Small Businesses Need Warehouses, Too

By | Published January 26, 2021

In today’s business climate, no client is too small. In warehousing, small clients can add up to big bucks. Whether you’re the small business or the warehouse, the space is important and can have advantages for both of you.

Small Businesses

Looking for warehousing space? Don’t be afraid to talk to both new warehouses and existing sites.

  • The advantages of the new warehouses that are popping up across the country are that they are new. They are fresh and clean and they presumably have the most modern tools and fixtures.
  • New warehouses are also flexible and customizable. They have no pre-conceived notions of how the floor will lay out best or what the timing will be of inventory management and movement. You’ll get to call more of the shots there.
  • New warehouses also allow room for growth. As your business and inventory grows, the new warehouse will be better able to handle it.
  • The advantages of existing warehouses include experience, experience, experience. The good news about that is the ramp-up time will be quicker, the systems will be in place, and the software tools will be upgraded. Existing warehouses are probably less flexible with their space.

Think big, yet be small.

  • Regardless of the age of the warehouse, it should offer the following features:
    • Appropriate storage shelving or pallet racks for your product type – If you have special packaging or odd-sized products, the warehouse should be able to easily accommodate these peculiarities in both space and storage solutions.
    • Appropriate methods in place to fulfill orders – This may range from using first-in-last-out pallet racks to transporting with forklifts. Their equipment should be up-to-date and safe.
    • Room for growth. If you’re planning to start small and grow, the warehouse space you choose should not be the back corner of the second floor behind the ceiling-high boxes that only move in February. Additions to your space should be exactly that. Product shouldn’t be scattered throughout the warehouse. This eats into your efficiency in the supply chain.

Warehouses

Don’t overlook the small business as a viable client. A number of small businesses can add up to big profit.

  • Small start-ups may not have the inventory to warrant a large space currently, but in just a few months, they can be shipping product worldwide. They might start with a small space housing a pallet rack and a forklift, but as their business grows, so will yours.
  • Small businesses are eager to reap the benefits of a large business’ supply chain when they go to a larger warehouse.
  • If a business anticipates quick growth, it will want to be ready with enough available storage space. You’ll have your space allocated and committed, and the small business will have the confidence of the availability of space.
  • You can maximize your profitability on equipment, fixtures and human resources. As more small businesses get in to online shopping, they will need pickers and packers – you already have trained employees to do this work.

Think small to be big.

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