Rauch began as a family business in 1952. Its products, which include ornamental glass balls, tree skirts, stockings and more, have decorated homes for more than half a century. Today, the Rauch brand is a market leader in the holiday giftware and home decor industries. The company designs and distributes its leading products under the Rauch, Christopher Radko®, Jay Strongwater and kat + annie brands, distributing through mass retailers, department stores and independent gift retailers nationwide.
Rauch’s corporate headquarters and distribution center is located in Gastonia, North Carolina. For more information about the company, feel free to call (800) 717-2356 or send an email to RadkoElves@ChristopherRadko.com.
Heather Shepardson, CEO
Heather’s leadership at Rauch industries has derived not only from her success serving in Fortune 500 businesses, but also from her passion and enthusiasm for holiday celebrations and time-honored traditions.
Since her childhood, Heather was captivated by the Christmas holiday season. Surrounded by her family, she would spend her time inventing creative ways to deck the halls and trim the trees. One year, she and her grandfather invented a method for keeping Christmas trees watered so that no one would have to crawl underneath each day to pour more water into to the tree stand. Years later, Heather would go on to commercialize and market this same clever product as the “Ever-Green Watering System”. It became a wildly popular, must-have holiday product featured on Today and in Oprah’s O Magazine gift guide, among others.
After founding and operating Ever-Green Seasons, Inc., Heather joined Rauch Industries in 2008. A longtime admirer of Christopher Radko products, Heather brings her lively and enchanting nature to the special spirit and enduring mission of the company. Today, she spends much of her time in Europe selecting artisans and factories to ensure that the Christopher Radko products are of the highest quality. In the U.S., Heather works closely with Christopher Radko’s designers to ensure that each ornament is a true treasure for families, collectors and all those who appreciate the fine quality of the hand-crafted keepsakes. Her creativity, commitment to excellence and business acumen are all in tune with the beauty and ceremony that defines the #1 producer of fine European glass ornaments and holiday collectibles.
Heather has previously held executive, management and sales positions with several Fortune 500 businesses, including Level 3 Communications, Qwest Communications, The Coors Brewing Company and Nike, Inc. All of these positions worked together to set the foundation for her current success at Christopher Radko and in the holiday sector. Heather currently lives in Seattle.
