So what's been happening in our world? What cool and creative things have we been up to? In a word, plenty. From new additions to the team to new business added to the client list, here's the news from our neck of the woods.
Whoop! It’s going to be a fresh summer.
We’re all aquiver at some VERY exciting news we’ve had today.
Now, you cannot accuse fresh of not grabbing an opportunity. And since warm, sunny days are at a
premium here in Manchester and their arrival about as predictable as Louis Suarez’s dietary choices,
we’ve decided to jump on the first one of the year on the basis that it could be the last.
So it’s ice cream and bucks fizz all round!
Watch this space and all will be revealed...
Posted: May 7th, 20:15
High Praise Indeed
We were delighted to win the RAR Grand Prix award last week. As you can see from our MD Patrick’s blog www.freshwebsite.co.uk/blog it means a lot to us. The organisers have now commented on why fresh was chosen:
“The Fresh Group achieved very high scores for events and also for the service levels we measure such as effectiveness, creativity and client service. The agency was described by clients as fun, vibrant, reliable, high calibre, trustworthy, fantastic and amazing. Given that they produce complex work for major clients in the financial and retail sectors, the feedback on Fresh Group was deserving of the top prize in the 2013 awards.”
We can only thank our clients again for their kind comments, and make them a promise; we won’t rest on our laurels, we’ll strive to get better and better.
Posted: Apr 24th, 11:23
fresh acquire Igloo Events
fresh are delighted to announce that we have acquired exhibition design and build specialist Igloo Events.
Igloo, which has operated since 2010 and reported turnover of £1.3m last year, manufactures and delivers large-scale exhibition projects out of their Middleton base.
The move, which will see us take on all design, production, build and delivery at our workshop in Heaton Mersey, will bolster our recent investments in its exhibition division.
Our Managing Director, Patrick Howells, commented, “Adding Igloo’s manufacturing skills to our already flourishing design and build service is a fantastic proposition for fresh’s existing client base. Equally, we look forward to bringing our award-winning creative and account management services to Igloo clients.”
Posted: Apr 12th, 16:09
Driving into 2013 with another client win...
We have kick-started 2013 with further blue-chip client wins here at fresh! Following a competitive pitch process, we have secured a contract with retailer Halfords to deliver their National Conference later this year.
The one day event will bring 550 Halfords store managers and senior management to the Millbrook Conference Centre and will incorporate a full day conference, an awards ceremony and evening entertainment, with fresh managing all aspects of the event, from delegate management and technical production to creative direction. Further to this, we have won a separate contract to revamp the identity of all Halfords Learning and Development communications materials, including creating design templates for training materials, newsletters, videos and online training materials.
Our Chief Executive, Julie, commented “We are delighted to be able to start 2013 on a high and announce our partnership with Halfords. This will be a truly joined-up contract for the fresh team, drawing on every division to deliver both the National Conference and the new Learning and Development identity. 2012 was our most successful year to date, and we are confident that this relationship will help us meet our goals of creating another record year for fresh.”
Jonathan Crookall, People Director at Halfords, added “We've been really impressed by the creativity of the fresh team and are enjoying working with them on these two important projects which support our drive to deliver continuous improvement in customer service at Halfords”.
The good news just keeps rolling in here at FIN House..!
Posted: Feb 5th, 10:56
2012 - a record year for fresh!
Following the release of our recently audited accounts, we are over the moon to have recorded a 32% growth and our strongest ever financial year in 2012. With sales up 32% to £11.1m and both gross and net profit margins maintained, pre tax profits were up 32% to £832,159.
Julie, our Chief Executive commented; “Given the economic climate, it is a fabulous achievement by all at fresh to continue to show such controlled growth of over 30% year on year for the last 3 years. With the order book and pipeline currently at an all time high we are on course to deliver our targeted £15m in 2013”.
Indeed, the first quarter of 2013 has already been as busy as ever here at fresh with the delivery of several high profile conferences, 4 well known new client wins and a further 10 fresh recruits, together with a new fully functional exhibition design and build Workshop.
“The figures are incredibly pleasing and show the hard work, commitment and dedication of the entire 70+ strong team. To be at the beginning of our financial year and already have over 50% of our target as confirmed work is a great encouragement to the team. It’s exciting times ahead for The fresh Group”, added Nick, our Chairman.
Not reflected in these figures is the major investment in time and new people we have made in our new exhibitions division. Over £250K has been invested in the financial year to get the new division up and running for 2013 and next year’s figures are set to reflect this investment with additional profits.
Great news for everyone at fresh – here’s to 2013!
Posted: Jan 28th, 12:25
fresh Exhibitions...
Following months of hard work refurbishing what was nothing more than an empty shell, we can now declare the fresh Workshop well and truly open!
Alongside the 9,000 sq ft of production space, we have added a reception area, meeting room, kitchen and office space - all furnished to match those here at FIN House as a true extension of the fresh brand.
With the delivery of a dimension saw, a cross-cut saw and an overhead router (speak to Jason, our Project Director, for explanations!) and a number of stands already in production, the Exhibitions division has hit the ground running in 2013 – contributing to what is set to be a record year for fresh!
More news coming soon, watch this space…!
Posted: Jan 21st, 16:10
fresh scoop Event Company of the Year at MiAwards...
...for the fourth year running!
The MiAwards which is part of the Drum magazine and website, reward and celebrate the UK’s best marketing businesses and effective strategies at their annual awards.
After another great year for the whole fresh team, what better way to top it off than being recognised as 'Event Company of the Year' for the fourth time!! Well done fresh team!
Posted: Nov 16th 2012, 08:52
fresh Digital Director...
...We're delighted to annouce that Steve Downes has been appointed as Director of Digital here at fresh!
Following on from his success with independent agency Paver Downes, Downes most recently founded Juice Digital in 2008 - one of the UK’s first specialist social media agencies, which he backed into Tangerine PR and has become an award-winning agency brand in its own right.
“After exiting Juice I believe I have one big agency growth left in me” said Downes “I spoke to a few, but fresh was an obvious choice in the end. They really are THE success story of Northern agencies over the last 10 years. With over 70 staff, billings over £10m and a client list to die for, I couldn’t ask for a better stage”.
“They already have a substantial and highly successful digital division to support their full-service communications offering, but the Board’s vision is to expand this service and ensure that all projects can be complimented with the most up-to-date, relevant digital solutions available. That’s what I’m here for.” he added.
Patrick Howells, The fresh Group managing director commented “We are delighted to welcome Steve to the fresh team, and are confident that with his extensive knowledge of the industry and experience of growing agencies he is the perfect candidate to steer the digital division in the direction we have envisaged. We are committed to our goal of developing the digital offering at fresh and ensuring we stay at the forefront of technology to deliver the best service available to our clients, and are thrilled to have Steve on board to lead the way.”
Posted: Nov 15th 2012, 12:33
Movember!
For the month of Movember, the fine fellows at fresh will be cultivating an array of splendid moustaches, and raising a couple of quid for men’s health. Support us here: http://movember.freshwebsite.co.uk/
Posted: Nov 9th 2012, 13:40