Self Storage Tips

An adequate storage space is an integral part of every business operation, especially for manufacturers and distributors. If you are running a manufacturing company or a distributor company, you are most likely in constant need of a good storage space for your goods, supplies, equipment, and stocks. You might be thinking of renting the warehouse you passed by the other day, or expanding your current headquarters to increase warehouse space. However, with the rising costs of construction materials today, not to mention the skyrocketing rent prices due to continuous increases of real estate value, it may not be wise to rent a bigger commercial warehouse, or to renovate your business headquarters to increase storage space.

Now you may be wondering, if it's not necessary to rent a bigger warehouse, and it's a wrong idea to make some drastic renovations, how do you increase the storage space for your manufacturing or distributing business? The solution is to look for a good self-storage unit. Self-storage facilities are getting more popular as affordable logistics measures today, but if you're new to the idea of self-storage for your manufacturing or distributing business, here are some relevant facts that you might find useful for your business.

What is a self-storage facility?

A self-storage facility works just like a mini-warehouse, the only difference being its lockable storage units. These storage units are available whether for short-term or long-term needs, for both personal and business purposes. Self-storage facilities range from locker-sized units to warehouses and parking lots, therefore allowing manufacturers and distributors to store products, equipment, stocks, and supplies of all sizes. Many businesses now prefer self-storage facilities over office spaces and commercial warehouses because of their flexibility, cheaper prices, and security features.

Since most self-storage facilities are spacious and large, they are situated in locations outside the busy metropolis. As such, the rent prices for self-storage units are not affected by the continuously increasing costs of rent in the bustling cities. Rent prices for self-storage facilities are thus relatively lower compared to office spaces, commercial warehouses, and storage buildings found in most cities and commercial districts. This is the main reason why many self-storage units have caught the attention of small businesses, distributors, and manufacturers today.

Self-storage facilities are rented by many households and businesses to store all sorts of objects, but there are certain items that are not allowed by self-storage companies to be stored in their units. Perishable items such as food products will not be accepted in self-storage facilities. As such, distributors and manufacturers can only store non-perishable goods such as apparel, hardware equipment, and power tools in self-storage units.

Why are self-storage facilities advantageous for distributors and manufacturers?

Anyone who is running a business as a manufacturer or distributor knows that an ample storage space is necessary for smooth business operations. These businesses involve mass production and mass delivery, which suggests that manufacturers and distributors have to deal with storing, transporting, and handing over large quantities of goods to buyers, suppliers, sellers, and retailers. Therefore, they will need adequate space to store all kinds of non-perishable finished products, extra stocks, and supplies before they are sold or delivered to clients.

Most self-storage facilities such as Bridge Self Storage are protected by surveillance cameras and security personnel, so clients can be certain that their goods, supplies, and equipment are secured and well-guarded at all times. Tenants are also allowed 24/7 access to their self-storage units, which means that distributors and manufacturers can stay right on schedule for collection, storage, and delivery. To further help them stay on their tight business schedules, distributors and manufacturers are allowed to use transport trucks for free on a monthly basis, an additional service made available by self-storage companies such as Bridge Self Storage.

Since self-storage units are available in virtually all sizes, distributors and manufacturers can be sure that adequate storage spaces are available for various products of almost all sizes. Also, because small-scale distributors and manufacturers can choose self-storage units according to their storage needs, they don't have to overspend on the rent costs of warehouses and office spaces that are actually too large for their business.

Bridge Self Storage, which has branches in San Francisco, Berkeley, Oakland, Richmond, and many others is one of the best self-storage companies for distributors and manufacturers. Bridge Self Storage offers outstanding features for the benefit of manufacturers and distributors, such as free wireless internet, office space with workstations, full electronic gate and recording security cameras, packing and shipping through FedEx, UPS and U.S. Mail, and automatic online credit card payments.

Couple self-storage facilities with proper packing and storing techniques

Although self-storage facilities can be very advantageous to manufacturers and distributors, it is also helpful to practice proper packing techniques that allow manufacturers and distributors to store more items and save even more on rent costs. Proper packing and storing allows valuable storage space to be fully utilized, and helps manufacturers and distributors avoid losses due to molds, damages, and breakage.

Many distributors and manufacturers also fail to realize that improper storage wastes a lot of space, which suggests that the available storage space is not fully utilized. Furthermore, since it may appear to distributors and manufacturers that the storage spaces are already full, they end up wasting money for extra rent costs. To avoid these problems, here are some simple yet useful packing tips that should be done before items are stored in self-storage facilities:

1. Distributors and manufacturers should only use sturdy packing materials, boxes, crates for storage, since storage boxes and crates deteriorate over time. If possible, these boxes should also be in similar sizes so they can be stacked evenly and easily to save some space.
2. Make sure that the boxes are filled to their capacity. This is necessary to protect the items inside from breakage. Towels, paper, cardboard, and special packing materials can be used to fill the gaps and spaces.
3. Fragile items should be wrapped with bubble wrap. They should be packed tightly inside sturdy boxes, and all gaps and spaces should be filled with paper or other packing materials.
4. The boxes must be carefully and correctly labeled so they can easily be identified. Don't forget to put the "fragile" notice on boxes that contain breakable items.
5. Avoid using re-sealable plastic bags to pack items since moisture can form inside, making the item vulnerable to molds and mildew.
6. Put tiny items and small parts such as screws, bolts, and nails inside small boxes, preferably with divisions, so you can easily find them.
7. Keep an inventory of your items and take note of the labels you used for each box.
8. To save space, pieces of furniture with collapsible parts should be dismantled before they are stored. All the tiny parts should be properly labeled so they won't get lost or misplaced.
9. Lastly, it is advisable to keep clothes inside wardrobe boxes to retain their shape and prevent them from being damaged by moisture, molds, and mildew.