Christopher Radko
Christopher Radko | |
|---|---|
| Education | Columbia University (BA) |
| Occupation(s) | Designer, businessman |
| Known for | Founding the eponymous Christmas ornaments brand |
Christopher Radko is an American businessman and designer known for starting the eponymous Christmas ornaments business.[1][2] He is called the "Czar of the Christmas Present" by The New York Times and the "Ornament King'' by the Chicago Tribune.[1][3][4]
Biography
[edit]Radko grew up in Scarsdale, New York,[5] the son of two doctors.[6] He skipped his senior year of high school and started college at 16. He graduated from Columbia University in 1981.[7]
Out of college, Radko first worked as a mailroom clerk at ICM Partners.[1] In 1984, his family's 14-foot Christmas tree crashed to the ground, taking his family's heirloom of 2,000 exquisite, mouth-blown European glass ornaments with it.[1][8] Unable to find replacements of the ornaments, Radko started his own ornaments business and sourced the ornaments from Polish craftsmen that he met on a trip.[9] He sold $25,000 worth of ornaments during his first year by visiting door-to-door to Manhattan retailers on his lunch hour. His earliest customers included celebrities such as Katharine Hepburn, Woody Allen, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Whoopi Goldberg and Bruce Springsteen,[5] and he was invited to design mantel displays for the White House and to decorate the Vice President 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, he won a legal challenge against Rauch Industries to use his name for his new line of original ornaments.[11] He originally signed a non-competition agreement with Rauch that expired as of August 15, 2021, but the company filed a motion to prohibit Radko from using his name in association with his new company.[11] This was settled in February, 2024, with the artist allowed to use his name to inform the public that he is the designer and creator of his new brand, The Ornament King. Celebrities continue to enjoy his new work, including Elton John, Adele, Kris Jenner, Katy Perry, and Hugh Jackman.
Radko is of Polish descent.[12] He lives in Westchester County, New York.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f Burros, Marian (1997-12-11). "TREE TRIMMING WITH: Christopher Radko; The Czar Of Christmas Present". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-06-14.
- ^ Boulware, Jack (2000-05-05). San Francisco Bizarro: A Guide to Notorious Sites, Lusty Pursuits, and Downright Freakiness in the City by the Bay. Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-312-20671-0.
- ^ "The Ornament King rises to a holiday table challenge". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2022-06-14.
- ^ Sullivan, Kathleen (2004-12-10). "Devoted collectors flock to Union Square to meet ornament king". SFGATE. Retrieved 2022-06-14.
- ^ a b "The Ornament King". The Highlands Current. Retrieved 2022-06-14.
- ^ Ames, Lynne (1995-12-24). "Ornament Designer Seized 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 and tell: Why did Christopher Radko go 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 to Gift Industry". Gifts & Decorative Accessories. 2021-12-17. Retrieved 2022-06-14.
- ^ a b "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 man who super-sized Christmas". Slate Magazine. Retrieved 2022-06-14.