You’ve done the research, read all of the articles, and done the math. Now you know that it all makes sense.
It’s time to join the likes of Kroger, Bed Bath & Beyond, CDW, the Honest Company, Fanatics, Levi Strauss, Haas Automotive, Sephora, and many others to call the Las Vegas Valley the home for your new manufacturing, operations, warehouse, or west coast distribution center.
Congratulations! Now what are the next steps to a successful transition?
There are plenty of challenges involved with moving your business or opening additional operations. One of the more complex questions involves navigating how to find the right facility.
Do you build, buy, or lease?
What’s the right facility size (not just for what you need now, but also for your growth strategy)?
What are all the local fire and building codes to consider so it’s done right?
Does what worked for you where you’re coming from make sense for you to do the same way here?
There is no one-answer-fits-all and the solution is very operation-specific, which is why locally based professionals are the best partners to help you navigate the terrain.
To help get you started, here’s three of my top suggestions that will put you, your company, and your employees in the best position to make this transition as smooth as possible.
1. Contact the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance
Before you do anything else and if you haven’t done this already, contact the LVGEA (www.lvgea.org). Established in 2012 to carry out an economic diversification strategy that facilitated the rise of a restructured regional economic development entity, the LVGEA provides complimentary assistance and resources that will help to make your entrance into the area as easy as possible.
They have a virtual library of local data and demographics, and their team will also walk you through every available incentive program available to your company. They also assist with any questions you have on the area.
2. Partner with a local commercial/industrial real estate team who understands your business.
When thinking about commercial space, CBRE, Collier’s, and Cushman & Wakefield usually come to mind, and for good reasons. However, I would encourage you to reach out to one of our own local giants: NAI’s Larkin Industrial Group.
Having been in the warehousing and distribution industry for almost 20 years, I know the value of working with professionals who you can trust and can work with easily, but who also know what they’re doing. The Larkin Team fits this bill perfectly.
They have the ideal mix of nationwide presence and local insight that you’ll need along with the veteran knowledge of street-tested professionals, and I’ve personally never seen a group so relentlessly focused on putting their customer in the best position to win.
Just trust me on this one, they’re more than worth the call.
3. Contact me.
Yes, you’re correct. It is, in fact, a shameless plug for me, your local warehouse solutions expert. But after watching the mistakes some companies have made when arriving here, setting up shop, and then being called in afterwards to help with a botched-up deal, I will make the plea.
I’ve seen it countless times where material handling equipment dealers, rack resellers, distributors, or labor companies from out of state find out the hard way that the only entities that can apply for a permit anywhere in Nevada are those with a Nevada State Contractors License. Good News, we have one.
I’ve visited other companies in the area who, after deciding that Nevada was a perfect home for their new distribution center, had the vendor they’ve worked with for years do a layout that was torn to shreds due to it being non-compliant with local building code. Good News, we know all the building codes.
Companies have called me with the new lease already signed on a beautiful new 50,000 square foot facility with a 32’ clear height only to discover later that due to a combination of their commodity code and the existing sprinkler system that they could only stack their product 20’ high. Good News, we know all the fire codes too.
The stories of mistakes go on and on and every one of them is true, but the reality is that no matter how good your warehouse equipment partner from Chicago, Nashville, Dallas, or Philadelphia may actually be, they simply cannot know every single consideration that must be made for the move to Nevada.
Our team does, and simply put there is value in destination-based partnerships. And we’re here to help!
Contact me for a free consultation on setting up your new operation or distribution center in Nevada. We can literally provide you with every piece of material-moving, storage, and any other warehouse equipment that you’ll need for your new facility, now and going forward.
Nevada is a great place for business, and we’ll make the process seamless. Welcome to your new home!
Jeremy Shaw
Southwest Warehouse Solutions
Las Vegas, NV 89115
