Independent builders’ merchant group Lawsons reports it has unlocked an additional £250,000 in working capital after digitising its cash handling operations through a partnership with Retail365.
Operating across 35 sites and like many multi-branch operators handling high daily cash volumes, Lawsons previously relied on a traditional cash-in-transit model “where funds could take several days to clear,” tying up working capital and placing pressure on both branch and finance teams.
Following the rollout of Retail365’s Smart Safe and Embedded Banking solution to eight branches (with a further nine planned for 2026), the merchant states it now benefits from same-day credit on cash deposits, automated reconciliation and real-time visibility of cash positions across the entire business. Cash is validated, secured and indemnified “from the moment it enters the safe, strengthening internal controls, removing risk at source and providing a foundation for continued business growth.”
The impact is said to have been immediate. Manual cash handling and end-of-day banking processes have been removed, saving an estimated 20–25 hours of staff time per week, while the shift from a seven-to-nine day clearing cycle to same-day credit has “delivered a permanent improvement in available liquidity through faster access to funds.”
“The rollout reflects a wider shift among multi-site operators towards digitising cash operations — particularly in sectors like builders’ merchants, where high daily cash volumes can leave significant funds tied up in slow clearing cycles.”
Group Finance Director Chris Harrison explained: “Retail365 has fundamentally helped reshape Lawsons’ cash financial operations. By removing the pressure of end‑of‑day banking and giving us real‑time visibility, it has created a calmer, more controlled environment for our people and allowed them to spend greater time supporting our customers.
“The immediate availability of funds has materially improved our working capital cash flow, which at the end of June 2025 was a cashflow from operations of £11.7m and an overall net cash position of £5.4m enabling us to reinvest in support our market share growth strategy with greater agility.”
Sarah Turner, Head of Group Internal Audit, added: “At Lawsons, strengthening our internal controls isn’t just about compliance — it’s about creating a positive culture of confidence, clarity and accountability.
“A robust controls environment gives our people the certainty they need to perform at their best and ensures we’re building a business that can scale safely and sustainably for our customers. We are delighted to be working with Retail 365 as our growth accelerates.”
The rollout reflects a wider shift among multi-site operators towards digitising cash operations — particularly in sectors like builders’ merchants, where high daily cash volumes can leave significant funds tied up in slow clearing cycles.
Furthermore, as independent merchants face ongoing margin pressure and rising operational costs, the ability to unlock trapped cash and streamline processes is becoming increasingly critical.
