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A local niche for mixed martial arts gear

By CHRISTINA COSDON, Times Staff Writer
Published February 1, 2008

Lou Gomes, left, and Nick Rebetti, wearing mixed martial arts gloves, pose with body opponent bag "Bob" at their Largo store, Conflict Fightgear, on Thursday.
	[Douglas R. Clifford | Times]

Nick Rebetti had to turn to the Internet when he needed clothing and gear for his mixed martial arts training.

Most of the time, the clothing didn't fit and had to be returned. Others training in the sport shared his frustration. A local store was needed, they said.

Rebetti, 29, and his good friend Louis Gomes, 35, decided to take the leap and start a business aimed mainly at fighters but also at fans.

Conflict Fightgear opened about three months ago in a 1,500-square-foot store at 6585 126th Ave N in Largo. It specializes in equipment and clothing for mixed martial arts, a full-contact combat sport in which a wide variety of fighting techniques are used. The store also carries gear for boxing and other striking tae kwon do, karate, etc. and grappling (Brazilian jujitsu, judo, wrestling, etc.) sports.

Is Conflict Fightgear the first store of its kind in the Tampa Bay area?

"We're the first to specialize in everything for the mixed martial arts. A store that opened in Tampa after us is more into fan gear. We have the largest selection of equipment for all the combat sports," said Rebetti of Largo.

What are some examples of your inventory?

We have gloves, shin guards, elbow and knee protectors for all the different fighting styles," Rebetti said. "When it comes to uniforms and clothing, the fabric is different for each fighting style as well. For example, the fabric used for throwing and grappling is stronger than that for karate."

How are people finding you?

"We've done some advertising, but it's really word of mouth," said Gomes of Palm Harbor.

Who are your customers?

"Everyone is here for a different reason," Rebetti said. "We have law enforcement officers, men and women who just want to get in better shape, young men starting out who want to fight professionally, soccer moms who want to be able to stick up for their kids, and those who like the excitement of getting hit or hitting somebody."

What did it cost to open the doors?

"It was pretty much a bare room," Rebetti said. "We put in the flooring, built some walls and painted." The inventory took an investment of $60,000, he said.

Was this a good business venture?

"The market is getting bigger here for the whole sport of mixed martial arts," Rebetti said. "It's a very tight-knit community, that was the biggest selling point for me wanting to get involved in it."

"It's a lot of hours and a lot of hard work, but I think we're ahead of the curve," Gomes said. "We've really been blessed."

Home health agency names nursing director

Harmony Home Health of Clearwater has appointed Karen Benfield as its director of nursing. She will be responsible for daily clinical operations, including managing the nursing staff and patient care services provided by the agency. She also will coordinate patient care with medical professionals and other nursing services in the area.

Before joining Harmony, she was the staff relief/professional registered nurse manager at Laurels of Forest Glen care facility in Garner, N.C. Her more than 20 years of experience in health care includes work as a volunteer medical missionary in Mexico and a volunteer registered nurse with the Newton, N.C., Catholic free clinic. She is a graduate of Winston-Salem State University.

Harmony Home Health, 1250 Rogers St., provides skilled private duty nursing and personal care services to clients requiring in-home assistance.

Financial adviser gets added designation

Angela Helmus-O'Brien, a financial adviser with Morgan Stanley's Global Wealth Management Group in Clearwater, has completed advanced training and received the designation of portfolio manager. She has 18 years of experience in the industry and has worked four years for Morgan Stanley.

The Global Wealth Management Group provides a range of wealth management products and services to individuals, businesses and institutions, including brokerage and investment advisory services, credit and lending, cash management, annuities and insurance, retirement and trust.

Business classes, seminars, assistance

-AARP volunteers will provide e-file income tax assistance from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday. The service will be first-come, first-served at Largo Public Library, 120 Central Park Drive. For information, call the library at (727) 587-6715.

-The Largo/Mid-Pinellas Chamber of Commerce is presenting a free Women in Business Forum & Expo: A Balancing Act from 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesdayat Largo Cultural Center, 105 Central Park Drive.

Guest speakers include Nicole Johnson, Miss America 1999 and diabetes spokeswoman; Mary Ramsay of Body-Mind Balance; lawyer Karly Schweitzer; and Bevv Beirl, chief executive officer and editor-in-chief of Bay Area Business Magazine.

For information, call the chamber at (727) 584-2321 or e-mail events@largochamber.org

News of businesses and businesspeople can be faxed to the Business Digest at 445-4119, e-mailed to cosdon@sptimes.com or mailed to Business Digest, 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756. We are interested in new and unusual businesses, promotions, expansions, commercial sales and major new contracts. Photos can be mailed or e-mailed by jpeg file.

[Last modified January 31, 2008, 22:03:06]