A story of passion
Sport and business: a perfect match
Written by Place de la Cité | June 30, 2021
In this series, our contributor Julie Blondin goes out to meet the entrepreneurs who make up the soul of Place de la Cité. Between laughter and confidences, they open up to share their story and that of their business with us. We invite you to dive into their world too, one conversation at a time.
Patience and opportunity
For François, entrepreneurship was a dream he had cherished for a long time. And since life works in mysterious ways, his dream has come true thanks to Fradette Sport.
How did you become an entrepreneur?
Dream. Calling. Passion. These are the words that François uses to talk about his journey that led him to entrepreneurship. “It’s a dream I’ve had since I was a child,” he admits from the outset. But it was only after working in the banking sector for about fifteen years that François ended up in the world of entrepreneurship. “I always kept that dream inside me!” admits the dynamic entrepreneur. Fortunately, the skills he acquired during his professional career have been very useful to him in running his own business. But skills are not everything you need to succeed in entrepreneurship; it also has to be a vocation, according to François. The talkative entrepreneur explains that “it’s a much more demanding job than average. Even when you’re not working, you’re working. It’s always on your mind, always on your mind.”
How was your company founded?
It was almost written in the destiny of François to have his business in the field of sport. Being an experienced sportsman himself who had taken part in badminton competitions, he knew Fradette Sport and its former owner, Paul Fradette, well. So, when Paul decided to retire, François jumped at the chance to take over. “It allowed me to realize my dream!” the sportsman emphasizes enthusiastically. And what a perfect marriage; you’d think it was predestined!
Between enthusiasts, we understand each other
François’ passion for his job and his field is clear to hear in his voice. When asked about his company, his answers are full of wisdom that bears witness to his professional experience.
What is it that still keeps you so passionate?
François loves his job so much that he immediately lists several reasons that keep him passionate about it. First, he tells us that he loves the freedom that entrepreneurship gives him: “Having my own business, putting in the effort, then seeing results, doing things myself; that’s what really motivates me.”
Obviously, having a great passion for sport helps François a lot to never get bored at work! In fact, the dedicated entrepreneur is so passionate about sport that he can sometimes be seen in the shop advising his customers. “Talking to a customer about rackets, talking about strings, I love it!” he adds enthusiastically. Maintaining good relationships with his employees is also an essential aspect for François and it motivates him a lot. Creating a great working atmosphere, rallying everyone towards a common goal: he loves it! After all, team spirit is not just for sports fields.
What makes you stand out?
It is certainly true to say that François’s dedication to his employees is reflected in the customer service they offer in return. He says: “It’s a much more family atmosphere: we are close to our employees, there is a very different atmosphere in our company compared to the big stores.” Indeed, Fradette Sport employees are dedicated and passionate about their work. In fact, many work with the same care and dedication as if the company belonged to them. Another aspect that sets Fradette Sport apart is the fact that it is a niche company. Stringing, for example, is a service and an expertise that only they have. And practice breeds excellence and reputation: throughout the company, employees string more than 10,000 rackets a year! “When you string that many rackets in a year, you come to know a thing or two about it!” François says with a chuckle.
When your balance is good, everything is good
In business as in sport, no one is immune to hardship, especially in business. François explains how these hardships have enabled him to become stronger.
What is the biggest challenge you have faced?
François’s beginnings in entrepreneurship were not easy. He confides to us that taking over the company from another owner was a great challenge. He adds: “We were buying a company that already had a way of doing things, that already had a history.” He therefore had to adjust to what the previous owner had established before him. Fortunately, the dynamic entrepreneur did not give up and quickly assimilated the first lessons of entrepreneurship.
What advice would you give to a future entrepreneur?
François wisely states that an entrepreneur should “always try to maintain a balance in his life, despite everything it will require. No matter the field, it’s going to be very demanding.” He adds that, when he started out as an entrepreneur, he experienced stress he didn’t think he would ever feel, and that it’s easy in those situations to lose your mind if you don’t have balance in your life. With experience, he has learned that having priorities other than his business helps put his worries into perspective and see things more clearly, while maintaining good mental health.
