| Hakim Hayat |
BRITAIN Brunei Business Forum (BBBF) members and guests enjoyed a presentation from Yusuf Flynn, founder and CEO of Headhunter Sport, a Bruneian company that designs, manufactures and sells rugby kits across the region.
A rugby player himself, Yusuf saw a market for comfortable, affordable rugby kit, customised to a team’s requirements. There is an enormous potential market with some 122 million rugby supporters as well as players in 14 countries. Yusuf realised that supplying Brunei’s own requirements was one thing, but the future of doing successful business lies in securing a sizeable export market.
Yusuf has already signed one contract with one regional rugby union for the supply of kit, and is about to sign up with one of the world’s best-known brands as well as another major world sporting tournament.
He claims that his success is largely due to delivering on time and precise specifications the custom-designed kit required. To do this he has been resourceful, not least in coping with the challenges of logistics in Brunei.
Yusuf was also adamant that, without the support he received from the Brunei Government and from DARe (Darussalam Enterprise), he would not have come so far in such a short time in establishing his factory and creating jobs for Bruneians.
But ultimately it is Yusuf’s own enthusiasm, determination, self-belief and sense of humour which have been the key.
“‘Inspiring’ is the word that comes to mind when describing Yusuf Flynn’s story about his journey to becoming such a successful businessman,” said William Martin, Chairman of the BBBF. “He’s the kind of businessman that sets an example for us all.”
