Our partner WD-40 Company ran a three-day repair event at a shopping centre in Milton Keynes, UK, at the end of May. Milton Keynes is the place where WD-40 Company’s European headquarters are located.
“Our goal was to offer a platform to local Repair Cafés so they could showcase their work and connect with an audience they wouldn’t normally reach”, says Victoria Reece, UK marketing executive at WD-40 Company. “We also wanted to bring our Repair Challenge campaign to life. And we involved Men in Sheds Milton Keynes, a charity we’re deeply connected with, as we wanted to raise awareness of their meaningful work and give them visibility.”
32 volunteers of three local Repair Cafés fixed 53 items
More than thirty volunteers of three local Repair Cafés participated in the event. They loved it! “We had a fabulous time”, says Philippa Tipper, coordinator of Milton Keynes Repair Café. “We did 53 fixes, gave lots of repair advice and recruited nine new repairers.”
Philippa remembers many successful repairs that were conducted during the event. “Someone brought in a casserole lid that needed a new knob; the casserole lid blew its top in the oven. WD-40 applied and the correct tools meant that our repairers Len and Robert could take off the old knob and replace it with the new one that the owners had brought with them. What a success!”
Repair Café volunteers used WD-40 spray to fix a casserole lid
More uses and applications for WD-40 products in repair settings
Employees of WD-40 Company enjoyed the event as well. They handed out 2,000 product samples and persuaded 300 people to fill out a brand survey. “Our main takeaway is that in-person events continue to be the most powerful way to engage, educate and inspire people”, says Victoria. “We also discovered even more uses and applications for WD‑40 products in repair settings. The versatility continues to surprise us!”
Repair event should become an annual experience around the world
Victoria trusts the event has helped build new local connections for the Repair Cafés in and around Milton Keynes. “Such as partnerships with the shopping centre, which can help them expand their reach and resources.” WD-40 Company hopes to make the event an annual thing. “We’re already working on the 2026 edition and we want to inspire other cities and countries to adopt the concept and turn the Repair Event into a must-have annual experience around the world.”
More information
- Watch the video recap of the repair event
- Participate in the WD-40 Repair Challenge
I live in the London Borough of Redbridge and would like to know where I can find, on a regular basis any repair cafe’s please.
I had a modern DAB radio which has suddenly just gone off and I can’t get it to play. Can somebody help me please?
I am quite willing to travel about London if there are no such cafe’s in my locality.
Many thanks and look forward to hearig from you soonest please.
Kindest regards, Jay.
Dear Jay, please check our world map for locations! Good luck.