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From the time he was 15, Éric Corcoran was surrounded by friends whose parents were in business. He soon decided that he too wanted to live the life of an entrepreneur. “That was what I dreamed of because it was different from what I had known up until that point, what with a father who taught physical education. I really had my heart set on business!” Even so, he never imagined that some 20 years later he would be running Sport Échange Outaouais, the new and used sports equipment shop set up in 1991 by his father, Malcolm Corcoran.
Before moving his business to the Hull sector in Gatineau, Malcolm Corcoran taught physical education for 18 years. An ardent fan of outdoor activities, he had worked as a guide in cyclo tourism, canoe camping, and cross-country and downhill skiing. He also wrote a book about waxing cross-country skis, which he himself translated into English and Russian!
In 1991, an entrepreneurship contest caught his eye. That was when Malcolm Corcoran decided to go for broke. He took advantage of the training provided in connection with the contest to prepare his business plan, and gradually the project became a reality.
As soon as the shop opened on boulevard des Carrières in the Hull sector, Éric joined his father as a salesclerk. At that time, he was the only employee.
Éric started acquiring shares in the business. Then a five-year transfer process was set in motion. In 2008, Éric Corcoran finally took over as President, and his father remained a shareholder. “My father has always been the leader, the one who steered the business. This job has now fallen to me, but my father guides me. He is my main advisor and mentor.”
From dream to reality
Sport Échange Outaouais, which specializes in the sale, purchase, exchange, rental and repair of sports equipment, was a hit from the get to. At the time, the concept was entirely new. “Reuse, repair and recycle: these principles have always been part of our philosophy. We borrowed from the recycling programs, as well as the big box stores: concepts that in 1991 were just emerging.”
From the very start, Éric Corcoran set the tone: he always tried to stay ahead of the competition. “My goal was to make Sport Échange Outaouais the biggest store in its category. This is now a fait accompli. For the last 15 years, we have been operating the largest store of its kind in eastern Canada.”
The 15,000 square foot warehouse store now has 15 permanent and 35 part-time employees. Throughout its development, the Corcorans have received assistance from different organizations, including Emploi Québec. When the time came to staff positions in the store, Emploi Québec gave them quick access to a database of potential candidates. The organization is also an important training resource for both staff and management.
A growing market
The bulk of Sport Échange Outaouais clients is families who practice sports from time to time. Selling, exchanging and even renting second-hand equipment is exactly what they need. Nonetheless, 80% of the items sold are new.
The warehouse store has a workshop where sports equipment of all kinds gets repaired. Éric Corcoran runs two of the company’s divisions: Vêtements Sport Ouragan, which offers embroidery and screen printing for sportswear, and Supports d’Auto Express, which specializes in the sale, exchange, rental and installation of sports gear car carriers and racks.
A rental service has been developed for tourist agencies that organize trips to the region. Sport Échange Outaouais also has agreements with hotels in Gatineau and Ottawa that offer cross-country ski and bicycle rentals through their hotels.
The business’ market is still growing rapidly. The Corcorans are looking into franchising the Sport Échange Outaouais model to open new stores in Ottawa and elsewhere across Canada. The ultimate goal is to get into the American market.
“I sincerely believe in it, because everything I have visualized so far has come to pass,” concludes Éric Corcoran.
Pratical information
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What made you decide to start up this business?
After 18 years in the field of education, and after being involved in several sports projects, my father wanted to take on a new challenge by starting up this business. As for me, I already knew from a very young age that I had what it took to be an entrepreneur. And given that I had been working with my father ever since the shop opened, taking it over was the most natural thing.
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Why Gatineau?
Our family comes from the Hull sector in Gatineau. Opening the store in our own city was a logical choice.
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In your opinion, what advantages does Gatineau have over Ottawa?
The site where the store is located, on boulevard de la Carrière in the Hull sector, is close to highway exits, which makes it easily accessible for our clients who work in other parts of the Outaouais and for those who live in Ottawa. Also, there is more parking in Gatineau than in Ottawa.
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What are the advantages of working for yourself?
Working for yourself means you have full control over your destiny. On a day-to-day basis it enables you to be more efficient because entrepreneurs don’t have to get permission from anyone! Working for yourself is also a source of pride when major projects work out. Entrepreneurs get the credit, but of course they know that there is a whole team behind them.
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What surprised you the most about the business world?
Projects that I thought were impossible eventually worked out! When you plan and put your ideas in writing, every element ends up falling into place. Visualization really worked for me, and that was a big surprise!
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To what do you attribute your business success?
Sport Échange Outaouais meets the needs of a growing client base in the region. These clients want economical ways to pursue their sports. For our part, we are always looking for ways to provide outstanding service. My ultimate goal is to surpass clients’ expectations.
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What were your toughest challenges, and how did you overcome them?
For a while I felt like a prisoner of the business. I was the only one who could fill in for an employee who was absent, and I felt I had to control everything all the time. I really had a lot on my plate. I am gradually freeing myself of the overload by delegating more. Technology is also helping me control some of the activities when I am away from the store. In principle, I don’t use these tools very much when I am on holiday. However, I like knowing that they are within reach.
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What does it take to succeed in business today?
You have to be passionate about the project in which you are about to engage, and know the area thoroughly. You have to fervently want to succeed, and you have to be prepared to work. Given that there is normally not much money coming in at the beginning, you need a lot of financial discipline. You also have to learn to follow your intuition.
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What advice would you give someone who is thinking of starting up a business?
You cannot do it without a business plan. This document is like an itinerary that you chart out before a long trip. You need it to set your budgets and goals. It also helps you think through the details of the project. It is important to invest time in it because once a business gets going at full steam, it is too late to think.
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How did Développement économique – CLD Gatineau contribute?
From the outset, the team at DE – CLDG connected us with the Business Development Bank of Canada so we could get funding for our projects.
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- « DE – CLDG is there to serve entrepreneurs who have a business idea. For additional information, call 819-595-8002. Our services are free and confidential.
