Main Image:  B&M

PRShots Digest brings you the latest retail news from The Original Factory Shop, Wilko, Percival Labrum London, Dr Martens, Boohoo, Superdry, Neptune, Frasers Group and Pentland. Plus articles on 11 post-purchase retention tactics, how beauty retailers use tech to enhance customer experience, 23 Twitter hacks you need to know and more.  

THE LATEST RETAIL INDUSTRY NEWS

Retail investors poised to spend near £100m on Oxford Street this year

Retail investment in central London is expected to exceed £1bn this year, with £100m of that set to be spent on London’s Oxford Street.

UK is ‘black sheep’ of Europe without tax-free shopping

The boss of Jigsaw Beth Butterwick has said Britain is now the “black sheep” of Europe by not offering tax-free shopping incentives.

The Original Factory Shop snaps up M&Co sites

The Original Factory Shop is to open 16 stores in former M&Co stores in the next three months, creating up to 160 jobs.

PrettyLittleThing co-founder snaps up 3% stake in Boohoo

PrettyLittleThing co-founder Umar Kamani has snapped up a 3% stake in Boohoo, according to a new filing with the London Stock Exchange.

Retail sales slow down as damp weather kicks in

BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor for July shows UK retail sales grew by 1.5% in July – lower than the 2.3% growth in July 2022 – with damp weather blamed for the fall.

Pentland to cut 100 jobs

Pentland Group which owns Berghaus, Speedo, Kickers will be reducing its overall headcount by 100 as it switches focus to product development, digital channels, consumer data and analytics.

Retail sales nudge up in July

BDO’s latest High Street Sales Tracker shows retail sales grew by 3.6% in July compared to 2022 thanks to heavy discounting in the high street's summer sales.

Superdry secures £25m Hilco funding

Superdry has secured an asset-based lending facility of up to £25m with Hilco Capital as the retailer continues its cost-cutting programme.

Frasers Group once again raises its stake in ASOS

Frasers Group has increased its stake in Asos, this time it upped the stake from 15.12% to 16.89%, becoming the third largest shareholder and nearly doubling the 8.8% stake it had in early June.  

Euro area retail trade dips 1.4% in June

Retail trade volume fell by 1.4% In June for the euro area and by 1.6% in the European Union (EU) compared to June 2022.

TRENDS, STRATEGY AND TECHNOLOGY

11 post-purchase retention tactics

Retaining customers is easier and cheaper than securing new ones. Plus, happy customers refer friends and family.

What does Wilko need to do to turn its fortunes around?

With news emerging that troubled value retailer Wilko would need £70m investment from a new owner to bring it back to life, we take a look at how it could turn its luck around.

How beauty retailers use tech to enhance customer experience

From virtual stores to tech that can detect how different fragrances affect your brain, the world of beauty retail has always been ahead in adopting the latest trends in technology.

9 steps to make an email reactivation program that really works

How to revive dormant email subscribers and boost your ROI with Martech’s expert tips and examples of winning email campaigns.

Is ChatGPT better than Google?

Two-thirds of people prefer websites recommended by ChatGPT instead of Google – what does this mean for the future of search results pages?

23 game-changing Twitter hacks you need to know

Knowing the right Twitter hacks can be a huge advantage. Doesn’t hurt that they make you look like a wizard around the office, too.

PEOPLE, MOVERS AND SHAKERS

Homewares retailer Neptune hires ex-River Island CEO as chairman

Household goods retailer Neptune has hired former River Island CEO Will Kernan as its new chairman. Kernan stepped down from Rover Island in Nov 22 to pursue ‘personal projects’.

BRAND NEWS

Percival launches new loyalty scheme

Menswear fashion retailer Percival has announced the launch of a new premium loyalty scheme that “rewards customers for every purchase”, Retail Week can reveal.

Labrum London teams up with Guinness on a summer collection

British fashion brand Labrum London, which won the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design 2023, has unveiled a capsule collection with Irish alcohol brand Guinness.

Dr Martens launches collaboration with Wacko Maria

Dr Martens has launched its first-ever collaboration with Japanese streetwear giant Wacko Maria inspired by both brands’ mutual obsession with music.

AND FINALLY x2

Copenhagen chemists develop polyester recycling breakthrough

University of Copenhagen chemists have developed a breakthrough solution for the issue of polyester recycling, which could potentially revolutionise the sustainability of the textile industry.

Mattel announces limited-edition ‘Weird Barbie’ doll for sale

Matel are selling a limited edition “Weird Barbie” doll after the success Kate McKinnon’s character in Greta Gerwig’s $1bn blockbuster “Barbie” movie. Pre-order 18^th August shipped May 2024!!

PRSHOTS TOP 10 SEARCHES

What were our users searching for on PRShots Week ending August 4^th 2023?

1/ AW23

2/ Christmas

3/ Bikini

4/ Beach

5/ Swimwear

6/ Halloween

7/ Candle

8/ Red

9/ Bedroom  

10/ Bathroom

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

Fable England produces bags, accessories and delicate hand-painted jewellery with each piece made with positivity and kindness to uplift the human spirit and to bring joy to their owners.

Neem London produces sustainable, stylish and classic menswear pieces with low emissions, and according to the Guardian is “a label to consider for your wardrobe staples.”

Rebecca Rhoades is a successful and well-acknowledged Leeds-based womenswear designer who specialises in slow fashion featuring beautiful designs that are well known across the globe with influence in the UK, UAE, AU & EU.

Amelia Scott is a new London-based accessories brand created by Jane Hebden, an award-winning watch and jewellery designer. The jewellery range celebrates individuality and embraces the wonderful world of colour.

Lola Starr ranges are designed with the environment and functionality in mind. They source only the highest quality recyclable materials designed to be recycled, recreated and remoulded again and again. They are a British brand that champions local expertise and keeps the carbon footprint to its lowest level.

Arran Sense of Scotland puts quality and fragrance first, so you can be sure that each of their Bath, Body & Home products have been expertly crafted and manufactured with the greatest care on the Island home of Arran.

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

Roman Originals has new autumn clothes ranges

Primark has a new AW23 clothes for men with the KEM range, women and kids, plus shoes and bags, as well as makeup, new Click and Collect Exclusives, Flexi Formal range plus the Edit AW23 range, monogram bag ranges, back-to-school ranges.

Oliver Bonas has new clothing and jewellery drops for November, as well as jewellery boxes, accessories, footwear and jewellery ranges.

Dune London has new shoes and bags for going out, and new ankle and cowboy boots, sandals, trainers, shoes and luggage.

Monsoon has new back-to-school kids clothing ranges and womenswear, including bags, scarves, dresses, kaftans, jackets and jumpers, accessories and jewellery.

Radley has new bag and shoe ranges for releases in August/September/October AW23 and a 25^th anniversary special.

PrettyLittleThing has a new La La Anthony edit.

Dune London Mens has new AW boots and shoe collections.

Shoe Zone has new boots and shoes for the autumn and winter.

Accessorize has new jewellery ranges.

Peacocks has new back to school ranges.

Matalan has back-to-school ranges, plus pink and Barbie ranges and summer accessories and a new 20 outfits for £20 or less online range.

Threadbare has more summer clothing with a RHS collaboration, cool womenswear and menswear in its Urban Renaissance and Luxe ranges.

Regatta has new kids AW23 and back to school jackets - including the Beamz insulated jacket – bags, torches and new womenswear winter ranges.

Very  has new V by Very and Fig & Basil womenswear ranges for going out, staying in and for the beach plus womenswear from the Everyday range.

New Look has further July drops of womenswear, footwear, bags and jewellery.

Barbour has new dresses, coats, bags, gloves and scarves plus gift ranges for Christmas and new menswear, and womenswear for AW23, and bags, scarves and back-to-school ranges.

Bonmarché  has new Autonomy womenswear ranges for AW23.

Cardfactory has back to school backpacks

Deichmann UK has new winter shoes and boots as well as evening wear and a Barbie collaboration of shoes and bags.

George at Asda has new George clothing, bags, boots and accessories.

Scamp & Dude has new bags, dresses and headbands.

National Trust shop has new jewellery and fashion ranges for Christmas plus summer outdoor gifts plus autumn and winter accessories.

TK Maxx has new mens, womens and kids clothing and back to school ranges for AW23

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

Tu Clothing Curvy Kate From my mother’s garden Fatface Joe Browns Aspiga Cotton Traders River Island Lipsy Teva Daisy Park

Home, garden and food

Dunelm has new back to university student homeware starter packs, autumn Halloween homewares, sewing , Disney, Harry Potter and Winnie the Pooh home and gift, pets, and furniture ranges, and collaborations with Star Wars, the Natural History Museum and Christmas decorations.

Oliver Bonas has new homeware, household gifts and accessories as well as furniture for the bedroom and the lounge and decorations for the tree.Cuckooland has outdoor pizza ovens and an innovative 2-person roof-mounted tent.

Hobbycraft has made and DIY Christmas decorations.

TK Maxx has new Christmas gift and AW23 home ranges.

B&M has new ranges for the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom plus autumn, Halloween and Christmas decorations and homeware.

Biscuiteers Baking has a Natural History museum collaboration, and new goodies for Christmas from gifts to edible decorations.

Homesense has new AW23 homeware for the bedroom, lounge, kitchen and bathroom and Halloween decorations as well as gifting ranges.

Cartwright & Butler has new Christmas hamper ranges.

Hotel Chocolat has new summer gifting chocolate collections including vegan collections and liqueurs.

Cambridge Imprint  has new envelope and paper ranges.

Cult Furniture has new Urban Loft home ranges and dining and office chairs, cushions, and new furniture and lamps.

Next has new homeware and Christmas gifts and decorations and new Natural Rustic furniture ranges plus new bedding and homeware ranges and Halloween homeware.

Cutter & Squidge has Christmas hamper and Christmas food ranges.

Dobbies Garden Centres has new Christmas wreaths, and Christmas gifts and decorations, plus house plant and outdoor living collections.

Primark Home has click and collect exclusives, new AW23 home ranges for kids and adults bedrooms, as well as the kitchen and dining room.

The Range has new Halloween decorations and gift collections.

Very has Christmas decorations.

National Trust shop has new Christmas gifts, decorations and cards plus National Trust Vango camping ranges and things for the garden and home.

Matalan has new decorations for Christmas as well as accessories for the lounge and dining room.

George Home has new things for the home for the lounge, bedroom, bathroom and kitchen.

See additional new home images from the last weeks from

Marks & Spencer Sofology Wilko Tweedmill Ivyline Imp & Maker Furniture Village  Daisy Park Designers Guild

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 Halloween – 84

Days until Singles Day – 95

Days until Black Friday – 108

Days until Christmas Day – 139

Days until Valentine’s Day - 190

How to make your products attractive to the media in August    

Summer is in full-swing and hopefully the weather will improve – ie stop raining in the north and stop being so damn hot in the south. So, there are just a few weeks left to boost your summer-related images before the AW23 images fully kick in.

Plus tag anything relevant with summer/high-summer, and push anything to do with the outside; garden furniture, anything for a garden party, or a picnic or barbecue. Plus, don’t forget to add all of the other spellings BBQ, Bar-B-Que etc and other related keywords like picnics, garden party, garden parties etc and if you have them then firepits and chimineas for the colder UK evenings would be good.

It's also a good time to start uploading your AW23 images. So jumpers, scarves, coats, boots along with raincoats, hoodies, and cardigans will all start to be searched for by the media.

It's also not too early to be thinking about back-to-school items - Scottish schools start again end of August – and university students will be getting ready to sort out their wardrobes and rooms so add fresher(s) and university as keywords to anything relevant.

It’s also still time to add Halloween ideas and Christmas gifts if you have them. 

August Diary - Weeks/Months

Music festivals are still on, so add any festival wear and camping-related things you have and keyword them with festival, particularly in the weeks running up to the August bank holiday weekend with Reading/Leeds festivals 25-27^th August. 

The 24^th marks 3 months until the Black Friday/Cyber Monday (24-27^th Nov) weekend so start preparing for those sales now.

Weeks to celebrate this month include; World Breastfeeding week (1-7^th August) the Edinburgh Festival (5-28^th August)

August - Days

8^th – International Cat Day

9^th – Book Lovers Day

10^th - National Shapewear Day

11^th – National Bakewell Tart Day

12^th – International Youth Day

12^th – National Vinyl Records Day

13^th – International Lefthanders Day

13^th – National Prosecco Day

15^th – VJ (Victory over Japan) Day

16^th – National Rum Day

17^th – UK Cupcake Day

18^th – National Grooming Day

20^th – World Honey Bee Day

21^st – World Senior Citizens Day

23^rd - International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition 

24^th – 3 Months until Black Friday

24^th – National Burger Day

25^th – National Second-hand Wardrobe Day

25^th – Christmas in August (4 months until Christmas Day)

26-28^th – Notting Hill Carnival

26^th - Women's Equality Day

28^th – August Bank Holiday

28^th – National Red Wine Day

30^th - Raksha Bandhan

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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