Weightmans gets creative in the Great Trade-Up

Apr 6 2009 by Tom Scotney, Birmingham Post

The heat of competition got turned up a notch in the Great Trade-Up last week, as some of the city’s top law firms continued to make the running in the charity trading contest.

The team at Weightmans enlisted the help of artist Alexander Millar in their fight to raise money for the Birmingham Children’s Hospital Kidney Kids Appeal.

Mr Millar produced a bespoke piece of art just for the Kidney Kids Appeal – it is not just something from his archive, but has been produced specifically for this charity drive. It incorporates the symbolic Birmingham Children’s Hospital red balloon held by a small boy as the focal point of the sketch.

The artist said: “I thought it would be good to have a child in the scene because of the charity we are doing this for. When I was a boy, having a balloon meant everything in the world and Sarah Smith at Washington Green suggested that the balloon be painted red to go with the theme of this appeal.”

The trade took place at the Castle Galleries in the Mailbox, where the sketch will be on display for the next week. The Weightmans team are also looking into getting some prints of the sketch produced to raise more money for the appeal due to the massive interest in this trade. Anyone interested in trading for the sketch or purchasing a limited edition print should visit or contact Castle Galleries (0121 6330015).

Fidelis Hynam from Birmingham Children’s Hospital said: “At the moment the Weightmans team is third in the game.

“Although, knowing how well Weightmans plans and works I am sure it won’t be too long before they pip the others at the post.”

Meanwhile the traders at Shakespeare Putsman got their hands on a free meal ticket for top restaurant Opus, worth hundreds of pounds to whoever it ends up with.

The Great Trade UP has its teams all trying to swap up as high as they can from a single balloon. When the time is up the things they end up with will be sold, with all money going towards the new unit.

It is based upon the experience of Canadian Kyle McDonald who bartered his way through 14 trades, beginning with a red paperclip and ending up with a house.

The 17 teams playing were each given a BCH red balloon just one month ago at the launch event and have gone on to trade this for an item of a higher value and are still going. The teams will continue to trade until May 15 with the intention of finishing with an item of huge value which they then “cash in”. Whoever raises the most money will be named Great Trade UP champions.

The Great Trade UP is organised by Birmingham Children’s Hospital alongside BBC Radio WM.

The Great Trade UP lasts until May 15. If you are interested in making an offer to one of the teams, contact the Great Trade UP organiser on 0121 333 8539 or greattradeup@kidneykids.co.uk who will put you in contact with the appropriate team.