How to Move Your eCommerce Inventory

The commercial moving experts at All My Sons Moving & Storage weigh in on how to move your eCommerce inventory.

Do you run an online store? Whether you’re a savvy crafter running their own small business out of a garage or an eCommerce guru with your own warehouse space, selling online certainly has its perks. Like any business, there may come a time that you need to move, and for you that may mean packing up your legion of products and inventory. Maybe you’re reclaiming your personal space by moving your business to a storage unit or perhaps you’ve decided to take the plunge on leasing a brick and mortar storefront. Whatever the reason for your business move, staying organized and planning ahead can help you keep your eCommerce products safe and get back to fulfilling orders as soon as possible.

All My Sons Moving & Storage performs storage and warehouse moves for businesses looking to make a seamless relocation. Here are five steps to make your eCommerce inventory move a smash success.

The costs of moving can quickly add up, and before you start your move you should weigh all the variables to make certain your move fits into your budget. 

Here are the elements you should include when you are budgeting for your eCommerce inventory move:

• Packing Materials: Depending on the fragility of your merchandise, your move  might require more packing material. Stock up on your packing supplies like bubble wrap, boxes, and packing tape. If you are interested in having your products secured by professionals, you should look into packing services by a full-service moving company.

• Movers and Truck Rental: A small business moving an inventory kept in the garage might be able to get away with a simple truck or trailer rental, but a large warehouse inventory might call for a team of licensed and insured professional movers who have experience in commercial moving services.

• New Warehouse or Storage Space Costs: Your new space comes with new rules, and likely a new dollar amount for renting or leasing. Take a moment before you sign any paperwork to evaluate the change to your budget for the long-term.

• Lost Sales: Depending on the scale and length of your move, you might need to temporarily press pause on taking orders. This could mean missing sales your website would have gotten otherwise. You can attempt to mitigate these losses by moving during your off-season or continuing to take orders during your move with a delayed shipping time. 

With your budget for the move mapped out, you will be able to start tackling the move itself.

The next step in your move is to create a moving checklist. This tool will help keep you on track as you prepare to move your inventory. Write out a list of to-dos and rank them according to priority. 

Here are some items that could go in your eCommerce inventory move checklist:

• Determine Best Time to Move: If your move is going to take several days to several weeks, you should attempt to move during your off-season for your business. If you have some flexibility for the timing of your move, you can save money by moving during the off-season for movers, September through April according to data from All My Sons Moving & Storage’s annual moves in 2024.

• Establish a Moving Timetable: Write out a timetable for getting tasks accomplished, like packing the non-essentials or holiday items first and then packing the bestsellers last so they are available to order up until your move date.

• Update Your Inventory Management System: Now is an opportune time to make sure your inventory management system is completely up-to-date and that nothing is missing, broken, or otherwise unsellable. Do a complete inventory of all your products and materials in the weeks leading up to your move. 

• Get Quotes from Moving Companies: Aim to get 3 to 5 quotes from different moving companies who are licensed and insured and have experience making storage or warehouse moves. If you are doing an interstate move, make sure your movers have a USDOT number from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Watch out for common moving scam red flags.

• Notify Customers of Potential Down Time: You should send a message out to your e-mail list to notify your loyal customers of your move and any potential down time for your website. Alternatively, you should notify customers of changes in shipping time if you will continue taking orders during your move.

Planning ahead can help identify and mitigate any potential problems early on. Get prepared for your move, and then proceed into checking items off your moving checklist.

With the preparation for your move out of the way, it’s time to get into the gritty details of your move. A few months before your move, you should aim to get your move finalized and begin your important pre-move tasks.

• Reserve Your Movers: Once you settle on a moving company, you should reserve your preferred date with them. You should aim to book with your movers at least two months in advance if possible, and even further in advance if you are moving during the peak season of summer.

• Check that Inventory Will Fit in New Space: Before you move anything, you should make sure your new space can comfortably accommodate everything you intend to move into it. If the inventory will not fit, then you should look at getting a larger space or downsizing your inventory.

• Pack the Non-Essentials: The first items you pack for transport should be the items that can stand to sit in a box for a while. These could be your holiday items or your slow sellers. 

• Plan the Layout of Your New Space: Get organized before you move in by planning a layout for your new storage unit or warehouse space. Check out our helpful guide on how to organize your storage unit if you are renting a self-storage space for your eCommerce inventory.

• Pack the Essentials: The last items you pack should be the essentials, the items you use up until the moment of your move and need to unpack first. These could be your hot-sellers or your essential supplies. 

Now that your inventory is packed and everything is accounted for, you are ready for moving day.

The day of your move has arrived, and you’re ready for your movers to start loading your eCommerce inventory onto the truck. These are the items you should take care of as you vacate your previous space.

• Schedule Site Down Time: You may need to temporarily press pause on taking orders until you are ready to fulfill them again. Schedule your website’s down time to give you space to complete your move.

• Turn in Keys and Access Cards: Once you have completely vacated your old warehouse or storage space, make sure to turn in any keys or access cards that belong to your old landlord.

• Supervise Your Movers: You or an appointed employee should act as the point of contact for your movers. Meet the movers at your old space and direct them as they load your eCommerce inventory onto the truck. 

• Clean Out the Old Space: Once all your products are secure for transport, make sure the old space is clean and tidy. Leave nothing behind, not even trash.

Now that your inventory is packed up, close the truck and drive off to your new space. With your layout plan in hand, set up your warehouse or storage space with success for the next chapter of your eCommerce business in mind.

Almost time to celebrate, but make sure you complete these final moving tasks before you break out your celebratory drinks.

• Begin Taking Orders Again: If you took your site offline for the move, flip it back on and send an open-for-business email to your loyal customer list. Get those orders coming back in.

• Update Your Address With Interested Parties: If you have any vendors you use for supplies or services, be sure to update them with the new address. Also, go to the USPS form for changing your address to get your mail forwarded and use Form 8822-B to inform the IRS of your change in business address if applicable.

• Have a Post-Move Sale: If you’re in the mood to celebrate getting into a new space with all your loyal customers, then mark some items on sale and watch the orders pile up.

Congratulations, you’ve completed your eCommerce inventory move. Celebrate your expanded space or reclaim your garage now that the mountain of products is gone.

Once the physical products are moved, you can get back to fulfilling orders. Enjoy your new storage or warehouse space, and happy selling!

Do you need to move your eCommerce inventory? All My Sons Moving & Storage makes full-service moves all over the country. Get professional packing, storage solutions, and more when you call All My Sons Moving & Storage to complete your move. Dial 1-866-726-1579 to reach one of our locations across the United States or get your quote online.