There are times when your business needs more storage capacity. Increased production for seasonality, supply chain disruption, or refurbishment projects are just some examples. So when you need more space, what are your options? What are the best options for your business? Here’s our guide…
For a few weeks
If your storage needs are very short-term, shipping containers and marquees may be the right solution for you.
Relatively low setup and removal costs mean that the overall costs of providing this short-term storage make sense.
If the quantities being moved about are low, you may even consider off-site storage solutions.
For a few months
As the time period extends, temporary warehouses come into the equation, with other considerations then becoming deciding factors. Let’s look at each option in more detail….
Shipping containers
If you really only need a tiny amount of additional space for a month or two, they can be invaluable.
- They’re strong and secure
- Delivery and removal costs are a £few hundred
- Weekly rental is £15-40 a week
What happens is that they stay in place, often multiplying as a bit more is needed, then a bit more again……
- Their shape makes them inflexible, often wasting a lot of the space available
- The design means everything inside has to be manhandled in
- They only come in certain sizes, and they are always rectangular
- They are impractical if you need lots of storage capacity
Marquees
Covid decimated the events industry and many marquee suppliers pivoted to providing temporary storage solutions.
Because they can go up in a day, the set up and removal costs are low. Amortising these costs over even a few weeks makes little difference, so they can be a great solution for very short periods of time. Every driven past the back of a supermarket at Christmas, seeing a marquee on the yard?
But…
- Security is a major problem, with little stopping someone getting in
- Height is limited (see previous paragraph)
Temporary warehouses
With our warehouses starting at only 7m x 5m (a standard 40ft shipping container is approx.. 29 sqm), you can have as little, or as much storage as you need.
- Standard heights range from 4.2m to 6.2m enabling you to store vertically as well as at ground level
- Metal side panels and secure doors/access points mean security isn’t an issue
- The range of sizes mean they can go into even small spaces that you have available on your site. As long as a telehandler and a forklift can get into the space, a temporary warehouse can be erected.
Decision Factors
Time and storage capacity are your two major factors in determining which is the right temporary storage solution for you. Security, flexibility and efficiency are then added into the calculation.
If you would like to discuss your temporary storage needs, please get in touch.