The Richer Way: How to Get the Best Out of People

by Julian Richer

In 1978 Julian Richer, then aged just nineteen, opened his first shop near London Bridge. For over twenty years this shop has been listed in the Guinness Book of Records as having the highest sales per square foot of any retail outlet in the world, and the company as a whole, with its fifty-three stores nationwide and huge online presence, has become Britain’s favourite retailer of TV and hi-fi equipment. What lies behind this extraordinary success?For Julian, the answer is throughout his career he has focussed relentlessly on putting people – both staff and customers – right at the centre of his business. And in The Richer Way, he offers a supremely practical guide to how others can follow suit. He explains how to motivate employees and measure their progress. He establishes how to balance company discipline with individual autonomy. He explores what ‘customer service’ should really involve. Above all, he points the way to creating an open, friendly and flexible culture that will not only attract the best people but also offer the greatest chance of business success. Packed with straightforward, common-sense advice, The Richer Way will prove essential reading for all organisations, whatever their nature and size.

Genres: Business, Nonfiction

207 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[David Hughes]

I read this book many many years ago, but I still think it's a good read for anybody working in a customer-facing role or within the retail industry.

[Thomas Brand]

This was wasn’t a normal read for me. I’m currently doing a Leadership and Management course that requires me to put in a silly number of hours in my own time, so my reading list is going to be invaded by books on management for the next year or so.

I picked this one up after reading an article on Julian Richer in the Guardian. He’s planning on giving his company to his employees when he retires, and this sort of thing chimed with me.

And this was actually a really good read. Richer doesn’t try to make himself sound clever, or pad things out with philosophical musings to make his success seem something more then it is. He simply gives practical advise stemming from one core rule: first and foremost treat your people well. You can tell he has purposely kept the writing simple to ensure this book is accessible to anyone at any level.

Obviously this isn’t a book most people will need to read. It’s not a casual read but a learning resource. But if you run a company or manage people in your job this is essential reading.

[Monita Mehra]

Book gives a couple of ideas to motivate team members and Julian has also mentioned a few ways to ensure team members work long term with companies.
I am setting up a B2C natural food business and wanted to understand how to manage a retail business and get teams to work together and ensure customer comes first and a good impression is created so that the customer becomes a customer for good. Have managed to get some ideas that I will implement.
Retail managers and also HR leads should read the book to understand methodologies of motivating team members and getting them to work for long term in organisations.

[Alexander]

This is a terrific management and leadership book. It's practical, it's tested, and it's moral. Very engaging read, with a great deal to chew on, without being overwhelming. I wish this was more widely read among American business people, and I intend to give my copy to a friend soon and recommend it to others.

[Jules]

Great read. Something for every business owner in here. Some of the ideas and references are a little dated but the gist carries through.