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PRShots Roundup brings you the latest retail news from Boots, Burberry, Asics, Birkenstock, Fatface, Freemans, Osprey London, B&Q, Ikea, John Lewis, M&S, ProCook and Matalan. Plus, how retailers are rethinking the subscription model, how to set and track social media KPIs and more.
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THE LATEST RETAIL INDUSTRY NEWS
UK economy records surprise 0.3% growth
Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show a unexpected growth of 0.3% in gross domestic product (GDP) in March.
Currys boss Alex Baldock tipped to take Boots CEO role
Outgoing Currys chief executive Alex Baldock is reportedly set to become the next boss of Boots, as the retailer prepares for a possible return to the London stock market.
Burberry sees return to profit
Burberry’s annual preliminary results show a return to comparable sales growth since Q2 and a swing back to a profit.
Asics reports 21.2% Q1 revenue growth in EMEA
Asics revenues in the EMEA division rose 21.2% in Q1 2026, over 2025, and delivered profitable growth across all categories.
Birkenstock disappoints with unchanged target
Birkenstock sales rose 14% to €618m in the quarter ending in March, just shy of analyst estimates, but operating profit fell more than expected.
Landsec sees retail occupancy reach 20-year high as it expects future ‘healthy’ income growth
Retail property landlord Landsec has said it expects a “healthy” like-for-like income growth in the future as retail occupancy hits 20-year high.
Tesco loses Court of Appeal bid in equal pay case
Tesco has lost a Court of Appeal challenge over how tribunals should assess the roles of shop workers and warehouse operatives in its long-running equal pay litigation.
Responding to the King's Speech, Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, urged the government to take charge to reduce costs for businesses.
FatFace expands Zalando partnership into 20 new European markets
FatFace has expanded its partnership with Zalando, launching across 20 additional European markets on the platform.
Freemans adds 200 new brands to its Marketplace on launch
Freemans has announced the official launch of its marketplace offer and has added 200 new brands to the lineup, following a long-term trial of the concept.
TRENDS, SUSTAINABILITY, STRATEGY AND TECHNOLOGY
How retailers are rethinking the subscription model
New research shows the subscription economy is still growing, but the pace and nature of that growth is changing significantly, driving retailers to innovate to avoid subscription fatigue.
How to set and track social media KPIs
Setting smart social media KPIs will help your team focus on the metrics that really matter and track performance over time. Hootsuite shows you how.
What AI is not going to fix for you in retail
AI's limitations in retail customer service highlight the enduring need for human empathy and strategic decision-making.
Osprey London founder Graeme Ellisdon on learning from the past
In 1980, at the age of 25, Graeme Ellisdon launched Osprey London with £500 in a rented hayloft. He looks back at the lessons he’s learnt over the last 45 years in the premium fashion market.
Ikea and Chupa Chups on why they brought their meatball lollipop to life
Ikea and Chupa Chups unveiled a meatball flavour lollipop on April 1. Everyone assumed it was an April Fool’s joke, but a few weeks later they announced it was real.
B&Q report reveals shoppers are prioritising ‘wellbeing and joy’ in home improvement
B&Qs latest annual “The Way We Live Now” 2026 report found that nearly nine in 10 people (87%), now see their home as a sanctuary from the outside world.
Amazon brings AI update to its shopping search bar
Amazon’s new AI tool generates product comparisons or suggestions and will appear by default starting this week for US-based users.
BRAND NEWS
Matalan eyes smaller store format
Matalan is exploring the use of smaller format stores (15,000 sq ft) as it progresses its property strategy and explores new locations.
John Lewis invests in own-brand cafe and restaurant concept
John Lewis has announced the launch of a new own-brand cafe and restaurant concept as part of its ongoing £800m store investment.
M&S starts construction on £340m automated food distribution centre
Marks & Spencer has begun construction on a new £340m automated food distribution centre in Northamptonshire.
Ribble partners with Cotswold Outdoor to launch new in-store concept
Bike brand Ribble has partnered with Cotswold Outdoor to create a new in-store concession in Cotswold’s store in Leeds.
ProCook launches all-new baby and toddler tableware range
ProCook has launched a new ‘Little Kitchen’ range, marking its entry into the world of baby and toddler diningware.
Whole Foods Market to launch Notting Hill Gate store
Whole Foods Market is opening a new Notting Hill Gate store as part of its wider London store expansion.
Costa Coffee to open in up to 26 Cineworld sites
Costa Coffee has struck a new partnership with Cineworld that will see the coffee chain open stores in up to 26 cinema locations across the UK.
AND FINALLY x2
Amazon employees ‘inflate AI usage’ numbers with unnecessary tasks
Amazon employees are automating unnecessary tasks using its internal AI tool to show managers they are using the technology more frequently.
US drinks company Hint attempts to make water sexy with this 60-second advert; sultry French voiceover – check, wet ripped bodies – check, sword fight – WTF!!!
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PRSHOTS TOP 10 SEARCHES
What were our users searching for on PRShots Week ending May 8th 2026?
1/ SS26
2/ Bikini
3/ Swimsuit
4/ Beach
5/ Sunglasses
6/ Linen
7/ Sport
8/ Bag
9/ Woven
10/ Bedroom
PRSHOTS DIARY
PRShots Retail Calendar Alerts
Days until Father’s Day – 38
Days until School Summer holidays (Scotland) - 49
Days until School Summer holidays (England & Wales) – 69
Days until Halloween – 170
Days until Black Friday – 197
Days until Christmas – 225
How to get your brand and products on the May editorial calendars, higher up on search and AI engines and in social media
Our May 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.
We’re now well into Spring, and there are two long bank holiday weekends to enjoy this month, and with a bit of luck, we’ll have great weather for at least one of them.
To get the best chance for a download, add images that are related to the summer, and make sure they’re accompanied by any keywords relating to being out of the house and into the garden and the great outdoors, including garden, garden parties, barbecues (don’t forget to add all of the other spellings BBQ, Bar-B-Que, etc.) picnics, outdoors.
Summer holidays are on the horizon, so campaign images that include the beach or the outside world will be used. Upload any images you have of summer outfits, holiday clothes, festival clothes, sandals, beachwear, swimsuits, bikinis, linen, and sandals.
While some people are looking to holidays abroad, some are considering destinations closer to home, so add in keywords and phrases like “staycation”, “holistay”, “holiday at home” to your keywords and why not suggest clothing like throws, fleeces and cardigans, plus from homeware blankets and rugs, for the colder UK evenings.
May is also the start of wedding season, so if you have any wedding-related items, then get ready to promote them along with any wedding keywords, bridal, bride, groom, hen party, stag do, etc.
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.
This month sees the start of the FIFA World Cup Final which is hosted in US, Mexico and Canada and starts on the 11th June at the 87,000 capacity Estadio Azteca in Mexico City (Scotland’s first match is June 13th and England starts on June 17th) and carries on to the final match on the 19th July in the 82,000 capacity MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Tag anything football-related with the keywords ”World Cup.”
If you’re looking for more hooks to help promote your brand and products, then see the list of days, weeks and fortnights below.
May Diary - Weeks/Months
May is National Walking Month, National Smile Month (12th May – 12th Jun Changes), and Skin Cancer Awareness Month.
It’s also:
National Doughnut Week (16th – 24th)
National Stationery Week (11th –17th )
Cannes Film Festival (12th – 23rd )
Sandwich Week (18th – 24th)
RHS Chelsea Flower Show (19th – 23rd)
National Barbeque Week (25th – 31st )
May - Days
14th – Ascension Day
15th – International Day of Families
15th - BBQ searches rise
16th – Eurovision Final in Basel Switzerland
16th – World Whisky Day
16th - Men’s FA Cup Final
20th – World Bee Day
21st – International Tea Day
21st – Shavuot
22nd – World Goth Day
22rd - UEFA Women's Champions League final
22nd – Craft Distillery Day (US)
25th – Spring Bank Holiday
25th - Geek Pride Day
25th – Whit Monday / Pentecost
25th – National Wine Day (US)
25th – Camping-related searches rise
25th – Memorial Day
29th – National Biscuit Day
30th – BBQ searches peak
30th - UEFA Champions League Final
31st – Women’s FA Cup Final
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 2026 by the authorities controlling the event(s).
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NEW BRANDS ON PRSHOTS
Sir Jacobs was founded by Neil and Stephan Jacobs, who left behind careers in law and digital product design to pursue something creative, tactile and more personal. Their vision? To bring together the worlds of ceramics and fragrance — turning everyday objects into something truly special.
Neem London produces sustainable, stylish and classic menswear pieces with low emissions, and is the goto label for “hot dads”. Founded in 2020 by a menswear designer with a background in big high-street labels the label features items for both work and leisure and has gone from strength to strength since launch.
VIXII jewellery is designed in the UK and handcrafted in India, with each piece using lab grown Polki Diamonds with no two diamonds alike each item is unique. The current range includes limited edition bracelets and necklaces.
Lola Starr is a growing UK athleisure brand based in the North West. Founder Kate Hill created the brand because she couldn’t find activewear that truly worked for her “leggings that felt supportive, comfortable, and confidence-boosting. Lola Starr is about designing pieces that move with real women, through real life.“
BRANDS WITH NEW IMAGES
Clothing, beauty and accessories
Regatta has a new Regatta Life menswear clothing range and an extensive range of everyday womenswear for all occasions, and new Orla Kiely collaboration of jackets, dresses and coats.
Primark has a new Edit range, a new Love to Lounge range of nightwear and Owning the Summer kids clothing, beauty accessories, new Pau Eche (Paula Echevarría) collaborations of clothing, shoes, accessories and jewellery, plus outfits for the beach, Devil Wears Prada collaborations.
Bonmarché has a new Lisa Snowdon Holidays Edit, a Lorraine loves range, Dash range of womenswear, new summer outfits, beachwear, including dresses, tops, bikinis, swimsuits, shirts and shorts.
Oliver Bonas has new jewellery, new shoes from Birkenstock, summer clothing and accessory ranges, new jewellery launches, new summer fashion lines, plus May drops of hats, sunglasses, socks, shoes, sandals, clothing, bags and accessories.
TK Maxx has a spring summer range of men and women's clothing, shoes, boots plus women’s accessories including handbags, bags, purses and wallets.
Barbour has a festival dressing range, a new Farm Rio collaboration, new Chelsea Flower Show dressing ranges, a new Icons range, a Paul Smith Collaboration, and a Heritage+ range.
Matalan has new menswear, plus women’s summer clothing including dresses, jump suits, halter tops and vests, a new Riveria range of menswear, and a new Prairie range of womenswear and accessories for SS26.
River Island has a new Samie Elishi collaboration, new images from the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) Student Design Awards, plus a new Del Marr collaboration of beachwear, and a Terry De Havilland collaboration of beachwear, accessories, shoes and jewellery.
Iolla has new ranges of its sunglasses for men and women, the latest ranges for the summer holiday season feature custom tints in all the colours of the rainbow.
Very has a new Michelle Keegan collaboration and a new Very collection, new children’s Hello Kitty and Disney clothing ranges, new footwear, accessory and makeup ranges, womenswear and menswear ranges for the summer holidays, new denim ranges and a new collaboration with Adidas.
Scamp & Dude has new jumpers, jackets and hoodies, a new collaboration with trainer/sports shoe brand Gola.
Threadbare has new ranges of shorts, dresses, waistcoats, jumpers and jackets for the summer plus nightwear.
Monsoon has a new collaboration with Charlie Taylor Bonnie, new spring womenswear and kids clothing for May and June, along with jewellery, new linen and denim women's wear and accessory ranges, plus new ranges of shoes, bags, scarves and sunglasses.
Cotton Traders has a new collaboration of summer outfits with Jasmine Harman.
Accessorize has new women’s and kids summer holiday wear including dresses, bikinis, shirts, jewellery, shoes, hats and bags.
New Look has new season outfits, jewellery and accessories and drops of SS26 ranges including clothes, bags, shoes, boots and accessories.
Peacocks has new Danni Dyer modelled womenswear for the holidyas and the beach, new accessories for the summer, including bags, sunglasses, jewellery and sandals, new lingerie and nightwear, new Lousie Redknapp SS26 ranges.
Deichmann has new ranges of summer shoes and sandals plus new Converse ranges.
F&F has new womenswear collections for the summer including, bikinis, swimsuits, and day and evening wear for the summer holidays.
See additional new clothing and accessories images from
M&S Dune Busby & Fox Fatface National Trust
Home, garden and food
TK Maxx has homeware, kitchenware, picnic essentials, items for Charity Month and home gifts for Father’s Day.
Cult Furniture has new furniture for the bedroom, living room, home office, kitchen and dining rooms.
Homesense has everything for a picnic in the country, new art-related gifts and barbecue and picnic items for the summer months.
Ivyline has new fireside companion pieces, plus planters for indoors and out.
The Gluttonous Gardener has new Father’s Day gifting suggestions and a Brontë sisters themed growbar.
Dobbies Garden Centres has new summer pots and things for garden barbecues and eating outside, from lighting to tabletop firepits to climbing frames, plus garden pots and grow your own solutions for spring, and all the tools needed for the spring planting spree.
Matalan has new beach towel ranges for the summer holidays.
Hobbycraft has gift ideas for Father’s Day, craft ideas and accessories for the summer from cake decorations to Wedding gifts and decoration ideas.
Cambridge Imprint has new cotton ribbons, small pocket books, kitchen trays, exercise and hardback books, notebooks, new Clamshell and Dandelion patterned paper, plus patterned paper.
Primark has new Chillis range of homeware, new luggage and storage solutions, Island Heat ranges of homeware, new homeware including decorations, vases, soft furnishings, candles, diffusers and kitchenware.
National Trust has new garden furniture, new gifts, food and gardening ranges, new homeware, new shed ranges, new garden furniture with new Oxleys and Sitting Spiritually collaborations and new glasshouses.
Very has new Very Collection of soft furnishings and ranges of outdoor furniture, a new Revive outdoor furniture and soft furnishings collection, plus a new Very collection of furniture, wall art and storage solutions.
Jellycat has new ranges of amuseables for 2026 including Bartholomew Bear, Ricky Rain Frog, Zumblebi Junior.
Designers Guild has new SS26 soft furnishing design ranges including cushions, rugs and throws.
M&S has everything you need for a picnic and outdoor food, a new Kelly Hoppen collaboration and furniture and homeware collections, and new homeware ranges for the spring and summer.
The Orchard has new furniture for the home, garden structures, new lounge, dining room and bedroom interior ranges including beds, sideboards, dressers, sofas, lighting, shelving, benches and more.
Joe Browns has updated its SS26 home range with more ideas for every room in the home including bedding, furniture, vases, candlesticks, glassware, bowls, lamps, serving bowls and trays, storage solutions and knick-knacks.
See additional new home images from
B&M Home Bargains Oliver Bonas
WANT TO GET YOUR IMAGERY IN FRONT OF OVER 20,000 MEDIA?
If you’re a brand looking to get your imagery on PRShots then get in touch with our sales team at sales@prshots.com We have solutions and pricing for all sizes and types of business from small startups to large multi-nationals, with prices starting at just £50 a month.
GET PRSHOTS PULSE SOCIAL LISTENING SOLUTION
The new Pulse Social listening tool from our sister brand PressArea allows you to track and trace mentions of your brand and competitors and put those insights to work to gain real benefits.
SUBSCRIBE TO THIS NEWSLETTER
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NEWSLETTER SECTIONS
THE LATEST RETAIL INDUSTRY NEWS
HOW TO GET YOUR BRAND NOTICED BY THE MEDIA
NEW IMAGERY ON PRSHOTS IN FASHION/BEAUTY/HOME
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