One of the keys to success for any business is keeping things organized. Workflow is better and employees happier and more productive when they have the tools and materials they need on hand. Self-storage units can bring a lot of flexibility to your company in terms of how things are stored and organized. Here are a few of the ways that storage units can be a competitive advantage.
Temporary Storage
Every company goes through phases of growth or upgrades where old equipment or materials are discarded, such as office equipment, discontinued product, and so forth. Some things such as chemicals and electronic waste can’t be simply tossed in the trash. Placing these things in a temporary storage unit frees up space for replacements, while allowing you to retain goods until they can be sold at a decent price or lawfully disposed of.
More Floor Space
At some point you’re going to outgrow the available floor space in your facility, or in parts of it. You can supplement this space with a storage unit. It’s possible to buy them in different sizes, quantities, or with features for whatever purpose you need at the time, whether its storage, office space, or new business functions like special maintenance projects. Then you simply return them when the need passes or you have the funds to add on to the main facility.
Store Valuables
You could also purchase storage units that are designed with security in mind. They are constructed of steel and have locks in place. This is ideal for safely and securely storing valuables such as high-end merchandise, consigned goods, or documents while other parts of the facility are undergoing renovations or repairs. You can also store items like dangerous chemicals or fuel that need protecting for safety and liability reasons, such that access to them is restricted.
Keep Equipment Safe
Larger storage units can also be garages. This might be useful for protecting equipment like forklifts from vandals or bad weather. These same units can also hold equipment for which you have a temporary need, such as snow blowers, plows, or bulk purchases of deicing chemicals for maintaining a safe, open parking lot in winter.
Store Perishables
Many industries will have a need to store perishable items like food for a length of time. Perhaps you’ve ordered excess perishable inventory for a cost advantage too big to pass up. Suppose you’re planning a big company party or charity event and don’t have the refrigerator space. Instead of foregoing the opportunity, you can lease climate controlled storage units for the purpose.
The true advantage in storage units is that you can order as many as you want and move them to wherever needed. This provides you a lot of options that can be much more cost efficient than purchasing, building, or leasing new facilities.