being able to have face-to-face interaction. Regular client and staff Zoom meetings where we could at least see each was a strong focus for myself. For someone who craves social connection, I found other ways to engage with my team and customers that I felt not only allowed me to do my job more efficiently and effectively but was also a benefit to my team and customers. This immediate connection helped keep us in touch with each other on a regular basis during lockdown.

6- If you could be a superhero for a day, who would you be?

7- Favourite sports team?

I don’t really have a favourite sport team (don’t tell my husband that the Bulldogs ie. NRL Bulldogs aren’t my favourite) I do love sport in general though. I enjoy any sport that is exciting, inspiring or competitive. LOVED the Olympics during 2021, wish it was on every year. I have played soccer most of my life. If I had to pick a code, it would be soccer.

8- What is one thing on your ‘bucket list’?

It has probably changed since the challenges of COVID-19, and for this reason I would say that all I want now is to have a life with my family that is filled with health, happiness, and FREEDOM. Sounds so cliché I know, but something I truly value more than any exotic holiday or adventurous journey. When you experience the recent global and health challenges, it’s the simple things in life that become more important to you. Well, they do to me.

Nothing is too much trouble for Mark. As the Business Development Manager for our technical textiles division, he’s busy contacting existing and potential customers, generating sales, discovering new markets for both new and existing products, and building strong, positive customer relationships.

1- What year did you start at Ricky Richards?

2008

2- In words that potential customers, who know nothing about Ricky will understand, what is your role?

My role as a business development manager for our Technical Textiles division involves maintaining existing customers, contacting potential customers, generating sales, discover new markets with existing and new products and build positive and strong customer relationships.

3- What are your professional strengths in this role?

Being a good listener by therefore understanding customers’ requirements and then recommending suitable products to meet these requirements where possible.

4- Looking back on the year 2020, how has your role changed and how have you adapted to the ‘new normal’?

There was much less face to face contact in 2020, therefore more phone contact and online meetings.

5- What was one job that you did well in the last 12 months that you know made a big difference to your customer or your team?

Been available for all customers and RR’s sales team with technical knowledge, support and assistance.

6- If you could be a superhero for a day, who would you be?

The Hulk

7- Favourite sports team?

Qld State of Origin team, the mighty maroons!!

8- What is one thing on your ‘bucket list’?

To travel extensively throughout Australia

1- What year did you start at Ricky Richards?

April 2012

2- In words that potential customers, who know nothing about Ricky will understand, what is your role?

My role as a Business Development Manager is to ensure that my customers receive the very best in customer service, technical knowledge, quality product offerings and are kept up to date with industry trends that will help them achieve business growth.

3- What are your professional strengths in this role?

Honesty, Integrity & Reliability

4- Looking back on the year 2020, how has your role changed and how have you adapted to the ‘new normal’?

Video calls, Zoom meetings & longer phone conversations were utilised to take over from the usual Face2Face contact with customers. This did not seem to have a huge impact on dealings with customers, as we were all still able to communicate over these platforms. Making appointments for Face2Face visits now is imperative for a constructive visit.

5- What was one job that you did well in the last 12 months that you know made a big difference to your customer or your team?

Organised consignment stock to be put in place and set up for a customer in a very timely manner, to avoid long freight delays due to the situation with the pandemic. The customer was very impressed with how fast we had this put in place for them so they could continue to provide their customers with exceptional service.

6- If you could be a superhero for a day, who would you be?

The Invisible Women …. Hahaha

7- Favourite sports team?

The Wallabies

8- What is one thing on your ‘bucket list’?

Travel around Australia in our old XW Fairmont Wagon 4x4