Can I store my online store's stock in a container and pack orders from there?

Yes, you can do both. At Sunshine Self Storage, plenty of small businesses keep their stock in a container, and you can pack orders there too. Drive-up access makes it easy: back up the car or van, pack your orders and load them straight in for the post office or courier run.

There is one thing to plan around. There is no power or lighting at the containers. That means no plugging in a label printer, laptop charger or heat sealer, so bring battery-powered gear, or print labels at home and bring them with you. With both doors swung open, daylight reaches well inside, and a head lamp helps on early or late runs. Access is 5am to 9pm, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Remember that batteries can come and go with you, but lithium-ion batteries can't be stored in the container. Take them home when you leave.

A few tips for a tidy setup. Put fast-moving stock at the front, near your packing area. Use freestanding shelving, as long as nothing is fixed to the container. Label boxes on more than one side and stick a simple map on the wall. Take packaging rubbish with you, because nothing can be left outside your container.

No food or perishables, and nothing flammable. A 10ft ($198 a month) suits a small range, and a 20ft ($299) suits a busy store. For a limited time, get 50% off your first three months. Sunshine Self Storage is located in Albion. Call us 03 9010 6147.