Whether you’re managing a fashion warehouse or seeking to optimize storage for clothing inventory, unlock organized and space-efficient garment storage solutions. Join us as we explore the strategies and techniques that can revolutionize your warehouse operations.
The garment industry relies on warehouse clothing racking systems, which provide specialized solutions for optimizing the storage and order processing of clothing and accessories. These systems maintain products in excellent condition, either within boxes or on hangers, until they are dispatched to retail outlets. With the increasing prominence of eCommerce in the fashion sector, there’s a growing demand for solutions that enhance storage capacity and accelerate garment retrieval. Valued at $820 billion in 2023, fashion eCommerce is expected to exceed $1.2 trillion by 2027. Though fashion eCommerce includes fashion accessories, clothes, shoes, bags, jewelry, cosmetics, and other luxury goods, clothing or apparel contribute significantly to this massive upsurge in fashion eCommerce.
The Art of Storing Garments in a Clothing Warehouse
In fashion retail, clothing storage comes down to two distinct approaches: boxing and hanging. Boxes are the go-to choice for neatly folded and bagged attire, seamlessly adaptable to various storage systems. However, for hanging garments, a specialized solution is essential to ensure they remain upright, preventing wrinkles and potential damage.
Clothing racking systems in warehouses are specialized solutions designed to provide convenient access to stored goods. These structures can be customized to accommodate garments on multiple levels. Hangers can be employed in two primary ways:
Hanging on Beams: Garments are suspended from the racking beams. For companies handling high-turnover products, installing two adjacent racking units maximizes storage space while ensuring direct access to goods.
Hanging on Tubes: A tube (or two, as per warehouse requirements) is affixed between two racking frames.
In the garment industry, companies often invest in solutions designed to optimize storage capacity. Among the top contenders are tiered picking shelves equipped with mezzanines and walkways, collectively known as pick modules. These modules not only multiply storage capacity based on the configured levels but also ensure direct access to stored merchandise.
While textile products may not be inherently fragile, they are nonetheless delicate items, and how they are transported and stored plays a pivotal role in preserving their pristine condition when they eventually reach the end consumer.
Within the context of warehousing textile products and clothing items, the significance of meticulous organization, precise inventory management to handle a vast array of references, and the utmost utilization of available space cannot be overstated.
All these factors contribute to establishing a storage system that minimizes handling times for goods and enhances the overall flow in and out of the warehouse.
Warehouse Storage Solutions for the Garment Industry
The optimal storage solution depends on the specific context in question. Companies deal with a diverse range of products and navigate through distinct demand patterns, which means what works exceptionally well for one warehouse may only be occasionally suitable for another. Nevertheless, some approaches consistently excel within this industry.
In the following section, we introduce some of the prevailing methods.
Pallet-Flow Racking
A common warehousing solution among the prevalent ones employed across industries is pallet-flow racking. Unlike static storage, pallet-flow racking prioritizes first-in/first-out (FIFO) inventory management, ensuring the earliest-loaded boxes are readily accessible. While this approach is pivotal for products with limited shelf life, it also holds advantages for garment businesses.
Drive-in Racking
Drive-in racking offers a distinct yet effective approach to warehouse storage. While it also relies on pallets, it diverges from the linear, flow-based racking method. True to its name, this system allows forklifts to enter the racks directly, simplifying the movement of forklifts within the storage area. The deep and towering racks inherent to this system offer impressive storage density, making it particularly well-suited for apparel companies with extensive inventories.
Open Shelving
Open shelving presents a simplified approach, utilizing open-top boxes to hold packages or loose items on uncomplicated, open shelves. This organizational method fosters heightened productivity and throughput. While open shelving may not be suitable for heavy products, it typically poses no issues for most apparel items, given their relatively lightweight. Additionally, the extra space around products promotes airflow, mitigating the risk of mold and mildew growth.
Multi-tier Racking
In garment warehouses where floor space is constrained, the choice often leans toward multi-tier racking. These storage solutions efficiently utilize vertical space by stacking shelves on top of each other to accommodate pallet less merchandise. While individual shelves may be modest, this design capitalizes on the storage density needed for large volume yet lightweight items such as clothing. Such flexibility is particularly beneficial for clothing companies dealing with pronounced seasonality.
Wire Partitions
Wire partitions offer a comparable blend of simplicity and adaptability. Comprising wire cages that warehouses can arrange and stack to create open shelving, these systems shine in terms of scalability. This adaptability proves especially beneficial for garment companies contending with fluctuating inventory sizes and seasonality, as they can readily align their storage solutions with evolving requirements.
Conclusion:
To conclude, several key factors must be taken into account regarding warehousing clothing. Successful clothing storage entails protecting garments from damage, maintaining orderliness, and ensuring effortless retrieval. Variables like the type of clothing, the quantity, and the available warehouse space influence the choice of storage method. For instance, delicate items like wedding dresses or fur coats may necessitate placement in a climate-controlled environment, while bulkier items like winter coats may benefit from rack storage to maximize space efficiency.
The most effective clothing storage strategy within a warehouse is inherently contingent on the unique demands of the clothing items and the warehouse’s specific layout. Hence, it is always recommended to hire an expert 3PL provider to take care of all the logistics complexities so you can focus on your core competencies. So, if you are looking for a 3PL experienced in garment warehouse support, contact us today.
About XPDEL:
XPDEL helps eCommerce brands accelerate their growth, empowering them with multichannel fulfillment, whether shipping directly to consumers, delivering to businesses, or selling through retail stores. We are founded and operated by veterans with experience from Amazon, FedEx, UPS, JDA, Walmart, Target, and other leading companies in eCommerce and Retail. Guided by these experts, we provide customer experiences that help you grow your business.
