How to Locate a Public Warehouse or Cold Storage Facility
Okay, you have done all your homework and come to the conclusion that it makes sense to utilize a third party logistics company to supplement your warehousing or cold storage needs. If you are local to the area you may already know all the available dry and cold storage buildings or public warehousing providers (odds are they have contacted you on several occasions). In the case that you are unfamiliar with the local city, county or even state, below are three resources to aide you in locating a third party logistics and warehousing provider.
Realtors:
Commercial and Industrial Realtors know the open space that is available in their markets – whether they represent it or not. While realtors focus on leasing out space to companies to operate themselves, public warehousing providers often work with local and nationwide realtors to list open ambient and refrigerated warehousing space they have available. They can help you in finding anything from a 500,000 square foot dry warehouse in Wisconsin to 500 pallet positions in a multi-temperature cold storage facility in Jerome, Idaho.
Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Organizations:
These local and statewide organizations are great resources when seeking out warehousing space. They not only will be able to assist you in locating a warehouse building or logistics provider, but depending on the size and scope of your project will have additional information on incentives from the city or state if you were to locate operations or distribution in their city or county.
Industry Associations:
Not sure what associations you belong to? Take a look at your own website – marketing loves to list associations and organizations your company belongs to. You might even belong to associations that you didn’t even know about. Take advantage of this great resource to find dry and refrigerated warehouse providers that already do business in your industry. A recommendation by a trusted association will take some of the legwork out your search for a qualified and professional logistics provider.