As your home-based handicraft business continues to grow, one question that you might ask yourself is: ‘Where do I find the space to store all my products?’
Don’t worry! Anyone who has sold physical products has been through the exact same pain that you’re having now.
Furthermore, every once in a while, your home will be overstuffed with products all over the floor while you prepare for the next big event or order.
As such, It’s important to manage your business inventories correctly to lessen your headaches. On the other hand, if you mismanage the clutter, your home will be in utter chaos.
Here are some tips that can assist you with your crafting business!
STAY ORGANISED
Staying organised is a must, whether it is sorting your products into different containers or preparing to ship them. You need to know exactly where your product is stored, along with the tools required to manufacture them.
BRING OUT YOUR INNER HENRY FORD
Part of selling your products is manufacturing them, and to manufacture them, you’ll need tools. Channel your inner Henry Ford and arrange the items according to their required stages.
POPULAR STUFF FIRST
Chances are, you’ll be spending most of your time manufacturing your business’s most popular product. Help yourself by arranging your storage with the most popular products up front.
While you’re likely to know the storeroom by heart, diving to the back of the storeroom takes time. What you can do is implement a policy of ‘forward space’. This means keeping a full box of your most popular product in easy reach.
Besides creating ‘extra time’ for you, this system can also assist you in keeping track of your sales trends.
MAKE SURE YOUR BELONGINGS ARE EASILY ACCESSIBLE
We’re sure that you already know this. However, we’ll have to reiterate that it is very important to ensure that all of your belongings are easily accessible.
The last thing that you want is to waste time searching for a penknife or your label right in the maze you’ve created.
MAKE USE OF ALL SPACE
We’re pretty sure that you have not fully utilised all the space at home for storage. Chances are your home has a few weird nooks and crannies that you’re not making use of.
While this space is not ideal for storing your business inventories, there’s no reason why you can’t use this space to store your seasonal decorations, boxes or other reusable items.
KNOW THAT HOME STORAGE IS NOT YOUR ONLY SOLUTION
Your home is not your only storage space. Sure, you’ll not incur any additional cost storing at home. However, if your company continues to grow and your products start to eat into your personal space, you might need another storage solution altogether.
Consider renting a self-storage space where you can store your products and access them as and when you need them. Alternatively, if you want to work where you store your products, you can consider renting an executive storage space.
Extra Space’s Executive Storage provides you with a flexible and cost-effective solution for your business storage!
Image Credit: A Beautiful Mess
Most of our memories when we are young are mostly stashed away in photo albums – baby photos, birthday celebrations and graduation milestones. This is also probably because back in the days, photography was still not advanced and all photos had to be printed and placed in a photo album for viewing.
As we age, these printed photos will start to age as well. These photos represent all of our childhood memories, and it would be devastating if they are damaged. So, read on to find out what you can do to prepare your printed photos for storage to ensure the longevity of your photos.
Image Credit: Preservation Equipment Ltd
Place them in boxes or containers of the right size
Before you start to put away the photos into a storage space, you will have to prepare some boxes and containers of the right size to place them in.
Firstly, you would want to select a container that is both stiff and flat. This will keep your photos flat instead of curling over time.
Next, your container has to fit the size of the photos. Cramming your photos into a container that is too small will cause damage even before you store.
It is also important not to over or under pack your container. Stuffing too many photos into a container will have the same effect as choosing a container that is too small, whereas leaving too much space will cause the item to move about. If possible, fill the extra space up with non-acidic tissue or bubble wrap. The reason for using non-acidic tissue is because acids will cause the quality of the photos to deteriorate. Likewise, if your photos are being stored in a photo album, ensure that the sheet protectors or sleeves are acid-free.
Avoid choosing albums with textiles cover that may attract moths or pests. Selecting a leather or plastic cover would be the best option as these materials will last and store well.
Select a well-ventilated, cool and dark storage space
Now that you have packed your photos, it is time to select a proper storage environment to ensure their longevity.
Photos, books and comics are very susceptible to heat, light and humidity. As such, your storage space will have to take into account these 3 requirements.
Firstly, ensure that the storage space for your photographs is well-ventilated. A well-ventilated storage space will prevent mould or any other damaging organic substance from growing.
On top of being well-ventilated, you will have to ensure that there is a low level of moisture in the storage space. Consider investing in a dehumidifier when storing your photos at home. Otherwise, search for storage options outside your home with a climate-controlled environment.
Next, for your storage space, you will have to ensure that the temperate is below 24 degree Celsius. Temperature above 24 degree Celsius can cause discolouration of your photos.
Lastly, you will have to ensure that your photo is kept in a dark place as light will cause the photo image to fade. If you are not able to seal the container up to ensure no light get through, consider storing them in a dark place where there is rarely any light.
Image Credit: Business Insider
Back-up your photos online
If the photos are your treasures, it never hurts to create a spare back-up as a precaution in the event something goes wrong. Many people use Facebook and Instagram to back up their photos.
If you are worried about others being able to view your photos on Facebook or Instagram, you can also consider using Dropbox. There are also many different similar online services available, you’ll just need to select the one best suited to your needs.
Consider using self-storage
If you do not have any storage space suitable at home, why not consider making use of self-storage? At Extra Space Asia, we have a wide range of affordable climate-controlled air-conditioned storage sizes.
If you wish to find out more, simply drop us a call at 67713100 or get an instant quote today!
By: Gary Phua
The process of moving as we all know is often time-consuming, tiring, and even a pain in the neck. Even for the most seasoned individual who is used to moving, it’s always important to plan the moving and packing system before the actual moving day. This is to ensure that you have packed everything properly so that the move to your new home or to the self-storage space will be smooth with all items intact and in good condition. If you’re in need of packing items, we have put together the 5 essential packing items and merchandise from Extra Space Asia’s Box Shop that everyone would need when moving.
- Boxes in different sizes
Too many items to pack? One way to pack is to base on either the room type or by category. This system would allow the unpacking and finding process to be simpler too. At Extra Space Asia, we offer three different types of carton boxes to cater to your needs. We have the document box (42cm x 34 cm x 26cm) at $4.40 each, Large box (55cm x 55cm x 55cm) at $6 each and Small box (45cm x 45cm x 45cm) at $3.60/ $4.80 (Single ply/ Double ply) each.
Here are some packing tips to take note:
- Try to pack the smaller items in a smaller box so that there is less empty space within the box. You can also add in some packing paper to minimise the empty space. This is to prevent the items from moving around the box too.
- After packing, please remember to stack the boxes with the heavier big box at the bottom followed by lighter items and smaller boxes. This ensures that the boxes would not topple due to the heavy weight.
- Permanent Marker
After packing your items in the different boxes, it would be good to label them accordingly. We can label the boxes based on the room types or list down the items which are in the boxes. Labeling the boxes speeds up the unpacking process as you would know what items are in each box at a glance.
When it comes to labeling, you should try to label all sides of your boxes. That’s because during the moving process, the boxes could move to face another direction. If you’ve fragile items, you should do an additional marking or use another coloured marker to label these boxes, so that your movers can take note of these boxes. To be really organised, you can also create a numbering system. This is one way to know how many boxes should be moved. If you need some blue or black permanent markers, you can purchase them at Extra Space Asia Box Shop for $1.80 each.
- OPP Sticky Tapes
When packing heavy-duty items like kitchen appliances or fragile items and glassware, it’s important to prepare your boxes by using strong hold tapes at the bottom of the boxes as well as the sides of the box. You can tape your boxes more than once to ensure that your box is more secure when handling heavy items and does not give way during the transportation process.
In terms of sealing boxes, it’s always better to choose sticky clear adhesive tape as compared to masking tape which has the feel of paper. That’s because the sticky clear tapes are more water-resistant, sturdier and stickier to seal boxes. Pick up some OPP clear tapes at Extra Space Asia Box Shop for $2.20 each.
- Bubble wrap
Packing fragile items like your glassware and personal collectibles? Even if you were to pack these fragile items in the boxes, it’s always good to layer them with some bubble wrap to offer another layer of protection.
Bubble wrap is an excellent insulator against impact, especially when you accidentally drop the boxes during moving. Purchase these pliable and transparent bubble wraps from our Box Shop today at just $5.10 per roll, 100cm x 213cm.
- Stretch film
Planning to transport furniture like sofa and chairs? To minimise the risk of damage and having scratches on your items, you can protect them with some stretch film. For loose items, you can also use some stretch film to secure them together so that they will be kept intact.
If you intend to store your items for a long period of time, it’s always a good idea to wrap your items with some highly stretchable plastic film. The stretch film will act as an additional layer to protect your items from the environmental elements like dust, dirt and water. This will help to keep your items in good condition for a longer period of time while in storage. Purchase some stretch film from our Box Shop today at just $13.20 per roll, size 50cm (W).
There are a list of other essential packing items that you can purchase from our Box Shop, conveniently spread across various locations in Singapore. Feel free to visit our facilities during our operation hours from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, 9am to 1pm on Saturday to purchase them. If you are looking for a mover to help you through your moving process, you can also engage our newly launched e-Move service. WhatsApp 9834 0347 today to receive a quick mover’s quote.
By: Michelle Lee
In this modern era, it’s safe to say that we’re all heavily dependent on the use of computers, laptops and electronic equipment. With the rapid advancements, we are constantly upgrading our computers, phones and other electronic items.
So, what do we do with our ‘old’ electronic equipment? Do we throw them away? Or do we keep them for their nostalgic value? And if they are office equipment, should we keep them for our future employees?
If you’re thinking about storing them, here are some smart storage tips for your electronic equipment.
Back up all your data
Before sending your equipment to a storage unit, ensure that you have backed-up all the data in a separate hard drive for easy access – you never know when you’ll need them in the future.
If you’re storing your PlayStation 3 or 4, ensure that your saved data are stored in the PS Cloud server. You can make use of the PS Cloud by subscribing to the PS Plus!
Clean your electronic equipment
Maintain the longevity of your electronic equipment by cleaning them before you store. For hard to reach areas, you can make use of a compressed air duster to remove the accumulated dust.
Remove any CDs or Batteries from your electronic devices
One common mistake that most people make when storing their old electronic devices is forgetting this crucial step. Over time, CDs and batteries might be damaged. While a damaged CD might not be a big problem, a damaged battery may leak acid and damage your devices!
Seal your electronic equipment
All electronic devices are extremely vulnerable to dust if left alone. So, consider sealing your electronic equipment with plastic and bubble wraps. This is to protect your electronic equipment from dust and save you from major upkeep when you take them out to use again.
Use the original packaging
The original packing boxes for electronics are the best boxes for storage because they are custom made that particular device. Furthermore, storing them in their original packaging will also ensure maximum protection!
Just remember to detach any wires or accessories and package them neatly before placing them in the box.
Store in a clean and dry storage
Electronics are extremely vulnerable to our environmental elements. This is why you should always store your electronics equipment in a clean and dry storage space. This would effectively preserve them in the long-run. If you don’t have a suitable storage space in mind, why not store with Extra Space Asia?
Our storage areas are well maintained, with a wide range of storage sizes available for rent from as short as 14 days to as long as you require. Many of our customers have also stored their electronic equipment at our facility with full satisfaction – just check out Junadi Bin Juri’s testimonial here!
By: Gary Phua
Love buying new items as an add-on to your personal collection of toys, sneakers or bags? We understand the joy and excitement of scoring that new limited edition collectible. But what about the lack of space? Good news, you don’t have to let the issue of storage hinder your growing collection.
- Make use of your wall space
Credit: Minifiguresdisplay
Used up most of the space on the floor? Don’t worry, you can always build and install some shelves on the walls at home. With shelves, you’ll not only enjoy extra space to showcase your personal collection, but they also serve as a great centerpiece at home.
Opt for small placeholders/platform for your small toy figurines to stand on or a long shelve across your wall to hold bigger collectibles. You can also explore installing shelves along the perimeter of your home wall. Use reference sites like Pinterest or Instagram to explore more ideas.
It is important to take note of the weight and height of your toy figurines and personal collection too so that you can build a sturdy display. If you are planning to place your toys and sneakers collection on shelves, make sure that your shelves are installed in an area with no direct sunlight as it might affect the colours on the sneakers or toys in the long run.
- Use racks
The great thing about racks is the flexibility of choosing the number of layers you want. In cases where your personal collection includes loads of sneakers, toys or bags, this is a good option as you will be able to see all of your personal collection at one glance. This might not be the prettiest storage option, but it allows collectors to have more space when their prized collectibles are stacked nicely on the racks. With racks, you will also enjoy a more organised living space without the clutter. They are easy to build, affordable, super lightweight and durable. You will also be in control of how many sneakers or bags go on each shelve on the rack.
- Rent a self-storage unit
Looking for a reliable and secure space to store all of your personal collection? Start storing in a self-storage facility like Extra Space Asia, where you will enjoy 24/7 access to your storage unit. With an Extra Space storage unit, it’s like an extension of your living space where you can enjoy the freedom of space to expand your personal collection. The perks of renting a self-storage at Extra Space Asia is the flexible storage terms allowing you to store from as short as 14 days to as long as you need. You can also enjoy the flexibility of upsizing your storage unit any time you need more space.
If you have questions on self-storage, contact us at 6771 3100, and we will find you the perfect storage unit to fit your personal collection. You can also visit any of our ten Extra Space Asia storage facilities located around Singapore Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm and Saturday 9am to 1pm to get a personalised facility tour to understand more. No prior appointment is required.
By: Michelle Lee
Ever wondered how you can maximise storage space in your storage unit? Good news: we have tips for you. With some strategic planning, you can now enjoy more savings by choosing the right storage size!
Let’s jump right in:
1- Storage Space Planning – Vertical vs Horizontal
If you fill up your storage unit without a plan, you’ll end up wasting valuable space. To stretch the usable space in your storage, remember to consider both horizontal and vertical aspects of the area.
Start by placing the heaviest items at the bottom of your unit. Like building a foundation, this will start you off with a solid base to work upwards with lighter and more fragile items.
2- Ensure Accessibility to Commonly Used Belongings
Are there any items that you need to access regularly? If yes, do please place them right in front of your storage unit. This tip will save you from the tiring hassle of moving items around in the unit, only to repack once you’re done. Imagine going through this routine every time you visit your storage unit. Oh, what a nightmare!
3- Create Walkway Your Storage
Maximising space usage also means thinking of ways to optimise movement and mobility within your storage unit. After all, being able to access your belongings is as important and storing them properly. So remember: During space planning, cater a little space for walkways. This will make accessing your items that much more convenient!
4- Fill Up Gaps in Your Storage
Still need more space? Time to get creative. Analyse the overall area in your storage unit. Look high and low for gaps of unused space. Can any of your items fill that space? Good. Now, fill it up. Think like you would when you’re playing Tetris – it’s not about how much space you have, it’s how you use it!
By: Gary Phua
Still deciding on renting your ideal storage space? Maybe we can help!
Follow our checklist below to fine-tune your requirements and how you can optimise your space.
1. Budget accordingly
When you’re allocating your monthly budget, be sure to factor in your storage expenses. The cost of renting a self-storage unit is typically based on storage size and duration. Don’t forget to check out our promotion page for special offers before embarking on your storage journey!
2. Pick an ideal storage location
Extra Space Asia is located island wide with 9 different storage facilities. For your convenience, you might want to choose a facility closest to your home or workplace. A location that will make it easier for you to retrieve, access or simply take a look at your items any time of the day, any day of the week.
3. Figure out how much space you need
Here, you can choose from a wide variety of storage sizes based on your needs. There are over 200 different sizes that you can choose from! When placing your items in the storage, it is important to place them strategically to maximise space. Large and Heavy items should be lined at the bottom of your storage unit.
To save even more space, try storing some items in a vertical position to fill up the gaps. It is also advisable to place frequently used items in a more accessible spot inside your unit.
You should choose a space that fits your needs for now. If you need more or less space in the future, you can always upsize or downsize your storage space with us anytime.
If unsure, feel free to use our size estimator to gauge the size you require.
4. Storage requirement
Do you have items that require air-conditioned, dehumidified storage? Before renting your storage unit, be sure to determine your needs. To preserve the condition of certain items such as paintings and collectibles, you might require a more specialised environment.
5. Packing, disassembling and labelling of items
To prevent wear and tear, it is advisable to pack your belongings properly. Follow our packing tips to make your move-in easier! Start by visiting our Box Shop for a wide variety of packing materials and tools.
6. Engaging Movers
Moving can be stressful. We hear you. Find relief simply by engaging a reliable mover. Most movers in Singapore are experienced in moving large and valuable items, but we do have a list of recommended Movers we work closely with. Some even offer packing, unpacking and dismantling services. All in one!
Too many things to remember? Fret not! Our friendly Facility Managers are onsite during office hours to ensure you have a pleasant experience.
We look forward to welcoming you onboard!
By: Gary Phua
Many of us live in a HDB flat with really small bedrooms. But! There are also people who live in bigger houses who just want to downsize to a new HDB BTO. The choice of downsizing could also be due to other practical or personal reasons.
Regardless of why, once you start living in a smaller HDB flat, you’ll definitely have to do some space planning and compromises to your home décor to fit everything perfectly! There are, of course, some simple methods to make a small space look bigger! #lifehacks
Keep scrolling to find out 5 simple ways to make a small HDB BTO look more spacious.
1. Leaving empty spaces around
The first hack is really considering a suitable placement of furniture or big home décor pieces in your new home. #Didyouknow that you don’t have to place all of your items near the wall or squeeze them near to one another even though the space is small? Try setting your furniture at an angle with some surrounding space. This can quickly help create an illusion that you have a spacious home – a definitely must-try home décor hack if you have a small living room area.
2. Mirror, mirror on the wall
Mirrors. They can definitely help make spaces look much bigger as they reflect the illusion of depth. They are also able to reflect both natural and artificial light to make your home look brighter day and night.
For homeowners, there are many ways you can explore putting up a mirror in your home. You can opt for a few small mirrors grouped together or a statement mirror that can give you the ‘oomph’ to your home and double up as a beautiful art piece too.
White interior with decorative, standing mirror, chairs and table
3. Explore the option of building floor to ceiling shelves
Consider having your home contractor install a floor to ceiling shelving if you’re looking for ways to elevate your home. These shelving units will make the ceiling of your HDB flat look taller. Also, these shelves are also a great storage option for knick-knacks as well as the avid reader. Keep in mind not to over pack your shelves to its maximum load as it would clutter up your home. Try to leave some empty spaces for a cleaner effect.
If you’re looking for ways to organise your shelve further, consider purchasing small storage boxes and baskets. They can serve as small home décor pieces while neatly storing your items.
20715441 – cyprus library of restored mediterranean town house
4. Choose light and soft colours for your home
Dark tones can make your home look beautiful and cozy. But they tend to absorb the natural light and make a space look much smaller?
Use light and soft colours like white, and you’ll make your living space look much bigger and brighter. Light colours will reflect light and make your living space feel more open. Paint your walls in soft colours such as light grey or soft pink, or other bright colours that go well with your colour palette and furniture at home.
Painting your home is definitely one of the fastest and most price-friendly ways as compared to a complete HDB renovation makeover!
Details of modern cozy interior
5. Never stop decluttering.
Let’s be frank, when we live in a smaller HDB, there’s definitely lesser available space after placing all our furniture and home décor pieces. It’s key that we declutter our home once at least every three months. Decluttering every day is a chore, and nobody likes doing chores! However, step by step, little by little, we can maintain a neater look and truly enjoy a clutter-free living space.
Here’s how you can start: Plan to declutter room by room instead of just randomly selecting areas to work on. This way, you’ll be more organised as to where has been cleaned up. Next, donate items which you have not used for the past year. Because if you’ve forgotten about this item for one year, it means that you no longer need this item. You should also throw away stuff that is in bad condition.
Looking for extra space to keep your memorabilia or books which are just lying around at home?
Here’s another idea: Why not try Extra Space Asia’s E-Valet service – a hassle-free, end-to-end storage box storage solution if you don’t need to access these items frequently. The best part of using E-Valet is that you don’t have to carry your items physically! It’s also an affordable storage solution that Extra Space Asia is offering at only $5 per box monthly. All you have to do is sign up online and request for the number of boxes you need to be delivered to you. And when you need to retrieve your storage boxes, you just have to put up a request online, and they’ll deliver you the boxes. It’s that simple!
E-Valet Box
Try E-Valet today if you’re looking for more space at home.
By: Michelle Lee
Making that ‘big move’ to a smaller HDB home? Well, downsizing doesn’t mean you have to downscale your life.
Here are 5 quick tips to optimise your shift to a cosy HDB home!
1. Space planning
If you have a certain design concept or furniture in mind but you find yourself asking, “I don’t know if I have the space,” then you should try out a space planning exercise first before anything.
Through this exercise, you’ll be able to get a better idea of your home’s total available area and also plan for a more functional home that suits your needs.
To get started, try a free space planning software online such as Smartdraw or Floorplanner to get an initial assessment of how much available space you have. Then, engage a professional ID or renovator to get an expert opinion.
2. Get organised with a timeline and budget list
With so many things happening at once, it can be challenging to get a full grasp of what is going on and how much are your total expenses. You don’t need any special tools to keep track. With something as simple as an Excel sheet or a Google Document, you can note down your budget and project timelines for renovation, moving dates and packing timeframe. This list will definitely help you avoid any lapses in schedule or overspending for a particular furniture. #lifehack
Moving can be a thoroughly enjoyable process since it marks a start of a new journey. Plan well and smart, and you’ll never be overwhelmed!
3. Make a list of what you’re bringing over to your new home
As you’ll be moving to a smaller space, bringing over everything can be a real challenge. Fret not, and start with a packing list. Create categories such as “Needs”, “Wants”, “Throw/ Donate” and “Box Number”. This trick will help you organise your items and make it clearer to sort them out.
When in doubt, just ask yourself these questions:
• “Do I need this item for my daily use or will I use it only once in a blue moon?”
• “Do I have space in my new home for this item?”
• “Do I have something like this which I just packed?”
• “Did I use this item in the past 6 months?”
• “Is this product energy saving and still working well?”
You don’t have to discard all your unwanted items. They can always be donated to people who need them more than you do. Visit Blessings in a Bag, The Salvation Army, MINDS to find out more.
4. Adding multifunctional furniture in your new home
With the limited space available, consider furniture that comes with built-in storage or designed with multi-function features which not only fit your interior design theme but also your storage needs.
For a start, you can opt for bed frames with storage space. This allows you to have more space to store your bedsheets, books or even shoes. You can also purchase a mobile storage trolley that is convenient to push around anywhere in your house, such as the RÅSKOG trolley from IKEA. Its streamlined form is designed to fit between tight spaces – the perfect piece for all your knick-knacks and accessories.
5. Storing items in a reliable self-storage facility
Self-storage facilities can be the storage solution for small homes. It provides space for you to store things that you may not need on a daily basis. This will not only free up space at home, it can also safeguard your personal and family items in a secure location where you can access any time, any day.
Facilities also come with a wide range of storage sizes which you can choose from, depending on your needs. You even have the flexibility of increasing or decreasing your storage size. Storage periods start from as short as 14 days to as long as you need, all up to you!
Posted by: Michelle Lee