Sporting couple eager to ‘Play It Again’
New owners of St. John’s franchise location have big plans to grow business
Jarrod and Catheryn Thomas have always been active athletes, and their love for sports has been passed down to the St. John’s couple’s three children.
Jarrod spent three seasons competing in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with the Moncton Wildcats and still plays recreationally, and Catheryn excelled at basketball in her school days. The pair also have a strong business background, having looked after the 58-year-old family business, Thomas Amusements, for over a decade.
Earlier this year, when the couple learned the owners of the Play It Again Sport franchise in St. John’s were ready to retire and sell their business, they saw it as an opportunity that was too good to pass on; it would let them combine their passion for sports with their first-hand knowledge of running a business.
“That is probably the most exciting part, to be able to meet and see young athletes as they grow in their sport and to watch our own children, friends and athletes develop into old athletes and pursue their sports careers,” said Jarrod Thomas.
Play It Again Sports is a franchise with locations throughout the United States and Canada. The St. John’s store, which first opened in 1992, is the lone one for Atlantic Canada. The company was founded as a means to connect shoppers with gentlyused sports equipment at cheaper prices. The Thomases were already familiar with the store before buying it, having shopped there as a family.
“We have bought all our kids’ skates in this store,” Jarrod
“There are still some challenges (associated with the pandemic). Some leagues have been late to start. Some sports have been postponed. Those always do reflect back to the equipment providers.” Jarrod Thomas
said. “We like the concept of a skate-exchange program to bring back your quality used skates. Kids’ feet are growing every year. They’re really like-new quality after one season for a youth athlete. It helped to reduce the cost of new skates every year for three kids.”
MORE NEW GEAR
Jarrod understands finding ways to cut corners in terms of cost is helpful for a lot of families and keeps sports affordable, so he’s keen for used equipment sales to remain part of the business.
In terms of growing the business, he does intend to substantially expand the store’s new equipment inventory. That would also involve branching out into sports that are still gaining traction in the province, like football and water sports, or relatively new games such as disc golf and pickleball.
“We would like to partner or pair with any sports organization or association as an equipment provider and would make sure we offered a very affordable price for the equipment they would need,” Jarrod said.
Jarrod and Catheryn took ownership of the St. John’s franchise at the beginning of May. With most eligible residents of the province receiving their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and appointments scheduled for second doses, Jarrod is optimistic sports in Newfoundland and Labrador will face fewer pandemic-related challenges from here on out.
“There are still some challenges,” he noted. “Some leagues have been late to start. Some sports have been postponed. Those always do reflect back to the equipment providers.”
As for their other business, Jarrod and Catheryn will continue to look after Thomas Amusements. The first scheduled stop of the new season begins June 24 in Torbay, with further dates taking Thomas Amusements’ rides and games right across the island through to the early fall.