Michon Blog

Earlier this year we started a food bank collection and last week Jeff and I dropped it off at the St Ann’s & Sneinton Food Store in Nottingham. We met two lovely people who run the food store called Barry and Steph. They told us about setting it up last December, how it all works and how much in demand it is now. They now need regular support and donations from the community to keep it all going. We heard stories of the people they helped and it was a real eye opener for us about how quickly people can end up in a crisis situation and be in need of their help. These are people with no food or funds at all and include families with young children, pensioners, disabled people and homeless people or those going through a period of change in their lives through no fault of their own.

Donations are urgently needed of non-perishable foods and other items such as: rice, pasta, couscous, cereals, long-life milk, tea bags, sugar, flour, salt/pepper,  lentils, baked beans, tinned foods, chick peas, kidney beans, cooking oil, sauces/spices, packet soups, packet noodles, shampoo/soap, toilet rolls, female hygiene products, washing powder, fabric softener, washing up liquid. If you would like to arrange a donation to the St Anns & Sneinton Food Store please call 07827 248750 or email food.store@stannsadvice.org.uk.

Barry and Steph are also setting up facilities to start providing clothing and furniture for people in need in the area so will also be accepting donations for that in the near future too.

Unfortunately, the need for food banks throughout the whole of the UK has increased rapidly in recent months so if this one isn’t nearby you, perhaps you could arrange a collection for one that is. The Trussel Trust has a network of food banks throughout the UK or you you can find one in your area through Google. One thing is for sure, the people in need of food banks and the people running them really are relying on the kindness of strangers.

Me and my Mum Su, went off to deliver Michon’s collection to the RSPCA along the road in Radcliffe-on-Trent this week. We all collected lots of stuff including pet food and treats, blankets, towels, sheets, duvets, newspaper and shredded paper to keep all the residents there nice and cosy. As the saying goes, ‘every little helps!’ so if you’re having a spring clean some time soon and find yourself with a few of these things to get rid of, why not pop them to your local RSPCA too? Makes a change from queuing up at the tip and will make you feel all warm and fuzzy too.

If you’re not thinking of having a clear out then you could make a donation instead. It costs approximately £500,000 a year to keep the RSPCA centre in Radcliffe on Trent open, that’s around £1400 a day! They’re an independent charity that receives no financial assistance from the RSPCA, The National Lottery or the Government. They have to raise all of their funds themselves from local people, companies and other organisations.  If you want to make a donation then you can do so here – RSPCA Radcliffe on Trent Donations.

We’ve had a fantastic response to our Pitch it to Michon competition recently and we just wanted to say a massive ‘THANK YOU!’ to everyone that has applied. The standard of entries is fantastic and we’ve had a huge variety of companies apply too, which is truly inspiring for us. The response has been so good that’s it’s going to be a difficult few weeks whittling them down to the next stage. We’ll be contacting everyone just as soon as we can to let them know if they’re through so, if you’re one of them, please be patient! Whoever does make it through to the semi finals will be asked to come in and present their ideas to us in more detail while we film them. The films will then be be shared online for the public to vote for their favourite, and this will be the wildcard entry to the final. The Michon judges will then decide on the other finalists.

In case you haven’t heard about Pitch it to Michon yet, we’ll be giving £15,000 worth of design and marketing to somebody who has recently set up their own business. It’s all part of the celebrations for Michon’s 30th year and is about lending a helping hand to a new businesses by giving them the benefit of our 30 years’ experience. The winner will be someone that we really believe in and an idea that really inspires us.

Entries closed last Friday but you can still find out more about the competition here:
Pitch it to Michon

Good luck to all who have entered!

We’ve been working with school uniform suppliers Price & Buckland since 2011 on a number of brand projects, the latest of which is their new school sportswear catalogue. As part of the ongoing expansion of their sportswear offering, they wanted to promote new additions to the range to position them as quality suppliers of performance sportswear. We developed a sub-brand, photography and catalogue design that worked with the existing brand templates but that also had its own identity with a sportier, more technical feel.

As part of our 30 Good Things this year, Su and Sarah from our accounts team have decided they’re going to jump out of a plane for charity! They must either be bonkers or very dedicated to the cause. But it is a very good cause, they’re doing it in aid of Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People and have paid for the jump themselves so everything they raise will be going to the charity. The jump is on the 28th April so if you’d like to sponsor them or find out more, you can visit their JustGiving page at Michon Jump!

Good luck ladies!