Tips for Efficient Business Storage
Devising methods for efficient business storage probably wasn’t top of the list of things that got you excited when starting your business. Regardless of the type of business you run, however, you need good storage. That’s true whether it’s space for equipment, for the stock you hold to sell, or simply for office supplies and a comfortable place to work.
Good storage saves you time, improves efficiency and productivity and can save money in the long run. Here are some great ways you might be able to streamline your own enterprise and make business storage work how you need it to.
Assess Your Storage Needs
Before you start organising your storage space, stop and think about what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. Determine what items you need to store and how much space you need to store them, how often you need access to items stored, and how much lifting and carrying is involved. Ideally, you’ll cut handling to a minimum so you’re not repeating tasks and wasting time.
Maximise Your Wall Space
When your storage area is fairly small for your needs, maximise the space available with shelving or racks that extends to the ceiling. You do, of course, need to fill them safely, not putting heavier items on the top etc. If you rent a business storage unit, you’re allowed to install free standing racking or shelves to store your stock. If you’re packing items to post you can also leave room for a desk and complete that operation in situ so you save travelling time.
Investigate Different Storage Options
Stock or store room organisation is a bit of a logistical art, but there are a few tried and trusted methods to build on.
If you’re storing large items, pallet racks might suit you well as they’re fairly easy to use and can be customised to fit your specific needs.
High-density storage systems might be better, however, if you have lots of smaller items to keep track of. Install rails for hanging items, or drawer towers for folded or packaged objects you need to categorise, whether by colour or size. Storage bins are another excellent way to organise your stock. They are available in a variety of sizes and colours and can be used to store everything from small parts to larger items.
Choose an Appropriate Office Space
You might be expanding or, alternatively, reigning things in a bit. Your workspace matters, whether you need to get stock boxes out of the office (either home or rented) or you need more office/desk space. If an office move or reorganisation is on the cards, investigate your options carefully because not all offices are equal. For versatility and lower overheads, look at flexi offices. If you’re just wanting to find a storage space that’s out of the office, look into business self storage units. Lots of retail operations can be performed directly from your business unit if you set things up efficiently.
Organise Storage for Efficiency
Use labels and colour-coding to make it easy to find items quickly. Put labels on the shelves themselves as well as on the boxes. This way you can designate particular areas for specific items, making stock taking and keeping track much easier. Having the shelf space labelled can also make it quicker to unpack and itemise deliveries. Make sure your fastest selling, or most used, items are easiest to reach. Put them near the door, for instance, rather than at the back of your storage room.
Use Mobile Storage Solutions
Mobile (meaning on wheels, not digital) storage solutions could be useful if you need to move things around often, especially when you’re moving multiple items or heavy stuff. This solution could be helpful when you’re moving stock or equipment you use in the business such as textile/tailoring supplies, artist materials or hairdressing.
Storage solutions look different for every business, but they’re something most businesses can’t do without. Signs you might need to upgrade your space, your office situation, or your current physical storage methods include feeling as though you’re not getting enough done and regular frustrations when you can’t find what you need.
Take a moment to think about how you store your vital equipment or valuable stock. Once you figure out what’s wrong, you can find ways to make it better.
