Shipping is slower. Customer payments are taking longer. And consumers are spending more cautiously. Yet despite those headwinds, UK product businesses remain remarkably confident.
In the first edition of Treyd’s UK Trading Pulse, we surveyed UK product businesses to understand how they’re navigating today’s market. The results show a sector that’s realistic about the challenges ahead, but still backing its own ability to grow.
The headline numbers
📈 77% expect to grow over the next 12 months.
🚢 More than half (55%) are waiting longer for goods to arrive.
💸 32% are waiting longer to get paid.
🛍️ Twice as many expect consumer spending to fall (36%) as increase (18%)
📊 Business confidence sits at +61 net sentiment
Product businesses believe in themselves more than the economy
The biggest takeaway from this year’s research isn’t the challenges themselves—it’s the gap between how businesses feel about their own prospects and how they view the wider market.
Nearly eight in ten businesses we surveyed expect to grow over the next year, even as consumer confidence remains fragile and global events continue to create uncertainty.
That confidence speaks to the resilience of UK product businesses.
Product businesses are not waiting for perfect market conditions—they’re finding ways to keep moving.
Growth is still on. Cash flow is under pressure.
Optimism doesn’t mean business has become easier.
More than half (55%) of businesses told us their goods have taken longer to arrive over the past three months, with disrupted shipping routes creating delays across supply chains.
At the same time, cash is moving more slowly.
Almost one in three (32%) businesses say their invoices are taking longer to be paid, while just 7% report getting paid faster than before.
For trading companies, that’s a difficult combination. Products arrive later, customer payments take longer, and cash stays tied up for longer than planned.
Consumers remain the biggest question mark
While businesses are confident about their own growth, they’re more cautious about what comes next for consumer demand.
More than a third (36%) expect consumers to spend less over the next year—twice as many as those expecting spending to increase (18%).
It’s a reminder that many product businesses are preparing for growth while planning carefully for an uncertain market.
Confidence needs cash flow
Peter Beckman, co-founder and CEO at Treyd, says the findings reflect what he hears from growing businesses every day.
“One thing stood out immediately: product businesses are far more confident about their own businesses than they are about the wider economy. We see that every day. Ambitious businesses keep finding ways to grow, even when the headlines suggest they shouldn’t.
“But confidence doesn’t make shipping faster or invoices get paid sooner. When cash gets stuck between buying stock and getting paid, that’s where working capital matters most.
“Having the right financing partner means businesses can keep products moving, manage longer lead times, and continue investing in growth without putting unnecessary pressure on cash flow.”
About the UK Trading Pulse
Treyd’s UK Trading Pulse surveyed 44 UK customers, primarily retail businesses, during May and June 2026.
The survey includes wholesalers, direct-to-consumer brands, and brick-and-mortar retailers.
The net sentiment score is calculated by subtracting the percentage of businesses that described themselves as pessimistic about growing over the next 12 months from those that described themselves as optimistic. Neutral responses are not included.