1. Underestimating space and future growth

• Size the warehouse only for today’s pallets and boxes and ignore how stock changes across the year.
• Hit seasonal peaks, new product launches, and returns with no headroom, so aisles close and staff stack cartons in unsafe towers.
• Fix this by mapping your calendar: list busy months, expected promotions, and returns windows, then estimate pallets or cages for base stock, peak stock, and returns. Aim for a small buffer so aisles stay clear even at the top of the curve.
• Use business storage units and industrial storage that range from 10 to 1000 sq ft so you move up or down in size as stock shifts instead of staying locked into a single warehouse facility that no longer fits.​

2. Ignoring location, access, and loading

• Pick warehouse space only on weekly price and ignore drive‑time from your office, suppliers, and main delivery routes.
• Discover tight access hours, narrow estate roads, low roller doors, or cramped loading bays that slow every delivery and collection.
• Fix this by driving to the site at the same times your carriers use, timing the journey, and testing the entrance and yard with the same vehicle size you use for real work. Check turning circles, door heights, and where vehicles wait.
• Favour warehouse facilities in Aston and wider Birmingham that sit close to main routes, offer long or 24‑hour access (T&Cs apply), use contactless entry, and include clear unloading areas so vans and containers move in and out without delay.​

3. Skipping security and building checks

• Assume every warehouse facility offers the same safety level and focus only on square footage.
• Store high‑value stock, sensitive documents, or machinery in units with weak locks, patchy lighting, or limited monitoring and find out the risk after a loss.
• Fix this by asking direct questions before you sign:
  • Does each unit have its own alarm?
  • Is access digital and logged, or do many people share keys?
  • Where does CCTV cover and who watches it?
  • Is staff present on‑site and when?
• Choose industrial storage units that include individual alarms, strong locking, contactless entry, 24/7 CCTV, and units that stay clean, insulated, watertight, and damp‑proof so stock and equipment stay protected through the year.​

4. Accepting rigid contracts and hidden costs

• Sign long warehouse leases that carry business rates, service charges, and high exit fees that do not match how your business changes.
• Pay for unused space in quiet periods or stay stuck in a facility that no longer supports your operation.
• Fix this by comparing total monthly cost, not just rent: include any service charges, insurance conditions, utilities, equipment hire, admin fees, and notice periods. Ask how price changes if you upsize or downsize mid‑term.
• Use flexible industrial storage that supports changes, includes a clear 100% price‑match promise on equivalent units, and offers transparent discounts such as 50% off for 12 months on selected business storage units between 225 and 450 sq ft so you scale without surprise costs.​

5. Choosing the wrong type of warehouse facility

• Put ecommerce stock, office furniture, event kit, and heavy machinery into the same generic space and expect smooth work.
• End up with online orders buried behind racking, fragile items next to oily tools, and staff walking extra miles each day.
• Fix this by matching each use‑case to the right storage type from day one:
  • Online sellers use ecommerce storage units with clean layouts, Wi‑Fi, and power so they pick, pack, and dispatch inside the unit.
  • Offices use commercial storage spaces to hold desks, chairs, and files during refurbishments or relocations, keeping items clean and ready.
  • Trades and manufacturers use operating‑machinery storage in industrial units with strong floors, wide doors, and enough height for racking and equipment moves.​

6. Treating the warehouse as “just space”

• See only the floor area and ignore how daily tasks work inside the warehouse facility.
• Bring your own trollies, struggle to book forklifts, and spend extra time on simple jobs like unloading, internal moves, and customer visits.
• Fix this by asking which services come with the unit and how they work in practice:
  • Free use of trolleys, pallet trucks, and forklifts.
  • On‑site Wi‑Fi and business‑ready units with sockets if you run operations inside.
  • Receptionist and courier services that handle parcels and deliveries when you are not present.
  • Meeting rooms where you sit with suppliers or customers away from the unit floor.
• Use a site where professional staff work on‑site and help with deliveries, collections, and visitors so your own team stays focused on core work.​

7. Poor internal layout and stock control

• Move into the right warehouse facility but stack cartons floor‑to‑ceiling with no plan for aisles, zones, or labels.
• Slow every pick and pack, lose items in corners, and increase damage as staff climb over pallets or move towers just to reach one box.
• Fix this by designing a simple layout before you move in:
  • Keep fast‑moving lines and daily picks near the door.
  • Place slow‑moving or bulky lines at the back and higher levels.
  • Mark clear walkways wide enough for trolleys and forklifts and keep them free.
  • Use shelf and pallet labels that match your stock list or WMS codes.
• Choose industrial storage units that allow racking, organised shelving, and heavy‑lifting equipment so the layout supports growth rather than fighting it.​

8. Forgetting safety, compliance, and insurance

• Store stock and machinery in warehouse facilities without checking fire exits, load limits, or storage rules for specific goods.
• Assume your policy covers every item, only to discover exclusions or conditions after a claim.
• Fix this by walking the warehouse with a safety checklist:
  • Confirm fire alarms, extinguishers, exit routes, and assembly points.
  • Ask about limits on chemicals, aerosols, flammable goods, and heavy racking loads.
  • Check how features such as individual alarms, locks, and CCTV affect your insurance terms.
• Choose business storage units where security and safety sit at the centre of the design, then share those details with your broker so your cover matches how and where you store items.​

9.Using one warehouse facility for every time‑frame

• Mix long‑term archive boxes, seasonal peaks, and short‑term project kit in a single fixed space.
• Pay year‑round for units sized only for your busiest month and watch empty aisles in quiet seasons.
• Fix this by splitting your needs into long‑term and short‑term business storage:
  • Long‑term storage holds documents, fixtures, spare furniture, and slow‑moving stock that rarely changes.
  • Short‑term industrial storage units handle project work, events, contract overflow, and seasonal peaks.
• Use a warehouse facility that offers both options on one Birmingham site so you open or close extra units as work changes instead of upgrading or downsizing an entire building each time.​

10. Rushing the decision without a visit

• Choose a warehouse facility from photos, price lists, and one call, then discover tight corridors, poor lighting, or unhelpful staff once you move in.
• Miss practical issues such as turning circles for lorries, real ceiling height, and true unit condition until after you sign documents.
• Fix this by booking site visits for your short‑list and treating them as part of due diligence:
  • Drive your own vehicle to the unit, time gate‑to‑door, and test the unloading area.
  • Walk from entrance to unit, note cleanliness, lighting, and how staff greet and support you.
  • Ask to see different unit sizes, including options for future upsizing or downsizing, and talk through how quickly you can move between sizes if your stock profile changes.​

Plan your warehouse space with clarity