The national vacancy rate for industrial real estate is a very low 4.7% and falling. The pandemic-related rise of eCommerce, combined with companies holding onto more inventory to guard against supply chain disruptions, has led to a tight real estate market where companies are battling for available space.
Though less tight than the major markets, capacity can still be hard to come by if you’re looking for a warehouse in North Carolina. In this article, we’ll tell you about your current NC warehousing options – including one you may not be aware of: a pad-in-place option in burgeoning Rocky Mount, NC.
Warehouses in North Carolina: what are your options?
Your basic options for acquiring warehouse space in North Carolina – or anywhere else – are as follows.
- You buy or lease the space yourself and spend the time, money, and resources necessary to operate it. You then manage your warehouse yourself or hire a third-party logistics (3PL) provider to staff it and run it for you (i.e., a 3PL contract warehousing arrangement).
- You can partner with a 3PL provider that already has warehouse space in your desired location. This can work as a contract warehousing arrangement in which you commit to a full building that the 3PL owns and operates solely your behalf. Or, with public warehousing, you can simply pay for the space and services you need within a 3PL warehouse that you share with other ‘tenant’ companies.
At Kanban Logistics, located in Eastern North Carolina, we have a third option that is a rarity in the current market. Adjacent to our existing 175,000-sq-ft distribution center in Rocky Mount, NC Kanban has a pad in place for a new, as-large-or-larger facility that can be built to suit your precise needs.
This can include involving Kanban in your day-to-day logistics operations or going it alone.
For example, you can:
- Build a combined factory/distribution center, with Kanban operating the DC
- Lease and have Kanban act as your 3PL provider, or
- Build and operate the full facility yourself
Features at a glance:
- Shovel-ready/pad-in-place space designed to accommodate a facility 175,000+ square feet in size
- Located less than 2 hours from the ports of Norfolk and Wilmington, and minutes from I-95 –reach 70% of the U.S. population within one day over-the-road
- Ample parking lot space for trucks and personnel
- Rocky Mount location is home to the new CSX intermodal terminal
Why look for a warehouse in North Carolina?
North Carolina is a business-friendly state that has just been voted the Best State for Business in 2022 by CNBC. The following are a few reasons why.
Prime East Coast location: North Carolina sits smack in the middle of the East Coast, midway between Miami and Boston, with easy access to several vital interstate highways like I-95, I-85, and I-40. It contains multiple freight rail systems and is also home to seaports in Wilmington and Morehead City, as well as two inland ports. The Port of Virginia in Norfolk is also accessible to much of Eastern North Carolina.
Lower logistics costs: As noted by FORBES, North Carolina ranks #4 in the U.S. in terms of favorable business costs. That extends to logistics as NC has lower costs for industrial space, lower labor costs, and lower transportation costs (e.g, access to lower-cost rail and the ability to reach 70% of the U.S. OTR within one business day).
Continued infrastructure investment: North Carolina continues to invest in its infrastructure, specifically its ports and intermodal capabilities. Port infrastructure enhancements in recent years have included new neopanamax cranes at the Port of Wilmington, new partnerships with major container shipping alliances and port renovations to accommodate larger ships. On the intermodal side, the CSX Carolina Connector can transfer freight from rail to truck (or from rail to rail).
Turn to Kanban for North Carolina warehousing
If you’re considering calling the Tar Heel State home for your warehousing operations, be sure to consult with a third-party logistics (3PL) provider that can show you around the block. Kanban Logistics is one such 3PL. In addition to its new pad, Kanban offers over one-million square feet of Eastern North Carolina warehouse space to support your distribution needs. To learn more about Kanban’s services, or to inquire about the buildable site, contact us today.
