Self-storage units are a versatile and cost-effective storage solution. For businesses, self-storage offers a means of expanding their operation’s storage capabilities without many of the usual overheads.
One of the most common uses of business self-storage is inventory storage. Either as additional storage on a permanent or seasonal basis. Or even as a complete business storage solution for all their business inventory.
Why proper organisation is important
There are many reasons why the proper organisation of a self-storage unit makes complete sense. Here are just a few of the main ones:
- Make the most of the available space – Self-storage units come in a range of sizes. Making sure you organise your storage space properly can mean getting away with renting a smaller unit.
- More efficient – Cramped or badly organised storage space can mean picking orders or trying to package orders becomes awkward and unnecessarily time-consuming.
- Fewer damages – Damage to stock is far more likely to occur in a disorganised space with stacks of boxes and little room to manoeuvre.
In effect, what these reasons prove is that a well-organised storage unit can cut costs in several ways.
Tips for Organising Your Inventory Storage
1. Draw up a plan
All good organisation starts with a plan! When drawing up plans for your self-storage unit, there are a few things that should always be included:
- Floorplan – Start by drawing up a floorplan that leaves room for aisles to allow you to access all your stored inventory.
- Workspace – If you intend to pack orders in the storage space, remember to allow for this in your plan.
- Items – Try to store your inventory so that more popular and frequently accessed items are stored where they can be easily accessible.
2. Use shelving to avoid stacking
Stacks of boxes are not the best option for inventory storage. Having to shuffle through stacks of boxes to find the right items is time-consuming, can end up with damaged goods, and can be potentially dangerous.
Shelving allows you the same freedom to maximise the vertical space of your storeroom without the inherent problems of box stacking.
3. Use plastic containers
Plastic containers are the ideal storage medium for storing inventory. They are lightweight and robust and provide airtight storage to keep your precious inventory in perfect condition.
4. Labelling
Detailed labelling is essential in well-organised inventory storage. These are obviously useful for keeping track of the items stored in a box, but a good labelling system will do more than just this. Some other useful details to include could be:
- Use or sell-by dates
- Reorder levels
- Supplier details
- Packing instructions
5. Use quality packing materials and boxes
Most businesses have large chunks of capital tied up in inventory. It makes complete sense to treat this as carefully as possible. Investing in good quality packing materials that will withstand frequent use and the inevitable knocks and bangs will go a long way to keeping your goods in perfect condition.
6. Group similar items together
Plan your storage space so there is an element of logic to where the items are stored. This cuts down on the time it takes to track particular items.
As an example – If you stock general hardware and you have to find a certain type of screw, knowing that all the screws are held on a certain shelving rack makes finding the right item easy.
Organising your storage space like this streamlines the whole process of tracking, packing, and dispatching!
Conclusion
Self-storage units are a fantastic way for businesses to expand their storage space without breaking the bank. We hope that these hints and tips help you to get the most out of your inventory self-storage.
At U Store It, we have storage facilities throughout Ireland, making it easy for you to find a convenient location to help your business. Contact us today to find out more about how a self-storage unit can help with your inventory storage.
