TENNIS PRO GETTING INTO SWING OF SUCCESS IN HIS BASEMENT

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, April 8, 1993                   TAG: 9304080517
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: S-12   EDITION: METRO  
SOURCE: MARY JO SHANNON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium
TENNIS PRO GETTING INTO SWING OF SUCCESS IN HIS BASEMENT
When his tennis students continued to ask for recommendations on equipment and racket restringing, Tim Strawn saw an opportunity to provide the services himself.
His third job began last June when he opened Baselines, a restringing operation, in the basement of his home on Norwood Street in Southwest Roanoke County.
Employed full time at C&P Telephone's special-services center, Strawn had played tournament tennis until five years ago when he decided to become a pro. He earned certification through the U.S. Professional Tennis Association and the U.S. Professional Tennis Registry and began to teach students "ages 5 through 80" at Ridgewood Tennis Club in Salem.
"I invested about $3,000," he said, "most of it for two machines to restring rackets and inventory - strings, grips and grommets for repair work only. I don't do any retail sales at this time."
Strawn had become a member of the U.S. Racquet Stringing Association two years before beginning Baselines to keep abreast of developments in the field. With a membership of 7,000, the organization has only 2,000 members who are certified. Strawn is proud to be one of them.
Membership in various organizations and the expense of training and travel involved in becoming qualified also must be considered in start-up expense. When all this is considered, Strawn said he is now just breaking even.
Little remodeling was necessary to convert the basement area of his home to an office where he is available evenings. He has built his business by word of mouth and has been surprised at the volume of work he has had from racquetball and squash players.
"My machines will restring all of these rackets," he said, "so I expected some business among racquetball and squash players. But I actually do more racquetball than tennis rackets."
Cost of restringing is based upon the type of string used in the racket. The least expensive, basic nylon, runs $10 to $13, while the most expensive, natural gut, will cost $35 to $60. Unless the racket requires extensive repair and replacement of parts, the restringing is included in the price of the string.
"I'm in this business for the repeat business," Strawn said. "I guarantee my work, for I want my customers to be satisfied."
During the winter months, he concentrates on racquetball, and in the spring and summer on tennis. He spends about 10 to 15 hours a week in his shop and continues to teach 10 to 12 hours weekly.
He said he enjoys the personal contact with students and hopes to continue teaching, even if his business expands. This year, he will work closely with Ashaway, the only American manufacturer of racket string. Although they do not advertise as broadly as some of their competitors, Strawn said he has found their products to be superior.
Strawn said he met the president of the company at the Sporting Goods Manufacturing Supershow in Atlanta in February and was impressed with the programs the company offers, one of which is a "preferred player" program.
The company, by sponsoring a player for a period of time, gains exposure of its products, Strawn said. He said he then is able to test various strings and tensions, and the player gains experience through using strings he or she might not ordinarily try.
Although he does not retail at the present, that will change if his business continues to grow. Strawn hopes someday to expand Baselines to a full-time operation in a separate building with retail sales.
Tim Strawn, owner of Baselines, can be reached by calling 772-4408.
Memo: Also ran in Current April 18, 1993.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB