In the run up to Christmas, many companies will find a need to make additional stock available to satisfy the need of the frenzied buyer. With just a few weeks to go, the public are taking every opportunity to hit the shops either in towns and city centres or in the virtual world of online shopping – making it a prime time for business to really meet those quarterly targets. Without the availability of stock, businesses cannot expect to ‘make a killing’ during the festive period which may put a dampener on sales figures. 
Making extra stock available has surely got to aid potential business success in such a busy period. However, one problem that can often cause a headache in the business world is ‘where can all this extra stock be stored?’ Pre-empting this storage situation may be just the thing needed to improve your business’ chances of success during the festive months.
Warehouse design encompasses such decisions by looking at the business’ storage needs not only for its current situation but also for an extended future time frame - whether that is 6 months or 3 years in advance. Understanding likely stock volumes needed for a certain period or even forecasting likely future growth, allows a company to determine what size of warehouse they may need and with this, the likely cost implications.
Warehouse design can then also look at the best ways to store stock to make it easily accessible to delivery persons, for example. Warehouse design may then highlight staffing requirements and even vehicle needs to transport such levels of stock. Depending on the packaging needs of a product, it may then also be determined that a certain warehouse layout is required to efficiently pack and store products ready for collection and delivery to retailers or to customers directly.
Total Logistics are a consulting group that specialise in supply chain management including warehouse design. Please visit their website to find out more about factors which may impact on warehouse design or speak to a knowledgeable consultant to discuss your bespoke requirements by telephoning 0118 977 3027.