3 Logistics Planning Tips That Can Help Small Retail Businesses Expand
From quaint gift shops to hometown hardware stores, small retail businesses are the backbone of a strong local economy. However, due to the competitive nature of the retail industry, growth is essential for small stores.
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Hand Dolly |
While connecting with new customers is crucial to expanding your business, getting those customers to return is the key to sustainable growth. Luckily, the right tools and logistics planning can help your store expand while keeping loyal customers happy. Here are three logistics planning tips that can help small retail businesses scale.
Optimize Shipping and Return Processes
Competitive shipping times, simple return processes, and clear exchange policies can elevate the customer experience, turning one-time shoppers into happy returning customers. Since e-commerce is a great way to expand your customer base without taking on additional overhead, these logistics issues are especially important for small businesses looking to expand.
An organized store and well-trained staff can help your company offer competitive shipping times and an easy customer service experience. Since your store will be moving more inventory, be sure to equip your team with hand trucks designed for indoor use. Premium material handling tools can keep your staff safe and efficient while restocking the sales floor, processing returns, and organizing outgoing shipments.
Invest in Storage Space
While small business owners might feel resistant to taking on more overhead, additional storage space is important for growing businesses. After all, investing in warehouse space quite literally gives your company room to grow. In order to meet the demands of your growing customer base, your team will need a well-organized stockroom that can accommodate more inventory.
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Whether you rent warehouse space, move to a location with a larger stockroom, or lease a storage unit, you and your team will need equipment that makes retrieving and organizing inventory easy. A hand dolly with a weight capacity of up to 500 pounds can help keep your storage space organized, safe, and efficient.
Choose High-Quality Tools
Just like your expanding retail business might outgrow your storefront, your business might outgrow some of your tools and equipment. To make moving bulky items easier, you might customize a hand cart tailored to your unique inventory. Or, to handle more transactions, your team might upgrade your cash register to a savvy point-of-sale system.
While the new tools your business needs depend on your store, industry, and business strategy, investing in long-lasting equipment is essential. Equipment that is built to last will help standardize your business practices, make training new staff members easier, and save you from having to replace equipment each year. By investing in durable, versatile equipment, you’ll set your small business up for successful growth.
About Magline
As the world’s leading manufacturer of route distribution tools and material handling solutions, Magliner equipment rises to the needs of any industry. Whether you oversee customer-facing retail stores or manage a third-party logistics company, you know the right equipment makes life easier and improves every aspect of your business. By manufacturing high-quality heavy duty hand truck models, developing time-saving patented features, and prioritizing safety, Magline raises the bar for material handling equipment. The unique modular design of Magliner equipment makes routine maintenance and repairs a breeze, while the durable construction of these tools ensures your team will be able to depend on them for years to come. For over 75 years, businesses across industries have trusted Magliner equipment to help their teams stay safe, efficient, and dynamic.
Set your store up for success with material handling equipment from https://www.magliner.com/