As a small business owner, you know that having access to an inventory of additional materials or products is very important to meet your customer's needs. However, space doesn't always allow you to keep your inventory on-site. A storage unit can help. Learn about some of the factors you should consider if you want to use a storage unit as an inventory site.
Climate Control
Ensure you look for a unit that has climate control capabilities if you plan to store your inventory inside. Whether it's paper, electronic devices, or even clothing or shoes, imbalanced temperatures can cause extensive damage to the point that you won't be able to use the items you have stored inside. Climate-controlled units keep the temperature even inside so that you can avoid things like mold and condensation.
Space
Ensure the unit offers ample space for you to access the materials inside easily. Ideally, if you plan to use the unit as an inventory storage site, you should have enough space to install a shelving unit inside the storage unit. A shelving unit allows you to separate the items inside so that you can keep the unit more organized, which will ultimately make it easier for you to retrieve the items you need for your customer orders faster.
Insurance
If you have a business insurance plan, don't automatically assume that it will cover your inventory inside the storage unit. In the event that your insurance policy does not protect the stored items when something unexpected happens, such as a storm, you could lose all your items or they could be damaged, which would leave you to cover all the costs on your own. It's typically best to invest in an additional insurance policy offered by the storage facility.
Access
Find out what type of access the storage facility offers. Some facilities only allow you to access the unit during set business hours. However, other facilities allow unitholders to use a special access code to access the unit at any time. Which option is best for you is dependent on your business needs. For instance, if you typically fulfill orders at night to prepare them for shipment in the morning, a facility that offers around-the-clock access is better.
Storage facilities have rooms with a variety of different dimensions, so you're sure to find a unit that fits your needs. Contact a storage facility in your area to learn more about the options available to you.
Having lived in a 1,200-square-foot home with my husband and two children for many years, I've learned a lot about storage and maximizing space along the way. Once a year, we do a "purge" of each room in our home to get rid of unnecessary clutter. We then hold an annual garage sale, where we're able to make money selling this "stuff" for our yearly vacation. For extra space, we also have a small storage unit that we use to store seasonal things, such as Christmas decorations and bikes. If you've been looking for tips on maximizing storage in even the smallest of spaces, I hope the information on my blog will be useful to you!