How a Shipping Container Can Benefit Small Businesses

Written by Susan Nalevac | April 12, 2022

Over the past few years, we’ve seen a trend of small businesses using shipping containers for more than transportation. Read on to discover how a shipping container can benefit small businesses, from additional storage spaces to temporary physical locations.

Create Additional Storage Space

As your small business grows, there’s no doubt that you’ll eventually need more space for storing additional inventory, retail orders, or whatever else your business needs. Many small business owners face the decision of how to expand their square footage without making the costly mistake of over expanding.

A shipping container allows business owners to expand their square footage without forcing them to build a free-standing storage space or add to their physical location. Shipping containers are ideal for storage space as they’re large, sturdy, portable, affordable, and come in various shapes and sizes, from 20-foot used containers to 40-foot new shipping containers.

Add Physical Space to Your Location

You may need square footage for more things than storage as your business grows. Again, a shipping container can provide the perfect answer, as many business owners use it to add floor space to their business without costly construction or renovation.

A shipping container has many uses for businesses—some restaurants use them as a secondary outdoor bar or additional seating. Some retail companies use containers to get more stock out on the floor, especially for noteworthy events and sale days.

Or, if you’ve got a business office, you can turn the container into a break or meeting room. Shipping containers are like a blank canvas of space that you can turn into whatever you want, from an employee lounge to a creative workshop.

One of the most effective marketing strategies for small businesses today is the pop-up shop—and one of the reasons pop-up shops have become so popular is the use of shipping containers. A container is ideal for a temporary physical store because it’s affordable, simple to move, easy to maintain, and a blank canvas for creativity.

If you’re a restaurateur, take your cuisine to a new area and customers with a pop-up shop to create more word-of-mouth referrals for your restaurant. Some retail or online businesses open a pop-up shop to clear away some inventory or have a big blowout sale that creates a buzz about their items.

A pop-up shop is an excellent opportunity for a small business to grow, and a shipping container is perfect for a temporary physical location.

Conclusion

These are just a few of the many answers to how a shipping container can benefit small businesses. Consider a reliable shipping container if you need some extra storage space or want to take your business on the road!