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PRShots Roundup brings you the latest retail news from DFS, John Lewis, Majestic, Knoops, Asda, Footasylum, Tala, Sosandar, DFYNE, Selected, New Balance and Matalan. Plus, Julian Dunkerton, CEO of Superdry, outlines the brand's future steps, the 18 social media trends shaping 2026 and more.
THE LATEST RETAIL INDUSTRY NEWS
DFS sales increase despite market uncertainty
In its trading update covering H1 to 28 Dec, DFS said it expects underlying profit before tax to come in at £30–31m, representing a year-on-year increase of £13–14m.
John Lewis tops UK retail customer satisfaction league table
John Lewis has emerged as one of the UK’s top performers for customer service as satisfaction levels recover across the economy, according to the latest UK Customer Satisfaction Index (UKCSI).
Majestic toasts ‘best-ever Christmas’ after record number of customers
Majestic has toasted to its “best-ever Christmas” after reporting a record number of customers shopped with the specialist wine retailer over the golden quarter.
Matalan hails strong third quarter as profits surge
Matalan has hailed a strong Q3 performance to 28 Nov 2025 with like-for-like sales growth of 2% with EBITDA up 38% to £27m.
Knoops boosted by strong Christmas sales growth
The Knoops chocolate drinks retailer grew its UK store like-for-like sales by 12% over its six-week Christmas trading period and is on track to exceed £20m turnover by the end of year on 31 Mar.
Bench and Nicce owner eyes up Russell & Bromley
Apparel Brands which owns Bench, Nicce and Hype is said to be on the list of brands looking to buy Russell & Bromley.
McArthurGlen UK festive performance impresses
McArthurGlen’s UK outlet centres figures show sales up 7% year-on-year in the seven weeks from Black Friday up to 4 Jan with visitor numbers up 3.5% to five million.
Asda restructure could put 150 jobs at risk
Asda is considering a restructure which could see 150 jobs at risk in its distribution centres and its parcel delivery service.
OpenAI will begin testing ads on ChatGPT in the US for some free and paid users on its low-cost subscription tier.
TRENDS, SUSTAINABILITY, STRATEGY AND TECHNOLOGY
Julian Dunkerton, CEO of Superdry, outlines the brand's future steps
A new wholesale strategy, shop-in-shops, and a fresh store concept define the future of the historic brand, a symbol of affordable preppy style.
The 18 social media trends to shape your 2026 strategy
Wondering which social media trends actually matter in 2026? This Hootsuite report breaks down 18 shifts reshaping discovery, trust, and culture.
Grocery shoppers say meh to AI, yeah to loyalty discounts
New research shows that shoppers are sceptical about AI’s role in online grocery shopping, while over half say points and discounts for loyalty card members are what they value the most.
The non-retail turnaround veteran charged with getting WHSmith back off the ground
WHSmith has appointed former Balfour Beatty boss and turnaround veteran Leo Quinn. Retail Week analyses what he brings to the business, and what it means for their plans moving forward.
How Footasylum is balancing UK investment with international expansion
Footasylum is set to open a new flagship store at Trinity Leeds in April 2026, as the retailer continues to invest in UK bricks-and-mortar alongside a big international expansion programme.
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.
PEOPLE, MOVERS AND SHAKERS
CEO of Grace Beverley’s Tala exits
Morgan Fowles, CEO of Tala, the women's activewear brand founded by Grace Beverley, has left the business.
Sosandar non-executive director exits
Sosandar independent non-executive director and chair of the audit committee, Lesley Watt, will step down from the board on 28 January, the womenswear business has announced.
BRAND NEWS
Music Magpie teams up with Timpson for instant smartphone trade-ins
AO owned Music Magpie is partnering with Timpson to provide consumers with an instant in-store smartphone trade-in service
DFYNE opens new Glasgow headquarters to support rapid growth
Scottish activewear brand DFYNE has unveiled its new 21,623 sq ft headquarters in Glasgow, marking a major milestone for the business just four years after launch.
Selected rolls out across all eight Fenwick stores
Danish fashion brand Selected, is extending its partnership with department store chain Fenwick with “nationwide omnichannel activations” across all eight of its UK stores.
New Balance in pie & mash shop takeover
New Balance took over the famed M Manze Pie & Mash shop on London’s Tower Bridge Road to launch its new 1080v15 footwear and the official 2026 TCS London Marathon Training Range.
AND FINALLY
Valentino, the Roman couturier who loved red
An emblem of the 1960s dolce vita, couturier Valentino Garavani died on Monday. He invented a Roman haute couture with sensual and timeless lines, dressing the world's greatest icons.
PRSHOTS DIARY
PRShots Retail Calendar Alerts
Days until Winter Olympics Milano Cortina - 17
Days until Valentine’s Day – 25
Days until Winter Paralympics Milano Cortina - 45
Days until Mother’s Day – 54
Days until Easter – 75
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
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
River Island has new Love is in the Air ranges and a 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.
Fatface has new SS26 womenswear including jeans, dresses, jumpers, tops, jackets, bags and more.
Barbour has a new collaboration with Feng Chen Wang, new jumpers and bags for the New Year and has new collaborations with 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.
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
Designers Guild has new Palette Provencale SS26 range of materials for the home.
Cambridge Imprint has new Easter decorations, new albums, notebooks, cards and patterned paper for SS26 including its Alhambra, Windmill and Songbird ranges.
Hobbycraft has new crafting supplies, Easter wreath ideas as well as Valentine gifts and ideas for adult crafters, children and teens.
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.
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.
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
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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