Self Storage Blog

Harnessing a Clever Use of Space to Successfully Sell Online

Big Yellow Blogger — Mon, 14 May 2012 08:34:56 +0000

Do you own your own business? Do you have stock piling up in your house that is constantly growing? Having to find physical space to store your merchandise is a hassle and overhead you could do without. Many companies have come up with a way to get around the traditional merchandise cycle, which we will take a look at:

The Invisible Widget: This means that you do not handle the stock at all, which sounds fantastic. The retailer selects a product, sells it, and hands over the delivery to a drop shipping company. This is great as there is no storage or handling costs however there are a few things to think about with this method. There are some costs involved, such as, some drop shippers will charge you a membership fee and the initial cost of the product will affect your mark-up. Also you need to think about stock availability and fulfilment as it’s no good if the products never turn up when the customer has ordered them. The key tip is to choose a drop shipping company that’s as close to wholesale as possible. This will ensure your costs are low and will improve your customer service. Although it is a good idea to do your research before you commit and contact other customers of the drop shipper and ask them about the company.

You also need to ask yourself it is possible with technology to move your product into the virtual world. Of course if you are selling clothes then this might not be the best option for you however if you are a real estate company for example that publishes a range of selling and buying guides then you could turn this into an e-book. The key is to do your research and find out if there is a real desire or gap in the market for your virtual product.

Smarter Storage: Did you business start as an eBay or Amazon seller operating from home? As your company grows it inevitably means stock and merchandise will also expand and grow. So it is time to think of where to store everything when this happens. Traditional warehouses expect long leases and overheads such as business rates, VAT, utility costs and initial deposits, which can be a considerable outlay. There are some savvier solutions.

The first to consider is to share assets or storage with another company. Warehouses can be too large and too expensive for one business to manage so partnering with another company could be a smart move. However this can lead to potential problems such as security issues if several parties have access to the site. This makes it very important to negotiate terms of service in the contract.

Lastly if you want your own storage space and a warehouse is too big or too expensive self storage could be the answer for you. One of the biggest benefits is the flexibility as a small company can hire a storage room for the exact requirements they need. But the flexibility doesn’t stop there. If you are a seasonal company and you experience booms and fluctuations in your sales you can hire a room and upscale or downscale it whenever you want according, to your demand. If you completely run out of stock then you can shut down the storage room altogether until you have more merchandise.

Decorating your home Mad Men style!

Big Yellow Blogger — Thu, 10 May 2012 08:52:29 +0000

For many the 1960’s are well and truly long gone, however for a growing few the 60’s are coming back. From the start of time (well fashion) people have done the ‘in-thing’ and followed what’s trending and it appears with the hit US TV show, ‘Mad Men’ starting its 5th series the next biggest trend is to kit your house out ‘Mad Men Style’.

You may be thinking this is just ‘hearsay’ but the TV show is starting to influence the interior market in a big way due to the high demand and popularity for the new trend. This means that the ‘new’ look is now easy to achieve.

This is not just hitting our homes; it is starting to change the office space too! Combine brass, teak and leather to create an understated yet powerful vibe. American walnut is a staple of the mid-century look. Try the modern-retro steel lines of the Danish oil-stained Clybourn desk, from Crate & Barrel.

Vintage phones are also popular again, for example the Sagemcom Sixty cordless version (available here) that comes in an on-trend burnt orange. This combines the modern trend and high street fashion with a vintage feel.

Retro prints are also back in vogue, and you cannot do the Mad Men look without ‘Lucienne Day’s’ textiles. Use them on a variety of surfaces, including soft furnishings and wall coverings. Try spirografica for an exclusive range of cushion designs. A selection of fabrics and wall coverings is also available from the Victoria and Albert.

Don’t think you have to make this change right away. Start attending car boot sales and vintage markets to pick up bits and pieces here and there. As you build up your collection watch your space change style with a very small amount of effort!

If you decide to take on the ‘Mad Men Style’ but think the modern chic look of today might creep back into fashion in the future, you can store your current furniture at Big Yellow Self Storage for as little as £5 a week!

Liverpool South Armadillo support Frontline Trust’s Food bank

Big Yellow Blogger — Tue, 08 May 2012 13:18:00 +0000

Armadillo Liverpool South staff are doing their bit to help feed UK people who’ve experienced a crisis in their lives.

The store has donated 275sq. feet of storage to the charity to help with donations and collections, and to go that bit further, staff have helped with collection days at local supermarkets such as ASDA Smithdown Road, donating their own time.

Sue Martin, Armadillo’s Assistant Manager (pictured in the middle of the photo) was busy collecting last Friday with Kevin (pictured on the right) who came to Central Liverpool Foodbank in October 2011 after having problems with his benefits. He was so impressed with the welcome and acceptance of the team that he wanted to give something back. He asked if he could volunteer and is now a regular member of the team sorting through donations in the stock cupboard and helping out with supermarket collections.

Paul Edwards (pictured on the left) volunteers his time for free to help organise, plan and attend events and collection days. He has volunteered for the Frontline Trust for many years and help launch the Central Liverpool Foodbank.

What Frontline Trust do:
Every day people in the UK go hungry for reasons ranging from redundancy to receiving an unexpected bill on a low income. Trussell Trust foodbank’s provide a minimum of three days emergency food and support to people experiencing crisis in the UK. Last year the Trust’s UK foodbank network fed over 60,000 people.
All food is donated by the public and sorted by volunteers. Frontline care professionals such as doctors and social workers identify people in crisis and issue a food voucher. Clients receive three days of nutritionally balanced, non-perishable food in exchange for their food voucher. Foodbank’s also make time to chat and to signpost clients to other helpful services.Foodbank’s help prevent crime, housing loss, family breakdown and mental health problems. A simple box of food makes a big difference. www.centralliverpool.foodbank.org.uk

Space-saving gadgets

Big Yellow Blogger — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 09:43:51 +0000

The April showers have hit us hard and fast, which surely means summer is round the corner? Who knows, but it seems about the right time to oust out the winter stragglers and spring clean the clutter.

Often when we try to de-clutter our homes, we find ourselves buying storage boxes and other compartments for a neater, more organised scene. However the result is much the same in that we still are as cluttered in terms of space, but with a tidy setting of organised mess.

Here at Big Yellow, we’ve been spying around to find some cunning gadgets to store away the winter warmers, the rainy reminders and the things you simply want to keep to yourself, away from prying eyes!

Great Space Savers
First up, is something worthy for an old school James Bond, from Secret Storage Books. Even if you’re an avid bookworm, there’s always room at the end of the bookshelf for a secret binder. No, unfortunately this won’t open up a secret tunnel to Blofeld’s lair, but it can hide your secret or most precious items: your future wife’s engagement ring, the key for the secret tunnel to Blofeld’s lair or simply your keys and precious cash.

Storage compartments in your bed seem to be a necessity these days, but when your bedroom is small, the drawers on the side of the bed are not easily accessible. Take a look at Adam Dachis’ excellent, secret storage creation using a bedspring storage unit from IKEA.

Now here’s a trick that’s taking the world by storm, the infamous Vacuum Compressed Bags. When you’ve created a hidden storage unit, trying to cram as many items in as possible is tasking. The Vacuum Bag is simple – fill them up with your winter clothes, suck out the spare air and there you have it, a compressed flat shape bag which can gives up to three times more space. This will go perfectly in the hidden storage under your bed.

If you’re really one for surprises, then you should build your own secret storage using Denise Nyland’s step by step guide. In just two hours, you can have your winter goods stored out of sight without using up any space within your room.

Of course, when it comes to squeezing your snowboards, skis and other large winter goods into your walls, you may find it is a task not worth the hassle. So find out where your nearest Big Yellow Self Storage is at www.bigyellow.co.uk and get it stored with us! Here at Big yellow we, offer you that space to rent from as little as £5 a week.

Big Yellow Wins Queen’s Award

Big Yellow Blogger — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 09:33:53 +0000

Big Yellow has been awarded the very special Queen’s Award for Sustainable Development for our focus on social and environmental responsibility.

The award recognises Big Yellow’s energy-efficient technologies, our low carbon foot-prints and the work we do with staff, customers and investors to minimise waste, water-usage and carbon dioxide emissions.

Our energy efficient technologies include using Energy efficient LED lighting in our stores, and motion sensor lighting so the lights only turn on when someone is present in the storage areas. Additionally we’ve introduced energy producing initiatives such as solar panels on many store roofs , generating significant energy for us, ground source heat pumps and wind turbines.

The Queen’s Award is one of Britain’s most prestigious awards for businesses recognising outstanding achievement in International Trade, Innovation and Sustainable Development and celebrates the very best of British Enterprise.

It is only presented to a limited number of companies once a year, so we’re very proud to have been one of them.

Under the stairs

Big Yellow Blogger — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 10:39:14 +0000

You know that place that you walk past every day and stick coats or bags under. Maybe it’s the home of your vacuum cleaner, or maybe it’s just where you put your very own Harry Potter!

In this blog, we’ll be looking at how to gain back space in your house and create your very own mini office under the stairs!

First up, is your under stairs space sealed behind a panel or is it open? If it’s sealed, take the panels off and open the space up. By doing this you’ll create loads more space instantly as you’ll be widening the corridor area up. Most under stairs areas are usually covered in with boarding and wallpaper on top or paint. They’re relatively easy to take down but if you are unsure then ask a local handy man or builder.
Once you have your stairs opened up, start thinking about your new office area. It’s going to be small so don’t expect a Wall Street style pad, but more a convenient area to work from home if necessary.

To make maximum use of the space we’d recommend erecting a small wooden desk space that runs around the back of the area for its full length. This can easily be done with basic woodworking skills and some timber from your DIY store. It could be as simple as a flat bit of wood with four legs screwed to it! To get some more ideas about what this could look like check out http://www.home-designing.com/2008/09/ideas-for-that-space-under-the-stairs

Once you’ve got your desk set up you can get some smaller storage drawers like these from IKEA to put your office bits and pieces in to keep them neat. http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/40216357/
Think about a chair and one which won’t take up too much room. Forget really big arms etc and opt for a slim line version if you’re not planning on spending too much time in your chair. Something without arms will be easier to tuck under your table when you are not using it. IKEA again have one that fits the bill:
http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/80074841/

Once you’ve got your desk, your storage and your chair sorted, you’ll never know what you did without your very own office at home!

If you find you have too many files to store under your stairs, then why not consider a small locker at Big Yellow Self Storage? Prices start from £6 a week and rental periods from just 1 week.

Sorting out your downstairs loo

Big Yellow Blogger — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 11:28:19 +0000

It may be the smallest room in the house, but leave your downstairs loo cluttered and your guests will be turning their noses up for all the wrong reasons!

First off – the loo rolls
Do you really need to store 12 rolls next to your toilet? In a room that’s already small you can’t afford to take the risk of taking up all the space with your bargain purchase of a mega-pack from your supermarket. Make sure you keep on top of how many rolls you have and try and keep it to a minimum of 2-3 rolls at a time. You can store the rest under the stairs or in the garage. The 2-3 that you keep can be easily stored on a combination toilet roll holder like this one. Smart and neat.

Whilst we’re on the subject of storage of your rolls, under no circumstance should you turn into your granny and get something that resembles a Victorian lady to cover your roll no matter how retro it looks!

You don’t need to keep all your cleaning products in the loo. Stick to one bottle of cleaner. You’ll find you can tuck it away behind the toilet bowl to keep it out of sight but at hand.

Invest in a good looking brush, there’s nothing worse than a cheap looking brush in the loo. Make sure you regularly tip out the water and waste that collects in the holder to avoid unwanted smells.

Invest in good quality easily cleanable laminate flooring for the toilet and under no circumstances install carpet. If there is a gentleman in the house you can guarantee they’ll always be a little spillage around the floor area and carpet will just soak that up and it will smell, so go laminate all the way!
Finally make sure you have a vase of sweet smelling flowers or alternatively a touch n go style air freshener to make sure your smallest room is always welcoming and doesn’t drive your guests round the (u)bend!

If you’re tight for storage space then don’t forget you can always go to Big Yellow where storage starts from just £6 a week. To find your nearest store go to http://www.bigyellow.co.uk/storesearch/#tabBar

Tidying up your laundry

Big Yellow Blogger — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 17:09:30 +0000

Do you feel like your washing basket is never empty? Do you feel like you’re always in the laundry? We have some top tips on getting your laundry super organised to make washing that little bit easier.
Get the household into a routine. Make sure the whole family sorts their own washing into darks, lights and empty their pockets. This way it’s easy to chuck straight into the machine. Decide which days you are going to wash darks, lights, towels and sheets and get the family to bring their dirty washing down on these allotted days.

Storage in the laundry is important. Don’t let the ironing pile up high so that it takes up the middle of the room. Take a look at storage solution ideas from shops such as Ikea. Take a look at your space and look at options such pull out washing baskets that tuck under a cupboard or bench.

Ensure you have adequate shelving; this can be free standing shelves or cupboard space. Even if your space is limited look at putting shelves or cabinets above the washer and dryer to keep your supplies such as laundry powder handy.

Look at getting traditional airer. This way you can hang shirts straight out of the washing machine, which will also reduce your ironing. Just make sure it is well put together and sturdy.
If you have a large space you could leave your ironing board standing. Otherwise there are some great storage options. Take a look at using hooks and hanging it on the back of the door.

Take a look at what products are currently in your laundry. Think of the layout as a production process, where should everything be stored to ensure it is efficient as possible. Pick up clear boxes and labels from variety stores. Fill the boxes with grouped goods and label and place in the cupboard in order of importance, for example shoe polish and rags together. If you’re finding your laundry is becoming a home for goods it shouldn’t consider placing these items in a storage facility such as Big Yellow.

Summer getting closer? Store your winter sports safely.

Big Yellow Blogger — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 08:52:53 +0000

It’s beginning to look a lot like summer. Outside the trees are green and the sun, for once, can be seen. However cupboards and spare hallways now holds a strong resemblance to an Igloo, with thermals, snow boots and Christmas goods still scattered. Yes, it’s that time to make the switch from heaters to fans, snowboards to surfboards and Long Johns to Speedos, or whatever floats your boat.

But what do you do with your winter gear? Big Yellow is here to help, so take a look at some handy ways to prevent an avalanche of winter clutter in your home.

With the exception of winter sports enthusiasts, penguins and the Ice Man, I’m sure everyone is glad to see the back of the snow and cold weather. But for those whose homes currently look like shrines dedicated to the winter games, the time has come to part ways with your skis, snowboards and sleds.

One of the main mistakes we all make before storing away our winter equipment, is not cleaning them! Check the labels on all garments for manufacturer’s instructions. Many of the fabrics used for ski wear have a waterproof finish, therefore have to be specially treated before cleaning.

Once you’re packed, you’re ready to make your next adventure to get it stored at Big Yellow. Big Yellow Self Storage offers that space to rent from as little as £5 a week, a perfect solution to rid yourself of the winter exercise memories for as long as you want. So get on down to your nearest store! Check out www.bigyellow.co.uk for more details.

De-stressing Easter!

Big Yellow Blogger — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 09:35:59 +0000

Easter should be a great time for all the family; kids coming over, family together at last! But often what starts out as a celebration we’re all excited about turns out to deliver exactly the opposite – a hugely stressful weekend.
From too many kids with not enough things to do, to overly fussy relatives, Easter can often be somewhat overwhelming for the host family. Don’t let this happen to your weekend by following Big Yellow’s top tips on how to avoid a family bust-up by de-stressing this weekend!

1. De-cluttering:
Right, you’ve got loads of people coming over, and loads of people means less space in your household, so anticipate this and free up as much room as you possibly can.
• Clear your spaces of potentially breakable items. If you have storage in the attic or cellar, make sure you remove your precious glassware, ceramics and easily breakable objects d’art. Wrap them up carefully in newspaper or bubble wrap and make sure they’re out of reach of youngsters.
• Move some of your furniture if possible. Push your TV back as far as it will go and put any speaker grills back on to avoid kids pressing the speakers in with their fingers.
• Check how many chairs you have. If you need more, consider small collapsible stools. These can be picked up from places like Argos for as little as a fiver .
• If you haven’t got an attic or cellar, then why not consider storing your extra stuff at Big Yellow Self Storage? We have lockers available for as short a hire as 1 week and from only £5.

2. Kids Sleeping over?

Kids love a sleepover and what better way to celebrate Easter than by having one big slumber party with all the siblings and cousins.

• Dedicate a room as a “kids zone”, set up some games and toys, and let their imaginations do the rest. Set up some comfortable airbeds for the children to sleep on and bring in some sleeping bags and pillows. You can buy airbeds from the big supermarkets from around £10 in both pink and blue to keep them happy!

3. Food
When considering what to have to eat, why not think about a buffet? If you’re going to cook a roast for 15-20 people, let’s face it you’re going to be in the kitchen for the whole time as you juggle pots and pans around trying to maximize your food output, when really you should be enjoying the family’s company.
• Why not prepare some food the day before and let everyone help themselves? Things like cooked hams and chicken from the supermarket can help, as well as loads of salads and nibbles.
• Make sure you think about the kids, cocktail sausages (meat or quorn) are always favourites. Most kids will prefer these to adult food, and they’re dead easy to prepare.
• It’s always difficult finding a place for everyone to sleep but it’s equally important to be able to fit everyone around the dining table for that Easter dinner. Creating a kid’s table is an easy way to make more room for the adults at the main table. It’s an easy way for the children to be entertained and not lost or bored in the adult conversations.

4. Chill out!
Take some time out! Plan with your other half to make sure you both spread the level of chores. Make sure you both have at least an hour or two out of the house whilst preparing, and plan on some time at the end of the day to soak all those stresses away in the bath!