Seasonal businesses have very unique storage needs as there will be times of the year when they need more storage. We refer to this as seasonal storage and self storage is able to address these unique needs as it is flexible, cost effective and secure. 

Within this article we will be discussing the benefits of using self storage for your seasonal storage. 

Understanding Seasonal Businesses

A seasonal business is a term that refers to the highs and lows in business that correspond to the changes in seasons. Some examples of seasonal business are:

• Gift Retail businesses 
• Gardeners
• Ice cream vans
• Moving services
• Pet Sitters
• Children’s holiday clubs 
• Etc, etc. 

Seasonal businesses face challenges in terms of storage because there will be times when they need extra amounts of inventory and there will be times when they need to place their equipment in storage over a longer period such as gardeners over the winter months. 

What is Self Storage?

Self-storage is a facility in which people can rent a storage unit in which to store their belongings or business inventory. The units usually vary in size, allowing the self storage facility to cater to many different needs. Professional self storage is also extremely secure with state-of-the-art security systems in place. 

Key Benefits of Self-Storage for Seasonal Businesses

Flexibility and Scalability

Self storage is able to offer you seasonal storage that is flexible and scalable allowing you to upgrade your unit or rent a secondary unit for the seasonal period where you are most busy. 

This flexibility also allows you to downgrade when the seasonal demand is over without any hassle. 

Cost-Effectiveness

Using self storage for your seasonal storage will also prove to be much more cost effective as you will not need to worry about being trapped with excess storage that you don’t need. 

Also, you will have less overhead costs as you will not be in charge of the maintenance or cleaning of the storage space, which you would be if you were to buy a storage container.

Enhanced Security

One of the biggest benefits of using seasonal storage is that you will be able to benefit from the high-quality security systems that all professional self storage companies have in place. 

Within our self storage facilities, we have 24/7 CCTV surveillance around each facility and we have pin-code access systems. Each of our units is fully equipped with an intruder alarm and a smoke and fire detector. 

Having secure seasonal storage is extremely important as it will keep all your valuable inventory safe and give you peace of mind that it is all protected. 

Accessibility

When it comes to picking a self storage facility for your seasonal storage it is important that you pick a facility that is conveniently located for you and your business. It can be very beneficial to pick a facility that is centrally located as it will be easily accessible for deliveries and pick-ups. 

With all of our Cinch Self Storage stores we have chosen locations which are located just a short distance from the town or city centre. We want our self storage to be convenient for people and businesses in the local area and location is such a big part of that.

Storage Solutions for Different Types of Seasonal Businesses

There are different benefits depending on what type of business you run. For example, using seasonal storage for a gardening business will give you the ideal place to store your equipment during the quiet months. 

Here we are going to look at some of the benefits for different types of seasonal storage. 

Organisational Advantages

If you run an e-commerce or retail business, using seasonal storage will allow you to manage your inventory in an organised and efficient way. Inventory management can be extremely hard but self storage can help. 

In order to maximise your season storage space, it is important that you place your stock on shelving and/or racks. Once this is done, draw out the layout and write down where everything goes. Place this at the front of your unit so it is easy to see as this will allow you to navigate your unit with ease. 

If you have team members, take them around the unit, showing them where everything goes and where the plan can be found. 

And if you decide to change anything, make sure to tell your team and to change the plan. 

Preparing for Seasonal Storage

As we have already said, if you are storing stock, it is a good idea to place it all onto shelving or racks in an organised manner. 

If you are storing equipment, such as gardening equipment, it is important that before you store it, you clean and dry it. Depending on the type of equipment and what it is made of, it may be a good idea to cover it with a sheet to help keep it dirt and dust free. 

If you have any stock or equipment that you will need more often or before the other equipment, place these at the front of your unit for easy access. 

Legal and Insurance Considerations

It is important that you understand your rental agreement and know what you are allowed to store and the terms for if you want to leave your unit early. For our self storage, we just need 14 days notice. 

You will also need to consider insurance. Although all reputable self storage companies will have advanced security in place, no is capable of stopping or predicting a flood or fire. We do have insurance on offer to cover you for things such flood, fire, water leakage, explosion etc. and can work out as cheap as £6.50 a week. 

Self-Storage for Seasonal Businesses

There are many benefits that come from using self storage for your seasonal storage. It will give you a flexible, cost effective and secure way in which to store your business stock and/or equipment. 

If you run a retail or e-commerce business, it will also benefit your business as it will give you a place in which to organise your stock, making inventory management much easier. 

Seasonal storage from a self storage company will be an excellent solution for your seasonal business. 

 If you would like to know more about our seasonal storage, please click here to find your local store.