Are you running a home-based business and struggling with keeping your inventory accessible on organized? Is your storage closet impossible to keep organized? In today’s post, of Ask An Expert, France from Toronto has written to me because her storage closet for all her product and supplies is becoming a frustration to access and maintain. I am going to give you all my best tips and insights on making your stockroom organized and accessible in 3 simple steps.
PROBLEM: HOW DO I ORGANIZE MY STORAGE CLOSET/STOCKROOM FOR MY BUSINESS SUPPLIES?
I run a home-based business that involves selling product I create. I keep all the supplies I need to create my product in the closet in my office. I also store shipping supplies, gift wrap, art supplies, and empty boxes from my technology (keyboard box, iPad box etc.). Really, it’s a mishmash of things that feel are crowded and disorderly, and I have difficulty accessing what I need with ease and efficiency. I don’t need to add more in there, I just want it all to be more organized and accessible. From France, in Toronto
THE SOLUTION:
Dear France,
Thank you for reaching out to me with your query. First off, give yourself a pat on the back for how tidy and organized your storage closet looks. I can tell from the photos you sent me that you are naturally a pretty organized person. The challenge you are looking for help with is the logistics of storing your inventory.
Running a home-based business is very different from just working from home or having a home office. Your entire business is run, and your inventory/supplies are stored and shipped from your home too. So, storage and organization present a real logistical challenge. This not only creates more supplies to store, but it also means that there is more “movement” with the supplies you have. As you mention you are constantly accessing items in your storage closet to conduct business. In a normal office, your desk is the area of most movement – not your storage closet.
Let’s look at what you have in there by category:
- Office storage/archive
- Inventory
- Equipment
- Gift-wrap
- Shipping & Packing supplies
- Cards
- Reusable shopping bags
- Art supplies – right side
The Organized Stockroom
Let’s start with approaching this closet as your stockroom for your inventory – not just a closet where you store things. A well-run stockroom should:
Maximize Space available:
Your closet is floor to ceiling so this great. The mirrored doors prohibit you from fully utilizing the horizontal space. The shelving unit currently limits your ability to maximize your vertical space.
Minimize handling of goods:
Positioning and arranging items in such a way that you are not moving things in order to get at what you want. This is an issue on the right side of your stockroom as the bottles, tubs, and jars are in layers in front of each other or on top of each other in their current layout.
Enable easy access:
This involves categorizing and labelling your supplies and stock, grouping similar things together. Where this becomes a challenge for you in the current configuration is in your paper, shipping and archive items; they are piled on top of each other (albeit in boxes), so you have to move a box to access another box.
Allow flexibility:
Creating solutions that do not lock you into one type of layout/system. Business focus changes as do the size, shape and weight of supplies so you want to be able to accommodate these unforeseen needs. You are all good here.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please note that any compensation received will never influence my honest opinion of any content in this blog.
France, your biggest challenge here is in how you are using the space available to you. It is more than big enough for your current means which is great, so we don’t have to create more storage space. It really comes down to maximizing your horizontal and vertical spaces. There are a number of options for you to consider here:
Step 1. Maximizing Horizontal Space:
Optimizing full and easy access
The mirrored sliding doors impact your ability to maximize storing your product horizontally. The middle of the closet is not easily accessible and thus you have wisely chosen to put a free-standing shelf unit inside each end of the closet. Sliding doors are removable and easily replaced at a later time if you move. You can put curtains or sliding blinds in their place. Both options allow ease of access. Here are some examples of what I am talking about:
Once you have full access to your closet you will instantly find it easier to access what you need and create better organization of your inventory. It also frees you up to choose alternative shelving systems as you are not constrained by having to fit it into one side.
If you removed the sliding doors you could then consider putting a cubed shelving system for all your product and equipment and also fit in one of your steel shelf units. Ikea has a great solution called Kallax. Closet Maid does have a cubed shelving system but I don’t think they are as secure as the Ikea ones.
Step 2. Maximizing Vertical Space:
Optimizing shelving space
The problem with using the shelving unit you have for smaller items is that there is a lot of empty space that is not being used. Putting everything in boxes certainly keeps things organized but it hinders ease of access.
Removing the sliding doors may not be an option for you. Though doing so will give you full use of your horizontal space, you still have a lot of vertical space to take advantage of. To address your vertical space I suggest using stackable drawers on the shelves for your smaller items.
Drawers are great because they maximize your vertical space in an efficient way – all you need do is pull it open to retrieve what you need inside. Everything stays neat and tidy inside. They are also great because you can categorize what you have far better. I have a set that I have had going on for 14 years 
and they are still in perfect condition after years of constant use and a few moves! A client of mine, who is a news anchor on national TV, uses them for all her cosmetic supplies. They are very versatile and come in a good selection of sizes. I will warn you, good stackable drawers are an investment. 
By putting your smaller items in the drawers you will be able to maximize the space on the shelves. It will also mean that you are not knocking anything over, spilling, or puncturing the contents of any bags while accessing inventory.
Step 3. Organization of Inventory!
Don’t worry if you can’t go with the cubed unit, you will just be using more stackable drawers if you stay with your current shelving unit. The very top built-in shelf can stay the way it is – as storage for large boxes and your computer/technology boxes. Any wrapping or shipping supplies that are up there currently can be put below.
France, I hope this helps you. If you need further clarification just drop me a line and we will tweak it together so that it works for you. I have 2 posts that might be of interest to you before you get started with this project.
You can also check out my Pinterest Board for more tips and suggestions on organizing storage spaces.
Free Professional Organizing Advice for you!
We could all use something to look forward to right now. I want to do something that will add value to your life, that would help you during these confusing and challenging times. When you are organized there is less chaos, less overwhelm. An organized home can bring you a sense of calm, ground you, and help you feel more in control. It is one of the things that we can influence and control despite what’s happening in other areas of our lives or communities.
I am offering a “mini organizing consult” for free, share it with your co-workers, family, friends, on Linkedin, post it on Facebook, or Instagram, or Twitter. Let everyone know because I want to give back and help you. Now is when people really need it.
All you need to do is complete this FORM, attach a photo of 1 area in your home or office that you need organizing help with. Every week I am going to choose at least one person to work with. Here are a couple of readers I have helped already:
- How do I declutter my makeup drawer?
- How to organize my students planning notes and supplies while teaching online
Organizing Your Stockroom for Peak Efficiency