Main Image: PrettyLittleThing

PRShots Digest brings you the latest retail news from Crocs, Charles Clinkard, Sport Direct, Boohoo, Ted Baker, Dobbies, Søstrene Grene, HMV, TU, and Gap. Plus articles on why customer loyalty is no longer enough, how PR is using AI, how to build deeper audience connections and more.  

THE LATEST RETAIL INDUSTRY NEWS

Amazon beats expectations as sales grow 9% to £102bn

Amazon has posted sales of £102bn for Q1 9% higher than in 2022 and above the £100bn predicted by analysts, with profits at £2.6bn compared to a £3bn loss in the same period in 2022.

Crocs raises full-year outlook as Q1 revenues rise

Crocs group (parent of Crocs and HeyDude) sales for Q1 were up 33.9% to £709m with direct-to-consumer channel revenue up 33.5%, and wholesale up 34.2% compared to Q1 2022.

Charles Clinkard boosted by store sales growth

Charles Clinkard saw in-store sales grow 8% over the past year thanks to a 15% growth in footfall  additionally it also saw online sales 3% up over the period.

Frasers Group targets Europe growth for Sport Direct

Frasers Group CEO Michael Murray said that following the successful elevation strategy of its UK store portfolio, the group will now look to grow its presence in Europe.

Gap axes 1,800 head office and store roles

High street fashion retailer Gap is to cut 1,800 headquarters and upper field positions across its global business, in a bid to simplify its operating model.

High street retail vacancy rate stagnates

British Retail Consortium data shows rising costs are deterring retailers from investing in standalone stores as the UK's high street vacancies remain static.

EU adopts recommendations for ending fast fashion

The European Parliament has adopted recommendations to promote circular, sustainable, and socially just production of textiles in the EU in an attempt to put an end to the fast fashion industry.

Coronation to deliver £50m bonus to West End

London retail is gearing up for a bumper Coronation three-day holiday weekend with the capital forecast to generate up to £50m.

TRENDS, STRATEGY AND TECHNOLOGY

Why customer loyalty is no longer enough

Almost every adult I know belongs to at least one company’s loyalty program. What earns a customer’s loyalty? Years ago, I’d have said similarities. But the game has changed.

How PR is using AI

With Artificial Technology (AI) tools causing a stir across the sector, PRWeek asks how PR and comms agencies are using AI tech on a day-to-day basis.

How to build deeper audience connections through creators

By humanising a brand, companies can create a more emotional connection with their customers, which can lead to increased loyalty, advocacy and ultimately, revenue.

How Sainsburys Tu is faring with Sainsbury’s food-first focus

As Sainsbury’s pledges the importance of value for shoppers amid the cost-of-living crisis, Retail Week explores where the Tu Clothing offer sits within its food-first focus

Why Mary Portas thinks technology has the potential for extraordinary disruption

The ‘Queen of Shops’ Mary Portas has praised the constant updates in retail technology claiming it “has the potential for extraordinary disruption.”

How to get a clear view of retail supply chain visibility

Advanced Supply Chain Group sales director Stuart Greenfield looks at the value of supply chain visibility, and the steps retailers can take to achieve full transparency of their logistics. 

PEOPLE, MOVERS AND SHAKERS

Boohoo strengthens board with new Independent Non-Executive Director

Boohoo Group has appointed John Goold as Independent Non-Executive Director as it looks to strengthen its Board of Directors.

Ted Baker CEO departs as Authentic links with new operating partners

Authentic Brands Group has announced the signing of long-term strategic partnerships with two new operating partners for Ted Baker’s business in the UK and Europe.

BRAND NEWS

New little Dobbies opens in the heart of Cheltenham

Dobbies Garden Centres has opened a new little Dobbies store in the heart of Cheltenham this is the sixth store featuring an enhanced customer experience.

Søstrene Grene set to open its first London store this May

Danish homewares store, Søstrene Grene, has announced it will be opening its first London store on Friday 12th May at Southside shopping centre in Wandsworth.

eBay launches sustainable homewares hub

eBay has launched the Better Than New Homeware Hub to encourage shoppers to consider more sustainable options for their home.

eBay launches new brand platform for luxury resale

eBay has launched a new ‘Certified by Brand' luxury brand platform, where it will partner directly with brands to scale their resale efforts and provide shoppers with exclusive luxury goods.

HMV to return to original Oxford Street site

HMV has had a dramatic turnaround and as a result is to reopen at the site of its historic Oxford Street store after a four-year absence.

Asda c-store rollout gathers pace as it opens 150th location

Asda has opened its 150th On the Move convenience store in partnership with EG Group as it continues its goal of rolling out 200 c-stores by the end of 2023.

AND FINALLY

Tom Ford releases final womenswear collection

Tom Ford has unveiled his final collection for his eponymous label, as he steps down from design duties after selling the business to Estée Lauder last year.

PRSHOTS TOP 10 SEARCHES

What were our users searching for on PRShots Week ending April 21^st 2023?

1/ Summer

2/ Coronation

3/ Garden

4/ Bags

5/ Sunglasses

6/ Shoes

7/ Orange

8/ Cushion

9/ Bikini  

10/ Yellow

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

HebTroCo are based in Hebden Bridge and started in 2015 in the pub, they started selling trousers back in 2016 and have never looked back and now sell everything from jackets, to gifts, to their unique Action Blankets.  

Paria sell cycle clothing and accessories that couple urban influences with the grit and fervour of the Yorkshire countryside, and collaborate with artists, designers, and illustrators to create something inspiring that promotes a friendly and inclusive attitude to cycling.

Love Hero founders Joshua, Tanja and Heather believed there was a better way to produce clothing that didn’t cost the planet and could reflect the real people who live on it. Which resulted in Love Hero a planet-conscious clothing for ordinary people living extraordinary lives.

Studio started back in 1962 and delivers everything from homewares through to clothing and footwear from top brand names as well as its own branded clothing.

Mission C founder Qes discovered that CBD oil helped his Grandad - who was living with dementia - feel calm and contented, he knew it could help others too. So he created a natural and accessible remedy for people looking to improve their quality of life.

Lavender Hill creates luxurious staples, using natural sources, with extra emphasis placed on how the clothes feel,  giving every item the softest touch imaginable and that every piece feels soft and comforting next to your skin.

Jessica Russell Flint is British designer who creates vibrant, entirely unique hand-illustrated prints, with luxury products ranging across accessories, clothing, sleepwear and homeware.

&Sons is all about vintage-inspired clothing for the modern-day Pioneer. Timeless garments for the modern man, designed by and for craftspeople, artisan makers and creative pioneers in their chosen fields of endeavour.

Damsons aim is to cater to real women who face the challenges of life with open arms. Their latest collection is influenced by vintage workwear and iconic styles, delicately transformed into contemporary feminine silhouettes.

Tweedmill is a family run business established in 1971 that creates beautiful British-made blankets, picnic rugs, home accessories and more and are stocked in more than 4000 retailers UK wide.

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

Threadbare has a new Greecian Getaway range

Oliver Bonas has new summer outfits and accessories  

PrettyLittleThing  has a new Gemma Owen collaboration, beach outfits, a Sasa By Lopez collection, and a new maternity wear collection featuring Sophia Smith.

Barbour has new mens, womens and kids ranges

Primark has new Kids and accessories ranges, Primark Cares ranges, and Lilo and Stitch ranges

New Look has new women’s summer wear, and footwear ranges

Office has new sandal and trainer ranges

Dune London and Dune London Men’s have their new Let’s Dance SS23 campaign of men and womens shoes and bags

Regatta has a new Orla Kiely collaboration range and camping tents and accessories

Accessorize has a wide range of new bags and purses

George at Asda has new summer beach and womenswear

TK Maxx has new clothing ranges for all along with picnic and beach wear  

F&F has new clothes for the summer and the beach

Roman Originals has new spring and summer ranges in all sizes

Very has the new Lucy Mecklenburgh range plus V by Very and Very Curve ranges

Aspiga has new womenswear ranges

Nologo has new Coronation clothing

Monsoon has new women and children’s summer ranges

Daisy Park  has a new Hinza range of bags

Bonmarché has new ranges for summer modelled by Lorraine Kelly

River Island has new womenswear ranges

Peacocks has new menswear, womenswear and teen ranges

Matalan has new womenswear plus menswear ranges from Taylor & Wright

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

Tu Clothing Bryony Bel Crew Clothing Radley Lipsy Shoe Zone National Trust Shop Fatface Cotton Traders

Home, garden and food

Joe Browns has new homeware for the summer

Oliver Bonas has new home ranges for indoors and outdoors

Cutter & Squidge has new Father’s Day and afternoon tea treats

Hobbycraft has new foam mosaic art and paint and sew your own ranges and cardboard shop and playhouses and Coronation items

TK Maxx has new homeware, picnic and beach accessories

Dobbies Garden Centres has new picnic ideas, terrariums, plants, pet ranges, things for the home, and patio furniture.

Nologo has new Coronation gifts

Studio has Coronation gifts

Cambridge Imprint has new Coronation posters

Fritz Fryer has new high-end lighting

Homesense has new kitchen and tableware for dinner parties and accessories for the home and picnic ware

Habitat has new high summer ware furniture and accessories for indoors and out  

The Range has new coronation ideas

Cuckooland has new kids beds, outdoor furniture and garden pods

Daisy Park  has new Emma Bridgewater coronation gifts and homeware

Cardfactory has new coronation and mermaid themed gifts

Next has a new Restore collection for the home

DFS has a new Feel Good Home range for the lounge, dining and bedroom

Ivyline has a new outdoor furniture, water features,  pots, planters, hanging baskets, firepits and mirrors and more  

Furniture Village has new indoor and outdoor furniture

Primark Home outdoor tableware, planters, candles and more

See additional new home images from the last weeks from

Biscuiteers Baking Sofology Wilko National Trust shop Dunelm Marks & Spencer B&M Cult Furniture Next Branch Jewellery GettingPersonal Nest Cartwright & Butler

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

PRShots Retail Calendar Alerts

Days until The Coronation – 8

Days until Father’s Day - 51

Days until Halloween – 186

Days until Singles Day - 197

Days until Black Friday – 210

Days until Christmas Day – 241

How to get your brand on the on the May Editorial Calendars, search engines and social media

We’re now well into Spring so carry on adding those spring-summer-related images and there are bank holidays aplenty this month, and hopefully we’ll have great weather.  So add all those keywords relating to being out of the house and into the garden and the great outdoors; keywords to add include garden, garden parties, barbecues (don’t forget to add all of the other spellings BBQ, Bar-B-Que etc) picnics, outdoors etc. 

Summer holidays are on the horizon so images of beach holidays and swimwear, as well as holiday clothes, festival clothes and all of the associated keywords and phrases eg sandals, beachwear, swimsuits, bikinis, linen, summer wear.

Although with the cost-of-living increases not everyone will be going abroad so still keep keywords and phrases like “staycation” “holistay” “holiday at home” to your keywords and why not suggest clothing like cardigans and hoodies for the colder UK evenings.

May is also the start of wedding season so if you have any wedding related items then get ready to promote them with any wedding keywords, bridal, bride, groom, hen party, stag do etc.

May Diary - Weeks/Months

May is National Walking Month, National Smile Month and Skin Cancer awareness month

It’s also;

Small Business Week – April 30^th – May6^th

Dementia UK Time for a cuppa (May 1^st – May 8^th)

National Gardening week (May 1^st – May 7^th)

National Vegetarian Week (May 15^th – May 21^st)

National Stationery Week (May 15^th – May 21^st)

Cannes Film Festival (May 16^th – May 27^th)

National Doughnut Week (May 20^th – May 28^th)

Sandwich Week (May 21^st – May 27^th)

Chelsea Flower Show (May 22^nd – May 27^th)

National Barbeque Week (May 29^th – June 4^th)

May - Days

1^st – May Day

3^rd – World Press Freedom Day

4^th – World Password Day

4^th – Star Wars Day

4^th – Firefighters Memorial Day

5^th –Cinco de Mayo (US Holiday)

6^th – King’s Coronation

8^th – VE day

8-9^th – Lag B'Omer (Jewish Holiday)

9^th – Europe Day

12^th – International Nurses Day

13^th – World Cocktail Day

13^th – Eurovision Final in Liverpool

14^th – Mother’s Day (US and Australia)

15^th – International Day of Families

18^th – Ascension Day

20^th – World Bee Day

20^th – World Whisky Day

21^st – International Tea Day

22^nd – World Goth Day

22^nd – Craft Distillery Day (US)

25^th - Geek Pride Day

25^th – National Wine Day (US)

29^th – National Biscuit Day

29^th – Spring Bank Holiday

29^th – Memorial Day (US)

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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