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PRShots Roundup brings you the latest retail news from Deliveroo, Freemans, Lidl, Mango, Sports Direct, Manolo Blahnik, Muji, Heavenly Feet, WH Smith, Tala, Liberty, Amazon and Asda. Plus, the 18 social media trends to shape your 2026 strategy, why AI in the Gmail inbox isn’t the end of email marketing and more.
THE LATEST RETAIL INDUSTRY NEWS
Property giant Landsec sees retail destination sales ‘outperform market’
Property investment firm Landsec has reported a strong golden quarter as sales and footfall rose and outperformed the BRC benchmarks.
Deliveroo sees surging demand for last-minute Christmas supplies
Deliveroo saw demand for last-minute Christmas supplies, gifts and winter essentials throughout December.
Asda Express hits milestone with new convenience stores
Asda Express has launched two new stores, taking its total number of convenience stores to more than 500.
First Amazon Now quick commerce site goes live in the UK
Amazon reports the launch of QLD1 - the first Amazon Now on-demand delivery site in the UK with delivery in minutes for everyday essentials, such as groceries and personal care items.
Freemans’ owner canvasses buyer interest
International retail giant Otto Group is soliciting buyer interest in its Freemans online business,
West End visitor traffic gets festive boost
New figures from the Heart of London Business Alliance (HOLBA) for footfall in London’s West End show a 19% year on year increase in December.
Lidl receives Top Employer 2026 award
Lidl has once again been certified as a “Top Employer” by the Top Employers Institute a global institution for certification of outstanding working conditions.
Amazon to open a big box bricks-and-mortar concept store in the US
Amazon recently unveiled plans for a big box store in suburban Chicago. The new concept closely resembles a traditional retail superstore in size and scope.
TRENDS, SUSTAINABILITY, STRATEGY AND TECHNOLOGY
The 18 social media trends to shape your 2026 strategy
Wondering which social media trends actually matter in 2026? This report breaks down 18 shifts reshaping discovery, trust, and culture.
3 strategies for killing AI slop in your email copy
Speed isn’t the problem. Missing structure is. MarTech finds better briefs, QA and human review help teams protect inbox performance.
Why many brands still misunderstand how social media works
Slice founder tells Tim Healey why repetition beats novelty, why follower counts mislead, and why social media needs strategy, not volume.
How ‘sustainability’ claims can land online retailers in regulatory hot water
Katrina Anderson, principal associate at law firm Mills & Reeve, explores how online retailers can remain compliant in the battle against 'greenwashing'.
Why AI in the Gmail inbox isn’t the end of email marketing
Google’s AI is changing Gmail. What does it mean for your campaigns? Time to adapt and stay relevant, again says MarTech.
The 13 best social listening tools for brands
Every day, people share opinions, complaints, and recommendations on social media. Social listening tools help you hear those conversations and turn all that chatter into useful insights.
How to track, prove, and improve your social media ROI
Hootsuite shows you how to calculate your social media return on investment (ROI) from your social media activities and expenses.
Google’s virtual fashion try-on tool
Google launched its virtual fashion try-on tool in the UK and India in December, a few months after its US launch, leveraging AI so users can see what apparel items may look like on their bodies
PEOPLE, MOVERS AND SHAKERS
WH Smith to appoint Leo Quinn as executive chairman
WH Smith is to appoint former Balfour Beatty chief executive Leo Quinn as executive chairman with effect from 7 April.
Tala CEO departs after US expansion set back
Athleisurewear brand Tala has confirmed the departure of chief executive Morgan Fowles, weeks after it reported widening losses.
Liberty names buying and merchandising director as new MD for Retail
Liberty has appointed Lydia King as Managing Director of Retail, succeeding Sarah Coonan, who will leave the British department store at the end of the month.
BRAND NEWS
Mango grows London footprint to capture key growth market
Mango has opened its 24th store in London. It sees London as “a priority growth market” having opened 10 locations across the capital in the past three years.
Manolo Blahnik unveils collaboration with Balenciaga
Balenciaga and Manolo Blahnik have come together for a special collaboration celebrating the “dual Spanish roots” of both brands and the “elegance of craft” that unites them.
Sports Direct membership folded into Frasers Plus
Frasers Group has pulled its Sports Direct Membership after just 12 months as it integrates the programme into its Frasers Plus offer.
Adrien Brody joins Lacoste as Global Eyewear Ambassador
An ambassador faithful to the Lacoste spirit Fourteen years after their first collaboration, Adrien Brody is reuniting with Lacoste and becoming the face of its Eyewear line.
Muji to open largest European store in Paris
Muji is opening its largest store in Europe. With a planned footprint of 2,700 square metres, Muji shows that Uniqlo is not the only ambitious Japanese brand in France and Europe.
Heavenly Feet expands retail network with Joe Browns and Amazon partnerships
Sustainable fashion footwear brand Heavenly Feet has taken a major step forward in expanding its retail network via deals with fashion retailer Joe Browns and digital giant Amazon’s retail platform.
AND FINALLY
How the Couture Club setup with a loan from mum
Couture Club’s founder Ross Worswick recounts how he set up the business with a £5,000 loan from his mum ten years ago.
PRSHOTS TOP 10 SEARCHES
What were our users searching for on PRShots Week ending Jan 16th 2026?
1/ SS26
2/ Valentine
3/ AW25
4/ Lamp
5/ Cushion
6/ Blue
7/ Living Room
8/ Bedroom
9/ Bathroom
10/ Jacket
PRSHOTS DIARY
PRShots Retail Calendar Alerts
Days until Winter Olympics Milano Cortina - 18
Days until Valentine’s Day – 26
Days until Winter Paralympics Milano Cortina - 46
Days until Mother’s Day – 55
Days until Easter – 76
January Diary
How to make your products and brand attractive to the media in January
Our January 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.
January is all about fitness and health and getting back on track after a Christmas and New Year holiday break. So, clothes-wise it’s all about clothing for the gym and exercise, so make sure if you have anything relevant that it’s flagged up with keywords like fit, exercise and gym.
The monthlies are also starting to prepare for Valentine’s Day next month, so get any relevant clothes, accessories and gifts uploaded and keyword them with valentine. They’re also looking forward to next season so make sure anything SS26 is flagged on your drops.
Plus, as we’re still mid-winter there will still be searches for anything cosy, so pyjamas, slippers, coats, hygge, winter warmers, knitwear, scarves and everything warm.
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.
If you’re looking for more hooks to help promote your brand and products, then see the list of days, weeks and fortnights below.
It’s also the Winter Olympics in Milan this year (Olympics Feb 6th -22nd and the Paralympics Mar 6th -15th), so anything Olympic sport-related should get an extra push this month.
January Diary - Weeks/Months
January is also Veganuary (in 2024 over 1.8m people worldwide attempted to adopt a vegan lifestyle!) and it’s also Dry January so it’s a good idea to make sure you have vegan-friendly products and non-alcoholic products labelled on your media centre, plus anything that’s healthy that fits in with resetting your life.
If you sell gin and anything gin-related then it’s also Ginuary! It’s also Walk Your Dog Month, so anything dog-related would be good.
Other events include
The Furniture Show NEC Birmingham (18th– 21st)
Cervical Cancer Prevention Week (19th – 25th)
Diary - Days
19th - Have a Brew and Chat Monday/Blue Monday
19th – Martin Luther King Day (US)
20th – Health Food Searches Peak
21st – National Hugging Day (US)
25th – Burns Night
25th - Dydd Santes Dwynwen (St Dwynwen's Day)
26th – Australia Day
26th – Indian Republic Day
27th – Chocolate Cake Day (US)
27th – Holocaust Memorial Day (US)
28th – Data Privacy Day
29th – Valentine’s Day searches rise
31st – Tax return payments are due today
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).
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.
NEW BRANDS ON PRSHOTS
Industrious Decor is more than furniture. It’s a world of intentional design — where form meets feeling, and materials tell a story. Each collection — ID Country, ID Loft, ID Earth craft, ID Gentleman’s Club, and ID Expression — embodies a distinct aesthetic, yet all share the same foundation: timeless design, refined detailing, and an appreciation for craftsmanship.
BRANDS WITH NEW IMAGES
Clothing, beauty and accessories
Barbour has new jumpers and bags for the New Year, and new collaborations with Feng Chen Wang, Ganni, Baracuta, Sorel, Levi’s, Arket, Paul Smith and Farm Rio.
Accessorize has new SS26 womenswear, bags and jewellery, plus new Valentine's Day and & bridal accessories.
Monsoon has new Bridal ranges, new Jan and Feb drops, new clothing ranges for SS26, new going out bags, shoes and jewellery, a new collaboration with Sarah Corbett-Winder and AW25 clothing, jewellery and accessories.
Deichmann has SS26 shoes and trainers, a new Bridgerton collaboration of shoes, bags and accessories.
TK Maxx has new Valentine's themed clothing ranges.
Very has a new kids January drop, Traitors-inspired fashion, a new Transitional Very Collection, new Valentine’s related clothing, Winter footwear, a Rebellious Romance clothing line for Valentines, a new Michelle Keegan collaboration, a new Very collection and new Winter layering ranges.
Matalan has new clothing ranges for Valentine’s Day, Souluxe pastel and print activewear for the new year and January transitional ranges, and a new nightwear collaboration with Little Mistress Vicky Pattison.
Roman Originals has new tops, trousers, skirts, coats and dresses ranges, new AW25 Dusk, Curve and Petite ranges for parties and going out, including coats, jackets, dresses and trousers.
Bonmarché has new Dash ranges and Lorraine Kelly Spring 2026 ranges.
Primark has a new Edit range of womenswear, new American NFL strips, plus new athleisure wear for the spring for men and women, plus new cosmetics ranges.
Threadbare has new suite dreams pyjamas and nightwear ranges.
New Look has new season outfits and accessories and drops of AW25 ranges including clothes, bags, shoes, boots and accessories.
River Island has new To Have and Hold wedding range of womenswear and accessories, SS26 lookbook images and cut-outs of clothing, bags and accessories, plus a new collaboration with Real Hackney Dave.
Cotton Traders has new SS26 women’s and menswear available in January including a new SS26 menswear collaboration with actor Will Mellor and a womenswear collaboration with Alex Jones.
Peacocks has new ranges for men and women modelled by Louise Redknapp, Dani Dyer and Michael Owen.
Scamp & Dude has new outerwear ranges and ‘Swag Bags with Purpose’ gift ranges for Valentine’s Day.
F&F has its new spring womenswear ranges of clothes, including jackets, coats, dresses and lingerie.
Oliver Bonas has February and Valentine’s Day ranges of clothing, bags, jewellery and accessories.
Lola Starr has a new Earth Collection of activewear for the new year new you health kick.
See additional new clothing and accessories images from
M&S Threadbare Inspecs Curvy Kate
Home, garden and food
Very has new Very collection storage solutions, new beauty and wellness tech, new SS26 homeware including garden furniture, a new Michelle Keegan range of furniture and a Zen Minimalism, Revive Very Home range of items for the home, dining room, lounge and kitchen.
Matalan has new spring and Easter presents and decorations and Valentine’s Day themed soft furnishings and bedding for the home, plus new Hello Spring ranges of homeware, and a new SS26 range of home furniture and soft furnishings.
Cambridge Imprint has new albums, notebooks, cards and patterned for SS26 including its Windmill and Songbird ranges.
Homesense has gifts for Valentine’s Day new ranges of soft furnishings and things for the lounge, kitchen and dining room.
The Orchard has its tabletop range of fire pits in five different colours.
B&M has Valentines gifts for him and her.
Ruggable has new ranges of doormat including Valentines themes, plus all sizes of rugs for inside and out for SS26 including the Kindred Cottage, Eclectic Boho and Serene Neutrals range.
TK Maxx has new gifts for him and her for Valentines.
Quorn Stone has new natural stone, and marble and stone effect ranges, new terracotta decorative tiles, natural stone range, marble and decorative effect tiles.
Primark has new Lowkey Athluxe homeware, Valentine’s Day themed homeware and travel accessories for the spring summer holidays.
Dobbies Garden Centres has Easter gifts and decorations, Mother’s Day gifts, a collaboration with the RHS, Valentine’s gifts, plus outside dining tables, chairs, lighting and accessories, plus Winter gardening.
Arran Sense of Scotland has new Sannox Lifestyle men’s fragrance gift packs ahead of Father’s Day.
Home Bargains has new Hinch interior ranges, new Easter soft furnishings, Mother’s Day gifts, Valentine’s gifts, Desert Dusk and Coastal Retreat ranges plus active fitness equipment for the New Year healthy you campaign.
Oriana B has furniture for the home including mirrors, display cabinets, armchairs, lamps and sideboards.
Habitat has new homeware gifts and things for Valentine’s Day and new Joy of Play, Riviera and Verde Luxe ranges of furniture, homeware and soft furnishings for SS26.
Oliver Bonas has new February and January homeware for the dining room, living room and bedroom, plus Valentine’s gifts.
Hobbycraft has new Easter wreath ideas as well as Valentine gifts and ideas for adult crafters, children and teens.
M&S has new homeware ranges for the spring and summer.
Jellycat has new ranges of its soft toys and amuseables bags ready for Valentine’s Day, plus new ranges of soft toys and amuseables.
Sofology has new Georgio, Adler, Mayfair, Remy, Portbello, Fitzrovia and Waldorf ranges of sofas and chairs for your living room.
Furniture Village has its SS26 lineup of sofas, tables, chairs, beds, mirrors and shelving.
See additional new home images from
Designers Guild Dunelm Nest Cult Furniture Online Home Shop Cambridge Imprint Accessorize Homesense
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.
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THE LATEST RETAIL INDUSTRY NEWS
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NEW IMAGERY ON PRSHOTS IN FASHION/BEAUTY/HOME
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