Sunday 30 November 2008

Last week ended on a festive note with GMTV, filming in Selfridges Grotto. Our little elf - Lucy Gillis was up at 4 am ensuring that the Santa Express was running on time and that presenter Matt Arnold had his best festive jumper on for the live links from the GMTV studio to the Selfridges grotto.

Wednesday 26 November 2008

As the credit crunch continues to bite, the ZPR girls continue to help the nation’s recessionistas survive the season with the latest hot deals

With everyone retreating indoors, Lakeland’s sales of comfort factor products have shot through the roof – everyone’s making stews and wrapping up in front of the fire. On the occasional night out they’re partying like it’s £19.99 in Peacocks’ most fabulous party dresses and accessories, taking advantage of Superdrug’s great budget beauty and fragrance savings, or if they can’t afford to splash out on that latest designer dress from Selfridges – they’re sucking it all in as sales of Spanx soar by over 100%, updating their look with a new lipstick, a new handbag and getting their Louboutins re-heeled!

Sales of Spanx and contour underwear are on the up as the nation seeks comfort in chocolate over credit. Sales of chocolate are up by over a third at Selfridges, including the latest cult ‘Credit Crunch’ bar to the bizarre-yet-surprisingly-tasty bacon flavoured chocolate by Vosges …we’re calling it the credit munch!

We’re sparing a thought for our friends at Woollies right now who are enduring the toughest of times ever and we’re all got our fingers crossed that a rescue plan will be put in place before it’s too late.

Over in Kensington, our friends at Crabtree & Evelyn held a cool reception last week at the Metropolitan Hotel last week hosted by India Hicks to celebrate the imminent launch of her new fragrance ‘India Hicks Island Nights’ which launches in the New Year.

And as we ran up Park Lane from the Metropolitan Hotel to the Drapers Awards at Grosvenor House on the same night, we were just in time to see our friends at Selfridges collect the award for the Best Department Store … we couldn’t agree more … particularly this week as we’re spending our way through our Friends & Family discount vouchers for an extra 20% discount on some already great discounted products.

We’ll keep you posted in the coming weeks with more news of partying and shopping in a recession! And leave you with our final tip as you start to buy and write your Christmas Cards (100% charity ones of course from Selfridges) … don’t forget to get your stamps from Superdrug at 5% off!

Monday 3 November 2008

Sorry for the delay in updating our ZPR girls blog – October has been a busy month!

During October we have had oodles of coverage for Selfridges’ Pinkridges partnership with Breast Cancer Care from limited edition Miller Harris candles to Alexander McQueen scarfs those pink products have been raising thousands for Breast Cancer Care.

Sticking with pink, Superdrug opened its newest pink flag ship store on Oxford Street at Marble Arch and received a visit from the Princess of Pink herself – Katie Price who was launching her new beauty electricals range.

October has been the month for skin care too as Selfridges sold out of Planet Skincare (with added fake snake venom!) following coverage we achieved on TV and sales of Superdrug’s Vitamin E moisturizer and Optimum Serum also went through the roof following multiple write ups and appearances on TV.

Meanwhile, we invited fashion journalists to join us at a West End salon for treatments and a sneak preview of Peacocks fantastic Christmas party frocks and fabulous accessories which was a really fun, girly day out.

Last week, Selfridges windows launched and they look amazing! With Santa in every window – they’re sure to put a smile on everyone’s face this Christmas as we all seek the comfort factor in the current economic climate. Our home comforts are made all the easier as Lakeland this week publishes its countdown to Christmas …every domestic goddesses guide to getting ready for receiving all those visitors at home over Christmas. And when it all gets a bit much Crabtree & Evelyn this month launched its amazing Aromatherapy Distillations range which has everything you need to give yourself the ultimate stay at home spa treatment and that together with a copy of October’s must-have DVD – Sex in the City, courtesy of Woolworths is exactly what our MD did after she completed the London Half Marathon raising £1500 for Great Ormond Street!