Shop storage help/opinions

[cloud32187]

Hi guys,

I'm a relatively new business, open for just about 1.5 years. Business has been picking up and I have a bit of a dilemma: storage. Attached are pictures of the shop, I have very limited space so I have to make the most of it. Unfortunately the bench area is right out in the open and customers see pretty much the whole operation so it needs to be tidy.

Little back story; I had started this with my two brothers and they had backed out shortly after opening so I was kind of left holding the bag so to speak. So in the pictures below, you will notice there are 3 desks which were supposed to have people at them. Because they backed out it has given me a little bit more space to work on PCs/laptops. I turned the two desks against the wall into work benches as well. Slapped down some large anti static mats, basic organization stuff on them as well and I use that to disassemble any devices/computers and in a sense that has worked out awesome.

Back to the issue at hand. I have very minimal storage for completed computers and they kind of just sit in the way and eat up space on the metal topped work area till the customer picks it up. I currently only have 6 drawers built into the metal topped bench (15"L x 7.5"W x 6.5H), which are all full currently with tools and other misc supplies, and a small 3 drawer filing cabinet (not shown in pictures)



So what would you recommend for storage in my shop given all the information. I would love to have some metal storage cabinets in here but I have no idea where I would put it.

Secondly, any pictures of what you guys use for storage would be also very beneficial.

 

[PCX]

What we have done in the past (with similar setup) and what I would suggest for you, is to use some racks behind your counter to hold your laptops that are ready for pickup and those that are waiting for parts. Use something similar to this

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Gorilla-R..._sku=21672927&sourceid=1500000000000003260430

Other than that, see what you can do to utilize shelves on the walls. I would also put the tables together in an "L" shape in order to give you more continuous space. This may also free up some more space for more tables.

How much longer do you have on your lease? Is it negotiable?

 

[cloud32187]

How much longer do you have on your lease? Is it negotiable?

That's one thing I forgot to mention. The building has been in my family for a long time, and has no mortgage. So I am able to have a business in there just for utilities. I am extremely lucky to be in this situation, so it would be very beneficial/profitable to stay where I am (for at least as long as i can).

Not sure if its relevant or not but i figured i'd give some more info.

There is another business, hes a mechanic, located in the same building (used to be my dad's business, also a mechanic, till he passed away last year and his friend merged his business with my dads). He pays rent however. So my family does still make money off the building.

 

[PCX]

. . . it would be very beneficial/profitable to stay where I am (for at least as long as i can) . . .

The other side of that token is that it could very well stunt the growth of your business and keep you from making any real profit. That said, if you plan on eventually only working with businesses and no longer supporting residential end users, then it may very well be more profitable. It really just depends on your business plan.

 

[uprighttech]

I completely agree with PCX. I actually think we use the exact shelves that he linked to. You also need to arrange the desks to make most of your space. Since you no longer need three individual desks, I would put them together or remove them and build in some wall length counter tops. With a couple of KVM's, it looks like you've got room to work on a decent number of desktops and laptops and still have room for incoming and outgoing systems. If I get time, I'll try to post a couple pictures of our setup.

 

[Disposable_Me]

What we have done in the past (with similar setup) and what I would suggest for you, is to use some racks behind your counter to hold your laptops that are ready for pickup and those that are waiting for parts. Use something similar to this

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Gorilla-R..._sku=21672927&sourceid=1500000000000003260430

Other than that, see what you can do to utilize shelves on the walls. I would also put the tables together in an "L" shape in order to give you more continuous space. This may also free up some more space for more tables.

How much longer do you have on your lease? Is it negotiable?

The half size ones make a decent workstation desk too.

 

[uprighttech]

Here's what one of our racks looks like. We use more of these in the back for inventory. This rack has an incoming and outgoing each for desktops and laptops.

 

[gikstar]

OK, well you asked for it! Here's my input.

I'm guessing that the front door is darker color door next to the monitor.

I would guess that your counter is where you greet your customers. I would be curious if there is enough room behind there for a desk or a Gorilla rack. Since the Gorilla rack can be installed in 2 separate pieces, you could put one piece under the window.

In the 'work' area just inside the front door, I would leave the one table there (one closest to the counter), move the next table to where it butts up to it (hopefully there will be some space between this 2nd desk and the wall some someone can exit from behind there. Remove the 3rd table completely, the one closest to the window, or put it in front of the window and use it as a station for clients to check out their computer that you've repaired. Maybe use a stool with no back that you can push under the table so that it's not in the way all of the time.

With those two tables that you have pushed together, I would get some sturdy plywood and mount/attach it to the front of the tables. Those tables should be about 30" tall and with the plywood in front of the table (lengthwise) covering from the floor going up 48", a person behind it should be able to see anyone who enters through the door and they should be able to see you if you are sitting behind it.

I would also build and mount a shelf on the table, not very wide, but wide enough for you to put a laptop (or a desktop computer sideways) and a monitor. This shelf would go right behind the new wall you just build in front of the tables.

I suggest that you paint the wall the same color as the rest of the room and add some thin vertical white stripes on it to even make it look taller. Maybe carry the same theme using similar white wall baseboard and trim out the whole plywood board.
The idea here is that you can have more storage space under the table for parts etc that can't be seem by clients.

Where the table is now that I suggested removing or moving in front of the window, I suggest that you get a rolling metal adjustable rack for that space to house the 'finished' computers and maybe the works that has just come in too. It would be real close to the station that you would have your client testing out their finished computer.

We use several of these rolling metal adjustable racks: http://www.costco.com/TRINITY-5-Tier-NSF-Outdoor-Wire-Shelving-Rack-.product.11505870.html
if you don't want a rolling unit, check out this one: http://www.costco.com/.product.1173...vc=itempageVerticalRight|CategorySiloedViewCP

This second unit has a 1 Star Review (claims it's worth only 1 star since it didn't come with instructions).

Hope this helps.