Friday 22 August 2025: PR & Marketing News Round-Up | Experiential, 90s Nostalgia, Community, Hobbycraft & Rugby Theatre
Ahead of the summer bank holiday weekend, Team Visible is back with our Friday PR and Marketing News Round-Up, where we take a spin through the most eye-catching campaigns, trends, and industry moments of the past seven days.
Read on for Visible PR’s take on this week’s stories that got us chatting…
O2’s ‘England, Meet England’: Rallying the Nation Behind the Red Roses
As the Women’s Rugby World Cup ‘kicks off’ today, O2 has launched its latest campaign, supporting the England women’s rugby team, the Red Roses. Through the hero film Dive, skydiving players land on the pitch at the home of British Rugby, Twickenham Stadium, delivering a powerful and impactful moment that supports the team and promotes O2’s headline sponsor position.
Why it matters for PR & Marketing: Fuelled by national pride, and the sense of occasion around another world class sporting tournament, this impressive campaign is a celebration of identity, equality, and scale. It brings sport and the nation together emotionally, while raising awareness of women’s rugby like never before (and helps sell a few more rugby shirts in the process!)
Read the full story on Sports Industry Group →
Spiderman’s Sobriety…? Tom Holland’s Bero Takes Experiential Marketing to New Heights
Spiderman star Tom Holland’s brand Bero launched a high-profile activation designed to push the limits of immersive entertainment. The campaign blends live performance, digital extensions and Hollywood storytelling, aiming to set a new bar for brand-driven experiential marketing.
Why it matters for PR & Marketing: Experiential is no longer just about flashy pop-ups, but about narrative-driven immersion. Holland’s involvement shows how celebrity power combined with live storytelling can create unmissable cultural moments that drive both hype and emotional engagement.
Read the full story on Performance Marketing World →
90s Nostalgia Wave Hits Brands from Walkers to Cadbury
Walkers and Cadbury are the latest to jump on the nostalgia bandwagon, reviving cult 90s favourites to delight snack lovers. They join a growing list, from Kellogg’s reviving Smacks to Fruitella’s 90s throwback promos, Get Baked’s sweet shop cookies and Swizzels’ Squashies Love Hearts, proving brands just can’t resist rewinding the clock.
Why it matters for PR & Marketing: Nostalgia marketing is everywhere right now, but the key to success is making it feel fresh, and certainly not forced. With so many brands mining the 90s for ‘vibes’, only the most creative executions will cut through the noise. Executed well, it’s a powerful tool that sparks emotion across generations and fuels cultural buzz.
Read the full story on Metro →
As More Stores Close, Hobbycraft Launches Its Own TV Channel
In a bold move, Hobbycraft is launching its own digital TV channel, despite announcing store closures. The brand has built a loyal online community, with viral moments fuelled by a strong creator community, plus staff from its Wimbledon store going viral on TikTok for belting out pop hits like Kylie’s Padam Padam. The TV launch aims to turn that content power into a dedicated entertainment and retail hub.
Why it matters for PR & Marketing: This ambitious move from Hobbycraft is a stark reminder for brands that cultural capital doesn’t just live on shelves. By leaning into its thriving creator-style content and giving it a much bigger stage, the brand is turning followers into viewers, and potential customers, in a way that feels natural and entertaining.
Read the full story on Retail Gazette →
Coca-Cola Celebrates Corner Shop Heroes for 125 Years of Service
Coca-Cola is marking 125 years in Britain with ‘The Bosses’ - a campaign spotlighting six UK corner shop owners who have become pillars of their local communities. Through short films and portraits, the campaign highlights the role of independent shopkeepers not just as retailers, but as trusted neighbours, storytellers, and cultural hotspots in towns and cities across the country.
Why it matters for PR & Marketing: This is local storytelling on a global scale. The campaign is human-led, authentic, with links to heritage. By elevating everyday community figures, Coca-Cola reinforces its place in the fabric of British life while generating brand affinity.
Read the full story on the Evening Standard →
Final Thoughts
If this week's headlines demonstrate anything, once again, storytelling is the real secret to unlocking powerful campaigns that resonate. Leveraging culture, community, and human stories to build connection, it’s the brands that know their audience, act with intention, and prioritise storytelling over spectacle that will leave the biggest mark.