Its not that often that tram stops get renamed but that is what has just happened in Edinburgh – although its only temporary as part of an advertising campaign to mark the opening of a new pet store at Hermiston Gait Retail Park. The stop which has been renamed is Edinburgh Park Station which will be known as Edinburgh Bark Station throughout the month of December. Alongside the renaming of the stop 264 has received an advert for the pet store as well.
Jollyes – The Pet People’s new store will open on 9th December at the retail park which is located just over the road from Edinburgh Park Station. The official renaming took place on 1st December with CEO of the pet store, Joe Wykes, doing the honours along with Edinburgh Trams’ Head of Finance and Business Support, Tom Neil, and Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home CEO, Lindsay Fyffe-Jardine.
As part of the partnership between Jollyes and Edinburgh Trams there will be a special tram leaving St Andrew Square at 0940 on 9th December with passengers being encouraged to bring their pets aboard the special pet friendly service with all fares to be donated to the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home. And if they’re not sure where to go the route between Edinburgh “Bark” Station and Jollyes will be marked by paw prints!]
The sponsorship deal also includes advertising on 264 with the new look tram also debuting at the start of December. Featuring a red base colour the advert is of the usual design (two full height sections and the rest just above the windows) and includes a promotion of the opening of the store along with photos of some of Edinburgh Trams’s staff own pets!
264‘s advert replaces a design for Tennent’s Light and is the sixth different advert carried by the tram. Its one of the few which didn’t ever advertise C R Smith with advertisers including Parabola Edinburgh Fringe Festival, American Express, Edinburgh Trams Hogmanay, Johnnie Walker #jointhepact and Tennent’s Light.
Joe Wykes said: “When we approached Edinburgh Trams about renaming the station Edinburgh Bark they thought the idea was the cats’ whiskers. We hope it will put a smile on people’s faces. We’re very proud to see our name on one of Edinburgh’s iconic trams and we couldn’t think of a better way to let the people of the city know that we’ve arrived. We’ve worked hard to create a store the city can be proud of. It’s in a great location alongside some of the best-known brands in retailing and we hope it’s going to be a magnet for pet lovers and their pets from Edinburgh and the surrounding areas.”
On a dull December day 264 is at St Andrew Square showing off its new advert for Jollyes Pet Store – adding a little bit of brightness.
One of the end sections. This includes photos of Edinburgh Tram’s staff members pets.
And one of the full height sections promoting the opening of the store. (All Photographs by Roy Calderwood, 2nd December 2022)