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Entrepreneur’s smooth way of doing business
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Harvey lets schoolchildren mix up a smoothie
The virtues of healthy eating and education are proving a perfect blend in Ramsgate.

New business Move ‘n’ Smooth is making inroads into the ethical business sector with its unique idea to highlight the benefits of thinking about what you eat as well as how you get there.

Harvey Smith, a children’s play area-owner from Broadstairs, came up with the idea to attach smoothie-blending machines to the workings of bikes last year and it has proved to be a winner.

The cycles have effectively been adapted into giant smoothie-making machines, operating on pedal-power alone.

Tired of the nine-to-five rat-run to London each day on the train, Harvey, 43, opted out from that lifestyle and set up his PlayBay venture on Ramsgate’s seafront four years ago.

It proved to be successful and after taking a bold step to not sell junk food on the premises he decided to take the idea even further and launched Move ‘n’ Smooth.

He said: “I just thought it was a good cause to draw attention to, because eating healthily and getting some exercise is such an important thing, especially for youngsters.

“The environmental aspect is important to us, too, as this obviously uses no electricity and encourages people to get in the saddle.”

The judges at the KOS Media £1 million Business Challenge certainly thought so and Move ‘n’ Smooth won in the New Business Or Product category at last month’s ceremony in Maidstone.

Harvey scooped £150,000 of free advertising and marketing and will be looking to put it into action soon, saying he hopes it will take the business to the “next stage” and would like to find a sponsor to endorse it.

He does admit to being surprised at the win, though.

“The calibre of the competition was great, so I was quite shocked when we won, but it is very encouraging for us,” he said.

It could be the start of something big, although the business itself sprang from small beginnings.

Harvey said: “I enlisted the help of a local character called Derby Dave to adapt the bikes.

“I gave him the design for a prototype and a few weeks later he had one finished.

“He has done a great job and continues to make them.

“We now have several sizes and models, with more on the way as we expand.”

The next part of the project could be to adapt a rowing-machine to blend fruit like the bikes, while a recipe-book to document the best smoothie concoctions could also be on the cards.

The project has been taken into schools and hospitals all over Kent, but Harvey hopes to push on and take it even further afield and spread the word.

“I would like to create a much larger schools programme – I see that as the future for us.

“The Government is trying to get kids to do 60 minutes of exercise a week, so perhaps we could tie in with that in some way.”

Summing up on the ethos of Move ‘n’ Smooth, Harvey said: “If people come along and get some exercise and have some fun, then we are getting somewhere.

“It’s what we are aiming to promote, and hope people take notice.”

If you would like to book Move ‘n’ Smooth for your event, phone Harvey Smith on 01843 590591 or 07918 166947.

For further information, visit the website, www.movensmooth.com.
POSTED: 27/11/2009 10:00:00

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