Retail or Retail Trade
The retail sector, also called retail trade or retail sales, is the economic sector that groups together companies that provide mass products and services to the end consumer. This sector includes everything from small commercial businesses to large chains and retail companies, encompassing supermarkets, stores selling household products, sports equipment, hardware, textiles, furniture, books, electronics, etc.
At AR Racking we work with different companies in the retail sector designing, producing and installing industrial storage systems that optimise the logistics of both their large transnational distribution centres and their small local supply warehouses.
Storage systems for the retail industry
Combination of various systems
By having such a diverse range of companies and products the retail sector will require storage systems that are very different from each other depending on the type of business.
In addition, the same company usually needs warehouses with very different characteristics for its physical outlets and for its online sales. In both cases, they will have the common characteristics of having a large number of references to store.
Direct access to unit loads
In their online warehouses they will require storage systems or industrial racking with direct access to each unit load, to speed up and facilitate unloading and subsequent preparation of the online order. The retail sector has a large number of product references and therefore compact systems are less interesting.
Stock rotation: priority
Retail sector companies work with a high number of references, so they will need storage systems that ensure correct product rotation. They also market food, pharmacy, textile or cosmetic products with very rapid expiration or obsolescence, so FIFO (First in, First out) stock management will generally be appropriate.
Usual system: Adjustable Pallet Racking
Although, as commented, the ideal system will depend largely on the type of retail company, the adjustable pallet racking system is the most common in the retail sector, due to its versatility and direct access to each stored unit load. The more fragmented the items in a company’s catalogue, the more necessary and useful adjustable pallet racking will be due to its great versatility.
Characteristics of the retail industry or retail distribution
The retail sector is a complex sector in terms of logistics and storage, mainly due to the large number and wide range of references with which it works, the different types of customers, and the tight deadlines that must be met to meet demand.
Businesses aimed at distribution
Retail is a sector made up of businesses dedicated to distribution, that is, in essence it is not responsible for the production or manufacturing of products, but rather their marketing to the end customer.
Evolution of sales channels
Its sales channels have evolved over the years, from physical stores and shopping centres initially, to online stores today. This fact has increased the sales possibilities of companies in the retail sector, but it has also significantly increased the complexity of their supply chain.
Recommended Industrial Racking:
Some common storage systems in the retail or retail trade industry are:
Adjustable Pallet Racking
It is the most common system for the storage of pallet goods in the retail sector, standing out for its direct access to the stored goods and versatility to adapt to different types of products.
Narrow Aisle Racking
It has very similar characteristics to the adjustable pallet racking system, with its same structure and maintaining direct access to all unit loads, but reducing the width of the work aisles. It requires special forklifts to handle the load.
Double Deep Pallet Racking
This is another adaptation of the adjustable pallet racking system, but in this case storing pallets at 2 depths and therefore losing the selectivity of all the unit loads.
Longspan Shelving
This is the most common and simplest manual storage system, ideal for storing light or medium load products. It is generally used for retail companies in warehouses that combine pallet systems and manual picking systems.
Carton Live Storage
Storage system for picking of light products, achieving perfect product rotation thanks to working with the FIFO (First in, First out) system.
