Main Image: Very

PRShots Roundup brings you the latest retail news from TK Maxx, Tesco, N Brown, The Entertainer, Poundland, ProCook, Victoria’s Secret, Prada, Greggs and John Lewis. Plus, 13 video AI apps for creative marketing, why it’s time to reinvent the blog and more.  

THE LATEST RETAIL INDUSTRY NEWS

TJ Maxx sales pass £4bn to hit new record

Sales at TJ Maxx UK (TK Maxx and Homesense) hit a new record passing £4bn for the year to 3 Feb, sales were up to £4.02bn from £3.88bn, but pre-tax profit was cut from £172.4m to £120.7m.

UK consumers help Deliveroo’s growth

Deliveroo’s gross transaction value (GTV) in Q3 was up 6% to £1.78bn, with UK growth up 7% to £1.1bn, and EBITDA for the full year is expected to be in the upper half of the £110-130m range.

Tesco secures landmark solar deal to power 144 stores

Tesco has signed a deal to acquire enough solar energy to power 144 of its large stores, purchasing almost two-thirds of the electricity generated by the Cleve Hill solar park in Kent.

N Brown to be bought by Alliance family in £191m deal

Jacamo and Simply Be, owner N Brown, is to be taken private by the Alliance family, which helped build the home shopping group, after they made a recommended £191m offer for the business.

UK supermarket sales growth picks up as consumers start Christmas shopping

NIQ figures show UK supermarket sales were up 4.7% in the four weeks to Oct 5 as consumers started to make purchases for Christmas.

The Entertainer opens over 850 toy concessions in Tesco

The Entertainer has completed its roll-out of more than 850 toy shop-in-shops within Tesco stores in the last eight months.

Poundland has launched its rewards app across the UK as part of £20m investment

Following a trial in 100 UK stores Poundland is rolling out its ‘Poundland Perks’ rewards app in-store and online across the UK alongside a £20m investment.

ProCook goes on pre-Christmas store opening spree

ProCook plans to open five new stores by the end of November in time for the peak trading season adding to the four it’s already opened this year, with another store opening by February.

51% of consumers reportedly prefer in-store shopping

51% of UK and US shoppers prefer in-store shopping over online shopping, with 62% of those 55 and over favoured in-store shopping even more.

TRENDS, SUSTAINABILITY, STRATEGY AND TECHNOLOGY

13 video AI apps for creative marketing

Generate video from text, edit short clips from a single long-form source, produce product videos from static images, and more.

A guide to social media competitor analysis

Social media competitor analysis will help you identify gaps in your strategy and stay one step ahead of everyone else. Hootsuite shows you how.

The changing face of furniture retailing

While people were forced to shop online due to the lockdowns, the reality is that the pandemic only accelerated the inevitable and now most furniture journeys start online.

Why it’s time to reinvent the blog

They’ve become little more than content-marketing tools. But blogs could be so much more, with just a little effort and imagination.

eBay grows Circular Fashion Fund globally with $1.2m investment to start ups by end-2025

eBay has announced the global expansion of its Circular Fashion Fund that’s designed to help fashion start-ups scale circular fashion solutions.

BRAND NEWS

John Lewis is new patron of British Beauty Council

John Lewis has become a patron of the British Beauty Council. Within the new role, the retailer will work with the Council “to facilitate strategic initiatives” to support the beauty industry.

Tom Daley is new Merino wool ambassador

British Olympic diving champion Tom Daley is teaming up with Woolmark to become Merino wool’s latest ambassador, “celebrating the process from farm-to-yarn”.

Victoria’s Secret runway return faces mixed reactions

The much-anticipated return of Victoria's Secret to the runway, following a five-year hiatus, was met with both excitement and scrutiny.

Astrid & Miyu is set to open its first store in mainland Europe

Jewellery retailer Astrid & Miyu is opening a store in Amsterdam, its debut store in mainland Europe as it eyes further expansion.

Currys refreshes credit offering

Currys has revamped their Currys Flexplay credit product with more options available and an easier process. Credit now accounts for 20% of purchases at Currys and exceeds credit card purchases.

Marks & Spencer to launch collaboration with designer Bella Freud

Marks & Spencer is gearing up to launch an exclusive collaboration instore and online with fashion designer Bella Freud later this week.

Superdry is targeting Gen Z shoppers with a new Athletic Essentials concept store

Fashion retailer Superdry is opening the doors to a new concept store, Athletic Essentials by Superdry, as it targets Gen Z amid its ongoing turnaround strategy.

AND FINALLY x2

Greggs to open Champagne bar in Fenwick next week

Greggs is set to open a Champagne bar at Fenwick department store in Newcastle in a follow up to the Bistro Greggs fine-dining pop-up it opened last December.

Prada and Axiom team up on space suit for moon mission

Italian luxury group Prada and Houston-based startup Axiom Space unveiled on Wednesday the design of a spacesuit that will be used for NASA’s Artemis 3 mission planned for 2026.

PRSHOTS TOP 10 SEARCHES

What were our users searching for on PRShots Week ending October 11^th 2024?

1/ AW24

2/ Christmas

3/ Halloween

4/ Leopard

5/ Bag

6/ Coat

7/ Shoes

8/ Sequin

9/ Candle  

10/ Earrings

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

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

Primark has a new Kem and Edit range, 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, and Halloween outfits.

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.

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

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.

River Island has new party outfits and accessories for the Christmas season for men, women and children, plus women’s footwear, clothes and bag ranges, faux leather and leather ranges.

Fatface has launched a new women’s partywear label Copper & Black, plus more AW24 Edit ranges of womenswear.  

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

See additional new clothing and accessories images from

Iolla Regatta Scamp & Dude John Lewis Joe Browns Dune London Mens

Home, garden and food

Online Home Shop has new foot warmers, hot water bottles, heated pads, body wraps, plus bar stools and furniture, mirrors, bedding, cuddle cushions, shaped pillows and bolsters.

Habitat has new Christmas decorations for the home and Christmas trees, plus a Willaim Morris collaboration of furniture and soft furnishings, plus new lighting, furniture for the living dining and bedroom plus new tableware.

Rebel Walls has new big statement First Rebels wallpaper ranges for the home based on paintings by famous artists.

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

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.

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.

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.

See additional new home images from

Nest Cult Furniture Next Home Bargains Sandberg Wallpaper John Lewis Designers Guild National Trust shop

DIARY

PRShots Retail Calendar Alerts

Days until Halloween – 14

Days until Black Friday – 43

Days until Christmas – 69
 

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)

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

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). 

Subscribe to our PRShots Daily News Digest

Get all the latest news from the retail sector with the PRShots daily news digest covering the fashion, beauty and home sectors. Every day we search out all the biggest news stories and retail trends from all of the UK’s leading news providers and bring them together in one place. Plus see the latest images from PRShots brands and keep up to date with our retail calendar. 

Subscribe now and get this PRShots Retail Digest news in your email every day.

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!!!