Main Image: Joe Browns

PRShots Roundup brings you the latest retail news from Goop, Gymshark, PrettyLittleThing, WHSmith, Dunelm, Hornby, Zara, Asos, Go Outdoors, Boohoo, Trinny London, and Schuh. Plus, are retail seasons dead, how to make the most of your market research data and more.  

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THE LATEST RETAIL INDUSTRY NEWS

UK economy unexpectedly flatlines for second month in row

Office for National Statistics (ONS) data shows GDP flatlined for the second month in a row and suggests the recovery from the mild recession in late 2023 has petered out.

Goop lays off 18% of workforce

Goop, the wellness and lifestyle brand founded by Gwyneth Paltrow, is undergoing a restructuring, laying off 18% of its 216 employees.

PrettyLittleThing founder Umar Kamani returns to helm

PrettyLittleThing founder Umar Kamani is returning to the retailer and said his return “marks the beginning of a new chapter for the fashion giant” as he looks to “put customers at the forefront.”

WHSmith profit edges up boosted by booming travel sales

WHSmith group sales rose 7%  and profits increased by £1m to £46m for the year to 31 Aug, with sales boosted by a 10% increase in sales for its travel division and profits up from £47m to £50m.

Dunelm has recorded a rise in sales and profits

Dunelm sales for FY to June 29 increased 4.1% to £1.71bn and its pre-tax profit rose 6.6% to £205.4m boosted by a growth in volume, despite an overall “softer market”.

Mike Ashley works his magic at Hornby as sales jump

Hornby sales and gross profit increased 10% in the period 1 April to 31 August, 2024, as Mike Ashley’s role as consultant and stakeholder starts to show returns.

Zara owner Inditex’s profits continue to rise

Zara parent Inditex saw a 7.2% year-on-year increase in revenue to €18.1bn for the half to 31 July 2024, and expects profits to hit €3.1bn up 10% as a result of strong spring/summer 24 sales.

ASOS cuts net debt load by £150m

Asos has reduced its debt by £150m through the sale of the majority stake in Topshop to a joint venture with Bestseller owner Anders Hoch Povlsen and the repurchase of Convertible Bonds.

TRENDS, SUSTAINABILITY, STRATEGY AND TECHNOLOGY

Are retail sales seasons dead?

Retail Gazette explores whether the traditional sales seasons are dead – and what retailers are doing to overcome increasingly unseasonable weather.

How to make the most of your market research data

Breathe new life into underutilised market research through reanalysis, data integration and advanced analytics techniques.

All you need to know about Google and Yahoo’s bulk email rules

Google and Yahoo are enforcing new requirements for bulk email senders, which focus on three areas: authentication of outgoing emails, reported spam rates and the ability to easily unsubscribe.

Go Outdoors boss wants to reinvent the business and solve retail’s weather problem

As Go Outdoors opens the “largest outdoor store in Europe”, Retail Week spoke to chief executive Lee Bagnall about the outdoors market and the role weather plays in it.

35% of Brits spend most of their disposable income on self-care

New data has revealed that many Brits are choosing to spend a significant portion (35%) of their disposable income on self-care and personal wellbeing.

PEOPLE, MOVERS AND SHAKERS

Bodybuilder Chris Bumstead returns to Gymshark

Chris Bumstead has rejoined the athlete roster at Gymshark after a three-year hiatus. but this time the global bodybuilding icon has also become a part owner of the business.

BRAND NEWS

Boohoo will start supplying all US customers from its UK distribution centre

Boohoo has said it will stop supplying US customers from its Pennsylvania distribution centre and will fulfil these orders from its UK warehouse in Sheffield.

Amazon expands its partnership with Morrisons

Amazon and Morrisons have expanded their partnership by adding the More Points scheme to the Morrisons on Amazon online store.

Trinny London opens first standalone store

Online beauty brand Trinny London has chosen Chelsea’s King’s Road for the launch of its first standalone store following the success of a summer pop-up.

Schuh launches single shoe initiative for shoppers with limb differences and disabilities

Footwear retailer Schuh is rolling out a new initiative to enable customers to make single shoe purchases in its stores.

Net-A-Porter relaunches mentorship programme for emerging designers

Championing emerging talent, Net-A-Porter and Mr Porter have joined forces to relaunch the Vanguard mentorship programme.

Screwfix targets 20 more Screwfix City stores

Screwfix is set to open up to 20 of its new inner city convenience stores – Screwfix City - by the end of the year as it targets high footfall areas in its expansion plans.

AND FINALLY x2

Selena Gomez becomes billionaire thanks to Rare Beauty

Actress and singer Selena Gomez has amassed a fortune worth $1.3bn, according to Bloomberg, thanks to her brand Rare Beauty.

Death of the corkscrew? Only 27% of young people in UK own one

Only 27% of 18- to 24-year-olds own a corkscrew while for the over-65s that figure stands at 81%, according to the annual trends report by the household goods retailer Lakeland.

PRSHOTS TOP 10 SEARCHES

What were our users searching for on PRShots Week ending September 6^th 2024?

1/ AW24

2/ Halloween

3/ Christmas

4/ Coat

5/ Denim

6/ Boots

7/ Candle

8/ Home

9/ Vase  

10/ Garden

NEW BRANDS TO PRSHOTS

Marté was founded by Victoria Angus after 20 years working in the footwear industry. Her brand’s mission is centred around Labour rights, freedom of association and freedom from discrimination, along with forward-thinking movements on environmental impact and a drive to sustainability.

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.

BHF is the biggest funder of research into heart and circulatory diseases in Europe and helps find cures and treatments to give people more time with loved ones. Their shops and online store sell everything from Christmas gifts and cards to wedding accessories, clothing and garden furniture.  

Ada Dakin is named after Founder Sophie Dakin’s grandmother, a gracefully strong yet beautifully independent woman who made her own dresses and taught Sophie how to sew. The collection is a kind and responsible collection which inspires individuality, femininity and offers ethically-minded, considered fashion choices without compromising on style.

Jan Constantine is an international home brand started by British designer Jan Constantine who is known for her bold, distinct and original collection of home textiles and her work as a designer and manufacturer of a range of home interior products.

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

George at Asda has a new collaboration Style Stories with Erica Davies, new womenswear featuring leopard print and denim, and lingerie ranges for AW24.

Primark has a new Leopard print ranges, Rita Ora collaboration, new boucle accessories, a Harvard University range, womenswear boots and shoes, Halloween accessories and makeup, and a Beetlejuice movie tie-in.

Barbour has a new Flower Mountain collaboration, new menswear, plus Modern Heritage ranges of menswear and womenswear for AW24, and a new William Morris womenswear range.

M&S has launched its autumn lingerie, clothing, accessory and jewellery ranges from Autograph, M&S, Jaeger and 3^rd parties for him and her, a new Beauty Discovery box, AW24 accessory ranges of shoes, bags, scarves and gloves.

River Island has new 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.

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

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

Celtic &Co has new statement looks for women.

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.

Matalan has new AW24 lingerie ranges, shoes and boots for AW, Halloween wear for all the family, a new Bing NSPCC kidswear, winter jumpers and coats, jewellery and Soluxe activewear ranges for all the family.

Very has new Quiet Luxury ranges of womenswear, Everyday, V by Very Curve and V by Very as well as occasion wear, a Michelle Keegan collaboration.

New Look has new ranges of womenswear including coats, jumpers, skirts and tops, new high summer 2024 womenswear dresses, trousers and tops.

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.

Monsoon has new womenswear for special occasions and children’s Christmas-themed and winter accessories, plus children’s and womenswear ranges and accessories including bags, shoes, boots, jewellery and scarves plus jewellery ranges for AW24.

Peacocks has a new Michael Owen and Louise Redknapp collaboration new AW24 womenswear and jewellery, Louise Redknapp Edit, new pyjama, lingerie and swimsuit collaboration with model Caprice.

Roman Originals has new Dusk ranges, plus floral outfits, and Roman Petite and Curve ranges, SS24 womenswear and new Petite and Ariella ranges.

F&F has new Active Kate Ferdinand collaborations, Xmas ranges including jumpers, coats and party wear in satins, gold and black metallics and sequins, a new Autumn F&F Edit and athleisure outfits.

Scamp & Dude has new womenswear and accessories including t-shirts, bags and scarves, plus news kids ranges, high-summer women's wear ranges and accessories for holidays, the beach, the evening and 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.

Dune London has new women’s boots, shoes, and bag ranges, suitcases and travel luggage, handbags and accessory ranges for high summer 2024.

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

Iolla Dune London Mens Oliver Bonas Rebecca Rhoades Cayo National Trust shop Joe Browns Bonmarché Curvy Kate Threadbare Celtic & Co

Home, garden and food

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

Marks & Spencer has a new homeware collaboration with designer Kelly Hoppen, new Christmas decorations plus new homeware including tableware, soft furnishings, candles, diffusers, vases and planters and a new collaboration with the National Gallery.

Matalan has a new AW Cosy Shop range of bedding and soft furnishings, Christmas bedding ranges and presents for pets.

Cambridge Imprint  has a new artists gift range.

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

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

Treats by Mars has new Galaxy and Maltesers.

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

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. 

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

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

Nest has new Hay collections of lighting and homeware.

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.

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

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

Matalan has new Halloween decorations, Folk Harvest AW24 ranges for the kitchen, bathroom and the living room, Christmas gifting, new homeware (indoors and out) ranges including cushions, kitchenware, bowls, baskets, planters and gift ideas.

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.

Home Bargains has a new Harvest and Winter charm ranges of things for the home for the autumn and Halloween including Haunted House ranges.

Sandberg Wallpaper has a new Ett Hem Öland, Chinoiserie Garden Collections for the bedroom, dining room and lounge.

John Lewis has its Dawn & Dusk, Wisdom & wonder and Trinket & Treasure ranges of Christmas decorations for the home plus Christmas gift ranges for him and her.

See additional new home images from

Designers Guild National Trust shop Oliver Bonas Arran Sense of Scotland Hobbycraft Cutter & Squidge Very Primark The Gluttonous Gardener Dunelm

DIARY

PRShots Retail Calendar Alerts

Days until London Fashion Week - 2

Days until Halloween – 50

Days until Black Friday – 79

Days until Christmas – 105

How to get your brand on the September Media Calendars   

Summer is nearly over, and it’s time to look to the autumn and to the winter. Mid-September marks just 100 days to Christmas so you should be adding your Christmas images for those monthly/weekly magazines with medium lead times.  Plus, look at adding some Spring-Summer 2025 images for those titles with long lead times, as they will be starting to look at their Feb and March 2025 issues so you can help them out with previews of SS25. 

The media are going to be starting to create features around what to wear for university or college, and the office autumn wardrobe. Now the nights are drawing in, they’ll also be running features on winter wear, so add coats/jumpers/boots. Plus they’ll be looking for images for Halloween and bonfire night parties and there are decorations and gifts for Christmas and some last-minute AW images. 

Don’t forget to add keywords – Gifts, Christmas, Xmas, Autumn, Winter, and Halloween will all be looked for. It’s National Yoga Awareness Month, so you could add yoga as a keyword on any athleisure wear, floor mats, rugs 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.

September Diary - Weeks/Months

September is National Honey Month and National Yoga Awareness month and it’s second-hand September (an Oxfam initiative https://www.oxfam.org.uk/get-involved/second-hand-september/), Self-Care September, as well as Organic, September, and Sourdough September.

September also has London Fashion Week between 13^th-17^th September and this year features men and women’s fashion and features digital and physical events see the schedule here https://londonfashionweek.co.uk/schedule.  

There’s also: the Moda trade show (1^st-4^th Sept), London Textile Fair (3^rd-4^th Sept) Top Drawer (10^th-12^th Sept) and Sustainable Fashion Week (20^th Sept to 29^th Sept).

Other weeks to celebrate this month include;

New York Fashion Week (6^th-11^th)

National Horse Race Week (7^th-15^th)

Bridal Fashion Week (8^th-10^th)

Fairtrade Fortnight (9^th – 22^nd)

Sexual Health Week (11^th- 17^th)

British Science Festival (11^th -15^th)

Jane Austen Festival (13^th-22^nd)

Open House Festival (14^th -22^nd)

Negroni Week (16^th-22^nd)

Milan fashion Week (17^th-23^rd)

Great British Beach Clean Week (20^th-29^th)

British Food Fortnight (20^th Sept - 6^th Oct)

Paris fashion Week (23^rd Sept -1^st Oct)

Shetland Wool Week (28^th Sept – 6^th Oct)

September - Days

11^th-12^th – Yom Kippur

15^th-16^th – Eid Milad un Nabi (Mawlid) 

16^th – First Day of Sukkot  (Jewish Holiday)

16^th – 100 days until Christmas

21^st – Zero emissions day

22^nd – Car-free Day

22^nd – September Equinox

23^rd – Last Day of Sukkot – Jewish Holiday 

25^th – 3 months until Christmas Day

27^th – World Tourism Day

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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