Big idea could put on pounds
AN EX-policeman is hoping to make a hefty profit by producing oversized mannequins to train the emergency services to deal with obese people.
Chris Jarratt, 56, is the owner of Bariquins, which is based in Reddish and makes dummies that weight 25st.
They are used to train people to carry out first aid with larger patients in the face of growing obesity problems in society.
Each mannequin can be disassembled into 21 pieces and costs around £3,600, with the fire service and NHS among the organisations Chris is hoping to target.
He was at the Emergency Services Show,at the NEC in Birmingham last month, where a large amount of interest was shown.
Chris said: “I expected this to be a slow burner but it is starting to smoulder. It is answering a need, we have an obesity epidemic in society so it is necessary to deal with people who are plus size.
“If you don’t have the training you can injure yourself so these will save firms money as workers will not then need sick leave.”
Chris, who is married with five children and stepchildren as well as a grandchild, left the police force after 30 years in 2009.
He then went to university studying product design and looked at oversize mannequins for a business innovation model.
The idea came to him when he saw a larger person feeling unwell and wondered how emergency services would have dealt with him.
After studying the market he decided there was a gap and took steps to fill it upon graduating with first class honours.
The Bariquin was brought to market in March this year and so far 12 have been made with the aim to sell 40 next year.
Chris, who lives in Droylsden, bases his company in Broadstone Mill, just three streets away from where his mum was brought up.
He said: “I have been amazed what crossover there is between business and being in the police.
“In business we do market research and in the police it is called intel gathering but it is the same thing.
“Customers are like drug dealers as you want to know who they are, where they are and what price is involved.
“I can’t believe how much you learn in the police can be applied to private business.”