Nursery distributor Hippychick has launched a Wheelybug Clinic recycling scheme which allows consumers to bring in well-loved Wheelybug’s in need of repair.
The Wheelybug Clinic initiative will be headed up by Scott Bateman, a Hippychick employee who has been providing a repair service for used Wheelybugs since Hippychick first began working with the brand 11 years ago.
“Only a handful of people take advantage of this unique facility at the moment” says Julia Minchin, Hippychick’s founder and managing director. “But Scott has shown such incredible aptitude and dedication in Wheelybug operations, that we have decided to officially launch The Wheelybug Clinic this summer.”
The scheme will form part of Hippychick’s commitment to after sales service, while also playing its part in protecting the environment.
“From our point of view, it’s a positive environmental step,” Julia adds. “Instead of throwing away a toy that is fundamentally sound but might have lost one of its wheels or has a rip in its skin, customers can now take advantage of a professional repair service that has it looking as good as new.”
Dr Scott, as Bateman is affectionately known at Hippychick, has his love of mending and fine-tuning cars to thank for his Wheelybug repair skills.
“Normally it’s just a surface a cut to the skin,” says Scott, “so what we can do in this instance is re-skin the Bugs. We have all the different designs in the workshop. It’s quite tricky to get the surface absolutely flush with the body but I’ve perfected the art and get it done in under an hour.”
The repair service starts at £15 for a new skin and extends to new wheels, base boards, handles and even horns or antennae.
