Main Image: Marks & Spencer

PRShots Roundup brings you the latest retail news from Ikea, Mulberry, Pretty Green, Experiment, Fenwick, White Stuff, Aldi, Bensons for Beds, Crocs, Paul Smith, Zara, Versace, Asos, THG, and Waitrose. Plus, how social listening increases customer advocacy, who will win the Health and Beauty market this Christmas and more.  

THE LATEST RETAIL INDUSTRY NEWS

The economy returned to growth in August

Office of National Statistics (ONS) figures show the economy returned to growth in August with GDP up 0.2%, in line with expectations and after two consecutive months of stagnation.

Ikea UK sales slide after investment in price cuts

Ikea UK sales dropped 6.8% to £2.3bn in the year to 31 Aug after “strategic decision” to cut prices, additionally, online sales now account for 41.7% of UK sales, up from 38.5% last year.

THG raises funding to spin off Ingenuity

THG has raised £95.4m from investors as it continues with its plans to demerge the Ingenuity ecommerce solution service into a separate entity.

Strong signs of London revival

London retail landlord Great Portland Estates (GPE) trading update shows both it and the capital are continuing to head back to their pre-pandemic best.

TRENDS, SUSTAINABILITY, STRATEGY AND TECHNOLOGY

How social listening increases customer advocacy

Hootsuite shows how social listening can turn satisfied customers into brand advocates and authentically build brand awareness.

Who will win the health and beauty battle this golden quarter?

With high street giants like John Lewis, Marks & Spencer and Boots upping their beauty game in the run-up to Christmas, Retail Week looks at who is winning the health and beauty battle.

7 retailers that have lost their CEOs in recent months

There has been a revolving door in retail’s boardrooms with a swathe of CEOs exiting in recent months. Retail Gazette takes a look at some of the biggest CEO departures.

What is air-conditioned clothing?

This summer was the planet’s hottest on record, air-conditioned clothing – outfits with battery-powered fans - could offer an answer. Vogue Business investigates the growing market.

13 new AI productivity tools

New tools for email marketing, audience research, project and team management, AI assistants, voice-powered dictation, and video.

Spain's top fashion retailers to launch trial to collect clothes waste in 2025

Zara owner Inditex, H&M, Decathlon, Ikea and Primark are among 10 brands in Spain collecting discarded clothes from April next year as part of a voluntary pilot scheme to manage textile waste.

PEOPLE, MOVERS AND SHAKERS

Mulberry non-exec director departs

Mulberry has announced that non-executive director Julie Gilhart will step down after its AGM next month, having spent nearly ten years with the company.

BRAND NEWS

Pretty Green launches anniversary collection

British menswear label Pretty Green’s about to celebrate its 15th winter with a collection dedicated not only to the brand’s longevity but also its lasting love of paisley.

Fenwick Newcastle opens UK's largest beauty hall outside London

Department store chain Fenwick’s Newcastle flagship has benefitted from major investment as the company unveils the largest beauty hall outside of London.

Kate Moss creates party capsule for Zara

Zara is collaborating with Kate Moss on a new collection to launch on Nov. 30 and comprising of ready-to-wear and accessories meant for big nights out.

Waitrose to launch over 30 new products as it expands self-serve bakery and patisserie counters

Waitrose is launching over 30 new products in its in-store bakery range as it expands its self-serve bakery and patisserie counters.

Bensons has opened an ‘unprecedented’ number of new stores

Bensons for Beds has opened more than a dozen new stores in less than a month following its buy-up of doomed Carpetright locations.

ASOS launches Reclaimed Vintage x Outer Banks collection

ASOS has launched a new collaboration collection for its Reclaimed Vintage own-brand with Netflix’s ‘Outer Banks’.

Former Farah Brand Director Mark McCann launches new streetwear brand Experiment

A new direct-to-consumer streetwear brand called Experiment has just launched, founded by Mark McCann, who left his role as Brand Director of Farah at Perry Ellis Europe in 2023.

Aldi kicks off Christmas recruitment drive with 3,500 new roles

Aldi is set to take on 3,500 extra store workers in the lead up to Christmas as it prepares for the festive season.

Versace’s new Icons campaign features Anne Hathaway and Cillian Murphy

Versace’s latest Icons campaign stars Anne Hathaway and Cillian Murphy, in metal mesh and maxi jacquard looks that reprise designs from the earliest collections by Donatella Versace.

White Stuff to open first airport store

White Stuff is opening its first airport store in November at London Gatwick. The store will feature AW24 Women and men’s wear, as well as clothing for warmer destinations.

AND FINALLY x2

Paul Smith opens an art gallery in his London flagship store

Designer Paul Smith has opened an art gallery in his brand’s flagship store in Albemarle Street in Mayfair, London.

Crocs to launch Pet Crocs for furry friends

Footwear brand Crocs is set to expand its product range by offering Crocs for pets. The new Pet Crocs are made from EVA foam and made for dogs of all sizes.

PRSHOTS TOP 10 SEARCHES

What were our users searching for on PRShots Week ending October 4^th 2024?

1/ AW24

2/ Christmas

3/ Halloween

4/ Leopard

5/ Throw

6/ Cushion

7/ Candle

8/ Trainers

9/ Home  

10/ Scarf

NEW BRANDS TO PRSHOTS

Priestleys was founded by husband and wife team James and Karen and specialises in producing little luxuries in their Lincolnshire workshop.  Their leather bags, belts, wallets and accessories are handcrafted using responsibly sourced leathers from gold and silver-rated tanneries in Europe and are supplemented with ranges of scarves and jewellery.

Sims Wear was founded by Billy Sims-Hilditch with the idea of creating British made menswear, using best in class natural fibres. The range is all home produced in Aberdeenshire from fibre carding and spinning, through to knitting, weaving, cutting and sewing.

Initially London are the UK's only full-service monogramming company specialising in classic accessories, home linens and gifts for all occasions and all include their fabulous embroidered and laser-etched monograms.

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 24 hours, week, or month.

BRANDS WITH NEW IMAGES

Clothing, beauty and accessories

Very has new partywear ranges, V by Very ranges of clothes and footwear, a new Michelle Keegan collaboration of winter coats, Quiet Luxury ranges of womenswear, Everyday, and V by Very Curve.

Monsoon has new October edits for women and kids, bags, shoes, jewellery and accessories, new womenswear for special occasions and children’s Christmas-themed and winter accessories.

M&S has Christmas clothing, accessories and lingerie sets as well as post-surgery bras, Halloween clothing, the Dress the Nation range with Vernon Kay and AJ Odudu, autumn lingerie, clothing, accessories and jewellery ranges from Autograph, M&S, Jaeger and 3^rd parties for him and her.

Celtic &Co has new statement looks for men and women for AW24.

Peacocks has new Christmas jumpers and fashion, Caprice Christmas pyjama collections, new womenswear, a new Louise Redknapp AW and Christmas Edit, a Michael Owen collaboration and new AW24 womenswear and jewellery.

Primark has Christmas Grinch, Famjam, A Nightmare Before Christmas ranges of pyjamas, jewellery and accessories, a new maternity range, a Pau Eche range of AW24 womenswear and accessories, new menswear, makeup, athleisure wear, and Halloween outfits.

New Look has new winter and occasion wear outfits for women, plus ranges of womenswear including coats, jumpers, skirts and tops.

Matalan has a new collaboration with Alder Hey hospital, Christmas women’s eveningwear, outdoor clothing, footwear, Christmas and Winter outfits for the whole family, AW24 men’s tailoring, new kids and adults sleepwear from its Cosy Shop, new AW24 lingerie ranges, shoes and boots for AW, Halloween wear for all the family.

Dune London has new women’s hats, boots, shoes, accessories and bag ranges, suitcases and travel luggage, handbags and accessory ranges.

George at Asda has women’s and menswear for Christmas occasions and parties, Children in Need Christmas outfits, a new Roksanda and Tickled Pink collaboration clothing ranges, a new collaboration Style Stories with Erica Davies.

River Island has new women’s footwear, clothes and bag ranges, faux leather and leather ranges, a new range of red and burgundy RI womenswear and accessories, plus menswear and womenswear for the autumn, plus leopard prints.

Threadbare has a new AW24 and British Adventure ranges of womenswear.

Barbour has a gifts under £50 range, an Alexa Natalie collaboration, new Flower Mountain collaboration of trainers and clothes, new menswear, plus Modern Heritage ranges of menswear and womenswear for AW24.

Accessorize has new Christmas 2024 ranges of pyjamas, jumpers, bags, jewellery and accessories, plus AW24 ranges of bags, jewellery and scarves.

Betty&Biddy has new jewellery ranges for Christmas including earrings, bracelets and necklaces.

Oliver Bonas has new AW24 womenswear, accessories, shoes, boots and jewellery drops for October.

Roman Originals has a new Petite range, new Ariella and Dusk ranges, plus floral outfits, and Roman Petite and Curve ranges.

Shoe Zone has new AW24 men, women and kids shoes and boots.

Cotton Traders has new cosy womenswear and menswear for AW24 including jumpers, cardigans and coats.

Fable England has a Wolf Garden range of clothes, jewellery and bags, a new AW24 collaboration with the National History Museum new jewellery ranges, AW24 small accessories ranges from scarves to purses and AW24 nightwear.

Bonmarché has new lingerie ranges, new jewellery and accessory ranges for Christmas and the winter and AW24 clothing ranges.

F&F has new Christmas campaign imagery, Active Kate Ferdinand collaborations, Xmas ranges including jumpers, coats and party wear in satins, gold and black metallics and sequins.

TK Maxx has its Christmas gift-guides for men, women, kids and pets, plus new menswear and womenswear ranges for AW24 including coats, jackets and hoodies, plus Leopard skin prints t-shirts and skirts.

Iolla has the latest ranges of glasses for him and her.

Regatta has new Family Fashion ranges for outdoor wear for women, men and kids for AW24.

Scamp & Dude has new womenswear and accessories including t-shirts, bags and scarves, plus news kids ranges, and women's wear ranges for relaxing at home.

Fatface has new Autumn ranges of mens, womens and kidswear and accessories including boots, slippers, perfumes and soaps, scarves, hats, bags and a new jewellery range.

John Lewis has new AW24 menswear and womenswear collections from its Kin, Anyday and JLP collections and new kids wear for AW24.

See additional new clothing and accessories images from

Joe Browns Dune London Mens Rebecca Rhoades Cayo National Trust shop Curvy Kate

Home, garden and food

M&S has a new National Gallery collaboration, stocking filler Christmas images and new Fearne Cotton Happy Place range, Christmas homeware including tableware, soft furnishings, candles and  diffusers, Christmas decorations, homeware and bedding ranges, and Halloween decorations.

Arran Sense of Scotland has Christmas scented diffusers and handwashes plus Christmas gifting ranges.

Primark has new Christmas decorations and homeware gifts, AW24 furniture, homeware, bedding, diffusers and candles and Halloween decorations.

Dobbies Garden Centres has new Christmas ranges including food and drink, trees, decorations and gifts for pets, RHS branded garden gift ranges, Halloween ranges, plus Snow & Sparkles, Magic Woodland, Classic Noel, Colour Pop and Festival Tales Christmas decoration ranges plus autumn homewares, playhouses and garden toys.

Treats by Mars has cans of Milky Way, Mars and Galaxy drinks, new Galaxy gluten and dairy selection boxes, and new Snickers, M&Ms and Maltesers ranges of goodies.

Cutter & Squidge has new Christmas and Halloween food gift ideas from hampers to treats.

Online Home Shop has new hot water bottles, mirrors, cuddle cushions, shaped pillows and bolsters, a selection of bar stools, new Autumn and Winter bedding ranges and themed hoodie blankets for all occasions.

Matalan has Christmas decorations, a new Connie the Cockapoo range, AW24 soft furnishings and gifts, a new AW Cosy Shop range of bedding and soft furnishings, Christmas bedding ranges and presents for pets.

B&M has new Xmas 2024 gift guides, new Woodland Charm, Japandi and Natural Earth homeware, plus bedding and soft furnishings for AW24, Halloween and Christmas 2024 ranges of decorations, Christmas mugs, cushions, candles, and things for the kitchen and the Christmas dining table. 

Quorn Stone has new natural stone and tumbled herringbone cobbles outdoor ranges, marble ranges for the bathroom and kitchen and Limestone cobbles for outside.

Homesense has new AW24 homeware and Halloween decorations, Christmas gifts and decorations, plus kitchenware ranges aimed at the home and student markets.

George Home has a new Stacey Solomon Christmas, Halloween and Autumn collaborations on cookware, bedding, dining, and homeware.

Hobbycraft has new DIY decoration ideas for the Christmas dining table.

Jan Constantine has a new Christmas collection of cushions.

Cambridge Imprint has wrapping paper, coffee mugs, storage draws and a new artists' gift range.

TK Maxx has its Christmas gift-guides for the home, plus Beetlejuice-themed Halloween things for the home.

DFS has new Scandi, Coastal and Palm beds, sofas and chair ranges.

Joe Browns has new homeware ranges for Christmas and AW24 including bedding, kitchenware and the Heritage Social, Portobello Bohemian and Off the Floor ranges.

Nest has new Hay collections of lighting and homeware.

Cult Furniture has new sofas, armchairs, TV stands and tables, Arbor kitchen furniture, Bourton office furniture, Boucle and Eco Edit range for indoors.

Next has new Chic, Scandi Collection, Rustic Romance homeware ranges for AW24, including gifts, lighting, furniture and vases, it also has Christmas decorations, gifts and soft furnishings.

See additional new home images from

Home Bargains Sandberg Wallpaper John Lewis BHF Designers Guild National Trust shop Oliver Bonas Very The Gluttonous Gardener Dunelm

DIARY

PRShots Retail Calendar Alerts

Days until Halloween – 20

Days until Black Friday – 49

Days until Christmas – 75
 

How to get your brand on the October media calendars

We’re into autumn, and the nights are starting to draw in, and the heating is probably on.  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 and Diwali this 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 very 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 like Gifts, Christmas, Xmas, Autumn, Winter, Halloween, Fireworks night and Bonfire night, as they will be looked for from now. Also, we have a wide audience with media from around the World, so add those American holiday versions e.g. The Holidays, Fall, Pumpkin day, Thanksgiving etc and words like hygge that are starting to enter the language and are associated with the autumn.  

Media will also be searching for party outfits for Halloween, Guy Fawkes, and the office party season - which will soon be with us.  The media are also starting to look for and create Christmas gift guides, so try and be creative, do ones for every eventuality e.g. 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.

If you’re looking for more hooks to help promote your brand and products, then see the list of days, weeks and fortnights below.

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 Black History Month, Wool Month, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Menopause Month, Vegetarian Awareness Month, Apple Month, Cookie Month, Spinach Lovers' Month, Pork Month, and National Pasta, Chilli, and Pizza Month.

Fashion and Beauty Weeks and events include - British Beauty Week (23^rd-27^th)

Work Life Week (7^th- 11^th)

National Curry Week (7^th-13^th - TBC)

National School Lunch week US (14 ^th-18^th)

National Baking Week (14^th-20^th - TBC)

Wrap’s National Recycle Week (14^th-20^th)

National Chocolate Week (15^th-21^st - TBC)

 October - Days

11^th – Yom Kippur 

11^th – National Coming Out Day (UK/US)

12^th – Navaratri Ends (Hindu holiday)

12^th – Vijayadashami/Dussehra Hindu festival 

13^th – National Yorkshire Pudding Day (US)

13^th – National No Bra Day

16^th – First Day of Sukkot 

16^th – UN World Food Day

16^th – Department store day

18^th – National Chocolate Cup Cake Day (US)

18^th – World Menopause Day

19^th – International Gin & Tonic Day

20^th – National Office Chocolate Day (US)

22^nd-23^rd – Hoshana Rabbah 

23^rd – Last Day of Sukkot 

23^rd-25^th – Shemini Atzeret

24^th-25^th - Simchat Torah  

25^th – World Pasta Day

25^th – 2 months until Christmas Day

26^th – National Pumpkin Day

27^th – National American Beer Day

27^th – Global Champagne Day

28^th – National Chocolate Day (US)

29^th – National Cat Day (US)

27^th – Clocks go back tonight 

31^st – Halloween

31^st  – Diwali 

NB - All dates have been checked, but some events may change due to unforeseen circumstances or have not been fully confirmed for 2024 by the authorities controlling the event(s). 

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