Main Image: Roman Originals

PRShots Roundup brings you the latest retail news from Very Group, Iceland, Monsoon, Accessorize, Tesco, Co-op, Poundland, Nobody’s Child, P&Co, Newbie, Mammas & Papas and River Island. Plus, why your emails still miss the inbox even if you’re ‘in compliance’, how to ensure you meet Google’s EEAT search criteria and more.  

THE LATEST RETAIL INDUSTRY NEWS

Very Group margin focus dents sales but drives profits higher

Very Group results for the 39 weeks to 29 Mar show a 3.8% drop in revenue to £1.603bn but EBITDA profits grew 8.8% to £214.9m.

Iceland to more than double the number of local convenience stores

Iceland plans to “more than double” the number of local convenience stores in a major expansion programme.  

Monsoon Accessorize to return to profit after ‘painful’ year

Monsoon Accessorize CEO Nick Stowe expects the business to return to profit at the end of the current financial year, after reporting a loss of £2.2m for the year to 31 Aug 2024.

Oxford Street vacancies are at historic lows

Savills figures show London's Oxford Street Q1 vacancy rate was 0.5% the first time it has fallen below 1% since Q1 2019.

Retail sales advance in April as warm weather boosts food and DIY

Retail sales climbed to 1.2% in April according to the Office for National Statistics and follows a rise of 0.1% in March.

Consumer confidence improves but economic concerns have ‘not disappeared’

Consumer confidence nudged three points to -20 in May across all key indicators despite economic concerns, including inflation and Trump’s tariffs, having “not disappeared”.

TRENDS, SUSTAINABILITY, STRATEGY AND TECHNOLOGY

Why your emails still miss the inbox even if you’re ‘in compliance’

Think meeting authentication requirements is enough? Here’s what most senders miss and how to fix it to boost deliverability and engagement.

7 tips for getting started with AI agents and automations

AI-powered automation doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Here are actionable tips to start small and scale thoughtfully.

The best time to post on TikTok

Hootsuite reveals the best time to post on TikTok varies by industry and day of the week. Use these recommendations to make sure your videos get seen.

How to ensure you meet Google’s EEAT search criteria

Google instructs its human quality raters to apply EEAT (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) when evaluating a page on search results. Does your site meet the requirements.

PEOPLE, MOVERS AND SHAKERS

River Island group merchandising director departs

River Island's group merchandising director Paul Sprackling has stepped down after 26 years with the business.

Tesco UK CEO steps down to ‘pursue other opportunities’

Tesco UK chief executive Matthew Barnes has stepped down to “pursue other opportunities” in a leadership reshuffle after only lasting a year in the role.

BRAND NEWS

Co-op to roll out electronic shelf labels to all stores by 2026

Co-op is planning to replace its paper pricing tags with electronic shelf labels in all its 2,400 stores by 2026.

Poundland simplifies loyalty scheme

Poundland has simplified its loyalty scheme in its latest turnaround efforts by returning boss Barry Williams.

Nobody’s Child doubles down on store growth with new Brighton opening

Nobody’s Child has opened its largest standalone store to date in Brighton, as the conscious fashion brand continues to expand its brick-and-mortar portfolio beyond London.

P&Co to open flagship in London in June

British fashion brand P&Co, hailing from Birmingham, is opening its first flagship store in London’s Spitalfields next month.

TFG London opens largest multibrand flagship at Liverpool One

TFG London, the parent company of Hobbs, Phase Eight and Whistles, has opened what it says is its biggest multibrand flagship store in the Liverpool One centre.

Newbie opens new store in Bromley as part of UK expansion

Newbie, the Swedish baby and childrenswear brand, has continued its international expansion with the opening of a new store in Bromley.

Mamas & Papas to open new concept store at Trafford Centre

Mamas & Papas is to open a new concept flagship store at Trafford Centre as it relocates within the scheme.

AND FINALLY

Retail’s not dead, but mediocre retail is dead

London’s reputation as a potent international retailing destination was underlined last week as almost 1,000 senior industry figures attended the 18th edition of World Retail Congress.

JOIN THE GREEN GRADS

Green Grads are looking for new recruits and sponsors

Green Grads is a platform for recent UK graduates with ideas to heal the planet and it’s now recruiting for its fifth cohort, with over 200 current grads listed on the website. It’s also a great chance for a brand to show commitment to the environment and sustainability by joining Green Grads expanding cooperative of outward-looking forward-facing stellar British brands by becoming a sponsor. Sponsorship opportunities start with the comparatively modest sum of £500 and current sponsors include such well-known names as Heal's, Anglepoise, Ercol, the Futon Company, Camira and many more. To find out more see http://www.greengrads.co.uk

PRSHOTS TOP 10 SEARCHES

What were our users searching for on PRShots Week ending May 16^th 2025?

1/ SS25

2/ Garden

3/ Embroidered

4/ Yellow

5/ Bag

6/ Summer

7/ Bikini

8/ Sandals

9/ Dress  

10/ Swimsuit

HELP WITH YOUR IMAGE SEARCHES

The latest images on PRShots are found here https://www.prshots.com/whatsnew why not bookmark the page for a regular feed of the latest images on PRShots!! You can select the latest images from the last 24 hours, week, or month.

NEW BRANDS TO PRSHOTS

The Orchard specialises in everything for the home and the garden, from sofas and chairs to soft furnishings and kitchenware through to barbecues and firepits.

Boux Avenue is a UK lingerie, nightwear and swimwear brand. Their clothes are designed in London to be flattering, flirty and feminine, from signature lace and exclusive embroideries in bridal outfits, to the stylish and comfortable lounge and swimwear.  

Sketched by Siena is a unique card design company founded in 2020 by Siena, a graphic design graduate from Ravensbourne University who creates the cards by hand with the help of her sister Ellie.

Cave Cove was born from the rhythm of the tides and the wonder of the wild. Founded by three women, the brand is at its heart a female-led business created for the benefit of the many, not the few. Every embroidered detail, every flowing pattern, and every delicate texture on its clothing ranges is a reminder to embrace the elements and live with gentle joy.

Ruggable all started at the kitchen table. That's where Jeneva Bell first conceived of a rug you could put in your washing machine. After years of development, they launched the original Ruggable machine-washable rug and the brand has gone on to be hugely successful ever since.

BRANDS WITH NEW IMAGES

Clothing, beauty and accessories

Primark has beachwear for all the family including shorts, trunks, bikinis, swimsuits, trousers, tops, sandals and accessories, a new Youth range, a Lilo and Stitch collaboration on clothes, plus handbags and shoes, new Edit ranges and retro band t-shirts for grown-ups and baby grows for musical toddlers.

Roman Originals has new outfits with this summer’s must-haves, crochet and embroidery/broderie anglaise, including big-pattern midi-length summer dresses, Bardot tops, denim, trousers and cropped pants, plus Petite, Dusk and Curve ranges for the summer.

Fable England has Forget Me Not jewellery, bag charms and jewellery based on the Beatrix Potter Peter Rabbit characters, new Alice’s Garden, Running Bunny and Bunny Blues jewellery and bags, Wonderland ranges of bags and scarves.

Sims Wear has new menswear cut-outs and campaign images.

Threadbare has a new menswear, Spring Romance and Another Sunday ranges of clothing and new summer footwear and beachwear, plus a Spring Romance womenswear range, plus new SS25 womenswear and menswear ranges.

Matalan has new makeup ranges, new accessory ranges for women, Kappa ranges of athleisure wear including clothes bags and sliders, a collaboration with Lilo & Stitch on kids clothes and accessories, and new Holiday shop swimwear collections.

Accessorize has new beachwear including shirts, shorts, bikinis and dresses, plus accessories including makeup sandals, bags, card holders and jewellery.

Barbour has new fragrance ranges, festival outfits, mens summer outfits including a range of festival wellies, plus a new Crocs collaboration, a Very British Summer collaboration of clothes and accessories with Lucy Williams.

Monsoon has new May, June and July drops, new wedding and bridal ranges, new SS25 ranges for the beach and holidays, plus women’s and kids clothing for the summer, new sandals for the beach.

M&S has new t-shirts, sandals, shoes, sunglasses, swimsuits and bikini ranges, Autograph underwear, suede-themed range of clothing, a Collection range of women's clothes, shoes, bags, jewellery, and accessories, new Per Una clothing ranges.

New Look has new women's wear, swimwear, footwear and accessories for the summer.

Scamp & Dude has new stripey clothes and accessories, new SS25 athleisure wear, dresses, shorts, jackets, hoodies, coats, bags and scarves, plus new collaborations with Nicky Newman and Sabrina Elba.

Very has a new Michelle Keegan collaboration, a new V by Very line of women’s wear for High Summer 2025 including dresses, tops, jeans, shorts and swimwear.

Iolla has new sunglasses and glasses for the summer with the option of multi-coloured lenses, plus ranges of frames and glasses based on nostalgia for a Scottish coastal summer.

Peacocks has a new summer womenswear, plus a Louise Redknapp Linen Edit for summer, a SS25 Edit range, and a new menswear range.

River Island has new Latin-American flavoured summer ranges of womenswear and menswear ranges, a new women’s wear collaboration with Latin-Australian brand Del Maar, including dresses, sarongs, sandals, bikinis and swimsuits, plus new linen outfits and jewellery.

Oliver Bonas has new May and June 2025 uploads of jewellery, women’s clothing, bags, hats, shoes, sunglasses and accessories as well as new ranges for SS25.

George at Asda has new summer holiday wear modelled by Yasmin Le Bon, including bikinis, swimsuits, shorts, trousers, dresses and accessories, plus new athleisure outfits and accessories.

TK Maxx has new womens, mens and kids clothing and accessories for the spring and summer, as well as haircare products and makeup.

Lipsy has a new Love & Roses V&A museum collaboration of womenswear.

Curvy Kate has its range of swimwear for the spring and summer, including swimming costumes and bikinis. 

Celtic & Co has new smart cool summer midi dresses and sandals for the holidays and the beach.

F&F has new F&F Active sportswear and athleisure collaboration with Kate Ferdinand, new summer beachwear campaign imagery and has Abbey Clancy top picks for the spring.

Bonmarché has a new Dash collaboration of summer outfits with Lisa Snowdon.

Joe Browns has new SS25 menswear, polo tops, t-shirts, shorts, shoes, hats and accessories plus womenswear including dresses, shorts, skirts, beachwear, shoes, jewellery, towels, sarongs, scarves, purses, handbags, shopping bags and beach bags for the summer.

See additional new clothing and accessories images from

John Lewis Dune London Cotton Traders Joma Jewellery Katie Loxton Crew Clothing  

Home, garden and food

Matalan has AW25 homeware for the autumn including Halloween and Harvest Festival themed soft furnishings and gifts for Father’s Day.

Quorn Stone has new Canyon Terrazzo effect porcelain tiles and chequered decorative tiles for the bathroom.

Cambridge Imprint has new sketching pencils, patterned wrapping paper, memo books, labels, tea towels, box files, envelopes, postcard boxes, postcards, tea trays, lined exercise and hardback books.

Primark has new summer-themed homeware including kitchenware, candles and soft furnishings, Lilo and Stitch themed things, outdoor ranges from picnic blankets to thermoses, bedding and tableware Edits.

Dobbies Garden Centres has Halloween decorations, new summer pots, pet toys and hoses, plus Disney-themed garden tools, bags, wheelbarrows and bird houses, new Father’s Day gifts, garden furniture.

Nest has new HKLiving furniture and rugs, Audo Copenhagen and Norwegian designer furniture for the home plus Hay Traverse and Pallisade garden furniture, including tables, chairs and loungers, new Vitra office furniture.

M&S has new AW25 homeware including dining ware, furniture, lighting, bedding and tableware, new wash bags beauty and wellness ranges, Ultimate bedding sets, makeup ranges, SS25 Boho, Classic and Exquisite Earth furniture and homeware ranges.

Dunelm has a new AW25 Modern Nostalgia, Into the Wild, Harvest Hues and  Quite Luxury collections of homeware including furniture, bedding, curtains, soft furnishings and also a new collaboration with designer Sophie Robinson.

Jellycat has a Bartholomew Bear collaboration with department store Liberty, new Amuseables range of animals, flowers and food, plus books and the cuddliest soft toys and bags for SS25.

Homesense has new homeware for the kitchen, dining room and the conservator, plus tableware  and picnic items for eating out in the garden.

Arran Sense of Scotland has a new After the Rain summer fragrance and a new mum and bride scent range.

The Gluttonous Gardener has new ranges of plants and food. 

Home Bargains has new Father’s Day gifts, Wickford & Co candle jars and diffusers, plus luxury candles, diffusers and room sprays from The Vault.

Oliver Bonas has new Father’s Day gifts, new June/July/August/September/October drops of homeware ranges for the kitchen, dining room and lounge, plus furniture and home accessories including mirrors, lighting and tableware for SS25.

Online Home Shop has furniture for the garden including tables, chairs, benches, swings and hanging chairs.

Habitat has a new home collaboration with Scion including furniture, shelving, lighting, candles, diffusers soft furnishings and bedding.

Sofology has new SS25 furniture ranges, including power recliners, sofas, chairs and stools plus furniture for the lounge in bright spring colours.

See additional new home images from

Treats by Mars TK Maxx Jan Constantine B&M Designers Guild George Home Hobbycraft John Lewis

DIARY

PRShots Retail Calendar Alerts

Days until Father’s Day – 23

Days until School holidays start (23rd July) – 61

Days until Halloween - 161

Days until Christmas Day – 216

How to get your brand in the media in May

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.

Not everyone will be going abroad so still keep keywords and phrases like “staycation”, “holistay”, “holiday at home”, to your keywords, also think about uploading images more appropriate to a UK holiday, like cardigans and hoodies 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.

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 (12^th May – 12^th Jun), and Skin Cancer Awareness Month.

It’s also:

Cannes Film Festival (13^th – 24^th)

Sandwich Week (19^th – 25^th) 

RHS Chelsea Flower Show (20^th – 24^th)

National Barbeque Week (May 26^th – Jun 1^st )

May - Days

25^th - Geek Pride Day

25^th – National Wine Day (US)

25^th – Camping-related searches rise

26^th – Spring Bank Holiday 

26^th – Memorial Day 

29^th – National Biscuit Day

29^th – Ascension Day 

30^th – BBQ searches peak

31^st - UEFA Champions League Final

 NB - All dates have been checked, but some events may change due to unforeseen circumstances or have not been fully confirmed for 2025 by the authorities controlling the event(s).