Essex, 1983. Meet Vincent Swan, double-glazing salesman extraordinaire. Smart, handsome and cocksure, Vincent will stop at nothing to get a sale. His team at Cachet Windows include Fitzpatrick, a smarmy reprobate who can charm the life savings out of anyone, and Lavender, a failed musician whose crippling politeness and moral backbone have a habit of getting in the way of a sale. The two take a bet on whether Fitzpatrick can 'sell ice to the Eskimos' - in other words, sell new windows to someone he has recently sold new windows to. Meanwhile, Vincent's attempt to convince an old colleague to join the double-glazing business takes an unexpected turn.
When Vincent, Fitzpatrick and Lavender meet a group of men from a local publishing company, alpha male hackles are raised - not only do these men get an expense account, but they each have a company car. When Cachet boss Tony Walsh rejects Vincent's request to match these perks, Vincent starts to think that maybe he is in the wrong business. Meanwhile, in a bid to save face, Fitzpatrick puts faith in his comprehensive knowledge of Cachet's home turf - with potentially dangerous consequences. In the showroom, receptionist Carol tries to get to grips with the new office computer.
When Vincent receives a visit from a tax inspector, pursuing him for unpaid tax, he decides that now would be a good time to get out of the showroom and spend more time with his family.
When Vincent and Lavender discover that Fitzpatrick is a CB radio enthusiast, they can’t resist going undercover to dupe him. Meanwhile, Vincent receives some unexpected but exciting news – he’s been nominated for Entrepreneur of the Year in the Essex Business Awards.
Vincent’s life has taken a turn for the worse – kicked out of the family home, in debt to the Inland Revenue to the tune of £50k, and worst of all – he's lost his sales mojo. He's gently sliding into the abyss when absolution appears in the most dangerous of forms. Lavender, having his own career-crises, is drawn back to the world of rock and roll, and invites Sam along to a gig.
In a bid to get back everything he’s lost – his marriage, his livelihood, his self-worth – Vincent concocts a spectacular plot to return to his rightful place.
It is 1985, 8 months have passed since Vincent teamed up with gangster Ronnie to force Walshy to sell Cachet Windows to them for a quid. But Vincent's mounting problems are about to be added to by a competitor stealing Cachet's business.
Vincent is forced to employ Ronnie’s inexperienced, dimwitted son Ronnie Junior, who proves to be a liability, further complicating Vincent’s efforts to keep the business afloat.
Vincent infiltrates the local Freemason brotherhood and uses the opportunity to drum up new business, leading to unexpected consequences.
With Jo now co-managing Cachet Windows, she uses her power to expose Lavender and Sam's past, gaining the upper hand over Vincent.
Vincent takes his family to Malta under the guise of a summer holiday, where he receives a lucrative job offer in time shares.
Ronnie is still missing and Ronnie Jr is in turmoil. Meanwhile, Vincent has to decide who to take to Spain with him - Sam and the kids or arch-rival Jo Scott.
