As a small business it makes sense to make the most of any storage you have onsite, in terms of sheds and other structures, before paying big bucks for offsite storage. Here are some tips to make sure that your shed storage is optimised. 

Making use of all of the space

While it may seem obvious, it's important to make use of all of the space in your shed, both vertically and horizontally. If you have a uniquely proportioned shed, for example one which is not a regular shapes or has very high or low ceilings, you might be best off getting some customised storage shelves installed. If the roofs are very high, but don't quite justify a second storey, you can also look at installing a mezzanine floor to allow some extra storage space for less commonly used items. 

Temperature and humidity control

Temperatures in a non-insulated shed can easily skyrocket in the Australian summer to levels far above the outside temperature. Even items that are usually shelf stable may have a lower lifespan or spoil in extremely hot temperatures. Before you install air conditioning, it can be worth trying to insulate the walls and ceilings of the shed as well as some install natural ventilation systems through a roof 'whirlybird' or similar device.

Equally, humidity can have an effect not only on your items but particularly on your packaging, causing paper to wave and adhesives to lose stickiness. You can try controlling humidity through either moisture control on the floor and walls, or using air conditioning if you have a particularly humidity-sensitive inventory. 

Rodent control

If you are storing food items, or anything with a plant base such as paper records or bamboo furniture, your shed can easily become a breeding ground for rodents. (Try explaining to the tax office that rodents ate your receipts if you get audited!) You can help to minimise the impact of rodents in storage areas by setting rodent traps and carefully monitoring and rotating stocks so that unused material does not build up in the back of sheds. You also need to check any crates or packages as they come in, especially if you have suppliers in rodent prone areas. 

If it's time to upgrade your shed to a bigger model, or one with temperature, humidity and/or rodent control, this could be a great time. Why not contact a shed supplier, such as Alpha Industries, now to see how affordable a new shed could be?