Main Image: DFS

PRShots Roundup brings you the latest retail news from Currys, Asos, Primark, Asda, Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana, Morrisons Nobody’s Child, Mulberry, Nudea and M&S. Plus, your guide to finding the perfect social media target audience, how to use ChatGPT to test your marketing strategies and more.  

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THE LATEST RETAIL INDUSTRY NEWS

Currys AI push drives laptop sales

Currys sales were up 5% in the 17 weeks to Aug 24 , crediting its “early adoption” of AI products for taking almost half of the UK’s laptop market.

Asos has sold a majority stake in Topshop and Topman brands

Asos has announced a new joint venture with Heartland, the holding company of Danish fashion retailer Bestseller, to sell a majority stake in the Topshop and Topman brands.

Primark sales rise continues

Primark parent company Associated British Foods said revenues growth forH2 to Sept 14 are expected to be around 4%, with like-for-like sales set to dip by around 0.5%.

Asda becomes first UK supermarket to sell refurbished TVs in stores

Asda has become the first UK supermarket to sell refurbished TVs in its stores as it looks to support the circular economy.

Burberry drops out of FTSE 100

Burberry has been relegated from the FTSE 100 in the index's latest quarterly review following a 50.8% fall in share price in the past six months.

Dolce & Gabbana's operating loss widens to €13m

Dolce & Gabbana posted a 17% increase in revenues to €1.87bn in the year to March 31 but posted an operating loss of €13m, up from a loss of €1m in the previous year.

Amazon announces near 10% pay rise for UK workers

Amazon has announced a pay rise worth 9.8% for tens of thousands of UK employees, lifting minimum pay rates to between £13.50 and £14.50 an hour, depending on location.

Morrisons launches ‘Pay Less with More Card’ campaign to boost loyalty

Morrisons is launching a new brand ‘Pay Less with More Card’ platform to boost sign-ups and encourage regular use of the supermarket’s loyalty scheme.

The Perfume Shop to hire for 750 Christmas temp roles ahead of the festive season

The Perfume Shop is hiring staff in 750 temporary roles from mid-September through to October for the Christmas season.

Amazon launches AI-powered shopping assistant Rufus

Amazon has launched its Rufus AI-powered shopping assistant/chatbot in the UK for the first time. Rufus helps shoppers with broad research questions and comparisons of products.

Second-class letter deliveries in UK could be scrapped on Saturdays

Royal Mail could be allowed to scrap second-class letter deliveries on Saturdays, amid pressure from the company on the industry regulator Ofcom to shake up postal service rules.

TRENDS, SUSTAINABILITY, STRATEGY AND TECHNOLOGY

Your guide to finding the perfect social media target audience

Hootsuite helps you find out how to define your social media target audience and focus your efforts on the right platforms for better engagement.

How Boots, B&Q, Next and John Lewis are leading the retail generative AI revolution

For all the science-fiction headlines generative AI is making a change at retailers, with several big retail names are already leading the way when it comes to adoption.

How to use ChatGPT to simulate your marketing strategy

What if you could test-drive an entire marketing technology platform and simulate marketing and sales efforts without risking a penny? Thanks to ChatGPT you can.

How Ikea plans to take on eBay and Facebook with its resale marketplace

Ikea is planning to rival online furniture resale platforms such as Facebook Marketplace, eBay and Shpock with the launch of its new peer-to-peer marketplace.

How retailers like ASOS, H&M and Zara are fighting back against ‘serial’ returns

A Loop Returns survey found that UK retailers lose around £5.2bn annually due to online returns, with 90% experiencing an increase in the rate of returns fraud or policy abuse in the past year.

M&S using AI as personal style guru in effort to boost online sales

Marks & Spencer is using AI to advise shoppers on their outfit choices based on their body shape and style preferences, with over 450,000 shoppers using the service so far.

PEOPLE, MOVERS AND SHAKERS

Former Clarks CEO back in control

Former Clarks chief executive Victor Herrero is back in control on an interim basis, as it looks for a new CEO to replace Jon Ram.

BRAND NEWS

Nobody's Child unveils debut beauty line

Womenswear brand Nobody's Child has entered the beauty category for the first time with a new fragrance and body care collection.

Mulberry launches collaboration with Rejina Pyo

Mulberry is placing the spotlight on UK-based South Korean designer Rejina Pyo with a new limited-edition collection as part of its Mulberry Editions series.

Converse and Isabel Marant unveil shoe collab

Isabel Marant has announced her first footwear collaboration with Converse, and includes a new silhouette, the Chuck 70 Wedge, alongside a fresh take on the classic Chuck 70.

Nudea collaborates with Smalls for All on charity launch

Lingerie brand Nudea has launched a new charity initiative with UK-based Smalls for All, to introduce ‘Invisible Underwear’.

The Range and Wilko stores become dog-friendly

CDS Superstores has announced that its Wilko and The Range shops are now allowing well-behaved dogs in the stores.

AND FINALLY

Del Monte collaborates on clothing range with Urban Outfitters

Canned fruit brand Del Monte has launched an exclusive range of merchandise in collaboration with fashion retailer Urban Outfitters.

PRSHOTS TOP 10 SEARCHES

What were our users searching for on PRShots Week ending August 30^th 2024?

1/ AW24

2/ Christmas

3/ Halloween

4/ Denim

5/ Red

6/ Cushion

7/ Bag

8/ Coat

9/ Necklace  

10/ Home

NEW BRANDS TO PRSHOTS

Marté was founded by Victoria Angus after 20 years working in the footwear industry. Her brand’s mission is centred around Labour rights, freedom of association and freedom from discrimination, along with forward-thinking movements on environmental impact and a drive to sustainability.

Initially London are the UK's only full-service monogramming company specialising in classic accessories, home linens and gifts for all occasions and all include their fabulous embroidered and laser-etched monograms.

BHF is the biggest funder of research into heart and circulatory diseases in Europe and helps find cures and treatments to give people more time with loved ones. Their shops and online store sell everything from Christmas gifts and cards to wedding accessories, clothing and garden furniture.  

Ada Dakin is named after Founder Sophie Dakin’s grandmother, a gracefully strong yet beautifully independent woman who made her own dresses and taught Sophie how to sew. The collection is a kind and responsible collection which inspires individuality, femininity and offers ethically-minded, considered fashion choices without compromising on style.

Jan Constantine is an international home brand started by British designer Jan Constantine who is known for her bold, distinct and original collection of home textiles and her work as a designer and manufacturer of a range of home interior products.

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.

BRANDS WITH NEW IMAGES

Clothing, beauty and accessories

M&S has launched its autumn clothing and jewellery ranges, a new Beauty Discovery box, AW24 accessory ranges of shoes, bags, scarves and gloves, “the parent hood” baby club imagery plus AW24 M&S and Autograph ranges of womenswear and accessories.

Monsoon has new womenswear for special occasions and children’s Christmas-themed and winter accessories, plus children’s and womenswear ranges and accessories including bags, shoes, boots, jewellery and scarves plus jewellery ranges for AW24.

Shoe Zone has new AW24 men, women and kids shoes and boots.

Matalan has new AW24 lingerie ranges, shoes and boots for AW, Halloween wear for all the family, a new Bing NSPCC kidswear, winter jumpers and coats, jewellery and Soluxe activewear ranges for all the family.

Peacocks has a new Michael Owen and Louise Redknapp collaboration new AW24 womenswear and jewellery, Louise Redknapp Edit, new pyjama, lingerie and swimsuit collaboration with model Caprice.

Barbour has a new menswear, plus Modern Heritage ranges of menswear and womenswear for AW24, and a new William Morris womenswear range.

George at Asda has new womenswear featuring leopard print and denim, plus a collaboration Style Stories with Erica Davies including womenswear shoes and accessories, lingerie ranges for AW24 and Style Stories by Erica Davies for George womenswear.

Primark has new womenswear, boots and shoes, Halloween accessories and makeup, Beetlejuice movie tie-ins, Kappa ranges, PS Sweet makeup ranges, new leopard print outfits.

Fable England has a new AW24 collaboration with the National History Museum new jewellery ranges, AW24 small accessories ranges from scarves to purses and AW24 nightwear.

River Island has a new range of red and burgundy RI womenswear and accessories, plus menswear and womenswear for the autumn, plus leopard prints.

Roman Originals has new Dusk ranges, plus floral outfits, and Roman Petite and Curve ranges, SS24 womenswear and new Petite and Ariella ranges.

F&F has new Active Kate Ferdinand collaborations, Xmas ranges including jumpers, coats and party wear in satins, gold and black metallics and sequins, a new Autumn F&F Edit and athleisure outfits.

Scamp & Dude has new womenswear and accessories including t-shirts, bags and scarves, plus news kids ranges, high-summer women's wear ranges and accessories for holidays, the beach, the evening and for relaxing at home.

Very has new holiday ranges, plus Everyday, V by Very Curve and V by Very as well as occasion wear, a Michelle Keegan collaboration, airport ranges.

Fatface has new Autumn ranges of mens, womens and kidswear and accessories including boots, slippers, perfumes and soaps, scarves, hats, bags and a new jewellery range.

Dune London has new women’s boots, shoes, and bag ranges, suitcases and travel luggage, handbags and accessory ranges for high summer 2024.

New Look has ranges of womenswear including coats, jumpers, skirts and tops, new high summer 2024 womenswear dresses, trousers and tops.

John Lewis has new AW24 menswear and womenswear collections from its Kin, Anyday and JLP collections and new kids wear for AW24.

TK Maxx has new menswear and womenswear ranges for AW24 including coats, jackets and hoodies, plus Leopard skin prints t-shirts and skirts.

Iolla has new ranges of glasses and sunglasses.

Dune London Mens has new AW24 transitional ranges plus ranges of shoes, boots and trainers.

Oliver Bonas has new September and October clothing, shoes, hats, accessories and jewellery ranges, ranges with a Mediterranean and Nostalgia themes and new cosmetics ranges.

Rebecca Rhoades has new AW24 partywear outfits.

See additional new clothing and accessories images from

Cayo National Trust shop Joe Browns Bonmarché Curvy Kate Threadbare Celtic & Co Betty & Biddy Lipsy Peachaus

Home, garden and food

DFS has new Scandi, Coastal and Palm beds, sofas and chair ranges.

Quorn Stone has new marble ranges for the bathroom and kitchen and Limestone cobbles for outside.

Online Home Shop has new cuddle cushions, shaped pillows and bolsters, a selection of bar stools, new Autumn and Winter bedding ranges and themed hoodie blankets for all occasions.

Marks & Spencer has a new homeware collaboration with designer Kelly Hoppen, plus new homeware including tableware, soft furnishings, candles, diffusers, vases and planters and a new collaboration with the National Gallery.

B&M has new Woodland Charm, Japandi and Natural Earth homeware, plus bedding and soft furnishings for AW24, Halloween and Christmas 2024 ranges of decorations, Christmas mugs, cushions, candles, and things for the kitchen and the Christmas dining table. 

Nest has new Hay collections of lighting and homeware.

Dobbies Garden Centres has new Christmas ranges including food and drink, trees, decorations and gifts for pets, RHS branded garden gift ranges, Halloween ranges, plus Snow & Sparkles, Magic Woodland, Classic Noel, Colour Pop and Festival Tales Christmas decoration ranges plus autumn homewares, playhouses and garden toys.

Cult Furniture has new sofas, armchairs, TV stands and tables, Arbor kitchen furniture, Bourton office furniture, Boucle and Eco Edit range for indoors.

Homesense has new Halloween decorations, Christmas gifts and decorations, kitchenware ranges aimed at the home and student markets.

Matalan has new Halloween decorations, Folk Harvest AW24 ranges for the kitchen, bathroom and the living room, Christmas gifting, new homeware (indoors and out) ranges including cushions, kitchenware, bowls, baskets, planters and gift ideas.

Next has new Chic, Scandi Collection, Rustic Romance homeware ranges for AW24 including gifts, lighting, furniture and vases, it also has Christmas decorations, gifts and soft furnishings.

Home Bargains has a new Harvest and Winter charm ranges of things for the home for the autumn and Halloween including Haunted House ranges.

Sandberg Wallpaper has a new Ett Hem Öland, Chinoiserie Garden Collections for the bedroom, dining room and lounge.

John Lewis has its Dawn & Dusk, Wisdom & wonder and Trinket & Treasure ranges of Christmas decorations for the home plus Christmas gift ranges for him and her.

TK Maxx has homeware, Beetlejuice-themed Halloween things for the home and everything for holidays from luggage to beach towels.

Cambridge Imprint has a new Six Crowns range of paper crowns, crackers and paperchains plus, Christmas card and wrapping paper ranges, Giant scrapbooks, albums, pen pots, letter trays, pen boxes, notebooks, exercise books, trays, memo books and planners.

Designers Guild has William Yeoward Khotan and Malatya ranges of fabrics for curtains, blinds and soft furnishings.

National Trust shop has new autumn-winter 2024 gifts for the home and autumnal decorations.

Oliver Bonas has new October releases of homeware, Christmas decorations, plus AW24 ranges for September and October homeware drops, plus jewellery boxes, ring holders and trinket pots.

Arran Sense of Scotland has new 2024 festive gift collections and a new After the Rain collection.

Hobbycraft has new ideas for Christmas baking and decoration, autumn and Halloween as well as home décor ideas.  

Cutter & Squidge has Christmas hampers, Yule logs, mince pies, cakes and cookies.

Very has its Very Christmas range for the home, including decorations, gifts and things for the Christmas table, plus new homeware solutions for the bedroom, living room and dining room.

See additional new home images from

Primark The Gluttonous Gardener Dunelm Furniture Village Hotel Chocolat  Teenage Cancer Trust George Home

DIARY

PRShots Retail Calendar Alerts

Days until London Fashion Week - 8

Days until Halloween – 56

Days until Black Friday – 85

Days until Christmas – 111

How to get your brand on the September Media Calendars   

Summer is nearly over, and it’s time to look to the autumn and to the winter. Mid-September marks just 100 days to Christmas so you should be adding your Christmas images for those monthly/weekly magazines with medium lead times.  Plus, look at adding some Spring-Summer 2025 images for those titles with long lead times, as they will be starting to look at their Feb and March 2025 issues so you can help them out with previews of SS25. 

The media are going to be starting to create features around what to wear for university or college, and the office autumn wardrobe. Now the nights are drawing in, they’ll also be running features on winter wear, so add coats/jumpers/boots. Plus they’ll be looking for images for Halloween and bonfire night parties and there are decorations and gifts for Christmas and some last-minute AW images. 

Don’t forget to add keywords – Gifts, Christmas, Xmas, Autumn, Winter, and Halloween will all be looked for. It’s National Yoga Awareness Month, so you could add yoga as a keyword on any athleisure wear, floor mats, rugs 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.

If you’re looking for more hooks to help promote your brand and products, then see the list of days, weeks and fortnights below.

September Diary - Weeks/Months

September is National Honey Month and National Yoga Awareness month and it’s second-hand September (an Oxfam initiative https://www.oxfam.org.uk/get-involved/second-hand-september/), Self-Care September, as well as Organic, September, and Sourdough September.

September also has London Fashion Week between 13^th-17^th September and this year features men and women’s fashion and features digital and physical events see the schedule here https://londonfashionweek.co.uk/schedule.  

There’s also: the Moda trade show (1^st-4^th Sept), London Textile Fair (3^rd-4^th Sept) Top Drawer (10^th-12^th Sept) and Sustainable Fashion Week (20^th Sept to 29^th Sept).

Other weeks to celebrate this month include;

New York Fashion Week (6^th-11^th)

National Horse Race Week (7^th-15^th)

Bridal Fashion Week (8^th-10^th)

Fairtrade Fortnight (9^th – 22^nd)

Sexual Health Week (11^th- 17^th)

British Science Festival (11^th -15^th)

Jane Austen Festival (13^th-22^nd)

Open House Festival (14^th -22^nd)

Negroni Week (16^th-22^nd)

Milan fashion Week (17^th-23^rd)

Great British Beach Clean Week (20^th-29^th)

British Food Fortnight (20^th Sept - 6^th Oct)

Paris fashion Week (23^rd Sept -1^st Oct)

Shetland Wool Week (28^th Sept – 6^th Oct)

September - Days

5^th – International Charity Day

6^th – Read a Book Day

6^th -8^th – The Goodwood Revival

7^th – National Beer Lovers Day (US)

7^th – Ganesh Chaturthi (Hindu holiday)

8^th – Great North Run Newcastle

11^th-12^th – Yom Kippur

15^th-16^th – Eid Milad un Nabi (Mawlid) 

16^th – First Day of Sukkot  (Jewish Holiday)

16^th – 100 days until Christmas

21^st – Zero emissions day

22^nd – Car-free Day

22^nd – September Equinox

23^rd – Last Day of Sukkot – Jewish Holiday 

25^th – 3 months until Christmas Day

27^th – World Tourism Day

NB - All dates have been checked, but some events may change due to unforeseen circumstances or have not been fully confirmed for 2024 by the authorities controlling the event(s). 

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