Startup entrepreneurs usually focus on obtaining licences and permits, establishing good relationships with suppliers and vendors, building a strong social media presence, and taking other steps. But if your business requires you to manufacture, store, and/or distribute goods, you shouldn’t just stop there—you also have to create the best possible warehouse.
Why Creating the Ideal Warehouse Is Important
Many startup businesses deal with a small number of products and don’t really need a lot of storage space. But once business picks up and you start receiving bigger orders, you’ll likely find yourself struggling to find room for your additional inventory. To avoid creating a logistical nightmare, you’ll need to rent a warehouse and ensure that it’s properly managed. By doing so, you’ll get to:
- Make inventory management easier. When your products are stored all over the place, it’s hard to keep track of how many you’ve sold, how many you still have on hand, and how many you have to reorder. Fortunately, this won’t be a problem when you keep everything in a warehouse that’s designed to promote not just product safety but also inventory management.
- Prevent theft. A strategically designed warehouse can discourage both internal and external theft, which will help you minimise loss and stay on track with your projected profits.
- Save time and labour. By adopting good warehousing strategies, you can streamline inventory management, shipping and delivery, and other processes and complete all tasks using less time and effort.
Tips on Creating and Managing Your Warehouse
If you can no longer put warehousing in the back burner, it’s time to take the following steps:
Determine how much space you need
Knowing your space requirements is key to renting the ideal warehouse. Avoid choosing an excessively large warehouse since you’ll end up wasting money on unused space. However, you should consider not just your current requirements but also your future warehousing needs, which will likely increase as your business grows.
Pick the right location
Having your warehouse in a remote area isn’t advisable since it will increase your shipping and delivery costs. This can decrease your business’s competitive edge and discourage customers from buying from you. If you allow customer pickups, your warehouse should be located near main roads so your customers won’t have to go out of their way to purchase and pick up your products.
Consider the climate
Many products—particularly food items and other perishables—are highly sensitive to temperature changes and can be easily damaged when exposed to too much heat or cold. Prevent this from happening by choosing a climate-controlled warehouse or at least renting one in an area with temperate climate.
Invest in quality equipment
Purchase heavy-duty shelving that’s designed for warehousing and industrial use and will last for years. By investing in large, sturdy shelves, you can easily organise your goods and prevent product damage and spoilage. You must also secure pallet jacks, hand trucks, service carts, forklifts, and other equipment that will allow your staff to safely lift, move, and stack your products.
Having a warehouse can help your business grow and become more established and profitable. Use this guide to decide when and how to create the ideal warehouse for your startup!
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