There are various challenges that come with starting an e-commerce business. Chief among these concerns is finding extra storage space to store your inventory. After all, even though the storefront is digital, your products are still physical. Of course, many may opt to stow everything at home. But that is impractical and hardly ideal for your inventory. That is where self-storage comes into the picture.
At Work+Store, we are proud to have assisted numerous e-commerce entrepreneurs kickstart their businesses by providing them with the valuable storage space they require to grow their enterprises. And you can benefit too! So what can you gain from our affordable storage rentals? Check out our interview with Mr. Ng and Ms. Valerie – the founder of Caden & Caelyn’s Trove and a beneficiary of our business storage services – to learn more.
Please tell us more about your business and what products you are offering.
Caden & Caelyn’s Trove is an online bookstore offering a broad array of affordable books, from interactive (push, pull, and slide), emotional management, and award-winning titles to activity books and educational toys and puzzles suitable for babies, toddlers, and young children.
As a Parents World Award Winner in Best in Curated Interactive and Award-Winning Children’s Books, we aim to nurture inquisitive young minds and spread the love of reading with our curated collection of books!
What are the challenges of running your e-commerce business?
Starting off as a home-based business means that I have to store all my products at home. However, as the surge in orders started coming in, I face the inevitable problem of having to find extra storage space for my inventory. From occupying a single room at home, the demand grew to the point where I had to store my products in the living room, kitchen, and even my kids’ play area!
However, this issue posed a problem for my family, as my two children are still growing. So they require more space to move around. Therefore, I could not replenish my stocks as often as I wanted due to the space constraint at home. As a result, my products were often out of stock, and I could not meet consumer demand.
How has our storage unit helped your business?
Naturally, as my business grows, more storage space is necessary for expansion. So renting a storage unit was a no-brainer! I am thankful for this decision, as the storage unit has helped my business tremendously. I can now focus on growing my enterprise by researching new products to bring in without stressing about space constraints at home.
Learn More: 4 Ways Self-Storage Can Help Your Business
With various storage providers available in Singapore, what made you choose Work+Store?
I had several factors in mind when searching for a suitable storage unit for my business. Of course, cost and accessibility were some of my biggest concerns, as I did not want to pay an exorbitant rental fee and require a self-storage unit near me so that I can easily access and store my products.
The size of the storage unit is also another crucial factor. As a startup business looking into expansion at the infancy stage, I could not afford to rent a massive warehouse and pay excess for underutilised space. So the storage unit had to be the perfect size for what I needed to ensure I can maximise the space usage.
Lastly, the place has to be secure and equipped with adequate CCTV cameras, as I want my products to be safe and secure in storage.
Fortunately, Work+Store was able to fulfil all my requirements. The storage facility at Kallang Bahru is located in a central area and is easily accessible via public transport. So it was convenient for me to travel to and from the location.
Additionally, Work+Store has multiple storage units available in various sizes. As such, there was no issue identifying the ideal size for my business needs. So I only pay for what I need without worrying about exceeding my budget. The area also has multiple CCTV cameras installed on all levels and operating 24/7, providing me with peace of mind knowing that my inventory is safe and secure.
Has our WPS storage helped to address the challenges associated with your business?
Yes! As I have shared, I no longer have to worry about space constraints at home. With the extra storage space afforded to me, I can stock up on more books and increase the frequency of my shipment to keep my products at a healthy stock level. This way, I can always meet consumer demand.
My work environment is also more conducive, as my inventory is arranged neatly on shelves installed in my storage unit. With my products neatly organised, I can locate what I need and fulfil online orders more efficiently. Moreover, I can now bring in more new titles and more varieties of books without worrying about running out of storage space! This decision has definitely propelled my business to a new stage of expansion.
Is renting a self-storage unit more cost-effective in the long run?
A resounding yes! With the ideal storage size, I only pay for what I need and do not have to worry about underutilised space. As a result, I can pass the overall cost savings to my customers. In the event that my business expands further and requires more space, I can rent an additional storage unit and only pay for exactly what I need.
Caden & Caelyn’s Trove is just one of many e-commerce businesses benefitting from Work+Store’s storage facilities. So if you are a budding e-commerce entrepreneur facing similar storage issues, what are you waiting for? Do not hesitate to contact us today to enquire about our prices and services.