If your stock has taken over the spare room, garage or hallway, a self storage unit can give your online shop a proper home. Sellers on eBay, Etsy, Amazon and their own websites use units to hold stock, pick orders and sometimes pack them, on flexible monthly terms. The key is choosing a site with the right access and setting the unit up so you can find things fast.
Is a storage unit right for your shop?
A unit makes most sense when:
- Your stock no longer fits comfortably at home.
- You want to separate home and work, or need to stop bulk deliveries cluttering your house.
- Your orders are steady enough that you visit regularly, but not so many that you need staff on site all day.
If you send out a handful of orders a week, you might be better keeping fast-selling lines at home and storing overflow and seasonal stock in the unit. Plenty of sellers do exactly this.
Shelving and picking layout
An empty unit full of piled-up boxes is slow to work from. A bit of planning on day one saves hours later.
- Use freestanding shelving. Most stores do not let you fix anything to the walls, so choose sturdy shelving that stands on its own. Leave a small gap from the walls.
- Keep a clear aisle. Run shelves down one or both sides with an aisle in the middle wide enough to stand and turn round with a box.
- Bestsellers at the front, at waist height. Slow movers and spare packaging go at the back and up high.
- Label every shelf location. A simple code like A1, A2, B1 that matches your listings or spreadsheet means anyone can pick an order.
- Use clear or labelled tubs for small items, so stock does not get mixed up.
When you choose a size, plan around the shelving footprint plus the aisle, not just the volume of boxes. Our size guide helps you picture what fits.
Access hours and packing space
Online selling runs to courier cut-off times, so access is a big deal. Ask each store:
- What time the gates open and close, and whether that changes at weekends.
- Whether extended or 24-hour access is available, and if it costs extra.
- How close the nearest parking or loading bay is to your unit. Ground-floor units near the entrance save time on every visit.
- Whether trolleys and lifts are free to use.
On packing, check the terms. Some stores are happy for you to pick and pack inside your unit. Others prefer you only store and collect, and pack elsewhere. A few business-focused sites offer shared packing benches or small office spaces. If you pack in the unit, leave a clear area for a folding table and keep packaging stock tidy.
Also read the store's list of items you cannot keep. Things like aerosols, batteries in bulk, chemicals and perishable food may be restricted. See what you can't put in storage.
Deliveries from suppliers
Many stores accept deliveries on your behalf, which means suppliers can send stock straight to the unit. Ask what they will accept (parcels, pallets, maximum weights), whether there is a handling fee, and whether staff will put deliveries in your unit or hold them at reception. Some can also arrange collections, which helps if a courier collects in bulk.
When to move to a fulfilment service
Storage works well while you are happy to pick and pack yourself. At some point, the time you spend driving to the unit and packing orders might be better spent sourcing and selling. Signs you might be ready to look at a fulfilment service (such as a third-party warehouse or a marketplace's own fulfilment programme) include:
- You are visiting the unit every day and packing takes up most of your time.
- You are missing courier cut-offs or delivery promises.
- You need to offer faster delivery to compete.
- Your stock no longer fits in the largest unit at your store.
Fulfilment usually means paying per item stored and per order sent, so compare those costs against your monthly unit price and your own time. Many sellers keep a storage unit even after outsourcing, for overflow, returns or seasonal lines.
For more on costs, see how much self storage costs, and our guide to business storage for VAT and contract points.
Looking for a unit for your stock? Tell us your postcode, rough size and the access hours you need, and every suitable store near you can send you a price.
