Tuesday, January 8, 2013

5 Amazing Storage Ideas for Shipping Containers

It’s amazing to see how innovative some people can be when it comes to repurposing certain items. Shipping containers, for instance, have become an almost common staple for those hoping to build structures that have a modern chic appeal to them. Many individuals build entire homes out of these old containers, but for those looking for options other than living spaces, shipping containers still provide a low-cost method of storage. 

Onsite Storage

Onsite storage is a very popular use for shipping containers. These containers were once used to transport materials across continents and oceans, so they’re definitely capable of protecting items in someone’s backyard. This can also save you a small fortune on storage and transportation fees related to having to drive back and forth to a self-storage facility.
Offsite Storage

The idea of using shipping containers for offsite storage has actually spawned entire multinational companies. These companies will bring out a storage container, drop it off and then pick it back up for offsite storage once the purchaser has filled it. Of course, it’s also possible for someone to do this on their own if they have purchased or rented their own offsite property.
Home Office

Using shipping containers for home offices is a growing trend in America. People are realizing that purchasing and repurposing an old shipping container is far more economical than having an office constructed from scratch. This also allows them to use their home for what it was intended for -- living. With a few easy-to-handle modifications, a shipping container can provide a nice home office away from the noise and clutter of the average neighborhood.
Exhibition Storage

Shipping containers have also garnered much attention when it comes to exhibition storage. Entire art exhibits have been created, displayed and transported in shipping containers. If an exhibit is traveling, it can easily be moved from location to location since the containers were built with shipping in mind. Even if an exhibit isn’t traveling, holding the show within the container provides an easy way to display whatever is being shown and then easily put it back into storage.
Construction Trailers

For those involved in the construction industry, shipping containers provide a low cost way of having an office right on site. All too often, site managers have to rent trailers for each new site that they begin work on. With a shipping container, however, it is simple enough to make a onetime purchase of the container and have it transported to a new site when construction begins. Used shipping containers are also ideal for these environments since you don’t really have to worry about them getting damaged or dirty.
It’s not likely that the first person to imagine shipping containers knew what they’d one day be used for, but it’s a good thing that they had the idea in the first place. Shipping containers can last over two decades without any care whatsoever, so a person who keeps one of these containers maintained is essentially guaranteed a structure that will last them a lifetime. 

Jonathan Billings is a small business entrepreneur and contributes this article to further awareness of new uses of containers typically only considered as temporary storage units. Another use for shipping containers is as portable storage pods which can be loaded at your door, then transported to a an offsite location for temporary or long term storage.   

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