About

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2020
1848

J.J. and S.P. Richards – Books, Music & Fancy Store Jabez and Samuel Richards go into partnership and open first store in Macon, GA

1848
1865
1865

J.J. and S.P. Richards reopen store after Civil War

1870

Paper clips are a HOT NEW ITEM to help offices keep documents more organized.

1870
1878
1878

Downtown Atlanta. Samuel Richards buys out his brother, Jabez, to become primary owner of S.P. Richards.

1885

Crayola is founded and starts selling first crayons to distributors like S.P. Richards

1885
1894
1894

Samuel Richard’s sons, Walter, George & Russell, take over the business

1902

Check written to a Mr. Burbank from George Richards in the amount of $6.50, equivalent in today’s economy to $230.75

1902
1907
1907

S.P. Richards starts offering Royal Typewriters in their line of office products

1910

S.P. Richards truck delivered office supplies and paper to the greater Atlanta area.

1910
1917
1917

The Great Atlanta Fire destroyed 1,938 buildings that spanned 72 city blocks, nearly missing the S.P. Richards warehouse.

1920

S.P. Richards Wholesale Paper Division was launched

1920
1939
1939

Richards brothers sell company to Rhodes Family

1950s

Pink Pearl erasers reach American markets from their German origin. Eraser heads were not added to pencils until 1975.

1950
1956
1956

S.P. Richards started offering Swingline staplers as they become an industry standard for stapler design and dependability.

1960s

Rolodex contact organizer became a staple on office desks around the U.S.

1960s
1968
1968

SP Richards started offering state of the art copy machines, the once infamous household name, Xerox

1975

S.P. Richards acquired by Genuine Parts Company

1975
1985
1985

S.P. Richards now has delivery networks spanning the west to east coast

1990

S.P. Richards opened warehouse distribution centers in more than 10 new cities

1990
1998
1998

S.P. Richards acquired Norwestra, which then became SPR Canada.

2008

S.P. Richards acquired regional wholesalers O’Henry (no, not the candy bar), PPI & Action Wholesale

2008
2009
2009

S.P. Richards launched Business Source® product line

2014

S.P. Richards acquired Garland C. Norris and Impact Products

2014
2019 2019
2019

S.P. Richards’ headquarters and primary distribution center caught fire destroying offices, products and historic records.

S.P. Richards HQ moved to new office building in Wildwood area of greater Atlanta, GA

2019
2020
2020
2023
2023

S.P. Richards acquired by Central National Gottesman Inc.

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  • Phone Number

    888-436-6881

  • Address

    4300 Wildwood Pkwy, Suite 300, Atlanta, GA 30339

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