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PRShots Roundup brings you the latest retail news from Very, Richemont, Games Workshop, Lee Jeans, Ralph Lauren, Morrisons, TGJones, Birkenstock, Pepco, Boohoo, Debenhams and M&S. Plus, why price is still the driving factor even with AI-assisted shopping, how Zalando is using AI to reshape fashion content and more.
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THE LATEST RETAIL INDUSTRY NEWS
Retail sales fall in April as consumers hit by Middle East uncertainty
The ONS has reported that sales volumes fell by 1.3% month on month in April, the fastest pace in nearly a year, down from a 0.6% rise in March.
Very Group has filed “robust” results for FY25 with group revenues up 0.3% to £1.608bn with a gross profit of £574m, up from £563.1m.
Richemont Q4 annual sales jump
Richemont’s FY group sales to the end of March saw sales up 5% to €22.4bn, with Q4 sales up 13% to €5.4bn, which was above analyst expectations.
Momentum continues at Warhammer maker Games Workshop as sales reach £625m
Warhammer owner Games Workshop trading update for FY to 31 May expects core revenue to be at least £625m, up from £565m last year.
Authentic Brands Group confirms Lee Jeans acquisition
Authentic Brands Group has signed a definitive agreement to acquire denim brand Lee Jeans from Kontoor Brands, in a transaction valued at up to $1bn.
Ralph Lauren’s Q4 revenue beats analysts' estimates
Ralph Lauren’s Q4 revenue hit $1.98bn, ahead of analysts’ estimates of $1.85n and revenue for FY26 grew by 15% to $8.1bn.
Morrisons planning to close 100 stores in next few months
Morrisons is planning to close 100 loss-making convenience stores it acquired through its McColls acquisition in 2022.
Quiz Clothing to close remaining stores by June
Administrators for Quiz Clothing have confirmed that the retailer’s remaining 37 stores, with all locations expected to cease trading by June 2026.
TGJones CEO criticises former owner WHSmith for ‘under-investment’
TGJones chief executive Alex Willson has said his fist impression was “the huge scale of under-investment over many years”, in an interview with the Financial Times.
Birkenstock launches $250m share buyback as CEO says company is worth more
Birkenstock is buying back $250m of its shares after its chief executive said there was a disconnect between the footwear brand’s price in the public markets and its value.
Refund fraud could cost retailers £2.3bn annually, with scammers taking 30% cuts
Refund fraud could be costing UK retailers £2.3bn annually, finds a new Cifas-funded report by the University of Portsmouth.
Pepco plans 600 new western European stores after profit rise
Pepco Group said it would open at least 600 new stores across western Europe between 2027 and 2030 after reporting a 17.5% rise in H1 underlying EBITDA to €516m.
TRENDS, SUSTAINABILITY, STRATEGY AND TECHNOLOGY
Why price is still the driving factor even with AI-assisted shopping
Price is the single most influential factor in AI-assisted shopping, with 32% of consumers citing it as their primary decision driver when choosing between recommendations made by an AI assistant.
How Zalando is using AI to reshape fashion content
VP of content at Zalando explains to Drapers how AI is enabling it to deliver faster, more localised and personalised content that reflects how customers live and dress, without sacrificing creativity.
The future of digital commerce will be won by trusted brands
Bartosz Skwarczek, founder of e-commerce platform G2A, explains why the future of online selling belongs to the companies that are the most trusted not those that are most advanced in tech.
Google says AI optimisation is just SEO
Google's new generative AI optimisation guidelines for businesses emphasise the need for traditional SEO tactics to help get better search results with LLMs.
Why relevance now beats reach in the AI-driven buyer journey
As AI changes discovery, brands need clearer messaging, stronger credibility signals, and content built for influence, not just visibility.
B2B buyers trust AI less than marketers think
Gartner research shows buyers want AI speed, but they still turn to humans for confidence and validation.
Boohoo targets Gen Z with new creator-led podcast and YouTube series
Boohoo has launched a new podcast and YouTube series, which will also be available via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, TikTok and Instagram, under the title “Overdressed & Oversharing with Boohoo”.
IAB UK launches creator qualification
The qualification, backed by ISBA and the Advertising Association, aims to increase transparency and trust within influencer marketing.
BRAND NEWS
Debenhams Group is first UK retailer to launch AI-driven checkout on Meta
Debenhams Group is the first UK retailer to enable new AI-driven in-app checkout on Meta, but only for US customers at the moment.
M&S joins again with Kelly Hoppen for new 'comfort' range
M&S has continued its partnership with British interior designer Kelly Hoppen to release a ‘Bedroom & Beyond’ clothing range “where comfort and style are no longer separate."
Lucy & Yak to turn stores into ‘preloved hubs’
Lucy & Yak is turning its stores into dedicated preloved hubs for a weekend this May, as it celebrates second-hand shopping with communities across the UK.
Skims unveils Regent Street flagship
Skims has offered a first look at its upcoming Regent Street flagship. The store, which was first teased in December, spans 12,000 sq ft and was previously occupied by Ted Baker.
John Lewis names Boston United’s Lenell John-Lewis as brand ambassador
John Lewis has named Boston United striker Lenell John-Lewis as its newest brand ambassador and will front the retailer’s ‘Summer of Sport’ campaign.
AND FINALLY
Arsenal kit demand surges after title win
Searches for Arsenal kit at JD Sports have exploded 392% overnight following confirmation of their Premier League win on Tuesday.
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PRSHOTS TOP 10 SEARCHES
What were our users searching for on PRShots Week ending May 15th 2026?
1/ SS26
2/ Bikini
3/ Swimsuit
4/ Beach
5/ Outdoor
6/ Linen
7/ Sandals
8/ Denim
9/ Garden
10/ Dress
PRSHOTS DIARY
PRShots Retail Calendar Alerts
Days until Father’s Day – 30
Days until School Summer holidays (Scotland) - 41
Days until School Summer holidays (England & Wales) – 61
Days until Halloween – 162
Days until Black Friday – 189
Days until Christmas – 217
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)
Cannes Film Festival (12th – 23rd )
Sandwich Week (18th – 24th)
RHS Chelsea Flower Show (19th – 23rd)
National Barbeque Week (25th – 31st )
May - Days
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
Primark has a new Major Find, Performance and Edit range, a new Love to Lounge range of nightwear and Owning the Summer kids clothing, beauty accessories, new Pau Eche (Paula Echevarría) collaborations.
Barbour has a new Wimbledon Edit, a festival dressing range, a new Farm Rio collaboration, new Chelsea Flower Show dressing ranges, a new Icons range, and a Paul Smith Collaboration.
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.
River Island has a new Tolami Benson collaboration, 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.
Accessorize has new accessories including socks, jewellery and scarves, new women’s and kids summer holiday wear including dresses, bikinis, shirts, jewellery, shoes, hats and bags.
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.
Scamp & Dude has new dresses, jumpers, jackets and hoodies, plus a new collaboration with trainer/sports shoe brand Gola.
Peacocks has new Lousie Redknapp SS26 ranges, new Danni Dyer modelled womenswear for the holidays and the beach, new accessories for the summer, including bags, sunglasses, jewellery and sandals, new lingerie and nightwear.
M&S has new gifts for Father’s Day from sunglasses to sandals to short-sleeved shirts.
Matalan has new summer linen womenswear, new menswear, plus women’s summer clothing including dresses, jump suits, halter tops and vests, a new Riveria range of menswear.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Threadbare has new ranges of shorts, dresses, waistcoats, jumpers and jackets for the summer plus nightwear.
Cotton Traders has a new collaboration of summer outfits with Jasmine Harman.
New Look has new season outfits, jewellery and accessories and drops of SS26 ranges including clothes, bags, shoes, boots and accessories.
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
Dune Busby & Fox Fatface National Trust
Home, garden and food
Oliver Bonas has new homeware for the kitchen, dining room and lounge plus new furniture including chairs, tables and lighting.
Home Bargains has a new range of Coastal Retreat themed homeware accessories.
Jellycat has new seaside holiday themed bears and amuseables, new ranges of amuseables for 2026 including Bartholomew Bear, Ricky Rain Frog, Zumblebi Junior.
Cambridge Imprint has new cards and papers, new Italian cotton ribbons, small pocket books, kitchen trays, exercise and hardback books, notebooks, plus Clamshell and Dandelion patterned paper.
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.
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.
Designers Guild has new SS26 soft furnishing design ranges including cushions, rugs and throws.
See additional new home images from
M&S The Orchard Joe Browns B&M Home Bargains
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
Get this newsletter delivered to your email inbox every morning, Mon-Fri, Subscribe on LinkedIn Here
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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