Making a living out of a hobby is every entrepreneur's dream.

But computer games fan Gary Noakes soon realised opening a console shop would not mean sitting around playing Nintendo all day.

Gary spotted a huge gap in the market while he was working as a sales manager for High Street giant Game.

He said: "The industry is growing all the time but I soon realised there was demand for second-hand games and consoles.

"Part of the problem for new buyers is there is so much choice and things are quite expensive. Half the time kids will buy a game and get bored with it after a couple of weeks and never use it again.

"That was when I came up with the idea of Game Player.

"Games last forever so there's no reason why they can't be traded on when they are no longer wanted."

The 34-year-old was so sure he was on to a winner he sold his flat, spent the money on stock and moved into a shop in Baker Street, Brighton.

That was two years ago and the gamble paid off. Game Player made a profit in its first week in business. It is now the only second-hand games shop in Brighton and is thriving thanks to a membership loyalty discount scheme.

Gary has also invested in a new corporate image, staff uniforms, shop refit and an online store on eBay, where he nets about a quarter of his sales.

He said: "Where a high street retailer might sell a relatively new game for £40 I can usually stock it for £25.

"From me, clients also get specialist knowledge. We also operate a games clinic in which we help people if they are stuck on a particular game.

"We've got about 2,000 members on our books.

"We stock right the way back to the early Nintendos. Some of the old Atari games, like Track and Field from the Eighties, are highly sought-after and can sell for as much as £50.

"It has been a hectic but brilliant two years. I got into it because I love computer games but now I'm lucky if I've got five minutes to pick up a joypad."

Game Player is now competing for the coveted title of HSBC Start-Up Star 2005 and a £20,000 winner's cheque.

Gary has set his sights on extending his business to incorporate second hand mobile phones and is planning to open a second shop.

April 26, 2005