Businesses in all sectors of the economics often need to find a warehouse in NJ. But organizing warehousing, asset management, reordering, fulfillment, and transportation can be a lot more complicated than simply buying some warehouse space. Storing, managing, and moving inventory has a process – one that is best left to the professionals. In order to get what your company needs out of a warehousing solution, you should be able to know in advance of talking to a logistics specialist what it is you’re looking for.

First, what kind of space is it that you’re looking for? Of course, this depends on your business. Consumer goods require special retailer delivery requirements, while pharmaceuticals obviously require controlled atmosphere; lumber, on the other hand, can be left outside while paper rolls require special material handling attachments.

Second, what is your primary market? Space closer to New York City will come at a slight premium, but if you make enough trips into the city, the premium could be offset by lower transportation costs – it very often is. Your logistics specialist should be able to help you figure out where you want to be based on the cost of storage versus the cost of transportation.

Do you need an asset management solution? If you deal in expensive products or otherwise manage inventory on a real-time basis, then you need tracking for all of your inventory to let you know where it is, where it’s going, and what’s left so that you know how much you need to produce or transport to replenish the depletion or whether any of it is getting “lost” in the shuffle.

How are your products getting to market and how often? This can have an impact on where you choose your warehouse in NJ. If you’re exporting from the area, then space near train tracks or near the ports at Elizabeth or Newark is ideal; but if you’re trucking into Manhattan, the Bronx, Westchester, and Pennsylvania everyday, then a spot just on the other side of the tunnel in Hoboken or Jersey City is a good match. A logistics specialist should be able to consult with you on what mode of transportation is best, and arrange for any special requirements like refrigeration or hazardous materials certification.

Do you need products repackaged? Warehousing is one thing, but when products are headed for the shelves, they often need to be repacked. Pallets often need to be broken down to the single unit level, or single units need to be wrapped into a more case-type unit to sell at discount club stores like Sam’s and Costco. Only someone with warehouse expertise will be able to do this for you, but they should be able to do it for a lot less than you’d pay to do it yourself – and the solution offers customers a lot of flexibility as far as order size, translating into greater sales and more predictable inventory requirements for your business.