Second-hand furniture business benefits from self storage
A challenge for many second-hand furniture businesses is space. Space to hold stock when they have a surplus and space to expand when needed.
As a result, an increasing number of companies in this industry are moving towards self storage as an affordable and flexible alternative to expensive warehousing or retail space.
One such example is Johannesburg’s Second Chance Furniture and Decor, which buys and sells select second-hand furniture and decor items. Owner Audrey Maidwell rents a unit at Stor-Age Constantia Kloof where she keeps her stock and meets her buyers/clients. We spoke to her to find out more about the business and how self storage has helped it grow.
Second Chance Furniture and Decor
Audrey’s love of second-hand shops is what sparked the idea for her company. She believes ‘one person’s junk is another person’s treasure’. She works from home in Constantia Kloof, advertising her products on social media but is currently in the process of opening up a physical shop in Vanderbijlpark.
Her job entails finding pre-loved items which can be repurposed or sold as-is to enhance the home of the new owner, giving the item a second chance. “When I discovered that it was no longer necessary to have a physical shop to do this, I saw an opportunity to fulfil my passion,” Audrey says.
Some of the biggest business challenges she’s faced include not having a guaranteed income on a fixed payday. “This has meant I've had to learn to closely monitor business cashflow as well as personal expenditure. Having no colleagues can get lonely but since having a self storage unit at Stor-Age Constantia Kloof, I've gotten to know the staff and other 'tenants' who operate businesses from there and they've become like colleagues – friendly faces I see regularly and network with.”
“Another challenge of not having a team is that you don't have anyone to bounce ideas off – I am fortunate that my husband is a seasoned entrepreneur who provides solid support and strategic advice. I also rely heavily on my personal life coach who helps to keep me focused from a personal and business perspective.”
The benefits of business self storage
Convenience, security and cleanliness are the most important features of self storage for Audrey. “I keep my stock at Stor-Age as it is a neat and safe place to meet with customers at any time of the day or night.”
Self storage is an essential part of Audrey’s business and she takes full advantage of all the benefits. “Stor-Age has a very professional feel. I also like the flat loading bay area as my business entails regular loading, offloading and collections. My space needs also change often and they are flexible in offering additional space quickly as and when I need it for flexible durations,” Audrey says.
At Stor-Age, we provide affordable and flexible lease agreements where you can stay for as little as a month or as long as you need. You have the option to downsize or upsize your unit whenever you want at no additional cost.
If you need a business self storage solution, call us on 0861 18 18 18 or get an instant online self storage quote.