Other Voices: Three Alternative Ways to Monetize Your Warehouse

Editor’s Note: The following column by Randy Teadt, Owner of Premier Handling Solutions is part of Modern’s Other Voices column. The series features ideas, opinions and insights from end users, analysts, systems integraters and OEMs. Click on the link to learn about submitting a column for consideration.

We’re not sure whether Zombies are real, or whether serious paintballers would take to a warehouse experience for their games. But, hey, life is too short to be serious about warehousing and distribution all the time. That’s why this column caught our attention.

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In these hard economic times, people are always looking for ways to squeeze every ounce of profit out of their assets. Warehouse owners shouldn’t be any different. That’s why we’re recommending three great ways warehouses can be used during off-hours to keep the money rolling in.

Zombie Survival Center

Warehouses are an ideal structure for surviving a zombie apocalypse. Big, sturdy and typically in rural areas, they offer great protection from the hordes that want to feast on your flesh (Can you tell we can’t wait for the season premier of Walking Dead?”. Nearly anything inside a warehouse can be weaponized and you can create booby traps all around the perimeter to keep the interior safe. They can also hold endless supplies and are big enough for people to have their own space.

Ok, so zombies probably aren’t real. But I’m sure you could charge a few wackos for the right to reserve a position in your warehouse in the case that there actually is a zombie apocalypse. You’re best bet to reach these potential customers is probably craigslist.

Game Arena

If you’re insurance policy is strong enough, here’s an alternative use that could actually become a reality. Leave your warehouse pretty much exactly as it is and charge admission for the ultimate game of hide and seek. Kids will love it and parents will love that their kids are out of their hair for a day or night.

There are a nearly endless number of hiding spots within the average warehouse. Just look at the typical warehouse with 50,000 storage slots. It’s a labyrinth loaded with hiding places to last for years:

Along those same lines, a warehouse would make an amazing Laser Tag environment. The combination of open floor and great hiding places add a dynamic element to the game. Capture the flag would be absolutely epic. It’s a relatively clean game too, so you won’t have to worry about messes to the materials you’re handling.

And if you don’t care about glass breaking or messes all over, paintball is another great way to monetize your warehouse. Paintballers will dig the authentic terrains and myriad of great hiding places and sight lines. Plus, have you seen what paintball places charge? You already have the facilities in place, so you’ll be rich in no time.

Action Movie Set

It seems like every other action movie or thriller nowadays has a brutal warehouse scene in it. As the trend continues, Hollywood is going to need more and more new warehouse to film fake violence in.

The demand is out there. You’re probably going to end up with a bunch of fake blood all over your warehouse, but that can be cleaned. Go rent out your warehouse to a big Hollywood studio to shoot their films after hours, and you’ll be rolling in cash.

Warehouses can be used for more than warehousing. With a little imagination, you can monetize your down-time to keep your core business running more smoothly.