How to Increase Storage Capacity in Your Warehouse at Christmas

The seasonal period is distinctive in many ways: the lights, the excitement in the air, that first sip from a seasonal coffee cup. But for warehouses and distribution centres, Christmas is a logistical challenge like no other.

Stepping up to meet increased demand and coping with the seasonal surge in stock inventory can be both stressful and costly – but we’re here to help you stay one step ahead with these tips for maximising your warehouse space in the run-up to Christmas.

Benefits of preparing for the holiday season

The perks of good preparation outweigh the effort involved – it will help you to stay organised during busy periods. On the other hand, being unprepared for the Christmas rush is a mistake you can’t afford to make: it’s a predictable peak that your competitors will have covered.

That predictability is a gift – it means you can review previous years and analyse the best ways to gear up for the rush. By making sure your warehouse is ready and organised well in advance, your forward planning should result in increased productivity, efficiency and profitability.

Review how much stock you need

The first step to optimising your storage capacity is to know how much space you are likely to need. You can do this by reviewing your inventory from previous festive peaks, as well as looking at this year’s buying trends. This should enable you to stock up on the most popular goods to ensure that the shelves won’t be bare due to unexpected demand – but also to avoid taking up unnecessary space with products that won’t sell.

Improve how you utilise your warehouse space

Once you know how much space you need, it’s time to get creative with your storage solutions. There are several cost-effective methods to take advantage of your space, especially the vertical wall space that can often go to waste, including:

mezzanine floors
pallet racking
vertical shelving

Mezzanine flooring

Mezzanine flooring – the creation of an additional level suspended above your ground floor – is a cost-effective way to increase your storage space without extending your warehouse building. Cheaper than putting in a traditional permanent floor and ideal for seasonal peaks, it can be used to house additional inventory (providing as much as twice the amount of space you would have otherwise) or as office space for staff.

Pallet racking

Pallet racking is a systematic way to organise your inventory that makes use of vertical space. It’s a good move for your warehouse if you already store products on pallets and have access to forklifts to move them around.