Category: Uncategorised

If you run an online start-up retail business who no longer has space at home, or you are an established retailer who doesn’t have enough space in their current warehouse, then self-storage units offer a practical and cost-effective solution.

To make the best use of your self-storage space, and to make sure you store your retail stock efficiently, then follow our top tips below:

1. Make sure you invest in the right sized self-storage unit

Depending on the amount of storage your business needs, it is important to invest in the right size storage space and we have made this easy for customers with our handy pricing guide showing what you can fit into each of our unit sizes. Plan and predict how much retail stock storage you will require as this will be the most efficient way to minimise unnecessary costs. However, if you do need to upgrade or downsize your unit size at any time, you can at Offerfair, with absolutely no hassle.

2. Label and organise your stock

Labelling is the key way to organise your self-storage space. Ensure storage boxes are marked with the contents and about organising your stock such as by categories on your website or by location in your stores. At Offerfair, we also sell a range of packaging materials to provide you with everything you need to securely store your retail items conveniently, securely and safely.

3. Don’t be afraid to discard old stock

Although it is temping to hold onto old stock in storage, removing old stock with free up storage space for important items. You could discount old stock in a flash sale or donate it to a local charity who would benefit.

At Offerfair, we provide a wide range of unit sizes and storage solutions for retailers needing space to store their stock, so if you are looking for more space, then contact us to discuss your options.

Short and long-term self-storage is becoming more and more popular for individuals and businesses, but if you want to really ensure that you are optimising your self-storage requirements, then here are our do’s and don’ts to make sure your self-storage works the best for you:

Do choose a reliable storage company

Choose a company with a proven track record that offers clean, convenient and secure units by reading customer reviews or asking friends, family and colleagues for referrals.

Don’t search at the last minute

To make sure your self-storage unit is the right size, competitively priced and convenient for you to access, then it is best to start your search early so you have ticked all these boxes.

Do make a list of all that you are going to store

Taking an inventory of what you plan to store helps determine what size unit you are going to need and it helps you stay organised when you need to search for items at a later date.

Do label your boxes

If you are using self-storage, the chances are you might not need items for several weeks or months, and you will be surprised at how quickly you forget what you have packed and where. If your boxes are labelled it will make it much easier if you need to locate something from your unit, and will also make the unpacking process much more straightforward.

Do pack your unit strategically

Organise your unit in a way that makes access easy. Store items you are more likely to require access to near the front of the unit, whereas those things you know you are unlikely to need for a while then pack at the back. Also think about the unit’s height and stack items vertically, with heavier items at the bottom. If you can keep a pathway from the front of the unit to the back, then that will make access to your belongings easier.

Don’t leave items unprotected

Prevent items from getting damaged by taking the time to properly pack and store them. Cover large items of furniture with blankets and store fragile items carefully wrapped in packing paper and / or bubble wrap.

Do purchase insurance

At Offerfair we can cover your items up to £100, but if the value of your items exceeds this amount, you will need to arrange your own insurance cover, and this will give you extra peace of mind that your belongings are protected.

We hope that our do’s and don’ts help you when booking self-storage, and if you require any further assistance please contact us.

Planning for a home renovation is exciting, however it is inevitable that it will cause some disruption around the home, even if it is just smaller jobs such as decorating a room or retiling a bathroom.

Before you begin any renovations remove everything from the room or designated area you are planning to renovate, including furniture, clothing, decorations and any household goods, leaving the area as bare as possible. Not only does this help protect your belongings from dirt and dust, it also helps avoid any accidental damage. Then pack any essential items that you may need during the renovation process into a box for easy access later.

If you can’t remove certain items of furniture, make sure they are covered with clean sheets, and make sure your floors are protected too with some kind of covering.

Isolating the renovation area means it is easier to keep the rest of your house tidy and clean. If the renovation works are going on for a number of days or even weeks, then make sure you, or the contractors if you are using outside help, tidy and clean up at the end of every day.

Regardless of what the renovation project is and the size of it, people always ask ‘what do I do with my stuff in the meantime?’

Most people don’t have the space to store everything at home whilst they are undertaking renovation work and home renovations are one of the main reason people choose short-term storage at Offerfair.

A storage unit can do wonders for your peace of mind through a renovation project as it allows you to have somewhere safe and secure to store your belongings, eliminates clutter in your home and helps simplifies your home renovation.

If you are planning some home renovation work this spring or summer, then talk to us today to find out about our short-term self-storage options.

The end of lockdown and warmer temperatures means this is the perfect time to think about decluttering your home. We have all been spending a lot more time at home over the past twelve months, and no matter how neat and tidy you are, it’s all too easy for clutter to pile up.

The best way to tackle a house declutter is to do it in stages – focus on one room at a time and complete the job there fully before moving onto the next room. If you are not sure where to start, follow these expert decluttering tips to help you get on top of your clutter.

Start with five separate bags/bins

These containers should be defined for five purposes:

1. Put away – this container is for items that have crept out of their usual storage space, eg a mug in the home office or a sweatshirt in the kitchen
2. Recycle – this bin is for items that are no longer needed and can be recycled
3. Mend – use this container for items that you want to keep but need some maintenance eg a jacket that needs the zip repairing or kitchen knives that need sharpening
4. Bin – these are items that can go straight into the bin
5. Donate – any items that you can imagine someone else wanting or needing, then donate to a charity or another person

Think functional first

The best way to organise your space is to make it as functional as possible, and then you can think about making it look nice. Make sure that everything in your room is going to fit within your daily routine.

Follow the 80/20 rule

Everything you own takes up space within your home, but try and aim for at least 20 per cent of your available space to be free. Also make sure you are making the best use of each area, eg wall space is often forgotten about but can be utilised to create more room.

Everything has a home

Once you’ve streamlined what you own through the recycling, binning and donating in step one, then organise your belongings so that everything has a designated storage spot.

Get rid of the ‘just in case’ mindset

Most of us are guilty of keeping items that we might need one day, even if we have not used them for years, but in most cases ‘just in case’ means never, and it’s often a way of allowing us to hang onto something we don’t need. If you have not used an item in the last twelve months then it is highly unlikely you really need it or are ever going to use it, so take the plunge and get rid of it!

Rent a storage unit

Think of a storage unit as an extension or an alternative to a loft space, garage or wardrobes. A storage unit is where you can securely keep your spare items and things you don’t need on a daily basis, such as seasonal items and outdoor furniture.

Let us know your top tips for decluttering, and contact us at today if we can help with self-storage after you’ve decluttered.

A house move can be stressful, but with some careful planning you can take a lot of the stress out of moving by avoiding some of the most common moving and packing mistakes.

• Not asking for help

Hiring a professional moving company (or at the least asking a friend to help) will reduce stress, improve efficiency, and reduce the risk of injuries to you or damages to your belongings.

• Booking your removal company late

It is surprising the number of people who wait until the last minute to book their moving company meaning they don’t get the date, time or vehicle they want. Most removal companies offer flexible booking terms, so if your move is delayed you can swap the dates, but by reserving well in advance you get the peace of mind knowing everything is booked for when you want.

• Not getting organised

It is all too easy to throw items into random boxes but this will cost you time and energy when you have moved and you are hunting for specific items and relocating items between rooms. Organise items based on the rooms they are going to be moved into and this will save lots of time, hassle and effort in your new home.

• Not using proper packing materials

Neglecting to use the right packing materials can result in items getting damaged. It is worth investing in proper boxes and protective wrapping to keep your belongings protected. At Offerfair, we sell a wide variety of packing materials that you can order and collect next time you visit our premises.

• Overpacking boxes

It is tempting to try and squeeze a few more items in to an already full box, but the box will end up being too heavy to lift and may get damaged. It is much more preferable to fill boxes to about half way to make sure you can still lift them, and then fill the remaining space with light items.

• Choosing the wrong storage unit

If you are planning on using self-storage during your house move, then spend time researching storage companies so you know exactly where your belongings will be stored. At Offerfair, we pride ourselves on our smart and secure storage units being fully alarmed and covered by CCTV, our transparent prices, and our flexible long and short term contracts.

Moving doesn’t have to be stressful and we hope our tips help you avoid some of the most commonly made moving mistakes!

With us all spending more time at home during the latest lockdown, now is the perfect time to declutter and organise your wardrobe. An organised wardrobe will not only make your life easier and more functional, it will also reduce unnecessary stress on a daily basis.

Here are some of our top tips for organising your wardrobe space:

1. Take everything out of your wardrobe

Start by taking all your clothes out of your wardrobe and sort through every item, allocating into one of four piles:

• Keep
• Sell
• Donate
• Dispose

A good rule of thumb when trying to decide whether to keep or discard items is that if you haven’t worn something for a year, then you probably won’t wear it again!

2. Organise by category, style or colour

Decide how you are going to organise your clothes – some people prefer to organise by category (eg work, leisure, gym), whereas some people sort by style (eg trousers, skirts, t-shirts), whilst other people prefer to categorise their wardrobe by colour.

However you prefer to organise your wardrobe, we can guarantee it will make looking for a particular item a much quicker process, meaning more time for you and less rush in the morning!

3. Separate the seasons

It is easy for winter wardrobes to take over, with bulky coats and jumpers vying for space, so it is a good idea to divide your clothes into seasons, so that you can pack one half away when it is not needed. If you don’t have sufficient space to store clothes that you won’t need for several months, then Offerfair self-storage is the perfect solution.

4. Wash and dry your clothes properly

If you are putting seasonal clothing items away, make sure you wash and dry them prior to storing, even if they look clean. However, there is no need to iron them before putting them into storage as you’ll want to iron them when they are going to be worn again, and nobody wants to do the ironing twice!

5. Use newspaper to keep shoes in shape

Storing shoes and boots can be difficult as they can easily lose their shape when put in a bag or box so we recommend storing them away from clothes and to place some newspaper inside them so they keep their shape.

6. Pack your clothes with care

If you are storing clothes, then always roll clothes instead of folding them as this prevents them creasing, and you will be able to fit more rolled-up items into a box. Also remember to put heavier items at the bottom and lighter, more delicate items at the top.

If you have got any more tips on how to organise your wardrobe, then contact us and we will share the best ones in future news, blogs and on our Facebook and Twitter pages!

You’ve booked your self-storage unit with Offerfair, so how can you now make sure you’re getting the most out of your storage space?

Here are some of our top tips to help your self-storage go as smoothly as possible:

1. Plan ahead

Make sure you’ve got all the supplies you need before you start packing and moving into your self-storage unit. We sell a range of boxes and packaging materials so Offerfair is a one-stop shop for all your self-storage requirements. We’re also giving all new customers a padlock to secure the door to your storage room, so we’ve got everything covered for you!

2. Labelling is key

Label your boxes as you pack and make a list of where everything is located; this will save you lots of time when it comes to finding items at a later date! As well as labelling boxes by content, it’s also a good idea to identify any delicate or fragile items on the label.

3. Pack heavier items first

The best way to maximise the space is your unit is to place your heaviest and most bulky items against the walls and at the back and bottom of the unit.

4. Make use of small spaces

Once you’ve moved any larger items/boxes in, you can fill any gaps or unused space with smaller items.

5. Keep frequently used items close to the entrance

It sounds quite simple and obvious, but a little forethought can save you lots of time and energy in future. Have a think of what items you are most likely to want to access and make sure they’re the last things you pack so they’re easily accessible.

6. Make full use of the height of your storage unit

If you’re planning on storing any larger boxes or furniture, such as beds, make you place them in sideways to maximise vertical space.

7. Leave an aisle for easy manoeuvring

Stack your belongings in a way that leaves an aisle for easy movement through your unit, otherwise you risk having to regularly pack and unpack your unit!

Taking the time to organise your self-storage unit and properly store your items can save you time and stress at a later date, and also help you make the most of your storage unit space.

With more and more of us working from home, your home office should be as functional and productive as a traditional work office. It can be a challenge though to separate your home and work life.  Studies show a cluttered workspace can increase stress and decrease productivity. If you’re finding you need to declutter your home office space, here are some of our top tips for creating a tidier and more productive work space in your home.

• Remove items that don’t belong in the home office

Everything in your home office should be about your work, so whilst it can be tempting to use the home office as a dumping ground for the hoover, washing and yoga mat, try and ensure your home office is exactly that, an office space.

• Organise your paperwork

Even in our digital age, paper is the number one clutter on desks. If you can’t completely ditch the paperwork, then a simple system for decluttering paperwork is 1) file 2) take action and 3) recycle or shred.  Firstly, file paperwork once you’ve dealt with it and choose a filing system that works for you. Then take action on paperwork that needs to be dealt with and then finally, recycle or shred any paperwork that you can get rid of.

• Tidy your office supplies

The next most noticeable clutter is office stationery items, so whilst your workspace doesn’t have to be completely bare, it is helpful to have a desk organiser which allows you to keep a few essential items close by and then store the rest in drawers. Just make sure you don’t turn your drawer into a junk drawer!

• Evaluate everything on your desk/in your cupboards

Go through everything on your desk and in your cupboards and ask the following questions.

• Does the item have a purpose?
• Are you keeping it because you need it, or you might need it?
• Did you even remember it was there?

That should help you decide what you need to keep and what can be disposed of or archived. And once you’ve decided what you’re keeping, then give everything a ‘home’ – if things don’t have their own space, your desk becomes a home for everything!

• Tidy your desk at the end of every day

Spend five minutes at the end of every day tidying your desk. Starting your day with a messy desk is only going to get more chaotic as the day goes on, so make sure you commence with a clear and tidy workspace.

• Clean as you go

An office workspace should be cleaned at least weekly, so don’t neglect vacuuming and dusting your home office, making sure you clean your laptop as dust and debris can cause your laptop to overheat and germs can live on computer keyboards.

• Rent a storage unit

If you need to create more space at home to dedicate to your home office, a storage unit is the perfect place to store these items.  Similarly, if you have important documents that you need to archive and don’t have sufficient space at home, then you can keep them safe in self-storage.

Decluttering and productivity go hand and hand, and these small steps to help maintain a clutter-free and organised workspace, will allow you to fully focus on your work.

Have you got any more tips to keeping your office tidy and clutter-free, follow us on Facebook or Twitter or email us and let us know your top tips!

The Benefits of Self-Storage for Small Businesses

If you run a small retail business, whether with a shop or online, you may find yourself with a space dilemma as you need secure storage space for your stock.  Our self-storage units could be the answer to your needs.

More and more start-ups and online businesses are finding they need storage space for stock, yet, especially in these uncertain trading times, can’t or don’t want to commit to long-term commercial premises for storage. Using self-storage as a business strategy is becoming increasingly popular, helping businesses grow with a commercial viable space.

Self-storage is not only cheaper than renting long-term commercial premises, it is also free from other financial outlays such as business rates and the hassle of utility bills etc. It also provides a much more flexible option as at Offerfair we don’t believe in lengthy contracts and ask for just 7 days’ notice to vacate. We also allow customers to increase or reduce the size of their storage unit, which can be useful at key seasonal retail trading times.

Furthermore our storage units in Hastings and St Leonards are fully secure and alarmed as we understand that stock is the livelihood of a business, so they can be completely confident that their stock will be safe whilst they rent storage space through us.

Our self-storage unit starts from just £9.50 per week (for a 15sq ft unit), and we have unit sizes ranging up to 180 sq ft.

If you are thinking about temporary storage space for your business, then please don’t hesitate to contact us to talk through how we can help you.

Christmas is over for another year and that means you won’t have a use for some items, such as Christmas trees and decorations, until next December.

If you’re wondering what to do with them, and where to store them, especially if space at home is limited, then seasonal self-storage can help create space in your home and also allows you to keep track of your items when they’re not in use.

Not only is a storage unit convenient for storing items you don’t need, it also means that when you do need to use them again, you know exactly where they are instead of looking in outbuildings, sheds, lofts and cupboards!

Our storage units are also clean and dry, ensuring your belongings stay in good condition, with no danger of mildew, mould or damp.

Similarly, the end of winter is the perfect time to store bulky coats, winter sports equipment and all those other items that you only use over winter.

Pack and label everything accordingly in boxes (you can also buy your packaging materials through us), contact us to book your unit (we have a range of secure storage units from 15 – 180 square feet) and then you can head into the next season knowing your belongings are safely stored away until the next time you need them.

If you think self-storage could be the solution for storing your seasonal items, then contact us today to talk through your requirements.