Whether you’re a small business owner or an employee of a large company, if you work in the retail sector, you know the importance of storage in retail environments. It is a crucial, often overlooked element of the store’s design and is integral to its success.
So, how do you make your storage solution work for you and not against you? You must have strength, flexibility, and convenience on your side.
Strength
A strong, sturdy storage solution for the backroom or stockroom is a must. Whether you’re selling homeware, shoes, books, or concrete pots, sturdy shelving will allow you to maximise the storage space. You’ll be able to get all of your excess stock off the floor – giving you a clear workspace – and store everything you need to keep the shop running and turning over a profit in an orderly fashion. To keep everything tidy, safe, and in a functional space, a strong storage solution, such as pallet racking, will do the trick. If you’re in doubt, see here for some inspiration from the experts at Elbowroom.
Flexibility
When it comes to in-store storage, flexibility is key as it will give you versatility and organisation for both the business and customers. Shelves that can be altered in height are perfect for in-store displays because they can be adjusted to complement the product on hand and display its features in a visually appealing way.
Not only is a flexible storage system good for displaying your products in the store, but it is also good for storing excess stock and supplies too. This is especially important if your store sells homeware, clothes, or accessories, as new items of all different shapes and sizes are constantly rolling in the door. Combat the fear of fitting in another new collection by having a flexible storage space that can be adapted with ease.
Convenience
A storage solution must be convenient for all of the business’s stakeholders. Nothing is worse than seeing a customer awkwardly attempt to look at a product that is stored inconveniently and surrounded by clutter. People love to look and feel products before purchasing them because, after all, that’s the beauty of bricks-and-mortar retail. By having a storage solution that is easily accessible to the customer, without causing fear of them breaking it, disrupting the display and causing a scene, you are likely to sell more products and turn over more revenue. More often than not, when a customer cannot subtly access the product, they will leave the store frustrated and empty-handed.
Furthermore, a convenient storage solution benefits the business because it enables easy resupply of stock to the shelves after it has been delivered by the distributor. If your storage system is conveniently located onsite and you are able to access it from the shop floor, you are more likely to have a larger range of available products. As with a strong and flexible storage solution, this will in turn bring higher turnover to your business.