Main Image: M&S

PRShots Roundup brings you the latest retail news from Waitrose, MyTheresa, Starbucks, Marks Electrical, Birkenstock, Vinted, French Connection, Banana Republic, Topman, Primark, Hackett London, Arket, Paul Smith and M&S. Plus, how to start with GEO, how to control brand consistency in the age of AI and more. 

THE LATEST RETAIL INDUSTRY NEWS

Little Waitrose store opens in Bristol as part of £1bn investment plan

Waitrose has opened a new Little Waitrose compact format 3,000 sq ft store in Bristol, marking the latest milestone in its multi-year, £1 billion investment programme across its UK store estate.

Government unveils £5bn high streets investment boost

The government has unveiled plans to invest up to £5bn for over 300 high streets across the UK, as part of its new ‘Pride in Place’ programme.

Mytheresa sales climb amid YNAP turnaround

Mytheresa parent LuxExperience has reported an 8.9% rise in sales to €916.1m (£801m) for the luxury brand in the year to 30 Jun, amid the group's integration of Yoox Net-a-Porter (YNAP).

UK retail sales fall for 12th month in a row

CBI figures show retailers reported a 12th straight month of falling sales in September and they expect another decline in October.

Retail sector facing potential £7.8bn cost from unhappy workers quitting

The Retail Trust is offering shop workers and delivery drivers free training, after new research showed the industry faces a £7.8bn bill to replace workers quitting their jobs.

Starbucks to close some US and UK stores

Starbucks has said it will shut some UK stores as part of a cost-saving move and cut about 900 US jobs and close its worst-performing stores there.

DFS CEO Tim Stacey warns on tax burdens holding back investment

DFS chief executive Tim Stacey has warned that the current government’s macro policy environment was constraining investment and growth potential.

Amazon agrees $2.5bn settlement over claims it tricked Prime users

Amazon has reached a $2.5bn (£1.9bn) settlement with a US regulator following claims around customers signing up to its Prime membership.

Marks Electrical warns on profits following weak trading

Marks Electrical has issued a profit warning after weak first-half trading and rising costs weighed on its margins.

Birkenstock lifts sales outlook

Birkenstock has raised its sales forecast and announced plans for a new factory near Dresden to increase production, as it continues to see strong demand for its footwear.

Vinted users furious over InPost UK parcel delays

Users of the second-hand shopping app Vinted have taken to social media in outrage over severe delays in receiving their orders via one of the firm's partner couriers.

TRENDS, SUSTAINABILITY, STRATEGY AND TECHNOLOGY

How to Start with GEO?

There's no universal guide for product integration on genAI platforms, but merchants can take proactive steps to prepare.

How to create an Influencer media kit

A strong influencer media kit will help you highlight your strengths and land more brand deals. Hootsuite teaches you how to make one in just 9 steps.

How to control brand consistency in the age of AI

Not long ago, brand management felt manageable. You had your guidelines, tone of voice, logos, and a process for checking that everything lined up. That world has gone.

How AI decisioning can help your marketing process

AI decisioning enables real-time, hyper-personalised marketing. With clean data and smart pilots, marketers can lead the next shift.

Men driving growth in the luxury secondhand market

A report published by the second-hand platform Vestiaire Collective finds 70% of men now state they buy their clothes with resale in mind.

Pangaia, Sparxell and MTC claim "breakthrough" in world-first bio colour innovation

A trio of UK-based businesses have come up with what they say is the world’s first plastic-free, toxin-free and fully biodegradable reflective fabric dye.

PEOPLE, MOVERS AND SHAKERS

M&S director of third-party brands exits

Marks & Spencer director of third-party brands Nishi Mahajan has exited the business after two-and-a-half years in the role.

French Connection names new ecommerce head

LK Bennett head of digital Amy Booth has joined French Connection as head of ecommerce at the fashion retailer.

BRAND NEWS

Banana Republic launches 'Archive' to celebrate its heritage

Banana Republic has introduced “Banana Republic Archive” a new destination celebrating the brand's most iconic vintage pieces from the '70s, '80s, and ‘90s.

Topman launches artist collab capsule

Trend-focused menswear brand Topman has released a country/cowboy-inspired limited-edition fashion collaboration with contemporary artist Mason Newman.

Primark to launch in-store repair service pilot

Primark has teamed up with repair and tailoring company The Seam to launch its first permanent in-store repair service.

Hackett London renews campaign with Carlos Sainz Sr and Jr

Hackett London has reunited with two leading figures in motorsport — Carlos Sainz Sr and Jr — to unveil its Autumn/Winter 2025 campaign.

Arket to open on London’s King’s Road

H&M Group-owned Arket is set to open a store at 196-222 King's Road in Chelsea, London, on 26 September.

Paul Smith launches loyalty programme as digital business grows

British luxury label Paul Smith has launched a new loyalty programme for its digital business as it continues to experience ongoing growth for the division.

AND FINALLY x2

Natalie Massenet and Erik Torstensson end their explosive legal battle

Natalie Massenet and Erik Torstensson the power couple behind Net a Porter are powering down their messy legal battle that sometimes revealed far too much.

Glow-in-the-dark Halloween wines hit the shelves in October

Wine maker 19 Crimes has partnered with Universal Studios on a range of glow-in-the-dark bottles, featuring three iconic monsters Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein and The Mummy.

PRSHOTS TOP 10 SEARCHES

What were our users searching for on PRShots Week ending Sep 19^th 2025?

1/ Christmas

2/ AW25

3/ Halloween

4/ Dress

5/ Coat

6/ Scarf

7/ Bedroom

8/ Candle

9/ Wreath 

10/ Earrings
 

PRSHOTS DIARY

PRShots Retail Calendar Alerts

Days until Halloween – 35

Days until Black Friday - 63

Days until Christmas Day – 90

Days until Valentine’s Day - 141
 

How to make your products attractive to the media in September    

Our September 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 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 2026 images for those titles with long lead times, as they will be starting to look at their Feb and March 2026 issues so you can help them out with previews of SS26. 

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 then there are titles looking for 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 18^th-22^nd September and will features men and women’s fashion and includes digital and physical events. The schedule will be available here https://londonfashionweek.co.uk/schedule, other fashion weeks  include New York Fashion Week (11^th-16^th), Milan Fashion Week (23^rd-29^th) and Paris Fashion Week (29^th Sept -7^th Oct)

There’s also: the Moda trade show (7^th-10^th Sept), London Textile Fair (2^nd-3^rd Sept), Top Drawer (14^th-16^th Sept) and Sustainable Fashion Week (27^th Sept to 5^th Oct).

Other weeks to celebrate this month include;

Great British Beach Clean Week (19^th-28^th)

Wrap’s National Recycle Week (22^nd-28^th)

Negroni Week (22^nd-28^th)

Fairtrade Fortnight (22^nd –5^th Oct)

British Food Fortnight (26^th Sept – 12^th Oct)

Wool Week (28^th Sept – 4^th Oct)

 September - Days

27^th – World Tourism Day

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). 

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 – Shetland Wool Week (28^th Sep – 4^th Oct),  Paris Fashion Week (29^th Sept - 7^th Oct), Ascot Fashion Weekend (3^rd-5^th), National Wedding Show Birmingham (4^th -5^th), National Wedding Show London (18^th -19^th), British Beauty Week (20^th-26^th), Gran Canaria Swim Week (22^nd- 25^th ), The Baby Show (24^th-26^th), National Wedding Show Manchester (25^th -26^th).

British Food Fortnight (26^th Sep - 12^th Oct)

National Vegetarian Week (1^st – 7^th)

Work Life Week (6^th- 10^th)

National Curry Week (6^th-12^th )

National Chocolate Week (12^th-18^th)

National School Lunch week US (13 ^th-17^th)

National Baking Week (14^th-20^th)

October - Days

1^st-2^nd  – Yom Kippur

1^st – World Vegetarian Day

1^st – International Coffee Day

2^nd - Gandhi Jayanthi – The birthday of Mahatma Gandhi - Holiday India

2^nd – Navaratri Ends 

2^nd – Vijayadashami/Dussehra Hindu festival 

2^nd – National Poetry Day

3^rd – Mean Girl’s Day (apparently, it’s a thing right!!)

4^th – National Vodka Day (US)

4^th – World Animal Day

5^th – Harvest Festival 

5^th – UN World Teachers’ Day

6^th – World Smile Day

6^th – First Day of Sukkot – Jewish Holiday 

6^th - National Plus Size Appreciation Day

7^th – National LED Light Day

10^th – UN World Mental Health Day

10^th – National Cake Decorating Day

11^th – National Coming Out Day (UK/US)

11^th – UN International Day of the Girl

12^th-13^th – Hoshana Rabbah 

13^th – Last Day of Sukkot – Jewish Holiday 

13^th – National Yorkshire Pudding Day (US)

13^th – National No Bra Day

13^th-15^th – Shemini Atzeret 

14^th-15^th - Simchat Torah 

16^th – UN World Food Day

16^th – Department store day

18^th – National Chocolate Cup Cake Day (US)

18^th – World Menopause Day

19^th – International Gin & Tonic Day

20^th – Diwali (check for change)

20^th – National Office Chocolate Day (US)

25^th – World Pasta Day

25^th – 2 months until Christmas Day

26^th – National Pumpkin Day

26^th – Clocks go back tonight 

27^th – National American Beer Day

27^th – Global Champagne Day

28^th – National Chocolate Day (US)

29^th – National Cat Day (US)

31^st – 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 TO PRSHOTS

Gardena has been producing products and solutions for the garden for more than 50 years and operates in more than 100 countries. Products and services include watering, lawn care, tree and shrub care and soil cultivation.

Flymo invented the hover mower more than 50 years ago, and since then Flymo have become the market leaders in the design and innovation of unique gardening products, which makes gardening easier.

Salts Cashmere has launched a unisex range of cashmere jumpers and tops that are made in Yorkshire.

BRANDS WITH NEW IMAGES

Clothing, beauty and accessories

Primark has a new Rita Ora collaboration for AW25, new Stranger Things themed ranges, new denim ranges, Premium Essentials and Kem ranges, Snaffle ranges of accessories including bags, belts, jewellery and shoes.

M&S has new Collection and Autograph clothing, accessories and jewellery, ballet shoe ranges, and new kids ranges of clothes and shoes.

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.

Matalan has new AW25 Women’s wear, a new Alder Hey hospital collaboration, Halloween kids costumes, new baby, toddler and kids wear ranges, Et Vous ranges of women’s shoes and boots, men and women’s autumn winter ranges including Happily Denim After ranges.

Bonmarché has a new Lisa Snowdon and Lorraine Kelly Christmas collections, new Christmas womenswear collections and Dash and Autonomy ranges of AW25 clothing.

Monsoon has new AW25 clothing, jewellery and accessories, including bags, shoes, boots, scarves and jewellery, new wedding and bridal ranges.

Accessorize has a charm advent calendars, new AW25 womenswear, new jewellery, charms, socks, hats, scarves and wraps for Christmas, a new Palma range of womenswear shoes and accessories.

Sims Wear has new women’s and men’s clothes and accessory ranges.

F&F has new Kids and womenswear Christmas clothing ranges, autumn womenswear ranges, a new Kate Ferdinand active wear collaboration.

George at Asda has new AW25 womenswear ranges of clothes and boots and an Erica Davies collaboration, plus the Tickled Pink cancer charity clothing ranges for Breast Cancer awareness month.

The Orchard has Christmas gifting clothing ranges for men and women.

Deichmann has new AW25 ranges of shoes, trainers, bags and boots for women.

Barbour has new collaborations with Farm Rio and a collaboration with Kaptain Sunshine collaboration of outdoor wear, new Heritage ranges, September clothing ranges plus new outfits and footwear for the festival season.

New Look has new September drops of AW25 ranges including clothes, bags, shoes, boots and accessories, plus new womenswear outfits and cowboy core womenswear drops.

Very has 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.

Inspecs has new Regen Optics glasses to reduce glare, blue light, plus lenses to enhance gaming, as well as campaign imagery of sunglasses for men and women from Radley, Superdry and Botaniq. 

Peacocks has new AW25 ranges, including a Dani Dyer Collection and a Louise Redknapp Edit.

John Lewis has new Topshop range, AW25 kidswear and womenswear lookbook images, plus bags, shoes, boots and accessories, a John Lewis x Rejina Pyo new collection.

River Island has a new collaboration with Olivia Attwood, new Suede season handbags, plus new ranges of clothing, shoes, bags, and accessories and new denim ranges.

Cotton Traders has new winter clothing ranges including coats, cardigans, trousers  and Christmas jumpers.

Threadbare has new menswear and women’s wear ranges for the autumn and winter.

Fable England has a new range of scarves, bags, and jewellery plus Agnes jewellery, nightwear, scarf and bag range for the autumn.

Joe Browns has new AW25 for men and women including clothes, jewellery and accessories; large patterned maxi and Midi-dresses big coats, khaki and camouflage trousers and lots of warm outfits for the autumn and winter.

Oliver Bonas has new autumnal womenswear including jumpers, cardigans, trousers, scarves and shoes, plus jewellery and clothing for September, new accessory drops including bags, hats, shoes, sandals, scarves and sunglasses.

See additional new clothing and accessories images from

M&S Iolla Scamp & Dude Tu Clothing TK Maxx National Trust Dune London

Home, garden and food

Very has new homeware for the kitchen and lounge, new Halloween and Christmas decorations for the home, plus Christmas toys and homewear.

Cambridge Imprint has place cards, notebooks, patterned papers, new notecards and envelopes, Christmas cards, garlands, paper chains, coronets, banners, plus notebooks, and exercise books.

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.

Dobbies Garden Centres has Halloween decorations, autumn houseplants, a new RHS collaboration range of gifts, plus Christmas decorations, gifts and food.

Ruggable has a range of Christmas themed rugs and carpets, plus Halloween and Autumn-themed doormats as well as rugs in autumn colours.

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.

The Orchard has Christmas furnishings, tabletop fire pits and mini pizza ovens, artificial Christmas tree ranges, new Miami Corner Group sofa, new autumn and Halloween decorations.

Treats by Mars has new Malteser gingerbread cake bars, Mars and Snickers flavour milk drinks, M&M festive and Halloween hot chocolate kits and Galaxy hot chocolate ranges.

Accessorize has new Christmas decorations for the tree.

George Home has Tickled Pink cancer charity food and drink ranges for Breast Cancer awareness month and has new AW25 Cosy Autumn, Autumn Revival, French Fancy and Serene ranges of tableware, tables, lights, candles, cushions, and soft furnishings.

Oliver Bonas has a new Shrimps collaboration of homeware, new furniture, Christmas decorations, gifts and things for the home, plus new September/October drops of homeware ranges for the lounge, bedroom, kitchen, dining room and lounge for AW25.

B&M has it’s Christmas Gift Guide and Frosted Night, Nordic Glow, Peaceful Wishes, Snow Much Fun and Festive Folklore Christmas decorations, homeware for back to college, university Halloween decorations and accessories.

Homesense has new Halloween and Christmas decorations for the home, new furniture and accessory ranges for the kitchen and living room, including soft furnishings, dishes and glassware.

Jellycat has new Christmas cuddly toys and tree decorations, new Halloween themed cuddly toys and amuseables, plus new designs and bag charms. 

Arran Sense of Scotland has new 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 homeware including lights, faux plants, signs, lamp shades, dining and drink ware, trays, coasters, stools, side tables soft furnishings, prints and throws.

John Lewis has its new Ancient Wonders, Worldly Treasures and Heirloom Splendour ranges of Christmas 2025 decorations and homeware, and a new collaboration with John Cooper and AW25 lookbook images from its Heritage, Modern Luxe and Timeless range of homeware collections.

Primark has a new Viral Product range, Halloween decorations and gifts, back-to-college ranges, harvest festival ranges of decorations, and Edit homeware ranges.

Oriana B has new furniture ranges including side tables, sideboards.

Ivyline has a selection of Autumn and Halloween decorations, Christmas trees, tree decorations, lights and decorations for the home plus candle holders, pots and vases.

Home Bargains has new autumn and Halloween things for the home as well as Christmas decorations and homeware.

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.

M&S has new Christmas decorations for the tree and the home.

See additional new home images from

Habitat Nest Sofology TK Maxx National Trust Hobbycraft

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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