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PRShots Digest brings you the latest retail news from Dreams, ProCook, Wickes, Kering, Zara, Toys R Us, Joe Browns, John Lewis and articles on securing your marketing budget, are celebrity endorsements a good idea, leaning from China’s social commerce boom and more.
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THE LATEST RETAIL INDUSTRY NEWS
Dreams reports robust 2021 performance
Dreams 2021 sales rose 18.6% to £358.4m from £302.1m and pre-tax profit climbed by 5.1% to £48.7m with e-commerce revenue growing 187% from 2019.
Retail sales slump below pre-Covid levels in September
Retail sales volumes in September slumped 6.2% year on year and were down 0.3% compared to February 2020 levels, according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
ProCook posts drop in sales after challenging summer
ProCook has seen its Q2 revenue fall 9.1% year-on-year after a challenging summer but is still expected to hit its full year underlying pre-tax profit range of £4m to £6m.
Wickes backs full year profit guidance after ‘stable’ third quarter
Wickes Q3 sales grew 2.6% with like-for-like sales in its core DIY categories flat year-on-year but 27.3% ahead on a 3-year basis and it still expects full-year adjusted pre-tax profits to be £72-82m.
Kering sees 23% "rapid pace" rise in Q3 revenues
Kering has reported Q3 group revenue of €5.14bn up 23% over Q2 and 14% on Q3 2021, with growth of 74% in Western Europe, 31% in Japan, 7% in Asia Pacific and 1% in the US.
Consumer confidence edges up in October but remains close to historic low
GfK’s Consumer Confidence Index increased two points in October to -47 but core measures remain severely depressed with the major purchase index down three points to -41.
Toys R Us to open concessions in WHSmith
Toys R Us is to open toys and games concessions in nine WHSmith stores in the first half of 2023, marking the toys retailer’s return to the UK high street.
Zara to launch resale and repair service in the UK
Zara is set to launch a resale and repair service on November 3rd that will allow UK shoppers to resell, repair or donate clothing.
Ex-Comet owner joins race to buy Matalan as deadline looms
Prospective bidders for Matalan include OpCapita, Alteri , Matalan founder John Hargreaves (backed by Elliott Advisors) and Frasers Group.
Discount and value stores confident as consumers control Christmas spending
A Barclays Corporate Banking study finds discount and value retailers are more confident of a strong trading performance this quarter than mid-range and high-end stores.
Italian fashion brands form Re.Crea consortium to manage products end-of-life
Dolce & Gabbana, Max Mara, Moncler, OTB, Prada and Zegna have joined forces to form the Re.Crea consortium, to find sustainable solutions for managing end-of-life products.
Amazon faces £900 million UK lawsuit for favouring own products
Amazon is facing a £900m lawsuit from consumer rights advocate Julie Hunter over allegations that it has favoured its own products over other brands.
UK high street retailers set for £3bn rise in business rates bill
Business rates are due to rise in line with inflation - currently 10.1% - next April resulting in overall business rates increasing by £2.7bn to £30bn.
TRENDS, STRATEGY AND TECHNOLOGY
Are celebrity endorsements always a good idea?
The School of Marketing’s CEO Ritchie Mehta explains to Marketing Beat why choosing the right celebrity is crucial for a brand’s marketing success.
How Asos boss Ramos plans to put the business back on trend
Asos has unveiled four strategic cornerstones to power through the next 12 months of uncertainty and put the business back on track
3 ways to secure your marketing budget for 2023
Acxiom’s Tate Olinghouse, chief client officer, shares three actions marketing departments can take in order to secure their fair share of the budget.
The winning ingredients for social commerce
Social commerce has the potential to become brands best channel, giving new levels of engagement with consumers and the opportunity to hyper-target customer segments.
BRAND NEWS
Joe Browns extends homeware offer as N Brown Group takes up direct dispatch deal
Joe Browns has increased its homeware range by 67% to 225 pieces, and has partnered with N Brown Group to sell the range on their JD Williams, Home Essentials and Oxendales websites
Boots expands range of diverse brands with new sourcing platform
Boots has expand the number of suppliers it works with by 200,000 via its new deal with sourcing and purchasing platform RangeMe.
John Lewis to help spread cost of Christmas with early discounts
John Lewis is starting to discount its homeware and Christmas gifting ranges early to take advantage of the trend for consumers to shop early this Christmas
Samsonite collaborates with estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat
Samsonite has collaborated with the estate of New York graffiti artist Jean-Michel Basquiat on a new luggage collection.
AND FINALLY
Frasers Group to stop buying fur products
Frasers Group to stop purchasing fur products after talks with animal protection organisation Humane Society International/UK
PRSHOTS TOP 10 SEARCHES
What were our users searching for on PRShots week-ending Oct 14th 2022?
1/ Christmas
2/ Halloween
3/ AW22
4/ Coat
5/ Bag
6/ Candle
7/ Gold
8/ Dress
9/ Rug
10/ Leather
COLLABORATIONS ON PRSHOTS
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NEW BRANDS TO PRSHOTS
Fabrap makes fabric gift wrapping that stands the test of time. Inspired by Indian textiles and the traditional Japanese art of Furoshiki, these fabric gift wraps combine timeless elegance, sustainability and ease of use
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 Guinea London Knitwear Queen and Leocé Couture 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.
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
Roman Originals has new party and going-out outfits
M&Co has new AW22 drops for men, women and kids and Christmas gifts and clothing
Matalan has new AW22 collections, Halloween outfits and Alder Hey 2022 collections
Oliver Bonas has new winter party clothing, jewellery, bags and accessory ranges
New Look has new women’s shoes and Christmas outfits and jumpers and loungewear
Barbour has new cosy clothing and a House of Hackney collaboration
River Island has new going out clothes
Primark has KEM ranges, Christmas party outfits, Stacey Solomon collections, new clothing and accessory ranges for men, women and kids, new beauty ranges and Breast Cancer awareness
Monsoon has new womenswear and kids ranges
F&F has new womenswear and Christmas jumpers
Dancing Leopard has new AW22 wear
Shoe Zone has winter boots and shoes
Cotton Traders has new menswear modelled by Will Mellor
Peacocks has a new collections and Louise Redknapp collaborations
Fatface has new Christmas ranges
Dune London has new going out shoe and boot ranges
Marks & Spencer have new clothing, shoes and boot ranges and Christmas jumpers
Dune London Men’s has new bags and shoes for winter
Sonder Studio has new Christmas and AW ranges
Hope Fashion has new party outfits
PrettyLittleThing has Gemma Owen ranges, winter coats, a Girls Versus Cancer range and new Halloween ranges
Joe Browns has new Christmas ranges
See more new clothing and accessories images from the last two weeks from
Seol + Gold From my mother’s garden Aspiga Very Radley Freemans Hope Fashion The Range Accessorize F&F Lemuel MC
Home and food
Paperchase has added more Christmas decorations and gifts
National Trust Shop has new Halloween ranges
TK Maxx and Homesense have new homeware and Christmas goodies
Fritz Fryer has new lights
Sofology has new sofa ranges
Cambridge Imprint has new gifts for AW22
Oliver Bonas has new homeware and pet ranges
The Range has Christmas and Halloween ranges
Dunelm has new Christmas gifts
Cartwright & Butler has hampers, advent calendars and treats for Christmas
Monsoon has new Christmas decorations
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
Dobbies Garden Centres has new home goods, pet accessories, Christmas decorations and gifts and spooky Halloween plants
Cardfactory has new personalised gifts and hampers
M&Co has new Christmas decorations and homeware
Cult Furniture has new bar stools and furniture
KMI Brands have new curly styling essentials
DFS has new ranges for the living room and bedroom including a Cath Kidston collaboration
Wilko has festive decorations and gifts for Christmas and Halloween, and AW22 home
See more new home images from the last two weeks from
Fatface Very Habitat Luxdeco Hotel Chocolat Cuckooland B&M Cath Kidston Abstract House Christy Matalan Oliver Bonas
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 – 10
Days Until Black Friday – 35
Days Until Cyber Monday - 38
Days Until Christmas Day – 65
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 National recycle Week (17-23rd) and in the US the 14-20th is national School Lunch week.
October - Days
24th - Diwali
25th – World pasta day
25th – 2 months until Christmas day
26th – National pumpkin day
27th – National American Beer Day
28th – National Chocolate Day (US)
29th – National Cat Day (US)
30th – Clocks go back tonight
31st – Halloween
November
How to make your products attractive to the media in November
You should be uploading Black Friday and Christmas images for most media, but long lead time magazines will be looking at January issues so anything that helps illustrate the inevitable “New you for 2023” issues, so athleisure, outdoor healthy sporty images will all be useful.
As always don’t forget to add keywords – Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Thanksgiving, Gifts, Christmas, Xmas, Winter plus all those words beloved of home and women’s magazines like cosy, cosiness, hygge, wellbeing.
Clothing wise the media are looking for party wear, party dresses, nightwear, “going out out” (thanks to Annie Mac Ex-Radio 1), Christmas Jumpers, jumpers, scarves, bobble hats, beanies, cardigans, coatigans, jackets, and coats. So, make sure that you have plenty of images in those categories uploaded and labelled with as many of those words as you can.
Also make sure that if your clothing is made from a fabric associated with winter that it’s flagged up somewhere in the title/keyword or in more information. Wool (woolovers are a thing), cashmere, fur (faux obviously) and velvet.
If you’re aiming at being included in Christmas Guides then make sure you have added prices. Guides are normally price-led eg “Presents under £50”, “Party dresses for less than £150” and without prices your items won’t be included.
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 in the Keyword Search Report and try and add those in.
November Diary - Weeks/Months
Events to add to your marketing diary for November include
Movember which centres around men’s health issues and moustaches, so beard and shaving-related things might be useful, in the US it’s also national peanut butter lovers month, sweet potato month and candy month.
The first week of November is National Sausage Week in the UK – the perfect accompaniment to Guy Fawkes - the first week is also national fig week and the second week is national split pea soup week
November Diary - Days
1st – World Vegan Day
1st – All Saints’ Day
2nd – All Souls’ Day
5th – Guy Fawkes/Bonfire night
5th – Two years until the US presidential elections
6th – New York Marathon
11th – Armistice/Remembrance Day
11th – Chinese Singles Day
11th – Veterans Day (US)
12th – World Pneumonia Day
12th – National Happy hour Day (US)
13th – World Kindness Day
13th - Remembrance Sunday
15th – International Cheese and bread Day
17th – Homemade bread day (US)
17th – International Students Day
19th – International Men’s Day
24th – Thanksgiving (US)
25th – 1 month until Christmas Day
25th – Black Friday
26th – US Small Business Saturday
28th – Cyber Monday
30th – St Andrew’s Day (Bank Holiday Scotland)
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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