Tell us about yourself...
My name is Damien Rooney, I am the director of RITE Fitness Ltd and RITE Fitness – Fitness For All. RITE Fitness is a personal and small group training private facility based in Newry, and Fitness For All is an online corporate health and wellbeing platform.
I came from a martial arts background having trained 25+ years in martial arts, before competing professional for 12 years as a mixed martial artist. During my time training I was continuously completing qualifications and study in all areas of the fitness field with the eventual aim of opening my own facility.
I ran this alongside my fight career before moving full time into personal coaching on my retirement. Since then I have built my facility up and at the same time launched my online health and wellbeing platform where I have partnered with a wide range of companies across a wide variety of sectors.
Why did you join FSB?
I had heard excellent reports about FSB and the support that it provided small businesses, so once I looked into it further it really was the next logical step for me to join not only for the benefits but also to network with more local companies.
Have you used FSB Services so far, how has it helped your business?
At the moment I have only just scanned the FSB portal and haven’t had to use anything too in-depth just as of yet. But the range of offering provided is superb and all bases are covered.
How did Covid-19 impact your business?
Covid like most other similar sectors shut down all of my face to face classes and programs which was naturally a disruption. Thankfully I had already transitioned quite heavily with my online offering, not only at a corporate but personal level. So thankfully I was in a position to maintain workflow and income to some degree and allow me the time to focus on growing and refining that area of my business which has built a base for the future.
What is single greatest challenge for any SME at the minute?
Greatest challenge of SME at the moment I believe in the uncertainty with the economic climate and how things are going to transition moving forward from this point.
What are the opportunities and positives for SMEs at the minute and how are you embracing recovery?
The benefit of SME at the moment are generally smaller overheads than large multi nationals. So for myself being mobile and able to transition quite efficiently with a more streamline business structure has definitely benefited me for moving forward.
Of FSB’s key campaign issues at the minute. Which is most important to you and your business at present and why?
Post Covid recovery would be the main area of focus for my business currently and I believe many businesses in this sector.
Have you any words of advice to anyone starting a small business?
Focus on your business structure at the start. Bigger is not necessarily better and focus on streamlining your operation and getting things to flow as smoothly as possible while making best use of your time is the most important factor. Spending the time most efficiently working on your business, instead of spending all of your time working in your business, will allow you to grow.