Choosing <A href=”http://www.fulfillmentplusny.com/B2B-Business-To-Business/Receive-Store-Ship.cfm”>Warehouse Services</a>
If your small business carries inventory, you must have storage. As your inventory grows a warehouse becomes a consideration. Warehousing services cover a varied variety of services. From a leased garage type storage facility all the way up to a professional pack and ship outfit.
Many online retailers can be run out of tiny rented self-storage units. The previous day’s orders are picked and packaged in the storage unit and sent out for shipping on the way home. When they outgrow this setup, warehousing services are more practical.
Different types of <A href=”http://www.fulfillmentplusny.com/index.cfm”>Warehousing Services</a>
Warehousing doesn’t mean just storage. It can, and this is the cheapest type of warehousing. You simply rent storage space and nothing else. Access may be limited and any special features (loading docks, fork-lift trucks, accepting shipments) can come at extra cost. With any type of warehouse (including the U-Store type) you should try to work out any insurance or security issues. Some inventory might require special environmental considerations. Don’t forget to check that the warehouse is climate controlled.
Look for at least: fire and theft insurance – employee theft can be a serious problem if you won’t be around to supervise what’s going on. Check that the warehouse has liability insurance and ask what bonding options they offer.
Beyond simple storage, some warehousing services also offer pick and pack type order fulfillment services. You transmit your orders (with customer information) and they find the merchandise and even ship it for you.
Alternatively you could hire a service that will pick orders for you but leave you to arrange the shipping. This allows you to double check your orders before they vanish in the mail.
Additional Considerations:
· Climate controlled storage warehouses – for artwork or other precious items that might be affected by changes in temperature.
· Registered warehousing – for custom delicate items, either shipping or receiving goods.
· High security storage – usually both patrolled and alarmed in addition to being secured by compartment/area.
· Dangerous substances storage – a special type of warehousing is needed dangerous substances.
Warehouse Plus <A href=”http://www.fulfillmentplusny.com/direct-to-consumer/index.cfm”>Pick, Pack and Ship</a>
If you have very large items (or large numbers of the same item) to be sold, you will need somewhere to store them before they can be sold. They then have to be taken to the shipping operation. However, by using a service that provides both storage and a pack and ship services you will solve this problem.
Order picking and the neccessary paperwork may still be your problem, but whenever an order is taken from storage, the pack and ship service takes care of the rest. This is very useful for items that are hard to ship or require special delivery tracking, proof of receipt or insurance. Almost all warehouses use barcoding to keep track of your unventory as part of their pack and ship facility. Some also offer additional record keeping, such as postage costs or other secondary services.
Pack and ship companies also often accept packages as part of their service. This can save you a lot of time and keep you from rush off to the warehouse quite so much.
Warehousing on a Budget
In most cases, companies that already run a warehouse operation will be willing to lease storage space for your goods. These can be informal contracts but a document should be drawn up that outlines access and obligations. Insuring your merchandise is also your responsibility.
Unconventional warehousing space can be found in many areas if you are willing to be flexible. A freind’s pole barn might be all you need or even an outdoor area, providing your merchandise can be sufficiently protected from the weather. Often, people are prepared to allow you to use a space so long as you agree to maintain it for them.
Also, don’t overlook businesses that have vacant rooms that are no longer needed. These can often be had very easily, because they would otherwise go to waste. Whatever space you use, remember to insure against loss – don’t rely on the current insurance policy, it rarely protects what amounts to a new .