ezStorage Packing Tips from MDfilms on Vimeo.
The uses for storage companies are obvious - you store all your belongings, and items that you just don't need, but you aren't ready to get rid of them. But what other uses are there for storage containers and warehouses?
I use my storage facility at my local Big Yellow as an overflow. I think most people do use it for this purpose. It's a great, low-cost, safe way to store all your items that just won't fit in your house, but you aren't quite ready to give up yet and get rid of them. Maybe it is antiques? Maybe it is family treasures from relatives who have passed away? Whatever it is, using a storage facility in this manner is very common. But what if you decide to use that space in other more inventive ways? A lot of entrepreneurs are doing just that across Britain. Many stories of small businesses using storage company facilities as office space are starting to emerge. The trend seems to have started with some more seasonal businesses, such as Harpreet Ramprakash who owns a small business selling santa hats.Naturally, the business only really starts up around the end of summer and pretty much ends just after Christmas. This means it can be rather cumbersome for Harpreet to have to locate premises for a short period of time.Previously he had to rent a small, cold industrial unit on a 12-month lease. This meant he needed to sub-let the unit for the months he wasn't using it. Then Harpreet had an idea. Why not rent a small unit at a storage facility? He checked with the company if this was possible - which they said was fine as long as the basic rules and guidelines were not broken. This works very well, as the rent is very low compared to a normal office/unit space, it has better heating, and the tenancy agreement is easy to chop and change! Harpreet can even expand into another unit if he has a busy year, or downgrade if it is quieter than expected - very flexible! Of course, this is a special case. But what if you have a long-term office requirement? Could you still take advantage of using a storing company as your base? It depends. You need to formally address what your requirements are, how many staff you have, and whether you need specialist equipment, phone lines or electrical equipment. However, it might be worth discussing with your local storage facility and seeing what they can offer. You also need to remember that you are unlikely to get windows or proper heating, just enough to stop freezing temperatures! Cities in the North of England seem to be leading this trend, with many companies based in Liverpool, Manchester and Stoke all leading the way on opening their centres to businesses in the area, and encouraging new and growing businesses to use their storage units as a cheaper and more flexible alternative whilst they are in their early days. Liverpool is known to have costly rents for office space, due to a shortage in available office pushing the price up, so it's easy to see why storage in Liverpool and Stoke, and Manchester are leading the way in this. Students are also getting in on the act of using storage companies to their advantage. Students who travel from abroad to the UK cities, are storing items they need in specialised storage facilities set up for the student market. This way, overseas students can store items out of term time, and then get help with moving companies transporting them between UK cities if they change location. Very savvy indeed! In fact, the Univeristy of Liverpool has realised this and its website now advises overseas students of their nearest storage facility. So maybe you should consider a storage facility when thinking of your next office move, or when your children may want to head to Univeristy or college abroad! |