{"id":6246,"date":"2014-08-04T16:20:15","date_gmt":"2014-08-04T21:20:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/storagecom-blog.local\/?p=6246"},"modified":"2025-05-23T16:10:20","modified_gmt":"2025-05-23T21:10:20","slug":"using-storage-clothing-boutique-inventory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.storage.com\/blog\/using-storage-clothing-boutique-inventory\/","title":{"rendered":"Using Storage for Clothing Boutique Inventory"},"content":{"rendered":"

By\u00a0Molly Hammond, Storage.com<\/p>\n

Running a clothing boutique is all about offering unique items to customers. Whether you’re keeping inventory on the cutting edge of fashion by constantly updating what’s on your shelves or carefully cultivating specialty items, you will undoubtedly run into the\u00a0issue of where to keep all of your inventory at some point.<\/p>\n

For most clothing boutiques, having unique inventory often comes at the expense of a spacious retail shop. This is especially true for boutiques just starting out on a tight budget or those\u00a0stationed in big cities where rent is high. But just because you don’t have the space for additional inventory doesn’t mean you need to cut down on your offerings or start keeping extra items at home. Give self storage a try<\/a>, as many boutique owners have!<\/p>\n

Adam Sank, communications manager at\u00a0Manhattan Mini Storage<\/a>, is no stranger to helping boutiques make the most of their space. “In Manhattan, every square foot is precious\u2014particularly if you’re in the business of selling boutique clothing,” he says. Sank believes\u00a0that a storage unit allows boutique owners to keep their (admittedly small) storefronts stocked with the freshest clothing and can even serve as a back office in addition to a haven for extra inventory.<\/p>\n

“Size definitely affects business,” says\u00a0Candy Keane<\/a>, owner of\u00a0Three Muses Inspired Clothing\u00a0in Jacksonville, Fla., adding that her costume and corset shop had to pare down their shoe selection just to save space. Despite having to downsize, Keane says that\u00a0Three Muses\u00a0elects to store extra pieces to sell the following year, which means they don’t have to devalue unique items just to move inventory for the upcoming season,\u00a0like corporate stores do.<\/p>\n

This is where renting a self storage unit as a warehouse for inventory\u00a0can really help. It’s a great option for swapping out-of-season clothing for current season clothing and allows boutique owners to avoid those space-making sales. In fact, Three Muses\u00a0benefits from storing out-of-season items for later displays.<\/p>\n

“We do have sales completely out of season sometimes,” Keane explains. “Like when someone has a Christmas in July party and everyone needs sexy Santa costumes in the summer.”<\/p>\n

So what do boutique owners need to think about when looking for storage to fit their inventory needs?<\/p>\n

Find Convenient Storage<\/strong><\/p>\n

Getting a unit with convenient access is crucial when storing inventory<\/a> for your boutique. As Keane mentioned, you never know when you’ll have a sudden need for sexy Santa costumes in the summer. And the last thing you want\u00a0is to head\u00a0to your storage facility just\u00a0find out it isn’t open when you need to grab items.<\/p>\n

“You might have to get up in the middle of the night to start inventory or move something at midnight, particularly if you’re having a sale or event the next day,” Sank says, touting facilities with 24-hour access and units with personalized keys\/codes.<\/p>\n

Sank also advises boutique owners look for storage facilities with decent security on top of 24-hour access, as all of the inventory they’ll be storing is valuable.<\/p>\n

Keep Clothes in Good Shape<\/strong><\/p>\n

There’s no bigger disappointment than investing in a self storage unit only to find that the clothing inside has been damaged. Proper clothing storage is simple, and while many mavens already know the best ways\u00a0to store clothing inventory for long periods of time, it never hurts to refresh on the general\u00a0guidelines. Here’s what Sank suggests:<\/p>\n