Main Image: Fable England

PRShots Roundup brings you the latest retail news from Lidl, Hollister, Abercrombie & Fitch, Lego, Holland & Barrett, Poundland, Rituals, Karl Lagerfeld, Iceland and M&S. Plus, social AI explained, what to expect from social commerce over Christmas and more. 

THE LATEST RETAIL INDUSTRY NEWS

CBI says UK retail sales have been weak in August

The CBI’s retail report shows sales volumes fell at a strong pace in August with a weighted balance of -32% from -34% in July. Sales are expected to decline at a slower rate next month (-16%).

Value of small parcels sent from China to UK hits £3bn

The value of small parcels shipped from China to the UK under import tax exemption more than doubled last year to £3bn, with Shein and Temu thought to be the main drivers of this increase.

Lidl obtains investor offer to fund 35 new stores

Lidl has accepted an offer from an investor to finance the construction of 35 new shops throughout the UK and Europe in return for the freeholds.

Hollister leads Abercrombie & Fitch to ‘record’ sales

Abercrombie & Fitch’s operating profit was up 17.6% year on year to $207m (£153.5m) for Q2 to 3 Aug, with growth led by "meaningful engagement with our teen customer in Hollister brands".

Lego builds record sales of £4bn

Lego sales grew 12% to a record DKK34.6bn (£4bn) in the first half, rising well ahead of the recovering global toy market in which sales rose 7%, with net profits up 10% to DK6.5bn (£750m).

JD.com posts double-digit sales growth in Q2

Chinese ecommerce brand JD.com saw a 22.4% increase in Q2 sales to CNY356.7bn ($49.8bn) however, profits nearly halved to CNY6.2bn ($900m) from CNY12.6bn a year earlier.

Royal Mail and DHL suspend some US shipments amid tariff uncertainty

The Royal Mail and DHL paused shipping to the US yesterday over uncertainty around the upcoming scrapping of the “de minimis” rule, which comes into effect on Aug 29.

Three in five small businesses expect financial growth despite global headwinds

The majority (60%) of small business owners anticipate some level of growth in the next three months, with only 14% expecting a decline in their turnover.

End of VAT-free shopping for tourists 'cost West End £300m+ in H1'

Research from the New West End Company shows the West End of London lost £310m in potential sales during the first half of the year because of the absence of the tax-free tourist shopping.

TRENDS, SUSTAINABILITY, STRATEGY AND TECHNOLOGY

Social AI explained

Social AI is a new form of AI that draws on real-time content and data directly from social media (and not just websites, blogs, and forums).

What to expect from social commerce over Christmas

TikTok Shop showed social is now the storefront and creators are converting. Are you ready to close the sale?

How three healthcare brands drove results with influencer marketing

Healthcare brands are beginning to tap into the potential offered by creator partnerships. Here’s how three brands successfully employed influencer marketing to achieve their goals.

How to keep emails from getting lost in the holiday inbox surge

Too many channels. Not enough impact. Gen Z and Millennials are disengaging. Martech explains  how to reclaim their attention before Black Friday hits.

ChatGPT traffic to websites is down 52% in a month

Reddit and Wikipedia dominate responses in OpenAI's experiment with answer-first sources using new citation weighting.

European retailers investing in AI to boost marketing efforts & personalise customer service

The majority (84%) of European retailers are already using AI in marketing and customer service, with more than three in five (61%) planning to expand their use of AI in the near future.

PEOPLE, MOVERS AND SHAKERS

Holland & Barrett promotes UK boss to group CEO

Holland & Barrett has appointed UK and Ireland chief executive Anthony Houghton as its new group chief executive officer as it ramps up next stage of growth,

BRAND NEWS

Marks & Spencer launches ‘M&S Man’ social media campaign

M&S has launched an “M&S Man” social media campaign targeting male shoppers aged 18 to 34, promoted with celebrity ambassadors to showcase style advice online.

Poundland returns to round pounds for ‘simplicity’ in turnaround plan

Poundland is to return to round pounds in its pricing after a successful five-month trial at selected stores in the chain.

Karl Lagerfeld taps Paris Hilton for 'From Paris With Love' campaign

French fashion house Karl Lagerfeld’s new autumn 2025 campaign will feature entrepreneur and pop-culture icon Paris Hilton, marking her debut as brand face.

Rituals opens its 100th UK store

Beauty retailer Rituals has opened its 100th UK store in the cathedral city of St Albans.2025 will also see the launch of the brand’s first Mind Oasis, a wellbeing destination on London’s Oxford Street.

Iceland revamps membership scheme

Frozen food retailer Iceland has rebranded its Bonus Card membership initiative as it implements a new push on loyalty.

Toy air fryer will be a Christmas bestseller, John Lewis predicts

With 120 days to go until Christmas, John Lewis has entered the fray, offering a snapshot of the toys it expects to be bestsellers.

Frasers Group takes stake in UK leisure firm We Do Play

Frasers Group has taken a minority stake in a UK leisure firm We Do Play.We Do Play operates a range of experience-led brands including Flip Out, Activate, Putt Putt Social and Rumble Rooms.

AND FINALLY x2

A diamond as big as a fist

The world's second largest diamond, named "Motswedi," was discovered by the Lucara Diamond Corp. in Botswana's Karowe Mine. It’s as big as your fist and weighs about one pound.

Solar-powered postboxes being rolled out across UK

Royal Mail is introducing 3,500 solar-powered postboxes across the UK. The solar panels on the top of the postboxes power a digitally-activated drawer, allowing customers to deposit small parcels.

PRSHOTS TOP 10 SEARCHES

What were our users searching for on PRShots Week ending Aug 22^nd 2025?

1/ AW25

2/ Christmas

3/ Halloween

4/ Candle

5/ Wreath

6/ Autumn

7/ Denim

8/ Kitchen

9/ Cushion 

10/ Bedroom

PRSHOTS DIARY

PRShots Retail Calendar Alerts

Days until School holidays are over (3rd Sept) – 6

Days until Halloween – 64

Days until Black Friday - 92

Days until Christmas Day – 119

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;

Sexual Health Week (8^th- 14^th)  (Second week in September)

British Science Festival (10^th -14^th)

Jane Austen Festival (12^th-21^st)

Open House Festival (13^th -21^st)

Bridal Fashion Week (14^th-16^th)

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

1^st – National Tofu Day

1^st – Labor Day US 

3^rd – Schools start going back 

4^th-5^th – Eid Milad an-Nabi (Mawlid) 

5^th – International Charity Day

6^th – Read a Book Day

12^th -14^th – The Goodwood Revival

7^th – National Beer Lovers Day (US)

7^th – Great North Run Newcastle 

16^th – 100 days until Christmas

21^st – Zero Emissions Day

22^nd – Car-free Day

22^nd – September Equinox 

22^nd-25^th – Rosh Hashanah 

22^nd – Navaratri Starts 

25^th – 3 months until Christmas Day

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). 

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 is launching 1^st September with a unisex range of cashmere jumpers and tops that are made in Yorkshire.

BRANDS WITH NEW IMAGES

Clothing, beauty and accessories

Bonmarché has new Lisa Snowdon, Dash and Autonomy ranges of AW25 clothing, new  Lorraine Kelly collaborations for AW25, plus new women's wear ranges including coats, blouses, jackets and jumpers.

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

Peacocks has new AW25 ranges, including a Dani Dyer Collection and a Louise Redknapp Edit of summer womenswear, plus her Linen Edit for summer, a new SS25 Edit range, and a new menswear range.

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

Matalan has new men and women’s autumn winter ranges including Happily Denim after denim ranges, AW25 menswear including casual and formal evening wear, Disney Villains family outfits including Halloween ranges.

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.

Very has new Halloween outfits, including Addams Family ranges, 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.

New Look has new AW25 clothes, bags, shoes, boots and accessories, back-to-school ranges, new womenswear outfits and cowboy core womenswear drops.

Sims Wear has new men’s accessory ranges.

Barbour has new Heritage ranges, September clothing ranges plus new outfits and footwear for the festival season.

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.

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. 

Monsoon has new AW25 clothing, jewellery 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.

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.

Primark has new Performance athleisure ware, a viral products clothing range, Conscious Clothing ranges, Wednesday Core themed clothing and accessory ranges, new back-to-school ranges of clothes, backpacks and shoes.

River Island has new Suede season handbags, Summer Darks ranges of clothing, shoes, bags, and accessories, back-to-school ranges, summer denim ranges, Rococo Revival and Perfect Prints range of summer clothing.

M&S has new accessories and jewellery, ballet shoe ranges, new back-to-school ranges including clothes and shoes, summer menswear and womenswear campaign imagery.

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.

Iolla has new Healy, Aitkin ranges of glasses in all shades and colours.

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.

See additional new clothing and accessories images from

TK Maxx National Trust George at Asda Dune London

Home, garden and food

Cambridge Imprint has new notecards and envelopes, Christmas and New Year cards, back-to-school stationery, notebooks, exercise books, new clipboards, tissue boxes, postcard boxes, pencil pots, letter trays, portfolios and magazine files, plus Christmas paperchains, coronets, banners.

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

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.

The Orchard has artificial Christmas tree ranges, new Miami Corner Group sofa, new autumn and Halloween decorations, new furniture ranges for indoors and outdoors from garden tables and chairs to sofas and chairs for the lounge.

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.

Very has new Halloween and Christmas decorations for the home.

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.

George Home has new AW25 Cosy Autumn, Autumn Revival, French Fancy and Serene ranges of tableware, tables, lights, candles, cushions, and soft furnishings.

Oliver Bonas has new furniture, 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.

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.

B&M has Frosted Night, Nordic Glow, Peaceful Wishes, Snow Much Fun and Festive Folklore Christmas decorations, home ware for back to college, university Halloween decorations and accessories, plus AW25 Warm Earth, Natural Calm, Quiet Luxury for the home, from bedding to hosting to laundry.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Matalan has Christmas decorations and gifts, AW25 homeware for the autumn including Halloween and Harvest Festival themed soft furnishings.

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. 

See additional new home images from

TK Maxx National Trust Hobbycraft Ruggable

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