Main Image: Primark

PRShots Roundup brings you the latest retail news from Greggs, Oak Furnitureland, Avon, Topps Tiles, PrettyLittleThing, Banana Republic, Zara, Castore, 66°North and George at Asda. Plus why deeper connections are better than going viral, who’s in the running to acquire WHSmith and more.  

THE LATEST RETAIL INDUSTRY NEWS

Greggs passes £2bn sales mark after ‘record-breaking’ year

Greggs has reported record-breaking results for FY to 28 Dec with sales up 11.3% to £2.014bn, and  underlying pre-tax profit up 13.2% to £189.8m.

Shop prices remain in deflation but this is set to be short lived

BRC-NielsenIQ shop price index data shows shop price deflation was 0.7% in February, the same as January and slightly below the three-month average of 0.8%.

Oak Furnitureland shrinks losses despite ‘challenging market’

Oak Furnitureland like-for-like sales rose 9% in the 16 weeks to 22 Dec and it improved operating losses by 19% to £12.4m in FY to 30 Jun despite sales falling 17% to £236m.

Avon exec sets target for global store expansion this year

Avon’s CMO Ozlem Citci expects the number of retail stores its available in globally to grow to 2,500 by the end of 2025.

Topps Tiles’ £9m CTD Tiles takeover edges closer to CMA approval

Topps Tiles’ £9m takeover of CTD Tiles has cleared a key hurdle after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) provisionally approved its proposed solutions to competition concerns.

TRENDS, SUSTAINABILITY, STRATEGY AND TECHNOLOGY

Why deeper connections are better than going viral

Instead of chasing fleeting internet fame, focus on real engagement and community. This leads to stronger brand loyalty, deeper connections, and content that works long after the hype fades.

Why businesses are ditching card terminals for smart phones

New data has revealed that the use of tap-to-phone technology - where businesses turn smartphones into point-of-sale devices (POS)- has boomed over the last year.

Protection remains number one packaging priority but consumers also want sustainability

Once again consumers rate protection as their ecommerce packaging top priority, with 95% saying that it is important or very important.

Who’s in the running to acquire WHSmith?

WHSmith’s presence on the high street could soon disappear as the group mulls respective offers to acquire its 500+ stores business.

DFS takes “channel agnostic” approach to UK sofa sales

DFS is the most commonly searched term online in the UK homeware sector, ahead of the word “sofa”, according to the retailer. 

BRAND NEWS

Primark and Pinterest team up for new trend-led homeware range

Primark has partnered with Pinterest to launch a new homeware collection inspired by trending interior searches on the platform.

Kat Farmer teams up with George at Asda for latest ‘Style Stories’ edit

Midlife influencer, stylist and creator Kat Farmer, has joined forces with George at Asda for the latest instalment of the supermarket’s ‘Style Stories’ series. For images see George at Asda.

PrettyLittleThing unveils quiet luxury-inspired brand refresh

PrettyLittleThing has unveiled its ‘quiet luxury’ style rebrand, marking a “new chapter” for the brand.

Banana Republic unveils capsule collection

Gap-owned Banana Republic has partnered with Warner Bros on a capsule collection inspired by HBO's Emmy-winning series, "The White Lotus".

Zara Home unveils new collection in collaboration with Britain’s Morris & Co

Zara Home has teamed up with British designers Morris & Co to create an exclusive line of home décor and furniture.

66°North launches first collab with ambassador Burkard

Icelandic outerwear brand 66°North launching its SS25 collection ‘Blurred Seasons’. And it comes with its first Chris Burkard design collab and the new Helgafell running line.

Castore signs another county cricket deal with Lancashire

Castore continues to extend its association with cricket with another multi-year partnership at county level with Lancashire CCC.

AND FINALLY x2

Five women who changed fashion that you should know about

Ahead of International Women’s Day on 8 March, TheIndustryFashion delves into the stories of five women who changed the course of fashion.

Everything you need to know about England's 'first spa on rails'

Luxury travel and luxury beauty are a match made in heaven, and Wildsmith Skin agrees, which is why it is introducing the "first ever spa on rails" in England on the Britannic Explorer.

PRSHOTS TOP 10 SEARCHES

What were our users searching for on PRShots Week ending February 28^th 2025?

1/ SS25

2/ Mother’s Day

3/ Easter

4/ Denim

5/ Garden

6/ Cushion

7/ Kitchen

8/ Tray

9/ Lamp  

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

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.

Joma Jewellery was established in the UK in 2007 by Katie and Geoff who were travelling through Asia looking for inspiration and chanced on a jewellery market in China that created unique, eye-catching designs. In 2015 Joma expanded to open in Europe and now has sites in France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Norway and opened its first UK store in 2019.

Katie Loxton    Katie Loxton is the go-to online destination for beautifully personalised handbags, accessories, and gifts for all occasions including Mother’s Day. All their Designed in the UK all their products are designed in the UK with their bags all made from vegan leather.

BRANDS WITH NEW IMAGES

Clothing, beauty and accessories

Roman Originals has new Curve ranges, big pattern and denim SS25 womenswear imagery and new Petite imagery.

Iolla has new ranges of frames and glasses based on nostalgia for a Scottish coastal summer.

Barbour has new rainwear ranges, new collaborations with Alexa, Erdem and To Ki To, plus Chapter One collections, new clothing ranges, plus accessories for your pets.

Primark has new childrenswear, a new band t-shirt music drop, Keith Haring & Basquiat collaboration, new Kappa athleisure wear, beauty ranges, bridal ranges of lingerie and shoes, St Patricks Day outfits and new denim ranges.

Oliver Bonas has new March, April and May 2025 uploads of jewellery, women’s clothing, bags, shoes and accessories as well as new ranges for SS25 and Mother’s Day gifting.

Monsoon has new 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.

F&F has new Abbey Clancy top picks for the spring.

River Island has new perfume ranges, new Arm Candy bags, Ready for the Races line of clothes, shoes and accessories, Editor Approved Tailoring, a new Check Mate range, new women’s denim clothing and accessories ranges in blue, black and white.

New Look has new SS25 clothing and more new winter outfits, winter and occasion wear outfits for women, plus ranges of womenswear including coats, jumpers, skirts and tops.

M&S has new men’s formal wear, men and women’s Autograph underwear, plus women’s wear collections, Kidswear, Per Una ranges, baby clothing ranges, Autograph clothing and accessory ranges, womenswear clothes and accessories.

Matalan has a new baby range, Peter Rabbit and Bluey collaboration of kidswear, new Et Vous Spring women’s ranges, a men’s Smart edit, new bag ranges, new nightwear & lingerie, costume ranges for kids, women and menswear for the spring, clothing for the family for Eid, athleisure wear.

George at Asda has a new kidswear, Style Stories Kat Farmer Studio Edit collaboration, new Modern World collection and a Studio Edit of womenswear, bridal collection, Style Stories by Erica Davies and G21 Maisie Smith collection ranges, new Gym Locker activewear ranges.

Lipsy has new Love & Roses clothing and bridal ranges for SS25.

Threadbare has new SS25 womenswear and menswear ranges.

Frangipani has new menswear and jewellery.

Very has new clothes for Mother’s Day, a new V by Very and V by Very Curve ranges of dresses, jumpers, jackets, coats jumpsuits, swimwear, jeans, trousers and shoes, a new Michelle Keegan collaboration and new athleisure wear.

Fable England has 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.

Scamp & Dude has a new collaboration with Sabrina Elba for SS25, plus new leopard print dresses.

Peacocks has a new menswear range, plus new womenswear SS25 clothing ranges including skirts, jumpers, a Louise Redknapp SS25 range, a new Caprice SS25 lingerie range.

London Grace has new nail polish ranges.

Crew Clothing has new menswear and womenswear ranges of clothes and accessories for the spring and summer.

Dune London has new clutch bags, handbags and belts, bridal shoe ranges for casual to posh weddings, and new shoes, bags and accessories for early 2025.

Tu Clothing has new SS25 womenswear ranges of clothes, shoes, bags and accessories.

Curvy Kate has new Swerve, Suspend, Suspense, Serpent, Opulence, Indulgence, Eos, Entwined, Zen, Victory, Wild One, Strawberry Crush, Ornate and more ranges of lingerie. Plus new ranges of swimwear for SS25.

See additional new clothing and accessories images from

Celtic &Co Bonmarché Regatta TK Maxx Deichmann Fatface Sims Wear Saywood Dune London Mens Joe Browns John Lewis Lola Starr

Home, garden and food

Matalan has new Mother’s Day gifts, Easter decorations and home ranges, SS25 homeware images for the dining room, bedroom, bathroom and garden, new Connie the Cockapoo range.

Treats by Mars has new M&M movie kits, Galaxy Pink Hot Chocolate ranges, plus more Snickers and Galaxy ranges. 

Quorn Stone has new Frome white stone, Orwell Natural Porcelain Stone, and Chastleton Ivory Stone and Natural Tiles, plus Alnwick Ivory and Provenca Crema marble and tiles for the kitchen.

Dobbies Garden Centres has Mother’s Day 2025 gifts, office and home houseplants, garden tool ranges, homeware, pet ranges, kids garden toys, a Get Set for Spring Range, new Heritage range of outdoor gardening items including throws and firepits.

Oliver Bonas has new homeware ranges for the kitchen, dining room and lounge, plus furniture and home accessories including mirrors, lighting and tableware for SS25.

B&M has Easter themed cookware and dining decorations, everything pet related from food to car seats, new bathroom accessories, bedding, luggage, new Mother’s Day gifts, seasonal candle, diffusers, cushions and throws for SS25, new Washed Ashore and Coastal furniture ranges.

Jan Constantine has new throws and cushion ranges for Mother’s Day.

Online Home Shop has new curtains, cushions, duvet covers and throws, plus storage solutions, side tables and chest of drawers, rugs and bedding.

The Gluttonous Gardener has new remembrance plants, plus flower ranges for the spring and summer.

Primark has new luggage, tableware, furniture, storage, towels, bedding, plus Easter gifts plus soft furnishings, furniture and homeware for SS25.

Home Bargains has new travel ranges of luggage and Easter decorations, things for garden entertaining, new home exercise accessories, Mediterranean and Travellers Bazaar ranges, homeware from SS25 for the bedroom, bathroom and living rooms.

Jellycat has a new Amuseables range of animals, flowers and food, plus books and the cuddliest soft toys and bags for SS25.

M&S has new homeware including furniture, lighting, bedding and tableware, Mother’s Day beauty boxes, new wash bags beauty and wellness ranges, Ultimate bedding sets, makeup ranges, SS25 Boho, Classic and Exquisite Earth furniture and homeware ranges, new gifts, new furniture, soft furnishings and kitchenware for SS25.

John Lewis has new Modern and Classic homeware collections of rugs, beds, mirrors, furniture, soft furnishings, tableware and accessories for SS25.

Sofology has new SS25 furniture ranges, including sofas, chairs and stools plus furniture for the lounge in bright spring colours.

Cambridge Imprint has new lined exercise and hardback books, stamps, Easter block sets, ribbons, albums, tea towels, exercise books, notebooks, sketchbook, memo books, 3D card ranges, plus storage solutions including boxes, files, trays and gift card designs for SS25.

Fritz Fryer has new kitchen lighting, plus new lantern and pendant lighting ranges.

Very has new beauty ranges, cameras, diffusers and candles.

Furniture Village has new furniture ranges for the bedroom, dining room, office, and lounge.

George Home has new Stacey Solomon collaborations on cookware, bedding, dining, and homeware. New Easter ranges of table wear, new home gifts and furniture, and Lucky Charm range and Dark Garden SS25 interiors ranges.

Ivyline has new garden furniture, firepits, trellising, plant pots, planters, citronella candles, fountains and storage for the garden.

Hotel Chocolat has new Velvetiser ranges, alcoholic drinks and chocolates for Mother’s Day and other events.

Dunelm has new colour drench ranges, a new Sophie Robinson collaboration and its SS25 range of bedroom and living room furniture, soft furnishings and kitchenware.

See additional new home images from

Designers Guild Regatta TK Maxx Hobbycraft Nest Cult Furniture

DIARY

PRShots Retail Calendar Alerts

Days until Mother’s Day - 26

Days until Easter – 47

Days until Father’s Day - 103

Days until Christmas Day - 296
 

How to get your brand in the media in March

March is mostly about preparing for the big Easter holidays next month, so make sure you are starting to include relevant Easter keywords. It’s also the time people make their first big getaway abroad, so any keywords and clothes for warmer climes, loungewear, going out wear, swimsuits, bikinis, etc, should be added.

At the end of the month, there’s Mother’s Day, so try to get Mother, gifts, or Mother’s Day into your keywords for anything that seems appropriate. Also, if you have anything green, add the Keyword St Patrick's Day.

Plus, as we’re now definitely in Spring, carry on adding those spring and summer-related images and adding keywords relating to the summer, like swimwear, outdoor living, garden, garden parties and Barbecues (don’t forget to add all of the other spellings BBQ, Bar-B-Que etc) and for home it’s all about Spring cleaning and updating for Spring.   

We’re also starting to get ready for the bridal season – the peak is May to October – so If you have bridal wear or anything appropriate to weddings, then start to upload it and label it with the keyword wedding.

Lastly, it’s Oscar month, so why not upload some smart suits and dresses and create an Oscar section for an evening watching the Oscars?  

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.

March Diary - Weeks/Months

In the UK, it’s National Bed Month. Introduced by The Sleep Council and The National Bed Federation, it aims to raise awareness of the importance of sleep, so push anything sleep-related. It’s also Dechox month, which encourages people to give up chocolate – cakes and biscuits - for the month! So, any chocolate, biscuit or cake alternatives should be pushed. It’s also Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, Walk All Over Cancer Month, Endometriosis Awareness Month, Brain Tumour Awareness Month, Women’s History Month.  

Interesting Stat: National No-Smoking Day was originally on Ash Wednesday when it was started in 1984. It was moved to the second Wednesday in March as, while it’s less easy to remember, the date doesn’t move around the calendar quite so much as Ash Wednesday does.  

Other events include;

Paris Fashion Week (3^rd Mar – 11^th Mar)

British Pie Week (3^rd-9^th) 

British Science Week (7^th-16^th)

Butchers Week (10^th-16^th) 

English Tourism Week (14^th – 23^rd)

National Fragrance Week (17^th-23^rd)

Bridal Fashion Week (23^rd-24^th)

The Big Walk and Wheel (24^th – 4^th April) 

Ideal Home Show (Mar 21^st – 6^th Apr)

March - Days

4^th – World Obesity Day

4^th – Dog product searches peak ahead of Crufts

4^th – Pancake Day/Shrove Tuesday

5^th – Ash Wednesday 

6^th – Crufts begins 

6^th – World Book Day 

8^th – International Women’s Day

9^th – Made in UK Day

9^th - Quadragesima 

10^th – Commonwealth Day 

12^th – No Smoking Day

14^th – World Sleep Day

14^th – Holi Hindu Festival 

17^th – St Patrick’s Day

17^th – Maundy Thursday 

18^th – Global Recycling Day

20^th – First Day of Spring

21^st – International Day of Forests

21^st - Red Nose Day for Comic Relief

21^st – World Poetry Day

22^nd – World Water Day

22^nd – Easter egg searches rise

23^rd – Gardening searches rise

25^th – National Bridesmaids Day

26^th – Five years since the first lockdown started in the UK in 2020

28^th – Wear a Hat Day (Brain Tumour Research) 

30^th - Mother’s Day UK 

30^th – British Summertime Begins

30^th – Eid al-Fitr / End of Ramadan 

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).