There are many reasons why a time may come when it is necessary or preferable to downsize a warehouse. It could be that you need more shop-floor space and have decided to scale down the warehouse, you may have made the decision to reduce how much inventory you carry – warehouse downsizing is a comparatively common venture among businesses of all sizes.

But in terms of getting the job done properly, there are one or two important rules to follow when going about the process. So if you are for any reason considering a warehouse downsizing project of your own, bear the following tips in mind for the best chance of an efficient result:

1. Host a Clearance Sale

First and foremost, while the best ways of preparing yourself for such projects is to get rid of absolutely every piece of excess stock beforehand. Anything that is not particularly valuable to you and is only likely to take up valuable space represents the perfect candidate for a clearance sale. It’s worth remembering that getting rid of excess stock for even a small amount of money is far better than having it sit around endlessly, gathering dust and going nowhere.

2. Consider Your Shelving System

Contrary to popular belief, downsizing a warehouse does not necessarily have to mean storing fewer items. The reason being that there is every chance you could optimise and upgrade your shelving system in a manner that allows exactly the same amount of stock to be stored in a much smaller space. Not only this, but high-quality shelving could also make it much easier and convenient to operate your warehouse in general. So once again, think carefully about how you utilise shelving, before getting started.

3. Self-Storage

One effective way of scaling down a warehouse while at the same time being able to hang onto a large amount of stock is to temporarily place excess stock in a self-storage unit. This basically represents the cheapest and easiest way of effectively extending your warehouse, without actually extending the facility itself. In addition, self-storage units can be incredibly helpful and beneficial during these kinds of warehouse reworks and renovations, providing your stock with a safe and secure temporary location while the work is carried out.

4. Stock Levels

It may also be worth considering whether you need to maintain the current stock levels you keep as standard, or whether you could get away with reducing inventory a little. For example, if you have an extremely popular item which sells to the tune of 20 units per week, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you need 100 available at all times. Instead, consider perhaps keeping just 30 in stock and arranging for more regular deliveries – a great way of saving plenty of warehouse space.

5. Layout

Last but not least, it is imperative to remember that whichever approach you take to downsizing your warehouse, you need to ensure that the layout is appropriate. This applies to both the capacity of the warehouse to store the required goods and the working space available for those who will be retrieving, storing and moving the items on a daily basis. If you haven’t revisited the layout of your warehouse for some time, it could be that there is a way of scaling it down in terms of size, while at the same time improving its efficiency and convenience.