Main Image: Very

PRShots Roundup brings you the latest retail news from Radley, Carpetright,  Cotton Traders, Ray Ban, UpStream, Castore, Juicy Couture, CP Company, Wax London, Vollers, and Boobloom. Plus how to track, prove and improve your social media ROI, Frasers bid to be the leading luxury retailer and more.  

THE LATEST RETAIL INDUSTRY NEWS

UK retail sales fell in June driven by the election and wet weather

Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures show sales volumes dropped 1.2% in June, following a 2.9% rise in May.

More than half of Carpetright’s stores could be at risk in a Tapi deal

More than half of Carpetright’s 272 stores could be at risk even if they are bought by rival Tapi as the stores are located at or near the same location.

Consumer confidence climbs ‘subdued’ one point in July

The latest GfK Consumer Confidence Barometer was up one point in July to -13  showing a “subdued” improvement after a three-point rise in June.

Amazon Prime Days total up 8% to £1.3bn

Sales on day two of the Amazon Prime Day were up 8% on last year to £618m - slightly lower than the first day total of £633.4m - and bringing the combined total to £1.3bn.

Amazon Prime Day Drives US Online Sales up 11% to $14.2bn

Amazon captured about 60% of all online spending in the US on Prime Day, compared with 40% on a typical day, making it difficult to grow much further.

Radley sees good growth in US

Radley’s results for the 53 weeks to the end of April 2023 show sales up 2.1% to £77.3m with growth driven by the US (up 12%), but the net loss grew from £2.54m to £6.16m.

Cotton Traders defies high street downturn

Cotton Traders sales to 30 Dec 2023 were down to £109m from £111m and pre-tax profit was also down to £8.4m from £10.39m in 2022 and has opened 10 new stores to take the estate to 87 stores.

Meta in talks for stake in Ray-Ban maker

Meta is in talks to take a minority stake in eyewear group EssilorLuxottica - which recently bought Supreme. The Facebook parent is thought to be considering a stake of up to 5% (around €4.5bn.)

Frasers Group counts losses from Matches

Frasers Group has made a £12.5m loss from its acquisition of Matches, which it put into administration earlier this year, the retail giant's latest financial results revealed.

Topps Tiles hit with shareholder backlash over executive pay

Topps Tiles has been hit with a backlash from shareholders over several resolutions including the re-election of a director and its remuneration report during its annual general meeting.

The Body Shop France shuts down

The French arm of The Body Shop, was placed in compulsory liquidation on July 17. As the only remaining partial takeover bid from Berger International was rejected.

UK Amazon workers urging union recognition lose by 29 votes

Workers at Amazon’s Coventry warehouse have narrowly rejected by 29 votes a move to unionise after a vote this week.

BFC unveils provisional London Fashion Week schedule

The British Fashion Council has released early details for Sept’s London Fashion Week including Burberry, Dilara Findikoglu, Harris Reed, JW Anderson, Nensi Dojaka and Standing Ground.

TRENDS, SUSTAINABILITY, STRATEGY AND TECHNOLOGY

How to track, prove, and improve your social media ROI

Hootsuite teaches you how to calculate your social media ROI (return on investment) from your social media activities and expenses.

Why Authentic Brands group is now going for sport and entertainment celebrities

Authentic Brands Group owner Jamie Salter has made his money turning around old failing brands, he’s now turning that expertise to licensing sports and entertainment celebrities.

Frasers bid to be the leading luxury retailer

Frasers finance boss Chris Wootton has said the Flannels owner is aiming to become the leading luxury retailer amid criticism it was looking to take its competitors out of the market.

EP Groups plans for the Royal Mail

EP Group will offer a legally binding guarantee that there will be no change in control of GLS or Royal Mail for three years following the acquisition.

Streaming fashion service Upstream launches

Upstream is a new £24.99 a month shopping experience, that allows users to “stream” (aka rent) clothes from up-and-coming brands with the ability to purchase at a reduced rate after their trial.

PEOPLE, MOVERS AND SHAKERS

Castore appoints new commercial director

British sportswear brand Castore has appointed Peter Alecock, former JD Sports COO and Joe Browns CEO, to the newly-created role of commercial director.

BRAND NEWS

Reebok unveils collaboration with Juicy Couture

Sportswear brand Reebok has joined forces with LA fashion and lifestyle brand Juicy Couture to launch a Y2K-inspired capsule collection.

Then I Met You partners with Space NK to expand UK footprint

Korean skincare brand Then I Met You has launched in-store at Space NK, marking its brick-and-mortar debut in the UK.

Wax London opens third London store in Covent Garden

British menswear brand Wax London has opened a new 975 sq ft store at 45 Neal Street in Covent Garden - it’s third in London and double the size of the brand’s stores in Soho and Spitalfields.

Bloobloom launches sunglasses collaboration with Omnes

French eyewear brand Bloobloom has teamed up with sustainable womenswear brand Omnes on a collection of sunglasses under the 'Shady by Nature' banner.

British heritage corset brand Vollers relaunches

Vollers, which began handcrafting corsets in 1899, has announced its relaunch under new ownership for the first time in 125 years.

CP Company becomes Style Fashionwear partner of Manchester City football club

Italian sportswear brand CP Company has secured a new multi-year partnership with Manchester City men’s first team , becoming the football club’s Official Style Fashionwear partner for 24/25.

AND FINALLY

Been London unveils handbag made of brewery waste

Been London has worked with London-based start-up Arda Biomaterials to develop a snakeskin-style handbag crafted from spent grain sourced locally from London’s ‘Beer Mile’ in Bermondsey.

PRSHOTS TOP 10 SEARCHES

What were our users searching for on PRShots Week ending July 12^th 2024?

1/ SS24

2/ AW24

3/ Garden

4/ Christmas

5/ Bedroom

6/ Autumn

7/ Denim

8/ Halloween

9/ Cardigan  

10/ Rug

NEW BRANDS TO PRSHOTS

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 the international home textile label 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.

Twisted Loom is a furniture and homeware brand founded by award-winning designer-maker Charlotte Cochrane. It creates exceptional quality goods with a focus on sustainability and all items are made in-house, using materials sourced within a 50-mile radius of the Manchester studio.

Online Home Shop are passionate about home textiles and believe that gorgeous interiors don't need to cost the earth. The brand aims to bring you on-trend products for home and life, for a price that suits all budgets with everything from the latest bedding styles, soft towels, throws, curtains, rugs and best-selling hoodie blankets.

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 range of clothes and food for Tickled Pink 2024 (October’s Breast Cancer awareness event), new SS24 womenswear including metallics and prints, back-to-school ranges, plus new kids and womenswear collaboration with Billie Faiers.

Roman Originals has new Roman Curve ranges, SS24 womenswear and new Petite, Dusk, Ariella ranges and new spring womenswear ranges including big-pattern dresses, denim and linen.

Crew Clothing has new Williams F1 racing collaboration ranges of sportswear from sweatshirts to polo tops.

Curvy Kate has a new Hey Girls range of bras and pants.

Primark has new denim ranges, makeup ranges, back-to-school ranges, Edit ranges, beauty ranges, a new Rita Ora collaboration of festival wear range including jewellery, shoes, boots and clothing, a new Pride range, a Bridgerton-inspired clothing range.

F&F has a new Autumn F&F Edit and athleisure outfits, a collaboration with In The Style and a new summer range of womenswear including beachwear, lots of denim and metallics.

New Look has new summer and high summer 2024 womenswear dresses, trousers and tops.

TK Maxx has new womenswear and menswear ranges of clothing, shoes and accessories for the beach and home.

Monsoon has new jewellery ranges.

Matalan has new denim ranges, new AWtransition womenswear, 20 dresses for £20 or less range, summer women's shoes and sandals, adult and kids clothing for summer 2024, and NSPCC Bing kidswear collaboration.

Iolla has new ranges of sunglasses and contemporary glasses for men and women.

Very has a new Michelle Keegan collboration, V by Very  airport ranges, a new Back-to-school range, festival fashion and Olympic ranges, plus summer holidays range, under £50 ranges of clothing, plus new beachwear, sunglasses and summer co-ords, a new Tara Maynard collaboration.

Shoe Zone has back-to-school 2024 shoes and bags.

Peacocks has new Summer 2024 womenswear, Louise Redknapp Edit, new lingerie and swimsuit collaboration with model Caprice, womenswear for Summer 2024 and a range of beach and holiday wear.

Betty & Biddy has new jewellery ranges for AW24 including necklaces, earrings and bridal ranges.

Dune London has new suitcases and travel luggage, handbags and accessory ranges for high summer 2024.

Bonmarché has a new AW24 Autonomy range of womenswear, Lorraine Kelly Autumn 2024 range, a high summer collection and a second David Emmanuel collaboration.

Scamp & Dude has new Summer women's wear ranges and accessories for holidays, the beach, the evening and for relaxing at home.

River Island has new Western and FlackStock ranges of festival wear, a collection of dresses, shoes, bags and jewellery for The Races, high summer ranges, new festival ranges, 90s collection, a RI Studio range, Boho range.

Style for Stroke has new ranges of t-shirts and bags to promote the charity.

Accessorize has a new jewellery ranges, AW24 Rewild collections,  Sports range of bags, jewellery, sunglasses and more, plus a small accessories range, flip flops and a festival edit of jewellery and accessories.

PrettyLittleThing has new summer swimsuits, PLT Sports ‘tenniscore’ and athleisure outfits and PLT label summer outfits, new beach outfits, and For the dreamers Festival range.

John Lewis has new Anyday womenswear ranges, JLP womenswear lines, bags, shoes, boots and jewellery for AW24.

Marks & Spencer has new NBA kidswear ranges, back-to-school collections, M&S Collection and Per Una womenswear and accessories, new menswear, kidswear, a Sienna Miller collaboration, new B by Boutique ranges, plus new menswear ranges.

Peachaus has new ranges of sleepwear and lingerie.

Celtic & Co have new AW24 clothing with jumpers and coats for the winter months for him and her plus summer womenswear ranges.

Oliver Bonas has new August clothing ranges with a Mediterranean and Nostalgia themes, new cosmetics ranges and new summer dresses (midi and mini), bags, jackets, hats, jewellery, sunglasses, flats, training shoes and sandals.

Fielding & Nicholson has AW24 menswear.

Cotton Traders has new AW24 womenswear including coats, jumpers, skirts, and bags, plus jumpers and shirts for men.

See additional new clothing and accessories images from

Fable England Barbour Deichmann UK Fatface Tu Clothing Teenage Cancer Trust Joe Browns Lola Starr

Home, garden and food

Matalan has new AW24 ranges, Christmas lookbooks and images, Halloween ideas, new homeware (indoors and out) ranges including cushions, kitchenware, bowls, baskets, planters and gift ideas for the summer.

The Gluttonous Gardener has new BBQ herb garden ranges,  summer gifts, wedding gift roses and new plant ranges.

Quorn Stone has a range of new tiles for the bathroom as well as paving cobbles and porcelain paving stones for the garden and tiles for the kitchen.

Biscuiteers Baking has new Halloween biscuits and goodies and Christmas-themed treats including Advent calendars, mince pies, biscuit tins and macarons.

Cult Furniture has new Arbor kitchen furniture, Bourton office furniture, Boucle and Eco Edit range for indoors, furniture for outdoors, Madelyn and Aubery Garden ranges, plus ‘70s revival furniture.

Home Bargains has new Harverst range of things for the home for the autumn and Halloween.

TK Maxx has homeware, Halloween things for the home and everything for the summer holidays from luggage to beach towels.

John Lewis has new furniture (armchairs, sofas, side tables, dinning tables),lighting solutions, gifts for the home, linen and sheets, soft furnishings and accessories ranges for AW24.

George Home has new AW24 Cosy Cottage, Modern Renaissance and Dark Nature ranges for the dining room, kitchen and lounge.

Next has Halloween ranges of homeware and decorations, plus its new Woodland Walk Autumn 2024 range of furniture, lighting, soft furnishings for the living, dining room and bedroom.

Sofology has new sofas and armchairs for AW24 for lounges of all sizes from small to very large in fabrics and leather including a Bridgerton range.

Ivyline has new plant pot, planters and vases, fireplace accessories, plus homeware items for the lounge, dining room and a range of new Christmas decorations, candles, candlesticks and ornaments.

Nest has new ranges of outdoor furniture as well as furniture ranges for inside.

Marks & Spencer has new Classic Revival and Casual Sancturary homeware for AW24,  Provenance perfume and makeup ranges, summer resort picnic ranges, beauty ranges, luggage for summer holidays, travel cosmetics and towels for the beach.

Dobbies Garden Centres has new Snow & Sparkles, Magic Woodland, Classic Noel, Colour Pop and Festival Tales Christmas decoration ranges, plus autumn homewares, playhouses and garden toys, and Halloween ranges.

London Grace has new nail polish ranges.

Homesense has new things for the home and for the garden BBQ and outdoor picnics.

Designers Guild has new Christian Lacroix AW24 Maison cushions, plus AW24 Pottery Studio fabric and wallpaper and accessories including cushions, rugs and throws.

Cambridge Imprint has Giant scrapbooks, albums, pen pots, letter trays, pen boxes, notebooks, exercise books, trays, memo books and planners, portfolios, letter trays, gift boxes, box files, exercise books and much more.

Hobbycraft has new tie-die t-shirts, material, wreath floral faux foliage autumn ideas, Country Cottage knitwear and how-to-make bracelet advice kits. 

Oliver Bonas has new AW24 ranges and July and August high-summer homeware drops, plus jewellery boxes, ring holders and trinket pots, plus homeware including wall art, vases and more, plus bright summer kitchenware, travel edits and wellness goods.

Dunelm has new sofa and chair ranges, plus lots of gifts for the home, its Elements and Churchgate AW24 ranges for the home, a Made to Measure William Morris range and Cosy Sleep and Autumn Glow ranges.

See additional new home images from

Cutter & Squidge Arran Sense of Scotland National Trust shop Primark Home Fritz Fryer Imp & Maker Habitat Treats by Mars Sandberg Wallpaper

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

PRShots Retail Calendar Alerts

Days until Paris Olympics - 7

Days until Halloween – 104

Days until Black Friday – 133

Days until Christmas – 159

How to get your brand on the July Media Calendars   

Summer is here! So keep on adding anything summer-related to your media centres eg summer clothing, swimwear, bikinis, shorts, beachwear, and sunglasses, plus things to keep you cool, like fans, sun hats and sun shades. Also, push anything to do with the outside, so garden furniture, anything for a garden party, or a picnic or barbecue, and don’t forget to add all of the other spellings that people may search on eg BBQ, Bar-B-Que etc and other related keywords like picnic.

The festival season is now in full-swing, and the media are all looking for festival wear and things to take to festivals (tents, fans, ice boxes, torches etc). We’re also getting ready to go on holiday so luggage, bags, bumbags, beach towels etc are all being searched for.

It’s also the Olympics so sport is going to be in the news and it’s going to make everyone want to get healthy so athleisure wear, running shoes, trainers, pumps are all going to start appearing in searches.    

Clothing keywords being searched for this summer include; florals, denim, crochet, midi-dresses, maxi-dresses, polo, preppy, tennis-core, festival wear.

But not everyone is going abroad. The cost-of-living crisis is still cutting into everyone’s wallets, so shoppers are still looking at holidays closer to home. Add in keywords and phrases like “staycation”, “holistay”, “holiday at home” to your keywords and why not suggest clothing like raincoats, coats, hoodies, and cardigans? If you stock them, then firepits and chimineas for the colder UK evenings would be good to add.

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.

July Diary - Weeks/Months

July is Independent Retailer Month, Plastic-free Month, and National Ice Cream Month in the US.  The UEFA European Championships continues through July.  Weeks to celebrate this month include;

The Tour De France (29^th Jun – 21^st Jul)

Cowes Week (27^th Jul - 2^nd Aug).  

July - Days

20^th-21^st - Northern Pride

21^st – Tour De France ends

21^st – National Ice Cream Day (US Third sundae in July 😉)

23^rd – Start of the school holidays  

24^th – National Tequila Day (US)

25^th – Christmas in July (5 months until Christmas)

26^th – Paris Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony

28^th – National Parents Day (US)

29^th – National Lipstick Day

How to get your brand on the August Media Calendars   

The Olympics are still on, and summer is in full swing, and hopefully the weather has improved – i.e. stopped raining in the north and stopped being so damn hot in the south. So, there are just a few weeks left to boost your summer-related images before the AW23 images fully kick in.

There’s still time to tag anything relevant to summer/high summer and push anything related to the outside: garden furniture, anything for a garden party, or picnic or barbecue. Plus, don’t forget to add all of the other spellings, BBQ, Bar-B-Que, etc., and add any other related keywords like picnics, garden parties, etc. If you have them, then firepits and chimineas for the colder UK evenings would be good.

It's also a good time to start uploading your AW24 images. So jumpers, scarves, coats, boots, raincoats, hoodies, and cardigans will all start to be searched for by the media.

It's also not too early to start thinking about back-to-school items - Scottish schools start again in mid-August - and university students will be getting ready to sort out their wardrobes and rooms in September, so add fresher(s) and university as keywords to anything relevant.

There’s also still time to add Halloween ideas and Christmas gifts if you have them. 

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.

August Diary - Weeks/Months

Music festivals are still on, so add any festival wear and camping-related things you have and keyword them with festival, particularly in the weeks running up to the August bank holiday weekend with Reading/Leeds festivals 21^st-25^th August. 

The 29^th marks 3 months until the Black Friday/Cyber Monday (29^th Nov – 2^nd Dec) weekend so start preparing for those sales now.

Weeks to celebrate this month include;

Olympics (26^th July – 11^th August)
World Breastfeeding week (1^st - 7^th)
Edinburgh Festival (2^nd - 25^th)
Paralympics (28^th - 8^th Sept)

August - Days

1^st – Yorkshire Day

2^nd – International Beer Day 

2^nd-5^th – Brighton Pride

3^rd – Summer bank holiday Scotland

8^th – International Cat Day

9^th – Book Lovers Day

10^th - National Shapewear Day

11^th – National Bakewell Tart Day

11^th – Olympics Closing Ceremony

12^th – International Youth Day

12^th – National Vinyl Records Day

12^th - 13^th - Tisha B'Av (Jewish Holiday)

13^th – International lefthanders Day

13^th – National Prosecco Day

15^th – VJ (Victory over Japan) Day

16^th – National Rum Day

17^th – UK Cupcake Day

17^th – World Honey Bee Day

18^th – National Grooming Day

19^th - Raksha Bandhan (Hindu holiday)

21^st – World Senior Citizens Day

23^rd - International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition 

22^nd – National Burger Day (UK)

24-26^th – Notting Hill Carnival 

25^th – National Secondhand Wardrobe Day

25^th – Christmas in August (4 months until Christmas Day)

26^th - Women's Equality Day

26^th – August Bank Holiday (Last Monday in August)

26^th – Krishna Janmashtami – (Hindu Holiday)

28^th – Summer Paralympics Opening Ceremony

28^th – National Red Wine Day

29^th – 3 Months until Black Friday (changes annually)

30^th – Blackpool Illuminations start

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). 

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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