13 Apr Small Business Storage Tips
Managing office storage can be tricky for businesses of all sizes and in all industries. From copy paper to important files and inventory, you need a convenient spot for everything that helps your business run smoothly. With square footage at a premium, your workplace can easily become cluttered and disorganized. There’s no need to panic! Trust these small business storage tips to help you manage your space more efficiently.
Declutter your office storage space.
Just as you would start any home organization project by ditching unused or obsolete items, decluttering your workplace provides a clean slate for supply, inventory, and equipment storage.
Eliminate clutter with these easy steps:
- Put old inventory on sale
- Toss or donate items that you no longer use
- Purge files and papers you no longer need
Selling old inventory at a discount can still net you some returns and can help clear out shelf space for next season’s products. If there are old computers, office furniture that has seen better days, or other outdated equipment cluttering up closets, it’s time to toss them. And any paperwork from longer than three years ago probably won’t be necessary for future accounting purposes.
Getting rid of nonessentials means fewer items to deal with later, should you ever need to move and expand to a larger space.
Ask for input from your employees.
Getting feedback from employees can help you develop a business storage system that makes sense for everyone and maximizes efficiency. Storing all documents in a file room may seem logical, but some staff members could benefit from having certain papers in file cabinets near their desks for easy access. Team members may also offer valuable input on which inventory should be placed front and center, or what supplies should be purchased in bulk and stored elsewhere. Your IT lead can tell you which items are perfect candidates for off-site computer equipment storage.
Find the right inventory management system.
If inventory management isn’t as efficient as it could be, consider streamlining the process with new software. If you prefer spreadsheets and other old-school tools, there is nothing wrong with sticking with those systems, as long as they work for everybody. It’s best to find an inventory tracking system everyone can agree on, whether it involves assigning SKUs differently or adding labels with barcodes to items that normally just sit on numbered shelves. Barcodes are especially helpful when keeping items offsite in a warehouse or storage unit.
Use offsite storage for office equipment that takes up space.
When standard organization practices fail, a storage unit or warehouse space could be the answer to your office storage problems. You may only need to store a certain type of asset. Whether that includes unused office furniture, excess inventory, or surplus supplies depends on your company’s unique needs.
Whatever you decide to place in your business storage unit or warehouse, be sure to include it in your inventory system or supply and equipment lists. Ask your business insurance representative about including the contents of your unit in your policy.
Find your storage unit, warehouse, or new office space with Prime Storage or Prime Storage Commercial.
If a storage unit is what you are looking for, Prime Storage offers accessible and affordable storage options at a facility near you. To get started, explore our available amenities or visit your nearest Prime Storage location. You can also shop for and rent a unit online!
If you are looking for a new office space or an offsite warehouse to store excess inventory, Prime Commercial has the space to meet your needs. Check out our commercial spaces for lease today and contact us about finding the right space for your business needs.