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As of today, there are many loyal supporters of Richardson Sports and their high-quality products, specifically their Richardson caps. They’re a staple in the custom hat industry with many of their fans being just everyday honest folks, the same type of people you would catch a drink with at a local bar.

This didn’t just happen by chance either. Richardson Sports has been building its brand as a family owned and operated business since its humble beginnings in 1970 with some very interesting encounters along the way.

The Early Influence of Richardson Caps in Baseball

When Richardson Sports was first formed in 1970 their primary focus was actually more geared towards sporting goods, specifically for baseball. Little did they know how much value this would provide in creating a loyal customer base going forward. 

In the 1970s, baseball was still the favorite pastime of Americans and kids all around the United States were hitting the sandlot to play some ball. Odds are if you were playing some baseball at this time you had some Richardson gear. They produced gloves, baseballs, uniforms, and caps, and their gear made its way all around the mainland United States. This was very important to the success of Richardson Sports and especially the Richardson Caps going forward.

Kids in the 1970s and 1980s really appreciated the look, fit, and feel of the Richardson baseball cap and as a result it was subliminally linked with all of the great memories they had on the diamond during their childhoods. Just like the smell of your favorite food that your mom cooked for you after a long day of playing ball or the smell of the soap you used to use as a kid, the Richardson cap invoked nostalgia in its wearers, and that was pivotal in the long-term success of Richardson Sports with a declining market in baseball and the huge rise of a new industry.

The Big Boom of Richardson Caps in The 90s

In the early 1990s caps and hats absolutely exploded in popularity. New influences in pop culture such as hip-hop and skateboarding completely changed the typical wardrobe of a person living in the 90s, reshaping it into a street-influenced look. Perms were out and snapbacks and baseball caps were in. 

Unfortunately for Richardson Sports, their original business model with a primary focus on baseball was just not cutting it anymore. Football had pretty much cemented itself as America’s new favorite pastime and baseball was on a clear continuous decline. Richardson Sports was in major trouble and in desperate need of a major company shift. 

So given the current major rise in popularity of caps and hats, Richardson made the move to expand into the unknown but rapidly growing headwear industry. Richardson had been selling caps for years now, but by no means were they specialized in it with their primary focus on baseball gear. This was a major and relatively risky shift for the company but it would prove to pay humongous dividends.

By really honing in on their craft and specifically focusing on headwear, Richardson Sports consistently produced very high quality hats with a modern look well suited for the fashion trends of the 1990s. However, Richardson Sports needed an initial boost before their premium headwear could gain any traction. The initial boost for Richardson’s success in this uncharted territory proved to be the customer base they acquired in their previous endeavors with baseball sporting gear.

The Richardson Caps being produced in the 1990s reminded consumers of their youth and simpler times playing baseball with old friends. It invoked nostalgia, an emotion that fueled many consumers’ decision to buy Richardson caps. Richardson Sports began to grow exponentially and really became a huge player in the headwear industry.

A Shift in Focus for Richardson Caps

Richardson’s expansion into the ever expanding headwear industry also changed other aspects of their business. They took on a vertically integrated design and manufacturing business model which gave them full control over all aspects of producing a cap for a consumer from design to right up before delivery. This allowed the company to easily meet customer needs and pivot their focus when needed.

For example, when snapbacks became increasingly popular in the 1990s, Richardson was able to shift production into making more snapbacks with little pushback. Vertical integration allows Richardson to make big moves without having to crawl through all of the red tape. It makes it easier for them to meet customer demands and deliver a great product with premier customer service.

Their most popular item today, the Richardson 112 Trucker Snapback, is a direct result of Richardson Sports’ vertical integration business model. Despite its crazy high demand nowadays, they are still able to produce enough with full control over manufacturing while still continuing to offer several color options since they design their own hats and caps. This way Richardson Sports has the ability to satisfy every customer, even those ordering just a few custom hats with an unpopular color.

The Appeal of Richardson Caps to Everyday People

One of the most appealing aspects of Richardson Sports is that it’s still family owned and operated. Even in a market flooded with huge intimidating corporations like Nike and Adidias, Richardson has stuck with their roots. To the everyday person, it’s much easier to trust someone who has been there since the start of the company and has consistently delivered a quality product than a bunch of guys in suits sitting around a roundtable.

Everyday people understand that family owned and operated businesses are not just dedicated to customer service and catering towards their customers, but also to providing consistency. They genuinely care about the quality of their products and customer service, not just sales and profit margins.

If you like Richardson Caps as much as us and want to get some custom designs on some, be sure to check out our exclusive selection. We have an extensive inventory of Richardson Caps including the Richardson 112 Trucker Snapback and offer all kinds of exclusive limited edition colors and camos as well as great deals on best-sellers.

No minimum orders, no small order fees, and no application fees.

Check out our custom Richardson Cap page by clicking here.