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Main Image: The Morphbag by GSK
PRShots Digest brings you the latest retail news from Boohoo, Ikea, M&S, TK Maxx, Mango, Selfridges, The Fragrance Shop articles on why you need to look at augmented reality, 4 winning audience strategies, top tips to supercharge your Christmas ad campaigns and more.
To see the latest news go to our Twitter account @prshotsr
THE LATEST RETAIL INDUSTRY NEWS
Pandemic effect lingers as smaller towns lead latest Vitality Rankings
The Harper Dennis Hobbs Vitality Rankings show smaller commuter towns are still benefitting from the pandemic shift in shopping habits over traditional retail hotspots.
Boohoo sets eyes on US growth with DHL Supply Chain
Boohoo Group is teaming up with DHL Supply Chain to manage the groups first US distribution centre to help drive its growth in the US
Ikea backs M&S plans to demolish Oxford Street store
Ikea is supporting Marks & Spencer’s plans to demolish and rebuild its Oxford Street flagship store as it maintains that the changes should benefit Oxford Street.
New stores recovery threatened by £800m business rates rise
The rate of store vacancies improved in Q3, with overall UK shop vacancy rate at 13.9%, 0.1 percentage points better than Q2 and 0.6 percentage points better than Q3 2021
Amazon shares tumble as it warns golden-quarter profit could be wiped out
Amazon has warned that its profits could be all but wiped out during the crucial golden quarter in a bleak prediction that stunned Wall Street.
White Stuff swings to the black
White Stuff has returned to profit with an EBITDA before exceptional items of £8.6m during the year to April 30, up from a loss of £3.4m the year before.
Made.com co-founder accuses bosses of losing focus
The co-founder of Made.com has blamed the collapse of rescue talks on bosses “losing focus” as the retailer is close to appointing administrators.
M&S first virtual influencer branded a ‘misjudged gimmick’ by shoppers
Marks and Spencer’s virtual influencer Mira (Marks & Spencer, Influencer, Reality, Augmented) is seen by some shoppers as an unrealistic representation and doesn’t represent M&S customers.
UK retailers report rebound in October
The Confederation of British Industry's monthly retail sales balance rose to +18 in October from -20 in September.
The Fragrance Shop sees sales and profits bounce back
The Fragrance Shop turnover was up 42.5% to £156.83m in the 53 weeks to 2 April with EBITDA up 68% to £27.53m.
Discount retailers confident of strong Christmas despite consumers feeling the pinch
Barclays Corporate Banking data shows 86% of discount retailers are confident of growth before the start of 2023, followed by 85% value brands, 78% high-value brands and 76% mid-range brands.
UK advertising spend predicted to rise to £35bn this year
The latest Advertising Association/WARC Expenditure Report has predicted that the value of the UK’s ad market will grow by 9.2% in 2022 to £35bn.
Wall Street loses patience with Meta after fourth straight quarterly profit decline
Wall Street investors are becoming fed up with Meta’s bets on the metaverse as losses for July to Sept at its Reality Labs division climb to $3.67bn from $2.63bn and are expected to rise 16% in 2023
TRENDS, STRATEGY AND TECHNOLOGY
Top tips to supercharge your Christmas ad campaigns
How can advertisers optimise their Christmas advertising campaigns and reach shoppers with timely and helpful messaging?
As we head into 2023, brands are planning how to grow and engage their audiences. Matterkind’s Nancy Hall, CEO US, lays out four strategies for building connections effectively and ethically.
Why retailers need to look at augmented reality
Research conducted by Snap has highlighted the "huge untapped potential" of augmented reality (AR) for retailers.
Do social follower counts matter
Amplify brand and social editor Fayola Douglas asks what social follower counts really mean in the aspirational world of high-end fashion.
BRAND NEWS
TK Maxx releases upbeat Christmas ad campaign for tough times
TK Maxx has released an energetic and upbeat ad campaign for the festive season starting this evening (28 October).
Selfridges launches kidswear rental service
Selfridges has expanded its rental offering with the launch of its first kidswear rental collection of occasion-wear, outerwear, streetwear and accessories.
Mango invests in sustainable startup Recovo
The Catalonia-based fashion group is investing in Spanish startup Recovo, a platform specialising in the resale of surplus fabrics founded in 2021 by two former Inditex employees.
AND FINALLY
Kanye says he lost $2bn in a day
Kanye West lost $2b in a single day as business partners rushed to dump the rapper in the wake of a series of anti-Semitic outbursts.
PRSHOTS TOP 10 SEARCHES
What were our users searching for on PRShots week-ending Oct 21st 2022?
1/ Christmas
2/ Halloween
3/ AW22
4/ Bedroom
5/ Dress
6/ Coat
7/ Pyjamas
8/ Bauble
9/ Fireplace
10/ Skirts
COLLABORATIONS ON PRSHOTS
Our PRShots brands are looking for media and influencers who want to work with them on collaborations. Register for free at PRShots new collabs service to find out more https://collabs.prshots.com/
NEW BRANDS TO PRSHOTS
Fabrap makes fabric gift wrapping that stands the test of time. Inspired by Indian textiles and the traditional Japanese art of Furoshiki, these fabric gift wraps combine timeless elegance, sustainability and ease of use.
Boutique agency Emslie Creative has joined PRShots adding jewellery from Joanna Laura Constantine and KJJ Fine Jewellery and handbags from Sambar
Papier was launched in 2015, and creates stationery – notebooks, diaries, planners, photobooks and stationery for weddings, birthdays etc – and gifts that invites curiosity and contemplation. In every piece of Papier is the promise of what's to come, the endless possibilities of a blank page.
TaskPR has added it’s rosta of big name brands to PRShots with womens wear images from Joules Bias Cut DKNY Jaeger Guinea London Knitwear Queen and Leocé Couture mens wear from Jaeger jewellery from Annie Haak Tateossian Thomas Sabo watches and jewellery from Movado and occasion wear from Azazie
Somerset by Alice Temperley embodies all of the hallmarks of the Temperley aesthetic –whimsy; unabashed femininity, wild prints and dresses that float from office to after hours.
Little Mistress is a specialist in occasion wear. From proms to graduations, weddings to christenings and every social event in between, their hyper-feminine details, jaw-dropping silhouettes and ultra-luxurious fabrics they’re designed to make the wearers feel like a million dollars. The new ranges include a phot shoot with celeb Dani Dyer.
Bridge Coffee Roasters launched Bridge in 1985 by sourcing and providing the very best coffee from around the world, and since then Bridge Coffee Roasters has bloomed into roasting and selling coffee, coffee machines and accessories
Threadbare is a proud family-owned British brand bringing great quality up-to-date fashion trends for men, women, children and dogs at affordable prices. Elevated, everyday, essentials
Ivyline creates contemporary accessories for the home and garden. Founded in 1976 the UK team works on everything from initial design to eventual dispatch. Its ethical product range comprises everything from fire pits and candles to planters, plant pots and everything in between.
Cutter & Squidge is a family-run, all-natural bakery created by two food-obsessed sisters. Playfulness is their passion, they love to create exciting, experimental flavours and artisan designs. Their bakes and gifts are lovingly handcrafted to taste delicious and look exquisite on any occasion.
HELP WITH YOUR IMAGE SEARCHES
The latest images on PRShots are found here https://www.prshots.com/whatsnew why not bookmark the page for a regular feed of the latest images on PRShots!! You can select the latest images from the last 24hours, week, or month.
BRANDS WITH NEW IMAGES
Clothing, beauty and accessories
TK Maxx adds new jewellery ranges
New Look has new women’s shoes and Christmas outfits and jumpers and loungewear
Barbour has new mens Modern Heritage and Wicket Crew range and a House of Hackney collaboration
Oliver Bonas has new winter and party clothing, jewellery, bags and accessory ranges
Matalan has new Christmas jumpers and AW22 collections
Roman Originals has new party and going-out outfits
The Morphbag by GSK shows its vegan lines for winter
PrettyLittleThing has new Molly Mae and Gemma Owen ranges including winter clothes and boots
M&Co has new AW22 drops for men, women and kids and Christmas gifts and clothing
From my mother’s garden has new tulle tops
Bryony Bel has new jewellery ranges
River Island has new going out clothes
Fatface has new Christmas ranges for humans and animals
The Range has new Christmas jumpers
F&F has new womenswear and Christmas jumpers
Peacocks has a new festive collections for young and old, Christmas jumpers and Louise Redknapp collaborations
White Stuff has new winter woolies, boots and accessories
Primark has KEM ranges, Christmas party outfits, Stacey Solomon collections, new clothing and accessory ranges for men, women and kids, new beauty ranges and Breast Cancer awareness
Monsoon has new womenswear and kids ranges
Dancing Leopard has new AW22 wear
Shoe Zone has winter boots and shoes
Cotton Traders has new menswear modelled by Will Mellor
Dune London has new going out shoe and boot ranges
Marks & Spencer have new clothing, shoes and boot ranges and Christmas jumpers
Dune London Men’s has new bags and shoes for winter
Sonder Studio has new Christmas and AW ranges
Hope Fashion has new party outfits
Joe Browns has new Christmas ranges
See additional new clothing and accessories images from the weeks from
Seol + Gold Aspiga Very Radley Freemans Hope Fashion The Range Accessorize F&F Lemuel MC
Home and food
Oliver Bonas has new homeware and pet ranges
Dobbies Garden Centres has new home goods, pet accessories, Christmas decorations and gifts
Fritz Fryer has new lights
Luxdeco has new Christmas homeware gifts
The Range has Christmas gifts and decorations and pet gifts
Biscuiteers Baking has new Christmas food
White Stuff has new Christmas Decorations and gifts for the home
M&Co has new Christmas games
Cult Furniture has new office seats, desks, bar stools and furniture
Paperchase has added more Christmas decorations and gifts
National Trust Shop has new Halloween ranges
TK Maxx and Homesense have new homeware and Christmas goodies
Sofology has new sofa ranges
Cambridge Imprint has new gifts for AW22 and Christmas
Dunelm has new Christmas gifts
Cartwright & Butler has hampers, advent calendars and treats for Christmas
Monsoon has new Christmas decorations
Daisy Park has new kitchenware from Emma Bridgewater for Christmas, Halloween and Bonfire Night
George Home has Christmas goodies for the home
Primark shows its Christmas decorations, gifts and homeware
Nest has new desks tables and chairs
Marks & Spencer have new personalised Christmas gifts and Christmas decorations
Wilko has festive decorations and gifts for Christmas and Halloween, and AW22 home
See additional new home images from the last weeks from
Cardfactory KMI Brands DFS Fatface Very Habitat Hotel Chocolat Cuckooland B&M Cath Kidston Abstract House Christy Matalan Oliver Bonas
Looking for inspiration??
Our trends lightboxes section has lots of ideas for features and themes but If you can't find something or you need help then email us at support@prshots.com, and we'll see if we can help
DIARY
Days Until Halloween – 3
Days Until Black Friday – 28
Days Until Cyber Monday - 31
Days Until Christmas Day – 58
Days Until Valentine’s Day - 109
Days until Easter - 161
October
How to make your products attractive to the media in October
We’re into autumn and the nights are starting to draw in and the heating is on - at last! Although at a much-reduced rate. The media are looking for images that reflect the changes so anything that looks cosy and warm is good, roaring fires, big jumpers, coats, hats, knitwear, scarfs and wellies in a leaf-strewn outdoors – all the cliches – are what the media are looking for. If you can do some night shots with sparklers, then you’re also ticking the boxes for bonfire night next month. We also have Halloween at the end of the month, so if you can get a pumpkin in your images then you’re hitting two birds with one stone.
You should be adding Christmas images and for those magazines with long lead times then start to look for the images of people working off the Christmas excesses for the January issues.
Don’t forget to add keywords – Gifts, Christmas, Xmas, Autumn, Winter, Halloween, fireworks night, bonfire night will all be looked for. Also, we have a wide audience with media from around the World so add those American holiday versions eg the holidays, Fall, Pumpkin day, Thanksgiving etc and words like hygge that are starting to enter the language.
Also cost-of living crises maybe a good keyword to add especially on warm clothing
Media will also be searching for party outfits for Halloween, Guy Fawkes, and the office party season will be on us soon. Christmas gift guides are also useful, try and be creative, do ones for every eventuality eg gifts guides for him/her/mum/dad/kids/teenagers/pets etc also gifts under £150/100/£50 and for guides for secret Santa’s gifts under £20.
Please put prices on everything!!! Otherwise, you stand no chance of getting into any of the features that include “Presents under £50”, “Party dresses for £150” etc
If you’re a PRShots brand user and you need more ideas, then take a look at the keywords that media are searching for on PRShots and try and add those in.
October Diary - Weeks/Months
October is also known as ‘Stoptober’ which started as a campaign around giving up cigarettes, but is now joined by MacMillans Go Sober for October, so if you have anything non-alcoholic then get it on PRShots and make sure you add Stoptober and non-alcoholic as keywords. It’s also breast cancer awareness month, wool month, black history month, vegetarian awareness month, apple month, cookie month, spinach lovers’ month, pork month and national pasta, chilli and pizza month.
The second week is National Chocolate week, and National recycle Week (17-23rd) and in the US the 14-20th is national School Lunch week.
October - Days
28th – National Chocolate Day (US)
29th – National Cat Day (US)
30th – Clocks go back tonight
31st – Halloween
November
How to make your products attractive to the media in November
We are well into autumn and the Christmas season and the media are looking for images that help them fill all those “what to buy on Black Friday” features, the endless Christmas gift guides, and all those “What to wear for the Christmas party season” articles.
You should be uploading Black Friday and Christmas images for most media, but long lead time magazines will be looking at January issues so anything that helps illustrate the inevitable “New you for 2023” issues, so athleisure, outdoor healthy sporty images will all be useful.
As always don’t forget to add keywords – Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Thanksgiving, Gifts, Christmas, Xmas, Winter plus all those words beloved of home and women’s magazines like cosy, cosiness, hygge, wellbeing.
Clothing wise the media are looking for party wear, party dresses, nightwear, “going out out” (thanks to Annie Mac Ex-Radio 1), Christmas Jumpers, jumpers, scarves, bobble hats, beanies, cardigans, coatigans, jackets, and coats. So, make sure that you have plenty of images in those categories uploaded and labelled with as many of those words as you can.
Also make sure that if your clothing is made from a fabric associated with winter that it’s flagged up somewhere in the title/keyword or in more information. Wool (woolovers are a thing), cashmere, fur (faux obviously) and velvet.
If you’re aiming at being included in Christmas Guides then make sure you have added prices. Guides are normally price-led eg “Presents under £50”, “Party dresses for less than £150” and without prices your items won’t be included.
If you’re a PRShots brand user and you need more ideas, then take a look at the keywords that media are searching for on PRShots in the Keyword Search Report and try and add those in.
November Diary - Weeks/Months
Events to add to your marketing diary for November include
Movember which centres around men’s health issues and moustaches, so beard and shaving-related things might be useful, in the US it’s also national peanut butter lovers month, sweet potato month and candy month.
The first week of November is National Sausage Week in the UK – the perfect accompaniment to Guy Fawkes - the first week is also national fig week and the second week is national split pea soup week
November Diary - Days
1st – World Vegan Day
1st – All Saints’ Day
2nd – All Souls’ Day
5th – Guy Fawkes/Bonfire night
5th – Two years until the US presidential elections
6th – New York Marathon
11th – Armistice/Remembrance Day
11th – Chinese Singles Day
11th – Veterans Day (US)
12th – World Pneumonia Day
12th – National Happy hour Day (US)
13th – World Kindness Day
13th - Remembrance Sunday
15th – International Cheese and bread Day
17th – Homemade bread day (US)
17th – International Students Day
19th – International Men’s Day
24th – Thanksgiving (US)
25th – 1 month until Christmas Day
25th – Black Friday
26th – US Small Business Saturday
28th – Cyber Monday
30th – St Andrew’s Day (Bank Holiday Scotland)
Do you have any news on your brand that you want us to feature, or have a new appointee or a new event that you would like us to feature? Get in touch at news@prshots.com We don't charge, so get emailing now!!!
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