The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
What started out as a small soccer shop has grown into one of the only sports fitness clothing stores in the area. Kick It Sports Store opened its doors in December of 2006 and owners Don Kirkham and wife Roz have not looked back since. "It's just amazing. We started off exclusively soccer but have since grown," says Don, who also coaches of the Hapnot Collegiate Kopper Kweens soccer team. The Kirkhams had owned a clothing store in the '80s, and Don says, "We've just wanted to get back into retail, and also bring something for me as well." Which is where the soccer section came in, he adds. "This was the perfect combination," he says, adding that "it was something we planned as a progression to happen over the years for it to expand." Performance gear is hard to come by in the Flin Flon area, and Don says people travel for this service. "We get people from Thompson and The Pas, Snow Lake - people from all over because it's not a common store," he says. And Roz chipped in, "When Wal-Mart and Canadian Tire opened, everyone thought it was going to be a downfall, but it has helped all the little businesses, because it brings more people." Don says he thinks the store has become the success it is because of "advertising and word of mouth. And also, people are realizing that we aren't just a soccer store anymore." Don notes the couple has had a "very good response," though there were some problems starting out. "The sales were slow, but that's with any business first starting out, but things are really picking up now," he says. Don also adds, "We used to have to travel out of town to places like Winnipeg to get this type of clothing, but we sell it now." Kick It Sports Store, located at 49 Main Street above Faktor's Fashions and Sewing Sales, offers a variety of performance clothing, for soccer, volleyball, running, biking and yoga. "It all depends on what season it is,' says Don, adding that "we do have a large variety." See 'Owners' P.# Con't from P.# At some point in the future, the Kirkhams would like to expand their store, but Don says "next year we're going to start off by bringing in more merchandise." "We are going to start carrying youth clothing as well," he says. Don thinks the store will fly because "to exercise, you need to have the right clothing." "As of now," says Don, "we sell clothing for adults and late teens." Aside from the store, Coach Kirkham will be busy hitting the field again this season. "We're starting training in the next week or so for the Hapnot Collegiate varsity girl's team," he says. When it comes to coaching, Don says, "I just love it. Soccer is more than a sport to me; it's a passion. "I love being able to pass on the sport to the kids." And he adds, "I'm out there coaching because I love it. I'm not a father with a kid on the team who feels they have to coach. I just do it because I love it." As far as soccer goes, Don says he would some day like to see an indoor soccer team. "If I had my way we would have one. We're coming closer to it, but we're hoping to have one in the future,' says the coach. Don says he can't turn around the corner without something about soccer coming up. "Parents will introduce me to their children and tell me and them (the kids) that they will be playing on my team," says the coach. Don and Roz, both from England, confidently stated this is home and they won't be leaving. "We thought about it for a bit, but not anymore. We're here to stay. This is home now," says Roz.
