Response to Mr. Radko’s Allegations

Hello, my name is Heather Shepardson, and I’ve had the honor of serving as CEO of Christopher Radko for nearly 20 years. Especially during the holiday season, our focus is on celebrating Christmas, family traditions, and the joy these ornaments bring into homes year after year. I am deeply grateful to the collectors who have welcomed our ornaments into their lives and made them part of their celebrations. While we typically let that joy and tradition speak for itself, I feel it’s important to personally step forward now to address recent false and disparaging statements made by Mr. Radko, as they affect the community we so deeply value.

It is not in our nature to engage in public conflict, especially during the holiday season. However, when false and disparaging statements are made that mislead collectors and undermine decades of careful stewardship, silence is no longer an option. There is no truth to the claim that Rauch Industries is responsible for the closure of Mr. Radko’s business. At all times, Rauch has sought only fair competition and respect for agreements that Mr. Radko eagerly entered into, fully negotiated, and knowingly accepted in exchange for substantial financial consideration.

Rauch Industries purchased the Christopher Radko company and all associated intellectual property in 2005. Mr. Radko was paid millions of dollars, including $1.49 million in exchange for a non-compete that ended in 2021. When that non-compete expired, Mr. Radko was fully entitled to launch a new ornament company, and Rauch has never disputed that right. What is not permitted, however, is the use of the Christopher Radko brand in a manner that misleads or confuses collectors about which company is producing which ornaments. After Mr. Radko blatantly infringed upon the Christopher Radko trademark—an asset he sold to Rauch for a substantial sum—the parties ultimately reached a settlement in 2024 that Mr. Radko willingly and enthusiastically entered into, with the stated intent of allowing everyone to move forward peacefully and independently.

Throughout this entire period, Rauch has honored every agreement, every court order, and every obligation with integrity and respect. Mr. Radko, by contrast, has repeatedly chosen to disregard those same agreements, forcing us into legal action not out of aggression, but out of necessity. Protecting the brand we lawfully purchased—and the collectors who rely on its authenticity—left us with no alternative.

Within three months, however, Mr. Radko repeatedly breached that settlement, committing more than 36 documented violations, and refused to cure all the breaches. When he refused to comply with the agreement, Rauch was forced to initiate arbitration. The arbitrator ruled entirely in Rauch’s favor, awarding $1.2 million in damages and fees. Mr. Radko has refused to pay the arbitration award.

It is deeply disappointing to see additional false claims now being made publicly, including statements about our ornaments that are simply untrue and clearly intended to damage our reputation. Christopher Radko fine European glass ornaments are crafted in Poland—not China, as Mr. Radko has claimed—and continue to be made with the same care, artistry, and integrity that collectors have trusted for decades.

What is most painful is not the dispute itself, but the attempt to rewrite history in a way that paints Rauch as a bully.  While we are genuinely sorry that Mr. Radko has reached a point where he feels compelled to declare bankruptcy, that outcome is not the result of any action taken by Rauch Industries. Although Rauch was awarded $1.2 million through arbitration, that award has not yet been reduced to a judgment, as final determination by the New York courts is still pending. Separately, Mr. Radko and Heartfully Yours/The Ornament King face additional financial judgments arising from obligations owed to other parties—judgments awarded after those obligations went unpaid. These judgments are matters of public record; however, Rauch has chosen not to publicize them out of respect for Mr. Radko.

We are, at our core, a Christmas company. For nearly two decades, I have devoted my heart and work to bringing joy to our collectors during the holiday season. As Christmas approaches, our focus remains exactly where it has always been—on helping make the season feel meaningful, magical, and special for families. While we never seek conflict, we also cannot allow misinformation to stand unaddressed.

To our collectors: thank you for your continued trust, your love of Christmas, and for welcoming our ornaments into your homes and family traditions year after year.

With gratitude and warm holiday wishes,
Heather Shepardson
CEO, Christopher Radko