SOFIAH NICHOLE SALIVIO

News Editor

AliExpress has increased its stock of air conditioners as demand for cooling devices rises during the heatwave. Sales of cooling appliances on the online marketplace have risen 382% year on year.

The move comes as retailers face strong demand for domestic cooling products, with some air conditioning units on rival online platforms listed as sold out or unavailable. AliExpress said it has kept several models in stock while expanding supply.

Among the products highlighted is a Haier air conditioner listed at GBP £298.39, down from GBP £596.78, with delivery expected within one to two weeks.

AliExpress also pointed to a portable 4-in-1 12000BTU air conditioner, which it described as its top-selling air conditioning unit, with more than 100,000 sold globally. The product includes cooling, dehumidifying and air circulation functions.

Interest has not been limited to larger appliances. Fan sales on the platform have risen 60% year on year, according to the company, as households look for smaller, cheaper ways to cool homes and workspaces.

Demand has also grown for portable products such as a XIAOMI Mijia desk fan, which the retailer said had been offered at a reduced price. It added that stock levels in fan categories remained sufficient despite seasonal pressure.

An AliExpress spokesperson highlighted the breadth of products available on the site.

“We have built a robust matrix of products covering multiple consumer scenarios, including handheld, ceiling, standing, and neck fans,” said an AliExpress spokesperson.

AliExpress said its cooling categories had remained available because of deep inventory and competitive pricing. It added that supply levels had allowed it to keep serving consumers as seasonal demand intensified.

“These categories benefit from strong price competitiveness and highly sufficient inventory levels, allowing us to continuously meet consumer demand even during peak seasonal spikes,” the spokesperson said.

Price Pressure

The sales update shows how extreme weather is reshaping short-term buying patterns across UK retail. Heatwaves often trigger sudden demand for fans, portable air conditioners and dehumidifiers, leaving sellers scrambling to replenish stock as consumers seek immediate relief.

For online marketplaces, availability has become as important as price. A product may be listed cheaply, but if it is unavailable, that offers little advantage to buyers looking for equipment that can arrive quickly during very hot weather.

AliExpress said UK delivery now ranges from one to three days for local inventory and from five working days for international cross-border shipping. Those timelines are part of a wider effort to improve fulfilment for British shoppers.

The retailer is also using its Brand+ scheme to compete more directly on trust and pricing. Under the programme, customers buying eligible products can receive an immediate price match or a refund of the difference if they find the same item cheaper on another reputable marketplace within seven days of purchase.

UK Focus

Finch Li, General Manager of AliExpress UK, said the company was seeing stronger demand from British consumers for branded goods at lower prices.

“As AliExpress proudly celebrates its anniversary, we’re seeing more British shoppers turning to the platform as they seek premium items with better deals. Our enhanced Brand+ offering is a direct response to this consumer shift,” Li said.

Brand+ sits alongside broader promises on seller verification, product quality and delivery. AliExpress has been trying to make the marketplace more competitive in categories where shoppers may previously have preferred domestic chains or larger established eCommerce groups.

Li expanded on that position.

“Brand+ guarantees verified sellers, reliable product quality, and highly competitive prices. It also provides a worry-free delivery experience with free and fast shipping. Our promise to deliver trusted brands, unbeatable value, and seamless convenience is a core part of our broader commitment to caring for consumers. As we embark on another year of serving hundreds of millions of consumers, our commitment to reliability remains unwavering,” Li said.

Starbucks has confirmed the return of its Unicorn Frappuccino, set to be available worldwide on August 15 and 16, nine years after its original debut.

The vibrant drink, which first launched in 2017, quickly went viral thanks to its bright colours and social media appeal, becoming one of the coffee chain’s most talked-about creations.

The beverage blends creamy mango with a tangy blue drizzle, is topped with whipped cream, and finished with a sweet and tart pink and blue topping.

Starbucks Unicorn Frappuccino to return after 9 years

Starbucks has hinted at a new magical surprise; a swirl of the cup reveals colour-changing enchantment and a transformation of flavours. 

Though originally popular in the US, this year’s global release will span Starbucks locations across the US, Canada, Mexico, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa.

While Starbucks has not named the UK individually or released a list of participating branches, the inclusion of Europe suggests British customers will be among those able to try it.

Social media erupted after Starbucks teased the drink’s return in an Instagram post on June 2 with the caption: “Coming this summer.”

The post received more than 484,000 likes and around 2,300 comments.

One fan wrote: “Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!” while another commented: “This looks delicious.”

A third simply said: “So happy.”

The drink briefly reappeared earlier this year at the Coachella music festival, sparking rumours of a wider relaunch.

The original Unicorn Frappuccino caused a frenzy when it debuted in 2017, drawing long queues, extensive media coverage, and millions of social media posts featuring its colourful, Instagram-friendly appearance.

Starbucks has not yet announced UK pricing or confirmed which locations will participate in the promotion.

Will you be trying Starbucks Unicorn Frappuccino? Let us know in the comments.

SOFIAH NICHOLE SALIVIO

News Editor

THG Studios has produced a new television advert for Swizzels’ Squashies brand, marking the first time the creative platform has been adapted for TV.

Titled ‘See the Squashies Side of Life’, the advert aired on ITV1 and extends earlier social media work developed for the confectionery range in the first half of the year.

The campaign centres on everyday scenes featuring overly serious characters who are figuratively “squashed” into a lighter mood. The advert was shot across several locations, with visual effects and post-production completed in-house.

Its release comes as food and drink advertisers continue to adjust campaigns to rules covering products high in fat, salt and sugar, known as HFSS. In confectionery, those restrictions have affected both creative execution and media planning, particularly around whether products can be shown and when adverts can be scheduled.

According to THG Studios, the Squashies campaign was designed so the brand’s identity could be conveyed both with and without the product appearing on screen. That approach also informed decisions on pre- and post-watershed placements for different Squashies variants, depending on whether they complied with HFSS rules.

Creative approach

The television campaign builds on social-first ads previously created by THG Studios for the Squashies range. The move to TV gives Swizzels a broader platform for a concept built around the tactile quality of the sweet and the brand’s established light-hearted positioning.

Rob Sanderson described the TV launch as an example of how the idea translated beyond digital channels. “Squashies has always been about not taking life too seriously, and this campaign proves that idea travels brilliantly from social straight onto the biggest screen in the house. Taking a creative platform this playful onto TV for the first time is exactly the kind of work we love making at THG Studios, and doing it in a way that stays true to the brand while squarely on the right side of today’s HFSS rules made it even more rewarding,” said Sanderson, Group Creative Director, THG Studios.

Lawrence Alcock, who worked on the creative, linked the advert’s central device to how consumers physically interact with the product.

“At one point or another, anyone who’s ever been partial to Squashies sweets will have put one between their thumb and four fingers and given it a good squash. In fact, it’s difficult to get through a packet without squashing at least one or two of them. It’s a feeling of satisfaction, a moment of ASMR delight. Imagine being able to do this to the most annoying, uptight people in everyday situations. That same satisfaction for just a few seconds: giving them a gentle squash and helping them see the ‘Squashies side of life’,” said Alcock.

Brand growth

For Swizzels, the advert is part of a broader effort to raise awareness of the Squashies brand as it expands. The campaign keeps the focus on humour and texture, two elements the brand sees as central to the product’s appeal.

Clare Lynch said the objective was to reflect the tone of the brand while translating its physical qualities into a visual idea for television. “In this new commercial, we wanted to capture the fun, feel-good nature of the Squashies brand and the unique soft texture, ‘squashing’ a world that can take itself a little too seriously. THG Studios has brought this vision to life, and their creative, agile approach means we have a playful, engaging advert that perfectly encapsulates Squashies while raising awareness of the brand as it continues to grow,” said Lynch, Senior Brand Manager, Swizzels.

The work also highlights how creative agencies and brand teams are navigating tighter advertising rules without abandoning distinctive brand assets. For confectionery makers, that increasingly means using character, mood and recognisable product traits in ways that still work when direct product depiction is limited.

In this case, the “squash” motif gives Squashies a visual shorthand that can carry across formats and media placements. That flexibility is likely to prove valuable as marketers continue adapting campaigns to a regulatory environment that places more scrutiny on how less healthy foods are promoted.

The advert was filmed by THG Studios across multiple locations before returning for visual effects and post-production.