DOWN GAA STARS TEAM UP WITH INVEST NI’S GO FOR IT PROGRAMME AND OPEN SPECIALIST SPORTS SHOP

A COUNTY Down Gaelic football player has used the credit crunch to his advantage in setting up his own sports shop.

Damien Rafferty, who has been playing for Down for the past eight years, joined forces with teammate Benny Coulter to set up CR Sports at the WIN Industrial Estate in Newry.

The two lads enrolled on Invest Northern Ireland’s Go for it programme in early 2010 and the business was up and running in a matter of months. The Go for it programme is aimed at helping people to set up their own business by providing a bespoke package of free training and advice workshops.

Damien said his insider knowledge of the sports world and former career in finance helped him when planning the business, which sells a variety of Gaelic football, soccer and rugby gear, as well as equipment.

His motivation and the business idea stemmed from his personal experience of frequently having to travel far and wide to purchase specialist sporting goods and clothing. That gave him the drive he needed to set up a company to address the problem. But he admits that it was the “sound and practical advice” from Invest Northern Ireland which equipped him with the knowledge and confidence to actually start up the company.

“I saw the Go for it advertisement on television and just decided to go along and see if it would be of any benefit to me. I went to my first meeting and I was surprised how much free advice and support was on offer,” he said.

“We were given invaluable help with our business plan and marketing strategy and I was given tips about starting a business that I never would have thought of myself,” Damien added.

The 29 year-old reveals the credit crunch has actually worked in his favour as it has meant many of the larger suppliers of sporting goods are more willing to sell to smaller companies such as CR Sports.

“Some of the massive sports companies are also suffering as a result of the recession which has meant they have been more willing to do business with us whereas a few years ago a store this size may have been dismissed,” he said.

Damien believes that it was worth taking the risk in setting up his own business and he is quietly confident he will soon see the fruits of his labour.

“To be honest we had to invest a lot of money in the business up-front and it will be a while before we start to see any real return but there is a definite need for a store like this in the Co. Down area so I am confident that our risk will pay off.

“I think the fact that it is a smaller, local store means people will be more inclined to give us their business. The locals are also aware that Benny and I know the product inside out as we have been immersed in the sports industry for years,” Damien said.