Padel Marketplace’s 18-year-old founder Rehan Patel plans to open 20 stores across the North West in the next year following the launch of his flagship outlet in Preston.
Rehan founded online store Padel Marketplace when he was 17. Now, backed by Spanish retailer Tienda Padelpoint, he has plans to open a raft of stores within a 30-mile radius before looking further afield.
Rehan, now 18, told The Padel Paper about how the youngster’s career in commerce began by selling crisps at school, before buying and selling low-stock trainers and clothes.
Padel came onto the scene while Rehan was studying business at college, and what began as trading second-hand rackets has transformed into a viable business.
“Once I decided to open an online store, I searched different distributors, around the UK or anywhere in the world, and I came across Tienda Padelpoint,” explained Rehan. “I knew them from sponsoring Leo Augsburger, and I started speaking to them about ordering stock.
“Further along the line with the online store going very well, I thought, why not open physical stores around the UK in clubs? So I flew over to Spain to speak to them, we managed to build a partnership and we’re planning to open around 20 stores in the next 12 months.
“I realised there’s a big gap in the market where I can supply the shops and people can find the gear so they don’t have to order online and wait longer.”
That plan came into motion when Padel Out, Preston, agreed to allow Rehan to stock their nine-court club with gear. That’s now the model for any other clubs which want to come on board.
Rehan explained further: “What we’re trying to do is target any centres above eight courts where there aren’t shops, and what we’ve identified during research, visiting the courts, is most of them put the shop in just for the sake of it, because they’ve got space.
“Most of them don’t fit it out, don’t put enough time behind putting stock in it. Most stores I’ve visited probably only stock around £2,000 worth of stock, but we’re putting £20,000 worth of stock into each store.”
Rehan agrees a joint venture with the padel club owners and is now looking within a 30-mile radius for further sites Liverpool, Manchester and Cheshire, then targeting further afield towards Birmingham and London.
Rehan adds: “In Preston, there’s quite a few clubs around but no one’s really got any of the main stock that people are looking for. They’ve only got one or two ranges of the rackets, Wilson, Bullpadel, nothing else.
“We’ve got seven different brands. We’ve got around 70 rackets, all different variations, we’ve got gear, we’ve got all the t-shirts, grips, shoes, everything.”
With more shops on the horizon and conversations ongoing, Rehan will have a lot on his hands, even more so as he’s going to university to study Building Surveying in a few weeks.
“It’s going to be a pretty tough ride,” he admits, but he is planning to get help by hiring new members of staff, an indication of his confidence in his new and exciting venture.
love this store. friendly, welcoming and amazing customer service. would recomend buying and best of luck to the yuong lad on this padel adventure