Richard Williamson

About Richard Williamson

Founder & President of costume and e-commerce companies.Has extensive expertise in Costumes, Mascots, Entertainment, Marketing & Promotional fields. Helps companies create brand identities such as corporate mascots, private label brands, reach niche markets, and launch major events & products. 30+ years experience in TV, film, theatre, marketing, promotions, events, photography, school & team mascots, and production relating to costumes, mascots, makeup, and props. Owns and runs one of the oldest and largest costume companies in the country (Since 1876). Brick & mortar location in Old City Philadelphia with over a Million costumes stocked in a city block long warehouse. Leads a great team of highly creative skilled people.Operates several e-commerce companies. Has extensive contacts in manufacturing, wholesale, distribution, fulfillment, and other networks as it relates to apparel & costumes.Founded one of the largest Santa Claus supply e-commerce sites in the world. Manufactures and produces Santa suits, Santa beards, Santa boots, and lots more. Expertise in private label, import, product design, sourcing, web site design, programing, integration, supply chain, delivery, customer service, promotions, SEO, keyword advertising, and everything else that is needed to run a successful e-commerce company.Specialties are: Costumes, Mascots, Costume design, Custom-made costumes, costume rental, Make-up, Retail, B2B, Special events, TV, Film, Theatre, Photography, Advertising, Marketing (large business and small business), Sales (and sales management), Negotiation, E-commerce, Promotions, Identity Branding, Business promotion, Small business growth, Events & planning, Production, SPFX, & many other unusual and unique specialties.

Experience

1. President and Owner

   Pierre\'s Mascots & Costumes

   Sep 1994 — Present · Philadelphia, PA, US

   Pierre’s Costumes is one of the world’s oldest and largest full-service costume companies, located in the heart of Old City Philadelphia. Pierre\'s designs, creates, & rents mascots and costumes for theatre, TV, film, corporate, school, commercial, documentary, non-profit and many other types of professional clients.Our stock of rental costumes is well over a million pieces. We continue to maintain a full-range professional costume house, designing and manufacturing on the premises with our traditional tailoring and advanced crafting techniques.Pierre’s Costumes is the culmination of Miller Costumier, Irvin Stern’s Carousel Costumes and Uniforms by Pierre among several others.Miller Costumier, owned by Laura Miller, was established in 1876 after she retired from her stage career. Mrs. Miller was the first woman to own and operate a costume company in the United States. She was a member of high society, with her “comings and goings” being reported on the society pages, all while being an acting member of multiple theatre troupes. Her husband J. Horace Miller was nationally known for starring opposite of Julia Marlowe.Irvin Stern’s Carousel Costumes was established in 1900. Irvin Stern was a preeminent tailor for Austria’s Emperor Franz Joseph before immigrating to the United States. His first project after emigrating was to tailor for President William McKinley during the Spanish- American War. He started out renting formal wear, before he added an extensive stock of costumes.Uniforms by Pierre began in the 1930’s when Nathan Stomel, struck out on his own after training under his father at Stomel Clothing Company, a men’s tailor shop. He began with manufacturing of civilian and medical uniforms. During WWII he incorporated military uniforms into his business. In the 1940’s, he then transitioned to Pierre’s Uniforms and Costumes due to customer demand.

Education

• Elizabethtown College

  Bachelor of Science - BS

  1988

Skills

• Marketing
• Wholesale
• Marketing Communications
• Project Planning
• Multi-Channel Retail
• Unique Designs
• Costume Design
• Theatrical Costumes
• Apparel
• Retail
• Small Business
• E-Commerce
• Mascots
• Special Event
• Brand Developement
• Styling
• Philadelphia Costume
• Santa Claus
• Retail Marketing
• Party Plan
• Halloween Costume
• Theatrical Production
• Costume Characters
• Commercials
• Costumes
• Identities
• Sales Promotion
• Retail Management
• Lingerie
• Special Effects
• Hats
• Textiles
• Fashion
• Designs
• Custom Costuming
• Mascot Design
• Guerrilla Marketing
• Mascot
• Wigs
• Makeup Artistry