Squash is not only for the rich

Szczecinbiznes.pl: Where did the idea for making money on squash come from?

Marcin Wójtowicz:  Partly, probably from my own lifestyle in which sport has always been very important.  I was a professional footballer for many years.  Then I completely changed the area of my activities and worked as a manager in big multinational corporations.  I travelled for business in Poland a lot, worked hard and had less and less time for myself. I realised that many people were in the same position.  They wanted to stay fit and healthy, but had no time for that.  One day while on a business trip to Poznań, a friend took me for a game of squash.  That’s how it all started.  I realised it was a great way to relax after work and to stay fit.  So the launch of the Squash Zone Club was a natural way of getting back to sport and combining my past sports experience with my knowledge and experience of a manager.

What was the biggest problem during the realisation of your idea?

The hardest thing was to find the right space.  A room for a squash court has to be high enough – over 6 metres.  Only then can you organise an A category competition there.  My partner and I visited many places in town such as disused warehouses, cowsheds, etc.  They would always be too low by a few inches.  Finally, we found the shopping mall in Turzyn, where the space was just right.

How much does it cost to launch a club like that?

One court costs 30 thousand Euros.  Obviously, we’re talking the world-class facilities made by the best American company.  There are four courts in the club – they were the main expense.  The other costs included adaptation of the space: the changing rooms, sauna, bathrooms, etc.  The total bill came up to 1.2 million zlotys.

Where did the money for such a big investment come from?

We received a subsidy from the European Union.  That required a lot of effort, because a squash club is not a very typical business.  We hired a professional advisory firm for that purpose.  We also used our own business experience.  In the application form, we emphasised the innovativeness of our business idea and the fact that we had gone for the top quality, which was new in our town.  The subsidy we received came up to 60% of the qualified costs, so approximately 560,000 zlotys.

When will it begin to pay off?

In our estimates, we need about five years to break even, but of course that will depend on many factors.  We know of a few other squash clubs opening in Szczecin as we speak and a few have operated for some time already.  It is bad for our business on one hand, but on the other, it helps popularise the sport and shows that the market is not saturated yet.

Are you in competition with one another?

For sure, we are in competition, but I would say that now we are cooperating in view of popularising the game of squash.  Ultimately, customers will make their own choices and will go to the places they like the most.

How is the popularity of squash looking now?

Of course, squash is perceived as a prestigious discipline.  Some businessmen come to our club for coffee and when they answer the phone, they say they’re in a squash club although they don’t even see the court.  So there is an element of prestige to it which we want to cultivate.  We have a special offer for companies, e.g. integration meetings while playing squash.  We are also thinking about establishing a squash league for companies.  On the other hand, we want to show people that squash does not have to be an expensive pastime reserved only for the rich.  We want to encourage young people and students, too.  Most of our clients now are people who did not have anything to do with squash before.  They just want to have a go and see what it is like.  We hope that at least some of them will like it and stay with us for good.

How much does it cost?

One hour in the most expensive time slot is 60 zlotys.  Of course that price is split between the players, which is mostly two, although beginners often come in threes.  You can also hire the equipment in our club: 5 zlotys for a racket, 2 zlotys for a ball and 10 zlotys for special shoes.  All our customers can also use the sauna free of charge.

Łucja Pawłowska