Us ZPR girls love a bargain and top of the fashion hot list this week is the Peacocks £10 designer inspired satchel.

Selling out in the first week it is hot stuff and an absolute bargain compared to the Chloe version which retails for £9,000. The satchel hit headlines all across the country in nationals such as Daily Mail – twice, The Sun – twice, The Mirror, The Guardian, Fabulous magazine many weekly magazines and in online fashion blogs…phew - a real must have this spring. More stock has now arrived so get yourself to Peacocks now before they disappear again…

In the office we would prefer chocolate over veg any day but it would appear the rest of the country are embracing the vegetable and growing their essential 5 a day. The recent sunshine coupled with the continuing march of the Grow Your Own revolution has seen sales of vegetable seeds rise so far this year at B&Q. Last year sales of vegetable seeds rose 30 per cent – and sales so far this spring show this trend is set to continue! The bestselling seeds are the more traditional British vegetables, onion, carrot, peas, beans, tomatoes and lettuce. So follow the trend and lets get gardening…

We all hate bad breath and a survey by Superdrug confirms by how much. It was rated the worst smell coming above smoke breath. Invest in Superdrug toothpaste and mouthwash to combat the problem. Tic tacs at the ready everyone.

The Waitrose team went gaga for Ostrich eggs this week! Apparently, the eggs, which are only available at Waitrose can feed a whole rugby team. We didn’t try one in the office—you need a whole toolbox to crack it open—but we’re sure if we tried to make an omelette out of it we wouldn’t go hungry for days!

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Whilst many would believe that barns and instant tattoos would not sound like the classiest of luxuries, Chanel has proven them wrong. As models elegantly sauntered their way down the hay-laiden catwalk of Chanel’s spring/summer 2010 show, they sported what has become one of the most-sought after beauty trends of the season, the transfer tattoo. We at ZPR have been chomping at the bit to get our hands on these covetable artworks, as Selfridges exclusively launched the tattoos in its own barn setting on Oxford Street. With experts on-hand to apply the tattoos to the eagerly awaiting customers, we dare you to show your allegiance to Chanel with some decorative body bling!

Meanwhile in a little town further south, Katie and the newest members of Superdrug’s St Austell team welcomed hoards of customers through its doors for the first time. Visitors to the White River Place shopping centre were in for a treat, as Superdrug celebrated its opening with fun-filled activities for the whole family. No doubt the men of St Austell will have been flocking to see the cutting of the ribbon…maybe not for the Mayor himself who was on hand alongside Alan Johnson, the Retail Director of Superdrug, but more likely to catch a glimpse of local beauty queen Miss Cornwall who assisted with those giant scissors. The day was a success all round, leaving a very tired Katie to a long train journey back to the big smoke!

Jackie was also out and about last week in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. Wondering if she should have sported her twin set and pearls, she visited the education centre of the Women’s Institute to help its members prove that with the guiding hands of B&Q, they need not fear the power tool! This was the first of B&Q’s DIY classes for the WI to encourage women to get out of the kitchen, and tackle the rest of the home. Teaching skills such as mending a leaking tap, applying wallpaper and putting up your curtain rail, the ladies who attended the workshop enjoyed ‘’a fantastic day’’, eager to continue their education. This may leave the men of Abbingdon at a loss…

The Waitrose team announced to top foodie journalists its collaboration with two of Britain’s best-loved chefs, Delia Smith, and Heston Blumenthal. With Delia’s traditional values and Heston’s outstanding creations, this partnership is predicted to set the food world alight. As the pair are set to share their knowledge with budding chefs in advertising campaigns, Waitrose fans should prepare their taste buds now!

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Another 'Bog-Standard Week' For The ZPR Girls...

Early Wednesday morning Zaria, Jenny and Sam turned up at a house in Shepherds Bush to watch Sir Richard Branson and Euan Sutherland, CEO of B&Q being snapped by the paps whilst hanging out of a homeowners loft. Crazy? Well it is all in aid of supporting the Princes Trust Project Start campaign which is aiming to show people how easy it can be to ‘green’ up their homes, whether it be insulating their loft or installing solar lights. Both B&Q and Virgin are companies supporting the charity. Our lovely homeowner Ronnie along with daughter Mallory welcomed B&Q, ZPR, Virgin, the Princes Trust and 14 photographers into their home. You could say it was rather cramped but within less than an hour of the photocall starting everyone had dispersed and travelled back to the office to start the rest of the day! Although we did manage to make a pit stop on the way back for a much needed cuppa!

Meanwhile the Superdrug team got to spend the morning with two scantily clad male models at the Marble Arch store for the launch of Superdrug deodorant on Wednesday. It came off the back of results that men spend more time pampering and grooming themselves. The two boys got their tops off and crowds of women flocked to see what the commotion was, queuing up to do the smell test—one spray of Lynx and one spray of the Superdrug product to see if they could tell the difference. It was a great success despite the snowy weather and the models proved that men might like a bit of pampering but they won’t shy a way from a challenge in the cold—especially if it involves getting their kit off for the ladies.

Over on Oxford Street, Peter Andre launched his new fragrance ‘Unconditional’ to a hoard of screaming fans at Selfridges on Saturday. Dressed for the occasion in a red shirt, Peter met with over 150 lucky fans to sign bottles of his new scent whilst planting pre-Valentine’s Day kisses on their cheeks.

The Waitrose team had a week with an overflowing toilet bowl as the nation went crazy for toilet roll! Having just launched Cashmere infused toilet roll we wrapped it in ribbon and sent it out to test the waters and although some were more enthusiastic than others, everyone’s interest was piqued. People love the idea of bog-standard luxury!

The ZPR girls have started the week off with our fingers firmly on the pulse: last week Selfridges had to get more stock in of the new Chanel Mushroom shade of nail varnish—being dubbed the new Jade—as it was flying off the shelves. By our Monday meeting Kirsty, Sam, Niravta and Nora had already snagged themselves a pot and were flaunting the new ‘It’ shade with understated flair.

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ZPR Spring into Action

A storming success for the beauty team, with 130 journalists tottering their way down to the Haymarket Hotel for Superdrug’s spring/summer 2010 press launch. The Shooting Gallery was filled with Superdrug’s latest beauty, fashion and healthcare products and journalists sat back, relaxed and enjoyed pamper sessions from manicurists, hair experts and make-up artists including Ruby and Millie.

Last week B&Q celebrated Apprentice week. The scheme (in association with the National Apprenticeship Service), provides 130 employees with many new talents and skills. People of all ages are welcomed into the scheme, from 18 year old Adam Wilson from Chesterfield to Terry Robinson, who at the ripe age of 70 years old isn’t ready to hang up his orange apron just yet!

The Waitrose Menu From event at the John Lewis Bistro cooked up a storm. The chefs, Pierre Koffmann, Bryn Williams and Antony Demetre, served a mouthwatering banquet to food journalists including Goat’s Cheese and Beetroot Tart, Scallops with Black Pudding, Shepherd’s Pie (my favourite), Beef Bourgignon, and Braised Oxtail. The event proved Menu From is changing the face of ready made meals—the food was delicious, no one would ever know it wasn’t home made.

Over at Selfridges, ladies are saying “if you’ve got it flaunt it”, as the underwear as outerwear trend reaches new heights. Sheer bodies from top designers including Stella McCartney and Damaris have been flying off the shelves, leading to a soar in sales of nipple covers for women who want to sport the trend but hide the essentials.

Further north at Selfridges’ Trafford Centre, women flocked to catch a glimpse of the man of the moment, Peter Andre. He made a special appearance at the store to sign bottles of his new fragrance, Unconditional. Peter told of his excitement about launching his perfume for the sexy and sophisticated woman, a definite must-have. With over 200 customers attending the event, Peter Andre proved a favourite of the nation, and Selfridges!

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A SPADE IS A SPADE

After launching the world’s most expensive ham last Monday (how much I hear you say? let’s just say it was a ham and a leg), Selfridges went back to the seventies the following day, re-creating iconic sit com Are You Being Served in a one off charity sale in honor of the late Wendy Richard. Wendy’s ex colleagues put down their scripts and travelled to her favourite store to help sell her memorabilia in aid of Lady Taveners charity. The event was a magnificent success, featured on BBC’s lunch time news, Radio 4, Radio 2, live links throughout the day on Five live and a host of print coverage the following day, showing scenes of Mr Rombold sending the tills a ringing, June Brown donning a purple wig and James Alexandrou serenading Natalie Cassidy during her break from Strictly on Ice.

Thursday we painted our fingers a fashionable shade of Jade green, to celebrate Alan Titchmarsh joining forces with B&Q, launching a campaign to Get Britain Gardening. Despite my confusing a rake for a shovel (it could have happened to anyone), the photo call with Alan and B&Q’s CEO Euan Sutherland at the retailer’s flagship New Malden store was a blooming success. After the photographers left to wire their images of Alan encased in a tropical greenhouse, we whizzed our way to the Haymarket Hotel for B&Q’s spring/summer press show. 130 journalists were bowled over as the Haymarket’s pool area was transformed into a tropical haven, spilling with exotic plants, designer inspired garden furniture, state of the art sheds, the coolest barbeques and everything your summer heart would desire. I was tempted to take a dip in the pool but decided against, as it would have ruined Jenny’s floating petal display. The event and subsequent coverage were world class, with Alan’s collaboration landing in titles ranging from the FT to The Sun to USA Today.

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Happy New Year!

Well here it is, 2010! As we ZPR girls return from our festive holidays, we enter into a New Year with high hopes for fantastic coverage, and slightly lower hopes for our waning New Year’s resolutions. Whilst most of the girls have stuck to the cardinal rule of no rules, Jackie is living for the moment, and Rhianne is planning for an exciting 2010, with a possible audition for the X-factor!

Whilst the country has been caught in the big freeze, B&Q has been aiding the nation as they brave the cold. From rock salt to shovels and wellies the big freeze is certainly having an impact on weather related products. In the last three weeks compared to last year sales of rock salt are up 150 per cent, shovels up 200 per cent and wellies up 120 per cent.

However it seems that no amount of snow could drive those keen shoppers away from their favourite time of the year, the January sales. With fantastic deals to spruce up your home for the New Year with B&Q, treating yourself to those beauty essentials at Superdrug, and fabulous fashion deals at Peacocks, our clients proved that you can’t beat a good bargain.

It has been a strong Christmas period for each of our clients as we successfully reported fantastic sales not only with those hotly anticipated sales, but right up until the crucial last days before Christmas which saw many of you rush to find those last-minute gifts as panic buying ensued!

As we look back to the Noughties, we celebrate the nation’s ultimate celebrity beauties as Superdrug named the beauty icon of not only the year, but the decade. With previous winners including the nation’s beloved Cheryl Cole, the annual poll left us fighting our corners for our favourite celebs. It turns out the poll which questioned 3,000 people, asked once again if we were Team Aniston or Team Jolie. With her famous pout and enviable locks, Angelina Jolie trumped Jennifer Aniston to the top spot. As the list of top 20 icons compiled women from young stunners to ageless beauties, Superdrug proved that women of all ages can get the look of their favourite icon.

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We have the X Factor

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse…but the team at ZPR was still hard at work getting amazing coverage for their clients in festive features aplenty!

Phew, what a week it’s been. Christmas is truly open for business with the papers bursting with silly season stories and Christmas gift guides. Here at ZPR we’re really getting in the swing of things, our tasteful tree is up and we’re gearing up for our Christmas office party on Friday…

But before we head out to Cow Shed for our pampering session we must update everyone on what has been another amazing week. As the Jewel in the crown, B&Q’s presence in Kingfisher’s quarter three results last week were outstanding with so many of our key products and messages included on top of the financial performance. Leopard print wallpaper, lime green kitchens, real Christmas trees, Showroom Academy and the scary Mother-In-Law effect all caught the imaginations of the business editors.

Jackie had a great time at London Television Centre on Saturday where she and the team from B&Q decorated the GMTV studios with eight full size trees and baubles to match. The Deck the Halls range certainly lives up to its name!

The Selfridges team is tuning up this afternoon as they count down the hours before they join X Factor semi finalist Danyl Johnson tonight as he performs live at the Selfridges Christmas sing-along in aid of Mothers4Children

Danyl will be singing a selection of well known Christmas carols to help raise donations for Mothers4Children, Selfridges’ dedicated Christmas charity for 2009. Mothers4Children’s ambassadors including Yasmin Le Bon, Louise Redknapp and Lisa B will also be present.

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping on your nose, Yuletide carols being sung by Danyl Johnson and folks dressed up in their best designer gear! Bring on Christmas on Oxford Street!

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From Soho to Shanghai

The calendar turns its page to December 1st and bang, Christmas is upon us. The papers are laden with fabulous festive gifts featuring all our clients, Lucy’s humming Wham’s Last Christmas, and we’ve just about got enough money left over from last week’s death by credit at the hands of Selfridges’ Christmas Comes Early.

Selfridges’ grotto opened last week to record bookings (over 40,000) for kids (and the young at heart) to board Santa’s Express, ride through a magical winter wonderland filled with incredibly cute penguins and polar bears, before arriving at Santa’s station and being granted the opportunity to ask for an updated version of last year’s Super Mario Cart (or in my case, a Givenchy bag).

Over in the adult-only world - we added a touch of spice to the media, spreading the word that corset sales were 70 per cent up at Selfridges and Bordelle’s £900 feather corset completely selling out. News spread like wild fire (helped along by images of a six foot blonde parading the £900 corset) and materialized in blanket coverage in print, broadcast and online

Jenny and Zaria landed home safely from their press trip to Shanghai, which celebrated the opening of Superdrug’s parent company, A S Watson's 500th store opening in China. Journalists were treated to an insight into the differences between beauty retailing in the East and West, in between an entertainment schedule including twelve course Chinese banquets, visits to the fabulous sightseeing spots, boat trips, street markets and lots lots more. Zaria ran up a £500 bill in the hotel’s Vue Bar on the 33rd floor on a cocktail of internet roaming fees, (as she tried to keep abreast of ZPR news from an eight hour time difference).

Now over to this week and the launch of the UK’s first Christmas tree drive through at Selfridges. That’ll be a Christmas tree and a side of fries please – oh go on then, I’ll have a dollop of ketchup since you’re asking.

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