Main Image: Threadbare

PRShots Roundup brings you the latest retail news from WHSmith, Kingfisher, THG, Morrisons, AO, Hunkemöller, Crocs, B&Q, Arc’teryx, Co-op, Uniqlo and Barbour. Plus the secret to smarter, faster marketing decisions with AI, French Connection on their fashion comeback and more.  

THE LATEST RETAIL INDUSTRY NEWS

WHSmith completes refinancing ahead of high street store sale plans

WHSmith has secured £320m from US investors, as part of its strategy to expand its global travel retail business and explore options for its UK high street stores.

Kingfisher profit drops

B&Q and Screwfix owner Kingfisher sales for the year to Jn 31 were £12.8bn down 1.7% in like-for-like terms on 2023-24 with adjusted profits before tax at £528m.

THG raises £90m in major fundraising push

THG has raised £90m through a combination of a share placing and refinancing measures, including  a £60m contribution from THG founder and CEO Matthew Moulding.

AO raises full-year profit forecast

AO World has once again raised its FY to 31 Mar profit forecast, and now expects adjusted profit before tax to be at the top end of the £39-44m range.

Select Fashion enters liquidation, 35 stores to close

Retailer Select Fashion has entered liquidation and will close all 35 of its remaining stores on 28 March.

Morrisons to close 17 convenience stores and 52 in-store cafes

Morrisons is set to close 52 cafés, all 18 of its Market Kitchens, 17 convenience stores, 13 florists, 35 meat counters, 35 fish counters, and four pharmacies as part of a major operational shake-up.

C&A plans to close 24 stores in France, over 300 jobs at risk

Dutch budget ready-to-wear retailer C&A is considering cutting more than 300 jobs and closing 24 branches in France in order to “improve competitiveness.”

Hunkemöller back in American hands

After three years under Dutch ownership, lingerie chain Hunkemöller has been bought by US investment firm Redwood Capital Management.

TRENDS, SUSTAINABILITY, STRATEGY AND TECHNOLOGY

The secret to smarter, faster marketing decisions with AI

AI isn’t replacing human decision-making - it’s enhancing it. Martech teaches you how to use it for better, data-driven choices.

French Connection's Head of Design on the new vision powering its fashion comeback

French Connection’s new campaign “This is It” led by Helen Gallagher explains how the brand is working to reestablish itself as a key player in high street fashion.

AI and email marketing is it all hype or real game-changer?

Is AI truly revolutionising email marketing, or is it just another overhyped technology? Martech investigates.

Britons cutting back on spending as confidence in economy falls

Research by KPMG finds consumers are cutting back spending on everyday items amid falling confidence in the UK economy.

BRAND NEWS

Barbour and Crocs unveil limited collection

Barbour and Crocs have launched a collaborative collection comprising a jacket, two footwear silhouettes and nine Croc's Jibbitz charms.

Arc’teryx to open store in Manchester

Canadian outdoorwear brand Arc’teryx has chosen Manchester as the location of its first UK store outside of London.

B&Q launches value message marketing campaign

B&Q has unveiled a major new marketing push “Prices Nailed” highlighting its commitment to affordability.

Co-op to launch ‘biggest ever value campaign’

The Co-op has waded into the looming UK grocery price war, launching its first ever Aldi price match as part of its “biggest ever value campaign” launch ever.

French Connection launches key new campaign

French Connection is aiming to “shake up the industry” with a bold new campaign that called “This is It”, that celebrates the unpolished moments of life.

Uniqlo ramps up UK presence with new Birmingham and Glasgow stores

Uniqlo is set to expand its UK store portfolio to 23 stores with the launch of three new stores in Glasgow, Birmingham, and Liverpool in 2025.

Holland & Barrett debuts new experience-led store format

Holland & Barrett has launched its first experience-led store, featuring the brand’s first wellbeing studio where customers can take part in a range of activities including yoga and pilates lessons.

AND FINALLY x2

Duran Duran launch their own unisex perfume

Duran Duran are launching two unisex fragrances Black Moonlight and NeoRio, created in collaboration with Italian luxury perfume house, Xerjoff.

Clothes from waste mountain in Atacama Desert are 'sold'

Clothing from the well-known waste mountain in the Atacama desert in Chile is being 'sold' – they’re free but you have to pay for shipping – on resale site Re-commerce Atacama.

JOIN THE GREEN GRADS

Green Grads are looking for new recruits and sponsors

Green Grads is a platform for recent UK graduates with ideas to heal the planet and it’s now recruiting for its fifth cohort, with over 200 current grads listed on the website. It’s also a great chance for a brand to show commitment to the environment and sustainability by joining Green Grads expanding cooperative of outward-looking forward-facing stellar British brands by becoming a sponsor. Sponsorship opportunities start with the comparatively modest sum of £500 and current sponsors include such well-known names as Heal's, Anglepoise, Ercol, the Futon Company, Camira and many more. To find out more see http://www.greengrads.co.uk

PRSHOTS TOP 10 SEARCHES

What were our users searching for on PRShots Week ending March 21^st 2025?

1/ Yellow

2/ Easter

3/ Dress

4/ SS25

5/ Bedroom

6/ Picnic

7/ Garden

8/ Bathroom

9/ Living Room  

10/ Denim

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.

NEW BRANDS TO PRSHOTS

Plia Parasols makes wooden garden parasols, upholstered with luxury outdoor fabrics. Sewn in Cornwall, customers can either plump for one of the in-house designs, or go bespoke and supply their own fabric for a totally unique parasol.

Laura Bond was started by Laura and her husband Doug, and has been independent and family owned since 2019. They create jewellery and specialise in ear and nose piercings and use responsibly sourced or recycled solid gold.

Oriana B.  was launched in 2019 by Dublin-based Londoner Katharine Deas sourcing and selling unique furniture online, having pivoted from a 25-year international corporate career to pursue her love of design. Oriana B products include furniture, lampshades, lights, lamps, and mirrors.

Joma Jewellery was established in the UK in 2007 by Katie and Geoff who were travelling through Asia looking for inspiration and chanced on a jewellery market in China that created unique, eye-catching designs. In 2015 Joma expanded to open in Europe and now has sites in France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Norway and opened its first UK store in 2019.

Katie Loxton    Katie Loxton is the go-to online destination for beautifully personalised handbags, accessories, and gifts for all occasions including Mother’s Day. All their Designed in the UK all their products are designed in the UK with their bags all made from vegan leather.

BRANDS WITH NEW IMAGES

Clothing, beauty and accessories

River Island has new men’s suits, a new Pink themed range, a new women’s wear range that’s a tribute to Ibiza’s Café Del Maar, perfume ranges and new Arm Candy bags.

Roman Originals has new Petite, Dusk and Curve ranges for the summer, plus big pattern and denim SS25 womenswear imagery.

Iolla has new sunglasses and glasses for the summer with the option of multi-coloured lenses, plus ranges of frames and glasses based on nostalgia for a Scottish coastal summer.

Threadbare has a new Spring Romance womenswear range plus new SS25 womenswear and menswear ranges.

John Lewis has new men’s and women’s clothing, shoes and accessory ranges for the spring and summer. Plus a range of women’s bags and jewellery.

Monsoon has new SS25 ranges for the beach and holidays, plus women’s and kids clothing for the summer, new sandals for the beach, plus new jewellery and bags for women and kids, new wedding outfit shoes and dresses.

Dune London has new bags, sandals and shoes for him and her for the summer, bag charms, clutch bags, handbags and belts, bridal shoe ranges for casual to posh weddings.

Primark has new youth ranges, US football team kit, new baby clothes, new Rita Ora range of clothes, Edit and new childrenswear, more Keith Haring & Basquiat collaborations, a new band t-shirt music drop, new Kappa athleisure wear, beauty ranges, bridal ranges of lingerie and shoes.

Scamp & Dude has new SS25 athleisure wear, dresses, shorts, jackets, hoodies, coats, bags and scarves, plus a new collaborations with Nicky Newman and Sabrina Elba, plus new leopard print dresses.

New Look has new March drops, new SS25 clothing and more new winter outfits, winter and occasion wear outfits for women, plus ranges of womenswear including coats, jumpers, skirts and tops.

Barbour has a new Very British Summer collaboration of clothes and accessories with Lucy Williams, a new shoe collaboration with Wild Bunch, rainwear ranges, new collaborations with Alexa, Erdem and To Ki To.

TK Maxx has new menswear and women’s wear including jackets, dresses, waistcoats, jumpsuits, t-shirts, shoes and sandals and accessory ranges, including hats, bags, jewellery, makeup and sunglasses for the summer.

Very has new drops SS25 lookbook imagery, new Mother’s Day, a new V by Very and V by Very Curve ranges of dresses, jumpers, jackets, coats jumpsuits, swimwear, jeans, trousers and shoes.

Matalan has new summer ranges with clothes for the beach, baby ranges, Peter Rabbit and Bluey collaboration of kidswear, new Et Vous Spring women’s ranges, a men’s Smart edit, new bag ranges, new nightwear & lingerie, costume ranges for kids, women and menswear for the spring, clothing for the family for Eid.

Peacocks has a new Louise Redknapp SS25 Edit range, new menswear range, plus new womenswear SS25 clothing ranges including skirts, jumpers, a new Caprice SS25 lingerie range.

Cotton Traders has new men and women’s clothes, shoes and accessories including beachwear and swimsuits, plus campaign images with Will Mellor and Alex Jones.

M&S has new perfume ranges, new casual and formal menswear ranges, plus men’s and women’s Collection ranges of clothes and accessories including bags, shoes and jewellery, plus men and women’s Autograph underwear.

B&M has new children’s fancy dress costumes.

Oliver Bonas has new March, April and May 2025 uploads of jewellery, women’s clothing, bags, shoes and accessories as well as new ranges for SS25 and Mother’s Day gifting.

F&F has new Abbey Clancy top picks for the spring.

George at Asda has a new kidswear, Style Stories Kat Farmer Studio Edit collaboration, new Modern World collection and a Studio Edit of womenswear, bridal collection, Style Stories by Erica Davies and G21 Maisie Smith collection ranges, new Gym Locker activewear ranges.

Lipsy has new Love & Roses clothing and bridal ranges for SS25.

Frangipani has new menswear and jewellery.

Fable England has new Alice’s Garden, Running Bunny and Bunny Blues jewellery and bags, Wonderland ranges of bags and scarves, plus new accessories and core jewellery ranges.

Crew Clothing has new menswear and womenswear ranges of clothes and accessories for the spring and summer.

Tu Clothing has new SS25 womenswear ranges of clothes, shoes, bags and accessories.

Curvy Kate has new Swerve, Suspend, Suspense, Serpent, Opulence, Indulgence, Eos, Entwined, Zen, Victory, Wild One, Strawberry Crush, Ornate and more ranges of lingerie. Plus new ranges of swimwear for SS25.

See additional new clothing and accessories images from

London Grace Celtic &Co Bonmarché Regatta Deichmann Fatface Sims Wear Saywood Dune London Mens Joe Browns Lola Starr

Home, garden and food

John Lewis has new garden and outdoor entertaining furniture and tableware, Modern and Classic homeware collections of rugs, beds, mirrors, furniture, soft furnishings, tableware and accessories for SS25.

Quorn Stone has new Metro tiles, new decorative tiles, Orotelli stone for the floors and Luella Powder for the bathroom, Frome white stone, Orwell Natural Porcelain Stone, and Chastleton Ivory Stone.

Cambridge Imprint has new postcard boxes, postcards, teatrays, lined exercise and hardback books, stamps, Easter block sets, ribbons, albums, tea towels, exercise books, notebooks, sketchbook, memo books, 3D card ranges.

Homesense has new AW25 homeware and kitchenware including dishes, chairs, art, rugs, jugs plus Christmas 2025 crackers, wreaths and decorations.

Dobbies Garden Centres has new home houseplants including orchids, garden tool ranges, Mother’s Day 2025 gifts, homeware, pet ranges, kids garden toys, a Get Set for Spring Range, new Heritage range of outdoor gardening items including throws and firepits.

B&M has new Lego kits, Garden solar lighting, Easter cuddly toys for kids, spring electrical ranges, garden decorations and Easter themed gifts, cookware and dining decorations, everything pet related from food to car seats, and new Mother’s Day gifts.

George Home has new Stacey Solomon Easter and home collaborations on cookware, bedding, dining, and homeware. New Easter ranges of table wear, new home gifts and furniture.

Sofology has new SS25 furniture ranges, including sofas, chairs and stools plus furniture for the lounge in bright spring colours.

Jellycat has a new Amuseables range of animals, flowers and food, plus books and the cuddliest soft toys and bags for SS25.

TK Maxx has new kitchenware, homeware and gifts for Easter and Mother’s Day.

Fritz Fryer has new Ribbed Hereford Cluster lights, kitchen lighting, plus new lantern and pendant lighting ranges.

Designers Guild has new SS25 outdoor ranges including rugs and cushions.

M&S has new homeware including furniture, lighting, bedding and tableware, Mother’s Day beauty boxes, new wash bags beauty and wellness ranges, Ultimate bedding sets, makeup ranges, SS25 Boho, Classic and Exquisite Earth furniture and homeware ranges, new gifts, new furniture, soft furnishings and kitchenware for SS25.

Dunelm has a new Sophie Robinson summer dining collaboration, plus new furniture and homeware, new colour drench ranges, and its SS25 range of bedroom and living room furniture, soft furnishings and kitchenware.

Matalan has new Mother’s Day gifts, Easter decorations and home ranges, SS25 homeware images for the dining room, bedroom, bathroom and garden, new Connie the Cockapoo range.

Treats by Mars has new M&M movie kits, Galaxy Pink Hot Chocolate ranges, plus more Snickers and Galaxy ranges. 

Oliver Bonas has new homeware ranges for the kitchen, dining room and lounge, plus furniture and home accessories including mirrors, lighting and tableware for SS25.

Jan Constantine has new throws and cushion ranges for Mother’s Day.

Online Home Shop has new curtains, cushions, duvet covers and throws, plus storage solutions, side tables and chest of drawers, rugs and bedding.

The Gluttonous Gardener has new remembrance plants, plus flower ranges for the spring and summer.

Primark has new luggage, tableware, furniture, storage, towels, bedding, plus Easter gifts plus soft furnishings, furniture and homeware for SS25.

Home Bargains has new travel ranges of luggage and Easter decorations, things for garden entertaining, new home exercise accessories, Mediterranean and Travellers Bazaar ranges, homeware from SS25 for the bedroom, bathroom and living rooms.

Very has new beauty ranges, cameras, diffusers and candles.

Furniture Village has new furniture ranges for the bedroom, dining room, office, and lounge.

See additional new home images from

Ivyline Hotel Chocolat Regatta Hobbycraft Nest Cult Furniture

DIARY

PRShots Retail Calendar Alerts

Days until Mother’s Day - 5

Days until Easter – 26

Days until Father’s Day - 82

Days until Christmas Day - 275
 

How to get your brand in the media in March

March is mostly about preparing for the big Easter holidays next month, so make sure you are starting to include relevant Easter keywords. It’s also the time people make their first big getaway abroad, so any keywords and clothes for warmer climes, loungewear, going out wear, swimsuits, bikinis, etc, should be added.

At the end of the month, there’s Mother’s Day, so try to get Mother, gifts, or Mother’s Day into your keywords for anything that seems appropriate. Also, if you have anything green, add the Keyword St Patrick's Day.

Plus, as we’re now definitely in Spring, carry on adding those spring and summer-related images and adding keywords relating to the summer, like swimwear, outdoor living, garden, garden parties and Barbecues (don’t forget to add all of the other spellings BBQ, Bar-B-Que etc) and for home it’s all about Spring cleaning and updating for Spring.   

We’re also starting to get ready for the bridal season – the peak is May to October – so If you have bridal wear or anything appropriate to weddings, then start to upload it and label it with the keyword wedding.

Lastly, it’s Oscar month, so why not upload some smart suits and dresses and create an Oscar section for an evening watching the Oscars?  

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.

March Diary - Weeks/Months

In the UK, it’s National Bed Month. Introduced by The Sleep Council and The National Bed Federation, it aims to raise awareness of the importance of sleep, so push anything sleep-related. It’s also Dechox month, which encourages people to give up chocolate – cakes and biscuits - for the month! So, any chocolate, biscuit or cake alternatives should be pushed. It’s also Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, Walk All Over Cancer Month, Endometriosis Awareness Month, Brain Tumour Awareness Month, Women’s History Month.  

Interesting Stat: National No-Smoking Day was originally on Ash Wednesday when it was started in 1984. It was moved to the second Wednesday in March as, while it’s less easy to remember, the date doesn’t move around the calendar quite so much as Ash Wednesday does.  

Other events include;

The Big Walk and Wheel (24^th – 4^th April) 

Ideal Home Show (Mar 21^st – 6^th Apr)

March - Days

25^th – National Bridesmaids Day

26^th – Five years since the first lockdown started in the UK in 2020

28^th – Wear a Hat Day (Brain Tumour Research) 

30^th - Mother’s Day UK 

30^th – British Summertime Begins

30^th – Eid al-Fitr / End of Ramadan 

NB - All dates have been checked, but some events may change due to unforeseen circumstances or have not been fully confirmed for 2025 by the authorities controlling the event(s).