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For the small business, storage can be especially problematic. The challenge of getting the right space, at the right cost can mean the difference between survival and failure, and almost every business needs storage, whether it is for stock, equipment or documentation. The good news is that business storage is evolving, with more flexible options opening up. Smaller businesses are also thinking more cleverly when it comes to the space they need. Here are five storage trends to help you make the most of your storage space.
1. Plan for overspill
Whether you’re an eBay seller or a traditional retailer, planning for the unplanned is vital. Most businesses don’t consider overspill until its too late, but by future-proofing your storage needs, you can make sure you have a cost effective solution. Consider access, security, and location and of course – cost. Making partnerships with other local businesses ahead of time can ensure you always have a next-door area if your stock room is full (and offering extra space for their overspill can mitigate extra costs).
2. Don’t get tied into long contracts
No one knows what the future holds, but making sure your business isn’t locked into long contracts will help you stay flexible. With warehouses you’ll need to consider the necessary evils of business rates, service charges, utilities plus upfront deposits. This outlay can make it unappealing, especially for start-ups wanting less overheads. One solution might be to look at space sharing with other smaller companies, finding partners that will contribute to hiring a room in a warehouse, a floor or the whole building. Consider how you would segment the space to make sure stock isn’t mixed up, and think of the security ramifications if you’re sharing an open space.
3. Go virtual but take precautions
Cloud based, or virtual storage for businesses, is very topical right now. Using online storage is a great way to save physical space – scanning documents and uploading them to a safe repository, for example – and many small businesses are making the shift. A vital thing to consider first however is support (is there someone available to answer questions if you have them?) and back up (is there any chance you can lose your online data?). Google offers limited support for its free suite (gmail, google docs) and so it might be worth upgrading to a more comprehensive service that can guarantee your stored information will be secure. Apple, Dropbox, Amazon, Microsoft all have online storage solutions.
4. Choose flexibility
The main benefit of using a Self Storage Facility is flexibility – use just the space you need for the time you need it – you can upsize or downsize without penalty (so long as the room is available), it’s just a case of signing a new contract. Many SME’s are now using their industrial units as a distribution hub as well, packing up goods for delivery. Top Tip: Ask to see several rooms at the Storage Facility to find the one that best suits you. For example, if you need to use your phone / internet dongle in your storage unit, make sure to secure a room that receives a signal.
Drew Davies is based in London and writes for Big Yellow Self Storage. For more tips and information on business storage, check out their blog.
Since small entrepreneurs lay great emphasis on economical utilization of
resources, so they must be clever while selecting a storage house. In order to
save costs they can hire the services of storage houses which have lower charges.
Great post you have there. Flexibility in the storage solutions you must opt for is indeed very important. Experts from http://www.fortknoxselfstorage.com.au/ emphasize this also.
It’s interesting how you point out that the main benefit of using a self storage facility is flexibility. My brother has a lot of things that he can’t fit in his apartment, but he needs to be able to access them quickly whenever he needs them. It would be really helpful if he got a self storage unit to store his extra things.
Very helpful tips! Indeed, the self storage demand over the years is increasing and becoming more flexible to accommodate small businesses’ needs. I am a business owner myself and I can relate the need for spaces. I agree with your suggestion in space sharing with smaller companies rather than getting warehouses with long term contracts. I think this is a clever idea!