When we start out doing Holiday work, we are so excited and it is all so new that we cannot even begin to think about five years down the road.  Well, suprise, surprise.  Five years is here before we know it.  Now we are covered up with so much "stuff", we can’t hardly turn around without bumping into a tree.

Storage Options is the Name of the Game 
Renting storage space is not that difficult.  Paying a fair and low price can be.  Every area is different.  In some places empty storage places abound and for a monthly fee, it’s yours.  For others who are more willing to explore, a space that is already in use by another company may have space that can be sublet.  For others, its a barn on Uncle Jim’s farm.

One ‘Scapers Solution…and it Works!  
Good friend Al Fini  (Fini’s Plants), has been an interiorscaper for a bunch of years and has been through the Holiday Wars many times.  Over the years he has tried many storage options and has finally come up with a solution that works for his company.  He buys used shipping containers.  Thats what you see on the backs of 18 wheelers and on cargo ships.  According to AL, "As far as used containers we are very lucky.  We are 100-200 miles from several major ocean ports so there are plenty of good used containers always available.  Prices range from $1,200 for 20 footers up to $2,000 for 40 footers.  I would buy 2-20 footers instead of one 40 footer ( a lot less walking from end to end)".  

Benefits  
What a creative and smart solution.  The containers can be moved from one plot of land to another, keep precious contents dry, can be locked or put behind fencing for more security, can be used as fabricating as well as storage space, and if ever not needed can be resold.  All you need is a place to put them.  And, one more idea.  If you get a humongous Holiday job (and I hope you do), you could attach the container to the job site, park it in the parking lot, and work out of it for set up.  Great idea, thanks Al.

Couple of other last remarks.   Make sure wherever and however you store to get the proper insurance coverage for offsite assets and make sure to increase coverage as the years go by and the value goes up.And, if yu haven’t ordered Sippers for your Poinsettias, do it now.  Supplies are fine right now but tend to get slammed as the season hits.  They will give you 2 weeks in between watering, replacement in the single digits (saving big dollars), and can be reused over and over again for all your blooming plants.  To order, call TOPsiders (800) 533-7661.