The holidays are quickly approaching, which means that retailers need to start stocking up for the big shopping days. If you have not already talked to your warehouse about your storage options, now is the time to see what extra space will be available for you and how you can make the transition before the end of the year. In the guide below, we will explain how to plan flexible storage for the holiday season so you can be as prepared as possible.
Use Past Inventory Data for a Guideline
You can use last year’s inventory and sales data as a guideline for how much storage you may need this year. Did you get too much storage last year? Did you get too little? This may not be a direct indicator of what your sales and inventory information will look like for this year, but it will at least give you a starting point to build from.
Clear Up Wasted Space
Do you still have inventory sitting around from last year’s holiday season? Use this as an opportunity to clear out those items so you can make room for this year’s inventory. While it is possible to get extra storage to fit your growing needs, you should also consider how adequately you are using the storage you have. If you have areas of wasted space because of the items within them, it may be time for some fall cleaning.
Research Current Market Trends
What items are expected to be the biggest sellers this holiday season? Are they large items that will need proportionally large storage areas? Are they small items that will sell in large quantities? There is no way to truly predict what the sales are going to be for this holiday season, but researchers in every industry put out information about what their predictions will be. You can use those to help you determine what your storage needs will be for the holidays.
Ask Your Warehouse for Advice
Here at Overflo, we’ve witnessed enough holiday sales frenzies to know what to expect year after year. We can help you get an idea of what your storage needs will be based the type of items you sell, the type of people you sell them to, and the amount of inventory you want to stock for various items. We offer flexible storage solutions for businesses of all sizes, so you can get exactly what you need for your specific situation. Our team is here to guide you every step of the way.
While you’re thinking about your storage options, you may also want to think about your order fulfillment needs over the holidays. We staff extra pickers, shippers, stockers and more to accommodate for the rush of the season. If you want to streamline your order fulfillment as much as possible, ask us about how we can include this option with your storage plan. We will make sure that you are set up and ready to go for the holidays.