Tag: small business

If you are a small growing business, increasing and maintaining high levels of productivity is essential to your development.

Research has shown that a brighter, neater and more flexible office increases employee engagement and productivity.

Here are a few top tips for organising your office to encourage your team to go that ‘extra mile’

Space – an office with high ceilings creates a feeling of space, making it light and airy. Circulation of air is important to keep the team alert and focused. The presence of plants in the office also helps to keep oxygen levels in the room high as well as adding a calming atmosphere.

Design – choose furniture carefully and arrange it in a way that encourages collaboration. Rounded and curved furniture is more inviting rather than rectangular tables in rows.

Get creative – studies have shown that productivity increases when employees have ownership of their own work area. Encourage your staff to personalise their own area with posters, pictures or plants to make it a space that inspires them and that they want to spend time in.

Organisation – encourage everyone in the office to keep all documents and stationery in drawers or cupboards and have an ‘in tray’ on their desk to store documents they are currently working on. A clutter free space will help to keep everyone calm and focused on the task at hand.

As a business grows and develops it may require extra space for storing products or documents, but it may not be practical to allocate more space in the office.

A self-storage unit could be the perfect solution. At Spaces and Places, we offer affordable, flexible and practical solutions for any business. Keep your office organised and tidy by storing documents in self-storage. With 24/7 access and CCTV surveillance, you can have peace of mind that your documents are safe and secure.

So, if your business is looking for extra space, get in touch with Spaces and Places.

More and more people are working from the comfort of their own home, whether it is to avoid the traffic during rush hour, working around other commitments or to cut business overheads, there are undoubtedly benefits to working from home.

Even though there are benefits, there are also a number of downsides as well to consider:

  • Lack of space
  • Constant distractions
  • Unable to separate your home life from your work life
  • Lack of discipline
  • Procrastinating

What if we told you there is a low-cost alternative?

Over the past few years, more and more people have noticed the benefits of running their business from a storage unit.

Having your own business space outside of your home without taking out a lease or setting your business back with more overhead costs are benefits which are hard to ignore.

Start-up businesses, seasonal businesses, commercial and eBay traders are just a few companies that are drawn to the strengths storage units possess, as they are not tied into long leases and if business is slow, all they have to do is give one week’s notice to vacate.

Along with the financial benefits, the extra space, flexibility and security are added bonuses.

Working from a self-storage unit

How you use your storage unit is completely up to you. With access 24/7, seven days a week, you can come and go as you please.

Whether your ultimate aim is to store business documents, merchandise or to separate your business from your life at home, the possibilities are endless at Spaces and Places.

Have a look through the different business storage options we offer, or if you are unsure of which sized unit would best suit you and your needs, get in touch with your local Spaces and Places who will gladly answer any questions you have.

Storage units are not just for junk! Many people are now utilising self-storage as an effective way to help run their businesses.

Reasons Why Self Storage Works For Business

Flexibility

From time to time many businesses can find themselves in need of temporary storage. For example when a business relocates or carries out decorating and/or refurbishment. As most self-storage facilities offer short, medium or long term storage options which are rented on a monthly basis; it is easy for businesses to rent a storage unit temporarily. Also sometimes a business may need more or less storage and the flexibility offered by most self-storage facilities allows a business to downsize or upsize as required.

Security

If you need security for stock or sensitive documents, then your office or your home (if you are a home based business), may not be the best place. Many of the best storage facilities invest thousands of pounds in alarms, CCTV, boundary fencing and lighting, meaning that your stored items are often far safer in a self-storage unit. Storage units are a great place to archive documents your business is legally required to keep but take up valuable space in an office.

Affordability

Home based businesses and businesses in small offices benefit from self-storage units as it is a very cost effective way to allow the business to grow and develop without having to relocate. Many self-storage facilities also offer a variety of sized units to accommodate your business as it continues to grow.

Are you looking for a high security, low cost business space? If the answer is yes, then Spaces and Places has everything to meet your needs, and are found in 3 superb locations Manchester, Nuneaton and Winsford.

A whole variety of businesses appreciate Spaces and Places range of high security steel containers and more traditional brick built premises. Both offer high security, but the brick built business units also provide easy-access roller shutters, with ground locks, plus power and lighting, enabling them to be used for a wide variety of purposes.

Get in touch with Spaces and Places to discuss the best options of storage unit for your business.

If you felt last year went by within the blink of an eye and have decided that this year you will pursue your ambition of becoming an entrepreneur; then there is no time quite like the present.

Once you have an idea of what type of business you wish to run, it becomes time to turn your dream into reality.

The first obstacle which prevents many from following their passion is money. Start-up costs, business rates and long-term leases are just a few of the financial situations many find themselves in, which is why entrepreneurs turn to self-storage.

Self-storage facilities are not only used for storing items, they have become a financial blessing for businesses.

Here’s why…

Your own space

Instead of transforming a room in your home into an office or renting work space for a significant amount of money, you can turn to self-storage. You are not tied to long leases, renting is considerably cheaper and the best part, you still can enjoy the peace and quiet of having an office.

Flexibility

If business is booming, you have the option to rent more units and if business is slow, you can cut down on the number of units. All you have to do is give one week’s notice with Spaces and Places. This flexibility will ensure you are gaining the most profit out of your business as possible. Also, at Spaces and Places you have access to your unit 24/7 which means you can arrive and leave at any time.

Security

CCTV cameras, secure fencing and lockboxes are just a few of the security features that ensure your unit is extremely secure. This means you can fully relax and know that all your items are safe.

Money

When starting a business, profits are hard to see in the early stages. However, storage units allow you to avoid high rent prices, council tax and business rates. You are also able to reclaim back any VAT, if you are VAT registered.

Get in touch with Spaces and Places and begin your business journey today.

Running a business from a storage unit is not unheard of, in fact, it has become increasingly popular throughout the years which is why we thought we would bring you a success story from a family law attorney.

Pablo Quiban has worked in family law as a divorce attorney for 20+ years and decided to move his office from the town centre in Honolulu, to a storage unit.

Finding affordable office space for a small business was a large set back for Quiban, which is why he decided to try running his business from a storage unit. This was only meant to be for a month.

After a month, the pro’s weighed out the con’s and he decided to continue conducting business out of the storage unit.

One thing which you all must be thinking is ‘what do his clients think of his setup?!’ Quiban states that his clients have been receptive to his stripped down business office. The free parking is a large bonus as clients can avoid paying city centre parking prices and not worry about finding a parking spot!

The price is the largest incentive for Quiban, and as long as the rent is the right price, and clients keep coming in, then he hopes to stay for 10 more years until he is ready to retire.

Anybody that is a business owner will understand where Quiban is coming from. The stress of driving into the city centre and searching for an affordable car park with a space available is not an enjoyable way to start the day. Similarly, paying high rent prices can have a large effect on the company’s profits, and if you are able to dramatically increase profits by switching business space, then what’s stopping you?

If you are curious to know why you should run your business from a storage unit then click the link to learn about the benefits associated with renting a storage unit to conduct business.

Spaces and Places welcome phone calls to discuss any questions you may have, so do not hesitate to get in touch!

Every business started because a person had an idea and a passion to create something that hadn’t been done before. That person could be you. Working from a self-storage unit is not only cost-effective, but it is also convenient and a financially safe option. Read on to learn which ideas have been successful in creating profitable businesses from a storage unit.

Seasonal

Many businesses are in higher demand during certain times of the year due to the product they are selling. During the summer months, you may decide to rent out paddling pools, bouncy castles and even barbecues; the options are endless. During the winter months, you may rent out Christmas decorations, design personal gifts or supply extra dining room items. These business ideas are simple to start up and will allow you to gain extra cash during the season.

Professional eBayer

When you create a business through the internet, visual effects are extremely important. In order to sell items, you need to make sure the background brings the full potential out of the product.

Start-Up

Whether you decide on starting up an editorial business or an importing and exporting business, a storage unit is the best place to start. Over time, as your business increases in demand, you are able to expand and rent more units.

Sole Proprietorship

When you become an entrepreneur, you will notice over time how your home becomes your work zone. Your papers, files and documents will take up the majority of space, and being organised become near impossible. By renting a storage unit, you can separate your work life from your home life as well as keeping your work in order.

Fixer

If you have knowledge of repairing bicycles, computers or mechanical items; a storage unit allows you to fix these items and store them in a safe environment without cluttering your home or garage.

The beauty of using a storage unit to run a business is that you can rent out more storage units when in high demand and just as easily, decrease the number of storage units if the business is slow. Call Spaces and Places to learn more about renting our business storage units.