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PRShots Roundup brings you the latest retail news from Shoe Zone, Wickes, Sosandar, Halfords, Mulberry, Dolce & Gabbana, WHSmith, Cult Mia, WNU, Lucy & Yak, Berghaus, White Stuff, About You, Charles Tyrwhitt and Barbour. Plus, what is trendjacking and how can you use it for your brand, 9 tips for Reddit marketing and more.
THE LATEST RETAIL INDUSTRY NEWS
Harrods settling more than 250 claims against ex-owner Al Fayed
Harrods is in the process of settling more than 250 claims for compensation brought by women who allege sexual misconduct by its former owner Mohamed Al Fayed.
Shoe Zone hit by weather woes in summer season
Shoe Zone trading update for the year to October shows revenues down 2.7% to £161.3m and adjusted profit before tax expected to be “not less than” £9.5m down from £16.5m last year.
Wickes sales rise driven by volume and market share growth
Wickes Q3 to Sept 2024 shows revenue up 0.4% to £391.3m on a like-for-like basis while year-to-date sales fell 2.6% to £1.1bn.
Sosandar narrows losses despite fall in sales
Sosandar sales for H1 to Sept 2024 fell to £16.2m from £22.2m but it managed to reduce its pre-tax losses from £1.3m to £0.7m.
Halfords H1 sales to Sept 27 were broadly flat, down 0.1%, blaming the “the UK’s wettest spring since 1986” alongside a “challenging” performance in its cycling business.
Mulberry rejects Frasers Group’s increased £111m takeover offer
Mulberry has rejected Frasers Group’s increased takeover bid of £111m with majority shareholder Challice saying “the board is unanimously of the view that the possible offer is untenable”.
Dolce & Gabbana CEO could look at IPO in future
Dolce & Gabbana CEO says the brand is not ready for an initial public offering but is prepared to consider it in the future, as the priority now is a stronger business.
Fashion CEOs join call to scrap ‘tourist tax’
More than 300 CEOs, brand founders and business leaders have signed a letter to Chancellor Rachel Reeves saying scrapping reclaiming VAT for tourists was "a spectacular own goal".
WHSmith is relaunching vinyl in its high street stores after 30-year absence
WHSmith is bringing vinyl back into 80 of its high street stores across the UK following “growing customer demand” for the product.
Cult Mia raises £4.5m with H&M Group Ventures joining latest funding round
Luxury fashion platform Cult Mia has raised £4.5m in seed round funding, including investments from H&M Group Ventures, Morgan Stanley, Fuel Ventures and Chanel’s David Wertheimer.
With Nothing Underneath secures £2.5m funding
British luxury womenswear brand With Nothing Underneath’s (WNU) first funding round, secured £2.5m from Pembroke VCT and JamJar Investments to support its international expansion plans.
Gen Z are prioritising second-hand shopping instead of brand-new
The ‘under consumption’ trend is taking root in younger generations, with 66% of Gen Z shoppers prioritising second-hand shopping, while 90% are loyal to their favourite brands and retailers.
One in three retail workers face weekly abuse
A new survey by the Retail Trust reveals nearly half of retail workers fear for their safety and 39% have considered quitting their jobs or leaving the retail industry.
TRENDS, SUSTAINABILITY, STRATEGY AND TECHNOLOGY
What is Trendjacking and how can you use it for your brand?
Connecting your brand with the latest trends is a good way to get your audience’s attention. Becoming a part of what people are talking about, you have an easy “in” to their conversations.
Reddit marketing is tricky for brands to get right. Hootsuite shows you how to break through to your audience without being roasted.
How social listening increases customer advocacy
Hootsuite explains how social listening can turn satisfied customers into brand advocates and authentically build brand awareness.
What’s in store for London’s West End this Christmas?
As retailers in the West End of London gear up for the most important quarter of the year, the New West End Company (NWEC) has revealed the spending forecast for the festive season ahead.
Social media marketing strategy tips for 2025
This complete guide will help you build a successful social media marketing strategy and follow the right best practices from day one.
Can Topshop really be revived?
Topshop’s new owners have hinted at a return to physical retail, making millennials across the UK extremely happy. But can the brand return to its past glory?
Lucy & Yak says AI tech drives huge sales rise
Lucy & Yak is using True Fit’s AI-powered fit recommendations, with revenues per True Fit user up 541% and True Fit user conversions up 245% from over 294,000 recommendations.
PEOPLE, MOVERS AND SHAKERS
Asda makes new senior appointments to ‘help drive 2025 growth ambitions’
Asda has today unveiled two new senior appointments to “help drive its growth ambitions in 2025”.
BRAND NEWS
Berghaus launches icons collection
Berghaus is updating three key pieces for its new Icons collection and the new supporting campaign is fronted by fans Liam Gallagher and Sir Chris Bonnington.
White Stuff introduces Petit range and puts out casting call for customer models
White Stuff has rolled out its Petite collection to 50 stores in the UK, previously the range was only available online, making it one of the few high street retailers to feature Petite clothes instore.
Barbour and Baracuta unveil second collaboration collection for AW24
British brands Barbour and Baracuta have just launched their second collaboration collection for AW24 for images see the PRShots Barbour media centre.
About You and Netflix launch new fashion label
About You and Netflix are joining forces to launch a new fashion brand “Netflix Collection”, with the first collection to launch at the end of this month.
Charles Tyrwhitt opens new store targeting commuters in New York
Charles Tyrwhitt, known for its shirts, has opened a new store in Grand Central Terminal in New York City as it continues to grow its presence in the US.
AND FINALLY
The Perfume Shop partners with Deliveroo to offer on demand ‘emergency spritz of perfume’
The Perfume Shop has partnered with Deliveroo to offer an “emergency spritz of perfume on demand” service called “Eau De-Liveroo Rider”.
PRSHOTS TOP 10 SEARCHES
What were our users searching for on PRShots Week ending October 18th 2024?
1/ AW24
2/ Christmas
3/ Leopard
4/ Halloween
5/ Boots
6/ Coat
7/ Bag
8/ Living Room
9/ Red
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
Scamp & Dude has Christmas party outfits and new womenswear.
M&S has party outfits for all the family, 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 3rd parties for him and her.
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.
Very has new Grinch-themed pyjamas for all the family, stocking filler accessories, partywear ranges, V by Very ranges of clothes and footwear, a new Michelle Keegan collaboration, and Quiet Luxury, Everyday and Curve ranges of womenswear.
Barbour has new collaboration with Baracuta and has new outdoor ranges, a gifts under £50 range, an Alexa Natalie collaboration, new Flower Mountain collaboration of trainers and clothes, new menswear.
Primark has a newFuture Projects collaboration, a Kem and Edit range, Christmas Grinch, Famjam, A Nightmare Before Christmas ranges of pyjamas, jewellery and accessories, a new maternity range.
F&F has a new Abbey Clancy collaboration, new Christmas campaign imagery, Active Kate Ferdinand collaborations, Xmas ranges including jumpers, coats and party wear in satins, gold and black metallics and sequins.
New Look has new November outfits, winter and occasion wear outfits for women, plus ranges of womenswear including coats, jumpers, skirts and tops.
Bonmarché has new Christmas jumpers and partywear, lingerie ranges, new jewellery and accessory ranges for Christmas and the winter and AW24 clothing ranges.
Dune London has new bag, boots and shoes, women’s hats and accessories, plus suitcases and travel luggage.
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.
Celtic &Co has new statement looks for men and women for AW24.
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.
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.
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
TK Maxx Iolla Regatta John Lewis Joe Browns Dune London Mens
Home, garden and food
Very has new soft furnishings and candles and other stocking fillers plus Christmas decorations for the home and the tree.
B&M has new bedding and soft furnishings, Xmas 2024 gift guides, new Woodland Charm, Japandi and Natural Earth homeware, plus bedding and soft furnishings for AW24, Christmas 2024 ranges of decorations, Christmas mugs, cushions, candles, and things for the kitchen and the Christmas dining table.
Home Bargains has new gift ranges for Christmas including candles.
Habitat has new Christmas wreaths and 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.
Primark has new Christmas decorations and homeware gifts, AW24 furniture, homeware, bedding, diffusers and candles and Halloween decorations.
Quorn Stone has new natural stone and tumbled herringbone cobbles outdoor ranges, marble ranges for the bathroom and kitchen and Limestone cobbles for outside.
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.
Rebel Walls has new big statement First Rebels wallpaper ranges for the home based on paintings by famous artists.
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.
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 Sandberg Wallpaper John Lewis Designers Guild National Trust shop
DIARY
PRShots Retail Calendar Alerts
Days until Halloween – 9
Days until Black Friday – 38
Days until Christmas – 64
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 (23rd-27th)
National Chocolate Week (15th-21st - TBC)
October - Days
22nd-23rd – Hoshana Rabbah
23rd – Last Day of Sukkot
23rd-25th – Shemini Atzeret
24th-25th - Simchat Torah
25th – World Pasta Day
25th – 2 months until Christmas Day
26th – National Pumpkin Day
27th – National American Beer Day
27th – Global Champagne Day
28th – National Chocolate Day (US)
29th – National Cat Day (US)
27th – Clocks go back tonight
31st – Halloween
31st – 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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