Space is an asset that should be used appropriately in business

When stating a business, deciding on the right amount of stock is always a dilemma. You need supply to meet demand as far as possible, but if you spend too much on stock you can waste your budget on assets which just won’t budge so early in the organisations growth.

The one commodity any retail or online business will definitely need, is space. Space, itself may be a pretty dull subject on the surface, but the fact is, companies often thrive or die on how well they manipulate it.

We are of course talking more than just stock here. When a growing company needs to house machinery, people and offices, the cost of housing those assets need to be analysed so all falls within the budget and you are getting the best for your money at the same time.

Space really is serious…

Sometimes, the issue of space is not taken seriously enough and processes and systems can be blown apart by ill use of space. Take for instance an office block where a room is filled to the rafters with archive documents. Is this good use of space? Or where meeting rooms are not used to their full potential. Cancellations take place, but no-one is notified so the room goes unused. Then too much pressure is placed on meeting rooms which are used too often.

Stock will always be dependent upon demand at any one time and in certain industries there will be a need to make room for seasonal stock. Online and ecommerce companies, because they are often providing a wide display and variety of stock need to ensure there is space at certain times of the year which does not impinge on the smooth running and processes of the workforce.

So let’s look at some of the ways you can find that extra space you are looking for:

Space Utilisation

This is about looking at the space you have and determining whether the capacity is being used to its maximum. For instance, supposing you have a mixture of 20cm high and 30 cm high boxes and you have a storage space with floor space and 20 cm high shelving. To maximise space in the room you need to consider increasing shelving space by 10 cm or taking away the shelving. This is about considering space in relation to what you wish to store.

What is the best way to store your unique products?

This again comes back to adapting your storage space to the products you sell. Don’t forget there are great accessories on the market which allow much more freedom in how you arrange your products. For instance, a mobile shelving system can offer more capacity and increases of up to an incredible 95 per cent compared with a static shelving alternative.

Are you using that ceiling space?

Think vertically.  Too often managers do not consider the enormous amount of space they have above shoulder height until they start getting in the really tall products. Use you shelving cleverly to maximise storage capacity.

And don’t forget us! Based in Canterbury we service all surrounding areas such as Faversham, Sittingbourne, and Herne Bay. We provide self-storage services for businesses and residential clients. Great security and access to your valuables when you need them, we can really streamline your business systems. To learn more click here