Smart Building Choices in a Slowing Economy

Economic uncertainty is something all businesses encounter. Changing economic conditions are normal as the economy regularly experiences cycles that may increase business activity or slow it down sharply. Smart businesses build plans to weather the predictable ups and downs that occur from time to time. When a negative cycle hits, these businesses are prepared to make adjustments that moderate their spending while preparing for the next growth cycle ahead. One factor in any boom or bust cycle is real estate capacity. Intelligent decisions in building acquisition and investment help these companies come out ahead of the competition, no matter the business climate. Having tension fabric buildings as an option in a real estate portfolio can help a firm better weather economic storms and take quick advantage of growth opportunities.

Adjusting to Changing Business Conditions

Even in prosperous times, the decision to increase space for business operations is a big one. Real estate decisions are costly and usually a long-term commitment, especially if the building is purchased or the firm signs an extended lease. If they have made real estate commitments at the wrong time and a business cycle is heading for a slow-down, firms can be left holding the financial bag. A temporary building option can be just the solution needed to carry on operations while avoiding the costs of long-term real estate investments in uncertain economic times.

Many of our clients turn to us in times of changing industry or general economic conditions because they know they can get the building space they need rapidly, where it’s needed, and without a long-term investment or commitment that will put them in financial peril. Sometimes, clients are in a hurry to get space up and running to meet immediate demands or other obligations. The good news is that our modular fabric buildings can be quickly configured, delivered via flatbed truck, and installed, usually within a few weeks of order. They can be rented for short or long-term use, so they don’t break the bank or require capital budgets. There’s no need to prep the land or install a foundation, and yet they can be made as comfortable and productive as any traditional building space. When market conditions change, or a building lease expires and is not renewed, our clients know we can get them the space they need quickly and easily.

Flexible Capacity in Building Solutions

Tension fabric buildings provide maximum flexibility in a number of ways. Business cycles can cause havoc with a firm’s cash flow. For example, too much inventory in a downturn means wasted spending, spoilage, or obsolescence, all of which can be very costly. Similarly, too little inventory in an upturn means lost sales. Managing the space requirements for that inventory or its production can be just as costly. Empty buildings can wreak havoc on company cash reserves, and not enough space means lost opportunity. A tension building is a great way to extend warehouse or production space. And, if downsizing is right, the temporary building can be quickly removed.

Renting a tension fabric building provides immediate space without a long-term commitment. The structure can be placed at current facilities, on an empty field, parking lot, or adjacent to an existing building, eliminating the logistical complications of obtaining a separate remote facility that will need its own equipment, staffing, onsite management, and so on. These temporary structures are a great way to weather short-term changes in the economy or business, giving management time to assess and adjust. Many of our buildings become part of our customers’ regular infrastructure and stay in place for years, fulfilling the company’s space needs. Tension fabric buildings offer the flexibility many firms need to scale up and down quickly. Extra warehouse space, on-site project enclosures, production line expansion, repair, and maintenance facility, office, and personnel space, and almost any business activity can be accommodated in a tension fabric building. Add the advantage that they can be relocated or resized to respond to further changes that occur in the business environment, and it’s easy to see why these firms include Allsite tension fabric structures in their space planning.