Member Article

Rugby star tackles the clothing market

A sportsman is enjoying a double celebration after helping his team to promotion glory and opening his own clothing store. Mark Cholmondeley, Director of Big Chummers Clothing Ltd, is to open his first high street store just a year after setting up his sports, school and work wear business.

The former England schoolboy rugby star’s West Hartlepool side was crowned champions of the North Two East league this season.

Mark Cholmondeley said: “The business has taken off brilliantly and moving to the shop will give us a real presence in the town. It has been one quick jump after another for us with my dad joining us full time since the beginning of February and now the opening of the new retail premises within the first 18 months of operation.

“I can’t claim much credit for the West promotion as I only played a couple of games at the start of the season as business has been so busy. I still qualify for a winner’s medal though.”

Big Chummers Clothing provides personalised branded sportswear to football, rugby, cricket and bowls clubs across the North East and has recently branched out into school and corporate clothing. Through their local sporting contracts BCC is now the official kit supplier for a number of rugby, football, cricket and bowls teams throughout the North East.

The company currently trades from Hartlepool Enterprise Centre in Brougham Terrace but will be moving to York Road this month.

Mark said: “We are hoping the York Road shop will encourage more people to come in and have a look around. Obviously we won’t have the room to stock scrum machines but we are able to order in almost anything.”

Big Chummers Clothing opens its doors on 24 May and is planning an official unveiling on Saturday 7 June.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .