R. M. Williams (company)

R. M. Williams

Company type	Private
Industry	Footwear and apparel
Founded	1932 (1932)
Founder	R. M. Williams
Headquarters	Salisbury, Adelaide , Australia
Area served	Australia, international markets
Key people	Andrew Forrest (owner)
Products	Boots, belts, small leather goods, apparel, accessories
Owner	Tattarang
Number of employees	900 (2020)
Website	rmwilliams.com.au

R. M. Williams is a distinguished Australian brand specializing in footwear and apparel, particularly famous for its men's and women's chelsea boots. Established by R. M. Williams in 1932, the company is currently under the ownership of Tattarang, the investment entity led by mining entrepreneur Andrew Forrest.

History

Williams learned leather craftsmanship from Michael George Smith, known as "Dollar Mick," an Aboriginal stockman from South Australia's Flinders Ranges. Together, they created the brand’s hallmark one-piece leather chelsea boot design.

In 1932, confronted with financial challenges due to his son's illness, Williams sold saddles to pastoralist Sidney Kidman and utilized the funds to launch a small manufacturing workshop. He employed several Adnyamathanha individuals from the Nepabunna Mission, providing wages and clothing, although there were some cultural and financial disputes.

By 1934, Williams had grown his workshop but parted ways with the mission following disagreements concerning funding and administration. He subsequently reestablished his operations in Prospect, a suburb of Adelaide. Despite significant contributions from Indigenous collaborators like Dollar Mick and Rufus Wilton, their involvement has received limited acknowledgment.

In 1988, Williams sold the enterprise to stock agents Bennett & Fisher, which entered receivership in 1993 burdened by $16 million in debt. Ownership then transferred to Ken Cowley alongside business magnate Kerry Stokes, with Cowley obtaining full ownership in 2003 for $12.5 million.

The Cowley family attempted to sell R.M. Williams in 2013 for $100 million, drawing interest from companies such as LVMH, Oroton, and Premier Investments. That year, LVMH’s private equity division L Catterton acquired a 49.9% share, increasing its stake to 82% by 2014 and assuming complete control by 2016.

By May 2019, R.M. Williams was put on the market with a valuation of $500 million. At that point, L Catterton owned 82%, IFM Investors held 13%, and actor Hugh Jackman possessed 5%. In October 2020, Andrew Forrest’s Tattarang acquired the company for $190 million.

Products

R.M. Williams is best known for its handcrafted riding boots, characterized by their single-piece leather construction stitched at the back, with elastic-sided versions being especially popular. In 2013, manufacturing involved approximately 70 manual steps using one piece of leather on the exterior and several pieces inside for lining.

More recently, R.M. Williams has repositioned itself as a luxury footwear brand aimed at urban markets. Their boots enjoy popularity among Australian politicians and have been presented as official gifts to international dignitaries by prime ministers.

In 2013, the Craftsman boots were chosen as the standard parade footwear for the Australian Army following a competitive selection process.

The company’s logo displays a Texas longhorn cattle head, and since 2015, Hugh Jackman has acted as a brand ambassador.

Manufacturing

As of 2022, R.M. Williams produces its leather boots, belts, small leather goods, and an expanding line of apparel and accessories at its workshop located in Adelaide.

In late 2019, the firm announced plans to increase boot production to 500,000 pairs per year by 2023 while aiming for revenues of A$153 million in 2019.

Locations and personnel

The main office of R.M. Williams is situated in Salisbury, South Australia, a suburb within Adelaide. As of March 2013, the company managed 50 retail outlets, partnered with 900 stockists, and exported products to 15 countries worldwide, employing a total workforce of 600 individuals, half of whom were located in South Australia.

By December 2020, R.M. Williams had grown its retail presence to approximately 64 stores across Australia and seven stores internationally. In 2019, its boots were stocked in around 500 department stores. The company’s workforce in 2020 included roughly 400 employees at its Salisbury manufacturing facility and an additional 500 staff members distributed throughout Australia.

See also

• Australian work boot
• R.M. Williams Outback, commonly known as Outback, a magazine published every two months