How to Keep Your Shop Cool in a Heatwave (Retail Guide)

For retailers, a UK heatwave means a struggle to keep your store pleasant for shoppers, and a battle to keep footfall high as your customers hide from the sun. And yet, the trade is still there, waiting to be won. Spending is still strong this summer, but not every shop will see their figures rise. So what can you do as a business owner to ensure shoppers come to you and you keep winning the sales?

That’s what we’re looking at today: how to keep cool in a heatwave instore, keeping your customers comfortable, and methods of adapting to offer customers what they’re looking for to survive the summer. We’ll cover:

• Why keeping your shop cool matters

• Common, affordable climate conditioning strategies

• Heatproofing your building in the long-term

• Heatwave products your customers are buying in 2026

Once you’ve finished this blog, you’ll know what you can do to weather-proof your store today, tomorrow, and well into the future. So, let’s get started right now!

Why keeping your shop cool matters

• You'll lose footfall to the heat. UK high street visits fell 6.2% year-on-year in June 2026 as the record heatwave kept shoppers away, with London down 5.3% in July as the hot, dry spell dragged on. Dwell time is also lower on hotter days, showing discomfort shortens the visits you do get as shoppers rush to get home.

• Comfortable spaces hold onto trade better than the high street. Air-conditioned shopping centres and retail parks proved more resilient during the heatwave than the high street, showing that cooler indoor spaces keep customers browsing rather than bolting for home.

• You risk losing sales to online rivals. Online non-food sales grew by 5.1% compared with the previous year as shoppers avoided the heat, so an uncomfortable shop simply pushes spend towards a competitor's website instead.

• You have a legal obligation to your staff. The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 require indoor workplaces to be kept at a "reasonable" temperature during working hours, so even during the heatwave, you have a duty to yourself and your staff so anyone working in high temperatures can do so safely. There is no specific temperature written into law, though. Nevertheless, letting your shop floor overheat still leaves you exposed to a duty-of-care claim.

• Overheated staff can't perform at their best. Tired, dehydrated, or heat-stressed employees move slower, serve customers less attentively, and are more likely to need time off, making your life more difficult.

• Taking care of your customers keeps them coming back. If a customer can cool down in your shop (taking time to browse and spend so they can cool off properly), they’ll be ready to come back on their next visit on a boiling day, seeing your store not only as a sanctuary, but as a place their needs are catered to.

Common, affordable climate conditioning strategies

Block out the sun before it gets in

The cheapest fixes are often the simplest, too: keeping direct sunlight off your shop floor (in other words, keeping your shop in the shade) prevents your business baking like its in an oven. Blackout blinds, reflective window film, or even taping up temporary reflective sheeting on any south-facing windows can knock several degrees off the temperature inside without touching your energy bill.

Many retailers refuse to use blinds when open as they cover their intricately designed window displays, in which case, attaching an awning out front will achieve the same goal from outside the window.

Get air moving, not just cool

There’s a big difference between a hot, muggy day where the roasting air sits on your skin, and a warm, breezy day where the wind blows across your face. That’s not just true outside. Getting good airflow in your store keeps hot air moving up and out while drawing cooler air inside. Plus, good airflow blows the heat-retaining moisture off everyone’s skin, helping them cool down quicker (think of the instant relief you get when you step into a breezy room, escaping the hot sun. Now imagine getting that feeling stepping into your own shop!).

Position fans to draw hot air out through open doors or windows rather than just blowing it around in circles. Two fans facing opposite directions, one pulling air in and one pushing it out, can create a basic cross-breeze that costs pennies compared to running AC units all day.

Rethink your opening hours and store layout

If your building turns into a greenhouse by mid-afternoon, consider shifting your busiest hours. Opening earlier and closing for a couple of hours at peak heat (then reopening into the cooler evening) mirrors how many hotter countries already trade, and keeps both staff and stock out of the worst of it.

Inside, move heat-sensitive stock and till points away from windows and any equipment that generates its own warmth, like printers or older tech. Small layout tweaks like this can make the front of house noticeably more bearable without spending a penny.

Offer relief, not just refuge

Simple, visible gestures go a long way. A jug of iced water and cups by the till costs you next to nothing but can make the world of difference to a customer in need. Meanwhile, a small basket of fans for browsing customers, or even a "cooling station" near the entrance signals that you've thought about their comfort, and gives them a reason to linger rather than rush back outside. Once cool and hydrated, they’ll be happy to spend more time browsing, too! So any investment on your part is sure to pay for itself.

For staff, relax the dress code where you can. Swapping stiff uniforms for lighter, breathable alternatives, and building in extra water and rest breaks, keeps your team functioning and shows you're taking your duty of care seriously.

Switch off what you don't need

Every till, screen, light, and piece of electrical equipment gives off heat, and in a small shop that adds up fast. Turning off displays, spotlights, or back-of-house equipment that isn't essential during the hottest part of the day trims both the temperature and your electricity costs.

LED lighting is worth the switch if you haven't already, as it runs far cooler than older halogen or incandescent bulbs. It's a small upfront cost that pays off every summer.

Heatproofing your building in the long-term

Solar control window film

What it is: A thin, transparent film applied directly to the inside (or outside) of your existing glass, designed to reflect solar heat before it turns into warmth indoors.

What it costs: Commercial solar window film installation in the UK typically costs between £55 and £150 per square metre, including materials and installation. A modest shopfront window run might land in the low thousands.

Impact: High for glass-heavy shopfronts, but it’s a great choice for any business with a shop-front. Solar film typically cuts around 10-12% off cooling-related energy spend in south-facing spaces, and it also protects stock and displays from UV fading, a nice added benefit if you've got products in the window or long-term window displays.

Roof and loft insulation

What it is: Insulating material fitted into your roof space to slow heat transfer, keeping the building cooler in summer and warmer in winter.

What it costs: Mineral wool insulation runs £25-£45 per m² fitted, while PIR boards cost £45-£80 per m², so, like the window film above, a modest shop roof could realistically cost anywhere from a few hundred pounds to a couple of thousand depending on size and material.

Impact: Medium-to-high, but what makes insulation a real boon is that it’s a true year-round investment rather than a heatwave-only fix, so it will constantly be paying itself back, keeping heat out in July and keeping your heating bills down in January.

Reflective or "cool" roof coatings

What it is: A light-coloured or reflective coating that can be applied to flat roofs to bounce sunlight away so the roof doesn’t soak in the heat, reducing how much heat makes it down into the building.

What it costs: Similar in scope to spray foam roof treatments, which cost between £20 and £45 per square metre in the UK, depending on the product and roof condition. For a small shop unit, that's typically a few thousand pounds all in.

Impact: Medium. Works best when combined with insulation rather than as a standalone fix, but for a retailer with a single-storey flat roof directly over a sales floor, it’s worth the investment.

Air conditioning or heat pump systems

What it is: A proper mechanical cooling system, which could be anything from a single wall-mounted split unit to a multi-zoned system providing cooling to the entire building.

What it costs: There are a range of options: a single split unit typically costs £1,000-£2,500, while a multi-split for a few rooms runs £3,000-£6,000, a cassette units cost £2,000-£4,000, while UK industry benchmarks for 2026 sit at £95-£160 per m² for small offices and retail units. A modern air-to-air heat pump system also brings winter heating along with summer cooling. Grant support may be available.

Impact: High. AC is the most direct fix available, but it’s also the most expensive bringing with a one-off and ongoing running and maintenance costs.

External shading: awnings, canopies and shutters

What it is: Fixed or retractable structures mounted outside your windows and doorway that block direct sun before it ever reaches the glass, rather than treating the heat once it's already inside.

What it costs: A retractable fabric awning for a standard shopfront typically runs from around £1,500 to £4,000 fitted, depending on width and whether it's manual or motorised.

Impact: Medium-to-high for external heat gain, and it doubles as a low-cost branding opportunity! A smart-looking awning does double duty as both climate control and kerb appeal.

Heatwave products your customers are buying in 2026

Search data provides useful insights into what people are interested in, telling retailers exactly what shoppers want, and the scale of the seasonal shifts are hard to ignore. Building a dedicated summer range around some of these categories, whether that's a standalone display by the till or a dedicated "Beat the Heat" section on your shop floor, is one of the simplest ways to turn heatwave footfall into heatwave sales, and make it easier for you and your customers to stay cool.

Cooling and comfort essentials

These are the breakout stars of the summer, with search interest up as much as 5,000%. A front-of-store display or a dedicated end-cap makes the most of this demand while it's hot:

• Battery-powered fans

• Cooling mats for pets

• Cooling mats for humans

• Cooling mattress pads

• Cooling neck fans

• Wearable fans

• Clip-on fans

• Oscillating fans

• Window air conditioning units

Hydration and homemade cooling

Alongside the fans, shoppers are stocking up on everything they need to make their own ice and stay hydrated at home. These are natural additions to a countertop or till-point display, especially bundled together as a "make your own slushie" or "hydration station" set:

• Ice cube trays

• Silicone ice trays

• Ice makers

• Insulated water bottles

• BBQ marinades

• Ice pop moulds

• Hydration sachets

• Rehydration salts

• Slushie makers

• Reusable ice packs

Rising stars worth stocking

These categories haven't hit the same eye-watering growth as the list above, but the increases are still substantial enough to justify shelf space, particularly for retailers with room for a wider seasonal range or an online store:

• Thermal curtains (+1,000%)

• USB fans (+900%)

• Floor fans (+850%)

• Pedestal fans (+800%)

• Rechargeable fans (+750%)

Cooling clothing and sun protection

Staying cool indoors provides relief from the heat of the day, but most summer memories are made outside. Consequently, shoppers are also looking for clothing, accessories, and supplies that help them stay cool and protected while they're out and about, making this a strong fit for fashion, sports, and outdoor retailers looking to add a summer capsule range:

• Cooling towels

• UV protective clothing

• UPF clothing

• Sun sleeves

• Cooling scarves

• Breathable trainers

Keep pets cool, too

Pet owners are just as keen to protect their animals from the heat, with long, thick fur becoming an increasing problem for animals in extreme heat. Every product below has seen a breakout growth of more than 5,000%. For pet shops or retailers with even a small pet aisle, this is an easy, high-demand range to add:

• Dog paddling pools

• Dog cooling vests

• Dog cooling bandanas

• Pet water bottles

• Elevated dog beds

• Frozen dog treats

Pulling even a handful of these into a clearly signposted summer range, with simple in-store signage pointing customers toward it, gives you a genuine shot at capturing some of this demand while it's at its peak.

Solutions that keep your customers feeling fresh all summer

So those are our instore tips for how to keep cool in hot weather, and to make sure your store is safe in the event of an extreme hot weather warning. A UK heatwave doesn't have to mean lost trade. Small, low-cost changes, from blocking out direct sun to getting airflow moving, can transform your shop floor without a big spend. Longer-term investments like window film, insulation, or air conditioning pay that cost back through lower bills and steadier footfall for summers to come. And with search demand for cooling products soaring, stocking even a small seasonal range gives shoppers another reason to choose you over a competitor. Keep your store cool, keep your team comfortable, and you'll keep winning the sales all summer long.

Looking for other ways of keeping your business fresh? Take a look at Epos Now's POS systems and discover a cooler, easier way of running your business.