Crossword Genius

Retail business, evidently small beer (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

sales

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'retail business evidently small beer' is the definition.
'sales' can be an answer for 'retail' (thesaurus). I am not certain of the 'business evidently small beer' bit.

'small beer' is the wordplay.
'small' becomes 's' (abbreviation - e.g. clothes size).
'beer' becomes 'ales' (I've seen this in another clue).
's'+'ales'='SALES'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for sales that I've seen before include "Income received for goods and services over a given period" , "Public auctions" , "Periods of price reductions" , "Opportunities to sell" , "Periods when shops sell goods at discounted prices, bargain times" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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