Back to PRShots News 
Main Image: Matalan
PRShots Roundup brings you the latest retail news from Co-op, Dunelm, Asos, Card Factory, Sofa Club, Frasers, Space NK, Boots, ScS and DFS. Plus, the ecommerce trends you need to know for the golden quarter, how to use ChatGPT for social media and more.
THE LATEST RETAIL INDUSTRY NEWS
DFS slips to loss following weaker demand
DFS sales fell 9.3% to £987.1m for the 53 weeks to 30 June, and made a pre-tax loss of £1.7m, down from a profit of £29.7m in 2022 due to a decline in market demand and Red Sea shipping delays.
The Co-ops food business, sales nudged up 3.2% to £3.7bn in H1 with group pre-tax profits up to £58m from a £33m loss in 2023 despite costs from theft and fraud surging 19% to £39.5m.
Dunelm's top shareholder sells a near 5% stake
Dunelm's top shareholder, Will Adderley, and his private investment firm reduced its stake in the business by 4.9% (worth £114m) but remains the top shareholder with 37.6% of its shares.
UK economy to grow twice as fast as expected says KPMG
KPMG predicts the economy is on track to grow 1.0% in 2024 before accelerating slightly to 1.2% in 2025. However, it does not expect to see a particularly strong recovery in consumer spending.
Asos has put hundreds of jobs at risk at head office
Asos is set to axe hundreds of jobs at its head office amid mounting losses as it attempts to return to profitability.
Beauty still booming despite consumer cutbacks
Consumer spending on health & beauty in August was up 7.3% over 2023, the highest level since Jan 2023 (10.2%), with retail as a whole up just 0.1%, and non-essential spending up 0.7%.
London Designer Outlet celebrates 'record-breaking' August sales
The London Designer Outlet has achieved its strongest-ever sales performance outside of December, with August sales totalling over £10m.
Analysts at HSBC Holdings predict luxury sales growth could be just 2.8% in 2024, the sixth-worst year in the past two decades.
US sues Visa for monopoly on debit-card use affecting ‘price of nearly everything’
The US Department of Justice has sued Visa, accusing one of the world’s largest payment networks of antitrust violations that affect “the price of nearly everything”.
ASA bans adverts for Nike for using ‘dark pattern’ tactics
Adverts for Nike have been banned by the regulator for using “dark pattern” tactics designed to lead consumers to unintentionally spend money.
TRENDS, SUSTAINABILITY, STRATEGY AND TECHNOLOGY
Card Factory CEO says US market is the key to achieving its strategy
Card Factory’s chief executive says the US market is key to achieving its strategy as it announces its first step in the region.
The landmark California bill that could change how clothing brands recycle
A potential new California law, the Responsible Textile Recovery Act would put the burden on clothing producers to implement a system for recycling the clothing that they sell.
How to use ChatGPT for social media
Save time, get strategy advice, and never worry about finding the perfect caption. Here’s Hootsuite’s guide to how to get started with ChatGPT for social media.
The ecommerce trends you need to know for the golden quarter
Physical retail may be back with a bang, but online still remains a popular channel for customers shopping over Black Friday and Christmas.
Best time to post on social media
When is the best time to post on social media? With a few exceptions, early morning weekdays are your best bet.
3 ways automation can make you more creative
Automation isn’t just producing more ads, faster. It’s about producing the right creative that performs better, too. The Drum cracks open one of advertising’s best kept secrets.
PEOPLE, MOVERS AND SHAKERS
Sofa Club announces new additions to leadership team
Sofa Club has appointed Sally Mason as finance director and Chantal Amado as merchandising director as it continues to grow its market presence
BRAND NEWS
Frasers opens a new flagship at Sheffield’s Meadowhall
Frasers Group has opened the doors to its combined Frasers and Sports Direct department store in the former Debenhams slot at Meadowhall in Sheffield.
Space NK continues expansion with new store planned for Milton Keynes
Space NK is to launch a new store at Centre:mk in Milton Keynes as it continues to expand in strategic locations across the UK and Ireland.
Boots teams with Just Eat for rapid beauty and health deliveries nationwide
Boots has partnered with Just Eat to deliver over 1000 beauty and healthcare products with an initial launch at 50 sites across the UK with more by spring 2025.
ScS winds down Snug sofa-in-a-box brand
ScS has closed down its Snug sofa-in-a-box brand less than two years after acquiring it as part of new owner Poltronesofà’s overhaul of the business.
AND FINALLY x2
Levi’s teases collaboration with Beyoncé
Levi’s has teased a potential collaboration with Beyoncé on its Instagram, where it shared the outline of a Beyoncé-shaped woman on horseback and a caption “Introducing: A New Chapter”.
Rabanne to show ‘Most Expensive Bag’ in the World at Spring 2025 Paris Runway Show
The bag is an homage to the world's "most expensive dress," in gold and diamonds, that was crafted by Paco Rabanne for French fashion icon Françoise Hardy in 1968.
PRSHOTS TOP 10 SEARCHES
What were our users searching for on PRShots Week ending September 20th 2024?
1/ AW24
2/ Christmas
3/ Halloween
4/ Leopard
5/ Gifts
6/ Coat
7/ Candle
8/ Baubles
9/ Sequin
10/ Bedroom
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
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
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.
Matalan has Christmas and Winter outfits for the whole family, AW24 mens 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.
M&S has launched an AW range with Vernon Kay and AJ Odudu, an autumn lingerie, clothing, accessory and jewellery ranges from Autograph, M&S, Jaeger and 3rd parties for him and her.
Roman Originals has new Ariella and Dusk ranges, plus floral outfits, and Roman Petite and Curve ranges, SS24 womenswear and a new Petite range.
Joe Browns has new AW24 ranges of menswear and womenswear including jumpers, cardigans and coats.
Peacocks has new womenswear, a new Louise Redknapp AW and Christmas Edit, a Michael Owen collaboration and new AW24 womenswear and jewellery.
Primark has new athleisure wear, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Scamp & Dude has new womenswear and accessories including t-shirts, bags and scarves, plus news kids ranges, and women's wear ranges 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 Curvy Kate
Home, garden and food
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.
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.
Matalan has 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.
Treats by Mars has new Snickers, M&Ms, Galaxy and Maltesers ranges of goodies.
Quorn Stone has new natural stone and tumbled herringbone cobbles outdoor ranges, marble ranges for the bathroom and kitchen and Limestone cobbles for outside.
Hobbycraft has new DIY decoration ideas for 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.
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.
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.
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 Cutter & Squidge Very The Gluttonous Gardener Dunelm
DIARY
PRShots Retail Calendar Alerts
Days until Halloween – 36
Days until Black Friday – 65
Days until Christmas – 91
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 (20th Sept to 29th Sept).
Other weeks to celebrate this month include;
Great British Beach Clean Week (20th-29th)
British Food Fortnight (20th Sept - 6th Oct)
Paris fashion Week (23rd Sept -1st Oct)
Shetland Wool Week (28th Sept – 6th Oct)
September - Days
25th – 3 months until Christmas Day
27th – 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 (23rd Sept - 1st), Wool Week (29th Sep – 5th Oct), Gran Canaria Swim Week (2nd- 6th), British Beauty Week (23rd-27th)
British Food Fortnight (17th Sept - 2nd Oct)
Work Life Week (7th- 11th)
National Curry Week (7th-13th - TBC)
National School Lunch week US (14 th-18th)
National Baking Week (14th-20th - TBC)
Wrap’s National Recycle Week (14th-20th)
National Chocolate Week (15th-21st - TBC)
October - Days
1st – World Vegetarian Day
1st – International Coffee Day
2nd - Gandhi Jayanthi – The birthday of Mahatma Gandhi - Holiday India
2nd - 4th – Rosh HaShanah
3rd – Mean Girl’s Day (apparently, it’s a thing right!!)
3rd – Navaratri Starts (Hindu holiday)
3rd – National Poetry Day
4th – National Vodka Day (US)
4th – World Animal Day
5th – UN World Teachers’ Day
6th – World Smile Day
6th – Harvest Festival (Sunday nearest to the harvest moon)
6th - National Plus Size Appreciation Day
7th – National LED Light Day
10th – UN World Mental Health Day
10th – National Cake Decorating Day
11th – Yom Kippur
11th – National Coming Out Day (UK/US)
12th – Navaratri Ends (Hindu holiday)
12th – Vijayadashami/Dussehra Hindu festival
13th – National Yorkshire Pudding Day (US)
13th – National No Bra Day
16th – First Day of Sukkot
16th – UN World Food Day
16th – Department store day
18th – National Chocolate Cup Cake Day (US)
18th – World Menopause Day
19th – International Gin & Tonic Day
20th – National Office Chocolate Day (US)
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).
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!!!
Related articles
