Lets face it, setting up any kind of business can daunting.

With worries ranging from worrying about whether you have the required expertise to wondering if you have employed the right staff.

The over arching question still remains, how can we save on expenses and outgoings? One way smart business people have done this, is to invest in used but functioning equipment for their initial launch. No matter the industry you operate in, you can always find used but functioning tools for sale.

In the warehousing industry, where there are many machines needed, it can get overwhelming.

Trying to get pallet racking, forklifts, tow trucks, floor pallets etc, at a discount can be an uphill task. So how do you set up the warehouse on a budget? What should you buy or lease? What can you do without? This is why it is advisable to start out by buying used and recycled items. You can outfit your entire warehouse on a shoestring.

Note that while I encourage you to be frugal with your spending, I also ask that you ensure you are not being cheap. You will have people who try to sell you faulty machinery; do your due diligence. Here are five warehouse essentials that you can buy on the cheap:

Pallet racking:

This can be regarded as the “bones” of your operations. They are essential for storing goods received in your warehouse. You may have seen the hefty price of new pallet rack systems, but don’t despair. Companies go into administration and sell off their entire assets, including whole warehouses and their content. Others buy up particular types and stock up on that alone. An extra money saving tip is to ask for delivery and installation.

Forklift:

With forklift accidents at the top of OSHA’s warehouse safety violation list, you need to be extremely careful when acquiring these. Ensure the truck lift hour meter and the forklift capacity data plate hasn’t been tampered with. And that no unnecessary modifications have been carried out. On top of all this, also ensure the driver is competent and has had all his training completed.

Hand Pallet Truck:

These are used for transporting loads across short distances on the warehouse floor. They basically move empty pallets or loaded pallets around the WH to areas where the flts can pick them up. These can be bought second hand, as long as a proper inspection is done. All bolts and wheels turning well and the hydraulics work smoothly.

Pallets:

These are the “base” of your warehouse business. When buying used pallets, it is recommended that you buy wooden ones instead of plastic. Wooden pallets are more readily available, cheaper and can also be recycled.

Buying used equipment is one way of minimising initial costs of setting up a business. The small investment will still yield returns over the years.

At Monarch Shelving, we stock a wide range of pallet racking systems, such as Dexion pallet racking, Link pallet racking, Redirack, Hilo etc.

Other accessories in stock include safety barriers and all types of shelving. Call us today and let us solve your racking problems.