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Retail Storage Solutions

What is Retail Storage?

Retail storage solutions are essential for optimizing any retail operation. By keeping inventory and orders organized and accessible, these systems significantly improve operational efficiency and worker productivity.

Many different storage systems are available for retail operations, each with advantages and disadvantages. Some examples of storage systems for retail operations are pallet racking, industrial shelving, carton flow, AS/RS, mobile carts, and modular storage. The best solution for your retail operation will depend on inventory size, omnichannel and eCommerce order fulfillment requirements, available space, and budget.

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Who Can Benefit from Optimized Retail Storage Solutions?

Optimizing storage spaces can significantly benefit retailers and their supply chain partners from small businesses to large retail chains and manufacturers. Here’s how:

  • Small Businesses: Maximize limited square footage with space-saving solutions, enabling greater inventory variety and improved omnichannel fulfillment capabilities.
  • Larger Retail Chains: Deliver an enhanced customer experience with faster restocking and order fulfillment.
  • Manufacturers & Suppliers: Enable smoother supply chain operations and timely deliveries by streamlining inventory management.

With optimized retail storage, businesses can better manage logistics, improve customer satisfaction, and reduce operational costs. Whether fulfilling curbside pickup orders or managing eCommerce inventory, effective retail storage solutions empower businesses to meet modern demands.

UNEX carton flow in a retail fulfillment operation

Why Should Retail Operations Implement Effective Storage Solutions?

  • Enhanced Efficiency: Efficient storage reduces the time needed to retrieve inventory, accelerating worker productivity and improving the customer experience.
  • Improved Inventory Management: Streamline tracking to prevent costly stockouts or overstock situations while enhancing customer satisfaction.
  • Reduced Operational Costs: Optimize storage density to minimize space requirements, lowering labor and operation expenses.
  • Increased Safety: Implement safer storage designs to reduce the risk of accidents in retail warehouses, backrooms, and customer pickup areas.

     

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Why Retail Storage Matters

The rise of eCommerce and omnichannel fulfillment has changed customer expectations. Today's consumers demand fast shipping, delivery, and in-store pickup. Many retailers are adapting by transforming brick-and-mortar locations into micro-fulfillment centers to cut transportation costs and meet demand.

However, traditional retail backrooms weren’t designed for eCommerce. Weekly restocks and regional distribution models don’t support the fast-paced nature of today’s omnichannel retail, such as two-day shipping. Many businesses face challenges like SKU proliferation, fluctuating demand, and limited storage capacity and can't afford the financial hit of upgrading spaces while staying competitive.

According to McKinsey, online retail sales grow by 15% annually, further pressuring retailers to store packing supplies and manage diverse SKUs. To further complicate things, retail is rapidly morphing into an omnichannel model. Online orders, micro-fulfillment, and in-store pickup are among the fastest-growing omnichannel ordering models, with growth of anywhere from 40% to 70%, depending on the product.

Retail storage solutions, such as SpeedCell high-density storage and SpanTrack carton flow, address these challenges by maximizing storage density and ensuring accessibility.

Overcome Retail Storage Challenges with UNEX Smart Space Solutions

UNEX retail storage solutions, like SpeedCell high-density storage, can help retailers adapt to buyer trends. With personalized products and product variations rising, retailers must manage an expanding array of SKUs. Certain products may be hot for a few weeks, requiring retailers to purchase large amounts of inventory to keep up with demand, only to have those same products sit in piles in the backroom when buyers move on to the next big thing. As such, retailers often have backroom storage challenges around overstock and inventory. SpeedCell increases storage density by up to 60%, helping retailers meet the challenges of fluctuating inventory demands and increased SKU variations.

Relocating stores or renting new storage spaces is often a costly and impractical solution to overcoming these everyday challenges. Overfull retail space is often the result of inappropriate storage solutions for the needs of the business. Instead, implementing scalable, reconfigurable modular retail storage solutions, like FlowCell flow racks, can adapt the facility according to the market needs.

Dynamic storage solutions, like SpanTrack carton flow, will maximize storage density and accessibility in retail spaces. By recovering floor space and increasing capacity, retail storage solutions from UNEX will help retailers stay competitive as new products enter the market and consumer expectations change.

Optimize Your Space with Retail Storage Solutions from UNEX

Dynamic retail storage solutions from UNEX are easy-to-install and reconfigurable according to the unique needs of retailers and their warehouses, backrooms, and customer pickup areas. They address common pain points of retailers, such as SKU proliferation and product trends, by being cost-effective solutions that can be immediately implemented and reconfigured or scaled based on current buyer behaviors.

 

Explore UNEX Solutions

UNEX SpanTrack Lane - Carton Flow Solution

SpanTrack Lane

SpanTrack Lane is an innovative carton-flow solution that drops into new or existing pallet rack structures to create an efficient, reliable, and durable flow system. Depend on a robust and sturdy solution for even the most active warehouses and assembly plants.

Key benefits of Spantrack include:

  • Ensure FIFO inventory rotation
  • Reduce worker travel time by up to 75%
  • Optimized for product stacking
  • Industry-leading 7-year warranty
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UNEX SpeedCell Dynamic Industrail Shelving

SpeedCell

SpeedCell is a dynamic warehouse storage solution uniquely designed to save time, space, and money by using existing space within standard pallet racking. Its compact design can compress 200′ of rack or shelving into 40′ of highly organized space.

Key benefits of SpeedCell include:

  • Transform vacant space into useable storage and increase density by 40-60%
  • Create a highly efficient and accurate pick 
  • Reduce picker travel time by 80%
  • Reduce labor costs by up to 40% 
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UNEX FlowCell Modular Flow Racks

FlowCell

FlowCell flow racks are modular, dynamic storage units designed for a facility's unique operation. Our durable and portable workstations maximize efficiency and space for lineside storage, sub-assembly stations, supermarket racks, modular mobile carts, and more.

Additional Benefits Of FlowCell Include:

  • Increase space utilization by up to 50%
  • Boost production efficiency by up to 30%
  • Keep the factory floor organized
  • Minimize reaching and improve ergonomics by reducing injury and fatigue
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UNEX SpanTrack Wheel Bed Carton Flow

SpanTrack Wheel Bed

SpanTrack Wheel Bed is a flexible carton flow solution that drops into new or existing pallet rack structures to create the ultimate gravity flow rack system for order picking operations, manufacturing facilities, and more. 

Additional Benefits Of Spantrack Wheel Bed Include:

  • Hex hub wheel design for optimal flow
  • Store products with a wide variation in size and weight
  • Increase flexibility for inventory slotting with 90% left to right bay usage
  • Replenish inventory from the back without interrupting the process in front
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UNEX SpeedCartt Mobile Storage Cart

SpeedCartt

SpeedCartt is a mobile, high-density picking cart solution that is reliable in the most demanding environments. Constructed from the same lightweight yet heavy-duty materials as SpeedCell, SpeedCartt improves efficiency and reduces labor costs.

Additional Benefits Of SpeedCartt Include:

  • Increase pick facings
  • Reduce travel times
  • Increase order accuracy
  • Pick multiple orders at the same time for maximum efficiency
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UNEX Roller Rack Gravity Flow Rack Solution

Roller Rack

Roller Rack is a pre-engineered gravity flow rack designed to optimize efficiency, safety, and FIFO rotation in many settings. They are pre-configured, easy to assemble, and ready when your facility needs them.

Additional Benefits Of Roller Racks Include:

  • Quick and easy to build and install
  • Create bays seven times denser than pallet position storage
  • Reduce picker travel time by up to 75%
  • Improve access and visibility while reducing strain on workers
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UNEX Pick Shelves Industrial Shelving Solution

Pick Shelves

Tilted pick shelves significantly improve SKU visibility, resulting in faster order picking and more comfortable, precise picks for workers. Our easy-to-mount pick shelves are customizable and fit perfectly in racks and on workstations.

Additional Benefits Of Pick Shelves Include:

  • Integrate slow movers into the pick line to save space and increase efficiency
  • Eliminate the dead zone
  • Accelerate pick rates
  • Provide clear visibility and accessibility at the pick point and improve worker comfort
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More Applications

Warehouse Storage Solutions

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Storage Solutions for 3PLs

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Order Picking

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Each Picking

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