What Ricky Richards does

Ricky Richards (Sales) Pty Ltd is a privately held Australian technical textile distributor headquartered in Sydney Olympic Park, NSW, founded in 1983 and operating with 11-50 employees. The company imports and distributes a comprehensive portfolio of specialty fabrics across seven primary categories — Blinds & Awnings, Covers & Tarps, Shade, Marine, Print Media, Caravan & Camping, and Decorative Upholstery — sourced under exclusive Australian distribution agreements with global manufacturers including Phifer (Outlook and Skyline mesh), Sioen (Tarpol, B6000, Fluo2Max), Citel (Docril), Roysons (DreamScape), Woonpoong, and 3 Beaches.

The underlying technology centres on engineered technical textiles — PVC-coated polyester, solution-dyed acrylic, HDPE monofilament, and woven polyester fabrics — with proprietary manufacturing features including Dow Ecolibrium bio-based plasticiser, Microban anti-microbial treatment, Greenguard Gold certification, TiO2 prime coat barriers, and PVDF topcoats. Products are positioned around long warranties (10-20 years), UV stabilisation (up to 97% UVR block), fire retardancy, and Australian climate-specific durability.

Ricky Richards operates a B2B sales-led distribution model, selling primarily to trade fabricators and manufacturers in the blinds, awnings, shade, marine, transport, print, and decorative industries. Revenue is generated through direct website purchasing, phone-based inside sales (1300 RICKYS), email, and an approved trade credit account program. Pricing is per-roll and not publicly disclosed. The company is led by Director Ron Gottlieb and has no disclosed external shareholders, no funding rounds, and operates exclusively within Australia.

Name

Ricky Richards

Legal name

Ricky Richards (Sales) Pty Ltd

Website

https://rickyrichards.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ricky Richards is a privately held Australian technical textile distributor, supplying specialty outdoor and industrial fabrics (mesh, PVC, acrylic, shade cloth, marine, print media, caravan, decorative) exclusively from global manufacturers like Phifer, Sioen, and Citel to trade fabricators across Australia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Homebush

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Fabric and Textile Product Sales: Ricky Richards generates revenue through the wholesale and retail sale of technical outdoor fabrics and textiles to professional trade customers (fabricators, manufacturers) and consumers. Products include PVC-coated fabrics, solution-dyed acrylics, mesh, shade cloth, marine fabrics, print media, and decorative upholstery. Sales are conducted through direct website purchasing, phone orders (1300 RICKYS), and approved credit accounts for trade buyers. The company also offers custom cutting services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Ricky Richards is an Australian distributor of technical outdoor textiles, supplying PVC-coated, solution-dyed acrylic, HDPE monofilament, and woven polyester fabrics to the blinds & awnings, shade & tensile architecture, marine, transport, print media, caravan & camping, and decorative upholstery industries. The company distributes globally manufactured brands including Phifer (Outlook mesh), Citel (Docril), and Sioen (Fluo2Max, Tarpol, B6000) into the Australian market, supported by direct e-commerce, phone-based inside sales, and a trade credit account program.

Product overview

Ricky Richards is an Australian technical textile distributor offering a comprehensive portfolio of specialty fabrics across seven product categories: Blinds & Awnings (Outlook mesh, Docril, Skyline, Solterior, Glacier), Covers & Tarps (AK420, Protarp, B6000, Tarpol, NG600, NG680 Ripstop, Ricky Ripstop, Maxiside, CT1000), Shade (Coolshade, Ferroshade, Fluo2Max, Bochini), Marine (clear PVC, screening mesh, upholstery fabrics), Print Media (DreamScape wall coverings, G-Floor flooring, PVC banners, canvas), Caravan & Camping (Arcadia, RF500, RF650, C7456, camping annexes), and Decorative (upholstery collections from 3Beaches including Auchenflower, Coast, Cocoon, Jewel, Sabi Sands). The company partners with global manufacturers including Phifer (mesh), Sioen (PVC textiles), Citel (Docril), and 3Beaches (upholstery). Key technology focuses include printable media for walls and floors, UV stabilisation, fire retardancy, waterproofing, and tensile architecture membranes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Outlook Mesh
• Docril
• Fluo2Max Type 1 & Type 2 Tensile Architecture Membrane Advanced tensile architecture membrane manufactured by Sioen with TiO2 prime coat and dual-sided PVDF topcoat, designed for large-scale shade sails, tensile structures, car parks, and sports arenas. 20-year UV degradation warranty. Sold to shade sail manufacturers and architects.
• AK420 PVC Cover Fabric
• DreamScape Commercial Wall Coverings Type I, Type II, and Type III commercial grade wall coverings (300-793gsm) manufactured by Roysons Corporation, with Special Effects, Sustainable, and Wallwraps sub-ranges and 10-15 year warranties. Sold to commercial interior contractors, designers, and signage/print service providers.
• G-Floor Printable Vinyl Flooring Revolutionary printable vinyl flooring for high-impact durable graphics, made from 100% polyvinyl, scratch and dent resistant, no adhesive required. Sold to digital print service providers, signwriters, and graphic designers.
• Solterior FR Awning Fabric FR solution-dyed polyester made from recycled PET plastic bottles for commercial awnings and market umbrellas, 100% recyclable, fire retardant, waterproof, UV stabilised, with 5-year UV warranty. Sold to commercial awning manufacturers and umbrella makers.
• Glacier Clear PVC Premium-grade clear and tinted PVC fabric for medium to heavy-duty marine and blind applications, REACH and ROHS compliant, phthalate-free, with superior UV resistance and low shrinkage. Sold to marine trimmers and external blind fabricators.
• Coolshade HDPE Shade Cloth Heavy-duty commercial grade HDPE shade cloth providing up to 97% UVR block, 12-year warranty, heat set for reduced shrinkage, 100% recyclable, endorsed by Australian Skin Cancer Foundation. Sold to shade structure manufacturers and specifiers.
• Ferroshade Monofilament Shade Cloth High-performance shade cloth from 100% monofilament HDPE yarn with 15-year UV warranty, heat set for dimensional stability, 100% recyclable, endorsed by Australian Skin Cancer Foundation. Sold to shade sail manufacturers and commercial shade installers.
• B6000 Transport Fabric Premium 900gsm PVC-coated polyester manufactured by Sioen for truck side curtains, roll-over tarps, and heavy-duty tarpaulins. Panama woven 1100dtex with protective lacquer finish. Sold to transport operators, fleet owners, and industrial cover manufacturers.
• Tarpol PVC Tarpaulin Fabric Knife-coated tear-resistant PVC for tarpaulins, roll-over tarps, grain bins, and ute trailer covers, 700gsm, with PVC coated tear-stop polyester scrim. Manufactured by Sioen. Sold to transport and agricultural cover fabricators.
• Arcadia Caravan & RV Awning Fabric High-performance printed fabric for caravan awnings, annexes, and RV roll-out awnings, with acrylic lacquer coating, blockout fabric, 10-year UV warranty, fire retardant, waterproof, anti-fungal treated. Sold to caravan and camping equipment manufacturers.
• 3 Beaches Decorative Upholstery Fabrics Premium indoor/outdoor performance upholstery fabric collections from 3 Beaches Textiles including Auchenflower, Coast, Cocoon, Jewel, and Sabi Sands, featuring solution-dyed acrylics with 5-year warranties, UV resistance, and Microban anti-microbial technology. Sold to interior designers, upholsterers, and furniture manufacturers.
• Maxiscreen PVC-Coated Mesh PVC-coated mesh for truck tarps, tent windows, privacy screens, and outdoor furniture, 400gsm, UV stabilised, manufactured by Phifer. Sold to transport and outdoor product manufacturers.
• Skyline External Blinds Mesh External blinds mesh distributed from Phifer, with 10-year warranty, 8-9 Colorbond-compatible colours, and Greenguard Gold certification, suitable for residential and commercial environments. Sold to blind and awning manufacturers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Docril reduces solar heat gain by up to 90%, naturally creating a cool and comfortable living environment
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, core and supporting.

• Sydney Children's Hospitals FoundationstrategicOthers · 1 January 2025A decades-long partnership supporting the Sydney Children's Hospital in Randwick. Ricky Richards has donated $35,000 (2025) specifically allocated to the new Intensive Care Unit facility. The company's director, Ron Gottlieb, presented the cheque. The partnership will shift focus in upcoming years to patient and family accommodation spaces.
• PhifercoreTechnology or IntegrationPhifer is the American-based global leader in solar control fabrics and outdoor mesh. Ricky Richards distributes the Outlook mesh collection (including Mode, Mode Zero, Mode Privacy, Mode Textures, Designs, Zero Stripes, and Outlook Zero Classics) and the Skyline mesh range in Australia. Outlook has been Australia's market-leading outdoor mesh for external blinds for over 20 years, backed by a 15-year warranty.
• CitelcoreTechnology or IntegrationCitel is a world-renowned Spanish textile pioneer based in Spain, manufacturing outdoor technical fabrics since 1875. Ricky Richards is the Australian distributor for Docril, a 100% solution-dyed acrylic fabric range and Australia's #1 choice for outdoor awnings for 20 years. Docril is backed by a 10-year UV warranty and offers up to 90% solar heat reduction.
• SioencoreTechnology or IntegrationSioen is a European leader in technical textiles. Ricky Richards distributes Sioen-manufactured products including Tarpol (knife-coated tear-resistant PVC), B6000 (premium PVC-coated polyester for transport), Fluo2Max Type 1 & Type 2 (tensile architecture membranes with 20-year warranty), and Fluo2Max products carrying Sioline branding.
• 3 Beaches TextilescoreTechnology or IntegrationRicky Richards is the Australian distributor for 3 Beaches textiles, a premium indoor/outdoor upholstery fabric brand. The 3 Beaches range includes collections such as Auchenflower, Coast, Cocoon, Jewel, and Sabi Sands, featuring high-performance solution-dyed acrylics with 5-year warranties, UV resistance, and Microban technology.
• Roysons CorporationcoreTechnology or IntegrationRoysons Corporation is a world leader in printing, coating, and lamination services. Ricky Richards distributes the DreamScape commercial wall covering range manufactured by Roysons, which is the global market leader in commercial grade wall coverings with products ranging from Type I to Type III, Special Effects, Sustainable options, and Wallwraps.
• Dow Chemical (Ecolibrium Technology)supportingTechnology or IntegrationDow's Ecolibrium bio-based plasticiser technology is incorporated into the Outlook mesh range. This exclusive technology reduces greenhouse gases by 40%, making Outlook Australia's greenest mesh. The formulation is lead and phthalate-free and has achieved Greenguard Gold certification.
• Microban InternationalsupportingTechnology or IntegrationMicroban anti-microbial technology is integrated into the Outlook mesh range, providing ease of maintenance by inhibiting mould and mildew growth, extending the textiles' longevity and ensuring easy cleaning.
• Australian Skin Cancer FoundationstrategicOthersRicky Richards shade fabrics are endorsed by the Australian Skin Cancer Foundation. This endorsement validates the UV protection performance of their shade cloth and tensile architecture products, supporting the company's positioning around sun safety and skin cancer prevention.
• Queensland Children's Hospital FoundationsupportingOthersRicky Richards proudly supports the Queensland Children's Hospital Foundation, contributing to improved services and brighter futures for young patients throughout Queensland.
• SunbrellasupportingTechnology or IntegrationSunbrella performance fabrics are included in the Ricky Richards decorative and upholstery range, featuring stain resistance, water resistance, Australian-designed UV and fade resistance, mould and mildew resistance, and easy clean properties.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Sunbrella (Glen Raven): Global performance fabric brand owned by Glen Raven, covering awning, marine, upholstery and outdoor applications. Comparable at the Docril/3 Beaches product level (solution-dyed acrylic awning and decorative), but operates as a global vertically-integrated manufacturer with much broader scale than Ricky Richards' Australian distribution business.
• Serge Ferrari: French global manufacturer of tensile architecture membranes, flexible composite materials and outdoor technical textiles. Directly comparable at the Fluo2Max/Sioen product level (tensile architecture), but operates at a much larger global scale as a manufacturer, not a regional distributor.
• Mehler Texnologies: European manufacturer of technical textiles including PVC-coated fabrics for truck tarpaulins, tensile architecture and industrial applications. Comparable as a Sioen competitor at the underlying product level (transport/tensile), but operates globally as a mill rather than as a national distributor.
• Valmex (Continental): Continental's Valmex range of technical coated textiles for truck tarpaulins, architecture and industrial covers. Comparable at the Sioen B6000/Tarpol product level (transport/industrial PVC textiles); broader European incumbent rather than a national specialty distributor.

Direct peers

• Gale Pacific: ASX-listed Australian manufacturer and distributor of commercial and architectural shade fabrics, including the well-known Coolaroo and Synthesis ranges. Directly comparable as an Australian specialty technical textile business serving shade, architectural and outdoor markets, but Gale Pacific is also a manufacturer (vertical integration) whereas Ricky Richards is a distributor.
• Wilson Fabrics: Australian wholesale distributor of decorative and performance textiles for blinds, awnings, upholstery and outdoor applications. Overlapping product categories (window furnishings and outdoor fabrics), similar B2B trade customer base, and comparable distribution-led business model in the Australian market.
• Sattler (Australia): Austrian-owned manufacturer of technical outdoor fabrics (awning, marine, sun protection) with Australian distribution. Directly competes with Docril and Outlook in awning and outdoor mesh categories; comparable in product technology, warranties and specification-led B2B sales motion.
• Vertilux: Australian distributor of window furnishing and solar-protection textiles including blinds, awnings and external shading systems. Highly comparable B2B distribution model serving similar trade fabricators across Australia, though with a narrower focus on interior window furnishings versus Ricky Richards' broader industrial/marine/transport range.

Others

• Phifer: American manufacturer of solar control fabrics and the source supplier of Ricky Richards' Outlook mesh range. Relevant as the upstream technology partner; would become a direct competitor if Phifer chose to enter Australia via a different distribution channel.
• Citel / Docril: Spanish manufacturer of the Docril solution-dyed acrylic awning fabric line that Ricky Richards distributes in Australia. Relevant as upstream supplier; would compete directly with Ricky Richards if Citel appointed an additional Australian distributor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rickyrichardsau
• Xx.com/RickyRichardsAU
• Facebookfacebook.com/rickyrichardsau

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ricky Richards