Portable Storage Rescues Overstocked Retailers

KANSAS CITY, MO. (NOVEMBER 30, 2007) – It's the holiday season. That means consumers are shopping until they drop, both online and in bricks-and-mortar stores. In fact, more than 147 million shoppers hit U.S. stores this Thanksgiving weekend, according to the National Retail Federation.

Some retailers are relying on their Web sites to push traffic into stores. Other retailers are selling their widgets exclusively online. Both are stocking more merchandise than they do any other time of the year. That means it may not all fit on the store shelves – or even the stockroom. Savvy retailers are tapping into the power of portable storage containers to keep seasonal merchandise overstock just a few steps away.

"With portable storage, retailers can breathe a sigh of relief," said John Finnessy, CMP, Executive Director the National Portable Storage Association, or NPSA, a nonprofit membership association dedicated to the advancement of the portable storage industry. "It's a safety hazard to overload stock rooms with boxes of merchandise, yet retailers need to keep enough product on hand to break last year's sales record. Portable storage units ensure the goods are nearby without risking injury to employees."

Portable storage units also mean retailers don't have to under-order and sell out of popular items because they didn't have enough storage space to keep merchandise safe and dry. It also means convenience. While traditional self-storage is an alternative option, it demands retailers drive off site, load the goods into a vehicle, drive back to their shop, and unload the goods into the store. With portable storage, retailers can take a hand truck to the back of the building and quickly grab just what is needed.

"Portable storage is a boon for retailers at any time of the year," said NPSA Operations Manager Joel Rathbone. "After all, November and December aren't the only peak shopping months. Portable storage gives retailers the liberty of buying goods from wholesalers in bulk, at deep discounts, and storing it securely until the merchandise sells."

For more information, visit www.npsa-us.org.

The National Portable Storage Association
The National Portable Storage Association is dedicated to the advancement of the portable storage industry. We at the NPSA are here to serve those in the portable storage industry who rent, sell or lease containers, trailers and mobile offices. The NPSA assists members with industry, regulatory and workforce issues; plus, offers members networking, marketing and legislative support at national, state and local levels.

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