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Barbara Whitaker

Guide to Warehousing for Small Business

Your distribution management starts at your warehouse

By Barbara Whitaker, freelance writer, none

If you have inventory, you have a warehousing issue. Storing goods safely and efficiently is key to running a profitable business. Whether you will be best served by a self-storage facility or a full-service commercial warehouse will depend on your needs and your ability to spend time and money keeping your inventory in check. When making a decision, consider:
  1. How much space you need and how your goods need to be stored. Do you need air-conditioned space? Loading docks? Will you require shelving? How frequently will you need access to the items?
  2. Will you be able to receive the items and take them to a storage area or do you want someone to receive the items for you at a warehouse?
  3. Do you want to manage the inventory or have someone else do it?
  4. Do you want to ship directly from the warehouse? If so, will you handle it or will someone need to do it for you?
  5. Do you need to be near your warehouse or can you save money by locating it away from your central office, and more in an area conducive to your shipping and receiving needs?
Moving from the garage to the warehouse is a big step — one that requires making a number of choices. Here are some tips to help smooth the transition:

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


Locate the right warehouse space for your business

The Web offers numerous resources for exploring warehouse management.
I recommend: A few companies specialize in finding warehouse space nationally, including Starboard TCN Worldwide Commercial Real Estate, which lists prices online, and Leonard's Guide. InsightQuote has price comparisons. Ozburn-Hessey Logistics specializes in finding and establishing warehouse space nationally and provides third-party logistics services like order fulfillment and distribution management, and Small Business Warehousing does much the same with a focus on small businesses.

Find a specialized warehouse

Some companies offer climate-controlled warehouses or offer harder-to-find features like hazardous-materials storage.
I recommend: Check out D&S Warehousing's public/contract warehousing, which offers climate control, 24-hour security, distribution services and even hazmat warehousing. Or search for a specialized warehouse on Industrial Space or Industrial Gurus.  Find contract warehousing and distribution management providers and bonded warehouses at Business.com.

Determine how to handle warehouse management

A warehouse can be integral to tracking inventory and shipping and receiving goods, and can even serve as a place to show your goods and run your business.
I recommend: Check these tips on how to refine warehouse management decisions. Some warehouse management consultants offer some free advice on the Web, including Ken Ackerman and Art Avery. Organize your warehouse management and distribution management with inventory software from one of the vendors listed at Business.com.

Understand the different types of warehouses

A warehouse can be as simple as a garage-like space at a self-storage facility or as complicated as a vast facility where the operators not only store your goods, but accept shipments, maintain and track inventory and send materials out.
I recommend: An overview of warehouse types is available on KnowThis.com. Entrepreneur.com examines warehouse options for eBay sellers.

Consider alternatives

When it comes to warehousing, it may a good idea to think outside the box.
I recommend: Small business incubators often offer office and warehouse space along with other support services at affordable rates. Find out more from the National Business Incubation Association.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

  • Not all warehouses are created equal. Check the company out with the Better Business Bureau.
  • Ask for references and check them.
  • If you belong to a trade association, talk with members about how they meet their warehousing needs. Some warehouses cater to specific types of businesses.

The official source of Warehousing for Small Business is
the Warehouse Management page at Business.com

Warehouse Management Software Directory
Compare warehouse management software using Capterra's free, comprehensive directory.
Capterra.com/warehouse-management-software
Warehouse Management Solutions
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Warehouse Management Solutions
Find Warehouse Management Resources. Search listings and reviews of specialists and services in your area to help you manage your warehouse today.
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Inventory Software
Get a free demo CD of our ERP solution with integrated inventory management software. Includes wireless warehouse management system.
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Recommended Solution Providers

ThomasNet: Warehousing
Directory of warehouse services companies.

Red Prairie: Warehouse Management
Inventory, distribution, yard management software and services.

Sage Accpac Warehouse Management Systems
Inventory handling and distribution system with radio-frequency hardware, bar code technology, shipping systems and warehouse automation equipment.

CAPE Systems: Warehouse Management Consulting
Analyzes requirements and develops solutions that fit the needs of distribution center operations.

DHL: Warehousing
Global order processing, inventory management and warehousing.

UPS: Warehouse Management
Site analysis and selection, supply chain modeling and network optimization, service parts logistics and parts planning.

S3CO Root WMS: Warehouse Management System
Small business edition software.

Small Business Warehousing
Order fulfillment services including remote warehousing, pick, pack, and ship, assembly, inventory and order management, logistics and customer returns.

IntelliTrack: Small Warehouse Software
Inventory Shipping Receiving Picking (ISRP) designed for small to mid-sized warehouse operations.

Oracle: JD Edwards EnterpriseOne Warehouse Management
Software includes directed movements such as receiving, putaway (proximity), picking (batches and waves), replenishing, packing, and shipping.

HighJump: Warehouse Advantage
Management software with strategic processes such as receiving, put-away/flow-through, inventory management, order processing, replenishment/pick/pack, loading and shipping from a 3M company.

Eweek: Distribution and Warehouse Management Buyer's Guide
Product reviews with editor and user ratings (free membership.)

Best Sites to Learn More

About: Warehouse Management
Resources, information and a listing of organizations that support warehouse management professionals.

Supply Chain Knowledgebase: Warehouse Management
White papers, research articles and software reviews.

Warehousing Education and Resource Council
Association of warehousing and distribution professionals with an online research library, resource center and supplier database.

KnowledgeStorm: Warehouse Management Solutions
White papers, case studies and software reviews.

InventoryOps: Warehouse Management Systems (WMS)
Inventory operations consulting guide with software selection and implementation tips and links to providers.

Capterra: Warehouse Management Software Directory
Reviews software and provides and online RFI service.

Infotivity Technologies Consultants: Warehouse Management Software
Selection guides, needs analysis advice, whitepapers, how-to articles, RFPs and comparison tools.

International Warehouse Logistics Association
Trade association of warehouse logistics providers with a resource center and logistics services locator.

Best Blogs and Forums

S3CO Root WMS - Warehousing Forums
Forums on warehouse technology, wireless/paperless methods, S3CO systems and experts Q&A.

ThirdPartyLogistics: Warehousing and Distribution Blog
Supply chain management solutions information provided by Ozburn-Hessey Logistics Consulting.



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