How to Make the Low Cost Inventory Storage System

Intro: How to Make the Low Cost Inventory Storage System

I posted a thread at HipGirl forums: Home Made Storage Cube--Get My Ribbon Organized

A lot of feedback received asking for the instruction. So here it is -- Store inventory in the most efficient way.

Original source: Low Cost Inventory Storage System

STEP 1: Get the Boxes

The best place is uline.com. The boxes I bought are:

13X13X13 CUBE BOX 25/500 --$18 for 25 boxes

12X6X6 LONG BOX 25/900 --$8 for 25 boxes

25 cube boxes and 100 long boxes make 25 cubes.

STEP 2: Assemble 13x13x13 Cube Boxes

cut the flappers on one side. Black & Decker Cordless Power Scissors are used for this job (You can use any cutting tool you have).

STEP 3: Tape Cubes Together

Tape cubes together--front, back and side. Then put them against the wall.

STEP 4: Assemble 12x6x6 Long Boxes Which Will Be Drawers.

Cut out a square at one end of the box. 4 drawers fit in 1 cube. Please note how the drawers are put into the cube--the tapes show where the flappers are sealed--2 vertical and 2 horizontal. Otherwise the drawers will be too tight to slide.

STEP 5: Load Inventories

Load ribbons (or whatever your inventories are) in the drawers, write the description on the box and then slide them into cubes. Sort the drawer by alphabetic order for best result. Here is the article about sorting everything in alphabetic order:

http://www.hipgirlclips.com/store/index.php?main_page=document_general_info&cPath=138&products_id=2341

STEP 6: The Cube Without the Drawers Can Be Used for Larger Objects.

No drawer boxes needed for larger objects.

STEP 7: For Smaller Objects

Use small containers to store small objects.

STEP 8: How to Get Those Small Containers for Free?

These are tennis ball cans. Check with your local tennis club. You'll get hundreds of them for free.

STEP 9: If the Containers Are Full

These cans are almost full so the box flappers (got a lot in step 2) are padded under the can's open side to prevent the hair clips from falling out.

STEP 10: More Pictures

Here are more pictures.

STEP 11: More Storage Tips

Visit out website dozens more free tutorials:

AmyeStore.com

Comments

[schlieffenska]

A tip for getting free boxes.... if you're not down with dumpster diving, or if that's turning up not enough of the right size boxes, go to the postal service website, and they will ship you any and all boxes you need ....as many as you want... for FREE. Just don't get more than you need, or you run the risk of ending up with an unexpected delivery of a wall of boxes full of boxes.....oops. yes, I did that. haha.

[Re-design]

Using those boxed for any other use than mailing thru the U.S mail is a federal offense of theft. THey are not free they cost the post office money and are meant to be used for priority mail.

[regina.bragg]

4 years later but still just as important ! ! !

[vkowalczyk]

This is what I did. I ordered the boxes from the postal service then I also have boxes readily available for shipping product. Instead of cutting off the flaps I tuck them in. I just order more as needed and then I don't have to worry about the boxes getting weak from the weight of the products inside!

[agutshall-diaz]

I think this is a wonderful idea.This also can be used with recycled boxes.A great way to sustain and organize.Good job

[dsantil71]

Like mistresszelena said about the mice & rats also includes roaches & crickets. I use Sterilite plastic storage containers. One suggestion for using cardboard might be to cover it with self adhesive contact drawer lining to make it more impervious.

[alcurb]

Purely functional form.

[mistresszelena]

I will probably use this for temporary storage but I have some concerns.One concern is water damage. I've lost so many craft supplies over the years to flooding, broken pipes, leaks, etc. I will always choose plastic with lids over cardboard. Also mice & rats love to eat through cardboard. Even in a rental storage unit things don't seem to be safe. Once without telling us, they ripped the roof off the unit to repair it, covering everything with debris. Another time the roof leaked and I lost a lot of fabric to mold. Your solution however is perfect for setting up shop if you have to travel or move a lot or if you are living on a shoestring.

Some of the comments seem to think postal boxes are a great resource for free stuff. Sure, if you want to run afoul of the law. Not to mention if you are in the USA people stealing these boxes doesn't help with the cost of postage that keeps going up and up.

[imwilly]

Thanks for this. I've followed 'Instructables' for a while now, but your post has convinced my wife it could be worth checking out too.

[imwilly]

Thanks for this. I've followed 'Instructables' for a while now, but your post has convinced my wife it could be worth checking out too.

[ventifact]

Everyone must remember that gravity will prevail.

[joseph.strubhar]

Another nice source for small round cans is Pringles Potato Chip cans - clear lids help you see what is inside!

[dollarseed]

As a side note. If you want to find the stretch wrap from a warehouse, just go to one and ask for the end rolls. Most of the time these get tossed when their is still ample wrap still on a roll, but not enough to wrap a full pallet. The tubes it comes on are also handy for organizing things in, and are all of a standard 3 inch diameter.

[dollarseed]

I have found that the small Sterlite Drawer systems are also great for storing small stuff. The drawers are easy to take out and reinsert for arranging them, but will not just fall out. They are also see through. I use these to keep my seed room organized @ DollarSeed. The large drawer systems also work great for the larger and heavier items.

[Animatrixx]

oh other sources - shoe boxes from shoe shops, you will get tons of them as well and they are a great format and sturdy and none of the "stealing federal property" onus. Show boxes are also clean card as the leather would get besmirched if it was fulla crappy badness wouldn't it.. and they usually come with some neato tissue paper in em as well... finally, don't neglect your local fruitier, who has soft fruit coming in in handy sized, food safe flat card trays and they are ideal for storing paper and flat sheets of metal etc and are in addition made to be stacked and lock into each other .. good light ones are the Dutch pepper boxes excellent fitted lids and a very handy size as well, aprox a double shoe box or 2.5 times that size. And if you can get some of the pallet wrap that's used in warehouses you can wrap the entire block in that and it will hold them together flawlessly and fast and can still be taken off and the entire thing broken down in minutes, I have done so many things with pallet wrap i could write a book about it but the best thing you can do is wrap your boss to a chair in it and hen run him round a massive auto factory on the front of a fork lift while he screams in Doppler effect and you all laugh and laugh, ... ah those were the days! Anyhow - pallet wrap and veg and fruit boxes.. free and abundant. Watch out for banana boxes, tropical spiders abound.

[Animatrixx]

another source for clean cardboard boxes and nice white smooth card as well - florists throw out masses of boxes with attached hinged lids and often with a clear cellophane window (handy for fabric i cant remember at all what it is if i cant see it lol) the cut flowers come in and hey are usually very clean and come in larger flat sizes that re ideal for things like fabric or longer bits of crafting stuff like dowels etc.. and they get them in masses they will be only too glad to get rid of them as they are a real space hog for them. AND you may well get a deal (or even free!) flowers and plants that are past their sell by as well. AND they have bits like florists clay and styro that gets broken that are perfect for things like organizing small drill and dremel bits or for making up yrou art and crafts.. ribbon gets thrown out., dried flowers and more. Dumpster diving is not only highly rewarding but it is the most ecologically sound thing you can do. recycling still uses energy to re manufacture but reuse is green as all get out.

[ewilhelm]

Nice work. We're always looking to find old card catalogs to store little parts and hardware. Here are two shots of the screw-filled drawers in the shop right now.

[WUVIE]

Be still my heart. Card catalogs. Sigh.

[princessbunnyrooroo]

I don't use cardboard for any storage anymore because I may be storing something that could be damaged by the chemicals they put in cardboard. Finding inexpensive "archival quality" boxes has not happened yet! ewilhelm- I've always wanted a card catalog for my junk ---where do find them????? Are they really expensive? Just so I'm prepared .... thanks.

[Sequimania]

In my trolling on online art supply stores I just saw a fixative spray that was called "Archival Spray" or "Archival Fix" something like that. Sprayed on cardboard, pulp paper, etc. it supposedly sealed the surface so the destructive acids won't ruin the contents.