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tour of New Zealand, during which he visited every badminton club in the country. “University sport was also a big part of his life,” says Bill. “He was the president of the British Universities’ Badminton Association, which at one time held the largest tournament in the UK.” Cicely, meanwhile, was also an accomplished tennis player, once winning the Easter Tournament at Tally Ho in Birmingham. Wendy Bill has followed in her mother’s footsteps, playing county tennis for 25 years and being part of Edgbaston Priory’s and Barnt Green’s first team for almost as long. It is through her contacts, and those of the shop’s racquets manager, Andy Hartley, who is one of only two Yonex ‘super coaches’ in the country, that the reputation of Maurice Robinson Sports has spread far and wide in the years since its founder died. “We have a great network of coaches linked to the shop, which helps people know about us,” says Bill. “What we offer that other sports shops may not is specialist advice such as what type of racquet to use. We quite often have people come in who bought a racquet on the internet but found it wasn’t suitable for them.” It is this personal service and expert advice that has kept the shop, which employs six staff, ahead of the game, despite the inexorable rise of internet shopping. “One of the things we’re looking to do in the near future is to have a new website, as it’s important to be web-faced these days,” explains Bill. “But I would never want to be just an internet retailer, because I like meeting people and discussing their needs face-to-face.” That is not to say that the shop hasn’t been through some tough times. As well as having to weather several recessions, increased overheads and a squeezing of profit margins due to internet shopping, a fire that gutted next-door Cash Converters store last March caused extensive damage to the shop’s stock. “The fire was awful,” remembers Bill. “The road was closed for three days and the smoke
• enhancing • connecting • developing
SUCCESS STORY
Kings Heath going from strength to strength The Birmingham suburb of Kings Heath has long been home to a bustling, diverse community of independent retailers and businesses. Today, thanks to its Business Improvement District (BID) status, it is thriving as never before. Nearly half (47%) of businesses in Kings Heath describe themselves as independents. These 140 outlets include shops selling a wide range of goods, from vintage clothing to garden plants; restaurants, pubs and cafes, estate agents, hair and beauty salons, financial and community services. Just 7% of commercial premises are vacant – considerably lower than the 12% national average. In the past year, more than 15 independent businesses have taken on new premises in the area. In York Road, just off the High Street, every business is an independent. Maurice Robinson Sports, which opened in 1948, is thought to be the longest-standing independent shop, although the 1904-built Hare and Hounds pub – where UB40 played their first gig, in 1979 – classes itself as an independent. Kings Heath BID is administered by the Kings Heath Centre Partnership (KHCP). Town centre manager Kate Smart says: “Kings Heath is not only an up and coming area. It has been doing its own thing and doing it remarkably well for decades, as is evident from the longevity of businesses like Maurice Robinson Sports and the unrivalled and enviable success of our retail offering and low percentage of vacant premises. “My job is to ensure that the businesses, residents and visitors get the most out of Kings Heath, and we are doing everything we can to provide a safe, clean, vibrant environment for people to enjoy. We take every opportunity to shout about how fantastic our local, independent businesses are – and they are just one fraction of the total, exciting melting pot that is Kings Heath.”
damage to our shop was horrendous. There was a thick film of dirt on everything. We had to have a major clean-up and sell the clothing half-price. But the fire brigade were fantastic – they saved our building.” Happily, business has bounced back and the future is looking rosy. Do major sporting events, such as the Olympics, Wimbledon and the Tour de France bring in a new generation of sports enthusiasts? Yes and no, says Bill. “You do get a bit of a rush after certain events, especially badminton. After the Yonex All England Open Badminton Championships at the NIA in Birmingham, lots of people come into the shop wanting branded shirts, shoes and racquets as worn by top player Lee Chong Wei. The Olympics, on the other hand, didn’t have much impact. While it was a wonderful experience for London to host the Games in 2012, we didn’t see a
corresponding rise in business.” Bill believes the only way to really get the country up and running in terms of greater sports activity is to provide more, and better, facilities and quality coach training, such as the badminton coaching seminars held at the University of Worcester’s Motion & Performance Centre. “Facilities are the most important thing – and local facilities,” she says. “If you want to get more young people taking up sport, that’s where the money should go. From what I see, the areas that need facilities the most are the ones least likely to get them.” At least Maurice Robinson Sports will continue to play its part in equipping and advising amateur and professional sports people from across the country. “I am proud to still be running the shop that my father founded, and to be carrying on his legacy,” says Bill. “I like to think he’d be proud of me too.” n
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BUSINESS QUARTER | WINTER 13