Hero business

A GEELONG couple’s mission to give their son a poster of his sporting hero has inspired a new business venture bringing back the old-fashioned collectors’ items.

Andrew and Gab Bye were searching for a birthday present for sports-mad son Jordan, 5, when the idea struck.

“Ask anyone over 30, ‘Who did you have on your wall as a kid?’ and they’ll be able to give you a name,” Mr Bye said. “There was a period of time where it was a common thing.”

Inquiries to major sporting codes found no one currently had a licence for posters featuring individual sports stars in action.

Mr Bye, who works for Australia Post and has experience in the printing world, and Mrs Bye, a stay-at-home mum of three, decided to fill the gap in the market by establishing on-demand poster printing business SportPosters.

They’ve already secured licences with Cricket Australia’s men’s, women’s and Big Bash leagues and hope to expand their poster offerings to include soccer, football, netball and even hockey and swimming.

Their site regularly updates images to include key player moments such as making a ton, taking a screamer or making a debut shortly after they take place.

“Kids might pick their favourite because they have same first name as them, or wear the same football number, or use the same cricket bat,” Mr Bye said. “We have already sold (posters) of players that I didn’t even recognise.”

For more information, visit sportposters.com.au