A new business, which is the brainchild of Shane Earsman and Mick Whittaker, is set to be launched by Bathurst MP Paul Toole at the Bathurst Community Club tonight.

Their Shooting Star business is a novel approach to making people feel extra special and it’s already making inroads across the nation. Interest in the initiative is being shown from sports clubs in New Zealand, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia, across NSW and the Sydney metropolitan area.

Mr Earsman said he came up with the idea because he was trying to find someone who could make up sports cards for his children.

“I couldn’t find anyone who could do it,” he said. “So, I thought it could be worthwhile creating our own. I know Mick’s (Whittaker) sports crazy and his kids love playing sports and after approaching him with the idea we took it from there and formed a partnership.”

Mr Earsman said he has travelled to Townsville to give a presentation to the junior league and would be doing similar promotions to rugby league district clubs in Sydney.

“We have also struck a deal to advertise in the game-day magazine of the Central Coast Mariners A League soccer club and will also be speaking with the Western Sydney Wanderers.

“But we’re not just limiting ourselves to doing sports cards, although about 30 different sports are covered, we’re also doing birth announcement cards,” he said.

“It’s a pretty simple process. You upload two of your own photographs taken on a camera or smart phone and fill in the particular fields relating to the sport in question, covering topics such as player profile, achievements and area where something positive can be written.

“An important point is that we are keeping the costs down to make the cards affordable for every day mums and dads. There’s a minimum order of six cards at $2.50 each and once you get up to 10 cards it’s $2 each.”

Mr Whittaker said the potential for the cards is mind boggling.

“It’s a big investment, but we think we are on a winner. It’s going to give kids such a big kick to see themselves on their very own cards, just like their sporting heroes,” he said.