HAVE YOU HAD ANY STRANGE REQUESTS YOU’D LIKE TO TELL US ABOUT? We’ve had a few requests for left handed sticks, fishing tackle, and hot water bottles. We did have a lady who only wanted to buy one shoe as she had only lost one!! WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE COACHING AID THAT YOU SELL AND WHY? Hockey balls.. vital J WHAT
IS YOUR FAVOURITE HOCKEY STICK OVER THE YEARS AND WHY?
My first stick was a vampire supreme but I’d say you wouldn’t recognise it as being a stick now. HOCKEY WORLD WAS SET UP IN THE LAST NUMBER OF YEARS – HOW HAS THIS CHANGED THE WAY YOU DO BUSINESS?
We wanted to try a new name online and decided hockeyworld.ie was worth investing in. Also we felt that whilst Welch Sports is known locally it may not translate as a hockey supplier outside Munster. Hockeyworld.ie is going well and definitely our customer base has spread. HOW DO YOU LIKE TO DIFFERENTIATE FROM YOUR COMPETITORS BOTH LOCALLY AND ONLINE? In terms of service we hope that customers feel we do our best for them. A family run business has a very different feel to a chain based store. We ensure our prices are very competitive and our products are always current. Obviously we can offer expert advice in all things hockey related. HOCKEY EQUIPMENT HAS CHANGED DRASTICALLY OVER THE LAST NUMBER OF YEARS – WHERE DO YOU SEE IT GOING NEXT? Micro chipping in sticks to feedback ball speed, number of touches etc. (I’m patenting that idea J). OF COURSE YOU COACH C OF I MEN TOO – HOW IS THE SQUAD SHAPING UP AHEAD OF THE SEASON AHEAD? All good so far, we’ve lost a few key players to Dublin but the flip side is we have some excellent young players coming through.