Main Image: PrettyLittleThing

PRShots Digest brings you the latest retail news from Oak Furnitureland, M&Co, Etsy, Charlotte Tilbury, River Island, Wilko, Asos and H&M. Plus why user experience will be key in 23, why click & Collect is booming, the rise of virtual influencers and more.

This will be our last News Digest before Christmas and New Year. So we'd like to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year, see you all in 2023!! 

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

THE LATEST RETAIL INDUSTRY NEWS

UK retail sales pick up unexpectedly in December

The CBI's distributive trades index reported a surprise pick-up in demand in December with the percentage of retailers reporting annual rises and falls in sales volumes, up +11 in December.

Oak Furnitureland returns to profitability

Oak Furnitureland results for the year to July saw a 10% rise in group revenue to £275.3m, with a profit of £1.8m, up from a £18.6m deficit in 2021.

Made.com board to formally liquidate the business

Made.com has said its board has proposed formally winding down the business to enable company-appointed liquidators to assess its remaining assets.

72% of UK online businesses are uncontactable by phone

More than a quarter (28%) of the UK’s 50 top online brands don’t have a phone number on their website, and almost half (45%) don’t even have a ‘contact us’ link on the homepage.

The North East is the best region to open an independent shop

Exclusive research from The Local Data Company (LDC) found that the North East is the best place to open an independent store.

Etsy CEO defends 30% transaction fees hike despite seller strikes

The CEO of Etsy, Josh Silverman has defended the decision to increase transaction fees by 30% from 5% to 6.5%, arguing it is still "super affordable", despite seller protests.

Charlotte Tilbury is the most popular beauty brand in 2022

British brand Charlotte Tilbury was the most popular beauty brand last year, with 1.3 billion TikTok views globally, according to LookFantastic’s 2022 beauty trends report.

No buyer yet for M&Co

No buyer has come forward for M&Co and a source close to the brand claims that up to 35 staff members at the office in Inchinnan have lost their jobs.

Asda and Ocado trial ‘self-driving’ delivery vans in London

Asda and Ocado, in partnership with Wavye, are testing driverless delivery routes in secret locations around London.

TRENDS, STRATEGY AND TECHNOLOGY

Why user experience will be everything in 2023

To keep ahead of the curve retailers will be turning increasingly to tech to deliver ever-more compelling – and possibly immersive – customer experience.

How did Shein become the world’s biggest fashion retailer?

Retail Gazette explores how, despite awful Trustpilot reviews, claims of labour law violations and design theft, Shein has become the biggest fashion retailer in the world?

How marketing navigated 2022

Amid trials, tribulations and innovations Marketing Beat looks back at how marketers navigated a highly momentous and intensely challenging year.

Why Click & Collect is booming

Consumers are turning to Click & Collect in the face of strains on the delivery networks due to postal strikes, which could help fuel the recovery of the high street post-pandemic.

The rise of virtual influencers

Like the evolution of fashion as a whole, influencers have also been evolving with the concept of ‘virtual influencers’ become something of a norm in the marketing world.

Is it time for retailers to add a pause to subscriptions?

The Data & Marketing Association (DMA UK) has shown that consumers would like the option to pause one or more of them for a while and wait for a better time to turn them back on again.

The key beauty trends across social media in 2022

The latest Look Fantastic 2022 Beauty Trends report examines the trends, products and regimes that influenced the beauty trends of 2022.

How to use live shopping to generate sales

Originating and applied extensively in China, live shopping (or live commerce) is a way for brands to generate sales and connect with their customers.

The top personalisation trends of 2023

As the year draws to a close, here are Acquia’s predictions for the top personalisation trends that will shape digital marketing in 2023.

The major M&A deals in British fashion retail in 2022

The Industry Fashion rounds up the most significant moves of the past 12 months (most of them involved Frasers Group) and a looks ahead at what to expect in the coming year.

PEOPLE, MOVERS AND SHAKERS

ASOS appoints Google executive to board

ASOS has added Marie Gulin-Merle as a non-executive director. Gulin-Merle currently works as global vice president of ads marketing at Google in New York.

Richard Bradbury returns to River Island as executive chair

Richard Bradbury has returned as executive chair of River Island, 12 years after leaving the fashion retailer.

Wilko names former Bensons for Beds boss to replace departing Saint-Marc

Wilko has hired former Bensons for Beds chief executive Mark Jackson to replace Jerome Saint-Marc who is standing down from the business with immediate effect.

BRAND NEWS

H&M pulls Justin Bieber collection after singer complains

H&M has removed a collection featuring images of Justin Bieber after the singer said the retailer had not obtained his approval.

AND FINALLY x2

Amazon launches ‘Alexa, thank my driver’ scheme in time for Christmas

Amazon has launched a new scheme allowing customers to thank their delivery drivers via Alexa, with the first one million drivers who receive thank-you’s receiving $5 as a thank you

Iceland v Iceland

Supermarket Iceland has lost its appeal to prevent the cancellation of its EU trademark registrations calling an end to the long-running legal battle with the country Iceland

PRSHOTS TOP 10 SEARCHES

What were our users searching for on PRShots week-ending Dec 16^th 2022?

1/ Christmas 

2/ Magenta

3/ Throw

4/ Cushion

5/ Coat

6/ SS23

7/ Dress

8/ Scarf

9/ Pink  

10/ Rug

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

Silk & Lawn are a Brighton-based accessories brand creating beautiful handmade headbands, hair ties & turbans for little and grown-up people made from silk and Tana lawn cottons.

Branch Jewellery is a small business that has become synonymous with hand-made wooden and horn jewellery. All materials used are ethically sourced and chosen for their quality and sustainability in mind.

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.

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

From my mother’s garden has new ranges for 2023

Cath Kidston has new bags and clothing ranges

NoLoGo has new ranges

Matalan has new Christmas jumpers and SS23 collections

TK Maxx has new shoes, clothing and accessories for him and her

PrettyLittleThing  has new PLT Sports outfits, new Jayda Cheaves and Jodie Woods collaboration and ski wear, party wear and winter clothes and boots.

Roman Originals has new warm winter wear, party and going-out outfits

George at Asda has new SS23 imagery

Accessorize has new SS23 bags, lingerie, accessories, jewellery, hair and gift ranges

Very has new womenswear ranges for SS23

Tu Clothing has new sportwear athleisure

Dancing Leopard has new winter collections

Deichmann UK has new boots, shoes and bags for women and teens

River Island has new winter clothes and SS23 bags and clothing for men, women and kids as well as accessories

New Look has new winter clothes and Christmas outfits and shoes, jumpers and loungewear

Dune London has new SS23 shoe and bag ranges, gift ranges, going out shoes and wedding shoes

Sarvin has new evening wear and cocktail dresses and jewellery

Monsoon  has a new Originals range and new childrens outfits

Primark has accessories, new athleisure wear and lipstick ranges, and new clothing and accessory ranges for men, women and kids

Lipsy has new AW22 womenswear

Joe Browns has new clothing for SS23

M&Co  has new AW22 and SS23  clothing for men, women and kids

Cotton Traders has new womenswear for SS23

Barbour has new collaboration with Wander as well as outfits for men, women and for your pets

Dune London Men’s has new men’s boots and accessories

Freemans has new Lascana athleisure wear

Peacocks has new Christmas ranges

See additional new clothing and accessories images from the last few weeks at

Dunelm F&F Fatface Hope Fashion The Morphbag by GSK Hope Fashion Crew Clothing Seol + Gold Dancing Leopard Radley Sainsbury’s Beauty Sonder Studio Homesense Oliver Bonas Bryony Bel The Range White Stuff Shoe Zone Marks & Spencer  Aspiga Radley The Range F&F Lemuel MC

Home and food

Homesense has new Valentines gifts and SS23 home items

Dobbies Garden Centres has new firepits, SS23 outdoor cushions, prints, furniture, AW plants, home goods, and pet accessories.

TK Maxx has new things for the home

Next introduces its new Land and Parallel collections

Fritz Fryer has new antique lighting

NoLoGo has new tableware

Primark has new homeware and gifts

George Home has new soft furnishings, gifts and candles

Dunelm has new SS23 ranges for the lounge and kitchen

The Range  has new New Year party pieces, kitchenware and Christmas decorations and storage solutions

Biscuiteers Baking has new Easter goodies and Christmas and New Year food

Matalan has new SS23 homestore ranges

M&Co  has new homeware and Christmas gifts, games and decorations and home wear

Very has new Wellness Kitchen ideas

Cambridge Imprint  has new wrapping paper and stationery

Sofology has new SS23 furniture ranges

Marks & Spencer has new SS23 homeware

Cult Furniture  has new lighting options, Christmas images and desks

Daisy Park  has new Emma Bridgewater and Gisela Graham Primavera and Pastel home and gift ranges

See additional new home images from the last few weeks from

Designers Guild Avalana Cath Kidston Dune London B&M National Trust Shop Furniture Village Luxdeco Designers Guild Cuckooland Abstract House Oliver Bonas White Stuff Cartwright & Butler Monsoon  Nest Wilko Cardfactory KMI Brands DFS Fatface Very Habitat Hotel Chocolat Cath Kidston 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 Christmas Day – 3

Days until Valentine’s Day - 54

Days until Mother’s Day - 87

Days until Easter – 108

How to make your products attractive to the media in December

Christmas is nearly over by now for the media; there are just a few dailies, weeklies, websites and influencers doing last minute gift guides for Christmas but for most print media it’s the New Year, and what’s happening in 2023.  

You should be uploading SS23 outfits and home goods for those “A new you for 2023” “Redecorate for 2023” issues, so athleisure, outdoor healthy sporty images will all be useful plus anything for the home. 

As always don’t forget to add keywords – New Year, Gifts, Spring, Christmas, Xmas, Holidays, Winter plus all those words beloved of home magazines like cosy, cosiness, hygge, wellbeing.

Clothing wise the media are still looking for going out outfits for Christmas and New Year, so party wear, party dresses, nightwear, “going out out” (thanks to Annie Mac ex-Radio 1), and also winter clothing jumpers, scarves, bobble hats, beanies, cardigans, coatigans, jackets, 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.

You can also start to look at holiday clothing and outfits for when the weather gets a little warmer so make sure SS23 is flagged on your drops even if they’re not yet available until 2023 – If they’re not on sale until Jan or Feb then use the On Sale date field to flag this up. You can either add a specific date 2/2/22 or if you’re not sure then you can use text “available first week in Feb” 

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.

December Diary - Weeks/Months

December is all about Christmas and New Year events but it’s also AIDS awareness month, and universal human rights month and Kwanzaa runs from 26^th to the 1^st Jan as well as No Gender December. Additionally, the 1st week (5^th-9^th) is UK Charity Week

December Diary - Days

22^nd – National Regifting Day

24^th – Super Saturday/Panic Saturday 

25^th – Christmas Day

26^th – Boxing Day

26^th – Hannukah ends

27^th – Substitute Bank Holiday for Christmas Day

31^st – New Year’s Eve

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!!!

Bookmark our PRShots news section https://www.prshots.com/pressnews and keep up to date with the PRShots daily guide to some of the latest news and trends in the retail, home and marketing sectors.