Do you have a good friend at work? These days, fewer people do. According to the New York Times, 40 years ago, 50% of us had a close friend at work; that number has dropped to less than 20%. Work has become a more transactional place. We go to the office to be efficient, not to form bonds. We may have plenty of productive conversations, but we also have fewer meaningful relationships. That’s not a good thing because work friends play a big part in our happiness.
Luckily, Rich Brinkman and I have been in this industry for 46 and 38 years, respectively, starting at a time when friendships between companies and competitors were fostered. I’ve known Rich for 20 years, but I knew of him when he was a Penney tabletop buyer for a lot longer than that. We’re among the oldtimers who understand the importance of camaraderie in the workplace; why work friendships are quantifiably a good thing. You know, it’s really hard to be an industry veteran if enough people don’t like and respect you. Rich knows the casual tableware category backwards and forwards from his days at Penney, Pfaltzgraff, and, most recently, the 18 years he spent at Fiesta Tableware, where he introduced 19 new colors, developed more than 50 products, including bakeware, spearheaded the 75th anniversary collection, and instituted a range of licensing programs.
Some of my favorite times with Rich have been at the New York Tabletop Show, gathered around an always-filled bowl of candy, surrounded by cheery rainbow hued Fiesta, chatting (and commiserating) about the latest pitfalls and pratfalls of the industry. Rich said this, but any of us who know him could easily have said it about him: “My passion has always come from an uncanny ability to peer around corners, pulling back new concepts, trends, and colors; harnessing meaning and creativity from tidbits into bites. These come together as full-blown concepts or collections to seek opportunities to drive growth.”
................................ When it comes to succeeding at work, collaborating and effectively communicating with your colleagues, clients, and supervisors is a no-brainer. Data shows that on-the-job collaboration improves efficiency, creates a better workplace dynamic, and increases profitability.
................................
Rich’s well-earned retirement will leave a void. His loyal generosity, prescient vision, and retail acumen have created a tabletop man in full. And while we will miss Rich, his wife Brenda, treasured dogs Bella and Izzy, and two grandchildren will no doubt delight in spending more time with him. Our decades-long friendship, built on respect, appreciation, and regard, confirms to me that having work friends provides a practical and positive range of benefits.