Shop, knows a thing or two about retail.

This month, a black business that survived the society and the attitudes of business leaders in Bermuda's 1960s celebrated an anniversary of a business that began with the dreams of some of the Island's leading sportsmen.

Such cricketing luminaries as Dennis Wainwright, Cal (Bummy) Symonds, Charlie Daulphin and Mr. Minors began the company, with former Cup Match umpire and one time president of the Pembroke-Hamilton Club, James Browne, as president.

Others involved included Eldon Raynor, Sheridan Raynor and Gladwyn (Dewey) Trott.

The first four are directors of the company and collectively have about an 80 percent stake in the business.

The company was formed after they were part of a cricket team that went on a Canadian tour with W.F. (Chummy) Hayward's Bermuda Wanderers in 1966. A group out of the cricketing eleven decided to go into business and a company was incorporated, with Mr. Minors as the majority shareholder and store manager.

Mr. Brown, the father of veteran Parliamentarian Lois Browne-Evans and the owner of the Clay House Inn building on North Shore, and Mr. Hayward helped the business get started.

Saturday night the company held a reception for their supporters at The Club to acknowledge the milestone and to thank the many people who were part of the success.

It brought back some memories for Mr. Minors.

He recalled: "We found it very difficult to get loans. The bank was always on our case. Like a lot of companies, we just couldn't operate without some form of overdraft facility. They were too reluctant to loan us money.

"I would have to say that they were reluctant because we weren't part of the establishment. We were just 11 ordinary, young, black guys who were trying to move ahead. We didn't have all the capital that we really would have liked.

But we used all of our resources.

"We had our ups and downs, but people who bought into the company -- including those who got out -- made money. Over the years, we have managed to give dividends on a regular basis.

"But it took six years to really get going, making money and giving the guys back something. What helped us was the fact that we were all in sport and had built in sources of business with clubs that were much stronger -- financially and membership wise -- than they are today. We were doing a lot of business with clubs then. It's a lot different now.'' Mr. Minors feels there may be some decline in club participation now because of too much emphasis on alcohol. The bars at workmen's clubs have become very active over the years as a steady source of revenue that keeps the clubs going.

"People are trying to get away from it,'' Mr. Minors said, "but the real cry now is that the only way the clubs can survive is through alcohol. They've been around for hundreds of years, but the scene has changed.

"I don't frequent clubs like many years ago, because I'm not into that drinking environment and the clubs don't have the billiards tables and other games of skill that used to be the major emphasis.'' The businessman and former cricketer also has an opinion on the status of the Island's current sports programmes.

Asked about the recent lack of success in national sports like cricket and soccer, Mr. Minors said, "There's so much more available for young people to do today, that it is going to be harder than in the past to keep their interest.

"When I was coming up, I didn't have a motorbike I could just jump on and go off to another part of the Island. The only thing I was interested in was getting off from work, so I could go to play football or cricket.

"But today, the whole picture has changed. There are more sports, and there is more activity. They are even seeing this in the West Indies, where there is great exposure to American sports.

"You turn on your television everyday and all you see is the American sports.

Then those sports started creeping into the school curriculum.'' Mr. Minors sees soccer and cricket programmes in Bermuda as the victims in an age of 50 or more television channels, transportation mobility and heavier competition from other sports.

"Parents used to come to buy their six- to ten-year-old children cricket bats. Now the big thing is T-ball sets, which helps get the kids ready for baseball or softball. They even have a T-ball league on the base lands, that they have been pushing for the last five years. There are hundreds of kids down there.

"But on Saturday mornings, those kids who are not into T-ball are into martial arts, or some other sport. Face it, there is just a tremendous variety of activity for young people in Bermuda today.

"For cricket to succeed in this day and age, those who are involved will have to really push it as much as they can.'' The company was just one of many that held off the hard times of recession in the beginning of this decade through the success of previous years. Much like other retailers, the firm had to become much more conservative, as they found an increasing amount of competition from individuals shopping abroad.

Said Mr. Minors, "What has really helped us in the last six or seven years has been the fitness trend. People have tried to get healthier and get in shape. We made a decision to follow it and provide the popular products because we felt it would be a good market for us.

"We've always been known for providing a lot of general sporting goods in a number of areas. And, various clubs and individuals have been very good to us.'' Yet the company maintained a conservative buying strategy, even though purchasers still think of them, when they think of cricket gear in particular, and soccer. The company also targets school supplies, such as physical education class uniforms.

The International Sports Shop is exclusive Bermuda distributors for Penn tennis balls, the sponsor of the Davis Cup, including the qualifier to be held here next week.

Mr. Minors said, "Charles Daulphin is the tennis man, a former teaching pro at Hamiltonian. He has been working directly in the business for the last eight years.'' THIRTY YEARS YOUNG -- Will Minors, president of The International Sports Shop on Bermudiana Road