p24,25 Jack Meets:SGBGolf_NEW_template 27/01/2009 09:26 Page 26
Jack Meets - Sports
awards. The latest, of which he is
justly proud, from Littlehampton
Sports Forum. ‘Town’s Mayor Award
for a Lifetime Contribution to Sport
2008'. Involvement is the name of his
game and any benefit to the shop
comes naturally and not by design.
The local Rotary Club Community
Service Award and recognition of his
personal contribution to the
Littlehampton Carnival Association sit
alongside a photo of him opening up
the new Sainsbury store. It would be
hard to imagine two places of
commerce so near physically and yet
so far apart in product, layout, and
structure. I was intrigued to see the
picture of him outside No. 10
(Downing Street) prior to his visit
there as guest of his local constituency
Member of Parliament. This was just
prior to the Iraq war so P.M. Blair was
not available to join him on his look
round. Tyndall is active in the
Littlehampton Traders Partnership,
writing their bulletin and participating
in the local successful ‘shop watch’.
Thanks to the Partnership’s initiative,
parking is free for shoppers simply by displaying a disc which has a two hour came to dinner, he stayed on but certainly did not outstay his welcome. He
window. was, says Tyndall, and here his obvious enthusiasm was without bounds,
simply ‘the best Saturday boy ever!’ Paul is a local but far from your ordinary
Thus far I have largely concentrated on the life of an extraordinary man. run-of-the-mill people. He studied Business Design at Brighton University
To be extra ordinary might imply being dull. But in Tyndall’s case, we do leaving with a BA Hons. degree in Business. He is now marketing manager
have to leave out any gap between the ‘a’ of extra and the ‘o’ of ordinary. of an international company engaged in vital Test Equipment work to
Rather the same can be applied to the shop. It could hardly be more ensure safety. He controls five offices worldwide, mainly in Europe with the
ordinary and yet it does exude a certain charm. My first impression was that latest turnover equalling 10 million dollars. It is a niche market seemingly a
it was tired. Yet quirky. Somewhat chaotic. Was it a museum or a business? million miles away from our Littlehampton sports shop. Paul is sports-
Somewhat dingy? Old fashioned? Without a doubt! Smart? Certainly not. orientated having a handicap of 10 on the golf course. Living and working
Friendly? Full marks. Quite why anyone was smiling, who knows, but they locally, he is married to Katie and their present family consists of Libby, two
were smiling, and Tyndall was later to emphasise his Dad’s great foresight in years old, and Abigail, not yet one year. Tyndall will retire from sole business
making sure to have a shop ‘on the sunny side of the street’. Computer- ownership early in 2009. The plan is for Paul to assume control, ensuring,
generated notices would have looked far more professional that the rather says Tyndall, that the ‘core values remain’. Explaining that over the years the
scrappy notes stuck here and there. Yes, OK, no offence, but telling it like it shop has built up a reputation for ‘honest, knowledgeable, and fair
is, or at least as Yours Truly saw it, I had expected something just a little dealings, with traditional service’. Paul will be back in the business bringing
more attractive. The one positive and, oh-so-important, aspect that almost if ‘modern marketing experience and skills gained within a cutting edge
not entirely overrode this rather harsh criticism, was the way in which international company.’ Tyndall and Paul have made a pledge: Paul will keep
customers were received. There were almost certainly no strangers in town away from the stringing machine and Tyndall from the soon-to-be-
that cold winter’s day, but I quickly sensed that those who did enter were as introduced computer.
much friends as customers. Greeted by name and a real welcome, it was
uncanny to realise that their needs were anticipated and they were served The present trading climate could not be more challenging. Large or
well, as were those who wanted to know where they could find whatever. small, every company has to consider and reconsider its plans for survival.
Are we making the most of what we could be doing, business wise, selling
Tyndall knows only too well that if the business is to continue, many on the 'net? Are we sufficiently aware of who are our customers and what
changes will be necessary. Membership of STAG has served him well. There are their special needs? Are we stinting on display and losing out on sales?
is no immediate competition from the ‘big boys’. We spoke about the lack Are we making the most use of our trading associations? Are we properly
of real representation of several of the brands, who relied on the involved with our local clubs and schools? Does specialisation necessarily
independent when they first came on the scene, and may one day regret mean wearing blinkers? Do we arrive with a smile and be grateful that we
their failure to support them now. The offers of online ordering are no are able so to do? Two years on, will Paul be seen as the one with courage
substitute, he said, for the personal visit and follow-up. There were and foresight or an idealist who should have known better? Would you care
exceptions, Gray Nicolls and Head came in for some praise. Trade shows of to write the next chapter in this story? Always an optimist, I hope it will
past years, dating from those at the Royal Horticultural Hall and specially have…
happy memories of Bournemouth were recalled. But now, it was time to
meet Paul Froome destined, it seems, to tread where many might fear so to A HAPPY ENDING.
do. In 1994, Paul arrived, aged just 13, as a Saturday boy. Like the man who
26 SGB SPORT JANUARY 2009
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