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Official Irwin Helford Fan Club's Interests
General
Our aim is to help and support Irwin's millions of fans worldwide and help introduce more people to his unique and pioneering style of business. We have contacts in the UK, US, Canada, Europe and Australia who help ensure that visitors this fan club are kept up to date with all the latest news. Let a little sunshine into your office and pick-up the latest Viking Direct catalogue! Or check out the photo gallery featuring many pictures of Irwin supplied by our worldwide team of higly-qualified Helford Spotters.
A message from Charlotte Bradley, Director of Corporate Relations at Viking:
"Funny poses aside, Irwin is truly an amazing businessman and leader. He inspires us all to be our best and to provide "fanatical" service to our customers, around the world. He's worked his way up from packing boxes in a warehouse to the top of the world's largest office products company. If ever you're in the Los Angeles area, I'm sure he'd be delighted to meet you. He's a genuine, down to earth person."
You can see a picture of Charlotte with Irwin in the 'pics' section
About me:
Since 17th May 2001 we have been welcoming fans to the Irwin Helford Fan Club managed by Joe Wakeford of Halfpenny Studios. We are known to Irwin, his staff and of course loyal customers like you.
Irwin Helford, Ph.D is recognised foremost for his unique corporate business ethic at Viking Direct, the international office supply company. However, he is also known to millions as the cheery friendly faced model on the front of all their publications. This website has been set-up to celebrate his professional modelling skills and product promotion expertise.
Growing up as one of four sons of Chicago-area restaurateurs, I. Helford (real name Irwin or Ian as his UK friends will know him as), majored in Marketing at Roosevelt University from 1950 - 1952 before going on active duty with the U.S. Navy. After his tour of duty, Helford married and went to work for the Wilson Jones Company in Chicago, which at the time was the largest manufacturer of office supplies, where he did shipping, warehouse work, customer service and sales. From there, he became general manager of the Reliable Corp. in Chicago, another major office products supplier, where he worked his way up over 24 years to vice president. Helford moved to southern California in 1984 to become president and chief operating officer of Viking Office Products, which he later built into the largest direct-mail office products retailer in the United States, Europe and Australia. Under his leadership, company sales grew from less than $15 million in the U.S. in 1983 to more than $1.6 billion worldwide by 1998.served as Chairman of Viking's Board and Chief Executive Officer of Viking from September 1984 until August 1998 when Viking merged with Office Depot. Since September 1999 Irwin has served as Chairman Emeritus of their Viking subsidiary. He is also a director of Brady Corp., and a director of Svoboda Collins, LLC, a privately held investment banking firm. He is a director and Chairman of the Parkinson's Institute and a trustee of the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
Irwin lives with his wife Betty at Rancho Palos Verdes, a city in Los Angeles County, California that was incorporated on 7 September 1973. See a picture in the 'pics' section. It's one of the most exclusive areas to live in the USA.
You may also wish to check out our exciting section called Amateur Irwins - look in the 'pics' section to see them. We encourage fans of Mr. Helford to submit their own representations of his poses - we hope you may feel the warmth of Irwin and choose to send us your own portrayal.
Enjoy your stay with the Irwin Helford Fan Club! Please write a comment below.
Who I'd like to meet: Fans from around the world with stories, facts and photos to share with other fans.
Official Irwin Helford Fan Club's Friend Space (Top 7)
hi all i work in leicester in england at office depot where i was lucky a couple of times to breifly meet irwin such a nice person who deserves all the happiness all the best kristen .
Thank you ever so much for the comment
although I can only accept comments in
the form of a Limmerick, thus:
Irwin Helford had a fan club
His pet was an African man cub
What on earth is one of those?
Said his wife in a quizzical pose
It died and filled a twelve inch sub
There you go, enjoy! And I look forward to
hearing from you soon!
