Cheshire-based SME to launch ‘world’s most scientifically accurate dinosaur models’
Everything Dinosaur, a Middlewich-based supplier of dinosaur models, dinosaur toys, prehistoric animal soft toys and more, has announced an exciting new business development following participation on Manchester Met’s SMART Cheshire Digital Programme.
The SME will be making an ambitious shift from retailer to manufacturer with the launch of Everything Dinosaur Evolution; a new range of scientifically accurate, museum quality collectable dinosaur figures.
This new shift in the business will combine cutting-edge manufacturing techniques with palaeontological expertise to provide dinosaur enthusiasts worldwide with a range of collectibles that accurately represent that part of history.
Manchester Met’s SMART Cheshire Digital programme was funded by the European Regional Development Fund, and although is now complete, is one of many initiatives within its Centre for Enterprise that helps to tackle digital skills gap and increase growth of SMEs.
The suite of programmes offered by the Centre for Enterprise includes helping businesses in developing new digital products, processes or services by providing tools and techniques that they can use to grow their company, or providing support to accelerate their innovations to commercialisation.
Some of the programmes currently on offer include the Innovation Retreat for Greater Manchester businesses and the Cheshire Innovation Network for businesses in Cheshire West.
Academic Director of the Centre for Enterprise, Professor Jennie Shorley said: “Our team of academic experts and professional services staff here at the Centre for Enterprise specialise in helping businesses like Everything Dinosaur to achieve their ambitions. By providing the foundations of how the innovation process works, combined with real-world applications of business strategy, we help these SMEs to innovate and grow.”
Staffed by parents, teachers and real dinosaur enthusiasts, Everything Dinosaur had already amassed a global customer base, with exports accounting for 35% of the company’s total turnover.
Business owners Mike Walley and Sue Judd have always believed that many of the figures available on the market fail to accurately represent the fossil record.
Driven by this conviction, they sought to develop their own range of prehistoric animal models – a range that follows the fossil evidence and depicts these long-extinct creatures not as movie monsters, but as the living, breathing animals they once were.
Mike said: “We had a vision but translating that into reality felt daunting. The SMART Cheshire Digital programme equipped us with the essential tools to advance our manufacturing project.
“Additionally, I had the opportunity to connect with a network of like-minded entrepreneurs, fostering relationships that continue to thrive even after the course concluded.”
Co-owner Sue added: “Innovation is crucial for staying ahead in today’s marketplace. Proof of concept testing techniques from the SMART Cheshire Digital course empowered me to undertake a project that fundamentally re-designed our packaging.
“As a result, we have eliminated single-use plastics and developed fully recyclable and compostable packaging materials.”
Each set of four figures focuses on single geological formation and features animals that lived in the same ecosystem.
The first set of figures herald from the renowned Hell Creek Formation of North America, and the first model in the range is a 1:33 scale replica of the Tyrannosaurus rex.
Everything Dinosaur teamed up with the award-winning palaeontologist Dr Dean Lomax who acted as scientific advisor for the new range. In addition, the highly acclaimed palaeo-reconstruction artist Bob Nicholls and leading digital sculptor Glen Southern joined the project team with the objective of producing, arguably the most scientifically accurate dinosaur models in the world.
The T. rex figure is available to pre-order and the models are scheduled to arrive at the company’s warehouse later this summer.
Global trademarks have been applied for, and groundbreaking technology has been utilised to permit customers to contact the project team directly through the use of an innovative new generation QR code incorporated into the packaging.
To learn more about Everything Dinosaur Evolution, watch this video or visit the website here.
