A little organisation goes a long way, especially when running a smooth business operation. Industrial shelving in your stockroom or warehouse, regardless of your company's size, can improve your customer experience and loyalty. How? By assisting with inventory management and streamlining your fulfilment process, helping you get your orders accurately and on time. 

In this blog, we'll help you streamline your storage area step by step:

• 1: Measure your space
• 2: Create a floor plan
• 3: Find industrial shelving 
• 4: Label your shelving & racking
• 5: Maximise your floor area 

Step 1: Measure your space 

The first step in organising your storage area is a simple one; measure up. Knowing your floor space helps you decide how many storage units you need, avoiding unnecessary overspending. 

Step 2: Create a floor plan

Next, you'll need to create a detailed floor plan for your stockroom or warehouse. There are a few things to consider, such as the type of inventory you're storing, product sizes, and volume. There's no one-size-fits-all approach - you'll need to find the best system for your unique operation. Here are a few points to consider:

Aim to design a system that allows for the free-flowing movement of people, products, and equipment without interruption. Avoiding congested aisles is vital, as this will only slow your team down and lead to accidents.

You should make sure products and pallets are easy to access. When your staff can find stock easily, they pick orders faster and make fewer mistakes. Look to group similar items together so they're easy to find. For example, if you're storing golf supplies, you may want to categorize your bays into golf clubs, balls, clothing, etc. 

With popular, best-selling products, you'll want them as close to your sorting/shipping workstations as possible. Make these bays easy to access, as they will see the most traffic. It is also important when planning for seasonal stock rotation.

Step 3: Find Industrial Shelving units 

The shelving you choose will depend on your needs and the type of products you store. Luckily, there are several options to choose from to find the perfect solution for your space. Let's look at what business storage units are available:

Slimline Shelving 

Slimline shelves are a handy, cost-effective choice for office storerooms. These smaller-sized units can fit into tighter spaces without compromising loading capacity. They're ideal for small spaces with a height of 150cm, a width of 75cm, and a depth of 30cm. They're great for archive storage files, stationery, and components.

Long-span Racking 

Wide shelving units are ideal for wider boxes. These units have a wide shelf that is 120cm in width and twin support beams for added support in large spaces. 

Extra Deep Shelving

Extra-deep shelving units are perfect for warehouse storage when you have longer, bulkier boxes that require more shelf space. With a depth of 60cm, this type of shelving gives you more than standard storage racking. 

Heavy-Duty Shelving

These durable stainless-steel shelving units hold 200kg per tier (1000kg per unit). They're perfect for storing heavier products in warehouse spaces and tools in workshops. We have a wide range of highly secure, heavy-duty units available here.

All our industrial shelving units are adjustable, perfect for seasonal stock rotation, and offer flexibility if your storage needs change. You can change shelves and height to fit your items, making it perfect for long-term storage.

Step 4: Label your shelving & racking

Once you've chosen your shelving units and have them assembled, it's time to start labelling. 

Following your floor plan, label your shelving bays to make your warehouse easier to navigate. Through clear labelling, you can help your staff locate items quicker, streamlining picking and packing. After all, referencing your floor plan and searching for a product identifier, such as an SKU, is easier than scouring aisles until you find what you're looking for. 

Step 5: Maximise your space

Finally, you'll want to ensure you're storing your items as efficiently as possible. This means utilising vertical space on each tier and keeping your best sellers upfront and easy to access. It's best to stack your products if possible, as this will help you get the most out of each tier's storage space.

Regular floor checks can also help you ensure that you keep your products tidy and store them optimally, maximising volume. 

For more information on business storage solutions or to get a quote on shelving systems, visit our business storage page. If you have any questions, contact our friendly customer service team. Find out more about our industrial shelving here.