Set Up Your First Warehouse Space with This Guide

If you have physical products to send out to people, you have a few options for storage. Some people use drop shipping companies, who either keep your products or send out their own. If you have a small business, you might have enough space in as self-storage unit or two. However, if you have a large inventory, you probably will need some warehouse space. Setting up a warehouse for the first time can be difficult, as you may not know what to do. If you’re not sure where to start, use the guide below to get started.

Find the Right Space

Before you can arrange your warehouse in the way you want to, you need to find somewhere to store your stock. Choosing the right warehouse space is an important task, which you might think would be extremely easy. However, it can be a bit harder than you first thought. You need somewhere that’s accessible for you so that you can check up on it. You may choose somewhere close to your main office, so it’s easy for you to get to. Money is an important thing to think about too. Don’t forget to set a budget, whether you’re planning to rent or buy.

Get the Right Storage

Once you’ve found a space that’s right for you, you need to work out how best to store your products. It will obviously depend on what you sell. You will have to consider safety for some things and how to pick out one item when someone makes an order. Most warehouses use plenty of shelving, which can take massive amounts of weight if you sell heavy products. You can also sort things into boxes or racks, especially when you have small items that could get lost easily. You should also think about whether you want to be able to move the storage around.

Create a Floor Plan

When you have your storage, you have to plan out where to put it. There are a few things you need to consider to get the best setup. For example, some warehouses may require the use of forklifts. You should have a clear path to the entrances and exits to make it easier to put orders together and load them into vans. You might also need a packing area if you need to gather orders and package them into boxes.

Ensure Safety

It’s important to make sure that your warehouse space is extremely safe for the staff who use it. There are quite a few ways that you can maintain safety, which you should be diligent about all the time. For example, you can put up signs around the warehouse to remind people of how to operate. You should also make sure your staff receive training in carrying out their work. They should know how to lift heavy things, use any machinery they need to, and more.

Setting up your first warehouse may take you a while, but it can help you grow your business. It will be a sign of new things to come as you continue to expand.