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As British retailers continue to face an increasingly difficult operating environment, rising staff costs and labour shortages are pushing many to rethink how they manage stock movement and returns within warehouses and storerooms.

Reliable, low-maintenance manual handling equipment is even more of an essential tool for those aiming to keep goods moving while keeping operational costs in check.

The latest Budget measures, including increases to the National Living Wage and changes to employer National Insurance thresholds, are contributing to a projected £7 billion rise in retail operating costs in 2025. For many businesses, this comes at a time of tightening margins and changes in consumer behaviours with growing volumes of returned goods to handle.

Retailers have already begun cutting back on staff numbers, reducing store footprints, and increasing prices – but the need to keep operations agile remains as strong as ever.

Pallet Trucks UK is reminding retailers that high-quality manual handling equipment offers a dependable and cost-effective way to maintain momentum without the complications of high-tech alternatives.

Phil Chesworth, Managing Director at Pallet Trucks UK, commented, “Retailers are under no illusions about the financial pressures ahead, particularly around staffing. That’s why many are choosing equipment that delivers consistency without unnecessary complexity.

“Our manual pallet trucks and stackers are built for exactly these kinds of environments – hard-wearing, intuitive to use, and easy to maintain. They allow teams to keep up with demand, even when workforce numbers are tight.”

Equipment like pallet trucks, electric stackers, and compact lifters offer a fast, flexible solution. They require minimal training, can be integrated into existing workflows instantly, and help reduce the physical burden on smaller teams.

Businesses that invest in dependable manual handling solutions will be better placed to respond to short-term spikes in demand, process returns efficiently and avoid costly delays – all while keeping overheads under control.

The New Year is almost here. And after a rather turbulent 2016, many retailers will be looking at the upcoming year with hope and ambition. And according to Pallet Trucks UK, there are ways companies can ease themselves into 2017 easily and effectively. And one of the best ways is by adding simple moving skates to their fleet of operations.

The company, which has more than three decades’ experience working within the materials handling industry, is a leading provider of a range of equipment that helps businesses improve their efficiency, and moving skates, according the company, are one of the most compact yet most efficient pieces of equipment.

Phil Chesworth, Managing Director at Pallet Trucks UK, said, “Moving skates are often overlooked due to their small size – but don’t be fooled; these little pieces of equipment are extremely useful when it comes to moving stock around the workplace. Despite their slight nature they are extremely tough and as a result can hold up to an incredible 6 ton of stock.”

Not only does their strong nature make moving bulky boxes easy, but they are also an incredible piece of safety equipment by helping to keep employees free from injury. As the moving skates are nimble, items are easily placed onto the skates and glided across floors with a simple push or pull. This helps to take the strain off employees’ backs and reduce the risk of avoidable harm.

The SF60 Fixed Machinery Skate 6 ton skate is the ideal addition to workforces that need to move heavy objects. It comes with a 6 ton capacity, laid on six nylon rollers for added strength. Coming in at £96.78 plus VAT, the time savings associated with it will soon mean it has paid for itself. For those looking for an even easier tool, the SFW03 Moving Skate with handle does the same job, but is fitted with a strong handle to make pushing or pulling items simpler. Priced at just £54.60 plus VAT, it comes with a tough three ton capacity and is built on four nylon rollers, which allows the weight to be distributed evenly.

“The simple moving skates can really make a comprehensive difference to businesses by improving everyday production which then helps to increase profit margins,” said Phil. “But due to their compact form, are certain not to get in the way when it comes to day to day operations.”