In today’s era, the market is saturated with every kind of business one can think of and it’s vital for any business to stand out from the crowd to attract more customers and generate more revenue. As one of the many ways to be different, many business operations are carried out from a renovated shipping container instead of a brick-and-mortar shop or venue. 

Shipping containers are an affordable, sustainable, durable, resourceful, and utilitarian way of making sure that your business is standing on solid ground with a strong foundation. The industrial, steel exterior withstands all weather and climate conditions and makes sure that business assets remain secure. They can be customized and stacked in any way imaginable as long as the sky's the limit. They also help combat a decrease in urban spaces due to overpopulation. 

There are many kinds of businesses out there, but these are the top 5 business ideas that can be started in a shipping container!

1. Coffee shop/café

A classic way to use a shipping container is to turn it into a cozy, homely coffee shop or café selling scrumptious desserts, savory foods and all kinds of coffee and tea. This could be the perfect place for small businesses to set up a shop in a shipping container providing a whole new experience for loyal customers. A shipping container café or coffee shop could provide the necessary ambience to ensure customers keep returning and bringing company. Many huge corporations, like Starbucks, have jumped on this widespread shipping container trend by opening Starbucks outlets in containers across the U.S.

2. Library/bookstore

Revitalizing a shipping container into a library or bookstore can prove to be fruitful and attract a lot of curious and book-crazy customers. With the necessary atmosphere and decor, it could prove to be a lovely second home for bookworms. The shipping container bookstore or library can also be retrofitted to become a mobile library/bookstore allowing bookworms of all cities to enjoy this new experience.

3. Retail stores

Shipping containers are also a great way to open small branches of a retail corporation like Forever 21, H&M or a private retail store that sells handicrafts and goods in a new, interesting way. The shipping containers are affordable, unique, and can be stacked if a business needs to be expanded. Using shipping containers will ensure you don’t need to move to a new place every time for an expansion. You can also renovate, decorate, and present the containers as you wish, and they can also be converted into mobile stores, exposing your business to every land you take it to.

4. Restaurants

Shipping containers can offer a certain atmosphere and ambience if renovated accordingly. There are many restaurants opening up in shipping containers providing a creative yet industrial experience of eating out. Shipping containers are portable. They can be taken to different regions and set up on all available land, providing a unique concept for restaurants. They are also great to set up in rural and country landscapes where people may not be as acquainted with city life and can enjoy a one-of-a-kind experience from the comfort of their own place. It can also help save money allowing you to go wild and creative with the décor. And it’s a chance to stand out from other surrounding landscapes whether in the city or the country.

5. Workspace

Sometimes, working can get boring, monotonous, and tiring. Provide your employees a fresh perspective to working by making use of a shipping container as a portable, inexpensive, durable workspace. Along with saving your employees’ sanity, it is a fun way to showcase your business to the outside world. Shipping containers aren’t as costly as building spaces. Shipping containers can also be stacked in every layout, size, and shape imaginable, allowing business expansion and a safe creative outlet. Furthermore, anyone looking to teach a skill or a studio for their work or business can buy a shipping container without extensively emptying their wallet. This can also provide a professional look and finish to your business or company without the need to buy a brick-and-mortar space.

Conclusion

To conclude, shipping containers are a distinctive, exciting, and new way to showcase businesses instead of brick-and-mortar shops and buildings. Their durability, sustainability, affordability, and structure make them a well-rounded candidate for any sort of business space, and they are portable enough to travel anywhere and take any business to new heights. There are many more amazing business ideas to choose from that would do well in shipping containers. Using shipping containers can prove to be beneficial in the long run as they are the magnet to attract curious customers and generate sales. Plus, they are also sustainable, economical and environment friendly. In other words, using them for business is a sure way to kill many birds with one stone!

Main Image Photo by Aron Yigin on Unsplash