Selling online can be a great way to make some extra money, build a small business or turn a hobby into a source of income. But as your sales pick up, so can the clutter. Clothing bags, finished products and packing supplies can quickly start creeping into every corner of your home, taking over spare rooms, cupboards and even your living space.
For regular Vinted and Etsy sellers, or small businesses managing a growing amount of stock, finding enough room can become a challenge. This guide looks at simple ways to organise your stock and supplies, and how storage for online business sellers can help you free up space at home, keep stock organised and manage your growing business more easily.
When Your Online Stock Starts Taking Over
Keeping a few things at home is easy enough, but as orders start to pick up, things can get messy. Stock can end up in different rooms; your packaging gets buried under other items and finding a product after it sells can take a lot longer than it should.
It can also be easy to buy extra packaging supplies, such as boxes, mailing bags or labels, purely because you cannot find the ones you already have. A simple system for separating listed items, items awaiting listing, sold items awaiting dispatch and packaging supplies could help you make better use of the space you already have.
However, if better organisation still doesn’t give you enough room, self storage for your online business could give you a dedicated place to keep your stock and supplies without them taking over your home.
What Should Vinted and Etsy Sellers Keep in Storage?
A storage unit can help Vinted sellers keep clothing and other second-hand items together, while Etsy sellers may need a space for finished products, materials and packaging. The key is keeping everything easy to find when you need it.
Clothing and Second-Hand Items
For Vinted sellers, storage can help keep clothing and resale items out of the way while still making them easy to access. Before you put anything into storage, make sure all your items are clean and completely dry, and keep items waiting to be listed separate from those already available for sale.
Use suitable labelled containers for folded clothing and avoid overfilling them. Group all your clothing in a way that makes sense, such as by size, type and give each item a clear location.
Handmade Products, Materials and Packaging
For Etsy sellers and other small businesses, keeping finished products separate from craft materials, packaging and market supplies can make stock easier to organise and find. Wrap fragile items individually with suitable protective materials and use cushioning or dividers to prevent them knocking against each other during handling. When you’re organising your stock storage, you should place fragile products in sturdy boxes, label them clearly and avoid overfilling the boxes. This will help keep your products protected, organised and easy to find.
Keep frequently used materials close to your workspace at home and consider business storage for excess stock and supplies. This can free up room at home, with collection visits planned around your orders and production needs.
How to Organise Stock for Online Selling
Having well-organised inventory storage is about more than just having somewhere to put your products. When an item sells, you should be able to find it quickly without opening every box or searching through shelves.
Give each product or listing a simple reference and label your shelves and boxes with location codes. A spreadsheet can help you track each item’s reference, description, available quantity and storage location, alongside orders awaiting dispatch.
For example, an order for a candle with the reference CND-24 can be matched to its recorded location: shelf B, box 4. Reduce the available quantity when the order arrives, then record when the candle has been collected and dispatched.
Keep your returned items separate until they have been checked and leave clear access around shelves and boxes. Clear storage locations and up-to-date stock records make it easier to find the right item when an order comes in.
If your stock has outgrown the space available at home, a self storage unit can give you a dedicated place to put this system into practice.
How to Store Packaging and Plan Parcel Drop-Offs
Stock is only one part of running an online shop. Boxes, mailers, tape, tissue paper and other protective materials can take up a surprising amount of space, particularly when you buy packaging in bulk to keep costs down.
Keep a small working supply of packaging at home if that is where you pack orders. If you use an ecommerce storage unit, keep surplus boxes and packaging materials there, separate from your products.
When storing surplus packaging, flatten unused boxes where possible and group similar supplies together to make stock checks and reordering easier. Keeping packaging separate from your products also helps keep shelves and access routes clear.
Once your orders are packed, having somewhere to send them nearby can save even more time and hassle. Simple Self Store has an onsite InPost locker, allowing sellers to drop off eligible InPost parcels during a storage visit. Check that you have the correct label or QR code and that a suitable compartment is available before travelling. Combining stock collection with parcel drop-off can help reduce separate trips.
When Is Self Storage Worth It for Your Online Business?
There comes a point when using spare cupboards, a bedroom or the garage for stock simply stops being practical. If products are taking over your home or you are spending too much time moving things around to find what you need, self storage for your online business could be a more practical option.
Think about how much stock you have, how quickly it sells and how long you expect to keep it. It is worth looking through your inventory before deciding how much storage space you need. Slow-selling or low-value items can take up valuable space for months, so clearing out stock that is no longer worth keeping could mean you need less storage space.
Before making a decision, consider the total cost of self storage, including the rental fee, any required insurance or protection charges, travel to and from the unit, and the cost of shelving or storage containers. Compare these expenses with the benefits of having more space at home and keeping your stock organised to help decide whether self storage is a worthwhile investment for your business.
You also don’t necessarily need a self storage unit all year round. If your stock levels increase around Christmas, seasonal events or busy selling periods, temporary storage for business stock could provide extra space during those busier periods.
How to Choose a Storage Unit for Your Online Business
Once you have decided that additional storage makes sense for your online business, choose a unit that suits how you manage your stock and orders. You should consider the amount of stock you have, but also allow space for shelving, packaging and a clear aisle so you can reach everything easily.
Access is another important consideration. If you are regularly collecting products to fulfil orders, check the access hours and loading arrangements before choosing a storage unit. Security is also important, particularly if you are storing valuable or high-demand products.
Ask about the storage conditions and check that the facility allows the types of products or materials you need to store. The conditions should also be suitable for the items you plan to keep there, whether that’s clothing, paper packaging or temperature-sensitive materials, as different products may require specific storage environments to remain in good condition.
It is also worth checking the contract terms, any required insurance or protection cover, and whether you can move to a different unit size if your stock levels change, subject to availability.
A well-sized space with convenient access can give you room to grow while keeping your stock secure and under control.
Still not sure how much space you need? Simple Self Store’s storage unit calculator can provide a starting estimate. Allow for shelving and access space and ask the team for advice if you are unsure which unit suits your stock.
Make Space for Your Online Selling with Simple Self Store
If your online business is starting to outgrow your home, Simple Self Store can give your stock, packaging and supplies a dedicated place to go. With clean, dry storage units in a range of sizes, you can choose a space that suits the amount of stock you have now, with flexibility to change unit size as your business grows, subject to availability.
Our facilities include smart app entry and CCTV, with standard unit access from 9am to 9pm, seven days a week. The onsite InPost locker also lets you combine stock collection with dropping off eligible parcels, subject to locker availability.
Based in Motherwell, Simple Self Store also serves online sellers looking for storage near Coatbridge and Glasgow.
Ready to make more room at home? Get storage prices by completing the enquiry form to find an option for your stock and supplies.
Frequntly Asked Questions
Can I use a self storage unit for my online business?
Yes, you can use a self storage unit to keep stock, packaging and business supplies. A storage unit can give you extra space for your products without filling up your home, making it easier to keep track of your inventory and find items when orders come in.
How should I store clothes I am selling on Vinted?
Make sure your clothing is clean and completely dry before putting it into a self storage unit. Use suitable protection where it is needed, label boxes and shelves clearly and give each item a specific location so you can find it quickly when it sells.
How do I organise Etsy stock and craft supplies?
Keep finished products separate from your craft materials, packaging and supplies. If you sell different variations of a product, keep track of each version and how many you have of each so you know exactly what you have available.
What size storage unit do I need for online selling?
Consider how much stock and packaging you have, whether you need shelving and how much space you need to move around and access your products. Our storage unit calculator can help you estimate the space you need.
Is self storage worthwhile for a small online seller?
It depends on how much space your stock takes up and how often you need to access it. If your current setup is manageable, better organisation may be enough, but self storage can be worthwhile when stock is taking over your home or making it harder to run your online business
