Shop and Retail Insurance

We Arrange Retail Shop Insurance Policies for a Wide Range of Retailers From Butchers to Bakers, Furniture Stores to Florists and Lots in Between.

About the Retail Industry

Heading to a shop is more of a personal experience. A lot of shops are part of a community and people love to chat to shop owners, workers, and other shoppers, or meet their friends, making it a social outing.

The retail industry is also incredibly varied, ranging from large chain stores with recognisable brands and the retail floor space or storeroom space to carry a large amount of merchandise, to small, independent boutique shops with quirky, unusual goods, to your local convenience store where you can pick up your daily paper or dash out to buy a bottle of milk in the evening.  

However, all shops have important similarities and a shared responsibility, whether they’re a baker, a butcher, optician or dry cleaner, clothes shop or furniture store: they all have a duty of care to everybody who enters their premises, whether a customer, supplier, employee or member of the public, and a need to protect their business and its assets. This is why obtaining adequate insurance for retails shops is essential.

At smei, we appreciate that shop owners are incredibly busy juggling a multitude of different ‘hats’ throughout their day, from manager to customer service assistant, cashier to accountant, and stock manager to health and safety adviser. Finding time to determine what sort of retail insurance you need to protect your business can be a very time-consuming task to add to your to-do list.

So we’ve made life easy for you. We offer flexible shop insurance and retail insurance that can be tailored to suit your specific requirements. With many years’ experience in supporting shop owners around the UK, our knowledgeable team can advise you on the right level of business insurance for your shop.  

Why Shop Insurance and Retail Insurance is Important

There are a number of key retail insurance covers a shop owner typically needs.

Employers' liability insurance is the one cover you may be required to have if you employ anybody to work in your shop, whether on a casual, temporary, or permanent basis. This provides cover should an employee be injured or fall ill as a consequence of working for you. It could cover the cost of any claim, along with associated legal fees.

While not a legal requirement, public liability insurance is another important insurance for retail shops. This provides cover if a customer, supplier, or member of the public is injured or their belongings damaged as a result of your negligence.

Your premises, along with any fixtures, equipment, and stock are often your most important business assets; without them you may struggle to trade. So you need buildings cover along with protection for your fixtures and stock. If you lease your premises, shop contents insurance might be adequate for your needs.

In addition, you may want to consider financial protection for your takings and money stored either on the premises or being taken to a bank, vehicle cover if you use a vehicle for your business, and business interruption insurance so you can continue to pay the bills should you be left unable to trade while your shop is closed for repair.

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Our Shop and Retail Insurance

Amusement Arcade Insurance

Rely on smei to make it easy to find amusement arcade insurance at the right price – get tailored cover backed by personalised service and expert support.

Art Gallery Insurance

Get art gallery insurance that’s expertly sculpted, just for you.

Bakery Insurance

With access to quotations from a panel of UK insurers, we aim to offer cover that is competitive and meets the individual needs of bakers.

Bicycle Mechanic Insurance

Bike mechanic insurance can protect you and your business from unexpected accidents or claims. Keep the wheels turning knowing your bike repair insurance needs are covered.

Bike Shop Insurance

Keep the wheels turning knowing all your insurance needs are covered.

Bingo Hall Insurance

Find bingo hall insurance you can depend on to maintain a full house.

Bureau de Change Insurance

Find tailored bureau de change insurance to defend against the unexpected.

Business Retail Insurance

Retailers come in all shapes and sizes and so do our flexible retail insurance policies.

Butchers Insurance

A butchers shop contains many hazards to both workers and the general public so having the right insurance is critical to running your business.

Cash and Carry Insurance

Smei make it easy to find tailored cash and carry insurance. Get the right cover you need, at the right price, backed by personalised service and expert support.

Charity Shop Insurance

Whether you need high levels of stock insurance or business interruption cover, we can arrange the right insurance cover for your charity shop.

Clothes Shop Insurance

Our flexible policies ensure that all areas of your shop are protected and this can include stock, cash, employees and members of the public.

Convenience Store Insurance

Your convenience store is likely to contain a wide variety of products that may need specialist cover. Our flexible policies can be tailored to your specific needs.

Craft Business Insurance

Focus on making and selling your crafts knowing you have the right cover in place to protect your business.

Craft Fair Insurance

Focus on selling your crafts without worrying you have the necessary cover in place to protect your business.

Deli and Sandwich Shop Insurance

With access to quotations from a panel of UK insurers, we aim to offer cover that is competitive and meets the individual needs of your sandwich shop or deli.

Dry Cleaners Insurance

As you handle chemicals on a daily basis, accidents can be severe. Our experienced advisers arrange flexible insurance policies to keep you and your business safe.

Ecommerce Business Insurance

Every online retail business is different, that’s why you need flexible ecommerce business insurance to suit your particular needs.

Fishmonger Insurance

A fishmonger’s shop can contain hazards for workers and the general public, so it’s important that your business is fully protected with the right insurance.

Florists Insurance

Keeping your stock fresh is important in the daily running of your business. The right insurance policy will help to keep your doors open and your stock protected.

Furniture Shop Insurance

Furniture can easily become damaged in a number of ways; by a member of the public or staff or in transit. Our policies can protect your goods and business from accidents.

Garden Centre Insurance

Whether you need high levels of stock insurance, business interruption cover, or simply public and products liability, we can arrange the right insurance cover for your business.

Grocery Shop Insurance

Your produce is central to the running of your business so insuring it against unexpected events and accidents is imperative.

Home Bakers Insurance

Home baking has become increasingly popular in recent years, with more people deciding to turn their hobby into a business venture.

Ice Cream Parlour and Dessert Shop Insurance

Stay cool, with tailored ice cream parlour and dessert shop insurance from smei.

Jewellery Shop Insurance

Whether you need specialist stock insurance or business interruption cover, we can arrange the right insurance for your jewellery shop.

Locksmith Insurance

Find locksmith insurance to keep your business safe and secure with insurance arranged by smei.

Market Traders Insurance

Focus on selling your wares without worrying you have the necessary cover in place to protect your business.

Off Licence Insurance

Off licences often have a unique set of hazards that standard insurance policies may not protect. We arrange bespoke insurance policies that offer extensive cover for all your needs.

Online Retail Insurance

We can help you find the right business insurance for your online retail or ecommerce business, at the right price – no fuss, no hassle.

Opticians Insurance

Our team of insurance specialists understand the challenges that opticians face on a daily basis. That’s why our policies offer a wide range of cover for all your needs.

Pet Shop Insurance

There are many things to consider when owning a pet shop, and insurance to protect your animals, stock and the public should be at the top of your list.

Pharmacy Shop Insurance

Let us help you find the right insurance for your pharmacy. As a broker, we’ll make the process as easy as 1, 2, 3, by taking on the work involved in finding you the right cover at the right price.

Post Office Insurance

Find first class post office insurance that’s tailored for you.

Shop Insurance

Your shop is a vital part of the local community and so having the right insurance policy to avoid unexpected closure is critical.

Supermarket Insurance

Whether you need high levels of stock insurance, business interruption cover, or loss of alcohol licence, we can arrange the right insurance cover for your supermarket.

Sweet Shop Insurance

Find tailored sweet shop insurance to defend against the unexpected and protect you and your business.

Quotes from well-known and specialist insurers, including: