Whether you operate your home crafting business full time or just use it to generate some extra cash on the side, making room for your crafting supplies and keeping them organized can be a challenge. Getting a unit at a nearby storage facility lets you minimize the clutter in your workspace while still ensuring everything you need to run your business is close by. Here are a few tips for organizing your storage unit to maximize functionality so you spend more time making crafts than hunting for their components.
Divide Up the Space
Before you even pack the first box, the first thing you'll need to do is decide where things should go in the space. For instance, put seasonal fabrics in one corner, business records in another corner, and frequently used crafting supplies near the entrance. This will make it easier to find and access what you need. This can also reduce "clutter creep" because you'll know exactly where to place newly acquired items.
As a side note, if you have business partners or employees who will also be accessing the storage unit, it may be helpful to create a small map of where things can be found to keep confusion at a minimum. Additionally, you'll want to use masking tape to set boundaries for walkways, so anyone who enters the unit can easily move around without having to push aside boxes and furniture.
Shelve It
When it comes to storing craft supplies, shelves are your best friends. This is particularly true if you use a lot of small pieces like beads or fabric to make your products because you'll need to place these items into bins to keep them organized and protect them from environmental elements. Shelves minimize the need to move boxes around, which your back will like, and let you take advantage of the vertical space in your storage unit.
Sturdy wire racks are a good option because their large, open shelves are compatible with the widest variety of bins. However, bookshelves and cabinets can also work depending on what supplies you're storing in the unit.
In addition to shelves, check with the storage facility to see if you are allowed to put hooks or nails in the wall. This will let you take advantage of normally overlooked vertical space. For instance, the space near the ceiling often goes unused. You can place shelves along this perimeter and place items you rarely use there to save space for other things you need frequent access to.
Use a Self-Storage Inventory App
Keep track of what's in your storage unit by downloading and using a self-storage inventory tracker app. These apps offer a variety of functions to let you track what's in your storage unit. For instance, some apps let you create a list of items stored in a box and print out a code to place on that box. When you need to figure out what's in a particular box, all you need to do is scan the code with your smartphone.
There are also apps available for managing multiple storage units. The app will tell you what's stored in each unit, let you search for items, and generally help you make the most of the space you have.
In addition to keeping track of your existing supplies, self-storage apps can also save you money by reducing the risk that you'll purchase something you already have. Many times, out of sight is out of mind, and it's easy to forget what you have sitting in the unit, especially things that you may not use often.
For more tips on improving the functionality of your storage unit to support your craft business, connect with a storage facility such as All American Self Storage.
Share30 July 2015
Businesses come in all shapes and sizes. They provide us with all of the things that we need each day to live the lives we are used to. Are you considering starting up a business of your own? Do you have a hobby, interest, or skill that others could benefit from? Having watched as my son build a concrete finishing company from scratch, I have witness what persistence, patience, and hard work can do for a person. My blog focuses on what it takes to start a business and what you must do to ensure that your business is on a path to success.
