Here in the UK, Christmas – which seems like a distant memory now – is always the busiest shopping time of the year. According to the Office for National Statistics, Christmas sales figures for 2025 showed a mixed performance for retailers. While some segments, such as clothing, showed strong growth others, including food, only grew slightly. The overall sentiment among retailers was cautious but, despite this, the UK consumer still spent freely during the festive period, particularly on retail goods.
While many people will go online to do their shopping, the movement to ‘shop local’ is a compelling one, with an understanding that you are not only supporting a small business, but you are contributing in some way to your local community.
Locally, we have seen our nearest shopping centre, Royal Victoria Place in Tunbridge Wells, secure Primark, which opened just before Christmas, and a number of other smaller outlets opening up including Zerdo Gourmet Shop, Jamaica Blue and Kochi. Arguably, any new outlets that bring consumers into our local towns is good news for local businesses as well.
Here at Lewis & Co, we count a number of retailers among our clients, including the Southborough Computer Centre and Chests & Drawers, on our doorstep. Then, across the South East, we also support retailers including a bridal shop and a couple of hardware stores. And we’re on hand with advice about everything from business planning to tax.
Some of our retail clients – including the hardware stores – can clock up many transactions a day, a number still in cash. For them, the bookkeeping they are expected to do is more complex than for many other businesses.
Cash flow, reconciliation and stock control are also issues which affect retailers more than other businesses. At Lewis & Co, we are there to support them and make sure that what happens on the shop floor is translated into figures we can use effectively when it comes to submitting their accounts.
Today, many of our retail clients do also sell online and we can support them with the ecommerce side of their business. In addition, we offer retailers payroll services, as well as VAT planning and advice.
If you’ve got any questions at all, then please do contact us on 01892 513515 or info@lewisandco.biz