The Loading Dock
Welcome to The Loading Dock, your essential hub for business development, startup insights, unique workspace inspiration, and practical warehouse tips. Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or a first-time founder, we are here to provide guidance, foster community, and celebrate the numerous ways innovative minds turn their visions into reality.
We share real-world startup stories and expert strategies for warehouse optimization, curating resources that promote growth and expansion at every stage. Join us as we explore the journeys of entrepreneurs pioneering new paths, discover unconventional workspaces that inspire creativity, and equip you with the tools you need to keep moving forward.
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A Beginner’s Guide to Warehouse Safety Standards
When you’re opening your company’s first warehouse, it’s important to research these safety standards and make sure you remain compliant. This will help you avoid devastating injuries and costly fines.
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Calculating Startup Costs: Setting a Strong Financial Foundation
Strong financial planning is a must for any business in the startup stage. Precise calculations and budgeting can help you avoid overspending early on. Here’s how to calculate startup costs for your small business.
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The Essential Guide to Establishing Business Credit
Establishing your business credit is a process that takes time, and if you haven’t run a business before, you might not know where to start. Luckily, there are a few simple steps you can take to start building the credit you need. Here’s our ultimate guide to establishing business credit.
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Networking within a Co-Warehousing Community: Benefits and Tips
When you join a co-warehousing community like ReadySpaces, you get more than just a place to store your inventory. One of the biggest benefits of co-warehousing is the opportunity to connect with other small business owners and eCommerce professionals.
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Building The Perfect Shipping Process Workflow
For eCommerce brands, a reliable shipping process workflow is the backbone of your operations. An efficient workflow will help you get orders to customers more quickly and reduce costly errors.
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Spirit of Innovation: How Abstinence Spirits Expanded with ReadySpaces
Abstinence Spirits specializes in selling and distributing non-alcoholic spirits, aperitifs, and spritzes, bringing the rich flavors and aromas of distilled botanicals to the U.S. market.
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Penta Medical Recycling: Empowering Mobility
Penta Prosthetics, a nonprofit committed to providing affordable, high-quality prosthetic care worldwide, bridges the gap between surplus prosthetic components and the millions in need.
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Strengthening Cybersecurity: Protecting Your Small Business From Threats
Today’s small businesses conduct many aspects of their operations online, but unfortunately, many entrepreneurs overlook the importance of a cybersecurity strategy.
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Local Marketing Strategies for Small Businesses
For small businesses, success often starts locally. Attracting loyal customers from the area helps build the foundation for long-term growth.
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Dealing with Shipping Delays and managing customer expectations
One of the biggest challenges for any e-commerce brand is getting your products from Point A to Point B efficiently.
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Crafting a Solid Business Plan: Your Blueprint for Success
Your business plan serves as your roadmap to success, and it can also help you secure funding and rent a workspace to get your operations off the ground.
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Common Mistakes to Avoid in Warehouse Management
Efficiency is key to running a successful warehouse. By operating efficiently, you keep customers happy with speedy delivery times, and you also help your team operate more productively and achieve their full potential.
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Designing a Workspace Within Your Warehouse Space
When you decide to add a workspace to your warehouse, you’ll need to be very strategic about where you place it.
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The History of Multi-Story Warehouses
Multi-story warehouses are essential commercial and industrial spaces used throughout history to keep successful businesses running.
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Progreen International: Pioneering Eco-Friendly Auto Solutions
Progreen International, founded by Rudolf Kogan, is a company dedicated to providing innovative solutions for automotive and maintenance.
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Success Stories: Salacious Drinks: Where are they Now?
Salacious Drinks is an eCommerce water company based in Springfield, VA, offering premium, eclectic options for customers across the US.
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What is a Certificate of Insurance (COI)?
Ensure you're protected: find out why insurance is essential for any business, what a COI is, and how to get one.
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What Is a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)?
Explanation of the application process and its benefits, confidently secure an TIN for your business.
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iThrive Medical Helping Those in need
iThriveMedical is a medical supply company founded in 2016 by Zach Burstein and occupies a ~400 Sq Ft unit at ReadySpaces Springfield.
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How ShipDif came out of the Pandemic in full swing
ShipDif is a Third Party Logistics company founded in September 2021 by entrepreneur Jordan Whiteley and corporate convert Jake Memmott.
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RideFrsh: The Story of the Flyest Air Fresheners on Earth
RideFrsh is a retail and wholesale Air Freshener company founded by Trey Brown and his brother Donovan in 2018.
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M&J Screen Printing inks their name as SoCal’s finest
Founded by Michael Katkov and his business partner Jacob in 2018, M&J Screen Printing is a full-service screen printing shop and design studio.
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Ginger’s Breadboys slings Cookie Kits all across America
Ginger’s Breadboys is an eCommerce company based in Springfield, VA, specializing in DIY Gingerbread House and Cookie Kits.
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Unique Spaces: ReadySpaces Gardena’s Vibrant Showroom
ReadySpaces Gardena features a large private showroom space that is perfect for a variety of uses, from furniture stores, to athletic training and more.
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Types of Commercial Leases | ReadySpaces
Full-service gross, triple-net, and modified gross leases explained. Which one is right for your business?
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Salacious Drinks scales with ReadySpaces
Salacious Drinks is an eCommerce water company based in Springfield, VA, offering premium, eclectic options for customers across the US.
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AM Apparel supplies a fresh take on style
AM Apparel is an e-tail fashion store founded by Audry Mushagalusa, a college student, fashionista, and entrepreneur from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
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Fools & Horses brings events to life
Mary and Robin Goodchild are co-founders of Fools & Horses, a hospitality business with a mobile cocktail bar focused on delivering premier, full-service experiences for private events in and around Southern California.
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Project Footwear is shaping the future of shoes
Project Footwear is a production and design studio founded in 2016 by Chris Ryan, a long-time footwear industry veteran and LA native, and is focused on creating the future of footwear.
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Inferno Effects finds a new home to grow their business
Inferno Effects is a company founded in 2014 by Adrien Noriega, a special effects artisan, and is focused on making hyper-realistic masks and other artifacts for the haunted attraction industry.
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Green Street Books Changing Perceptions on the Neurodiverse Workforce
Green Street Books is a non-profit organization focused on book collection and recycling co-founded by Edward Penrose.
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How ReadySpaces is Tackling the Warehouse Space Shortage
If you're a business owner, you might have noticed things are getting a bit tight. Explore how ReadySpace is tackling the warehouse space shortage.
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Feather Furniture Rental Expands into New Markets
Founded in 2009 by Jay Reno, Feather is a furniture rental company that is reimagining the way people furnish their living spaces.
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ReadySpaces Keeps Up With MiniKatana’s Rapid Growth
MiniKatana was founded by Isaac Medeiros and is a specialty eCommerce company focused on selling swords, letter openers, and other blades.
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Slime Fantasies Growing with ReadySpaces
Slime Fantasies is a business started by Tina Turowski. They produce all of their slimes in-house and have grown considerably in the last year.
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What Is Flex Space?
Flex Space is short for flexible space, usually a combination of warehousing/storage area with some sort of office or showroom space in the same building.
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Everything you need to know about launching a new business
Discovering your exact business needs is an exercise that could save thousands in the long run by helping you avoid moving into a space that doesn’t suit your business.
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Everything you need to know about planning for a new business
Discovering your exact business needs is an exercise that could save thousands in the long run by helping you avoid moving into a space that doesn’t suit your business.
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10 Reasons Why ReadySpaces Offers More Value Than Storage Units
When looking for warehouse space for your business it's important to factor in all costs to determine the best value.
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Sustainable Warehouse Management: Reduce Environmental Impact with Green Practices
Sustainable warehouse management is a vital skill for warehouse operators. Here's how you can reduce the environmental impact of your warehouse.
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What Is Shared Warehousing?
Shared Warehousing lets you expand your warehouse to accommodate growth. You only pay for the space & labor you use, warehousing becomes a variable cost.
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How Does Cross-Docking Compare to Traditional Warehouse Space?
One way that warehouses are increasing efficiency and cutting down on shipping time is through the use of a strategy called cross-docking.
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5 Stages of Starting a New Business
Discovering your exact business needs is an exercise that could save thousands in the long run by helping you avoid moving into a space that doesn’t suit your business.
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How Warehouses Are Adapting To E-Commerce Distribution
Logistics ecosystems are evolving parallel to the explosive growth of e-commerce sales.
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Essential Questions To Ask While Looking For Warehouse Space
Discovering your exact business needs is an exercise that could save thousands in the long run by helping you avoid moving into a space that doesn’t suit your business.
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