'The R.M.Williams brand is the strongest it has ever been in its 88-year history,' says CEO Raju Vuppalapati, who took over the reins from Ken Cowley’s chief executive, Hamish Turner. 'Our 2019 decision to invest in the second boot-line and recruiting and training 100 additional employees in our Adelaide workshop, was an important milestone to enable us to continue the growth momentum,' Raju says.
'We have an incredible team here at R.M.Williams that personifies undeniable character – grit, tenacity and that pioneering spirit that drives mateship and innovation. 2020 has seen a fair share of challenges for family, friends, and businesses across the world. R.M.Williams continues to demonstrate the strength and resilience of the brand and our team.'
Andrew and Nicola Forrest are both Officers of the Order of Australia, and Andrew last year completed a PhD in marine ecology at the University of Western Australia. Both grew up in the bush – Andrew on his family’s Minderoo Station in the Pilbara of WA, and Nicola on a property in the Central West of NSW.
'I was about 15 or 16 when I first thought, "Look, I’d just love to own a pair of RMs",' Andrew says. 'I saved up about, I think, $80 and I told Mum and Dad proudly that if they’d lend me a couple of shekels then I’d buy my own boots. They said, "Don’t be silly son, just concentrate on school", but lo and behold, Christmas that year I received a pair of R.M.Williams boots. I was completely stoked. I’ve had those boots now ever since. They’ve actually got a bit of a barbwire scar cutting through ’em – I went a bit close to a fence and the boot saved both the horse and my foot and, y’know, now I wear them at treasured family occasions. They’re almost as old as I am – as old as Methuselah – but they’re going strong, like me!'
Similarly, Nicola feels a deep affinity with the brand. 'Well, my father always wore R.M.Williams boots,' she says. 'Growing up on a farm, people had workboots and they have their dress boots, and always the R.M.Williams were the dress boots, and always looked after beautifully. Whereas for us kids, if we ended up with a pair of R.M.Williams we were lucky because they were very special, but by the time I got them they were still looked after and polished, so they were your good boots.'
The Forrest family is looking forward to supporting the continued growth of R.M.Williams, and ensuring the livelihoods of their new employees. 'I love the fact that over 800 Australians are employed by R.M.Williams making this fantastic product that we can wear and be proud of wherever we go in our lives,' Andrew says. 'We just want to build on that, we want to build on that legacy, we want to build on that quality … I just want to see this organisation grow and grow with Australian craftsmanship, Australian quality, Australian reputation, and back in Australian hands.'
Nicola reinforces this sentiment. 'I think for our family to bring R.M.Williams back into being an Australian-owned company is a bit like buying back the family farm,' she says. 'I think it’s such a great Australian company: high-quality products, beautiful boots that people wear in the country and the city – you can wear them anywhere – and to know that it was started by a great Australian, that it’s now back in Australian hands, I think it’s just a fantastic story that we’re really proud to be connected with.'