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PRShots Roundup brings you the latest retail news from Iceland, Burberry, George at Asda, Matalan, Tutti, P.Louise, Hollister, Vans, Waitrose, Harvey Nichols, Boux Avenue, Fred Perry and John Lewis. Plus, the winning formula for Christmas ads revealed, is fashion rental ready for its second act and more.
THE LATEST RETAIL INDUSTRY NEWS
John Lewis may cut affordable homes in Reading amid planning delays
John Lewis Partnership has warned it could reduce the number of affordable flats at its Reading build-to-rent scheme if planning delays and extra funding demands continue.
Iceland braces for profit hit as supermarket price war intensifies
Iceland’s sales in the year to the end of March were flat at £4.2bn and posted a modest 0.6% increase in underlying profits to £317.6m.
McDonald’s cuts 2,000 UK jobs as profit almost doubles
Profit at the UK arm of McDonald’s almost doubled to £120m from £66.3m in 2024 as it revealed it had cut more than 2,000 jobs.
Burberry tops list of UK M&A targets
British companies, including Burberry Group, dominate the ranks of European-listed firms seen as potential takeover targets.
Vans closes 140 stores as part of brand relaunch
Vans is responding to a 14% drop in sales during the first quarter of the 2025–2026 financial year by closing stores and reworking its product and brand strategy.
Waitrose rides ‘sober summer’ with booming no and low-alcohol sales
Waitrose reports a noticeable “sober summer” in 2025, with sales of its low and no-alcohol drinks up 32% compared to the same time last year.
TRENDS, SUSTAINABILITY, STRATEGY AND TECHNOLOGY
The winning formula for Christmas ads revealed
Aldi, The National Lottery and McDonalds are “winners” of the most eye-catching Christmas advertising from the last three years.
Is fashion rental ready for its second act?
Rent the Runway is reporting rebounding sales and memberships while new entrants like Bnto are introducing the rental model to younger generations.
AI’s big bang effect means marketing must evolve or die
AI is reshaping the core of marketing. Martech says staying competitive now means re-engineering your strategy, structure and leadership to include AI.
How to get onto Instagram Explore to reach a wider audience
Getting on the Instagram Explore page is the social media equivalent of striking gold, when it happens, life gets easier. Hootsuite shows you how to do it.
Why good marketers think in probabilities, not certainties
Trying to predict marketing outcomes with perfect clarity? That’s a losing game. Martech says you need to think like a statistician instead.
Amazon promises quieter deliveries with new drone trial
Amazon has told local authorities in Darlington that its drones will create less noise than delivery vans as it seeks permission to launch Britain’s first aerial package deliveries.
Vogue US faces backlash over Guess ad featuring AI-generated model
Vogue US sparked major debate when it ran a Guess ad featuring artificial intelligence–generated visuals in its August 2025 issue.
PEOPLE, MOVERS AND SHAKERS
George at Asda recruits womenswear boss from Sainsbury’s
George at Asda has appointed Victoria Stead as senior director of womenswear buying, quality and design, as the supermarket brand intensifies its efforts to revive and expand its fashion division.
Matalan buying and design director exits
Matalan director of buying and design, Laura Wiard, has exited the high street retailer after two years in the role.
Ex-Whistles MD becomes part-time MD at Tutti
Former Whistles MD Helen Williamson has returned to her native North East coast as a ‘fractional’ managing director for jewellery brand Tutti.
BRAND NEWS
Harvey Nichols unveils plans to transform its Knightsbridge flagship
Harvey Nichols has revealed the first stage of the transformation of its London flagship in Knightsbridge with a reimagined ground floor retail experience.
New store openings for Boux Avenue, Sisterly Tribe, Rodd & Gunn and Crocs
July ended with a flourish of store announcements, two in the north of England and two in the London area.
Fred Perry introduces its first adaptive shirt
Fred Perry has launched its first-ever adaptive shirt to make its fashion more accessible the new shirt replaces traditional buttons with two easy to use magnetic fastenings.
P.Louise to open first flagship store
Make-up brand P.Louise has chosen Manchester’s Trafford Palazzo for the opening of its first-ever permanent flagship store.
Asda invests £12m in upgrading Yorkshire and surrounding stores
Asda is to upgrade stores in its home county of Yorkshire as part of ongoing plans to improve the in-store experience for customers.
Hollister launches 25th Y2K anniversary collection
US teen retailer Hollister is celebrating its 25th anniversary with the launch of a special collection that honours the brand’s roots.
AND FINALLY x2
Dobbies Begins Recruiting For Santas And Elves
Dobbies Garden Centres, one of the biggest employers of Santas and elves in the UK, is on the hunt for their festive team.
Weston family member who helped transform Selfridges dies
Hilary Weston, who is credited with playing a key role in the transformation of Selfridges, has died aged 83.
PRSHOTS TOP 10 SEARCHES
What were our users searching for on PRShots Week ending Aug 1st 2025?
1/ AW25
2/ Christmas
3/ Halloween
4/ Denim
5/ Mirror
6/ Rug
7/ Lamp
8/ Earrings
9/ Mug
10/ Bikini
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 24 hours, week, or month.
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.
Inspecs has new SS25 imagery of sunglasses from Radley, Superdry and Botaniq.
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
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.
Accessorize has new jewellery, a new Palma range of womenswear shoes and accessories, a new SS25 beachwear, bags, scarves and jewellery – including Z charms - a new Seville range of beachwear and clothing.
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.
Matalan has new AW25 menswear including casual and formal evening wear, Disney Villains family outfits including Halloween ranges and back-to-school ranges, a new Alder Hey summer PJ range, Autumn and AW25 transitional womenswear and accessory ranges.
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.
Bonmarché has new Lisa Snowdon and Lorraine Kelly collaborations for AW25, plus new women's wear ranges including coats, blouses, jackets and jumpers.
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.
F&F has new Kate Ferdinand active wear collaboration and Abbey Clancy festival imagery, new summer band t-shirts and beachwear, new F&F Active sportswear and new summer beachwear campaign imagery.
New Look has back-to-school ranges, new womenswear outfits and cowboy core womenswear drops.
River Island has new 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.
Barbour has new September clothing ranges plus new outfits and footwear for the festival season.
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.
John Lewis has a John Lewis x Rejina Pyo new collection and new back-to-school kids range of uniforms.
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.
Oliver Bonas has new jewellery and clothing for September, plus new accessory drops including bags, hats, shoes, sandals, scarves and sunglasses.
Roman Originals has new Curve and Petite ranges, plus outfits with this summer’s must-haves, crochet and embroidery/broderie anglaise, including big-pattern midi-length summer dresses, Bardot tops, denim, trousers and cropped pants.
Dune London has new women's accessories, including Deliberate, Define, Dedicated and Dinidearest ranges of handbags, clutches and purses.
M&S has 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.
Busby & Fox has new occasion wear and office wear for the summer including shirts, shorts, dresses, trousers, jumpsuits and waistcoats.
Cotton Traders has new AW25 womenswear, new Jasmine Harman’s SS25 Edit of beachwear and relaxed summer clothing and accessories.
Fatface has new AW25 clothing ranges for women and has a new collaboration with the Marine Conservation Charity and has new beachwear and evening wear for the summer plus new shoes, sandals and accessories.
See additional new clothing and accessories images from
Deichmann Sims Wear The Orchard Iolla
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Designers Guild has new Trevenna, AW25 ranges of big print material.
The Orchard has new furniture ranges for indoors and outdoors from garden tables and chairs to sofas and chairs for the lounge.
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.
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.
M&S has a new Dopamine Modern range of homeware for the bedroom, kitchen, lounge and dining room.
Hobbycraft has new kids ideas for the summer holidays plus DIY decoration ideas for homes.
Ruggable has new outdoor ranges of its machine-washable rugs, plus rugs for every room in the home including collaborations with top designers and influencers.
See additional new home images from
Ivyline Treats by Mars Jellycat Furniture Village
DIARY
PRShots Retail Calendar Alerts
Days until School holidays ends (3rd Sept) – 30
Days until Halloween – 88
Days until Black Friday - 116
Days until Christmas Day – 143
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;
World Breastfeeding week (1st - 7th)
Edinburgh Festival (1st - 24th)
Cowes Week (2nd - 8th).
National Horse Race Week (23rd-31st)
August - Days
4th – Summer bank holiday Scotland
8th – International Cat Day
9th – Book Lovers Day
9th - Raksha Bandhan (Hindu holiday)
10th - National Shapewear Day
11th – National Bakewell Tart Day
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).
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