SMEs are constantly walking a fine line between managing comfortably and being overwhelmed completely.
It’s no secret to say that smaller businesses have struggled greatly in recent times, with the pandemic certainly taking its toll. It’s been a tough trading climate for uncountable SMEs out there, and any opportunity that helps alleviate some of the stress and struggle would no doubt be welcomed by the brilliant minds behind them all.
Effective storage solutions can help break up at least part of the chaos. Here are some management solutions SME leaders would do well to consider.
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Self-Storage Solutions
Self-storage can be a huge asset for SMEs, enabling them to hit a figurative pause button, of sorts.
In 2013, BBC News reported on the wide range of small businesses using self-storage units, attracting by factors such as the flexibility, short-notice periods, and low overhead costs that came with them. For example, business that thrive during certain seasons, such as holiday retailers or street food vendors, may want to use self-storage to hoard some items during lull periods.
Additionally, these types of arrangements allow SMEs in particular to reshuffle their respective strategies, stashing away goods that’re far lower down their respective priority lists. Thanks to self-storage, this can all be done painlessly, without everything grinding to a screeching halt. Ultimately, self-storage can minimise chaos and help SMEs bide their time instead of being forced into ‘move it or lose it’ situations with their stock.
Warehouse Mezzanine Floors
With a bit of tinkering and expert support, it might be possible to make storage more manageable for SMEs working in industrial buildings and retail units.
Mezzanine floors can be a huge help here, and the variations from the aptly named Midbrook Mezzanine Floors help SMEs to avoid costly and time-consuming extensions and relocations. Due to their build, they fit into a warehouse setting comfortably, and provide workable spaces both atop and beneath them too. The workspace becomes more dynamic, and more room for storage is certainly found.
Quick assembly, full fire protection, and included safety barriers are some of the additional perks an SME can enjoy from this service. Racking systems are available in the market as well to facilitate full storage capabilities. In the end, SMEs often need to get creative to keep themselves functional, and mezzanine floors are a good example of how that’s done.
Managing Expectations
The worst thing an SME can do, pandemic or not, is attempt to work beyond its means.
This might involve trying to innovate in industries which they know little about, dabbling in numerous fields instead of mastering one, or hiring more bodies than is necessary to fulfil menial tasks. Further missteps may include ordering prototypes of products for which there is no demand or creating an elaborate workplace that’s incompatible with the limited amount of space provided.
All these problems clutter an SME, both figuratively and physically. Unnecessary staff will need additional space in which to work, and false starts in products and marketplaces will soon swarm a commercial property with endless paperwork and excessive (and wasted) supplies. In the end, managing expectations effectively is one of the best things SME leaders can do, putting far less strain on their firm’s storage capabilities in the long term.
