New shared warehouse platform launches to help small businesses access affordable space

What started as a 160m² co-working warehouse space for four small businesses in Adelaide has evolved into a national platform helping businesses across Australia.

Adelaide based entrepreneurs Clair Crowley and Jacqui Storey are officially launching a new platform designed to make shared warehouse and sub-leasing opportunities easier, safer and more accessible for businesses across Australia: www.unleased.com.au.

The pair set out with the mission to make it easier for small businesses to sub-lease warehouse space: smaller spaces, more affordable rent, more flexible terms.

“When you’re starting or growing a business, warehouses advertised on commercial property platforms are simply out of reach; they’re way too large and it doesn’t make financial sense to shackle your small business to a 5-year lease. But taking on a warehouse that’s too large could sink a small business in months. We’ve talked to so many businesses facing this dilemma,” said co-founder Clair Crowley.

“When we started with a single warehouse space in Beverley, we had more than 70 businesses apply to share the space with us. That’s how we knew that finding small and affordable warehouse space was a bigger problem than we thought,” said co-founder Jacqui Storey.

“While small businesses were knocking down our door with enthusiasm, we quickly saw that the other side of the market was keen to come to the party. Warehouse owners and head-tenants have shown immense eagerness to share their spaces. It’s an opportunity for them to gain extra income from an asset they already have. For businesses that are not fully utilising their warehouse space, it’s a no brainer!” said Crowley.

“It works as a two-fold solution. Businesses with underutilised warehouse space can generate additional passive income, while businesses looking for space gain access to affordable premises with less rent, less liability and significantly lower barriers to entry. In a typical commercial lease, there’s often a five-year lease, a massive bond and long-term commitments before you’ve had a chance to prove your business model,” said Crowley.

“For many businesses, that’s simply a step too far. Shared warehouse arrangements and sub-leasing provide the stepping stone. Adelaide was our starting point, but it quickly became clear there was national interest, so we’ve set our sights bigger than just South Australia,” said Storey.

Through getting their hands dirty with warehouses and sub-leasing themselves, the founders refined the concept of shared warehousing based on real-world challenges and feedback from warehouse owners and tenants alike.

“We’ve made mistakes with sub-leasing so others don’t have to. We have helpful guides and resources available so we can wrap support around the businesses looking to share warehouse space,” said Storey.

“We’ve had many iterations of the business and every lesson has helped us create a platform that better supports both parties. The result is a dedicated marketplace connecting businesses with shared warehouse space, creating a more practical alternative to traditional commercial leasing. We created the platform because shared warehousing is genuinely good for both parties,” Storey said.

The founders believe shared warehousing has the potential to help thousands of Australian businesses improve cash flow while making better use of existing commercial space.

“For warehouse owners and sub-tenants with warehouse space sitting idle, sub-leasing could bolster the business’s cashflow significantly. It’s consistent, ongoing income that can help carry businesses through peaks and troughs of seasonal cashflows,” Crowley said.

The platform’s official launch will take place on 29 October in partnership with the City of Charles Sturt, marking an important milestone in the founders’ mission to support small business growth nationwide.