Maidenhead, UK-based print and graphics company Mustard Solutions Ltd works closely with Macmillan Cancer Support. Macmillan’s latest event on the calendar was The Macmillan De’longhi Art Auction - an exhibition and silent auction of artworks by the UK’s emerging artists at the brand new Darren Baker Gallery in London - which culminated in a high profile, invite-only evening to close the sale of the pieces.
Mustard was drafted in to produce hard-hitting facts and figures to flank the artworks kindly donated by the UK’s top emerging and established artists. These graphics had to showcase the reality that Macmillan deals with everyday on their support line and on the front line too.
“We do what we can for Macmillan to assist their London events team in their special events programme which raises over £1m a year for the charity,” says Mustard director Hayley Hall.
“It’s a different kind of relationship, one between supplier and an organisation whose prerogative is to step up and be there for anyone affected by cancer. It’s difficult to justify high profit margins and strict lead times when the people you are dealing with are trying their hardest to help and support the two million people in the UK living with or beyond cancer to ensure no one faces cancer alone.” comments Andy Hall, co-director at Mustard.
Mustard specialises in graphic solutions for events that can add impact and make the most of a venue. “We worked with the Macmillan Events team to produce the most cost effective but dramatic affect in the Darren Baker gallery that would really speak out to people about how their art purchase would help Macmillan to continue their fantastic work” says Hayley.
The event was a huge success raising £103,000 from the sale of the artworks. In the silent auction hosted at the Darren Baker Gallery the highest bidder paid £9,000 for Jake and Dinos Chapman ‘Hell Souvenir’. Popular artist Polly Morgan donated a piece entitled ‘Receiver’ which depicted a telephone receiver containing baby chicks struggling to escape; perhaps an insightful comment on ‘tweeting’ via social media but also a nod to the fact that all the income from the event has been directly given to the Macmillan Support Line, which gave support to 1.9 million people last year.
By 2020, almost one in two of us will face cancer at some point. It is a scary fact, and one that is enough to encourage businesses to help where they can in order to support the cause. Working with charities offers an opportunity to add another dynamic to the usual business relationship, as well as warming Mustard’s metaphorical heart it provides the opportunity to help a good cause too and that we are proud to do. The question is, should all businesses be aiming to add a charity to their client list. Not as another logo for their testimonial webpage but as a way of assisting with a cause that needs every penny it can save. We don’t suggest giving away services but if we all helped just one charity where we can we may just help them make a difference.
To donate to Macmillan Cancer Support got to www.macmillan.org.uk
