Most Common Shipping Container Conversions in America
Shipping containers aren’t just used for shipping cargo. In recent years, they have become more and more popular for unique and inventive uses, from pop up coffee shops to mobile offices. Because they are made of heavy-duty steel, they’re durable, long-lasting and weatherproof, giving you many years of dependable service.
You can buy new containers or used containers, but whichever one you choose, you are free to get creative when it comes to its uses. Here are the top 10 most popular shipping container conversions in America for 2021.
1. Residential & Business Storage
Storage is one of the main reasons why so many people choose to put shipping containers in their back yards or on their business property. There are many things you store in a shipping container, such as:
- Furniture
- Sports equipment
- Documents
- Machinery
- Equipment
- Stoves
- Tables
- Artwork
- Newspapers
- Books
- Dryers
- Washers
- Electronics
- Home décor
- Lamps
- Mattresses
- Musical instruments
- Ovens
So, if you have extra items that you don’t have room to store in your main office or home, use a shipping container for safe, secure and weatherproof storage. If you buy new and plan to use the container for many years, this will save you those expensive monthly storage unit costs.
2. Restaurants & Bars
Just like the food truck trend that’s taking over work sites and college campuses all over the country, shipping container restaurants are also becoming popular in cities with high rent prices and limited space. Such containers are a great option for people who are very eco-conscious with a focus on sustainability.
3. Pop-up Retail Shops
From boutiques and book stores to coffee shops and sunglass bodegas, pop-up container markets are also gaining in popularity. They’re especially cost effective and convenient for seasonal businesses who are only setting up shop for a month or two, such as to sell Christmas ornaments in December, fireworks in July, and Halloween costumes in October.
4. Office Buildings
There’s a new generation infiltrating the workforce and they don’t want to be confined to boring, isolating, cookie-cutter cubicles. Instead, they’re looking for ways to modernize corporate America. That could be through the use of a single office in their backyard or an entire complex of shipping containers stacked on top of each other. These solutions give employees and business owners more flexibility, privacy and noise insulation.
5. Emergency Hospital or Clinic
If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it’s to be prepared. That couldn’t be more true than with hospitals, testing sites and clinics. These establishments have to be erected quickly and must be located away from the main facility for health reasons. These mobile clinics also provide patients a quick and easy way to drive through, get tested or treated, and then leave.
With the possibility of needing more beds than any one hospital can accommodate, pop-up urgent care sites are becoming crucial in America. Such emergency hospitals feature beds, medical equipment, medication, sanitizing items, and more.
6. Swimming Pool
With vacations cut short in the last year due to the pandemic, more and more people are deciding to vacation at home instead. With that boom has come an influx of requests for shipping container pools. You can easily and cheaply convert a shipping container or two into an in-ground pool for a fraction of the cost of a real pool, which can cost upwards of $30,000.
7. Indoor Gardens & Greenhouses
Did you know you can fit an acre’s worth of fruits, veggies, flowers and herbs into a 40-foot shipping container? It’s true. Why invest in a cumbersome and permanent greenhouse in your backyard or for your business when you can just use a shipping container and equip it with all the necessary hydroponic components? It’s time to start enjoying fresh produce no matter what the season!
8. Toilets
There never seem to be enough portable toilets whenever you attend an outdoor event such as a wedding, fair, festival, concert or football game. Owners of these events and establishments are challenged with affordable, sanitary and mobile bathrooms to accommodate a growing number of patrons and guests.
9. Disaster Shelters
The aftermath of a hurricane, tornado or other type of emergency situation can be a chaotic one. There are often not enough first aid centers, water distribution areas and shelters where people can get the help and relief they need. Shipping containers as emergency disaster shelters can quickly be deployed to accommodate displaced families who need safe and clean shelter. Storage containers fit the bill due to their durability, weatherproof nature, comfort and ready availability.
10. Workshops & Studios
The pandemic has forced more and more employees to work remotely from their home. Many people were not equipped to handle a home office, usually due to lack of space or lack of privacy. But with a shipping container in your backyard, you can get both! In addition to home offices, shipping containers can be used as yoga studios, pottery studios, recording booths for bands, and more.
Contact Transocean Equipment Management
If you have been thinking about purchasing a shipping container for any of the above purposes, we are here to help you make the right choice. Please contact us at 910-483-7828 for a free quote.
