Diving into a new venture

EXOTIC fish from around the globe are not normally associated with Oldham, but business partners Alan Hollas and Keith Shaw believe there is a market for dazzling damsels and arctic angels.

They have established The Living Reef in Lees Road, Oldham, facing the fire station, and invested £50,000 to create a fabulous aquarium setting in premises formerly occupied by GR Labels.

Alan (53), from Hathershaw, and Keith (49), from Chadderton, readily admit they have converted their hobby into a business.

Both are avid collectors and are excited about bringing more people into the fish fold.

They believe that their intimate knowledge of exotic fish and corals will give them an edge over many rivals in what is an intense market.

Alan said: “There is lots of competition out there, for sure, but we know what people want and how far people are prepared to travel to collect the fish they want.

“Keith has been buying fish since he was 10 years old and I have been collecting for more than 20 years, so we have the experience.”

They met while buying fish and immediately struck up a friendship.

Keith has given up his job in the sheet metal industry to make a go of The Living Reef while Alan, previously in the printed circuit board assembly business, has handed over the reins to his wife, Jane, and moved the operation to an empty office above the Lees Road road shop, and is happily starting his new career.

Their professional skills meant they were able to undertake much of the conversion work themselves and they now boast an impressive aquarium stocked with hundreds of fish, including the Gold Flake Angels at £250 each and Azure Damsels at £5.50.

Keith and Alan also supply coral — living and manufactured — plus a range of tanks and accessories from feed to cleansers.

They can also service equipment and are happy to visit clients’ homes.

It is all a far cry from manufacturing, but the partners, who have invested in a website and advertising in the fish world bible, Ultra Marine, are already attracting a steady stream of customers.

Once their name spreads, they believe that The Living Reef will become living proof that, with the correct level of investment, expertise and hard work, a hobby can become a business.