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On Monday the consumer goods giant said that across the business, pre-tax profit rose 21% to €3.9bn (£3.34bn) but the number of goods that it sold fell.

Over the first six months of this year, this is based almost entirely on the company raising its prices.

Supermarkets, such as Tesco, have been critical of suppliers lifting their prices amid high inflation.

Mr Schumacher said it had not passed on higher costs to its customers.

Who is he kidding?

He tried to spin it around a drought in Europe, rice shortages in India as well as geopolitical issues.

That’s fair enough but the numbers speak for themselves. Less sales more profit. This can only come from charging more surely.

Big corporates rule the business world and have so much control not just in consumer goods but other key areas as well. They can basically do what they like regarding pricing with consumers often picking up the tab.

Analyst Emma-Lou Montgomery, associate director at the stockbrokers Fidelity Investment commented “it is clear that higher prices are boosting Unilever’s profits, particularly with sales volumes largely flat. “All in all, the cost of living is proving profitable for this global giant, with full-year underlying sales growth expected to beat forecasts,” she added.

Enough said.

We have an immediate requirement for an experienced, hand’s on, Account Manager to join our busy team.

Based in Windsor, this is a fantastic role, ideal for an experienced and ambitious Account Manager looking for an exciting and challenging move to an expanding agency.

You will be a team player and have a proven track record of managing and growing client accounts across the spectrum of marketing services.  You will have strong communications skills, be articulate and have bags of drive and enthusiasm.

Ice specialises in 2D, 3D & digital design and production, environments, exhibition, large format graphics and event management.  The successful candidate will work across all of these areas other than event management for which we have a dedicated team.  You will help the event team in the creation of the event environment and supporting activity.

Although not a ‘creative’ you should be able to add insight and your own ideas to the creative process and have a good technical understanding of design and production across all mediums.

You will be a self-starter, able to meet tight deadlines and adapt at prioritising and multi-tasking.  You will have an excellent understanding of client requirements, with good commercial and financial knowledge.  You will have a proven track record in developing new and existing business with a keen eye to spot opportunities.

The Role:

• Responsibility for managing and developing new and existing client relationships
• Create and manage new business opportunities
• Work across the full spectrum of the Ice service offering
• Produce and present client presentations & pitches
• Take client briefs and manage through to completion
• Brief and manage suppliers and other Ice departments
• Costing and budget management

You will have:

• A minimum of two years’ experience of managing client accounts for a multi-disciplined marcomms/creative agency.
• Excellent communication & relationship skills with the ability to liaise with clients, suppliers and colleagues at all levels
• Good technical knowledge and experience of managing design and production projects.
• Experience of managing digital design projects.
• A fantastic attention to detail
• The ability to produce presentations to a high standard and present these to clients
• Ability to manage projects within very short timescales
• Confidence and enthusiasm
• The ability to grow existing and new accounts
• A ‘can do’ attitude with the determination to over deliver and succeed in everything you do.

Please send your CV to [email protected]

Following the launch of PlasticFree – a directory for plastic-free materials and system solutions – designers advise on how the industry can change its relationship with plastic.

Design Week 30 January 2023

1926-2022

It is with deep sorrow that we acknowledge the passing of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth has been a reassuring constant throughout all our lives over the past 70 years of her reign, making her the longest-reigning monarch in British history.

The Queen has been dedicated to the service of our country and the Commonwealth, showing a huge sense of duty and commitment.

Our thoughts are very much with the Royal Family at this time, as the whole country comes together to pay tribute and remember Queen Elizabeth II.

View video here

Like thousands of other people, we took part in The Big Plastic Count recently and have just been sent the results.* This is an edited version from the organisers.

• Almost 250,000 people took part and together they counted a shocking 6.4 million pieces of plastic.
• On average each household threw away 66 pieces of plastic packaging, which is 3,432 pieces over a year.
• Applied to the UK as a whole, UK households throw away an unbelievable 1.85 billion pieces of plastic a week or 96.6 billion pieces of plastic a year.

These numbers are shocking – and they don’t even include the plastic waste from offices, shops and industry!  With plastic production set to double over the next 20 years, the government needs to take urgent action to stem the flow of plastic waste. 

*Source: Greenpeace 2022 

Our take on this is relying on government to make changes with legislation will only happen very slowly and even then, might not be very effective. 

We as consumers must use less plastic by finding alternative packaging options to the food, drink and household items we buy. 

Just a small shift in consumer habits could make a huge difference. For example, based on the Greenpeace numbers if people on average used just 5 less items of plastic per week that would work out at 7.24 billion less pieces of plastic a year.  Still a very long way to go but it would be a start. 

Small change, big difference.

Congratulations to all the winners and the designers that were short listed in this year’s Design Week Awards. Some excellent work! Take a look