Cargo boxes, also known as storage units or shipping containers, used to be utilized only for transporting goods, but nowadays, more and more businesses and individuals recognize the great benefits that these large boxes can offer, including low cost, weather-resistance and durability and have started using storage units for many purposes other than shipping cargo. One of the most frequent ways to utilize storage containers is to use them as shops – whether anchored to a foundation, like a regular building or mounted on a truck to be used as a mobile retail facility, storage units are immensely popular these days. However, to be able to make the most of your storage unit shop, you need to take into consideration various aspects – here are some.
Legal Requirements
Whether you are allowed to operate a retail facility configured from a storage container and to set it up in a specific area of your town or city depends entirely on local laws and regulations and your mobile shop made from a container will also need to comply with lots of requirements, so before you start shopping for the right container, find out everything you need to know about the legal aspects.
Pick the Right Size
Standard storage units Fort Smith AR options range in size from 5 x 5 feet to 10 x 30 and you can also find many non-standard sizes as well. To be able to figure out the best size for your shop, figure out exactly how much client space you will need, determine the exact dimensions of the furniture that will go into your shop and think about the space that you will need for your inventory, too. Your sizing options will also be determined by the type of your shop – the best size is different for a shop in a fixed location and for a truck-mounted one.
The Benefits of Using a Storage Container as a Shop
Shipping containers give shop owners numerous benefits – here are some:
- Quick set-up – whether you will be using your container to set up shop in a fixed location or you will use the box as a pop-up shop, the time needed for fitting the container with the amenities that you need is much shorter that the time needed for building a conventional shop or for transforming the shop premises that you rent or that you have just bought to meet your specifications;
- Low costs – the average price of shipping containers range between $1,500 and $5,000, depending on the size and the condition of the unit. When calculating the overall costs of your retail facility, you will need to add the costs of utilities, design and execution, but even so, the final costs will probably be much lower than the costs related to setting up shop in a brick and mortar building;
- More creative solutions – the limit when designing your container shop is only your imagination. You can replace one of the walls with glass, you can add mobile walls and other great features and you can easily repaint and redecorate your unit when you feel your shop needs a refreshed look.