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PRShots Roundup brings you the latest retail news from Dr Martens, Currys, Victorian Plumbing, Topps Tiles, Fila, Ikea, Lululemon, WHSmith, Asda, Barbour, Suit Direct, Dusk, Grove England, Shoezone, H&M, and Max&Co. Plus, what’s next for Boots under new CEO Alex Baldock, why “drop culture” is reshaping online shopping and more.
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THE LATEST RETAIL INDUSTRY NEWS
Dr Martens turnaround gathers pace as profits leap 61%
Dr Martens has returned to profit growth with a 61.3% rise in adjusted pre-tax profit to £55m for the FY to 29 March 2026.
Currys trading statement for the year to 2 May says it now expects full year adjusted pre-tax profit to increase by 18% to £191m.
Victorian Plumbing sales rise as tiles and flooring revenue surges
Victorian Plumbing has posted double-digit sales growth in its first half, as it benefited from strong order volumes and rapid expansion in tiles and flooring.
UK unemployment unexpectedly rises to 5%
Unemployment in the UK has unexpectedly risen to 5% while wage growth has slowed, according to official figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Government launches £20m crackdown on ‘dodgy’ high street stores
The government has launched a new specialist unit to target high street businesses suspected of being used to launder criminal cash, including vape stores, barbers, mini-marts and sweet shops.
Topps Tiles ‘a market outperformer’ despite falling profits
Topps Tiles chief executive Alex Jensen said the retailer “remains a market outperformer”, despite reporting a slump in pre-tax profits.
Fila owner profits and sales rise
Fila’s Korean parent company, Misto Holdings, has posted a 4.2% rise in revenue to reach KRW1.3tn (£650m) and a 19% rise in operating profit year-on-year for Q1 2026.
BCC warns crime is becoming ‘serious barrier’ to UK growth
The British Chambers of Commerce said on Sunday that rising shoplifting, fraud and cyber-attacks against retailers and other businesses are becoming a barrier to UK economic growth
Ikea franchiser slashes 850 jobs in cost-cutting drive
Inter Ikea, which franchises the Swedish budget home furniture brand – but not the stores- in 63 countries, is laying off 850 workers in a cost-cutting drive.
QVC’s $6bn debt crash leaves investors fighting over the leftovers
QVC’s bankruptcy battle has taken a fresh turn after preferred shareholders objected to a restructuring plan that could wipe out their $1.4bn investment.
Lululemon says talks with founder collapsed
Lululemon tried unsuccessfully to settle its bitter proxy fight with founder Chip Wilson last week and said Wilson has "outdated perspectives."
TRENDS, SUSTAINABILITY, STRATEGY AND TECHNOLOGY
What’s next for Boots under new CEO Alex Baldock?
The owner of Boots confirmed this morning that outgoing Currys boss Alex Baldock would be joining the health and beauty chain in the autumn as its new chief executive.
Why “drop culture” is reshaping online shopping
Thanks to drop culture, shopping is no longer merely about fulfilling a need; it becomes an active, engaging experience. Each drop feels like a special occasion - something not to be missed.
Why does Amazon have no Western rivals?
Why does Amazon, launched by Jeff Bezos in 1995 as an online bookstore out of a rented garage, have so few serious rivals in the West? The BBC investigates why there are no Western online rivals.
Is ASOS’s Instagram feed wipe a rebrand or marketing genius?
Performance Marketing World speaks to ASOS’s Head of Brand to find out why it deleted its entire Instagram feed.
Kate Middleton and Harry Styles top list of UK's celebrity style influencers
A new study has shown that Kate Middleton - that is, the Princess of Wales - is the most influential UK celebrity style-wise on consumers around the world.
WHSmith launches AI shopping assistant
WHSmith has launched a new AI-powered retail assistant designed to help travellers make quicker and more confident purchasing decisions in airport stores.
The machines that could make your next t-shirt
Just a few per cent of clothes sold in the UK are made here, but robot manufacturers are hard at work to crack the tricky process of creating garments. It's solved for underwear and t-shirts are next.
BRAND NEWS
Asda launches 400 new lines in bid to win back shoppers
Asda has unveiled a major product and price refresh with more than 400 new food and drink lines across frozen, bakery, fresh produce, meat and food-to-go.
Barbour links with Monty Don for SS26 campaign
Barbour has become a popular brand for collaborations in recent years as well as for partnerships with famous faces, the latest of which is a link-up with Monty Don.
England to open its first-ever pop-up store on Carnaby Street ahead of World Cup
The England football team is set to open its first official pop-up store on London’s Carnaby Street ahead of the 2026 Men’s FIFA World Cup.
Suit Direct targets 10 store openings in 2026
Suit Direct is targeting 10 new store openings this year as the menswear retailer accelerates its turnaround strategy and doubles down on physical retail expansion.
Dusk launches home and furniture range on Very
Very has expanded its homeware offering with the addition of 170 items from fast-growing furniture and upholstery brand Dusk.
Fragrance brand Grove England opens Cotswolds flagship
British fragrance brand Grove England has opened a flagship store in Stow-on-the-Wold, marking a major milestone in its expansion.
Shoezone launches on TikTok Shop
Shoezone has launched on TikTok Shop as the footwear retailer steps up its social commerce strategy.
H&M and Laura Ashley to launch kidswear collab
A long-time parental favourite, Laura Ashley’s kidswear has been given a fashion-meets-heritage update via a collaboration with global brand H&M.
Max&Co opens on Regent Street, its first London standalone
Max&Co has opened its new London flagship, its first in the city. The Max Mara Group-owned label was previously only available via department stores in Britain and Ireland. .
AND FINALLYx2
Driver jailed for hiding cocaine in Kim Kardashian Skims delivery
A Polish driver was jailed for smuggling cocaine worth more than £7m hidden in a lorry transporting Kim Kardashian's Skims underwear.
The challenge of identifying fake football shirts
The high prices for the official 2026 World Cup shirts is pushing many fans towards a parallel market of ultra-realistic replicas, and it’s getting very hard to separate the real from the fake.
WANT TO GET YOUR IMAGERY IN FRONT OF OVER 20,000 MEDIA?
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GET PRSHOTS PULSE SOCIAL LISTENING SOLUTION
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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 – 33
Days until School Summer holidays (Scotland) - 44
Days until School Summer holidays (England & Wales) – 64
Days until Halloween – 165
Days until Black Friday – 192
Days until Christmas – 220
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
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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WANT TO GET YOUR IMAGERY IN FRONT OF OVER 20,000 MEDIA?
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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
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, and new lingerie and nightwear.
Scamp & Dude has new dresses, jumpers, jackets and hoodies, plus a new collaboration with trainer/sports shoe brand Gola.
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.
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.
Primark has a new 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 of clothing, shoes, accessories and jewellery, plus outfits for the beach.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Oliver Bonas has new homeware for the kitchen, dining room and lounge plus new furniture including chairs, tables and lighting.
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.
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
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.
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