*Includes updated information
Great ideas are often several very good ideas bolted together.
When Nottingham trainer Peter Harnden was looking for a new greyhound van, he sourced an innovative new outlet – ageing Tesco delivery vans.
He said: “The newest one is seven years old but in excellent condition and has been fully serviced throughout its working life. No expense has been spared, the one I got even had four new tyres on it. They are top spec, designed for hygiene, with resin floors that can be rinsed down.
“By the time I had bought it and had it fully fitted out with cages, it set me back around £4,500. Of course the big bonus is that they all come with roughly £9K worth of aircon and chiller units. In fact, when they are first supplied to Tesco, the backs themselves cost £24K each.”
Harnden’s second brain wave was to have the new vehicle become a motorised advertisement for retired greyhounds with an impressive new livery (right).
He said: “I have been pushing the idea with the (GBGB) Board that this was a great advertising opportunity to highlight racing and retired greyhounds. I was given a very promising response.”
One of the people who had spotted the new livery on Peter’s Twitter feed was Chris Michael who runs Sustainable Racing Group (https://www.facebook.com/SustainableRaceGroup/?modal=admin_todo_tour).
Chris is a greyhound owner and enthusiast with a graphics design background and a close connection with the Skegness Greyhound Trust kennel. He sent Harnden three versions of his vision on a similar theme:
Peter said: “They are just brilliant. I wish I had spoken to Chris before I got mine done. What an opportunity to promote the sport and advertise the tracks at the same time. You could have the homefinding banners on one side and the stadium and sponsors on the other.
“My livery cost was around £950 and Chris put together his ideas for free. Even if the vehicle has to be replaced after a couple of years, you could put the back onto a new vehicle. Tesco replace 5,000 vans every year, so there would be no issue on numbers.”
Chris said: “They were just three ideas that I put together on computer. Commercial vehicles are estimated to be seen around 3000 times per hour whilst on the road. Multiply that by the number of trainers in the UK and you can see why this initiative can be so valuable.
“There is an incentive for all parties involved if trainers vehicles were to be wrapped promoting greyhounds as pets and local homing centers. This will result in greater fundraising for homing centres, a greater number of greyhounds adopted in the UK, and in turn will give us a more sustainable industry.”
