Opening and running a new warehouse is not something that should be done in a rush. There are a lot of factors around it that need to be considered to ensure that this warehouse is profitable and safe. Choosing the right location is one of the most important decisions here, as it will affect a host of other factors.
Location affects your workflow, expenses, and the speed of your services. Simply put, it’s very important and this is why it needs to be thoroughly considered. Here are certain things you need to know about the location.
Know your needs
To know if a certain warehouse location will work for you, you first need to know what your needs are. Once you’ve established your needs, you will have a reference point to compare warehouse locations.
Think about how many approaches there are to the warehouse, its size, room for expansion, and logistical features. This is how you can see if a certain location makes sense for you. Look for an adequate number of parking places, equipment, refrigeration or heat, and all the necessities you need for storing your goods.
Is it close enough to your operations
A lot of companies that need large storage areas do some sort of delivery or they simply have a lot of goods and products that need to be available to them nearby. This is why they use professional warehousing.
You need to be able to pick up your products quickly and send them to their destination without any clutter or making double routes. Consider the delivery costs and whether you are wasting money on gas while your customers are getting their deliveries with a delay.
Will it be profitable over a long period?
When considering the location of a warehouse, you also need to think about what is located around it. What kind of town or neighborhood are we talking about? Are there enough people nearby that might be interested in working at your warehouse?
You will need a constant number of workers that can maintain your warehouse operations. Without employees, you won’t get far. Not being able to work at full capacity can slow down your business and you might even be forced to move to a different location, which also costs money.
When choosing the right location, make sure to consider these things but also do thorough research on every little detail. This way you will ensure that there’s nothing that can surprise you and that you’ll be able to make the most out of your warehouse.
