Main Image: Marks & Spencer

PRShots Digest brings you the latest retail news from Matalan, Joules, N Brown, Frasers, Pepco and articles on how ScS improved customer experience with digital, how to create engaging adverts, can Sephora crack the UK this time and more.

To see the latest news go to our Twitter account @prshotsr

THE LATEST RETAIL INDUSTRY NEWS

Matalan founder looks to Elliott to back bid for retailer

Matalan founder John Hargreaves has started talks with investment firm Elliott Advisors to finance a bid for the retailer.

Poundland owner targets new store openings as revenues rise

Poundland owner Pepco Group shows revenues rose 2.6% in the year to the end of September to £1.87bn and group revenues grew 5.2% to €4.82bn, partly driven by 516 new stores.

Frasers Group snaps up stake in N Brown

Sports Direct owner Frasers Group has snapped up a 4.54% stake in online retailer N Brown making Frasers the sixth largest shareholder.

Joules’ new car dealer investor considers rescue

£1m in Joules shares have been bought by Richard Teatum, owner of car dealership Stoneacre Motor Group, making him the second largest shareholder in the brand.

TikTok plans US fulfilment centres

TikTok is reportedly looking to roll out several fulfilment centres across the US, according to dozens of job postings on LinkedIn for roles in fulfilment.

A quarter of UK’s leading brands now charge consumers for returning online purchases

A quarter of the UK's leading brands are now charging shoppers to return online purchases,  with an average cost of £3.53 and an average of nine days for refunds to be processed

Marketing budgets set to grow by 20% over next year

Marketing budgets are expected to grow by around 20% over the next year, with 77% of CMOs planning on increasing their marketing spend.

Retail insolvencies at highest level since 2012

ONS figures show a 122% year-on-year increase to 802 insolvencies in the wholesale and retail sector in England and Wales in Q2, the highest number since Q1 2012, with 815 insolvencies.

TRENDS, STRATEGY AND TECHNOLOGY

How ScS used digital to improve the customer experience

ScS has continued to invest in digital and in customer service as well as in people and in its products over the last year.

How to win the retail race with engaging ads

Driving consumer engagement and conversions when holiday shopping begins earlier than ever is hard. Luckily, with the right approach to creative, data and technology, the win is within reach.

How to make a success of subscriptions

A subscription business is about more than recurring revenue. A successful subscription business is a function of the strength of the habits they create.

Topshop is changing strategy but will it ever be the same?

Since its acquisition by ASOS, Topshop has fallen under the radar as it competes with brands like Weekday, H&M and River Island in an oversaturated e-commerce market.

How can fashion retailers tackle their old clothes pile up?

Unwanted clothing is gathering up in toxic waste sites, clogging waterways and smouldering in burn piles across the global south. What are fashion retailers doing about it?

Can Sephora crack the UK this time round?

Sephora is returning to the UK. How will the LVMH-owned beauty giant fare here at a time when shoppers are more cash-strapped than ever?

PEOPLE, MOVERS AND SHAKERS

Yoox Net-a-Porter names interim CEO

Luxury online retailer Yoox Net-a-Porter (YNAP) has announced Alison Loehnis as its new interim CEO, effective October 31. She will replace Geoffroy Lefebvre.

BRAND NEWS

Superdrug teams up with Milk Honey Bees

Superdrug has teamed up with the Milk Honey Bees charity in a move which will help support and mentor young black girls.

Corona launches first online lifestyle store

Brewing company AB InBev has announced the European launch of its online Corona lifestyle store, in collaboration with sports and lifestyle retail company Cube Partnership.

Made.com taps home decor influencers for first Pinterest campaign

Made.com has partnered with social media platform Pinterest to launch an ‘Idea Ads with Paid Partnerships’ campaign, the first UK brand to do so

H&M Move launches first ever dance collection

H&M has launched its first ever dancewear collection H&M Move, the range is a collaboration with choreographer JaQuel Knight and will be available online and in 2,400 H&M stores worldwide.

AND FINALLY

Meta's new Quest Pro billion dollar headset bet, will it save the metaverse?

Meta Platforms unveiled its Quest Pro virtual and mixed reality headset, marking a milestone for Mark Zuckerberg's break into the higher-end market for extended reality computing devices.

PRSHOTS TOP 10 SEARCHES

What were our users searching for on PRShots week-ending Oct 7^th 2022?

1/ Christmas  

2/ Halloween    

3/ AW22  

4/ Bedroom

5/ Dress

6/ Cushion

7/ Coat

8/ Shacket

9/ Advent Calendars   

10/ Lights

COLLABORATIONS ON PRSHOTS

Our PRShots brands are looking for media and influencers who want to work with them on collaborations. Register for free at PRShots new collabs service to find out more https://collabs.prshots.com/ 

NEW BRANDS TO PRSHOTS

Boutique agency Emslie Creative has joined PRShots adding jewellery from Joanna Laura Constantine and KJJ Fine Jewellery and handbags from Sambar

Papier was launched in 2015, and creates stationery – notebooks, diaries, planners, photobooks  and stationery for weddings, birthdays etc  – and gifts that invites curiosity and contemplation. In every piece of Papier is the promise of what's to come, the endless possibilities of a blank page.

TaskPR has added it’s rosta of big name brands to PRShots with womens wear images from Joules Bias Cut DKNY Jaeger  mens wear from Jaeger jewellery from Annie Haak Tateossian Thomas Sabo watches and jewellery from Movado and occasion wear from Azazie    

Somerset by Alice Temperley embodies all of the hallmarks of the Temperley aesthetic –whimsy; unabashed femininity, wild prints and dresses that float from office to after hours.

Little Mistress is a specialist in occasion wear. From proms to graduations, weddings to christenings and every social event in between, their hyper-feminine details, jaw-dropping silhouettes and ultra-luxurious fabrics they’re designed to make the wearers feel like a million dollars. The new ranges include a phot shoot with celeb Dani Dyer.

Bridge Coffee Roasters launched Bridge in 1985 by sourcing and providing the very best coffee from around the world, and since then Bridge Coffee Roasters has bloomed into roasting and selling coffee, coffee machines and accessories

Threadbare is a proud family-owned British brand bringing great quality up-to-date fashion trends for men, women, children and dogs at affordable prices. Elevated, everyday, essentials

Ivyline creates contemporary accessories for the home and garden. Founded in 1976 the UK team works on everything from initial design to eventual dispatch. Its ethical product range comprises everything from fire pits and candles to planters, plant pots and everything in between.

Wild Clouds started because they wanted more from their clothing. More sustainability, more longevity, more versatility, more comfort, and they wanted them to be affordable. They’re committed to slow fashion, making seasonless clothing locally in London, using the most sustainable materials they can find.

Cutter & Squidge is a family-run, all-natural bakery created by two food-obsessed sisters. Playfulness is their passion, they love to create exciting, experimental flavours and artisan designs. Their bakes and gifts are lovingly handcrafted to taste delicious and look exquisite on any occasion.

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 24hours, week, or month.

BRANDS WITH NEW IMAGES

Clothing, beauty and accessories

M&Co  has new AW22 drops for men, women and kids and Christmas gifts and clothing

Roman Originals has new party and going out outfits

New Look has new women’s shoes and Christmas outfits and jumpers

Dune London Men’s  has new bags and shoes for winter

Sonder Studio has new Christmas and AW ranges

Primark has Christmas Party outfits, new clothing and accessory ranges for women and young adults and added beauty ranges as well as Breast Cancer awareness ranges

Hope Fashion has new party outfits

Barbour has new cosy clothing

Peacocks  has a new collections and Louise Redknapp collaborations

PrettyLittleThing  has Gemma Owen ranges, winter coats, a Girls Versus Cancer range and new Halloween ranges

Matalan has new AW22 collections, Halloween outfits and Alder Hey 2022 collections

Joe Browns  has new Christmas ranges

Seol + Gold has jewellery including bangles, earrings and rings for Christmas

Cotton Traders has Christmas jumpers and new AW22 ranges

From my mother’s garden has new AW22 clothes and bags

River Island  has Halloween dressing-up ranges

Aspiga has new AW22 ranges

Very has new Michelle Keegan ranges and new accessories and bags

Radley has new bag ranges

Freemans has new AW22 ranges

Dancing Leopard has new AW22 womenswear ranges 

Dune London has new shoe ranges

Marks & Spencer have new clothing, shoes and boot ranges and Christmas jumpers

See more new clothing and accessories images from the last two weeks from

Hope Fashion Fatface The Range Accessorize F&F Lemuel MC Bonmarché TK Maxx NoLoGo Oliver Bonas Regatta Very John Lewis Bryony Bel Lipsy George at Asda Seol + Gold Shoe Zone Monsoon  Office TU Clothing  

Home and food

Daisy Park has new kitchen ware from Emma Bridgewater for Christmas, Halloween and Bonfire Night

George Home has Christmas goodies for the home

Primark shows its Christmas decorations, gifts and homeware

Nest has new desks tables and chairs

Marks & Spencer have new personalised Christmas gifts and Christmas decorations

Cartwright & Butler has hampers, advent calendars and treats for Christmas

Dobbies Garden Centres has new home goods, pet accessories, Christmas decorations and gifts and spooky Halloween plants

Cardfactory has new personalised gifts and hampers

Cambridge Imprint  has new gifts for AW22

M&Co  has new Christmas decorations and homeware

Cult Furniture  has new bar stools and furniture

Paperchase has added more Christmas decorations and gifts and folkart stationery ranges

TK Maxx and Homesense have new homeware and Christmas goodies

KMI Brands have new curly styling essentials

DFS has new ranges for the living room and bedroom including a Cath Kidston collaboration

Sofology has new sofa ranges

Wilko has festive decorations and gifts for Christmas and Halloween, and AW22 home 

The Range has Halloween ranges

Fatface has new Christmas gift ranges

Very has new gifts and decorations

Habitat has Christmas decorations and home ranges

Luxdeco had new gifts and homeware

Hotel Chocolat has new velvetisers, Christmas gifts, chocolates and advent calendars

Cuckooland has new sofas and childrens beds and bedding

B&M has new home gifts

Cath Kidston has a new Great British Bake-off collaboration range

See more new home images from the last two weeks from

National Trust Shop Abstract House Marks & Spencer Christy Primark Matalan Oliver Bonas Next Freemans Primark Home Homesense Biscuiteers Baking Regatta John Lewis Fritz Fryer Furniture Village NoLoGo

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

Days Until Halloween – 19

Days Until Black Friday – 44

Days Until Cyber Monday - 47

Days Until Christmas Day – 74

October

How to make your products attractive to the media in October    

We’re into autumn and the nights are starting to draw in and the heating is on - at last! Although at a much-reduced rate.  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. 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 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 – Gifts, Christmas, Xmas, Autumn, Winter, Halloween, fireworks night, bonfire night will all be looked for. Also, we have a wide audience with media from around the World so add those American holiday versions eg the holidays, Fall, Pumpkin day, Thanksgiving etc and words like hygge that are starting to enter the language. 

Also cost-of living crises maybe a good keyword to add especially on warm clothing

Media will also be searching for party outfits for Halloween, Guy Fawkes, and the office party season will be on us soon.  Christmas gift guides are also useful, try and be creative, do ones for every eventuality eg 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.

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 breast cancer awareness month, wool month, black history month, vegetarian awareness month, apple month, cookie month, spinach lovers’ month, pork month and national pasta, chilli and pizza month.

The second week is National Chocolate week, and in the US the 14-20^th is national School Lunch week.

October - Days

13^th – National Yorkshire Pudding Day (US)

15^th – Hoshana Rabbah

16^th – Last Day of Sukkot

16^th – Shemini Atzeret

16^th – UN World Food Day

16^th – Department store day

17^th - Simchat Torah

18^th – National Chocolate Cup Cake Day (US)

20^th – National Office Chocolate Day (US)

25^th – World pasta day

26^th – National pumpkin day

27^th – National American Beer Day

28^th – National Chocolate Day (US)

29^th – National Cat Day (US)

30^th – Clocks go back tonight

31^st – Halloween

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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