The stockroom challenge – getting it right
Whether you are a large warehousing company, retail stockist, ecommerce supplier or small business owner, it can be a challenge for any business to ensure their stockrooms are well prepared for the cycle of stock.
Forecasting stock is more of an art than a science, so it’s not always easy to get it right – there’s always a chance some items will sell like hot cakes, while other products don’t run off the shelves as anticipated.
So, how can you make sure your stockroom works for you day-in, day-out, and throughout the year, with an easy flow of SKUs that achieve that delicate balance of having enough stock rather than too much?
Organisation is key.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a micro business selling just a few products from a large cupboard or a multi-national concern with a state-of-the-art warehouse, if the storage space is disorganised, hard to use or inefficient, it will do more harm than good to your business and will mean mistakes are easier to make.
It’s not just a case of having enough industrial shelving and storage: the space has to be planned in a logical and efficient way so that your staff can move around quickly and safely to retrieve stock and move it to where it needs to be.
And with health and safety being a crucial part of any warehouse operation, having the right sturdy equipment to hand for heavier lifting is also a necessary consideration.
Placement
If there are particular products that are more popular or need to be retrieved quickly, put them at the front of the warehouse or stockroom. It makes it easier for staff to get hold of them and restock a retail floor or send them to the packing area.
The Right Shelving
With such a massive range of shelving and units available, there’s no excuse for getting the wrong type for your operation. From parts bin shelving to garment racking units, industrial shelving and longspan racking, there is something for every storage need and good planning will mean that every inch of space is well used.
The key questions are: what type of shelving will work best for your operation? What are your product ranges? How big are the items you need to stock and do you need industrial capacity shelving to cope?
If you need to store very heavy items, the Easy to assemble Longspan Warehouse Racking System has a continuous span of up to 2700mm for maximum storage capacity of large and bulky items and can cope with up to 850 kg uniform distributed load (UDL) per shelf. Install imply with only a rubber assembly mallet. Beams can be adjusted every 50 mm with safety pins for extra security.
How to work out what you need
Choose from a shelf depth of 600mm which offers up to 850kg, so ideal for larger loads. Frame heights range from 2000 to 3000 mm with each shelf spanning from 1825 to 2700 mm.
For lighter loads choose the 450 kg per shelf option, available in a depth of 900mm. This could work for bulky and awkward shaped items. Frame heights range from 2000 to 3000 mm and each shelf can span from 1825 to 2700 mm.
Once you know the available space you have, what you are wishing to store and what’s practical for your area, you need to consider how to bring your unit together.Your first bay must consist of at least 2 x End Frame Assemblies and 2 x Shelf Assemblies.
Any additional bays will consist of 1 x End Frame and minimum 2 x Shelf Assemblies.
Heavyweight Multipurpose Boltless Shelving is another system that is ideal if you want to stock heavier items. Each 15mm chipboard shelf can withstand between 250kg – 350kg uniform distributed load (UDL), depending on your weight requirements. All are fully adjustable, which is perfect when stock changes over each season. For a quick fit-out solution, these shelving units are offered in money-saving, bulk-buy options. For instant shelving and enclosed storage, this range is also available with boxes included that fit neatly to the relevant shelving size. Ideal for securely storing loose items and labelling appropriately.
One thing we always advise: buy shelving with a higher UDL / eight capacity than you think you’ll need because you never know which products you will want to stock in the future.
Choose from standard duty Multipurpose at 150 kg UDL or the Heavy Duty range, providing 250 kg UDL per shelf.
Both types offer choices of tiers, from 3 to 8 and whilst their versatility allows each shelf to fitted every 25 mm. Therefore you can adjust to suit the height of your storage, plus it has the adaptability to add in shelves if you ever require additional space within a unit.
Go High
Utilise every inch of available space by making sure that you get the tallest storage and racking system you can fit in your space. Even if you don’t have the inventory to fill the shelving now, you are prepared for growth as well as for bringing in more popular lines quickly, if necessary.
Pro tip: it’s important to add higher shelving before you get to the point where the stockroom or warehouse is too full to cope.
Storage Boxes
Some items area best stored in a good, strong Storage Box. From just 4 Litre capacity to 150 Litre capacity, a storage box can keep oddments, small stock items and even essentials such as stockroom labels in a tidy manner. Multi-purpose Part Bins come in a variety of sizes and are also a useful addition to any stockroom.
Getting Around
There’s every chance your busy stockroom or warehouse will need to move bulky or multiple items several times a day. Heavy duty Flatbed Trucks and Platform Trucks will ensure that staff can move products around safely.
If you are not sure which product would work best for your warehouse or storage room, our expert customer service team can guide you with the design and recommend products. Contact us today on 0800 834 782 to see how we can solve your shelving and storage needs.