The units in a self-storage facility can be used for a range of personal and business purposes, and with the difficulties our economy is experiencing, new ways of doing business and ideas regarding new businesses are emerging every day through the necessity of dealing with our “new normal”. Self Storage Grimsby
A number of our new clients appear to have lost businesses during the epidemic lockdowns and out of necessity are starting new ones, for example, online startups. Many of these are starting internet marketing businesses to sell their products.
These entrepreneurs are using our storage units at Stop & Store Grimsby self storage, as the base where they can stock up, pack, and distribute their own products or someone else’s products. We act as a cost-effective, safe place where goods can be received, stored, sold, and distributed.
So at Stop & Store Grimsby self storage, this trend is growing as storage units can play an important role in online marketing.
Setting up an Online Business
Online businesses are growing as more and more people choose to shop online rather than on the high street as many shops and businesses are still closed due to the rules of the pandemic. Those of us who have been furloughed or retrenched may choose to take this money to start a new business.
The most important items you need to start up is a computer, an online connection, and some knowledge of the internet although there are many courses out there to help the beginner startup. Products to sell can either be something you make yourself, or you sell on someone else’s products.
This is an opportunity to turn your hobby making items into something that can make you money. If you sell your products at local markets which may have been closed down over the past year, online selling is a way of getting your products out there again but to a wider audience.
Building a website is the foundation for your product offerings. This you can do yourself using a user-friendly template if you have some technical expertise, or you can easily find someone online to build one for you. This shouldn’t cost you a lot of money.
Once your website is ready, add your product pictures, begin your marketing campaign, and then store, pack, and ship your products.
How do you find products to sell?
If you do not have a hobby that you can turn into a business, finding the correct niche of products to sell will be critical to the success of your online business. You will need to follow trends to ensure you sell products that people want to buy.
You have two options, firstly you can sell someone else’s product (called dropshipping) or secondly, your own, if you have confidence that you have something people will want to buy, and you can invest in your own product development.
Dropshipping
Dropshipping is a quicker way to get your business up and running. You basically act as a marketing representative for someone else’s products by selling these through your website for a commission. You receive orders through your website and pass these on to be packed and shipped.
Developing your own Product Range
Some of the most desired online products right now are in the following niches:
Travel accessories, Health and Beauty Products including skincare, Smartwatches, Hobbies and crafts, Interior design products, Mobile accessories, Pet products, Fine jewellery, and sleepwear.
Keep on researching for new ones to add to your online store, though, as these niches change.
Converting your Hobby
If you are confident you have something you make that can be sold, build your website, and start making money out of your hobby, whether it is woodwork, art, sewing, or any other craft you excel at.
These are some steps to follow to get you up and running.
- Find a name for your business.
If you already have a name in mind, see if its available and register a domain for it. - Install WordPress.
This is a quick process and once you have configured the settings, choose a theme in line with the product category you are developing. - Install an e-commerce platform.
This will accommodate your important trading information, create product pages, receive payments, and provide you with good selling strategies. WooCommerce is such a platform that will help you reach customers and generate sales. - Choose a secure Payment Gateway.
This is needed to receive payments and it is essential you understand how the security works and what fees they charge. PayPal is an example of such a gateway. - Put your products up.
Take the best pictures you can and write exciting descriptions for these products to make them look as good as possible. - Complete your website. Make it look as professional as possible with each landing page completed, with key words and copy geared to search engine optimization. Write a good “About us” and “FAQ’s” page.
- Use internet marketing to generate sales. Study up on SEO and use Google analytics to generate sales and attract customers and sales.
You can rest assured that if you use one of our storage units at Stop & Store Grimsby your stock is safe. Packing for distribution is easy as our hours of operation are from 8 am to 8 pm, 7 days a week. Our modern steel units vary in size up to 200sq. ft and will keep your products safe, secure, and dry.
You can hire one of our units from 1 month or for as long as you need it and no deposit is required, making it an affordable way to access storage without going the formal route of hiring warehouse space.
Our storage facility is fully secured with monitored CCTV, individually alarmed, and with intruder alarms. Our state-of-the-art operating system involves minimal contact, and we will email you your contract and access code, making it as easy and as hassle-free as possible for our customers.
Call us at Stop and Store Grimsby self storage on 01472 563120