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Retail Shipping Containers

Set up a modern, stylish and flexible space for your retail business. Shipping container shops and stalls are cost-effective, versatile, and can be installed virtually anywhere for less than it costs to rent on the high street.

Retail Shipping Containers

Retail Containers for Sale

Buy a Retail Container made to your exact specifications

Retail Containers for Hire

Hire one of our pre-configured retail-ready containers.

Trade from a space that’s uniquely yours and designed specifically for your business. We can install counters and desk space, electrics and heating, WiFi connectivity, windows, doors, and skylights, and respray the container exterior with your branded colours and logo. This is a truly flexible space that you can make your own.

You can feel confident about security and safety too. Padlocks will keep the high-security doors secure while you’re not trading and we can install manual and automatic security shutters as well as gas strut operated fitted hatches over the windows and doors.

  • Made from Corten Steel (COR-TEN)
  • Floor crafted from Marine Grade Plywood (27mm thick)
  • Windproof and watertight
  • High-security steel doors
  • ForkLift pockets/slots
  • Multiple lasing points
  • Multiple air vents
  • New containers are available in green (RAL6007) or blue (RAL5010 or RAL5013)
  • Used containers can be painted any RAL colour requested

Conversions and customisations available:

  • Lining and insulation (plywood, melamine boarding, food-grade and medical grade materials)
  • Counters and desks
  • Racking and shelving
  • Condensation prevention installation
  • Security padlocks with multiple keys
  • Electrics, heating, and lighting installation
  • Add your business’ branding
  • Gas strut operated fitted hatches
  • Manual and automatically operated roller shutters
  • Doors, windows, and skylights
  • Finishes and colours
  • Any bespoke fabrication required

About our new containers

Our ‘One Trip’ shipping containers are brand new and built to ISO shipping standards in China before arriving in the UK after a single cargo trip. All new containers are fabricated from corrosion-resistant Corten steel, wind and watertight, include a factory fitted lockbox, and can be used for domestic and commercial storage, as well as converted for a variety of different uses.

About our used containers

Used shipping containers are the most popular container sold in the UK and are made to full ISO standards. Our range of used containers have been decommissioned from their fleet before sale so you can expect some minor dents and signs of age including past repairs, but they are still guaranteed to be strong, secure, and wind and watertight unless otherwise stated. Please note, that used containers are not universally stackable. If you want to create multiple storeys we can help you choose the most appropriate containers.

Talk to our team to get a fast quote and any information you need.

Looking for a completely custom solution?

We have a wide range of base containers that can be customised to your needs, however we realise that sometimes you need something completely ‘Outside the box’.

Contact us and one of our experts will be in touch to help design the container of your dreams

Our top sellers

Twist Locks - Stacking Pins

Twist Locks – Stacking Pins

Starting from£30.00 ex. VAT£36.00 inc. VAT

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Lock Box (weld on)

Lock Box (weld on)

Starting from£25.00 ex. VAT£30.00 inc. VAT

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Retainer Catch

Retainer Catch

Starting from£3.65 ex. VAT£4.38 inc. VAT

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Bridge Clamps

Bridge Clamps

Starting from£29.00 ex. VAT£34.80 inc. VAT

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All Products

Our containers in action

See some of the ways our amazing customers are using their containers.

Case Study: Shipping Container Museum & Workshop Case Studies
Case Study: Shipping Container Museum & Workshop

In the pursuit of enhancing their museum and workshop facility, the Locomotive Society sought a creative solution to provide a welcoming space for their members, while adhering to the historical aesthetic of their railway centric environment.

Case Study: Garden Center Case Studies
Case Study: Garden Center

Universal Containers embarked on an exciting project to enhance a garden centre’s retail experience by supplying and customising two shipping container cabins. The goal was to seamlessly link these cabins on-site and transform them into a vibrant and functional gift shop.

Case Study: Outdoor Catering Unit Case Studies
Case Study: Outdoor Catering Unit

A restaurant had been operating successfully for several years. However, due to increasing demand and limited space within the restaurant premises, the owners decided to expand their operations by introducing an outdoor catering unit.

Case Study: Shipping Container Ticket Office Case Studies
Case Study: Shipping Container Ticket Office

The local rugby club had been using a small, outdated ticket booth that no longer met their needs. The club’s management sought a more efficient and visually appealing solution that could accommodate their growing fan base.

Case Study: Chemical Store Shipping Container Conversion Case Studies
Case Study: Chemical Store Shipping Container Conversion

The client, an Industrial Chemical Storage Company specialising in chemical production and storage, faced the challenge of storing hazardous chemicals on their premises while adhering to stringent health and safety regulations.

Dropside Shipping Container Conversion Shipping
Dropside Shipping Container Conversion

Universal Containers take pride in continually pushing the boundaries in product development within the shipping container industry.

32ft × 10ft Stacked Cabins
32ft × 10ft Stacked Cabins

These 2 large 32x10ft cabins were built for a British transport company. They requested a large space to act as a welfare facility for drivers and staff in the peak district. Due to the customer’s specific requirements, one unit was not large enough so we suggested 2 units, however floor space was an issue on-siteContinue reading “32ft × 10ft Stacked Cabins”

32×10 Green Office Offices
32×10 Green Office

This particular office unit was completed for a North-West-based container hire company.

20×10 Gas Bottle Store
20×10 Gas Bottle Store

Custom Built Atex Coshh store for storing gas bottles. This unit was custom built with corrugated steel panels 20ft long x 10ft wide. It had a fully ventilated floor from galvanised steel mesh, as well as 4 aluminium louver vents in the walls. We also fitted galvanised box section racks with chains on to holdContinue reading “20×10 Gas Bottle Store”

Corrugated 32×10 Office / Store room
Corrugated 32×10 Office / Store room

Corrugated steel cabin 32ft x 10ft with adjustable jacklegs anti vandal steel personnel door and anti-vandal aluminium sliding windows in steel shutters. Painted externally in non-corrosive container paint in a vibrant red. Internally with walls where lined in a cost-effective melamine faced chipboard and fully insulated throughout in Rockwool. The floor had hard wearing vinylContinue reading “Corrugated 32×10 Office / Store room”

20ft Multi-Bay Unit
20ft Multi-Bay Unit

Standard shipping container transformed into a bespoke storage unit. With multiple purposes across many industries. For example, self-storage companies or engineering companies for members of staff to lock tools away when not in use. The unit was split evenly into 8 small rooms approximately 5ftx4ft each by steel partition walls for security. Each room withContinue reading “20ft Multi-Bay Unit”

10ft Generator Housing Container
10ft Generator Housing Container

10ft container conversion for an off-grid company custom built to house a very large generator. The customer wanted a unit with multiple apertures and louver vents to allow for ventilation, they wanted all openings to have cover hoods to help stop water coming in. The Universal CAD team had a meeting with the client toContinue reading “10ft Generator Housing Container”

40ft × 12ft Truck Stop Shower Unit Site Accommodation
40ft × 12ft Truck Stop Shower Unit

This 40ft x 12ft custom built flat panel cabin was a container conversion project completed for Eddie Stobart’s site.

Are Shipping Containers the Solution to Homelessness? Site Accommodation
Are Shipping Containers the Solution to Homelessness?

Within today’s economic climate, many of us face struggles surrounding our finances.

Cladded Container Bar
Cladded Container Bar

A simple 20ft container converted for a customer who needed a unit for 2 uses, sometimes required as just a basic store. Then sometimes they wanted to use it for an office space. So we fitted 2 windows with steel security shutters and fitted an anti-vandal steel personnel door for easier access, especially when beingContinue reading “Cladded Container Bar”

20ft Cladded Store
20ft Cladded Store

Storage container for Sliver cross baby in Skipton, our client wanted a cladded container to be used to store stock in there Skipton depot. As the unit was cladded externally in high graded larch cladding, we used a used 20ft container to help keep the cost down (as the container condition wouldn’t be seen) toContinue reading “20ft Cladded Store”

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