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PRShots Roundup brings you the latest retail news from WH Smith, Sosandar, ProCook, JD, Majestic Wine, Passenger, Asda, Asos, Gymshark, Thule, Ksubi, Monica Vinader and Bravissimo. Plus, tracking your social mentions to build strong relationships, how to prove the value of your brand marketing without sacrificing ROI and more.
THE LATEST RETAIL INDUSTRY NEWS
The Office for National Statistics figures for UK inflation show a fall to 2.6% in March, down from 2.8% in February and down from 3% in January.
WHSmith high street profit plunges ahead of sale
WHSmith’s sales for the half to 28 Feb fell 7% to £239m and profits were down 31.8% from £22m to £15m before the sale of its hight-street branches to Hobbycraft owner Modella Capital.
Sosandar at ‘inflection point’ despite softer trading
Sosandar has lowered its profit guidance for the year as FY sales to 31 Mar were down to £37.2m below initial estimates of £38.5m.
ProCook sales soar in ‘strong final quarter’
ProCook Q4 sales to 30 March grew 17.8% to £15.5m with in-store sales up 14.7% and online sales grew 23.4%, driven in part by the retailer’s relaunched Amazon UK marketplace.
Majestic Wine completes Enotria & Coe acquisition
Wine specialist Majestic Wine has completed the acquisition of premium wines and spirits supplier Entoria&Coe.
JD.com trials UK supermarket website
Chinese retail brand JD.com has test launched a new UK grocery supermarket website called Joybuy with a trial starting in London with an official UK launch by the end of 2025.
Passenger pauses US expansion amid tariffs
Fast-growing outdoor brand Passenger has paused its US operations due to President Trump's additional tariffs which have turned the US "from a great opportunity to a risky proposition".
Culture Secretary open to reviewing UK 'tourist tax'
The government has signalled that it might be open to revisiting the issue of VAT-free shopping for tourists that was abolished in the wake of Brexit.
Rent the Runway reports $306M in 2024 revenue amid subscriber dip
Rent the Runway announced revenues in 2024 grew 2.7% to $306.2m, on the back of a modest finish in Q4 which saw revenues total $76.4m, up 0.8%.
TRENDS, SUSTAINABILITY, STRATEGY AND TECHNOLOGY
Tracking your social mentions to build strong relationships
Find out what social mentions are, why they matter, and how to engage with them to build a strong relationship with your audience.
How to prove the value of brand marketing without sacrificing ROI
You can double down on performance marketing, but you'll wind up spending more for less if you skip brand-building.
PEOPLE, MOVERS AND SHAKERS
Bravissimo CEO exits as new owner reshapes leadership for growth
Bravissimo CEO Leanne Cahill has stepped down following an internal restructure that will see the business more closely aligned with its new parent company Wacoal Europe.
Asda turns to Tesco to appoint new chief people officer
Asda has hired a new chief people officer who will join from rival Tesco as the Leeds grocer pushes ahead with its turnaround programme.
10 tips for marketers to do more with less
Whether you’re working with shrinking budgets, a lean team, or both, finding ways to do more with less is a skill every marketer has to master.
A playbook for influencer marketing
Josh Durham, a seasoned marketer, shares the essentials for scalable, high-performing influencer programs with PracticalEcommerce.
How brands can capture consumer eyeballs
Uber’s head of advertising Paul Wright discusses why attention is key in driving advertising profit, and why his firm’s bespoke, non-intrusive placements work
BRAND NEWS
Asos adds ICECREAM, Oh Polly to webstore line-up
As Asos continues its recovery drive, the fashion e-tail giant has added several new labels to its line-up, including ICECREAM from Pharrell Williams.
Puma launches 5am activations to spotlight running collection
Puma is looking to target early-morning runners with a global 5am activation, offering consumers the chance to receive the brand’s latest performance silhouettes.
Gymshark opens first European outlet store in Roermond
British sportswear brand Gymshark is set to open its first Dutch outlet store in Roermond. It is also the first outlet store on mainland Europe and the second worldwide.
Thule arrives in Covent Garden and Kingston-upon-Thames
Swedish premium outdoor brand Thule has opened two stores, a flagship in Covent Garden and a store in Kingston-upon-Thames.
Ksubi unveils capsule collection with Mowalola
Australian fashion brand Ksubi has unveiled a capsule collection with Nigerian-born London-based designer Mowalola.
Monica Vinader opens first Manchester boutique as part of UK expansion
British jewellery brand Monica Vinader has opened the doors to its first standalone boutique in Manchester, marking a significant step in the company’s continued UK growth.
Pure Seoul the Korean beauty specialist making a name for itself in the UK
The Korean beauty market is taking the world by storm, and the UK is no exception as K-beauty specialist Pure Seoul is striving to become a leader.
AND FINALLY
Will Zuckerberg have to sell WhatsApp and Instagram?
Meta Platforms heads to trial on Monday in a landmark antitrust case that could force chief executive Mark Zuckerberg to sell Instagram and WhatsApp worth a combined $1.3tn.
JOIN THE GREEN GRADS
Green Grads are looking for new recruits and sponsors
Green Grads is a platform for recent UK graduates with ideas to heal the planet and it’s now recruiting for its fifth cohort, with over 200 current grads listed on the website. It’s also a great chance for a brand to show commitment to the environment and sustainability by joining Green Grads expanding cooperative of outward-looking forward-facing stellar British brands by becoming a sponsor. Sponsorship opportunities start with the comparatively modest sum of £500 and current sponsors include such well-known names as Heal's, Anglepoise, Ercol, the Futon Company, Camira and many more. To find out more see http://www.greengrads.co.uk
PRSHOTS TOP 10 SEARCHES
What were our users searching for on PRShots Week ending April 11th 2025?
1/ SS25
2/ Easter
3/ Sunglasses
4/ Garden
5/ Dress
6/ Bedroom
7/ Outdoor
8/ Sandals
9/ Coastal
10/ Shoes
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.
NEW BRANDS TO PRSHOTS
Ruggable all started at the kitchen table. That's where Jeneva Bell first conceived of a rug you could put in your washing machine. After years of development, they launched the original Ruggable machine-washable rug and the brand has gone on to be hugely successful ever since.
Plia Parasols makes wooden garden parasols, upholstered with luxury outdoor fabrics. Sewn in Cornwall, customers can either plump for one of the in-house designs, or go bespoke and supply their own fabric for a totally unique parasol.
Oriana B. was launched in 2019 by Dublin-based Londoner Katharine Deas sourcing and selling unique furniture online, having pivoted from a 25-year international corporate career to pursue her love of design. Oriana B products include furniture, lampshades, lights, lamps, and mirrors.
BRANDS WITH NEW IMAGES
Clothing, beauty and accessories
Primark has new Krispy Kreme and Hello Kitty collaborations, beachwear with swimsuits, wraps, bikinis and shorts, a new butter yellow trending range, plus linen, leopard and straw accessories, including handbags, bags and sandals, a new clothing collaboration with Guinness, linen kidswear and menswear and accessories.
Roman Originals has new Petite, Dusk and Curve ranges for the summer, plus big pattern and denim SS25 womenswear imagery.
Matalan has new Et Vous collaboration, Father’s Day kidswear clothing, Holiday Shop collections for all the family, men’s and women’s summer ranges with clothes for the beach, baby ranges, Peter Rabbit and Bluey collaboration of kidswear.
Fable England has new bag charms and jewellery based on the Beatrix Potter Peter Rabbit characters, new Alice’s Garden, Running Bunny and Bunny Blues jewellery and bags, Wonderland ranges of bags and scarves, plus new accessories and core jewellery ranges.
Celtic & Co has new smart cool summer midi dresses and sandals for the holidays and the beach.
M&S has a new Collection range of women's clothes, shoes, bags, jewellery, and accessories, new Per Una clothing ranges, as well as new perfume ranges and casual and formal men’s wear ranges.
Threadbare has a new Spring Romance and Another Sunday ranges of clothing and new summer footwear and beachwear, plus a Spring Romance womenswear range, plus new SS25 womenswear and menswear ranges.
F&F has new F&F Active sportswear and athleisure collaboration with Kate Ferdinand, new summer beachwear campaign imagery and has Abbey Clancy top picks for the spring.
Bonmarché has a new Dash collaboration of summer outfits with Lisa Snowdon.
Barbour has new mens summer outfits including a range of festival wellies, plus a new Crocs collaboration, a Very British Summer collaboration of clothes and accessories with Lucy Williams, and a new shoe collaboration with Wild Bunch, rainwear ranges.
Accessorize has new beachwear including shirts, shorts, bikinis and dresses, plus accessories including makeup sandals, bags, card holders and jewellery.
Oliver Bonas has new April, May and June 2025 uploads of jewellery, women’s clothing, bags, hats, shoes, sunglasses and accessories as well as new ranges for SS25.
Peacocks has a new Louise Redknapp Linen Edit for summer, a SS25 Edit range, new menswear range, plus new womenswear SS25 clothing ranges including skirts and jumpers.
Joe Browns has new SS25 menswear, polo tops, t-shirts, shorts, shoes, hats and accessories plus womenswear including dresses, shorts, skirts, beachwear, shoes, jewellery, towels, sarongs, scarves, purses, handbags, shopping bags and beach bags for the summer.
River Island has new linen outfits, jewellery, men’s suits, a new pink-themed range, a new women’s wear collaboration with Latin-Australian brand Del Maar, perfume ranges and new Arm Candy bags.
Scamp & Dude has clothes and accessories, new SS25 athleisure wear, dresses, shorts, jackets, hoodies, coats, bags and scarves, plus new collaborations with Nicky Newman and Sabrina Elba.
John Lewis has new Anyday, John Lewis and Kin men’s ranges and a Goodie Works t-shirt collaboration, plus new women’s clothing, shoes and accessory ranges for the spring and summer. Plus a range of women’s bags and jewellery.
Very has a new Michelle Keegan collaboration, plus drops SS25 lookbook imagery, a new V by Very and V by Very Curve ranges of dresses, jumpers, jackets, coats jumpsuits, swimwear, jeans, trousers and shoes.
Iolla has new sunglasses and glasses for the summer with the option of multi-coloured lenses, plus ranges of frames and glasses based on nostalgia for a Scottish coastal summer.
Monsoon has new SS25 ranges for the beach and holidays, plus women’s and kids clothing for the summer, new sandals for the beach, plus new jewellery and bags for women and kids, new wedding outfit shoes and dresses.
Dune London has new bags, sandals and shoes for him and her for the summer, bag charms, clutch bags, handbags and belts, bridal shoe ranges for casual to posh weddings.
See additional new clothing and accessories images from
New Look TK Maxx Cotton Traders George at Asda Curvy Kate Joma Jewellery Katie Loxton Lipsy Crew Clothing Tu Clothing Celtic &Co
Home, garden and food
Matalan has new tableware and kitcheware.
Primark has new Krispy Kreme and Hello Kitty collaborations for packed lunches, new paisley pattern soft furnishings and bedding, plus homeware including diffusers, candles, vases and jugs for the home.
Homesense has new AW25 homeware and kitchenware including dishes, chairs, art, rugs, jugs plus Christmas 2025 crackers, wreaths and decorations.
Dobbies Garden Centres has new garden furniture, sheds and outside storage solutions, home houseplants including orchids, garden tool ranges, homeware, pet ranges, kids garden toys.
M&S has new homeware including furniture, lighting, bedding and tableware, new wash bags beauty and wellness ranges, Ultimate bedding sets, makeup ranges, SS25 Boho, Classic and Exquisite Earth furniture and homeware ranges.
Jellycat has a new Amuseables range of animals, flowers and food, plus books and the cuddliest soft toys and bags for SS25.
Jan Constantine has new cushion ranges.
B&M has new DIY tools and electricals ranges, new baby and food events as well as new Lego kits, Garden solar lighting, Easter cuddly toys for kids, spring electrical ranges, garden decorations and Easter themed gifts, cookware and dining decorations.
Cambridge Imprint has new, labels, tea towels, box files, envelopes, postcard boxes, postcards, tea trays, lined exercise and hardback books, stamps, Easter block sets, ribbons, and albums.
Nest has new living room furniture including lounge chairs, plus Ferm Living, Tom Dixon and Hay garden furniture, including tables, chairs and loungers.
Home Bargains has new Wickford & Co candle jars and diffusers, plus luxury candles, diffusers and room sprays from The Vault.
Quorn Stone has new Chalfont and Metro tiles, new decorative tiles, Orotelli stone for the floors and Luella Powder for the bathroom, Frome white stone, Orwell Natural Porcelain Stone, and Chastleton Ivory Stone.
Designers Guild has new Christian Lacroix Maison SS25 ranges, new SS25 outdoor ranges including rugs and cushions.
Sofology has new SS25 furniture ranges, including sofas, chairs and stools plus furniture for the lounge in bright spring colours.
Oliver Bonas has new Father’s Day gifts, new May/June/July drops of homeware ranges for the kitchen, dining room and lounge, plus furniture and home accessories including mirrors, lighting and tableware for SS25.
George Home has new outdoor furniture and tableware for the garden and picnics, new Stacey Solomon Easter and home collaborations on cookware, bedding, dining, and homeware. New Easter ranges of tableware, new home gifts and furniture.
Hobbycraft has lots of ideas for Easter decorations and things to keep the kids occupied for the holiday.
John Lewis has new Modern and Classic ranges of garden and outdoor entertaining furniture and tableware, plus Modern and Classic homeware collections of rugs, beds, mirrors, furniture, soft furnishings, tableware and accessories for SS25.
See additional new home images from
Online Home Shop TK Maxx Fritz Fryer Dunelm Treats by Mars
DIARY
PRShots Retail Calendar Alerts
Days until Easter – 4
Days until Father’s Day – 60
Days until School holidays start (23rd July) – 98
Days until Halloween - 198
Days until Christmas Day – 253
How to get your brand in the media in April
We’re now definitely in Spring, and people are thinking about the approaching summer holidays, so add any spring-summer-related images you have and add in keywords relating to summer outfits and summer events, e.g. festivals, Glastonbury, Coachella this month in the US, beachwear, swimwear, the garden, garden parties, outdoor living, things for the patio, and of course Barbecues. Don’t forget to add all the other spellings BBQ, Bar-B-Que, etc and other related keywords like picnic, garden party, get-togethers, parties, socials, gatherings and for the young ‘gaths’.
While some people are looking to holidays abroad, some are considering destinations closer to home, so add in keywords and phrases like “staycation”, “holistay”, “holiday at home” to your keywords and why not suggest clothing like cardigans for the colder UK evenings.
It’s also Easter and the first big break of the year. It’s traditionally when people start to look at brightening up their gardens/patios/windowsills, so include any planting/gardening imagery and keywords as well as any of the standard Easter-related items, decorations, presents, bunnies and, of course, eggs and chocolate.
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.
April Diary - Weeks/Months
There are lots of other big events in April. April is World Stress Awareness Month and National Pet Month in the UK, so if you have anything to relieve stress (massage products, recliners, diffusers, pillows, garden swings, etc) and anything for pets (dog coats, cat collars, dog beds will also be looked for etc) then add them and get all the relevant keywords added. It’s also National Garden Month (so anything gardening-related should be tagged with National Garden Month), National Poetry Month and Celebrate Diversity Month.
Other events include;
Discover National Parks Fortnight (4th – 18th)
International Dark-Sky Week (21st – 28th)
Allergy Awareness Week (24th – 28th)
MS Awareness Week (22nd – 28th)
April - Days
17th – Running searches peak ahead of the London Marathon
18th- 20th – Coachella Weekend Two
20th – Passover Ends
20th – Easter Sunday
21st – Easter Monday
21st - National Tea Day
22nd – Earth Day
23rd – St George’s Day
23rd – Start of the Asparagus season
23rd – Shakespeare Day
24th - National Skipping Day
24th – Gardening searches peak
24th – Fashion Revolution Day
25th – Staycation searches peak
25th – World Malaria Day
25th – National Lingerie Day
27th – London Marathon
29th - International Dance Day
30th – Stop Food Waste Day
NB - All dates have been checked, but some events may change due to unforeseen circumstances or have not been fully confirmed for 2025 by the authorities controlling the event(s).
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