Working as a festival or traveling vendor makes you location independent, since your storefront is wherever you erect your canopy and tables that week. That doesn't mean you don't need storage, though, especially in the off season. A commercial storage unit provides a solution for storing extra products, booth furnishings when they aren't in use, and some of your office records. The following tips can help you make the most of your storage.

Tip #1: Go for security

Security against theft and damage is usually the number one concern for any business owner, especially if most of your product is kept in the unit. Since many festival products are relatively small, indoor storage is a good solution. You can easily move things in and out with a dolly or hand truck. Interior units are usually only accessible via an entry key or code, and there is also usually extensive video surveillance. They are also climate controlled and well-sealed, which helps protect your stock from damage.

Tip #2: Use a shelving system

Organization is key, otherwise you will waste vital time looking for stock. Worse, you may end up ordering more inventory and wasting money. Most storage units don't have any organization, although some commercial units may allow you to rent or purchase shelving systems directly from the facility. This will allow you to create aisles so you can maximize space and organization. Feel free to label the shelves so it's even easier to find what you need.

Tip #3: Store with transport in mind

Another thing to remember is that you will be hauling items out of storage to events, and then hauling the extras back. For this reason you will want to use heavy-duty storage totes that have built-in handles. This makes it easier to stack and arrange items in both the storage unit and your travel vehicle. Plastic totes also protect your items from moisture and pests, both at the festival or event and in the storage unit.

Tip #4: Don't store everything

Some items are better stored in a home office than in an off-site storage unit. Most obvious is any records pertaining to the business or your customers. If you collect customer addresses or emails, or if you have invoices that may contain sensitive customer data, never keep these in a storage unit. The same goes for any of your business paperwork, such as bank statements or billing paperwork. Although a storage unit is secure, you don't want to take any chances on losing sensitive information.

For more help, visit a website like http://www.atozstorage.net.