Buying storage bins for your business to use or resell is only the beginning. Supplies and accessories for the containers come in handy for customers and small business owners, to help get the most use from their bins.

Find the right supplies for storage bins to keep your tools, shipping and receiving materials, archived files and records, uniforms and anything else that you or your clients store. You need something to hold your stackable bins. Carts keep your small plastic storage totes handy. You may want to close your industrial bins behind doors to keep your work area tidy and clean.

1. Panels keep a storage bin collection out of the way on the wall, instead of taking up valuable floor room.

2. Shelves, cabinets and carts will organize stackable bins.

3. Dividers allow for even more organization within plastic and cardboard storage bins.

Action Steps for Buying Storage Bins
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Find panels to hang plastic bins

Louvered panels usually attach to the wall, but can also be set upon some manufacturers' carts where plastic storage bins can be attached in any formation that works for you.

I recommend: Kennedy Manufacturing sells the louvered panels, along with the bases and workstations to go with it. Browse the entire panel selection at Northern Tool + Equipment or Quantum Storage Systems.

Purchase shelving for industrial bins

Shelves are adequate for warehouses, auto body shops, retail shops and most any other location with the need for organizing storage bins.

I recommend: A Plus Warehouse offers wire shelving with many customizable options to support stackable containers. Find a variety of styles and sizes of shelving at Space Savers. There's something for every need at Keysan, from attractive industrial shelving, to steel and particle board combos, as well as wire shelves. Advanced Equipment offers superior industrial and commercial shelving for small and large businesses alike.

Find dividers for plastic storage bins

Dividers are useful supplies for storage bins to make the most of your space.

I recommend: Compare sellers and pricing for bin dividers at NexTag. Seville Classics sells gray bin dividers to go with their gray storage bins. Buy dividers, label holders and other accessories used in fields like the medical industry at Claflin Equipment.

Consider cabinets and carts for shelf storage bins

You may want to hide or secure your warehouse storage bins. In those cases, cabinets are the perfect solution. Carts are useful when you need your industrial storage totes on the move.

I recommend: Find bin cabinets at Conveyor Solutions where you can close the door and secure your bins with locks. Find mobile storage cabinets to keep your bins handy at BizChair. Browse the selection of storage bin supplies at Flambeau - including carts.

Tips & Tactics for Storage Bin Selection

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Pay attention to assembly requirements. There are many options in storage bin supplies that require little or no tools. If you are a retailer, easy assembly is especially important for your customers.

Nearly every industry from food processing to computer assembly requires the use of storage bins and totes. That is why today’s bins and totes are so highly specialized. While plastic storage totes and stackable plastic bins are the standard, there are a multitude of materials, sizes, systems and configurations that offer solutions to a wide variety of business and industrial needs.

When buying a storage bin, consider the following:

1. What are your space and traffic considerations?
2. How much weight will the storage bins need to hold?
3. How will your employees interact with the storage bins?
4. What type of materials will be stored in the bins? Can the contents potentially corrode the bins?
5. Will the storage bins be used on an assembly line?
6. Will plastic storage bins be exposed to extremes in temperature? Chemicals? Moisture? Do the bins need drainage?
7. How will the bins be stored? Do you want stackable storage bins? Nesting bins? Collapsible bins?
8. Do you need large storage bins for bulk use or or small stackable bins to hold many individual pieces?
9. Will the bins be stationary or mobile? Do they need castors or will they be picked up and carried?
10. Will the bins stay in your facility or will they be shipped?
11. Do the storage bins need to be labeled?

Action Steps
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Stackable storage bins

Stackable storage bins are extremely durable, come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes and openings and often have a molded area for ID labels. The same is true of plastic storage totes, which have finger grips and handles for easy transport. Almost every manufacturer of storage supplies carries stackable plastic bins and plastic storage totes.

I recommend: L.K. Goodwin Company has an excellent selection of stackable plastic bins in different sizes and configuration. Visit Business.com for links to companies that manufacture and distribute plastic storage bins.

Access to storage bins

Consider how your employees will move around and interact with materials stored in plastic storage bins and plastic storage totes. Will they be standing up picking multiple parts off of shelves from plastic storage bins? Or sitting and picking from trays on an assembly line? Will they have to check labels on the plastic bins to correctly identify contents? Will a rotating plastic storage bin that contains many different slots economize traffic and save time?

I recommend: CLD Handling Systems has a selection of sloped shelving systems with plastic bins for easy access. Rand MH has an excellent selection of rotating storage bins as well as stackable storage bins. If you’re dealing with small parts, Anytime Products has a wide selection of individual plastic bins with dividers in many plastic storage bin models.

Storage bin materials

Storage bins are made of a wide variety of materials, the most common of which is high-density plastic. Storage bin materials also include steel, wire mesh, fiberglass, and corrugated cardboard.

I recommend: If you will be using a plastic storage bin model to store electronic components, go to Global Industrial for a variety of conductive electrostatic dissipation (ESD) containers, carbon-filled plastic storage bins which are designed to dissipate charges that can damage electronics. This manufacturer also offers premium stackable plastic bins that are made to withstand extreme temperatures from -40 degrees F to 250 degrees F. For non-electronic assembly line work, check out L.K. Goodwin’s fiberglass storage bins and trays. FS Industries has an excellent selection of drain bins for storing metal parts that need to be washed.

Get the best price

The storage bins and totes industry is competitive, with many companies offering the same product lines of plastic storage bin models. Compare prices to get a better deal, particularly on stackable plastic bins.

I recommend: Visit Thomas Global Register to search for suppliers of storage bins. GlobalSpec allows you to locate storage products by category or specification. Also, visit Business.com for links to a wide variety of manufacturers and distributors of stackable storage bins and baskets.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Shop for the best bin configuration. A huge variety of storage bin and tote designs as well as rack and shelving systems are available.
• •  Buy to last. Durability is the key to getting your money’s worth. This is especially true if you work with chemicals or in temperatures that can corrode or degrade storage bins.
• •  Shop for price. Once you’ve determined the best configuration and material for your storage bins, source different companies and compare prices.
• •  Consider the human element. Remember that storage bins and totes are supposed to serve the needs of your employees, not the other way around. Buy stackable bins that work with reasonable expectations for employee strength and range of motion.

Storage bins fill many business needs, from retail to restaurants. Before shopping around for storage bin providers, you should become familiar with storage bins basics. Learn about different materials that companies use to make storage bins and which materials will work best for you. Decide if you need to purchase from wholesalers and manufacturers to resell your items, or if you need to purchase in small quantities for your small business.

While cardboard storage bins are available and can pull double-duty as shipping containers as well, plastic bins are more popular. Some businesses prefer to use metal, wooden or wire storage bins, or even entire storage bin systems to organize or resell. Some storage bins basics you should know are:

1. Find a storage bin specific to your industry, such as restaurant bins for food storage or industrial storage totes.

2. Decide if you want to use or resell plastic, cardboard, or metal storage bins.

3. Consider supporting American-made products.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buy industry-specific storage bins

Some storage bins are fit for any industry, but if you have specific needs, shop at niche sites and providers first.

I recommend: Serv-U, Restaurant Equippers and Jean's Restaurant Supply all provide food storage bins for your restaurant, church pantry or other food-storage organizations. The Land of Nod sells wooden storage bins to use as toy boxes for furniture and toy shops.

Get plastic storage bins

Plastic storage bin providers are as diverse or specific as you need for your business.

I recommend: Ketchies Plastic & Woodworking offers custom fabrication on plastic bins for anything your business desires. Get wholesale plastic storage totes and stackable containers from Rubbermaid Wholesale to resale or use as warehouse storage bins. At CSI, you can find stackable bins and boxes for commercial use.

Find plastic bins made in the USA

Show your customers your patriotic side by selling or using only American-made storage bins. Be even more responsible with bins made from recycled products.

I recommend: Browse the diverse categories at Simplastics. Request a quote from FlexConBins. Be eco-friendly with recycled bins from Quantum Storage Systems.

Use industrial bins for your business

Shop industrial bins for your business storage, for use in warehouses, mechanic shops, shipping departments, filing rooms and more.

I recommend: FS Industries offers many types of industrial bins, including cardboard and steel. Find heavy-duty bins, folding wire containers, and distribution containers at Global Equipment. CLD Handling Systems provides storage bin systems and portable storage units for your industrial needs.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Apply for credit with your preferred storage bin providers for open-account privileges and ordering ease. Having established credit with a provider also increases chances of discounts, VIP deals, and exceptional customer service.
• •  Look for closeout items from various storage bin providers for deeper discounts.

Your business may need storage bins to hold and store products, or maybe you want to get into the business of selling storage bins. There is a wide vareity of types and sizes of storage bins, and some may or may not be adequate for your company's storage needs. Before purchasing storage bins for your company's use or resale, you should become familiar with storage bins key terms and understand what type of storage bins your product or customers require.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Food storage bins

The food industry is one in which storage bins with lids are essential. Storing ingredients properly is very important, and using bins made for storing food is a must.

I recommend: Restaurant Equippers sells ingredient bins in different sizes and has pictures and dimensions to help customers get a good feel for these types of storage bins.

Plastic storage bins

Businesses and families are always looking for durable, easy-to-store bins for tools, clothing and more. Plastic storage bins come in a variety of different shapes, sizes and colors, and are good for home or business use.

I recommend: Rubbermaid Wholesale has pictures of their products and a description of their plastic storage bins and their benefits.

Wooden storage bins

Wooden storage bins can be used in a variety of settings. They are sturdy enough to be sold for use in children's rooms, and durable enough to use in craft or gift stores.

I recommend: The Land of Nod shows how wooden storage bins can be used in children's rooms for toy storage and as book shelves.

Stackable storage bins

In settings where space is an issue, such as garages or workshops, stackable storage bins can easily save space. Stackable storage bins can be sold separately or in sets of two or more.

I recommend: Shelving.com shows several different types of stackable storage bins.

Tip out or tilt storage bins

Tip out storage bins, sometimes called tilt bins, have a drawer that tilts out when opened to offer easy access to the items stored inside.

I recommend: Simplastics.com has a description of their tip out bins and how they can be stacked or used individually.

Industrial storage bins

Industrial storage bins come in a variety of different shapes and materials. Depending on the type of storage bin needed, there are plastic, steel, wire mesh and simple cardboard storage bins for office use.

I recommend: L.K. Goodwin Co. offers a variety of different types of industrial storage bins with descriptions of weight limitations and/or construction details for their bins.