A Wirral man has turned his lifelong love of trainers into a hugely successful business – cleaning up to 70 pairs every week for customers including professional footballers and MMA stars. Brad Vernon, 35, is the man behind The Trab Lab, a specialist trainer cleaning and restoration business which has grown from a small side hustle into a full-time venture with thousands of followers.
GET IN TOUCH WITH THE TRAB LAB ON 07415803440 OR MESSAGE ON INSTAGRAM
Brad says the roots of his unusual business can be traced back to his childhood. Expensive trainers were something to be treasured rather than replaced, and he became meticulous about keeping his footwear looking as good as possible. “My family didn’t have lots of money when I was growing up, so I was taught from an early age to look after the things I owned,” he explains. “When it came to one of my biggest passions – trainers – I took that lesson particularly seriously.”
GET IN TOUCH WITH THE TRAB LAB ON 07415803440 OR MESSAGE ON INSTAGRAM
His talent for bringing tired and dirty trainers back to life soon caught the attention of family and friends. Brad began cleaning their trainers too, with people amazed by the results and how he could make a well-worn pair look almost brand new again. In 2022, he decided to see whether his skills could become a source of extra income and launched The Trab Lab as a side hustle.
After setting up an Instagram page to showcase his transformations, it quickly became clear there was a huge appetite for the service. Demand grew to such an extent that Brad eventually took the leap of leaving his job as a postman to concentrate on The Trab Lab full time, investing in specialist cleaning equipment to take it to the next level.
GET IN TOUCH WITH THE TRAB LAB ON 07415803440 OR MESSAGE ON INSTAGRAM
Today, the business cleans and restores between 50 and 70 pairs every week, with Brad offering services for trainers, Ugg boots, shoes and hats. In some cases, Brad has saved very expensive items — in turn saving his customers hundreds or thousands of pounds on buying new ones. The Trab Lab is now the longest-standing business of its kind in Wirral and has built up thousands of social media followers, with customers fascinated by the dramatic before-and-after transformations.
GET IN TOUCH WITH THE TRAB LAB ON 07415803440 OR MESSAGE ON INSTAGRAM
Brad’s growing reputation has also attracted some famous footwear through the door. He has cleaned trainers belonging to footballers including Liverpool’s Lewis Koumas, as well as MMA stars such as Joe Ryan. But the service isn’t just for professional sports stars or serious trainer collectors. With cleaning packages starting from £25 and bundle deals available for families, Brad has built the business around helping people get more life out of the footwear they already own.
GET IN TOUCH WITH THE TRAB LAB ON 07415803440 OR MESSAGE ON INSTAGRAM
The Trab Lab also offers a collection and delivery service, meaning customers can have their footwear professionally cleaned without having to leave home. The service can be particularly useful during the autumn and winter months, when muddy walks, wet weather and dirty pavements can quickly leave trainers and boots looking worse for wear.
GET IN TOUCH WITH THE TRAB LAB ON 07415803440 OR MESSAGE ON INSTAGRAM
Brad says: “It’s amazing how much the demand has grown. The most popular trainers I clean are 110s and designer Diors. Some people spend thousands on footwear and people can easily get caught out in bad weather, have an accident or just generally getting worn and dirty. Cleaning them is not a nice job but I take cleaning to the next level with specialist equipment — I return them looking and feeling brand new and have a full restoration service if needed.”
He continues: “At first it was just to earn some extra cash but it’s become a full on business. Recently, as it’s festival season, I cleaned over 70 pairs in a week — people love the fact that they can wear their top trainers, shoes or boots at events like that knowing I’m here afterwards to get them looking like new again. It’s mad to think how it’s grown and that Liverpool players and MMA stars are now my clients.”
GET IN TOUCH WITH THE TRAB LAB ON 07415803440 OR MESSAGE ON INSTAGRAM
Through The Trab Lab, Brad has also given back to charity. Last Christmas, he worked with his customers to help Charlotte’s Brightside’s Christmas gift appeal and raised over £700 towards gifts for children and teenagers. This year, he will be doing the same initiative and helping provide young people who are less fortunate with incredible Christmas gifts — ensuring they don’t miss out.
GET IN TOUCH WITH THE TRAB LAB ON 07415803440 OR MESSAGE ON INSTAGRAM
For Brad, the success of The Trab Lab brings things full circle. What began with a childhood lesson about taking care of possessions has become a thriving Wirral business – built around helping other people do exactly the same. With dozens of pairs arriving every week, it seems Wirral’s trainer lovers are more than happy to give their favourite footwear a new lease of life rather than consigning it to the bin.
Brad Vernon / The Trab Lab
GET IN TOUCH WITH THE TRAB LAB ON 07415803440 OR MESSAGE ON INSTAGRAM
