Why Storage Matters in Retail
Spurred on by the infamous “Amazon Effect” and operational shifts in the industry, customers expect quick shipping, delivery, and pickup options – and retailers must evolve to stay competitive. In response, many retailers have turned their brick & mortar stores into fulfillment centers to reduce transportation costs and speed fulfillment.
In most retail spaces, retail backroom blueprints weren’t designed for eCommerce. Traditional models of regional distribution and weekly restocks won’t meet customer demands, such as two-day shipping and more product variations. Despite the change in expectations, retailers still need to use what they have to accommodate customers and maintain profitable margins. Growing and evolving businesses require more storage capacity, which means more space. However, many companies can’t afford that financial hit of upgrading spaces while staying competitive. In addition, moving spaces is generally nearly impossible due to the logistics of running a store.
Dynamic storage solutions maximize storage density and accessibility in retail spaces. By recovering floor space and increasing storage capacity, retail storage solutions will help retailers stay competitive as new products enter the market and consumer expectations adapt.
Overcome Retail Storage Space Challenges
Retail environments constantly change to adapt to buyer trends around new products and consumer preferences. Certain products may be hot for a few weeks, requiring retailers to purchase large amounts to keep up with demand, only to have those same products sit in piles in the backroom when buyers move on to the next big product. As such, retailers are often challenged with backroom storage issues around overstock and inventory. With personalized products and product variations on the rise, retailers are also faced with an increase in SKUs, which can make meeting the consumer’s expectation of quick delivery times a challenge.
According to McKinsey, online retail sales are growing 15% every year. As eCommerce gains momentum, retailers will also be required to store packing supplies in their space to fulfill orders or accommodate services like curbside pickup. To further complicate things, retail is rapidly morphing into an omnichannel model. Online orders, micro-fulfillment, and in-store pickup are among the fastest-growing omnichannel ordering models, with growth of anywhere from 40% to 70%, depending on the product.
Relocating stores or renting new storage spaces is often a costly and impractical solution to overcoming these everyday challenges. Overfull retail space is often the result of inappropriate storage solutions for the needs of the business. Rather, implementing scalable, reconfigurable retail storage solutions that can adapt the building according to what the market needs is essential.
Ready to Connect with an Expert?
Fill out the form below to request a consultation to find the ideal storage solutions for your retail space.
UNEX Solutions for Retail Storage
Dynamic retail storage solutions by UNEX are easy-to-install and reconfigurable according to the current needs of retailers and their building’s unique backroom and customer pickup area footprints. They address common pain points of retailers such as SKU proliferation and product trends by being a cost-effective solution that can be immediately implemented and reconfigured or scaled based on current buyer behaviors.
Explore UNEX Solutions
SpeedCell
SpeedCell is a dynamic warehouse storage solution uniquely designed to save time, space, and money by using existing space within standard pallet racking. Its compact design can compress 200′ of rack or shelving into 40′ of highly organized space.
Key benefits of SpeedCell include:
- Transform vacant space into useable storage and increase storage density by 40-60%
- Create a highly efficient and accurate pick
- Reduce picker travel time by 80%
- Reduce labor costs by up to 40%
SpeedCartt
SpeedCartt is a mobile, high-density picking cart solution that is reliable in the most demanding environments. Constructed from the same lightweight yet heavy-duty materials as SpeedCell, SpeedCartt improves efficiency and reduces labor costs.
Key benefits of SpeedCartt include:
- Increase pick facings
- Reduce travel times
- Increase order accuracy
- Pick multiple orders at the same time for maximum efficiency
FlowCell
FlowCell flow racks are modular, dynamic storage units designed for a facility's unique operation. Our durable and portable workstations maximize efficiency and space for lineside storage, sub-assembly stations, supermarket racks, modular mobile carts, and more.
Key benefits of FlowCell include:
- Increase space utilization by up to 50%
- Boost production efficiency by up to 30%
- Keep the factory floor organized
- Minimize reaching and improve ergonomics by reducing injury and fatigue
Pick Shelves
Tilted pick shelves significantly improve SKU visibility, resulting in faster order picking and more comfortable, precise picks for workers. Our easy-to-mount pick shelves are customizable and fit perfectly in racks and on workstations.
Key benefits of Pick Shelves include:
- Integrate slow movers into the pick line to save space and increase efficiency
- Eliminate the dead zone
- Accelerate pick rates
- Provide clear visibility and accessibility at the pick point and improve worker comfort
More Applications
Warehouse Storage Solutions
Storage Solutions for 3PLs
Keg Storage Solutions
Connect with an Expert
Get in touch with our team of experts to learn how UNEX solutions help maximize productivity and optimize space for retail operations.