Going Up Gets the Job Completed

The building is so big no one ever imagined running out of room. It is a giant building and workspace, yet after several years the place as become cramped with product and people trying to work in small spaces and tiny cubicles. People are stumbling over each other, growing frustrated by the hour until, come closing time they run yelling out the door. Before long the level of frustration is going to lead to increased turnover, lost and misplaced product and reduced profits. There are several solutions to help maximize space and save the business. Adding mezzanines and pallet racking can appear to; double the working space of a warehouse.

Using established interior design techniques, a work space and warehouse can function more efficiently and provide a better work environment. Raising either storage or office space off the warehouse floor can open an area and create private spaces. An interior space, be it an office, a store or a warehouse has to serve several functions. First is the ,main function, be it store product, sell product, or provide an area to conduct business. Each role has its own requirements. Often these requirements seem in conflict with the various functions also required. There are giant structures that that have the dual roles of warehouses and stores. One of the most challenging tasks is providing a welcoming shopping experience while maximizing space.

Stocking items on pallets and raising storage areas or offices above the floor allows for creating interesting and well functioning spaces. There are some advantages to placing offices above the floor. For managers with an open office, they can survey the floor from above, giving a vantage point that is helpful for watching customers and associates performing their duties. Being raised also allows the offices to be open without the foot traffic of a bustling shopping environment. If privacy is necessary and the offices need to be closed it still allows for an open floor not cut up or shrunk by walls. Certain displays are excellent for an above floor design. Some items may be more expensive or vulnerable to theft. Lifting the product above the floor creates a sense of security, as steps become another obstacle a thief would need to navigate.

Climbing a set of stairs to enter a showroom lends a certain metaphorical element to the shoppers’ experience. The effort of rising above or moving into rarified air is linked with a climb. The act of climbing the stairs to view a product increases the investment of a customer. Having moved into a higher, quiet space the customer and salesperson have a more intimate shared experience. People who make an effort to view a product are more likely to overcome small concerns about investing or purchasing a product.

Creating unique isolated areas helps add to the functionality and versatility of a building. Making a clean well organized space helps make customers feel welcome. By using stacking techniques and space creating options a warehouse like space can become many things for many functions. This helps improve value and profit.