Back to PRShots News 
Main Image: Very
PRShots Roundup brings you the latest retail news from Sainsbury’s, River Island, Majestic Wine, Gap, Lyle & Scott, Asda, Wed2b, Asics, Anya Hindmarch and Very. Plus the Christmas winners and losers and what it says about retail in 2026, how the world will shop in 2026 and beyond and more.
THE LATEST RETAIL INDUSTRY NEWS
Sainsbury’s posts strong Christmas sales
Sainsbury’s has said it won grocery market share for the sixth consecutive Christmas period as the supermarket grew its sales by 4.9% in Q3 to 3 Jan.
Footfall was down 2.9% year on year in the five weeks to 3 Jan 2026 as shoppers awaited post-Christmas Sales, according to data from the BRC-Sensormatic footfall monitor
River Island confirms latest store closure dates
River Island has confirmed the final closure dates of its remaining shops from its list of 33 planned closures as part of its Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) approval.
Owner of Very Group to launch £2bn auction of the company
Private equity firm Carlyle, which took control of the Very Group just months ago, is looking to sell the online retailer to the highest bidder and is expecting the sale to raise £2bn.
Majestic Wine sees pre-tax profits slump by almost 50%
Majestic Wine, the UK’s largest specialist wine retailer, has reported a fall in pre-tax profits of almost 50%, according to newly posted accounts to Companies House.
Shop facial recognition cameras triggered record repeat offender alerts
Facial recognition technology firm Facewatch sent more than half a million real-time offender alerts to retailers in 2025, more than doubling the number issued the previous year.
TRENDS, SUSTAINABILITY, STRATEGY AND TECHNOLOGY
The Christmas winners and losers and what it says about retail in 2026
Internet Retailing takes a look at Christmas 2025 and its impact on the retail sector and finds who were the winners, who lost out, and what does it all mean for the sector in 2026?
How the world will shop in 2026 and beyond
How the next 18 months will reshape global retail more dramatically than any period in the past decade and AI will be behind most of that change.
Gender-specific words cause brands to vanish in AI recommendations
A new study by Rankfor.AI reveals that AI recommendations systematically hide brands based on just one word in a user query: husband, wife, or partner.
7 tips for building a B2B social presence that actually works
Social isn’t a dumping ground for webinars and white papers. Here’s how B2B brands should rethink how they show up.
How will GenAI and agentic shape customer experience in 2026?
The impact of GenAI on commerce has become a major topic of conversation. Econsultancy reveals what this means for the customer experience, and how brands should approach loyalty in 2026.
4 trends marketers must follow in 2026
Martech explores how marketers head into 2026 navigating AI’s next phase, looming tech change and an inbox that’s quietly evolving with cautious optimism intact.
Last-minute shoppers and January sales drive multiple Christmas spending peaks
The 2025 UK Christmas retail season was defined by a series of distinct spending waves, as consumers shifted from early gift-buying to last-minute essentials and post-holiday sales.
PEOPLE, MOVERS AND SHAKERS
Gap turns to M&S for new strategy director
Gap has named former Marks & Spencer head of portfolio of international business Elizabeth Burgess as its new senior director of strategy.
BRAND NEWS
Lyle & Scott in sponsorship deal with Football Writers’ Association
Lyle & Scott has been confirmed as the new sponsor of the Football Writers’ Association (FWA), taking over the partnership previously held by gambling giant William Hill.
Asda launches Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons loyalty price match
Asda is pledging to undercut its rival grocery retailers by offering customers cheaper prices than Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons loyalty deals on thousands of everyday products.
Wed2b to open third Birmingham store
Bridal retailer Wed2b is to open a third store in Birmingham as it looks to strengthen its presence in the Midlands.
ASICS reinforces brand purpose with new ‘Move Your Body, Move Your Mind’ campaign
Japanese giant ASICS has launched a new global campaign under the banner of ‘Move Your Body, Move Your Mind’, featuring a reimagined version of The Beach Boys' hit ‘Good Vibrations’.
Anya Hindmarch collaborates with Boots on new concept store
Anya Hindmarch’s Village Hall concept on London’s Pont Street is set to turn into a retro pharmacy in collaboration with health and beauty chain Boots.
Tommy Hilfiger Launches Global Partnership With Liverpool FC
The brand’s latest professional sports deal is its first formalwear partnership with a football club in over 20 years.
Tess Daly’s Naia Beach launches activewear
Luxury swimwear brand and Drapers Independents Awards 2024 winner Naia Beach, co-founded by broadcaster Tess Daly and Gayle Lawton, has grown its offer with an activewear range.
AND FINALLY
Excel: The software that's hard to quit
Excel is 40 years old and is ubiquitous in the business world. According to research by Acuity Training, external, two-thirds of office workers use Excel at least once every hour.
PRSHOTS TOP 10 SEARCHES
What were our users searching for on PRShots Week ending Jan 2nd 2026?
1/ SS26
2/ Valentine
3/ Cushion
4/ Lingerie
5/ Green
6/ Flowers
7/ Cap
8/ Trench Coat
9/ Red
10/ Peach
PRSHOTS DIARY
PRShots Retail Calendar Alerts
Days until Winter Olympics Milano Cortina - 28
Days until Valentine’s Day – 36
Days until Winter Paralympics Milano Cortina - 56
Days until Mother’s Day – 65
Days until Easter – 86
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
Houseplant Week (5th –11th)
The London Textile Fair (13th – 14th)
The Furniture Show NEC Birmingham (18th– 21st)
Cervical Cancer Prevention Week (19th – 25th)
Diary - Days
12th – Alcohol-free searches peak
14th - Orthodox New Year
17th - Ditch Your Resolution Day #DitchYourResolutionDay
19th - Have a Brew and Chat Monday/Blue Monday
19th – Martin Luther King Day (US)
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
Rhoen is the brainchild of designer Rebecca Rhoades. The Rhoen collection features ready-to-wear, bridal, party, signature and casual ranges of luxury womenswear, featuring big bright prints and colours in mini, midi and maxi lengths.
BRANDS WITH NEW IMAGES
Clothing, beauty and accessories
Primark has new athleisure wear for the spring for men and women, plus new cosmetics ranges.
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.
Peacocks has new ranges for men and women modelled by Louise Redknapp, Dani Dyer and Michael Owen.
Barbour has new jumpers and bags for the New Year and has new collaborations with Ganni, Baracuta, Sorel, Levi’s, Arket, Paul Smith, Farm Rio and a collaboration with Kaptain Sunshine of outdoor wear.
Very has a new Transitional Very Collection, new Valentine’s related clothing, a Winter footwear, a Rebellious Romance clothing line for Valentines, a new Michelle Keegan collaboration, a new Very collection and new Winter layering 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.
River Island has new 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.
Bonmarché has new Dash ranges and Lorraine Kelly Spring 2026 ranges.
Accessorize has new SS26 womenswear, new Valentine's day and & bridal accessories, Christmas gift ranges including slippers, scarves, gloves, hats and bags, plus accessory ranges with sunglasses, jewellery, and belts.
New Look has new season outfits and accessories and drops of AW25 ranges including clothes, bags, shoes, boots and accessories.
Scamp & Dude has new outerwear ranges and ‘Swag Bags with Purpose’ gift ranges for Valentine’s Day.
Deichmann has a new Bridgerton collaboration of shoes, bags and accessories.
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.
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.
Lola Starr has a new Earth Collection of activewear for the new year new you health kick.
Cotton Traders has new SS26 women’s and menswear available in January.
See additional new clothing and accessories images from
M&S Threadbare Inspecs TK Maxx Curvy Kate
Home, garden and food
Quorn Stone has new natural stone, and marble and stone effect ranges, new terracotta decorative tiles, natural stone range, marble and decorative effect tiles.
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.
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.
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.
Homesense has gifts for Valentine’s Day new ranges of soft furnishings and things for the lounge, kitchen and dining room.
Oliver Bonas has new February and January homeware for the dining room, living room and bedroom, plus Valentine’s gifts.
Hobbycraft has new Easter wreath ideas as well as Valentine gifts and ideas for adult crafters, children and teens.
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.
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
Designers Guild Dunelm TK Maxx 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.
NEWSLETTER SECTIONS
THE LATEST RETAIL INDUSTRY NEWS
HOW TO GET YOUR BRAND NOTICED BY THE MEDIA
NEW IMAGERY ON PRSHOTS IN FASHION/BEAUTY/HOME
Related articles
