When you’re running a retail business, the number of things that you need to think about to ensure that you continue to find success can feel overwhelming at times. If you’ve gotten to a stage where your business is stable, it can be tempting to leave things how they are and avoid moving out of this new comfort zone. However, there is a high risk of this leading to the stagnation of your business. The continue your success, you’re going to need to consider the growth of your business, and when you grow a retail business, you’ll need to put a lot of thought into important things such as storage. You may need to upgrade that simple stock room and outsourced storage space into something more substantial such as your very own warehouse. If you’re looking at pursuing this, here’s what you need to think about when deciding on a warehouse space for your business.
Warehouse Size
First of all, you’ll want to figure out just how much space you’re going to need. Of course, choosing a warehouse space that you won’t be able to fill right now means that you’ve got more room for expanding your operations later. However, if you’re not going to be substantially increasing your stock anytime soon, then you are likely going to be throwing away money on a larger warehouse that could be best used elsewhere. Make sure you calculate the square footage required for your stock and have a necessary bit of space to allow for growth. You’ll want to be utilising at least 60-70% of the warehouse space from the beginning. You can also do plenty of things to redesign your warehouse layout, maximising the space for increased efficiency and effectiveness.
Security Features
Most warehouses will have some form of security system in place, even those that are extremely low cost. Ultimately, it depends on how much risk you want to take with your stock. We highly recommend choosing a warehouse with working CCTV and alarm systems in place, though, as this acts as a deterrent to opportunist thieves. An alarm can alert the relevant people and even cause thieves to leave quickly, limiting your losses. As well as alarms and cameras, you might also opt for a more secure space that is located within a warehouse compound, complete with protective perimeter fencing and guards, especially if your stock is extremely valuable, such as jewellery and technology.
Building Amenities
You might think that all you need for your warehouse is the space to put shelves up and store pallets of goods. However, you need to remember that you’re likely going to need employees working here often, which means that your warehouse will need at least basic amenities to keep your team content. This means that male and female toilet access is required and a space for employees to take a break. If your warehouse is in the middle of nowhere without access to food and drink, you’ll want to also consider finding a warehouse with a kitchen and staff room for employees to spend their lunch break. You should also ensure that the warehouse is well ventilated and has air conditioning for the summer months and heating to keep employees warm in the winter.
Important Equipment
Your warehouse is going to require certain equipment to increase the effectiveness of your team, as well as their safety. They’re going to need a forklift or other similar equipment to safely move pallets and heavier stock. You’ll also want to supply them with quality shelving to increase the amount of storage space within your warehouse and equipment that can provide better access, such as mobile stairs. You can get things like safety steps from suppliers like The Workplace Depot, which vary in height to suit your shelving. It’s highly recommended to use stairs like this rather than other types of ladders, as they’re designed to allow individuals to retrieve goods from higher up while reducing the risk of injury. Of course, it’s still important to train your staff to follow the correct procedures and to use equipment safely while in your warehouse to avoid any serious injuries.
Location Of Warehouse
When we speak about a warehouse being located in the middle of nowhere, there are more things to consider for this. There are of course pros and cons for a warehouse being located away from built-up areas and benefits to them being in the centre of a city, for example. If your warehouse is going to be entirely used to supply stock to your shop, then you will likely want this to be as close as possible. However, suppose your warehouse is going to be used for distribution around the country due to online delivery options or supplying corporate clients, for example. In that case, it may benefit you to have a warehouse situated in a prime location close to motorways. This will allow your delivery drivers to start their deliveries faster without having to deal with the potential traffic of urban areas.
Available Utilities
For the simpler warehouse options, you may find that while they may be more affordable, you might have more responsibilities for the warehouse itself, such as clearing snow and ice in the winter, cleaning the warehouse, and even arranging for your own security methods, whether that’s security guards or even your own locks. Usually, the more money you pay, the more benefits you’ll get. A more premium warehouse solution may provide you with security systems, maintenance staff, and they might even manage the entire warehouse operation for you with their own pickers and packers. There is also the chance that they’ll have their own warehouse management software, which will record your stock levels, allowing you to access this information remotely and request deliveries quickly and easily using an app. It’s important to know exactly what you need from a warehouse before deciding. Note your requirements in your business plan and use this to guide your decision. While you may save some of your budgets with a cheaper option, you may end up having to pay more in the end by supplying your own additions.
Loading Docks
You should also be aware of the types of loading docks available at the warehouse you’re considering, as these can vary significantly and can suit different types of business. For example, a loading dock could be entirely open and have no protection from the elements. This may be a cheaper option found at a budget warehouse, but you’ll have to take extra steps to ensure your stock doesn’t get damaged by a heavy downpour during loading. A loading dock will often be a flush dock in which delivery vehicles will back up to the entrance, and goods can be loaded from inside straight into the back. There are also enclosed docks, which are where your vehicles will drive inside an enclosed space to be loaded. Don’t forget that these require added ventilation to reduce the impact of harmful emissions on your team. You may want to find a warehouse with a sawtooth dock that will allow each vehicle to drive away easily once loaded with limited interference for multiple delivery vehicles coming and going.
