The 19th of October is International Repair Day: an annual celebration for everyone who makes repair happen in their communities around the world. Today we want to put the spotlight on one of those individuals who can be called a “One-Man Repair Army”: Dave from Fixed by Dave.
Dave’s passion for fixing things began at a young age, inspired by his grandad and dad who worked in the repair business: “Initially, I just watched my dad repair vacuum cleaners, but gradually I got involved in small jobs like replacing belts.” That further ignited his interest in the craft. Eventually, Dave joined the family business and became the sole repairer. Realising the impact of waste on our planet, he launched Fixed by Dave in early 2019, to scale the business.
Dave focuses mainly on small appliances, which contribute significantly to e-waste. Looking at the range of items, the term “one-man army” is appropriate: vacuum cleaners, food mixers, microwaves, coffee machines, kettles, toasters, irons, lamps, hair dryers, and hair straighteners, electric gardening equipment, power tools and pressure washers. While the business is based in Hertfordshire, there are various options for customers across the UK, including drop-off points and courier collections.
A vacuum cleaner and a food processor under inspection © Fixed by Dave
One of Dave’s favourite repairs involved an integrated Neff microwave with a faulty circuit board. “The parts for this model had been discontinued, and the customer would have had to buy a new unit and change their kitchen. I was able to fix the board, saving the microwave from landfill. The customer’s gratitude made the effort immensely rewarding and highlighted why I love what I do.”
