Five ways to make the most out of your storage space
With the growing shortage of space and increasing customer demands, storage is becoming a real challenge.
A survey by the UK Warehousing Association (UKWA) has revealed that about 75% of UK warehouse owners were unable to offer storage space to customers due to lack of capacity. Storage is also becoming more expensive with prices rising by about 25% due to the shortage and increase in Brexit-related enquiries.
If you are looking for ways to maximise your storage space while reducing costs, here are five ways to help you make the most of your warehouse floor.
1. Reduce the size and weight of your packages
Ensuring your packaging is good fit for your products will help you free up valuable storage space and reduce your transport costs.
Optimised packaging will reduce the space each parcel takes up in both your warehouse and delivery vehicles, and you will also save on packaging supplies as less in-fill material is required.
Packaging solutions such as crash-lock boxes come flat packed and are easy to assembly. They take less space than standard cardboard boxes and will help you pack quicker while increasing your throughput.
2. Use pallet boxes
Pallet boxes are delivered flat packed and can be easily collapsed for storage after use. They are ideal for transporting heavy items and can be stacked high, ensuring you make the most of your pallet space.
3. Consider loose fill alternatives
Packing chips are cheap and quick to pack, however, they are also bulky and difficult to store.
Packaging solutions such as Geami will not only help you reduce your storage requirements, but are also ideal for protecting fragile and breakable items in transit. Would you be surprised to hear that one pallet of Geami can replace 12 rolls of bubble wrap?
4. Switch to a different production method
Just in Time (JIT) production, where products and packaging are produced to order, and drip-feed supply, where products and packaging are supplied as and when you need them, are also great ways to free up your warehouse space.
Lower stock holding means you will reduce your renting and insurance costs and also benefit from an improved cash flow as you no longer need to bulk buy slow running stock.
5. Store your products with someone else
Have you ever considered out-sourcing the storage of your products and packaging? At Macfarlane Packaging, we can warehouse your packaging and deliver your items exactly when you need them.
Contact us today to find out more about our warehousing service or to discover packaging solutions that can help you maximise your storage space without compromising product protection.
