BUSINESS OF THE MONTH
vin, Kenyan-born runner Owner of the running business Kipmo rotich talks shop and six-year DB resident, Thomas Kip
List your Lantau business for free at www.arounddb.com
Tell us a little about your business.
We’ve offered outdoor running classes for adults and kids in DB, Tung Chung and elsewhere in Hong Kong since August 2011. We often go to races together so we are a very close-knit running community – everyone motivates each other to keep moving! I also manage elite Kenyan runners who travel through Hong Kong, and where possible, they attend training sessions which inspires the runners I coach.
What is your biggest reward?
Many people can’t run 5 kilometres when they start training with me. Seeing them finish a half or full marathon is a great moment. Also, it’s great when the kids I train join our adult runners in short races. Seeing them trying so hard, all running in their Kipmovin shirts, makes me proud.
Do you enjoy being self-employed?
I enjoy the flexibility, and it’s taught me to be more organised. I’m up early and home late as most of my classes are held before and after work. I’m inspired by Sir Richard Branson. He does what others wouldn’t think to try. My experience and knowledge are in running, so it’s still a challenge to organise things like bookkeeping and finances.
How do you keep your customers interested?
Having group training sessions and mixing up the workouts keeps people coming back. Running needs little in terms of resources but I have built up some special equipment, like exercise balls, weights, ropes, agility ladders and foam rollers, so that some classes have an element of core and strength training to them.
How do you see your business looking in five years’ time? Photos by Tra cey van Geest and courtesy of Kipmovin
I am happy keeping my business small and manageable so that I still have time for my family. I am looking into training school groups, and, in the past, I’ve trained corporate groups, so there are plenty of possibilities. Right now, I’m looking at taking groups of runners from Hong Kong to Kenya for a training camp, with a race at the end of the trip.
Call Kipmovin on 6180 3256, email thomas@kipmovin.com, or visit www.kipmovin.com.