Storage??

[Former_Member]

So as I hit over a 100 items...and I got more items set aside to build a shows inventory...(and of course those ones not I wasnt totally thrilled with that seem to gather on my desk, studio and everywhere else)
I'm getting really concerned about storage...and inventory 0o

What I set up when I first started is "lots" in ziplock bags....those in box on top of my desk away from toddlers. Then if you look(dont have to) Each item is marked at the very bottom of description...Lot # Idea was get an order, look at the lot, grab bag find the correct heart.
Which worked at first.
Buts it's growing....o0
and while I've tried to keep each lot separate....like lots 2 and 3 got dumped together in the bottom of the box some how....then I had to take pics of many of hearts at once so like lots 7-8 has been combined.
And while I havnt yet had the issue of IDK where a heart went.....I fear it's coming.


So interested, especially in those with a lot of little inventory....How are you keeping your stuff straight?

[Former_Member]

no one?? :(

[JeannieGrayKnits]

Beautiful beads!

My items are a bit bigger but storage is becoming an issue for me due to the size, not quantity of the items. Most of my items are one of a kind & easy to tell apart, but I do have a few things, the can cozies for example, that are very similar to each other. My solution has been to start a stock numbering system & each time an item is finished, it gets numbered & tagged. So far, so good.

[Former_Member]

I've noticed that many of Etsy's profiles of shop owners deal with this issue. My products are cards and small rubber stamps, so storage for me isn't much an issue. My main concern is losing my original stamp templates, but I use digital files and physical files to prevent an unexpected loss.

How large are your items?

[Former_Member]

The hearts...and other pendents are around an inch give or take a half.

[Former_Member]

I use fish tackle boxes. They have great space for a little or lots of beads.

I hope this helps!

[TheAmethystDragonfly]

I use a letter/numbering system : N for necklace, E for earrings, ect
Then 1,2,3,4 and so on, for each item. Each item in a bag with their number written on a scrap of paper in it.
So N5 or E23 and I know which piece to look for quickly.

I store them in different cardboard boxes with labels like Necklaces... but it is getting unwieldy, so I would be curious to hear how someone with a lot of stock stores items

[MoonlightAndFire]

I have lots of small items and also some larger. A while back, I started investing in nuts and bolts cabinets found in the tool section of a hardware store. I now have 3 units with 60 small drawers each. They are placed side by side on top of a large, low chest with drawers. On each end of the nuts and bolts cabinets, I have listed the color range for that level. For example, I have a tag that says'orange, red' so I know that I can find all my small orange and red beads across the three cabinets. As I am buying beads, I place the gemmier ones on the right side. It makes it quick and easy to find complementary colors for projects. The larger drawers of the chest hold my wires, boxes, etc. This has worked for me as I was constantly outgrowing previous stashes.

[Former_Member]

I use an old Ikea Mackis drawer box for my stamps. I don't think that they make it anymore, but you may be able to find one on Craigslist, depending on where you live. If not, you may have luck going to an automotive supply store and seeing what kinds of storage drawer boxes they sell. Originally meant for separating various types of screws and bolts, they would be perfectly sized for your needs! I also love Lynn's idea of a numbering system!

[MoonlightAndFire]

My finished projects are stored in zip lock bags in a 4 drawer plastic tower, $10 from Walmart. Earrings are separated from necklaces etc by drawer. I can find items quickly when an order arrives.

[Former_Member]

I am also having a problem storing completed projects but I use this for my felts! might work for you, or something similar since your items are so small!

http://www.amazon.com/Akro-Mils-10764-64-Drawer-Plastic-Hardware/dp/B000VTSOKS/ref=pd_sim_hi_12

[Former_Member]

Maybe you need an excel sheet to keep track of Lot numbers? I just store everything in my office, but they are small.

So I have a big plastic tub for all of my wine charms. This is more than enough room to where they only take up about half of the bin. I like it because when it comes time to do a craft fair, I can put the remaining items in the bin and still have room for business cards and other table extras.

My cake toppers are all in a one of those gallon zip lock bags, with the exception of my parasols, which most are already made up and packed in boxes ready to ship. Some of my bigger order listings are made-to-order so I have the supplies on hand in a plastic drawer (one of those stack-able drawers) where I keep all my paper supplies together.

My jewelry is wrapped individually because of the sterling silver (tarnishes if you leave it out in the open air), which I recycled the plastic poly bags I get my beads in to store the bracelets once they are finished. The larger necklaces are stored in larger poly bags, I just save all the ones I get from my jewelry supplier. They all are in my cabinet, which I have this one from Ikea with various doors and drawers to keep all of my art/craft supplies:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70201811/#/80193740

(I have it in white, and have various black and white inserts to hide my supplies)

These bags are easily put in my bin for shows, so everything is pretty much wrapped up and stored away from my cats, since I know there are those with allergies out there.

Depending on how big your items are, you could store them in a bin, or those plastic bins with the drawers you can find at Target and Walmart, which are great for organizing.

If they are small items like beads, you could label them with the lot # and organize the small packs by number in order, where you have rows labeled (i.e. Row 1: 0001-1000, Row 2: 1001-2000, etc), like a card catalog system, along with having a spreadsheet to keep it all straight.

[Former_Member]

I still keep everything in small ziplock bags, but I use one of those jewelry storage boxes from Michaels right now (well..actually two) that I keep all my finished products, my supplies and my tools (that will fit). I bought one of those plastic drawers from Walmart to keep my cards in. My ribbon and packaging supplies are in a photo keepsake box. haha.

Currently my 'studio' is in our living room, so I have to be able to tuck everything away in a corner.

We are hoping to move at the end of the month to a 2bedroom so we can have an office (bf is self-employed, we currently use our dining room as our "office" space) and I plan on doing something like this for my side of the room: http://pinterest.com/pin/225954106274255007/

With toddlers, getting a cupboard that has doors would be a good idea..then you could put a lock on the doors or something so they couldn't get in. =)

[Former_Member]

You have something far easier to organize than my second shop faces (antiques and vintage things), but I can tell you what I do for my glassware & linens side of the business. I have a box for each color of glassware (pink, green, gold, blue, carvival, etc.) that I label with a large label printed from the computer (I used a 35 point font on an 81/2x11 paper; then I cut out the title and tape using packing tape to the box). I got a bunch of boxes from the Little Debbie vendor at my local Wal-Mart (Mondays are generally the best day to hit the venders up for boxes- you can have the pick of the lot, and they nearly always are the same size!). Then, I simply wrap the different pieces and pop them into their respective boxes. I may have 4 boxes of green glass, but I can easily sort those boxes, rather than the 3 dozen boxes of glassware :-) Same for my linens, I divide them into general categories. This way, too, I don't have to re-label my boxes when i sell things, instead if I sell enough pink glass, I can simply transfer the pieces into two boxes instead of 3, and vice-versa, if I get more glass I can easily set up another box.

With my smaller items, I am able to store them in a storage tote under my bed; I use a Sterilite tote with the handles that snap up to keep the cover in place. Inside the box you could use small little boxes (like the boxes checks come in- you could ask your bank if they have extras- my bank 'buys' back competitor checks, so they generally have a few boxes) Then you could label the boxes to your liking and fill them up- hopefully keeping the plastic tote under your bed will deter little fingers from 'helping' you!

[Former_Member]

This is a BIG problem for me!!

My shop is also suffering bs of this, as I don't have enough place to store I cant make big bouquets of flowers and so I have put some samples which brings in tons of favs but no sales:(

I have even emptied the pantry to make a small storage house!!

With my other shop this is not a problem since I make tiny things they easily fit in small boxes, so I keep the labelled boxes in my pantry!

But the flowers are really a problem I still have to figure out how can I store the bouquets...hmmm :(

[Former_Member]

i have kind of large items, so storage is getting to me too. There are a few shows where I carry very small light up things for sale, and i keep those in ziploc bags too, dumped in a plastic bin. I keep a piece of paper taped to the front that has the bag number on it, so whenever I need to get to something, I can easily find it. :) everything else is in these huge plastic tubs, haha.

[Former_Member]

Megha I have the same problem with my bouquets. They have taken over my home office. I get lots of views/favs on them but have only sold 2. I can't keep making samples because I don't have room. I wish my items were smaller :)

[InspiredJewelryShop]

I dont have that much stuff. But I have all my crochet stuff in clear totes in my closet so I can see whats in them. Scarves and little things are in 1 and blankets are in another one. I have all my earrings in 1 big bag inside little storage bags. Necklaces in another big bag with each thing inside its own little baggie. Bracelets are in another big bag and so on. They are all in a storage bin Not very organized. But I lack the space to organize properly.

[Former_Member]

Most of my items are larger, but I use the large plastic bins to store all of my inventory. I am working on making a lot more since I have a show coming up in May. But I've always used those. I also use the 5 drawer plastic things they sell at Walmart, then I bought drawer organizers so I can fit all of my tools and what not. Maybe that could work for you and then you can just label the compartments. This way they have separate drawers and compartments to eliminate two lots getting mixed.

[Former_Member]

I agree Lindsay, I have those single flowers stored in my pantry, as the are only sample flowers I have just dumped them in there but If I have to make real bouquets I need to store them nicely (which will take a lot of space) and what if I am not able to sell those!

[thevicagirl]

I think you just need to search around for storage ideas. I do like the idea of labeling items with numbers and such. I need to do better at keeping mine in stock as well, it is getting crazy.

Right now I have a box for things that need to be photographed. Then I have two boxes with items in bags, much like yours, one for earrings one for necklaces. And then I have a box for big necklaces. Then I have some display models. Then I have a box for things that don't fit anywhere else. So sad. I need to regroup and redo.

Good luck.

[TheAmethystDragonfly]

Joanne, you are brilliant! I have a tower of drawers here somewhere and that would work perfectly. I feel kind of dumb now, lol

I also have one of those screw and nail bins with all the little drawers that I think would be great for beads and raw materials.

Great thread to give us all new ideas :D

[Former_Member]

Mine are in ziplock bags in a shoebox (jewelry doesn't take a lot of room). Everything that's listed on Etsy is placed inside a bigger bag so I can find it easier when I get that first big sale. :)

When I did a craft show last fall I was super organized and had all my bracelets tagged with item # and price. I made a chart and listed each by number with the beads they were made with and price. That all went out the window after we sold most of our items. Not to mention the tags were attached with little strings and the strings got caught in the beads and it was a PITA to get them off. I'll have to come up with a better labeling system.

[SilverLilyJewelry]

I also use container's with small compartment's from ikea to store all my supplies