Warehouse space is integral to the success of all retail businesses. A warehouse provides you with a safe place to store your excess inventory so that you can take advantage of bulk discounts from your suppliers.
Constructing a new warehouse gives you the ability to customize the space to meet your company's unique needs. Here are three things you need to keep in mind when building a new warehouse to ensure you end up with a storage facility that will be an asset for your business.
1. Size
Trying to determine the size of a new warehouse can be one of the most challenging aspects of a warehouse construction project. The larger the warehouse you build, the more expensive the project will be. That said, it's important to allow yourself some room for growth when you are investing in a new warehouse.
Calculate your current storage needs. Factor in enough space for shipping and receiving activities, employee break rooms, and storage for forklifts and other machinery. This will give you a rough estimate as to the amount of space you currently need.
Evaluate your goals and sales projections for the next few years. Any anticipated growth should be factored into your warehouse plans to ensure the building is large enough to meet your current and future needs.
2. Location
Location is one of the most important factors when it comes to real estate. You must evaluate all locations carefully before selecting a site for your new warehouse. Check the integrity and accessibility of roads leading to and from each potential warehouse site. Calculate the amount of time it would take to have inventory delivered to each of your retail locations from potential warehouse sites.
You want to select a centralized location that is relatively close to major shipping outlets. By identifying the right location for your warehouse, you can effectively reduce your shipping costs over time.
3. Flexibility
The only thing that you can count on for the future is that change will occur. Your new warehouse should be flexible enough to accommodate any innovations that might arise within your industry. Work with your contractor to ensure your new warehouse is prepared for technology updates and the addition of automated equipment.
Ensuring that you have the right cables and power grid in place can go a long way toward maximizing the flexibility of your warehouse space in the future. Contact industrial style builders to learn more.