The UK is currently the world’s third-largest e-commerce market, with nearly £200 billion in sales in 2019. Furthermore, e-commerce accounts for more than a quarter of all sales in the country, with this figure set to steadily rise to more than a third by 2024.
Great news if you already have an e-commerce business or you are looking to launch one in the year ahead. However, what this does mean for your e-commerce business is that you are highly likely to see your demand increase. More good news, but that is as long as you can accommodate this increased demand with self storage office space.
If, like many, you currently run your e-commerce business from the comfort of your own home, then now is definitely the time to think about broadening your horizons in the form of an office space complete with self-storage options.
Although this may feel like a daunting prospect, if you want to be able to compete with the likes of Amazon, you need to move forward with your e-commerce business rather than stay stationary.
Alternatively, if you currently rent an office space and storage facility independently, then our rental offices in Rochdale with on-site storage facilities have the ability to improve productivity, lower overhead costs, and generally make your life as an e-commerce business owner easier.
Still not entirely convinced that self-storage office space is the right choice for your e-commerce business?
Keep reading to discover eight reasons why you need to bite the bullet and rent an office space complete with storage solutions in 2021 and beyond.
As an e-commerce business competing with hundreds, if not thousands, of other similar companies, customer service is crucial. In fact, according to recent statistics, customer service is the number one priority for businesses in the next five years, beating both pricing and products.
Furthermore, a whopping 80% of customers will stop doing business with a company if they provide poor customer service.
When it comes to your e-commerce business, there are many ways that you ensure you are providing a high level of service, with one of the most crucial being making sure that you have the necessary stock to meet demand.
Unfortunately, this can be challenging if you are currently keeping all your products in cardboard boxes in your spare room or garage, and this can become even more problematic if you suddenly see an increase in demand.
Our office spaces, complete with self-storage, are the ideal solution for your growing and thriving e-commerce business, providing the space you need in a secure location.
Continuing on from the above point, if you currently operate your business from one location but store your stock in another, choosing our office spaces that come with on-site storage facilities just makes more sense.
No more having to travel between your home or office and your storage facility to check inventory, sign for deliveries, or grab items to be packaged and mailed to your customers. Not only will this save you and your employees precious time, but it will also mean that you can reduce your delivery times, something that most e-commerce businesses are keen to do in order to compete with Amazon who is known for their next-day delivery.
Moving your e-commerce business from your home to a self-storage office space provides enhanced security which means more peace of mind for you as a business owner.
Here at Simple Storage, we take the safety of you, any guests you invite to your office space, and your stock incredibly seriously. That is why we have invested in the latest CCTV technology, as well as offering 24-hour on-site security so that you know your stock is safe when you leave it in one of our on-site warehouse facilities.
Furthermore, you can come to work in the morning and not have to worry about your vehicle or any guest’s vehicles with our free off-road car park and instead focus on growing your online business.
As an e-commerce business, you need to be operating at full speed at all times if you want to keep up with your competition, and this is especially the case when it comes to the internet.
Our self-storage office spaces in Rochdale have just enjoyed a network upgrade, meaning that if you choose us as your office space provider, you can experience speeds of up to 1GB. Plus, this infrastructure is ours and ours alone, so you do not need to worry about other businesses taking some of your precious speed.
Whether you need to call abroad using an internet phone service, want your employees to stay motivated and productive with failsafe systems, or rely heavily on remote workers, your e-commerce business will flounder if you don’t have reliable and fast broadband.
Did you know that doorstep parcel theft is on the rise in the UK? Letters and parcels are often left in so-called “safe” communal areas, only later to be stolen or “go missing”.
If you have experienced parcel theft, either personally or professionally, you will know only too well how worrying this can be, especially if you have lost mail that contains sensitive data or information about your e-commerce business or your customers.
Fortunately, if you choose to rent an office space complete with self-storage with us here at Simple Storage, you can enjoy a personalised postal service completely free of charge. Within this exclusive service, our dedicated and trustworthy team will accept any parcels and packages on your behalf and then deliver them to you or leave them securely in your office if you are out and about sourcing suppliers or new products.
Although many e-commerce businesses start from the comfort of their own home, with the benefits of this option including lower overheads, no commuting, and no need for costly office staff, as your business grows, you need to adapt accordingly.
Of course, renting an office space is a big step for any business owner, but it is a sure-fire sign that your e-commerce business is thriving and that it is ready to move on from its humble beginnings.
So, why choose to rent an office rather than simply continue trading from your own home?
Namely, that having a physical office location associated with your business adds legitimacy.
Think about it this way. Who would you feel more safe making a purchase from, an online store with just a simple website or a business with a swish office and a flash website?
The latter, of course, and this is because consumers like to see tangible proof that a business is legitimate. Even in today’s increasingly virtual world, customers still seek the reassurance of a physical address. Not to mention that it allows you to get your home back and create a physical boundary between your business and personal life.
Furthermore, if you have employees working from their own homes, having a shared office space can create a productive corporate culture that promotes productivity, enhances employee performance, and improves your retention rates.
Unless you live in a huge house with multiple spare rooms and communal spaces, chances are you currently conduct your meetings at the local Starbucks or other nearby public space. Not only does this not provide the most professional ambience but it also just more inconvenient for you as a busy small business owner. Plus, if you currently store your stock in a separate location to where you operate your business, you then have to make yet another journey if you need to showcase a particular product during a meeting.
Fortunately, there is a simple solution to the above problems. Yes, you’ve guessed it, our multitasking and incredibly versatile self-storage office space that is set in the stunning Arrow Mill, a grade II listed building in Rochdale.
When you choose to rent office space from us, you will receive a generous 50% off our meeting or boardroom hire services. Offering a stunning space that can be used for meetings with between 2-12 clients, suppliers, and financial advisors alike, you are guaranteed to impress when you invite guests to one of our boardrooms that are located near enough to your office and storage space for convenience but not so near that you will be distracted.
If you currently rent out an office space and a storage space separately, you can save quite a bit of money by combining the two and simply choosing one of our self-storage office spaces.
We offer affordable office and storage space with flexible pricing plans to suit everyone, meaning you are almost guaranteed to find something that works for your e-commerce business and comes in on budget. Plus, don’t forget, you will also be saving on travelling costs as everything you need to run your business will be all in one handy location.
Get in touch with our friendly and knowledgeable team today and start planning for a bigger and better future for your e-commerce business as early as tomorrow. Choose to call us on 01706 716000, or why not pop in and see us in person? We’d love to meet you!
