Ecommerce is becoming more popular than ever.
With generally lower operating costs than traditional businesses, and greater availability, online businesses can invest more into marketing their products and tailoring them to their specific niches.
As online literacy continues to grow, more entrepreneurs recognise the benefits of this approach.
However, although ecommerce businesses possess numerous unique advantages over their traditional counterparts, certain factors must still be considered when storing essentials such as equipment, stock, and other valuable assets.
In this blog, we will explore how self-storage can enhance your online businesses’ efficiency, allowing you to benefit from the flexibility and cost-effectiveness that it can offer.
Figure 1: Unsplash/Nick Morrison
1. Increased security
Increased security is one of the most immediate benefits of using self-storage for your business.
Designed to keep your goods safe, secure, and dry, self-storage protects your business assets from environmental damage, such as leaks and fires, that can easily occur in office spaces.
In addition, self-storage provides enhanced security for your business against thieves and fraudsters who may attempt to access your assets, equipment, and/or documents.
Watch for self-storage warehouses that feature fire-resistant concrete walls to safeguard your items, along with state-of-the-art CCTV for round-the-clock monitoring of your assets.
In addition to these security measures, staff will be on hand during working hours to perform routine checks on your goods, further decreasing the likelihood of mishap-related damage.
2. Reduced clutter
Whether you’re taking documents and equipment back to your home, clutter is never welcome.
This is particularly important for ecommerce businesses who may not have access to an office or private warehouse. Self-storage provides your stock with a safe and secure home, keeping equipment that you only need once in a blue moon, out of sight and mind, until you truly require it.
Once you’ve engaged with a self-storage solution, you’ll be amazed at how much space you have to work with. With this new space, you can eliminate the need for costly upscaling while avoiding any nasty injuries resulting from a falling box of documents!
Figure 2: Unsplash/Beatriz Braga
3. Increased cost-effectiveness
At this juncture, you may wonder, ‘How much can I store in self-storage?’ or ‘Can my budget cover the items I need to store?’.
One of the key benefits of self-storage is its cost-efficiency, particularly when compared to large warehouses – you can fully tailor your self-storage experience to meet your needs.
Whether you need to store only a locker or two of documents, or a year’s worth of stock, self-storage providers can find a solution that matches your needs.
At GTW, as well as self-storage, you’ll also find a documentation shredding service conveniently under the same roof, perfect for disposing of confidential documents.
4. Increased flexibility
If you’re an online business owner, you’ll know that in addition to keeping costs under control, flexibility is essential to help mitigate unexpected situations and fluctuations in demand.
To this end, self-storage can help you to go with the flow by providing solutions that match your specific schedule. Whether you’re scaling up or down, require certain items on a seasonal basis, or you need a temporary solution at short notice, leases are available to suit your needs.
Most self-storage options also allow you to come and go as you please within opening hours, so be sure to check these to see how your provider can accommodate your needs.
5. Ease of accessibility
Self-storage is flexible and easily accessible for those seeking storage solutions for their businesses.
As most self-storage solutions are designed to benefit business owners (and anyone else looking for a centralised storage option), it makes sense that they are found in convenient locations throughout your city.
GTW, for example, is based in Glasgow’s bustling city centre. Easily accessible from the M8 motorway and just a stone’s throw away from Glasgow Central station, we’re perfectly placed to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes within the city and in the Greater Glasgow area.
If you’re considering self-storage for your ecommerce business and want to learn more about GTW’s options for business owners, visit our website or contact our team. They will happily give you everything you need to make an informed decision about choosing self-storage.