The business storage and warehousing sector in the UK is booming right now, and with good reason.
According to data from Mordor Intelligence, the United Kingdom Warehousing and Distribution Logistics Market is expected to register a compound annual growth rate of greater than 5% between 2025 and 2030. This clearly indicates a growing reliance on professional storage solutions and secure business storage units.
Sadly, though, many businesses exploring third-party stock storage for the first time can struggle in deciding their next steps. This indecision can lead to lost time, an over-reliance on ineffective storage options (such as office space) and, ultimately, declining business profits.
But by creating a transparent business storage strategy and by choosing the right storage partner, these enterprises can reap the benefits of effective storage much faster, ensuring profits don’t suffer.
At FDC Holdings, our company has been assisting businesses with their storage and warehousing needs for decades, as well as providing top-class pallet deliveries, fulfilment services, tailored solutions and more, all from our 300,000+ sq ft facility. So keep reading to learn more, or get in touch to request more details today.
Creating a business storage strategy that works for you
- Assess your current storage needs
If you’re a business on the rise, it can be hard to know precisely how much storage – or even the type of storage – you’re going to need.
That’s why, when you have time, it’s important to take a step back and assess your storage needs purely from a physical and price standpoint, so you can find a storage partner who can meet your business needs. Focus on factors like:
- The type of items you’ll be storing – consider shape, size, weight, packaging materials, etc.
- How much you need to store – will your items occupy a lot of space, or can they be compressed or stacked and stored in a space-efficient way?
- How much your items are worth – if there’s a lot of value in your business inventory, you should find a storage partner with a lot of experience and high-end security.
- Your budget – set aside a portion of profits to pay business rates on storage, but choose a partner that offers flexible terms and can help you save money.
Not only will all of the above info help in constructing your storage plan, but it’s also incredibly helpful to have this on standby to discuss with potential storage partners.
- Consider access frequency
If you’ve decided to store your business goods off-site, there’s a good chance you won’t need consistent access to your items every day. This means you’re likely happy to keep a certain amount of stock on hand, while collecting extra stock as required.
But what if you need to ship goods out more frequently? Using local self-storage units is on the table, but these units don’t always provide the secure storage you need to enjoy peace of mind – more on this in a moment.
That’s why, if you’re worried you won’t be able to ship out your own goods to meet demand, using professional fulfilment services is always a welcome addition. This way, you’re killing two birds with one stone – keeping business inventory out from underfoot and shipping out to customers in rapid time. All without you having to lift a finger.
It’s not for everyone, but if you’re struggling with the capacity to ship goods at an acceptable rate, it could be the lifeline you desperately need.
- Choosing a reliable business storage solution
So, you know what you’ll be storing, you know how it needs to be stored, and you know how often you’ll need access to it. Now, it’s time to find a storage facility that ticks all the boxes.
When researching a commercial storage unit, be sure to read into the specifics; customer reviews and testimonials are a great place to start. Keep an eye out for comments on:
Location – is the business storage space close to you, or does it have access to major motorways and transport links for easy drop-off and collection?
Security measures – 24-hour CCTV is generally a must-have, but it always helps to have staff on hand who are trained in modern security practices, for an extra layer of safety.
Friendly staff – nobody wants to partner with someone they don’t ‘click’ with… having a strong working relationship from the outset is infinitely useful.
Experience – how long has your chosen storage solution been in business? The longer the better is a good rule of thumb.
A range of services and features – does the storage you’re browsing just offer storage, or do they branch off into other areas you can take advantage of? Think pallet trucks, alternate unit sizes, extra equipment, etc.
If any of the above sounds enticing, we know exactly who you need to partner with…
Choose FDC Holdings for your business storage needs
At FDC Holdings, we have the capacity, the services, and the know-how to help you implement an effective business storage strategy and utilise professional storage solutions to help your business thrive.