The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word TINWARE
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
T
I
N
W
A
R
E
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "can matter" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case can matter = tinware.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does TINWARE mean?
TINWARE noun- Household items such as utensils, pots, and pans made from tin, generally before the development of metals with other benefits.