Founder's Story

Founder’s Story: Kip Richards & the Origin of Source Direct

In 2005, Kip Richards founded Source Direct with a clear mission: to raise the standard for engineered and manufactured products in the hospitality industry. At the time, Kip saw a critical gap in the market—brands, owners, and designers were struggling to find reliable partners who could not only understand the vision behind their designs but also bring those concepts to life with precision, integrity, and cost-efficiency. He set out to change that.

With a background in both business and manufacturing—and years of hands-on experience working overseas in procurement and sourcing—Kip brought a global perspective to building Source Direct. He had spent time on the factory floors in Asia and Latin America, learning the intricacies of production, material quality, and supply chain management. These international relationships and insights became a cornerstone of Source Direct’s strength. Kip knew how to find the right partners abroad, but more importantly, he knew how to vet, collaborate with, and manage them to ensure reliability and quality at every turn.

From the very beginning, he was adamant that Source Direct would be more than just a sourcing company. It would be a true engineering and manufacturing firm—one that took full ownership of its products from concept to delivery. Every fixture, every door, every custom item is designed and produced with care, creativity, and an obsessive attention to detail. Because Source Direct controls its own manufacturing, there’s no finger-pointing if something goes wrong—just solutions.

Now celebrating two decades in business, Source Direct continues to serve the hospitality industry with the same passion and precision it was founded on. “Yes, it’s been that long,” Kip often says with pride, reflecting on how far the company has come and the many global partnerships it has built along the way.

What truly sets Source Direct apart is its unwavering belief in long-term relationships. Kip has always believed that good business starts with trust—something earned through honesty, follow-through, and mutual respect. That’s why the company’s price-quality-design balance isn’t just a business strategy—it’s a promise. A promise to be the bridge between a great design and a financial reality.

Today, thanks to Kip’s vision and the dedicated team he’s built, Source Direct is recognized across the country as a leader in engineered hospitality solutions. And while much has evolved since 2005, the core values remain the same: customer service, integrity, innovation, and an unrelenting commitment to delivering the best.