UNITED KINGDOM / AGILITYPR.NEWS / November 04, 2026 / With Black Friday and Christmas approaching, there isn’t much room for delays in retail warehouses. As more people shop online, businesses need to keep goods moving through their storage, picking and dispatch areas, Pallet Trucks UK says.

According to figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on 23 October, online spending rose by 7.4% year on year in the third quarter of 2026. In September, online shopping made up 28.8% of total retail sales, barely changed from 28.9% in August, and online sales values were 6.8% higher than a year earlier.

Online spending edged down 0.1% on the previous quarter, but the annual growth still points to plenty of orders to fulfil.

For smaller businesses and independent online traders, more orders can make it harder to move goods around the building. Narrow aisles, limited storage and small packing areas can get in the way of topping up stock while outgoing orders are being prepared, and equipment that copes with everyday use may struggle when several jobs need doing at once.

Pallet Trucks UK say this is a good time to review handling equipment and check it suits the job. Manual pallet trucks, stackers and lift tables are an easy option for moving and lifting palletised goods with relatively little effort – allowing staff to move smaller orders between storage and packing.

Phil Chesworth, Managing Director at Pallet Trucks UK, said, “When order volumes rise, the pressure is felt across the whole warehouse. Stock must be brought forward, topped up and moved around the building, and if the equipment is difficult to manoeuvre or unreliable, small delays can really start to build up.

“You don’t always need to invest in automation to keep up with demand. The right pallet truck, stacker or picking trolley can make everyday tasks easier. Make sure you review your equipment before it gets busy.”

Reviewing equipment early gives warehouse managers time to check how easily goods move around, make sure frequently used equipment is in good condition and spot any problems with how stock is handled.

For more information, please visit: www.pallettrucksuk.co.uk.