We get it, storing your company’s equipment, displays, or assets in that unused corner of your garage or the CEO’s storage shed can seem like an easy, cost-effective solution. After all, it’s right there, it’s available, and there’s no need to rent additional storage space, right? It feels like a quick fix. But here’s the thing: It often turns into more trouble than it’s worth. Before you decide to tuck away that trade show booth or important company materials in a personal space, here are some crucial things to consider.
1. Expect Unexpected Damage
One of the biggest risks of storing your company assets in a personal space, like a garage or shed, is the potential for damage. You might think you’re out of harm’s way, but there’s no way to fully predict the risks that could affect your items. Seasonal weather changes can introduce threats like flooding, heavy storms, or even infestations (hello, mice!). Even a small, unnoticed leak could lead to significant water damage, mold, or mildew.
These risks are even more pronounced when you store items in a space that’s not professionally managed or monitored. If something goes wrong, it’s not just the company’s assets that could be damaged, it’s your responsibility as the one who decided to store them there in the first place.
2. It’s an Inflexible Time Sink
Think about your daily routine: How often are you actually at home (not a hotel) or available to access that storage space? If your company needs an item for an event later that day, can you guarantee you’ll be able to retrieve it quickly and without hassle? The convenience of personal storage fades quickly when you realize you’re tied to someone else’s schedule, or worse, your own limited availability.
By keeping your company assets in a personal space, you're limiting how and when those items can be accessed. When the pressure is on and an event is approaching fast, you don’t want to be scrambling to get everything out of a cluttered shed.
3. There’s No Quality Control
Storing items like booths, promotional materials, or equipment in a shed or personal storage space also means there’s no system in place for quality control. Without a dedicated team or a proper storage system, items can sit for months, collecting dust or accumulating damage. Maybe a booth leg gets bent, or a box of materials suffers from water damage, but because no one is regularly inspecting these items, you don’t find out until it’s too late.
It’s easy for minor issues to go unnoticed in an unmonitored space, and what starts as a small scuff or dent can quickly turn into a much larger problem. While your exhibit has the ability to quickly "pull and prep" an exhibit, inspect it for damage (and fix that damage efficiently), and ship it, while you're doing more important things, is invaluable. Bottom line: If your company assets are crucial to your success, you need to ensure they’re being properly stored, tracked, and maintained. A random storage space doesn’t offer that oversight.
4. The Long Road Home
Keeping your exhibits and collateral in your garage requires that you pay roundtrip shipping for each and every show. And with shipping fees increasing at unprecedented rates, that might be a penny wise, pound foolish approach. For example, Storylink has already invested in a second storage warehouse, and we are pursuing a third in a geographically beneficial location. And we are working to establish warehouse space with professional inventory and refurbishment capabilities in additional locations.
Why is this important? It allows us to review your annual calendar and the exhibit assets you have in inventory, and plan out the most efficient route. Perhaps that means roundtrip transportation for one event, but it allows us to store and service your freight in Ohio between one event in Columbus and another two months later in Cincinnati, potentially saving thousands on shipping. Furthermore, handling your shipping on your own presents its own challenges and potential issues, whereas your exhibit house has decades of experience and may be privy to discounts they could further cut your costs.
5. Don't Be a Hoarder
Part of the value you get from storing your booth with an exhibit house is the nudge to purge and the ability to quickly and easily inventory your assets. Too many exhibitors have underutilized assets they've left sitting in that shed for months if not years... or outdated literature and graphics that you're unknowingly amassing. A proper partner won't let you become a hoarder.
By conducting annual inventories, purging components that are past their prime, and itemizing elements that could be reused, an exhibit house can help you maximize existing assets while minimizing the junk. And, in some cases, that junk can be donated or sold, lightening your load while potentially putting some extra dough back in your budget.
Conclusion: A Quick Fix Isn’t Always the Answer
While the idea of stashing company assets in your CEO’s garage or shed might seem like a simple, budget-friendly choice, it often ends up costing more in the long run — whether that’s through damage, time lost, or missed opportunities. The solution? Find a reliable, secure storage space designed to handle company assets with proper care, access, and accountability.
In the end, investing in professional storage might seem like a bigger upfront cost, but it’ll save you time, money, and a lot of headaches down the road. When it comes to your company’s assets, it’s always better to plan ahead than to settle for a quick fix.