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PRShots Roundup brings you the latest retail news from Argos, Hugo Boss, Oliver Bonas, Seasons, WHSmith, Seraphine, Ben Sherman, Debenhams, Boux Avenue and John Lewis. Plus, the environmental impact of fast fashion, can Clarks get back into its stride and more.  

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THE LATEST RETAIL INDUSTRY NEWS

‘Tough trading conditions’ fail to stop sales and profit rise at Argos

Sainsbury’s owned Argos revenues were up to £4.22bn for the year to 2 Mar, up from the £4.15bn with pre-tax profit up to £37.3m from £27.7m.

Hugo Boss profits slashed

Hugo Boss turnover for 2023 dipped from £402.4m to £391.6m with falls in wholesale, online and stores and pre-tax profit was down by almost 50% to £16.8m, from £30.4m in 2022.

Oliver Bonas profits drop

Oliver Bonas sales were up 18% to £136m for the year ended 31 Dec. However, profits dropped to £6.8m down from £7.6m in 2022 as the store continues to invest in bricks and mortar.

Frasers Group hit with audit issues at I Saw it First and Choice

Auditors for I Saw It First at Cooper Parry were unable to verify wages and salary payments, and auditors at Hart Shaw said information needed to complete work on Choice, was missing.

Next plans higher-end offer with Seasons launch

Next has announced a move into more premium fashion with the planned launch of the Seasons sub-site, which will sell labels including APC, Ganni, Joseph, Marc Jacobs, Rixo, and Veja.

Supermarket convenience stores are found to charge ‘up to a fifth’ more

A new survey by Which? shows supermarket convenience stores - Morrisons Daily, Sainsbury’s Local and Tesco Express - cost shoppers up to 21% more than if they were to shop at larger branches.

WHSmith to open 37 Toys ‘R’ Us stores before Christmas

WHSmith is expanding its partnership with Toys ‘R’ Us, as it plans to opening a further 37 shop-in-shops in the coming months, building on its current 39 stores under the tie-up.

Consumer confidence tumbles despite uplift in retail sales

GfK’s long-running UK Consumer Confidence has dropped by seven points to -20 after warnings of “tough choices” ahead of the budget this autumn.

TRENDS, SUSTAINABILITY, STRATEGY AND TECHNOLOGY

The environmental impact of fast fashion

Fast fashion can shift from one week to the next by offering ultra-cheap and trendy clothing as quickly as possible.

Can Clarks get back into its stride or is the brand dead on its feet?

As the revolving door at Clarks continues, Retail Week looks at what’s been plaguing the footwear specialist and if there’s hope for a triumphant turnaround.

The cheapest cities to open a brick-and-mortar store in the UK

In a recent study examining the most cost-effective locations for establishing brick-and-mortar stores in the UK, Nottingham has emerged as the top choice for entrepreneurs.

How retailers can meet the expectations of tech-savvy European shoppers

The recently published RetailX Europe Top1000 360° report looks at some of the most effective digital technologies that retailers are employing.

Amazon has launched new generative AI tools for sellers and customers

Amazon has launched five new generative AI tools intended to streamline seller operations and improve the customer experience.

TikTok Shop is launching its first week-long Sales event in the UK

TikTok Shop is launching a week-long sales event in the UK, offering exclusive discounts on thousands of trending products.

PEOPLE, MOVERS AND SHAKERS

Seraphine taps The White Company and Joules ex-CEOs

Former Joules CEO Jonathon Brown and former The White Company CEO Mary Homer have joined the leadership team of maternity wear retailer Seraphine,

BRAND NEWS

Ben Sherman revs up new season with limited-edition Ace Café collaboration collection

Ben Sherman has launched a new limited-edition collection with Ace Café, the world’s most famous motor café at Ace Corner on the North Circular Road in North London in 1938.

Debenhams is launching new international websites in time for Christmas

Debenhams is expanding internationally with new websites in Ireland and Australia set to launch before Christmas. The move forms part of parent company Boohoo Group’s expansion drive.

John Lewis teases seasonal campaign with focus on long history

The new three-part ‘through the decades’ ad campaign from John Lewis launched last Thursday centres on the return of the John Lewis ‘Never Knowingly Undersold’ price pledge.

Boohoo Group opens new showroom for flagship brands

Boohoo Group has opened a new showroom in Soho, based on the ground floor of the fashion retailer’s Great Pulteney Street office, the space will be shared by its flagship labels.

Boux Avenue announces charity partnerships with The Eve App and CoppaFeel!

Boux Avenue has embarked on a new partnership with charity The Eve Appeal, and continues its charity partnership with CoppaFeel!

AND FINALLY

Is the GAP cool again?

Mall brands are making a comeback and GAP, the reliably staid spot for affordable basics like T-shirts and denim, is leading the charge according to Highsnobiety.

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

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.

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.  

HELP WITH YOUR IMAGE SEARCHES

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BRANDS WITH NEW IMAGES

Clothing, beauty and accessories

Peacocks has new womenswear, a new Louise Redknapp AW and Christmas Edit, a Michael Owen collaboration and new AW24 womenswear and jewellery.

Matalan has Christmas and Winter outfits for the whole family, new kids and adults sleepwear from its Cosy Shop, new AW24 lingerie ranges, shoes and boots for AW, Halloween wear for all the family.

Primark has Halloween outfits, accessories and makeup, and a Beetlejuice movie tie-in, new kids outfits, Leopard print ranges, Rita Ora collaboration, new boucle accessories.

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

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

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

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.

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.

Betty&Biddy has new jewellery ranges.

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

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.

Accessorize has new AW24 ranges of bags, jewellery and scarves.

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

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

Threadbare has a new British Adventure range of womenswear.

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.

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

Celtic &Co has new statement looks for women.

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.

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

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.

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

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

Home, garden and food

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

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. 

Primark has new Halloween decorations.

Online Home Shop has new 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.

Jan Constantine has a new Christmas collection of cushions.

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.

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.

Treats by Mars has new Snickers, Galaxy and Maltesers.

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

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.

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

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.

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 The Gluttonous Gardener Dunelm

DIARY

PRShots Retail Calendar Alerts

Days until Halloween – 38

Days until Black Friday – 67

Days until Christmas – 93

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.

There’s also: Sustainable Fashion Week (20^th Sept to 29^th Sept).

Other weeks to celebrate this month include;

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

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). 

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- Paris Fashion Week (23^rd Sept - 1^st), Wool Week (29^th Sep – 5^th  Oct), Gran Canaria Swim Week (2^nd- 6^th), British Beauty Week (23^rd-27^th)

British Food Fortnight (17^th Sept - 2^nd Oct)

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

1^st – World Vegetarian Day

1^st – International Coffee Day

2^nd - Gandhi Jayanthi – The birthday of Mahatma Gandhi - Holiday India

2^nd - 4^th – Rosh HaShanah 

3^rd – Mean Girl’s Day (apparently, it’s a thing right!!)

3^rd – Navaratri Starts (Hindu holiday)

3^rd – National Poetry Day 

4^th – National Vodka Day (US)

4^th – World Animal Day

5^th – UN World Teachers’ Day

6^th – World Smile Day

6^th – Harvest Festival (Sunday nearest to the harvest moon)

6^th - National Plus Size Appreciation Day

7^th – National LED Light Day

10^th – UN World Mental Health Day

10^th – National Cake Decorating Day

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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