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PRShots Roundup brings you the latest retail news from Poundland, SportsShoes, Waterstones, FatFace, Gildan, Claire’s, Lucy & Yak, John Lewis, Pop Mart and M&S. Plus, why negative reviews are important, 5 practical strategies for better collaboration between marketing and IT and more.
THE LATEST RETAIL INDUSTRY NEWS
Poundland confirmed number of store closures exceeds 50
Poundland has confirmed the location of a further 12 stores set to close in the coming weeks, bringing the total of guaranteed store closures to 52.
SportsShoes.com announces record £93.3 m revenues
Bradford-based SportsShoes.com sales were up 4% to a record £93.3m in FY to 28 Feb with EBITDA up 13.3% year-on-year to £6m.
Waterstones secures £125m in new funding to support growth plans
Waterstones has secured £125m in new funding facilities, which it said is designed to support the company’s ongoing financing needs and future growth.
FatFace closes US stores as full-year sales and profits dip
FatFace is shutting the doors of its 23-strong store estate in the US, as it reports a dip in full-year sales and profits amid its migration onto Next's Total Platform.
Gildan close to buying Hanesbrands
Canada’s Gildan Activewear is in advanced talks to buy US underwear maker Hanesbrands with the deal possibly agreed by the end of the week.
Retail sales increase as warm weather and higher prices provide boost
UK retail sales in July increased year on year, as warm weather and higher prices across food provided a sales boost, according to the BRC-KPMG Sales Monitor.
Barclays card spending grew by 1.4% in July
Barclaycard consumer card spending grew 1.4% year-on-year in July, up from -0.1% in June. With overall retail spending up 1.9%, and clothing up by 4.2%, the largest increase since September 2024.
UK economy expected to rebound
A Bloomberg poll of UK economists believes the economy was expected to have returned to growth in June after two consecutive months of declines.
Claire’s warns store managers to expect bailiffs as US bankruptcy impacts UK trading
High-street retailer Claire’s has warned managers of its UK stores to expect bailiffs turning up to recover unpaid debts.
115m parcels processed through UK lockers as out-of-home delivery gains ground
Two in five UK adults (around 21m) used a parcel locker in the past year, whether to collect, return or send a parcel. A further 20% say they haven’t yet used lockers but would be open to doing so.
Lucy & Yak transitions to employee ownership
Fashion and lifestyle brand Lucy & Yak has announced its transition to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT).
TRENDS, SUSTAINABILITY, STRATEGY AND TECHNOLOGY
Why negative reviews are important
AO has made a high trust score and strong customer feedback central to its business. Econsultancy discovers AO’s approach to reviews and how negative feedback can be beneficial.
5 practical strategies for better collaboration between marketing and IT
How to build a male influencer brand
A new cohort of US fashion startups helmed by male creators is building labels with influence beyond their founders’ niche audiences by opening retail stores and forging collaborations.
How to turn marketing attribution from a black box into a growth engine
Out-of-the-box attribution models miss critical customer journey data. Here's how a full-cycle tracking approach reveals true marketing influence.
Can India become the World’s fashion factory?
As US President Donald Trump’s punishing new tariffs come into force, India is working towards becoming a clothes manufacturing powerhouse despite long-standing obstacles.
BRAND NEWS
Waterstones to open two new bookshops within John Lewis stores
Waterstones is set to open two new bookshops inside John Lewis stores following the success of the first in-store Waterstones at its Oxford Street flagship.
Marks & Spencer baby club membership beats expectations
Marks & Spencer’s baby club for members of its Sparks loyalty scheme has exceeded expectations.
Pop Mart to open largest UK store to date at Liverpool ONE
Toy retailer Pop Mart is to open its biggest UK store to date at Liverpool ONE and has plans to open more stores around the UK in “leading locations”.
Zendaya unveils first co-created footwear with On
Actress Zendaya has debuted her first-ever co-designed shoe with Swiss premium sportswear brand On, with which she has been a brand partner since June 2024.
AND FINALLY x2
Adidas apologises for sandal appropriating Indigenous Mexican design
Adidas has formally apologised after Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum criticised the sportswear brand over a shoe that replicated traditional Indigenous huarache sandals.
Must Have Ideas launches AI-powered shopping channel on Freeview
British home solutions brand Must Have Ideas has launched a Freeview shopping channel it describes as the “world’s first AI-powered shopping channel”.
PRSHOTS TOP 10 SEARCHES
What were our users searching for on PRShots Week ending Aug 8th 2025?
1/ AW25
2/ Christmas
3/ Halloween
4/ Candle
5/ Autumn
6/ Back-to-school
7/ Coat
8/ Dress
9/ Wreath
10/ Cushion
PRSHOTS DIARY
PRShots Retail Calendar Alerts
Days until School holidays are over (3rd Sept) – 22
Days until Halloween – 80
Days until Black Friday - 108
Days until Christmas Day – 135
How to make your products attractive to the media in August
Our August PR toolkit and content calculator is here to help PRs and marketers forward-plan campaigns and pitches armed with some timely and topical angles, plus it’s a checklist for potential campaign hooks.
Summer is in full swing, and hopefully the weather has improved – i.e. stopped raining in the north and stopped being so damn hot in the south. So, there are just a few weeks left to boost your summer-related images before the AW25 images fully kick in.
There’s still time to tag anything relevant to summer/high summer and push anything related to the outside: garden furniture, anything for a garden party, or picnic or barbecue. Plus, don’t forget to add all of the other spellings, BBQ, Bar-B-Que, etc., and add any other related keywords like picnics, garden parties, etc. 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 AW25 images. So jumpers, scarves, coats, boots, raincoats, hoodies, and cardigans will all start to be searched for by the media.
It's also not too early to start thinking about back-to-school items - Scottish schools start again in mid-August - and university students will be getting ready to sort out their wardrobes and rooms in September, so add fresher(s) and university as keywords to anything relevant.
There’s also still time to add Halloween ideas and Christmas gifts if you have them.
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.
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 21st-24th August.
The 28th marks 3 months until the Black Friday/Cyber Monday (28th Nov – 1st Dec) weekend so start preparing for those sales now.
Weeks to celebrate this month include;
Edinburgh Festival (1st - 24th)
National Horse Race Week (23rd-31st)
August - Days
12th – International Youth Day
12th – National Vinyl Records Day
12th - 13th - Tisha B'Av (Jewish Holiday)
13th – International left-handers Day
13th – National Prosecco Day
15th – VJ (Victory over Japan) Day
16th – National Rum Day
16th – Krishna Janmashtami – (Hindu Holiday)
16th – World Honey Bee Day
17th – UK Cupcake Day
18th – National Grooming Day
21st – World Senior Citizens Day
23rd - International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition
23rd-25th – Notting Hill Carnival
25th – National Secondhand Wardrobe Day
25th – Christmas in August (4 months until Christmas Day)
25th – August Bank Holiday
26th - Women's Equality Day
26th – Ganesh Chaturthi - Hindu holiday
28th – National Burger Day
28th – National Red Wine Day
28th – 3 Months until Black Friday
29th – Blackpool Illuminations start
For more diary dates for this year see the Marketing Retail Diary
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).
WANT TO GET YOUR IMAGERY IN FRONT OF OVER 20,000 MEDIA?
If you’re a brand looking to get your imagery on PRShots then get in touch with our sales team at sales@prshots.com We have solutions and pricing for all sizes and types of business from small startups to large multi-nationals.
NEW BRANDS TO PRSHOTS
Villeroy & Boch manufactures everything from crockery for the table to bathroom fittings including vanity units, bathrooms and taps and they’ve been around since 1748, and are available in 140 countries.
Quay is a sunglasses company that was born out of the US festival scene and as you would expect from an alternative birth it does things differently.
Salts Cashmere is launching 1st September with a unisex range of cashmere jumpers and tops that are made in Yorkshire.
BRANDS WITH NEW IMAGES
Clothing, beauty and accessories
River Island has new Summer Darks ranges, back-to-school ranges, summer denim ranges, Rococo Revival and Perfect Prints range of summer clothing, RI Studio range and Mykonos Night range of womenswear.
Monsoon has new AW25 clothing and accessories, including bags, sunglasses, shoes, boots, scarves and jewellery, new wedding and bridal ranges, new SS25 ranges for the beach and holidays, plus women’s and kids clothing for the summer.
Roman Originals has new AW25 Dusk, Curve and Petite ranges, plus outfits with this year’s must-haves, crochet and embroidery/broderie anglaise, big-pattern midi-length dresses and Bardot tops.
Accessorize has new AW25 womenswear, new jewellery, charms, socks, hats, scarves and wraps for Christmas, a new Palma range of womenswear shoes and accessories, a new SS25 beachwear, bags, and scarves.
Barbour has new Heritage ranges, September clothing ranges plus new outfits and footwear for the festival season.
Bonmarché has new Dash and Autonomy ranges of AW25 clothing, new Lisa Snowdon and Lorraine Kelly collaborations for AW25, plus new women's wear ranges including coats, blouses, jackets and jumpers.
John Lewis has new AW25 kidswear and womenswear lookbook images, plus bags, shoes, boots and accessories, a John Lewis x Rejina Pyo new collection and a new back-to-school kids range of uniforms.
Inspecs has new sunglasses campaign imagery of sunglasses for men and women from Radley, Superdry and Botaniq.
M&S has new ballet shoe ranges, new back-to-school ranges including clothes and shoes, summer menswear and womenswear campaign imagery, plus new t-shirts, sandals, shoes, sunglasses, swimsuits and bikini ranges.
Matalan has new women’s autumn winter ranges including denim ranges, AW25 menswear including casual and formal evening wear, Disney Villains family outfits including Halloween ranges and back-to-school ranges.
Fable England has a new Agnes jewellery, nightwear, scarf and bag range for the autumn.
F&F has new autumn womenswear ranges, a new Kate Ferdinand active wear collaboration and Abbey Clancy festival imagery, new summer band t-shirts and beachwear, new F&F Active sportswear.
Oliver Bonas has new jewellery and clothing for September, plus new accessory drops including bags, hats, shoes, sandals, scarves and sunglasses.
Iolla has new Healy, Aitkin ranges of glasses in all shades and colours.
Very has new V by Very August drops of womenswear for high-summer from suedette dresses, lace, crochet and Bardot tops to midi skirt dresses, jeans and ra-ra skirts.
Peacocks has new AW25 ranges, a new Louise Redknapp Edit of summer womenswear, plus her Linen Edit for summer, a new SS25 Edit range, and a new menswear range.
Scamp & Dude has new leopard print and stripey clothes and accessories, new SS25 athleisure wear, dresses, shorts, jackets, hoodies, coats, bags and scarves.
Tu Clothing has new AW25 clothing ranges.
Primark has new Conscious Clothing ranges, Wednesday Core themed clothing and accessory ranges, new back-to-school ranges of clothes, backpacks and shoes, a new Edit range of womenswear, new denim, youth and newborn – including Bambi - ranges.
New Look has back-to-school ranges, new womenswear outfits and cowboy core womenswear drops.
TK Maxx has new Christmas outfits, bags and accessories, plus summer clothing, shoes, boots, jewellery and accessories, including bags, hats and sunglasses for both men and women.
National Trust has new AW25 clothing, including beanie hats, scarves and gloves.
George at Asda has a George X Gym Locker collaboration of athleisure wear.
Dune London has new women's accessories, including Deliberate, Define, Dedicated and Dinidearest ranges of handbags, clutches and purses.
See additional new clothing and accessories images from
Busby & Fox Cotton Traders Fatface
Home, garden and food
Dunelm has a new homeware for the autumn, plus festive Kitschmas collaboration with designer Sophie Robinson, a new AW25 Modern Nostalgia, Into the Wild, Harvest Hues and Quite Luxury collections of homeware including furniture, bedding, curtains, soft furnishings.
Home Bargains has new autumn and Halloween things for the home as well as Christmas decorations and homeware.
B&M has Halloween decorations and accessories, Christmas Frosted Night, Nordic Glow, Peaceful Wishes, Snow Much Fun and Festive Folklore decorations, plus AW25 Warm Earth, Natural Calm, Quiet Luxury and Christmas accessories for the home, from bedding to hosting to laundry.
The Orchard has new autumn and Halloween decorations, new furniture ranges for indoors and outdoors from garden tables and chairs to sofas and chairs for the lounge.
Designers Guild has new Trevenna, AW25 ranges of big patterned print material for curtains and soft furnishings.
M&S has new Christmas decorations for the tree and the home.
John Lewis has a new collaboration with John Cooper and AW25 lookbook images from its Heritage, Modern Luxe and Timeless range of homeware collections.
Oliver Bonas has Christmas decorations, gifts and things for the home, plus new August/September/October drops of homeware ranges for the lounge, bedroom, kitchen, dining room and lounge for AW25.
Quorn Stone has new marble and decorative effect tiles, Parisian Manoir, Lullington, Chalfont and Orotelli decorative tiles, plus new natural stone and Canyon Terrazzo effect porcelain tiles and chequered decorative tiles for the bathroom.
Matalan has Christmas decorations and gifts, AW25 homeware for the autumn including Halloween and Harvest Festival themed soft furnishings.
Cambridge Imprint has new clipboards, tissue boxes, postcard boxes, pencil pots, letter trays, portfolios and magazine files, plus Christmas paperchains, coronets, and banners, plus mug ranges, sketching pencils, patterned wrapping paper.
Arran Sense of Scotland has 2025 Christmas gift packs and an advent calendar, new refill packages, home fragrances, scented candles, After the Rain summer fragrance and a new mum and bride scent range.
Habitat has new AW25 Festive Fairground, Alpine Retreat, Jazz Bar and Moorlands ranges of home furniture, lighting and accessories for the lounge, dining room and bedroom, plus dinner sets and glassware.
Homesense has new home furniture and accessory ranges for the kitchen and living room, including soft furnishings, dishes and glassware. Plus Halloween and Christmas decorations for the home.
Nest has new Knoll Studio dining tables and chairs, new Tradition Icons furniture, new HKLiving furniture and rugs, Audo Copenhagen and Norwegian designer furniture for the home plus Hay Traverse and Pallisade garden furniture.
Sofology has a new Modern Classic Christmas range of sofas and chairs and a new Texturalism and Materiality, Rural Refined and Get Yer Freak On range of chairs and settees.
Dobbies Garden Centres has a new RHS collaboration range of gifts, plus Christmas decorations, gifts and food, Halloween decorations, new summer pots, pet toys and accessories for the garden.
TK Maxx has new Christmas and Halloween decorations and homeware, back-to-school ranges with lunch bags and stationery and pens, homeware ranges for the kitchen, dining room and lounge from cups and vases to cushions and lamps.
Primark has new back-to-college ranges, harvest festival ranges of decorations, an Edit homewares range, new travel gadgets, new summer-themed homeware including kitchenware, candles and soft furnishings.
National Trust has winter homeware, gifts and books, Christmas decorations, plus a collaboration with Jellycat and a collaboration with Sitting Spiritually on a selection of outdoor swings from two-seater to four-seaters as well as pots for the garden, water bottles and autumn decorations.
See additional new home images from
WANT TO GET YOUR IMAGERY IN FRONT OF OVER 20,000 MEDIA?
If you’re a brand looking to get your imagery on PRShots then get in touch with our sales team at sales@prshots.com We have solutions and pricing for all sizes and types of business from small startups to large multi-nationals.
NEWSLETTER SECTIONS
THE LATEST RETAIL INDUSTRY NEWS
HOW TO GET YOUR BRAND NOTICED BY THE MEDIA IN AUGUST
NEW IMAGERY ON PRSHOTS IN FASHION/BEAUTY/HOME
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