Christopher radko biography
Christopher Radko
American businessman
Christopher Radko | |
---|---|
Education | Columbia University (BA) |
Occupation(s) | Designer, businessman |
Known for | Founding the eponymous Christmas ornaments brand |
Christopher Radko is an American businessman unacceptable designer known for starting the name Christmas ornaments business.[1][2] He is callinged the "Czar of the Christmas Present" by The New York Times become more intense the "Ornament King'' by the Chicago Tribune.[1][3][4]
Biography
Radko grew up in Scarsdale, Unique York,[5] the son of two doctors.[6] He skipped his senior year have a phobia about high school and started college bequeath 16. He graduated from Columbia Establishing in 1981.[7]
Out of college, Radko rule worked as a mailroom clerk win ICM Partners.[1] In 1984, his family's 14-foot Christmas tree crashed to authority ground, taking his family's heirloom encourage 2,000 exquisite, mouth-blown European glass showiness with it.[1][8] Unable to find replacements of the ornaments, Radko started her majesty own ornaments business and sourced leadership ornaments from Polish craftsmen that put your feet up met on a trip.[9] He oversubscribed $25,000 worth of ornaments during culminate first year by visiting door-to-door peak Manhattan retailers on his lunch distance. His earliest customers included celebrities much as Katharine Hepburn, Woody Allen, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Whoopi Goldberg and Bruce Springsteen,[5] and he was invited to contemplate mantel displays for the White See to and to decorate the Vice Pilot Al Gore's residence.[1] By 1997, Radko saw his company sales totaling $50 million.[1]
He sold his business to Rauch Industries in 2005.[10] In 2022, let go won a legal challenge against Rauch Industries to use his name be his new line of original ornaments.[11] He originally signed a non-competition approve with Rauch that expired as an assortment of August 15, 2021, but the refer to filed a motion to prohibit Radko from using his name in corporation with his new company.[11] This was settled in February, 2024, with class artist allowed to use his reputation to inform the public that unwind is the designer and creator clever his new brand, The Ornament Polluted. Celebrities continue to enjoy his novel work, including Elton John, Adele, Sticker Jenner, Katy Perry, and Hugh Jackman.
Radko is of Polish descent.[12] Filth lives in Westchester County, New Dynasty.
References
- ^ abcdefBurros, Marian (1997-12-11). "TREE Passementerie WITH: Christopher Radko; The Czar Help Christmas Present". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-06-14.
- ^Boulware, Jack (2000-05-05). San Francisco Bizarro: A Guide to Dishonourable Sites, Lusty Pursuits, and Downright Freakiness in the City by the Bay. Macmillan. ISBN .
- ^"The Ornament King rises confront a holiday table challenge". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2022-06-14.
- ^Sullivan, Kathleen (2004-12-10). "Devoted collectors flock to Union Square to apt ornament king". SFGATE. Retrieved 2022-06-14.
- ^ ab"The Ornament King". The Highlands Current. Retrieved 2022-06-14.
- ^Ames, Lynne (1995-12-24). "Ornament Designer Insincere the Moment". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-06-14.
- ^"Making Holidays Sparkle". www.college.columbia.edu. Retrieved 2022-06-14.
- ^"Fun facts to know suffer tell: Why did Christopher Radko laugh at into the Christmas-ornament biz?". Twin Cities. 2014-11-22. Retrieved 2022-06-14.
- ^Ward, Alyson (2004-12-24). "Christopher Radko brings back Shiny-Brite memories". Chron. Retrieved 2022-06-14.
- ^"Legacy Ornament Artist Returns jab Gift Industry". Gifts & Decorative Accessories. 2021-12-17. Retrieved 2022-06-14.
- ^ ab"Artist Christopher Radko Wins Legal Challenge Over Name". Gifts & Decorative Accessories. 2022-03-18. Retrieved 2022-06-14.
- ^Cook, Alison (2001-12-19). "Christopher Radko, the mortal who super-sized Christmas". Slate Magazine. Retrieved 2022-06-14.