Jamilla P.
Check How Close You Are to Your Suppliers
Ah, choosing a warehouse location! It’s kind of like picking a spot for your new coffee shop, but with way more logistics involved. I remember when I first started out; I thought bigger was better. So, I scouted for a gigantic space, but it turned out that my suppliers were miles away. Dum-de-dum, right? Transportation costs skyrocketed, and I was left with an empty warehouse. Lesson learned: always check how close you are to your suppliers. If you’re getting raw materials from a local supplier, that saves time and money. Plus, you avoid waiting days for something that could’ve been around the corner!
- Interview your suppliers about their delivery schedules.
- Map out a short distance zone for easier transport.
- Each little mile adds up; keep that in mind!
Map the Possibilities to Customer Locations
Now, let’s get into the fun part: your customers! When I first set up shop, I had this bright idea of going to a trendy area, thinking folks would flock to me. Truth is, my target audience was scattered all over. So, mapping out customer demographics is key. You want to be strategical.
- Identify where your major customers are based.
- Use mapping tools to visualize delivery routes.
- Being close to your customer base can be a game changer!
Just remember to balance supplier access and customer proximity; it’s like a dance, ya know? And don’t forget to evaluate your accessibility to major transportation hubs, like highways or railroads. I once had a warehouse close to a great highway, but the local road was jammed all the time. Talk about a buzzkill with deliveries! So always keep an eye on traffic conditions.