Singapore is a nation of the technologically savvy. With 91% connected online (Infocomm Media Development Authority), it is now possible for small entrepreneurs to compete in the market.

According to Statista, the expected revenue generated will amount to US $4.9 billion by the end of 2019, and is expected to show an annual growth rate of 14.7%, resulting in a market volume of US $8.6 billion by 2023.

That said, e-commerce is a whole lot more than simply displaying your products up on a webpage. There are other factors to consider as well – yes, you guessed it. Logistical issues. Let’s take a look at some of the challenges that you might face and how self-storage can assist you in overcoming them.

Storage space for your inventory

Let’s face it, if you are running a product based e-commerce business, you will need to stock your inventory somewhere. And often, it will clutter up your working and living environment.

This is where Self-storage comes in; with all your inventory stored away in a secured facility, your working and living area would be significantly less cluttered. Now you can fully focus on your e-commerce business!

Of course, you can also take a look at Extra Space Executive Storage where you can store, work and collaborate all in one space.

Cost Effective Solution

Cash flow is essential to a small business, as many entrepreneurs struggle with their bills. One reason might be the high expenses from renting a warehouse for inventory storage. Think about this: Does it make sense to rent a 900 sqft warehouse for a year, only to use less than ½ the space and time?

It will be more cost effective to rent a self-storage unit. Most self-storage facility allows you to rent a storage space from as small as 14 sqft to as large as over 200 sqft. Plus, the freedom to upsize and downsize at any given point. Self-storage users can also enjoy flexible rental duration, starting from as short as 14 days to as long as required.

Now, you have the option to pay for only what you require. Say goodbye to the days of costly long-term contracts and large redundant spaces!

Click here to find out how much you can save with self-storage.

Fulfilling Orders

On paper, this sounds fairly simple. You have done your job and have gotten a sale. Now, all you need to do is to get your product to the customers, right?

In Singapore, you can choose from a wide range of courier options for delivery: SingPost, NinjaVan, HonestBee, etc. You can also opt to meet the customers at a specific location to pass them their parcel.

However, parcel delivery services cost money and meeting your customers for every delivery takes up your time. At Extra Space Asia, you can make use of our e-station that lets your customers collect their parcels, anytime, 24/7! Save on delivery costs while automating your processes. That’s the smarter way to go.

Think co-working spaces are for freelancers only? Think again!

According to a 2017 report (Source: Cushman & Wakefield), co-working spaces are also widely used by SME organisations, growing 10 – 15% per year across the Asia-Pacific region.

So what exactly is Executive Storage and how does it relate to co-working spaces? While both have their similarities, Executive Storage spaces offer you a shared workspace with the added feature of having a nearby storage unit.

Here are 3 top reasons why spaces like these are the future for entrepreneurs and all professionals alike!

Store, work and collaborate. All, in one space.

A survey conducted in 2016 showed that Singaporeans spent an average of 9 hours weekly commuting (Source: The Straits Time). Imagine how much more you can get done if you spent this time on your business.

One great feature of Executive Storage is that it reduces your need to travel to and from the warehouse to your office – both now literally steps away!

What’s more, sharing workspace with other business owners can put you on a fast track for more networking opportunities.

Flexible Business Solution

Did you know: With the Executive Storage, the use of workspace is FREE! All you need to do is rent a office and storage space, and you’re good to start.

This option has proven to be one of the most affordable solutions; storage starts from $168 per month with sizes ranging from 11 sqft all the way up to 100 sqft. You can also take advantage of great storage period flexibility (starting from as short as 14 days).

Now, compare this deal to renting a private office space with a minimum contract period of 1 year. Imagine how much you’ll be saving in the long run with Executive Storage!

Convenience

The globalisation of businesses means you now have to work within varying timezones with vendors, suppliers and even customers. Thanks to 24/7 accessibility to Executive Storage, you can be in your office working whenever best suits your business needs.

And there are more benefits to that: you’ll no longer have the hassle of managing day-to-day administrative matters that come with a typical office space. Executive Storage handles everything from utility bills to facility management, so you can better devote all your attention to growing your business.

Rising cost of retail warehousing means more businesses in Singapore will be turning to self-storage as the go-to solution. Whether you need additional storage for your expanding business, or if you are looking to make more room in your office space, using self-storage will help increase your competitive edge.

Now, let’s look at 3 top benefits of business self-storage.

 

#1 – Affordability

With a forecast of a 6% growth in office rental (Source: Colliers International – Singapore), you will start to realise that it is increasingly more difficult to find additional cost-effective space for your business.

As discussed previously in 5 reasons why SMEs should use self-storage, renting a self-storage unit is more affordable than renting a big office space. Just take a look at Extra Space Asia’s Executive Storage below for a quick cost comparison.

	Office Space	Storage Space	Cost Per Month	Min Duration
Executive Storage	√	√	$185 onwards	14 days
Office Rental	√	x	$680 onwards	1 year

Sources: Commercial Guru 

Our Executive Storage offers you both the office and storage space you need at an affordable rate! It is the perfect solution for small, dynamic business environments.

 

#2 – Make Extra Space

 

Every business will expand and eventually require more storage space. But what happens when warehouse rentals are so high, they become too big an expense for your business? What happens if when you decide to store inventories in your office?

Just imagine working side by side with unsightly clutter. Won’t you feel flustered? We would! By keeping unused items that take up too much space in a self-storage facility, you gain back your valuable space.

 

#3 – Relocating Business

 

Great news: Your business is expanding, and you are required to move into a bigger office. Here’s the not-so-good news: Moving is HECTIC…

Here’s a solution. Why not get everything out of the way first? Simply keep non-essential items into a self-storage unit. Decluttering lets you better tidy up your inventory.

To sum up, in one line, using self-storage helps lower overhead costs for your business. Are you ready to reap all these benefits and more with self-storage? Contact us today!

 

 

Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are always looking for a decent and affordable office. However, property prices are very high in Singapore, and office rental cost is the biggest issue for startups.

Businesses looking to downsize office space can actually consider self-storage spaces for inventory and paperwork. Did you know? Self-storage spaces, unlike some offices, are accessible 24/7!

Here are 5 reasons why you should make the switch.

Reduce operating and overhead cost.

Renting a self-storage is more affordable than renting a big office space. Now, time for some cost comparison.

Office Location	1month cost	Size (Sqft)	Cost p/sqft 1 month	Self-storage Cost (Per month)	Self-storage Size (Sqft)	Total Available Space	Total Cost
Tanjong Pagar Road	$7,663	1703	$4	$1,290	450	2153	$8,953
Collyer Quay	$13,786	2121	$6	–	–	2121	$13,786
					Total costing savings a month		$4,833

* Property price from www.99.co

In order for your business to maintain a healthy cash flow, you’re constantly looking for ways to lower operating and overhead cost. By storing with a self-storage facility, you can now enjoy the option of working from home or even at a co-working space; you no longer need a big space to store inventory and work at the same time.

Find peace of mind with a secured facility

Consider storing with a storage facility that offers security features such as 24-hour CCTV surveillance and PIN code access to your storage unit.

Extra Space Asia’s storage lock mechanism provides customers with a unique pin-code to enter the storage facility. As for the individual storage unit, customers can use their own padlock to ensure that only they have access to their storage unit.

Free from long-term commitment.

Most warehouses and offices are tied to long-term contracts, usually with a minimum of tenancy of one year. However, with a more flexible solution, self-storage tenancy periods can go from as short as 14 days to as long as you need – that makes it so much easier for planning and managing costs.

Enjoy freedom to upsize or downsize units

Self-storage provides a quick and efficient solution for businesses of all sizes. Storage units ranging from 16 square feet to 450 square feet are available at Extra Space Asia, including the freedom to upsize or downsize your storage unit at any time. This can well allow you to adjust to your needs based on seasonal demand of your business. Remember, you should only pay for what you need! To make things much easier, you can use the online size estimator tool to estimate the storage size you require.

Access anytime you need to!

When you store at a warehouse, you might not be able to access inventory all the time: location of the warehouse might be too inaccessible. Some warehouses might also have strict hours where you can access your inventory.

This is where self-storage truly stands out. Our facility allows you to access your storage unit 24/7. No more worries about goods arriving during the odd hours too.

More SMEs are turning to self-storage for cost-effectiveness and practical solutions. What about your business? Time to explore your options with Extra Space Asia Self-Storage to fulfil your storage needs!