Reviving a classic. This is how you get big space from small business.

While contemplating the best design for a small business, there’s many factors that you must keep in mind. Just about every square inch of floor space must be used intelligently to get everything to fit, without compromising esthetics or need. It can be a nightmare to navigate, so we went to the professionals.

We asked a representative at Premier Lockers what the best storage solution for small business is and their answer left us a bit bewildered. Frankly, we hadn’t even heard of compactus shelving (we had to take a peek at their website, just to figure out what they are) “Compactus shelving units are something that most people don’t think about automatically” they told us. No joke. However, these underrated and often unheard-of shelving units are starting to make a comeback. As property costs are skyrocketing worldwide, more and more businesses are trying to find a way to be the next big thing while operating small.

“I think the units tend to surprise most people, because they’re not as clunky as you’d believe.” After browsing their gallery, our minds filled with the possibilities in small design. The systems were popular at the beginning of the 20th century but saw a drop-in demand as business moved from paper filing systems to digital. Even so, compactus has paid attention to modern day design, with sleek panel design and discreet electronic movement. The systems aren’t just for paper anymore either and have integrated clever new storage options that allow you to stow just about anything. Systems can be tailored to any need and businesses need to take a second (or first) look at these radical designs.

1. Museums

Museums are the perfect place for a compactus system. These systems will allow you to not only store away the materials that aren’t currently on display, but also to catalogue them. Any exhibitions in storage can be easily accessed and they will be protected against dust, damp, and any other environmental damages when not in use. Larger museums have been utilizing compactus systems for decades, to their advantage. The systems can also be optimized for heavy installations as well, should you need to pop in a dinosaur skeleton or two. Sophisticated electronic systems can be built to open based on indexing systems using computers or RFID tags. These systems are also a great way to keep your floor space from going extinct.

2. Art Galleries

Galleries, much like museums, hold precious inventory that can’t always be on display. For smaller installations and store fronts, it’s paramount that operators find a way to store their pieces without compromising the clean look of the space. As it’s best if clients focus on the art, not the cluttered mess surrounding it. Units can be built to the specifications of the buyer, so you can safely house large paintings, as well as small canvases and sculptures. For artisan stores, you can also use one of the units to store any of the supplies you’ll need to create your art. Easily turning one space into a workshop and a gallery.

3. Schools

Schools, especially daycares or preschools, are known for having toys, books, crafting supplies, and all other things strewn about. Not to mention a load of energy filled kids. Numerous studies have shown that the physical environment has a profound effect on children’s learning abilities, so it’s important to keep things well organized. Change up the normal cubby system for compactus set up. Almost all these systems come with integrated safety and locking mechanisms, which make it simple to get what you need while keeping the kids out. Teachers can even integrate caster systems onto their compactus. This allows them to wheel the shelving units about freely, before anchoring them in strategic areas of the room. Creating a false wall and different spaces as the need arises.

4. Municipal Governments

Even though so much of our business is conducted online these days, small municipal governments still have quite a bit of paperwork to shuffle. Maps of surrounding areas and architectural plans. A multitude of legal and referential volumes are a must, let alone all the other piles of materials that tend to accumulate around an office. This is the perfect place to employ a sleek and modern compactus system that will get you organized and leave your room looking respectable. It can also make enough added space to implement conference areas, or a lounge where you can offer beverages to your clients.

5. Hardware Stores

Hardware stores are notorious for having a huge amount of inventory, without the need for much display room. Various nuts, bolts, caulk, cans, wires, tapes… and on and on. While they need to be stored in large numbers, it’s unnecessary and wildly space consuming to have them all in public view. Consumer analysts posit that part of keeping your business running smoothly is catering to a positive customer experience. This is where a compactus system can really improve not only the floor space a business has available, but aid in keeping unsightly inventory off a sales floor. Preventing your business from looking over cluttered and unprofessional.