t’s easy to get overwhelmed with storage options for your warehouse, especially if you have many different types of products on your industrial shelving. Every warehouse is different, each with its own storage needs and sales volumes. If you’re having a hard time keeping your Edmonton warehouse organized, you may want to think about varied storage.

What is varied storage?

Varied storage simply means using different types of storage in the same warehouse to maximize your space and make it easier to find the things you’re looking for.

These are the main types of warehouse storage and each has many different options within the larger category.

• Static storage
  This is the storage that you’re probably familiar with, and may already have in your warehouse. It includes things like bolt-together units, and pallet racks. It’s often used to store items that don’t fit in other storage systems or for storing items that don’t get picked often.
• Reel Shelving
  We supply shelving that is made specifically for hose reels and other types of spooled items. They are made up of an A-Frame that connects together and have hooks to place steel bars on. You pass these bars through the center hole of a reel and it allows you to store and unravel reels without moving them.
• EZ-Rect
  We also supply variety of bolt together storage units for light items, and a click together style known as EZ-Rect that is very customizable and rated for much higher capacities. You can also build continuous rows of it to help save on pieces and space.

GD Liquidators has everything you need to maximize your warehouse space. Whether you need industrial shelving, storage cabinets or warehouse handling equipment for your Edmonton warehouse or business, we’ve got it. Visit us today to take a look at our huge selection of new and used items.

Pallet racking can be found in almost all warehouses in Edmonton. While this type of warehouse storage is made to hold tightly wrapped and covered pallets, it’s often used to store other things. While you should already be following standard safety procedures like training your staff on how to load racks and use equipment safely, there are special considerations to be taken when storing irregularly shaped items.

Storing irregular loads safely

While basic pallet rack safety is key, storing items that are heavier than usual, irregularly shaped or loose, can make safe storage a little more complicated. Here are guidelines for storing some of the more common irregular loads.

• Manufacturing tools
  If you do any manufacturing in your warehouse, you need a place to store the necessary tools when they’re not in use. Steel pallet racks are a good solution, because they’re strong enough to hold the weight. However, it’s important to implement safe handling processes to avoid any injuries or accidents when your employees try to access the tools they need. Make sure you have enough racks to hold each item safely, and provide hoists or cranes to remove extremely heavy equipment from their racks.
• Long items
  Long items like pipes, metal girders and lumber can be stored vertically to save space. This many require a rack without an upper deck to properly store them. Wire deck dividers or A-frame dividers create slots to store these items, which reduces the chances of them falling.
  Items that aren’t strong enough to hold themselves upright must be stored horizontally. Make sure your racks are wide enough to store these items, and use a forklift with a ram pole attachment to move these items safely.
• Loose goods
  Things that aren’t properly wrapped or secured onto pallets sometimes need to be stored. These create a security risk, as there’s a strong chance of them falling. Whatever the reason for storing these loose items, make sure you follow the rack’s specifications for height, weight and depth to ensure safe storage.

If you need pallet racking or warehouse shelving in Edmonton, GD Liquidators should be your first choice. We have thousands of new and used items in our inventory, so you’re sure to find what you’re looking for. Visit us today and allow our knowledgeable staff to help you get the racking and shelving you need.

Is your office space dusty, dated or dimly lit? A dull workspace can not only hurt company morale but also make for an unpleasant experience for clients who come to visit your space. If you’re looking for modern office furniture or other bright design ideas for your Edmonton workspace, then keep reading below for five design ideas that’ll help you modernize your space and create a great first impression.

1. Declare war on clutter
Find yourself adding new filing cabinets year after year? Tripping over piles of paper and stacks of boxes? There’s a better way. Make it a company policy to routinely clear out old files before they pile up. Anything that needs to be kept should be sorted and filed by date, and everything else should be recycled. You’d be surprised what keeping the workspace clean and tidy will do for company morale.

2. Change the flow
Many office spaces still feature rows and rows of cubicles that create narrow walkways and cut employees off from one another. Rearrange cubicles and workstations to create an open concept office that will change the flow of your space and encourage creativity and collaboration in your team.

3. Light it up
Open up your office to as much natural light as you possibly can. If your space doesn’t have many windows, adding modern light fixtures is a great way to brighten up your office and lighten the atmosphere. For a modern look, think artsy chandeliers rather than egg-crate fluorescent panels.

4. Think outside the cubicle
Creating spaces where employees can go to work away from their desk is a great way to modernize your space and boost creativity and productivity. Add coffee-house style couches in out of the way corners for impromptu meetings and touch-point gatherings between a small number of employees.

5. Update your furniture
The colours, flow and atmosphere of your interior space have a big impact on your company culture and morale. If you’re a modern start-up that’s full of energy, you probably won’t want your office space to be filled with a hodgepodge of mismatched corporate furniture from the 80s. Think of your office space as an extension of your brand and design it to match.

If you’re looking for modern office furniture that will create a great first impression, visit GD Liquidators in Edmonton today. We’re your source for office furniture, warehouse shelving, pallet racking, lockers, storage solutions and other warehouse equipment in Edmonton. Contact us today to learn more about our products and services or to get a quote.

Whether you’re renovating, moving offices, or building a new one from scratch, sooner or later you’ll have to give some thought to buying office furniture and planning your Edmonton office space for your workers. When designing a new layout, you will need to strike a delicate balance between efficiency and aesthetics. You need to make the most out of your space, but you don’t want your employees to be uncomfortable. Uncomfortable employees are unproductive employees. Here are just a few tips to keep in mind when planning your office:

• Light matters — One of the most commonly repeated points from surveys of office workers is the importance of natural light in as many rooms as possible. Few people would choose to spend several hours a day under harsh fluorescent lights.
• Have spaces for multiple uses — Exactly what this means will depend on the kind of work you and your employees do. Most businesses, however, need some kind of meeting room. When there isn’t a meeting, does that room just go unused? This is a waste of space that could be put to use. If you have creative workers, let them use formal meeting rooms for less formal brainstorming sessions.
• Remote technologies will set you free — For a long time, the office was imagined as people sitting at desks. It made sense to have people in the same place every day when you needed to physically carry someone a file. With remote technologies, however, there’s no need for this anymore. Using online filing systems can liberate your workers from being at the same desk every day, freeing up space for other uses and allowing you to invest in multipurpose office furniture. While most studies indicate that workers in Edmonton do feel more at home in an office if they have some personal space that they can customize, this no longer needs to be the traditional desk.
• Include your employees in the process — No one knows what is needed in the office more than the employees that work there. While their suggestions might not always be the most practical or cost-effective, their input will be invaluable when making your decisions. A simple survey or questionnaire for your employees might let you know about a problem you never thought of.

At GD Liquidators, we’ve been providing cost-effective warehouse and office solutions, including used office furniture, to the Edmonton area for 28 years. If you’re a growing business that needs to expand or are looking to make your current office more flexible, come check out our supply of office furniture at our Edmonton location. Contact us today to find out more about how we can help your office maximize its potential.

Whether you’re shipping thousands of units or just keeping your own warehouse equipment in good order, organization is key for a properly functioning Edmonton warehouse. We at GD Liquidators, your resource for industrial shelving and used industrial tools in Edmonton, would like to share a few tips we’ve found useful to keep your warehouse shelves organized:

• Consider organizing by high and low flow products — You’ll probably need more than one way to organize your inventory or your own warehouse equipment. If you simply organized your inventory by size, for instance, it would be simple but may not be the most efficient option. You may want to consider two different sections of the warehouse that are differently organized. One would be devoted to the inventory that has a rapid turnover, and another for less frequently used items. 
• Eliminate clutter — Eliminating clutter means two things. First, you should always strive to keep your warehouse, industrial shelving, and racks as clean and organized as possible. Second, you should be sure that everything in your Edmonton warehouse has a clear and significant purpose. Unused items or debris just lying around will only make it harder to find what you need. If clutter gets bad enough, encroaching on lanes for forklifts, it can even be a safety hazard.
• Labels and signs are your friends — Of course, all inventory should be thoroughly labeled with barcodes. This is just common sense as it allows you to track your efficiency at getting objects sorted and loaded and makes sure all orders are being properly filled. Don’t be afraid, however, to extend labeling to your own warehouse equipment. Like a grocery store, having signs that clearly mark different parts of your warehouse can often be a great help letting people know where everything is. It’s a small investment that can greatly increase efficiency.
• Plan to clean — Nobody likes doing a deep clean of the warehouse. Some businesses avoid it or only do it when it becomes a problem. You should, however, plan several deep cleans of the warehouse into your yearly schedule. These days not only promote workplace hygiene, they’re opportunities to get rid of any clutter and reassess your organization strategy. Could your system work better? Have any changes occurred in your business that require a different warehouse floor plan? Answering these questions while you clean can be a great way of killing two birds with one stone.

If you need any help with used industrial tools, warehouse equipment, or industrial shelving in the Edmonton area, contact us at GD Liquidators today. We’re proud to be Canadian owned and operated and have served the Edmonton community with integrity since 1987.

There are many needs in establishing a new office, whether it’s that your small business is big enough for you to have an actual office, or your expanding operations and adding staff, this is the time to consider the office furniture, supplies and other essentials you need to keep your business operations running as smoothly as possible.

As a supplier of new and used office furniture in Edmonton, GD Liquidators have the office essentials in the colours and styles you need for your office and budget. Whether you need to add a single desk or fully outfit multiple offices properly, at GD Liquidators our professionals will help you develop the appearance of your business at prices you can afford. Here’s a list of the essential office equipment to take you to the ‘next’ level.

• An ergonomic office chair tops the list and will help you better focus on your work by eliminating back pain. Look for an adjustable chair, most have wheels and a swivel base, which can be customized for your specific needs. Experiment by installing plastic floor protectors for a smoother ride. You will also need a comfy chair or two for clients. 
• An office desk can be organized and personalized but need to remain uncluttered. Invest in a desk with plenty of drawers for storage so you can keep the desktop neat and the office looking professional. Consider an adjustable height, ergonomic desk allows you to alternate between sitting and standing throughout the work day. 
• Filing cabinets are extremely vital additions to your home or office, giving your office a professional appearance, in addition to keeping you organized. There are many styles and colors available besides the traditional metal cabinets and a lateral filing systems can free up floor space. 
• Tables are necessary, but usually an overlooked piece of office furniture. Supply your office with a large table that all your clients or employees can fit around for meetings and make sure there are enough end tables and lamps for your waiting rooms.
• Good task lighting with overhead lighting fixtures, floor lamps, and desk lamps will allow you to comfortably work for long hours without straining your eyes. Consider investing in full spectrum lighting to create a more natural looking work space.
• Supplies – talking pens, tape, highlighters, paper clips, stapler, scissors, trash can, sticky notes, paper, regular file folders and the hanging kind, signage, photos, art, a calendar, and a wall planner for brainstorming notes. Stock up on envelopes (closed and window types, letter size and manila) and postage. They will enable you to take notes, be creative, and go about your normal daily business.
• Technology, in the form of a mobile phone or office system, laptop and/or desktop computers, software and apps, a printer, a wireless router can all help you manage your business. 

Start with this list as your foundation and keep on growing from there. It’s all about building a solid foundation including choosing your office and furniture supplier carefully, like GD Liquidators.

Picking out good quality and reliable new furniture or used office equipment can be difficult. Our experts at GD Liquidators are your source for not only furniture, but industrial tools as well that are suitable for your budget. Contact us, GD Liquidators, to visit our warehouse to look for the furniture and equipment you had in mind today.