Major fashion brands are always looking to grow due to the expansion of online sales combined with the success of their physical stores. Whilst a shop may sell a limited number of lines because of retail space restrictions, online consumers want a much wider choice of garments. This has meant that clothing storage solutions are required to increase the storage capacity and efficiency of the clothing company’s warehouse.
Ways to store garments
There are two main methods of storing clothing items, in boxes and on hangers. Clothing that is folded and bagged is usually stored in boxes. Larger items that can fit on hangers are usually stored on heavy duty garment rails as they need to be kept upright to prevent creases.
There is also a hybrid solution of garment rails that are built in tote boxes, which store a mixture of wrapped cloths and garments on hangers. Z-style rails protect fuller garments such as prom and wedding dresses from damage. For delicate, light coloured garments, rail covers keep them clean. For small items on hangers, tiered garment rails optimise storage.
Clothing needs to be protected from dust, excessive heat, dampness and direct sunlight when stored. It is also important for clothes to be stored securely to prevent theft and unauthorised access.
Durability and safety
All equipment that is used to store clothing in a busy warehouse needs to be robust and safe to use. Equipment made from tubular steel is recommended as it is built to last and requires little maintenance.
Access and capacity
A garment warehouse needs to store as many items as possible, without restricting access, so that order items can be picked quickly and accurately. There are several specialized solutions to achieve this, including beams and tubes.
In a beam system, garments are suspended on hangers from racking beams. Two adjacent beams are good for handling high turnover products. In a tube system, tubes are fixed between racking frames to hold garments on hangers.
Boxes can be stored on tiered packing shelves. Open shelving with open top boxes and packages is the simplest solution for holding smaller garments that are easy to access. Multi-tier racking maximises space by stacking shelves on top of each other. Mezzanine floors are often added to warehouses to increase capacity.
Wire cages are useful as they can be stacked together to form open shelves.
Warehouse management systems
After storage space has been optimised without compromising on access, the next thing to consider is how to organise inventory and order picking. This requires a warehouse management system. The ideal system tracks goods entering the warehouse, organises their storage method and locations, and then guides order pickers to where order items are stored, Additionally, management systems can monitor packing stations to make sure that the dispatched order is accurate.
A good warehouse management system also tracks inventory levels and processes returns. Buyers are alerted when items need restocking. The management system can also be linked to the courier firm’s system that tracks deliveries to customers’ homes.
Fashion retailing is subject to seasonal fluctuations. For instance, there is little demand for winter coats during the summer. Items that are less in demand should be moved further away from the packing stations with high demand clothing nearer. This reduces the length of the average picking journey.
Moving garments
Another issue when storing clothing is how to move goods safely within the warehouse. Boxes can easily be moved by workers using warehouse trolleys. Conveyor systems can be used for a more automated solution.
Heavy duty garment rails with casters allow one operator to easily push and steer full rails.
Safety is especially important so that trolleys and rails are safe to handle even if fully loaded.
Which is the best solution?
The best clothing storage strategy depends on several factors, including the number of product lines the warehouse holds, the type of clothing and customer buying habits.
When designing a warehouse clothing storage system, first consult with a warehouse equipment manufacturer for advice on the best type of clothing storage solutions for the individual warehouse’s requirements. If necessary, some manufacturers will design bespoke storage and manual handling equipment that matches the precise requirements of a clothing business.
Some clothing companies outsource their storage to third party logistics warehouses. This suits some businesses who like the flexibility of only paying for the storage required which can save money in low demand periods when less inventory is needed. Most large fashion houses like Crew Clothing own and operate their own warehouses, needing a well-designed and highly organised clothing storage solution.
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