Business

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

What do you want from Santa?

Page 2

Argus

Its a big hand for teen businessman who sells goalie gloves globally
SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD Newport businessman George Tapsell has set up a venture called Calma, selling goalkeeping gloves and other equipment to goalies around the world. The former Bassaleg School pupil said: I have always wanted to work for myself as I feel its very rewarding, it gives me a feeling of self achievement. I set up my first business at 14 which offered a service selling online merchandise and tips/strategies to the everyday online gamer. This was hugely successful and within a couple of months I was known as the market leader in my specific field, which was the game Fifa. After three months I had earned enough in net profit to buy myself an Apple iMac and the required business equipment that I needed to expand. This initial venture was so successful, George sold it. He then went on to set up Calma, which sells 95 per cent of its stock online. He said: At the moment I have a spare room in our house which is full of gloves and other merchandise but this may have to change as the company is growing very fast. We have sports companies from Asia, South America and other areas of the world who regularly ask if they can stock our products. I have also spoken to some of the UKs leading sports stockists about my products and they seem to like them a lot. I run my own twitter account and Facebook page under the Calma brand name. I also run a neutral goalkeeper twitter account which has no affiliation with my brand. This account has 7,000-plus followers to whom I will slowly introduce my brand. The brand has teamed up Turn to page 2

ENTREPRENEUR: George Tapsell, 16, who sells goalie gloves and other goalie equipment worldwide from his home in Newport

Work is set to start on Newport city centre Premier Inn

WORK is set to start on the conversion of a former nightclub in Newport city centre into a Premier Inn. The Whitbred-owned hotel chain, which has more than 660 hotels across the UK and Ireland, bought the former Delilahs building opposite the citys railway station a number of years ago but since then nothing has happened. Business Argus can now reveal that Newport-based developer Richard Hayward Properties has won the contract to redevelop the Grade II listed building into a 60-bedroom hotel and that work is due to start in January 2014. About 100 people will be employed during the redevelopment of the building. The new hotel, which is a

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By Jo Barnes

01633 777240 jba@gwent-wales.co.uk Twitter @SWABusiness

prominent position within the city centre, close to the recently redeveloped market and just a short distance away from the new Admiral building, which when full will house more than 1,000 workers, is due to be open in time for Christmas 2014. A spokesman for Premier Inn said the group was very much committed to the site. David Jones, of Newportbased chartered surveyors Hutchings and Thomas, said: The redevelopment of the building in its prime position opposite the citys railway station and the main road in and out of the city is a posi-

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Premier Inn is set to open in time for Christmas 2014 tive sign along with the completion of Admirals new office block in the centre of the city that things really are motoring in Newport. This new hotel has the ability to inject fresh life into Newport underpinning its aim to offer 24-hour vitality into the city . Lets now hope

that on the back of this there is renewed interest in the former Kings Hotel as there has already been some interest. It would be very welcome if the one scheme acted as a catalyst for the other and further rejuvenation projects in the city centre in 2014. Its certainly seems to be a a positive note on which to end the year, said Mr Jones.

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