The start of a new year isn’t just for personal resolutions it’s the perfect time for retailers to declutter, refresh and refocus their businesses.
Between the chaos of Christmas trading and the quieter months of January and February, this is your chance to asses what’s working and what’s not, setting up your store and your systems for a more efficient, profitable year.
Not sure where to start? Here’s how to hit the ground running in 2026.
- Declutter Your Data, Not Just Your Stock
Physical clutter is easy to spot. Overstocked shelves, outdated POS materials, old hardware gathering dust. But digital clutter can quietly hold you back too.
Quick Wins:
- Clean up your product database (, update pricing overrides, review slow sellers report).
- Review sales reports and focus on the top 20% of products driving most of your profit.
- Review the ShopMate top sellers report for your region – are you stocking the right products at the right price?
ShopMate’s Back Office feature gives you remote access to your stores reports so you no longer need to be at the till to access your stores information. Manage your pricing and promotions from anywhere. ShopMate Back Office helps you work smarter not harder.
- Refresh Your Store Layout
New year, new look. Even small layout changes can have a big impact on sales. If your store layout hasn’t changed in a while, take a fresh walk around.
Ask yourself, are my bestsellers easy to find? Am I promoting seasonal items in the right places?
Try This:
- Position grab-and-go items near the checkout area. Consider seasonal adjustments for example, cereal bars may be more suitable than chocolate bars in January.
- Clear out low-traffic areas that aren’t driving revenue.
Transform in store efficiency with Electronic Shelf Edge Labels. Save up to 60 staff hours per month by eliminating the need for manual price label changes. Electronic shelf edge labels update automatically ensuring accuracy, reducing labour and modernising store operations. Click here to find out more.
- Streamline Your Payment Process
If queues build up during busy hours, it’s time to look at how efficient your checkout really is. Slow tills or outdated payment terminals don’t just frustrate customers they cost you sales.
Make It Smooth:
- Use the hotkey function to give your staff quick access to the stores most popular items.
- Efficient card and contactless payments help your business thrive. ShopMate Pay provides secure, reliable payment processing for retailers, supporting Chip & PIN, contactless, mobile, and all major cards.
When every second counts, a fast and reliable checkout keeps customers happy and coming back. Looking to modernise your store? A self-checkout system could be the perfect next step. Designed specifically for independent retailers, this compact and reliable self-checkout solution helps you serve more customers, faster without compromising on security or service.
- Invest in the Right Tools for the Year Ahead
Decluttering is as much about what you add as what you remove. Modern, connected tools save time, reduce manual work and help you focus on your customers.
If your current till or reporting system feels more like a burden than a help, it might be time for an upgrade.
ShopMate’s all-in-one EPoS solution gives convenience store owners everything they need to run a smoother, smarter operation. From fast tills, real-time reporting, easy stock management and seamless integration with UK wholesalers. Click here to book a free ShopMate demo.
New Year, New Energy, Same Great Store
A little New Year retail decluttering can go a long way clear your shelves, streamline your systems and give your team the tools they need to succeed.
When you start the year organised, efficient and data-driven, the rest of 2026 will follow suit. Here’s to a prosperous, healthy and happy 2026.
