Storage for TikTok Sellers

The combination of the app’s creativity and viral moments with in-app shopping has proven a huge hit with consumers, big brands and small sellers since its UK launch in 2023, with millions of potential customers looking for fashion, beauty, books, tech, homeware and much more.

Whether you’re an absolute beginner, considering selling existing products via the app or already a TikTok Shop merchant, self storage could help you kick-start and grow your online sales.

Be ready for anything

Learning the ropes in a new online venture can be a process of trial and error. Build at your own pace with smaller storage units from 20 square feet, with the potential to scale up or down your unit as needed with no long-term leases and contracts to worry about. If a side-hustle becomes a full-time job, you’ll be ready to jump on the opportunity and grow as big as you like, as quickly as you need to with all the storage stock space you require.

On trend

The TikTok Shop is all about trends - keep your eye on what’s hot, make sure you’re using all the right keywords in your titles, captions, hashtags and stickers, and ensure you have the right products in stock.

The viral nature of the app can be as daunting as it is exciting - if you create interest, it’s vital to be able to fulfil orders. The flexibility of Big Yellow’s self storage means you can take on temporary extra storage space as and when you need it knowing the team

Get the look

Aesthetics are everything online and a growing number of customers are using their Big Yellow Self Storage units as the ideal place to photograph their products.

Alex Gilbert of Pure Vintage Clothing uses his storage unit for photographing each piece of vintage branded streetwear he sources, as well as for storing and packaging. From a side line business set up during Covid, Alex has grown Pure Vintage to the point where it’s become his main job.

Lucy James and Erika Abd-Allah, meanwhile, moved their pre-loved luxury children’s clothing and accessories business Cheeky Cherub out of their homes and now use their Fulham storage unit to photograph, store and process items. During their hunt for a suitable storage facility, says Lucy, “the main issue was finding a unit locally that was big enough to accommodate the width of our photography set and had good accessibility – this was hard to find.”

Going live

Live shopping is an excellent way to engage with your audience on TikTok, demonstrating products and answering questions in real time. Shoppable videos and product showcases are also key. Self storage can help free up space at home or in the office to create a studio space - or why not set one up in the storage unit away from distractions of children, pets and the ringing doorbell?

Behind the scenes

TikTok says users like buying from people rather than faceless brands. Trying giving your audience a peek behind the curtain, whether that’s clearing space at home to show a day in the life, showing off your well-organised packing system and shelves of tempting merch, or creating a behind-the-scenes of a shoot.

Find hours and support that work for you

Many small e-commerce businesses are run alongside a full-time job, caring responsibilities, studies, or all of the above. So, it’s key to have access to your stock when you need it at evenings and weekends - with safe, well-lit storage premises, PIN access and monitored CCTV.

Deliveries arriving when you’re not there to receive them is no problem - on-site staff will take them in and put them in your storage room securely.

Local self storage is the ideal way to finally get out of the shed or the garage - not to mention away from spiders and leaky roofs - regain the kitchen table and set-up a secure base within striking distance of home.

Be bold

The TikTok shop may be shaking things up with new tools and approaches, but with the right support, it has the potential to help you tap into markets ready and waiting to buy.