Poole Harbour Watersports is Trader of the Week

Found in Sandbanks Road, Poole Harbour Watersports is a store selling a huge range of windsurfing, kitesurfing, wakeboarding, surfing and stand-up paddle boarding equipment.

Staff member India described the shop as an ‘Aladdin’s cave’.

She said: “The shop itself has its own character. It is ‘organised chaos’ and it has everything someone will need somewhere.”

The company was first started as ‘Poole Harbour Boardsailing’ in 1978 by John Richardson and his wife Maggie – better known for her appearance on the Great British Bake Off in 2021.

The couple worked in a warehouse unit in Hamworthy Docks selling windsurfing equipment and wetsuits.

Poole Harbour Watersports (Image: India Hudson)

After moving to Salterns Marina in the 80s, and then to Sandbanks Road in 1990, the shop was eventually purchased by Chris Shaw in 1993.

Chris rebranded it as ‘Poole Harbour Watersports’, expanded it into a neighbouring unit, and took time to develop a watersports school.

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Nearly 30 years on, he continues to be a familiar face at the shop for many customers.

India said: “We are lucky enough to have local and regular customers. We have a good hub of customers that we know well, and it is reciprocated.

"Many customers are also now friends with Chris through social circles on the water, his presence over years in the shop and his kids also competing in competitions national and internationally so we have a good customer basis from those events too.”

Chris Shaw (Image: Poole Harbour Watersports)

The 23-year-old added Poole Harbour Watersports was made “special” by the legacy it carries.

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She told the Daily Echo: “The company has set itself in the history of Poole and watersports as we always get lovely customers returning after one, five or even 25 years and reminiscing how the shop is still here - and Chris - and that they bought their first kit here and are now back here again.”

In July, Chris will have been at the shop for 30 years.

To mark the anniversary, staff at Poole Harbour Watersports are set to host celebrations, discounts and promotions to “recognise the business is still going well”.

Visit Poole Harbour Watersports at 284 Sandbanks Road in Lilliput.