RH, previously called Restoration Hardware, is a leading American home furnishing company based in Corte Madera, California. The rebranding to 'RH' in 2012 marked a strategic shift for the company as its focus moved from being a provider of nostalgic restoration pieces to a high-end luxury furniture, lighting, textiles, bath-ware and décor brand. Its broad product range is sold through its retail stores, catalogs and online, making RH a unique, highly diversified and fully integrated home-furnishing platform.
The company was initially founded in 1979 by Stephen Gordon as a supplier of period-authentic fixtures and fittings and slowly moved to sell other home goods. Gordon's aim was to allow homeowners to buy not only the unique items that people often saw and wanted in their travels but also quality reproductions that they could afford. This model proved very successful, leading to steady growth, expansion, and eventually a $20 million buyout by Cardinal Investments in 1995.
Under the new ownership, RH underwent a series of changes, including opening larger stores called "design galleries" and diversifying its product line. Furthermore, it continues to reimagine furniture retail spaces by creating lush showrooms featuring entire atmospheres instead of just product displays. This experience-centric approach evolved the brand into an innovative, design-forward, and eclectic lifestyle brand.
In 1998, RH went public, and after overcoming several market fluctuations and internal challenges, it has emerged stronger than ever. Its annual revenue is now almost $3 billion, with a prominent presence not only in America but internationally as well. The company's success is attributed to its distinctive product design, upscale aesthetic, curated space design, and exclusive partnerships with home and design tastemakers.
RH is not just a retailer but is known for transforming the traditional shopping experience into something more immersive. Its store locations, merged with its in-store restaurant concept, pave the way for 'experiential retailing', where visitors get an immersive experience while shopping. Each of its locations is different and unique, reflecting its commitment to creativity and quality.
In recent years, RH has expanded into hospitality, with ventures such as the RH Guesthouse in New York City and the RH Yountville, an integrated hospitality experience in Napa Valley, California. These ventures reinforce RH's dedication to creating inspiring spaces for customers to experience—and not just shop for—their curated collections of home furnishings and décor.
Known for its transformative influence on the home furnishings industry, RH remains committed to its quest of revolutionizing physical retailing, blurring the lines between residential and retail, indoors and outdoors, and home and hospitality.