Education was the star of the Inside Self-Storage World Expo, Oct. 4-6 in Tacoma, Wash. Industry professionals, eager to learn effective and immediate strategies to improve their business, packed the seminar rooms at the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center. The fall show included five tracks of seminars including one designed specifically for Canadian storage professionals and another for facility owners.
The education program at every ISS Expo is always top-notch, and this show was no exception, says Inside Self-Storage Publisher Troy Bix. We work really hard to gather the best minds in the business, people who are in the trenches every day, to help our attendees become successful business leaders in their markets.
The Day-to-Day Operation and Facility Management track drew a steady audience of managers and owners. Industry attorney Jeffrey Greenberger used humor to tackle the very serious topic of rental agreements, reminding operators the importance of updating leases often. Anne Ballard of Universal Management Co. packed her slideshow with visuals to show operators how to create exceptional customer experiences.
The Facility Marketing and Sales track address topics such as video marketing, search-engine optimization and pay-per-click advertising. Day two featured two two-hour mini clinics, one focused on sales, the other on marketing. Brad North of Advantage Consulting & Management offered techniques to turn more callers and walk-in customers into renters, plus steps to overcome objections and competitive pricing. Tom Litton of Litton Property Management outlined 50 new and innovative marketing strategies.
Every session we went to was informative, says Larry Stewart. The Tucker, Calif., resident is looking to buy his first facility. The education program totally exceeded our expectations. All the speakers and topics were great.
One standout seminar for Stewart was the session by The BSC Groups Shawn Hill, who outlined new options and strategies for facility refinancing. In the past six months, new financing options have opened for self-storage owners and investors. This includes loans from the Small Business Administration and commercial mortgage-backed securities loans.
Lynn Prather, a member of the Washington Self Storage Association, was thrilled to have the ISS show in her back yard. We dont get a lot of national shows, says Prather, despite the Northwests strong economy and successful self-storage industry.
Julie Jackson, a manager at Mason Self Storage in Mason, Ohio, enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere of the show. She said the seminars focusing on operations were ideal for her. Thats what this was all about, she says of her attendance.
Other Events
In addition to the education program, the ISS Expo also included several networking events. On the first day of the show, expo attendees enjoyed a lively Q&A session with industry experts Mel Holsinger of Professional Self Storage Management LLC and Jim Chiswell of Chiswell & Associates LLC. The interactive session allowed operators, investors, builders and other industry professionals to discuss the issues they face today. The show also featured four workshops, a Buyers & Sellers Meeting on the tradeshow floor, and roundtable discussions.
The shows 50-plus exhibitors included developers and builders, brokers, financiers, insurance experts, door manufacturers, software vendors and many others. The opening of the exhibit hall coincided with the ISS Expo cocktail reception, allowing attendees and vendors to meet and greet in a relaxed setting. ISS always brings quality prospects for vendors to talk to, says Tron Jordheim of PhoneSmart. The solid education sessions taught by industry pros is a great draw.
Las Vegas 2012
Attendees and exhibitors are already buzzing about the much-anticipated annual ISS show in Las Vegas. The industry's largest conference and tradeshow is slated for March 14-16, 2012, at the Paris Hotel & Resort. The ISS Expo in Las Vegas will be the premier show of the year, Bix says. There will be industry leaders and new vendors, innovative products and services to explore, and an outstanding education program. Its the one show self-storage professionals cannot miss.
The education program will feature the industrys top consultants, developers, marketers and online experts addressing topics such as management, marketing, financing and more. The show will also feature two days of exhibits, add-on workshops and more. Details about the show will be available at www.insideselfstorageworldexpo.com.
