Snowboarding entrepreneur is eyeing up second shop
Green shoots…
A SNOWBOARDING entrepreneur is already eyeing up a second shop less than a month after his first opened for business.
Ricki Hutchinson, 25, has been viewing premises in Sunderland to add to the new North State Snowboarding shop he’s just started at Whickham Thorns Outdoor Activity Centre in Gateshead.
Mr Hutchinson, who worked all over Europe as a snowboarding instructor before returning to his native North East to open his own business, has big ideas for his winter sports enterprise.
“Snowboarding is getting really popular,” he said.
“The shop sells all the equipment, clothes and the snowboards. We have been selling stuff and trying to get more involved with the clubs and the little snow slopes that open in the winter, like Allenheads at Hexham, with free lessons.”
He offers instruction and the shop sells specialist clothing and snowboarding equipment.
“It caters for people who go skiing as well. It’s the same clothes,” said Mr Hutchinson.
“We’ve just been looking at another shop as well to get more customers at a more mainstream site.”
He is considering Wearside after finding out about a scheme to help new retail businesses move into Sunderland.
“It’s a struggle to get suitable premises for new businesses,” said Mr Hutchinson, who received Business Link money towards his website but was unable to find grants towards taking on retail premises or employing staff.
Sunderland is also in his sights because, like Gateshead, the local council is currently mulling the idea of building a snow dome, which would provide indoor facilities for winter sports.
“Snow domes open all year round,” said Mr Hutchinson.
“The closest is in Leeds. I frequently go down on a weekly basis. Literally a third of the people there are from Newcastle and Gateshead. It’s crazy.”