Storage and workspace solutions - Part 1
(Okay, Gift Basket Guru - the next few posts are for you. :-)
This is a pic of our main production area that we just relocated to a bigger room. There are a few good, stealable ideas you can see in this shot:
1. The worktables: Most of us in the biz use those 6ft lightweight plastic folding tables for a workspace - but they need to be brought up to counter height. When we started, we used to put them up on cement blocks. It worked, but they were a pain in the butt to lug around and sometimes we are setting up and taking down tables when big projects come up and at Christmas. One of my seasonal helpers showed us a better solution - PVC pipe fitted onto the legs. You can get them at Home Depot or Lowe's and they will cut them for you - about 12inch lengths should do it. MUCH easier.
2. The work station: A "U" or an "L" shaped configuration is the most efficient, especially if you can manage an island in the middle. Its a basic tenet of lean manufacturing. .
3. Ribbon storage: Gutters! Lightweight, cheap, easy, and everything is right in front of you.
4. Shredded paper: We buy crinkle cut shred in 40 pound boxes. It's cheaper that way, but they are huge. We store them in those big plastic bins under the worktable (and we finally got around to labeling them).
5. Cleanliness: Make your life easier and put a trash bin under each and every table. You may think that it will be okay if it's only a few steps away - but trust me...your space will be much neater if you do this.
posted by Julie at 2:43 PM
3 Comments:
How did you make your ribbon holders with the dowels? I think this is a fantastic idea. It looks organized, you can cut the ribbon easily, and you know exactly what colors you have and need to restock.
Someone made these for me a long time ago (there are 2 on that work table). They are just simple wooden frames made from 6inch pieces of wood. Make a frame in the shape of a rectangle, then put in a center support veritically in the middle with the same size wood. Then drill your holes for the dowels to go through. Each one is about 2 1/2ft long and just under 2ft tall.
It's handy to use, but kind of a pain to restock - you have pull the dowel out (it slides out on either side), but each little section has 10-12 rolls of ribbon on it - so if the one in the middle runs out, they all have to come off.
You all are doing such an awesome job! The ideas keep flowing I see. Thank you for sharing with me and everyone - I can't get enough!
Take care!
Lisa
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