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PRShots Roundup brings you the latest retail news from BrandAlley, Wickes, Shein, Temu, Greggs, Co-op, Victoria’s Secret, Lee Jeans, Paul Smith, Eme Studios, Yours Clothing and Burberry. Plus Crocs’ Adrian Holloway on why physical retail is vital to its strategy, is fast homeware the new fast fashion and more.
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THE LATEST RETAIL INDUSTRY NEWS
Retail sales fall in April thanks to Easter timing and consumer mood
UK retail sales fell 3% in April as the later timing of Easter distorted year-on-year comparisons and weak consumer confidence weighed on discretionary spending.
UK households cut back spending at fastest rate in 16 months
A 0.1% dip in card spending in April, particularly on travel, suggests Britons preparing for harder times amid Iran war fallout.
Members-only flash sale specialist BrandAlley looks to click with buyers
BrandAlley the members-only online site, which sells brands from Dolce & Gabbana to Dyson, has drafted in City advisers to explore a potential sale.
Greggs sales boosted by new menu offering in 2026
Greggs has reported improved trading in the 19 weeks to 9 May, with total sales up by 7.5% to £800m, launching 41 new shops and closing 21 in the period.
Wickes sees like-for-like retail revenue soften despite volume growth
DIY retailer Wickes like-for-like group revenue was broadly flat at £537m, down -0.1%, in the 17 weeks to April 25, 2026 against the same period last year.
Shein and Temu face off at High Court over ‘industrial-scale’ copyright claims
Temu has accused Shein of using litigation to stifle competition, as the fast fashion rivals’ latest legal clash opened at London’s High Court
L'Oréal outperforms market in UK and Ireland
L'Oréal UK and Ireland results show turnover up 4% to just under £1,622bn with an operating profit of £256.1m, up from £241.4m in 2024.
Co-op doubles down on high streets with 24-store investment push
Co-op is set to launch 24 new and refurbished stores during Q2 and follows 18 store launches Q1, taking Co-op’s total number of openings and refurbishments to more than 40 during H1 2026.
Victoria’s Secret blocks billionaire investor Brett Blundy from board seat
Victoria’s Secret has blocked Australian billionaire Brett Blundy from becoming a director and that one board member will not stand for re-election because of Blundy's pressure campaign.
Authentic Brands Group seen as top contender to buy Lee Jeans
Brand management company Authentic Brands is said to have been in exclusive talks - and still wants to do a deal - for Lee Jeans, which Kontoor is divesting.
TRENDS, SUSTAINABILITY, STRATEGY AND TECHNOLOGY
Crocs’ Adrian Holloway on why physical retail is vital to its strategy
Crocs MD has said the brand will be “bigger internationally than it is in the US” in 2026, with the company planning to open between 200-250 stores across key markets and territories globally.
Is fast homeware the new fast fashion?
Home décor used to be about settling, now it’s about switching things up. Research shows we throw away nearly 70m homeware items every year, adding up to around £2.2bn in discarded goods.
Will virtual try-on technology solve the retail returns problem?
Virtual try-on and augmented reality (AR) are not new innovations, yet more brands and retailers are investing in this space. Fashion powerhouse Zara is one of them.
You could already have the data AI needs to deliver value
The challenge is no longer collecting information, but making organisational knowledge accessible when decisions happen.
How the big brands are recreating the in-store experience online
Why beauty and luxury brands and retailers such as Sephora UK are rethinking where their digital experience really lives.
How to build content your competitors cannot copy
MarTech explains how to turn internal expertise into content that stands out in a sea of AI generated sameness.
Adapting to changing customer behaviour is now a top priority for nine in ten retailers
New research reveals 91% of retail business owners and decision-makers say adapting to changing customer behaviour is now a top business priority, both in-store and behind the scenes.
Eco-conscious shoppers buy 66% more online
Research has found that sustainability-focused consumers are becoming one of the most influential customer groups in the UK, buying 66% more items online than the average consumer.
PEOPLE, MOVERS AND SHAKERS
Paul Smith names new managing director
Paul Smith has appointed former Fortnum & Mason director Zia Zareem-Slade as its new managing director.
BRAND NEWS
Eme Studios to open debut UK store in London
Spanish streetwear brand Eme Studios has announced plans to open its first permanent store outside of Spain on London’s Carnaby Street.
Burberry bets on British heritage and Gen Z
Burberry’s bet on Gen Z shoppers and reviving its British heritage will come under the microscope as investors hope the brand’s cost-cutting is paying off.
Sun, sea and sausage rolls as Greggs opens first travel store outside UK
Fast food retailer Greggs is set to open a branch in Tenerife South Airport in partnership with Lagardère Travel Retail.
TikTok searches for ‘Sleeveless Dress Outfits’ rise as temperatures climb, says Yours Clothing
As UK temperatures slowly begin to rise, new TikTok search data reveals growing demand for warm-weather styling, with searches for “sleeveless dress outfits” increasing.
Costa Coffee and Sainsbury’s open their 50th in-store coffee shop
Costa Coffee and Sainsbury’s have reached a major milestone in their partnership with the opening of a 50th café in a supermarket since the partnerships launch in 2024.
Burberry steps into activewear for first time
Burberry has unveiled Burberry Activewear, a new “lifestyle collection” but in line with the core principle of its recovery strategy, it’s “rooted in the house’s heritage of outdoor and sports clothing”.
AND FINALLYx2
Nike sued by consumers for not refunding tariff costs
Nike is one of a group of brands including Ray-Ban sued by consumers who accused the sportswear maker of not refunding tariff-related costs it passed on in the form of higher prices.
Snack giant switches to black and white packaging as Iran war hits ink supplies
Japanese snack giant Calbee says it will temporarily switch to black and white packaging for some its best-known products as supplies of an ingredient used in ink have been disrupted by the Iran war.
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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 – 40
Days until School Summer holidays (Scotland) - 51
Days until School Summer holidays (England & Wales) – 71
Days until Halloween – 172
Days until Black Friday – 199
Days until Christmas – 227
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
12th – International Nurses Day
13th – World Cocktail Day
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
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.
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.
Bonmarché has a new Lorraine loves range, Dash range of womenswear, new summer outfits, beachwear, including dresses, tops, bikinis, swimsuits, shirts and shorts, plus women’s wear for the summer holidays modelled by Lisa Snowdon.
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.
Regatta has a new extensive range of everyday womenswear for all occasions, and new Orla Kiely collaboration of jackets, dresses and coats.
M&S has a new menswear range, a new 300-piece Body range of lingerie, a new Gillian Anderson collaboration, new Autograph lingerie and nightwear ranges, new menswear ranges, new SS26 accessories, jewellery, shoes and bags.
Dune has new bags and shoes for SS26.
Busby & Fox has new linen smart and casual wear for the summer holidays, including trousers, dresses and jackets, plus a range of chunky cardigans.
Fatface has new womenswear ranges for the summer holidays from bathing suits to cardigans for cooler evenings.
National Trust has new collaborations with clothing and accessory ranges for the outdoors for men and women from Craghoppers.
See additional new clothing and accessories images from
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.
B&M has a holiday shop range of kids’ beach toys, tech, bags and luggage, a Great Outdoors range including camping gear and everything for the garden from solar lights to cushions, new limited edition Isle Life range of homeware.
See additional new home images from
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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