As a kid in the 50s, Richard Golden realized his passion for sales, selling greeting cards door-to-door while his father, Donald Golden ran a successful chain of optical stores. His father offered him several jobs in the company but Richard declined, instead opting to attend Michigan State University where he earned a degree in Advertising.

Eventually, Richard did find his way into the family business and soon after, the company boomed. The rapid expansion can be attributed to a string of incredibly popular advertising campaigns directed by Richard himself.