When it comes to managing retail stock there’s a lot to think about. How much you’ll need? How much you can sell? How fast will it sell?When to order it? Where will you keep it?There’s no easy answer to any of them; so much of it rides on instinct and intuition but that last question can be a particular ‘how long is apiece of string’ conundrum.
Traditionally, shops with retail space have a stock room, which limits them to what they can fit in and if they run out of something they try toorder more.That’s all well and good if you’ve got a big inventory low volume sales model but if you’re selling stuff that’s high volume; things that fly off the shelves as soon as you stock it, then the small stock room might not cut it.
However, over the last 10 years the retail model has changed considerably too. With the exception of a fruity, premium, high-end tech manufacturerwhose shiny products consumers are desperate to try, physical premises are becoming the high street of the past. The internet is takingover.
With fewer physical stores and an internet sales explosion the conventional stockroom is becoming a thing of the past.
When it comes to a place to keep that stock the logistical watchword in 2013 is flexibility. Space that can expand and contract as you needit and won’t cost you an arm and a leg.
Step up self storage for business. A self storage unit is a self contained, private, safe and secure room that you rent to store almostanything you like.Storage providers usually have units available in all sorts of sizes to suit almost all but the biggest of retail businesses(and let’s face it - if they’re that big they’ll have their own).
Storage units are priced on a per square footage basis, so you can rent as much or as little as you need. There’s generally an economy ofscale where large units cost less per square foot.
Where they come into their own though is that at worst, you’ll only need to give two weeks’ notice (really good ones might even require nonotice) if you’re in the lucky position that you sell out and no longer need the space. Alternatively, if you’re stocking up for a season, it’sequally as easy to move into a bigger unit and expand your stock holding capacity, then move back to a smaller unit and reduce your costonce the season has passed.
It’s the ability to react that makes self storage such an appealing proposition for the ecommerce entrepreneur. It’s an ideal solution for thelow cost start-up that reduces overheads, and for the established online retail business that knows how to operate efficiently.
It’s a hugely competitive industry too, so shop around and you can get some fantastic deals. Expect to find big introductory discounts;a significant percentage off forlong-term storage, lowest price guarantees and a bunch of other perks like free Wi-Fi and courier signing for deliveriesdespatch.
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