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PRShots Roundup brings you the latest retail news from French Connection, Poundland, Guess, Beauty Bay, LVMH, Iceland, Tesco, Vera Wang, B&Q and Decathalon and Sainsbury’s. Plus, Tom Joule on what’s coming next for the Joules brand, why AI visibility should be a business priority and more.
THE LATEST RETAIL INDUSTRY NEWS
French Connection strikes major North America deal with G-III
French Connection has unveiled a long-term partnership with US clothing giant G-III Apparel Group, to develop and distribute their products in the US.
Poundland ends store closure programme as it relaunches clothing and value push
Poundland has confirmed the end of its restructuring-related store closure programme and the return of in-house designed PEP&CO clothing to stores across the UK and Ireland.
Authentic Brands Group completes transaction to take Guess private
Following much speculation last year, Authentic Brands Group has now acquired a 51% stake in Guess, in a “landmark deal” which takes the company private.
Beauty Bay appoints advisors to undertake strategic review
Beauty Bay is understood to be exploring options to raise new funding through a process that could ultimately lead to a sale of the business.
King’s Cross reports sales growth driven by Coal Drops Yard retailers
London’s King’s Cross shopping area has posted a 20% year-on-year increase in sales across the estate as demand for its retail and leisure offer continued to grow.
Meta, EssilorLuxottica sued in smart glasses patent case
Meta is being sued by another glasses maker Solos Technology over patent infringement in a case that also targets eyewear giant EssilorLuxottica and its Oakley subsidiary.
LVMH investors demand clarity on Bernard Arnault succession plan
Some LVMH shareholders are seeking clarity on how and to whom Bernard Arnault plans to hand over leadership, saying the lack of transparency is increasingly becoming a risk for the group.
First wave of redundancies hits Russell & Bromley
34 head office roles have been cut at Russell & Bromley following its acquisition by Next on 21 January.
TRENDS, SUSTAINABILITY, STRATEGY AND TECHNOLOGY
Tom Joule on what’s coming next for the Joules brand
Tom Joule is entering the new year with a pep in his step. His eponymous lifestyle brand is on track to turn its first profit since it collapsed into administration in 2022.
Why AI visibility should be a business priority
AI is replacing your website as the first customer touchpoint. MarTech explains why AI visibility should now be a data, governance and revenue priority.
Charles Jeffrey and Christopher Kane on building a brand
Charles Jeffrey and Christopher Kane both launched eponymous brands, tell Vogue Business their thoughts on what it takes to scale as an indie label in Britain.
New LinkedIn marketing tactics and tools for 2026
See new tactics and tools you need to know on LinkedIn, plus tips for building an effective LinkedIn marketing strategy in 2026.
Men's fashion turns to embroidery as guys want 'something different'
Men's fashion is embracing embroidery and handcrafted textiles that were once viewed as old-fashioned or feminine, with a clutch of modern Indian brands poised to benefit
Iceland bolsters retail media with ‘UK first’ sensor technology
Iceland Foods is rolling out “UK first” ad-tracking sensor-based technology throughout its retail media network, as it seeks to bolster its in-store advertising.
Tesco is set to introduce a new crime reporting platform across 40 stores
Tesco is trialling a new crime reporting platform with the goal of decreasing retail crime, keeping colleagues safe and increasing collaboration with the police and wider retail industry.
Shopify merchants face 4% OpenAI fee on ChatGPT sales
Shopify merchants will reportedly pay a 4% fee on sales made via OpenAI-powered checkouts, on top of standard transaction charges.
What’s next for Russell & Bromley under new ownership?
Russell & Bromley was scooped up by high street giant Next this week, acquiring the specialist retailer’s brand and assets in a pre-pack deal.
How top brands are driving the experience-led loyalty revolution
The ongoing cost-of-living crisis has driven an uptick in loyalty schemes. But, in an increasingly crowded market, what are the best tactics for retailers looking to stand out from the crowd?
PRShots launches new 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.
PEOPLE, MOVERS AND SHAKERS
N Brown Group chief customer operations officer leaves the business
N Brown chief customer operations officer Clare Empson has left the business after two years in the role. Empson previously worked with Ted Baker.
BRAND NEWS
Sainsbury’s offering 50% Nectar card discounts
Sainsbury’s has cut the price of fruit, vegetable and fridge staples by up to 50%, to entice shoppers away from rival retailers.
Decathlon honours its heritage with Vertigo 76 collection
At the end of January, Decathlon is launching Vertigo 76, a winter outdoor collection inspired by its archives dating back to 1976.
Vera Wang enters 'new era' launching ready-to-wear line in UK
Bridal label Vera Wang is entering a new phase of its evolution, unveiling a debut ready-to-wear line for the UK and European markets with the launch of its Autumn/Winter 2026 collection.
Manolo Blahnik accelerates China expansion with first Beijing boutique
Manolo Blahnik has unveiled its first boutique in Beijing, marking a significant milestone in the luxury British footwear brand’s expansion across Mainland China.
B&Q launches standalone store format to pursue £1bn TradePoint ambition
B&Q will open its first standalone TradePoint store in Barking this March, marking a strategic shift as the home improvement retailer seeks to transform its trade division into a £1bn business.
AND FINALLY x3
Stars turn out for Valentino's funeral in Rome
Anne Hathaway and Donatella Versace were among the stars who attended the funeral Friday of legendary Italian designer Valentino Garavani.
Ikea hides prices to highlight product craft
Ikea’s latest campaign from ad agency Mother London flips the usual January sales script by hiding prices and spotlighting product quality instead.
Lululemon now asks leggings buyers to wear skin-toned underwear
The ‘Get Low’ leggings, derided for being see-through, are available for sale again online, now with a disclaimer to size up and pair the leggings with skin-tone, seamless underwear.
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.
PRSHOTS TOP 10 SEARCHES
What were our users searching for on PRShots Week ending Jan 23rd 2026?
1/ SS26
2/ Valentine
3/ Bathroom
4/ Easter
5/ AW25
6/ Kitchen
7/ Floral
8/ Jeans
9/ Cushion
10/ Bedroom
PRSHOTS DIARY
PRShots Retail Calendar Alerts
Days until Winter Olympics Milano Cortina - 11
Days until Valentine’s Day – 19
Days until Winter Paralympics Milano Cortina - 39
Days until Mother’s Day – 48
Days until Easter – 69
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.
Diary - Days
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
February Diary
How to make your products and brand attractive to the media in February
Our February 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.
Aside from continuing to keep an eye on those SS26 drops, the first half of the month is about preparing for Valentine’s Day issues, and the second half is about getting ready for Easter. It’s at the start of April (Good Friday is the 3rd April) this year, so you still have time to prepare.
For Valentine’s Day, make sure everything has some of the keywords the media will be looking for, eg gifts, pink, red, lingerie, etc. For Easter, make sure everything has some of the keywords the media will be looking for, eg eggs, chocolate, easter bunny, easter egg, chick, etc.
As we’re coming out of winter, it’s time to start putting up images for the spring and summer. So anything related to getting out of the house is good, so get uploading images and adding keywords relating to summer outfits, swimwear, the garden, garden parties and Barbecues (don’t forget to add all of the other spellings BBQ, Bar-B-Que, etc).
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.
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.
February Diary - Weeks/Months
In the UK, it’s LGBT+ History Month and National Wedding Month and Go Red for Heart Month; in the US, this is Black History Month and National Bird Feeding Month. It's a great month for food, we have Pancake Day, National Pizza Day and Bread Week (21st Feb - 1st Mar)
Other events include;
National Storytelling Week (31st Jan – 8th Feb)
Moda x Pure Spring Fair, NEC Birmingham (1st -4th)
New Homes Week (2nd – 8th)
National Apprenticeship Week (9th - 15th)
New York Fashion Week (12th-17th)
London Fashion Week (19th – 23rd)
Diary - Days
1st – World Hijab Day
1st – Yorkshire Pudding Day UK
1st – Tu B’Shevat
2nd – Groundhog Day Again!!
4th – World Cancer Day
5th – Time to talk day
6th – Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony
6th – National Sickie Day
6th - National Wear Red Day (Support for Heart disease) (US)
8th – Valentine’s Day searches peak
8th – NFL Super Bowl
9th – National Pizza Day (US)
11th – Flower searches peak for Valentine’s Day
14th – Valentine’s Day
15th – Singles Awareness Day
15th – Maha Shivaratri
17th - Start of Ramadan
17th - Random Acts of Kindness Day (US)
17th – Chinese Luna New Year – (This year it’s the year of the Horse)
17th – Pancake Day/Shrove Tuesday
18th – Ash Wednesday
18th – National Drink Wine Day (UK)
20th – National Love Your Pet Day
22nd – Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony
22nd – BAFTA Film Awards
22nd – New car searches rise
23rd – UK Holiday searches peak
27th - National Wear Red Day (Support for Heart disease) (UK)
28th - The Brit Awards
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
Curvy Kate has new swimwear for SS26 including Sunset Palm, Wild Horizon, Zip Tide, Siren Seas, Deep Dive, Jet Set, Ibiza, Beach Bliss and Hollyday ranges.
M&S has new Valentine’s Day nightwear and lingerie, plus kidswear and baby wear ranges.
Inspecs has new sunglasses from Superdry, Radley and Barbour and SS26 ranges.
Salts Cashmere has new SS26 designs for him and her.
Matalan has new kidswear for World Book Day, 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.
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.
Primark has new Major Finds womenswear range, 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.
Accessorize has new SS26 womenswear, bags and jewellery, plus new Valentine's Day and & bridal accessories.
Oliver Bonas has March, February and Valentine’s Day ranges of clothing, bags, jewellery 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.
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.
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.
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.
See additional new clothing and accessories images from
Home, garden and food
Very has a new Very collection of furniture, wall art and 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.
M&S has new furniture and homeware collections, Valentine’s Day gifts, new homeware ranges for the spring and summer.
Habitat has new homeware for the bedroom from beds to soft furnishings, plus 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.
Cambridge Imprint has new Valentine’s Day and Easter decorations, new albums, notebooks, cards and patterned paper for SS26 including its Alhambra, Windmill and Songbird ranges.
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.
B&M has a Baby Event of toddler and baby accessories, plus Valentines gifts for him and her.
Designers Guild has new Palette Provencale SS26 range of materials for the home.
Hobbycraft has new crafting supplies, Easter wreath ideas as well as Valentine gifts and ideas for adult crafters, children and teens.
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.
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.
Oliver Bonas has new February and January homeware for the dining room, living room and bedroom, plus Valentine’s gifts.
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, with prices starting at just £50 a month.
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