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PRShots Roundup brings you the latest retail news from Wickes, Shoe Zone, Mint Velvet, Moss, JoJo Maman Bébé, Pandora, Boots and Dunelm. Plus, how John Lewis’s MD plans to revive its fashion sales, how Crocs became the right fit for China’s Gen Z and more.
THE LATEST RETAIL INDUSTRY NEWS
Dunelm posts strong sales growth
Dunelm Group Q1 results to 27 Sept show total sales rose 6.2% year-on-year to £428m, driven by higher volumes and an increase in average item values.
Wickes reports strong Q3 growth as retail sales rise
Wickes Group Q3 to 27 Sept shows group revenues up 6.9% year-on-year, with sales for the year to date, up 6% at £1.27bn.
Shoe Zone's full-year update shows times continue to be tough
Shoe Zone’s full-year update to end of Sept shows revenue fell by 7.6% to £149.1m – store numbers reduced to 269 from 297 – with adjusted profit before tax expected to be down at £2.4m.
Mint Velvet owner Sabre Retail Fashion has reported a 40% drop in pre-tax profit to £14.2m for the year to 28 Dec 2024, as softer demand and wider retail pressures weighed on performance.
Tax-free luxury sales rise by 7% in Europe
The European luxury Tax Free Shopping market grew by 7%, driven by a rise in shopper numbers (+5% nearly 3m additional consumers) and a rise in average spend (+2% to €3,900).
Christmas spending expectations ‘rise sharply’
The latest British Retail Consortium (BRC) Consumer Sentiment Monitor shows expectations of spending for Christmas are up while confidence in consumers' personal savings fell during October.
Moss sales rise as rebrand drives growth
Moss has reported a 6.1% rise in sales to £145.9m for the year ended 25 Jan 2025 amid its ongoing rebrand.
Christmas sales to go up this year
Shopify’s Holiday Retail Report shows 80% of UK businesses are expecting higher sales than last year (higher than the global average of 72%), with seasonal spend up 13.8% from last year.
Temu agrees to remove rip-off greeting cards from its site more quickly
Online shopping giant Temu has agreed to work with the greeting card industry to remove copied designs from its site more quickly.
TRENDS, SUSTAINABILITY, STRATEGY AND TECHNOLOGY
How John Lewis’s MD plans to revive its fashion sales
John Lewis Managing Director Peter Ruis reveals the retailer’s ambitious growth strategy - particularly within fashion - and its bold moves to reposition the store for the next era of retail.
How Crocs became the right fit for China’s Gen Z
Crocs have become the surprising shoe of choice for Chinese hipsters. Its comeback can provide valuable insights for Western firms struggling to connect with young consumers in a $7tn market.
Amazon unveils smart glasses for delivery drivers as part of AI push
Amazon announced two new devices at its “Delivering the Future” logistics event, new smart AI glasses for delivery drivers and a new robot arm that can speed up item picking in the warehouse.
Three in four UK retailers now charge for returns as costs spiral
New data from ZigZag reveals that 76% of the UK’s top 100 retailers now charge for returns as businesses grapple with rising logistics costs and returns abuse.
How to make AI work in retailing
AI only delivers real value when it’s embedded into the core of retail operations, with clear objectives and a structured approach.
How to make employee advocacy work for your business
As audiences’ trust in brands declines, employee advocacy is more important than ever. Hootsuite helps you learn how to scale a program that actually works.
How to turn internal docs into content that converts
Unlock the insights hidden in sales decks, onboarding guides and support docs to create content that earns buyers’ attention and drives results.
PEOPLE, MOVERS AND SHAKERS
JoJo Maman Bébé names former Kidly exec as buying and design director
Mother-and-baby retailer JoJo Maman Bébé has appointed former Kidly executive Hélène Challot as buying and design director, effective from 3 Nov.
BRAND NEWS
Pandora’s launches new “More than a gift” campaign
Pandora’s latest festive “More than a gift” campaign features an advert directed by visionary filmmaker Roman Coppola.
Pottery Barn opens pop-up shop in UK
Williams-Sonoma-owned home and furniture brand Pottery Barn has opened a pop-up in London for the first time.
JD to open upsized new store at Lakeside this weekend
The new JD super-resized 32,000 sq ft superstore opening this weekend at Lakeside Shopping Centre is billed as “like Essex has never seen before”.
Boots unveils new fragrance-only concept store
Boots is opening its new fragrance-only concept store today (23rd Oct) from where it will offer over 400 luxury and niche scents, with 20 new brands added to its range.
AND FINALLY
Stylist and fashion editor Melanie Ward dies
Stylist and fashion editor Melanie Ward has died following a battle with cancer. Ward championed the grunge movement and is credited with helping to start Kate Moss’s career and was a muse to Helmut Lang.
PRSHOTS TOP 10 SEARCHES
What were our users searching for on PRShots Week ending Oct 17th 2025?
1/ Christmas
2/ AW25
3/ Boots
4/ Coat
5/ Halloween
6/ Heels
7/ Bag
8/ Earrings
9/ Jacket
10/ Dress
PRSHOTS DIARY
PRShots Retail Calendar Alerts
Days until Halloween – 8
Days until Black Friday - 36
Days until Christmas Day – 63
Days until Valentine’s Day - 114
How to make your products attractive to the media in October
Our October 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.
We’re into autumn, and the nights are starting to draw in, and the heating is probably on. The media are looking for images that reflect the changes, so anything that looks cosy and warm is suitable; roaring fires, big jumpers, coats, hats, knitwear, scarves, and wellies in a leaf-strewn outdoors – all the clichés – are what the media are looking for.
If you can do some night shots with sparklers, then you’re also ticking the boxes for Bonfire Night next month. We also have Halloween at the end of the month, so if you can get a pumpkin in your images, then you’re hitting two birds with one stone.
You should be adding Christmas images, and for those magazines with very long lead times, then start to look for the images of people working off the Christmas excesses for the January issues.
Don’t forget to add keywords like Gifts, Christmas, Xmas, Autumn, Winter, Halloween, Fireworks night and Bonfire night, as they will be looked for from now. Also, PRShots has a worldwide audience, so add those American holiday versions e.g. The Holidays, Fall, Pumpkin Day, Thanksgiving, etc and words like hygge that are starting to enter the language and are associated with the autumn.
Media will also be searching for party outfits for Halloween, Guy Fawkes, and the office party season - which will soon be with us some businesses have their Christmas parties in November.
The media are also starting to look for and create Christmas gift guides, so try and be creative, do ones for every eventuality e.g. gifts guides for him/her/mum/dad/kids/teenagers/pets etc also gifts under £150/100/£50 and guides for secret Santa’s gifts under £20.
Please put prices on everything!!! Otherwise, you stand no chance of getting into any of the features that include “Presents under £50”, “Party dresses for £150”, 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.
October Diary - Weeks/Months
October is also known as ‘Stoptober’, which started as a campaign around giving up cigarettes, but is now joined by MacMillans Go Sober for October, so if you have anything non-alcoholic, then get it on PRShots and make sure you add Stoptober and non-alcoholic as keywords.
It’s also Black History Month, Wool Month, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Menopause Month, Vegetarian Awareness Month, Apple Month, Cookie Month, Spinach Lovers' Month, Pork Month, and National Pasta, Chilli, and Pizza Month.
Fashion and Beauty Weeks and events include – National Wedding Show London (18th -19th), British Beauty Week (20th-26th), Gran Canaria Swim Week (22nd- 25th), The Baby Show (24th-26th), National Wedding Show Manchester (25th -26th).
National Baking Week (14th-20th)
October - Days
25th – World Pasta Day
25th – 2 months until Christmas Day
26th – National Pumpkin Day
26th – Clocks go back tonight
27th – National American Beer Day
27th – Global Champagne Day
28th – National Chocolate Day (US)
29th – National Cat Day (US)
31st – Halloween
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 ON PRSHOTS
Rhoen is the brainchild of designer Rebecca Rhoades. The Rhoen collection features ready-to-wear, bridal, party, signature and casual ranges of luxury womenswear, featuring big bright prints and colours in mini, midi and maxi lengths.
BRANDS WITH NEW IMAGES
Clothing, beauty and accessories
Monsoon has new going out bags, shoes and jewellery, a new collaboration with Sarah Corbett-Winder, AW25 clothing, jewellery and accessories, including bags, shoes, boots, scarves and jewellery.
Primark has new Christmas pyjamas and jumper ranges and lingerie, a Satin and Lace range, plus boots, shoes, bags and jackets for the winter and for the party season, men’s autumn layering, Thermalite and Heat IQ range plus adult and kids Edit range.
Roman Originals has new AW25 Dusk, Curve and Petite ranges for parties and going out, including coats, jackets, dresses and trousers.
Regatta has an Orla Kiely collaboration, plus new kids, women's and menswear for winter walks and hikes, including coats, jackets, fleeces and waterproofs, plus boots, scarves and hats.
Matalan has a new Winter Smart Edit, Christmas pyjamas and jumper ranges, a collaboration with Little Mistress Vicky Pattison, Grinch & Cindy themed clothing ranges for the family, new AW25 men and women’s wear, and Halloween kids costumes.
New Look has Christmas jumpers and winter clothing, plus new going out outfits for October and autumn drops of AW25 range,s including clothes, bags, shoes, boots and accessories.
Very has a new denim range, a new Michelle Keegan collaboration, new Elegant Opulence, Future Heirlooms and West Country Craft drops for its new Very Collection range of women’s clothing which includes the labels V by Very and Everyday, new Halloween outfits, including Addams Family ranges.
Peacocks has it’s Christmas ranges modelled by Louise Redknapp and Danni Dyer, new kidswear, more Danni Dyer AW collections and a new Micheal Owen range of menswear.
Online Home Shop has new cosy outfits for Halloween.
Lola Starr has a new Earth Collection range of athleisure/active wear crafted from recycled fabrics.
Oliver Bonas has new Autumn women’s accessories and jewellery, new womenswear including coats, jumpers, cardigans, trousers and shoes.
FatFace has a new Winter Collection of womenswear with this seasons’ must-have Faux Fur and including dresses, trousers, jackets, coats, bags, boots, shoes and hats.
Barbour has new collaborations with Arket, Paul Smith, Farm Rio and a collaboration with Kaptain Sunshine collaboration of outdoor wear, new Heritage ranges, clothing ranges plus new outfits and footwear for the festival season.
F&F has new a new Abby Clancy collaboration, new Kids and womenswear Christmas clothing ranges, and new autumn womenswear ranges.
River Island has a new collaboration with Nephthys, has new Heritage, Nostalgia and Studio womenswear ranges, a new collaboration with Olivia Attwood, new Suede season handbags, plus new ranges of clothing, shoes, bags, and accessories.
TK Maxx has new fashion accessory ranges including scarves, bags and jewellery.
Cotton Traders has new Will Mellow and Alex Jones collaboration lines, plus winter clothing ranges including coats, cardigans, trousers and Christmas jumpers.
M&S has new Christmas clothing collections and Collection and Autograph clothing, accessories and jewellery, plus ballet shoe ranges, and new kids ranges of clothes and shoes.
Joe Browns has new Christmas party and cosy evenings in outfits for men and women, Christmas jumpers and gifts for him and her, and Christmas bags, clothes, slippers, boots, shoes, jewellery and accessories.
See additional new clothing and accessories images from
Accessorize Bonmarché Sims Wear George at Asda The Orchard Deichmann Inspecs John Lewis Threadbare Fable England
Home, garden and food
Dobbies Garden Centres has Christmas gifts from the Gruffalo collection, Lemax and Disney-themed Christmas decorations, Halloween decorations, autumn houseplants.
Ivyline has Spring Summer 2026 planters, pots, watering cans and misters for indoors, plus chimeneas and pots for outdoors.
Cambridge Imprint has Christmas Crackers, new occasion cards, place cards, notebooks, patterned papers, new notecards and envelopes, Christmas cards, garlands, paper chains, coronets, and banners.
Very has new Western, Folk Cottage and Playful furniture and soft furnishing ranges, plus homeware for the kitchen and lounge, new Halloween and Christmas decorations for the home, plus Christmas toys and homeware.
Online Home Shop has new Halloween and autumn-themed mats, cushions and homeware.
Quorn Stone has new natural stone range, marble and decorative effect tiles, Parisian Manoir, Lullington, Chalfont and Orotelli decorative tiles, plus new natural stone and Canyon Terrazzo effect porcelain tiles.
Homesense has new Christmas homeware and gifts, plus Halloween and Christmas decorations, new furniture and accessory ranges for the kitchen and living room, including soft furnishings, dishes and glassware.
Primark has new Christmas homeware for the bedroom, table and the lounge, new Christmas and Wicked/Stitch/ themed gifting ranges for kids, a new low-key luxury ranges, a new Viral Product range, Halloween decorations and gifts, back-to-college ranges, harvest festival ranges of decorations.
The Gluttonous Gardener has gifts for the horticulturist in your life including their Growbar flower seed kits.
Treats by Mars has new Galaxy Caramel and vegan Galaxy dairy-free biscuits and selection boxes, Malteser gingerbread cake bars, Mars and Snickers flavour milk drinks, M&M festive and Halloween hot chocolate kits and Galaxy hot chocolate ranges.
Oliver Bonas has new homeware and Christmas gifting, a new Shrimps collaboration of homeware, new furniture, Christmas decorations, gifts and things for the home, plus new November/October drops of homeware ranges for the lounge, bedroom, kitchen, dining room.
Regatta has an Orla Kiely collaboration of thermos mugs, cool bags, picnic rugs and totes.
Habitat has new Christmas decorations for the home and the tree.
TK Maxx has new things for the home.
Hobbycraft has new Halloween and autumnal projects.
M&S has a new Kelly Hoppen collaboration, new Christmas homeware for the kitchen, bedroom and lounge plus decorations for the tree and the home.
The Orchard has new home interiors, Christmas furnishings, tabletop fire pits and mini pizza ovens, artificial Christmas tree ranges, new Miami Corner Group sofa, new autumn and Halloween decorations.
Arran Sense of Scotland has new festive collections, Island Dusk range, 2025 Christmas gift packs and an advent calendar, new refill packages, home fragrances, scented candles, plus a new mum and bride scent range.
Joe Browns has new Christmas gifts, plus homeware including lights, faux plants, signs, lamp shades, dining and drink ware, trays, coasters, stools, side tables soft furnishings, prints and throws.
B&M has its Christmas Gift Guide for her, Frosted Night, Nordic Glow, Peaceful Wishes, Snow Much Fun and Festive Folklore Christmas decorations, homeware for back to college, university Halloween decorations and accessories.
Designers Guild has new AW25 accessory ranges, and new Trevenna AW25 ranges of big-patterned print material for curtains and soft furnishings.
Matalan has Christmas decorations and gifts, AW25 homeware for the autumn including Halloween and Harvest Festival themed soft furnishings.
Ruggable has a range of Christmas themed rugs and carpets, plus Halloween and Autumn-themed doormats as well as rugs in autumn colours.
See additional new home images from
Accessorize George Home Jellycat John Lewis Oriana B Home Bargains Dunelm
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.
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THE LATEST RETAIL INDUSTRY NEWS
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NEW IMAGERY ON PRSHOTS IN FASHION/BEAUTY/HOME
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