Bristol-based Blue Badge Company, which made the world’s first stylish wallets for disabled parking permits, is to have its products stocked by Boots stores across the UK.
The unique blue badge holder designs will be on the shelves of around 2,000 Boots outlets and on the retailer’s website. 
Blue Badge Company, formerly White Space Designs, was launched in 2011 by director Ellen Green when she decided it was time to scale up a concept dreamt up with a friend in the back bedroom of their shared house.
Started at a time when the only wallets available were clinical, dull and surprisingly difficult to use, Blue Badge Company set out to give people with disabilities choice and control when it came to buying and using assistive products.
The company was the first of its kind in the world and remains the only business in the UK to make these products.
Ellen, pictured, said: “We have been overwhelmed by the response to the display wallets and we’re absolutely delighted that Boots UK will now be stocking our product, made here in Bristol, in stores across the UK. 
“We want to provide disabled people with the opportunity to style their life their way, by offering consumers living aids that match their personality. Having our blue badge holders available so widely will allow us to reach more people, giving them access to our products and ultimately increasing the choice available when it comes to buying and using assistive products.”
The handmade wallets are made by a team of highly-skilled individuals in Bristol – some of whom are registered disabled themselves – providing jobs and training for those with limited work options.
The full range of display wallets now includes 50 designs, with new products added on a regular basis. Aimed at both women and men, the products can be bought directly from the Blue Badge website, independent retailers and a number of high street shops.
Nearly 12m people in the UK have a disability, of which 2.58m are blue badge holders. The ambitious company, which will be extending its product offering later this year, wants to create attractive living aids and assistive products that improve people’s experience of everyday life.
Blue Badge Company hopes to be the biggest supplier and manufacturer of modern living aids in the next three to five years, with big plans to expand and diversify its product range in new territories. In Europe alone, there are more than 17m blue badge holders and in early 2015 the company will start promoting its products in Ireland, France, Germany, Holland and Belgium.
Legislation to be introduced on New Year’s Day 2015 will make the current disabled parking permit invalid. Blue Badge Company’s new compact and easy-to-use wallets have been specially designed to fit the new compulsory permit.
Each wallet comes with a free timer clock that can be dialled without being removed from its case. The exclusive ‘hologram safe’ feature, which ensures the hologram on the badge isn’t covered, complies with Department of Transport guidelines and the wallet guarantees that permits can be displayed legally, protected from damage and easily removed.
