StorageMart, an owner and operator of self-storage facilities throughout the United States and Canada, is producing a new online-video series, The Storage Medium, an industry take on TLCs reality series, Long Island Medium. The videos follow psychic Joyce Keller as she helps people unlock the energy that can exist in inanimate objects, according to the StorageMart website.

The first episode, which premiered online in January as the first of three installments, focuses on items from a StorageMart manager named Lisa in Kansas City, Mo. Keller uses psychometry to pick up vibrations and impressions from objects. In the video, she studies various items that once belonged to Lisas family members including her fathers hammer, grandfathers pilot log book and objects from her great aunt including a purse. Tron Jordheim, StorageMarts chief marketing officer, also appeared in the episode. All of the videos were recorded at StorageMart facilities.

Jordheim and Keller became friends after meeting at a conference. Keller is also a StorageMart customer, renting a unit in Secaucus, N.J. The two discussed the popularity of storage-related shows like Storage Wars, and how the belongings in self-storage units often have special meaning to renters. When Keller mentioned psychometry to Jordheim, the video concept emerged.

We hope it becomes a hit show that runs many seasons, Jordheim told the source. I think the show will be fun for believers and skeptics alike. They will both have a lot to talk about.

Jordheim also said its been incredible to watch Keller at work. He said she often makes amazing connections with people and helps them reconnect with lost loved ones. However, she sometimes doesnt make a connection with people or their objects.

We hope the camera captures the emotional connection she gets with people and how her insights really strike a chord with people, Jordheim told the source. Reading people and their things is not something one can turn on or off with a switch, and is always unpredictable. It is emotionally draining and physically exhausting to be a medium.

The show is innovative, helpful, exciting, fun and, best of all, therapeutic and restorative to people who are in emotional pain and distress, Keller added.

StorageMart owns and operates more than 137 self-storage properties across 14 states and five Canadian provinces.

SpareFoot, an online marketplace for the self-storage industry, has released 2014: A Storage Odyssey, a calendar featuring the companys employees re-enacting iconic scenes from classic movies. Among the scenes included is an image of company founders Chuck Gordon and Mario Feghali re-creating the pottery scene from Ghost.

Available for free to SpareFoots self-storage facility clients, the calendar also depicts scenes from Titanic, Flashdance, The Graduate, Superman, Harry Potter, Risky Business, Dirty Dancing, Dracula, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Die Hard, American Beauty, and 2001: A Space Odyssey.

All of the images were shot inside a 10-by-15-foot unit at a Storage Direct facility in Austin, Texas. The pictures were taken by local photographer Skyler Moore. A gallery of the images can be viewed on the SpareFoot Blog.

In 2013, SpareFoot released a pin-up style calendar featuring employees in humorous and suggestive poses inside storage units.

Founded in 2008, SpareFoot.com helps consumers find and reserve self-storage units, with comparison shopping tools that show real-time availability and exclusive deals. With a network of more than 6,500 storage facilities ranging from mom-and-pop operations to real estate investment trusts, the company reaches prospective storage renters though partnerships with brands including SelfStorage.com, Apartments.com and Penske Truck Rental.

The zoning board of appeals in Edwardsville, Ill., recently approved a special-use permit for a self-storage development that will include indoor units and outdoor-vehicle parking. The developer, 2S Properties, had previously received a special-use permit for the project at 211 Second Ave., but it only covered part of the property, requiring a second appeal. The tract of land in question was zoned M-1 manufacturing.

Although the board extended the special-use permit to the additional property, there was some debate during the meeting in regards to the outdoor parking. A representative for 2S Properties, David Gerber, told board members the plans call for an 8-foot chain-link fence for the portion that would include vehicle parking, which meets the citys height ordinance. Screening and plants would also be installed. The zoning board approved the permit contingent on adding these components. It also requested the fencing have vinyl-screening slats, board approval of planting sites before installation, and that the landscaping be maintained.

Another area of concern was the size of the buildings. The plans include one building measuring 30 feet by 160 feet or 180 feet, or about 22,000 square feet. Because a portion of the property is under power lines, approval for additional buildings will depend on input from the local power company, Ameren Illinois. If buildings cannot be erected, Gerber told the board the area would be considered for outdoor-vehicle parking, bringing the sites total exterior parking to 27,500 square feet.

You've heard the expression, "It's not what you know, it's who you know." The best bet is to cover both bases! Meet-and-learn opportunities, like the ones offered at the Inside Self-Storage World Expo, go beyond traditional networking. If you're a facility owner, manager or investor, join us at the Paris Hotel & Resort in Las Vegas, March 30-April 2, for events that will teach you about the industry and help you make valuable business connections.

Education Program

Throw out the notion of boring seminars. You won't find them at the ISS Expo! Our comprehensive line-up of classes includes engaging, interactive sessions that allow you to mingle, ask questions and explore in-depth topics. From our new "Game-Show Learning" track of seminars to panel discussions to roundtables, you'll have the chance to learn from peers as well as experts. The 2014 slate is both educational and entertaining!

Our game-show themed sessions, modeled on the popular TV programs "Celebrity Squares," "Family Feud" and "1 vs. 100," will allow you to explore industry information in a fresh way that stimulates your mind and encourages attendee communication. You can win great prizes, too. Come give them a try!

Now expanded and incorporated into the formal education package, the roundtable discussions are organized into three convenient sessions, each focused on a unique theme such as management software and add-on profit centers. These well-attended attractions allow you to talk one-on-one with well-known industry professionals and interact with colleagues in a  more intimate setting. Its a true meeting of the minds.

Q&A

Be sure to arrive early if you want to find a seat! The popular "Self-Storage Q&A" always fills up quickly. Hosted by experts Jim Chiswell and Mel Holsinger, this no-hold-barred event is your chance to ask your most burning industry questions. You'll get answers from some of the brightest minds in the business, including fellow facility operators who face challenges similar to your own. Don't miss this event on March 31, 4-5:30 p.m.

Another notable opportunity that's sure to be a big draw is the Self-Storage Legal Q&A With Jeffrey Greenberger on April 1. This open forum is a precious occasion to address your legal concerns, from lien sales to tenant bankruptcy to lawsuits and more. You won't get another chance like this to garner free legal insight!

Expo Hall

Does your facility need a new security gate? A retail supplier? Some marketing assistance? Do you need to buy buildings or doors? What about financing or software? Get down to business in the ISS Exhibit Hall, featuring more than 120 of the industry's top product and service suppliers. Open on March 31, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., and April 1, noon to 5 p.m., the expo hall is the ideal venue to meet vendors, try out products, and seek out references and referrals for the companies on your "hit list." You'll find some great "swag" here, too, so don't forget your tote bag.

Evening Receptions

This year's expo includes the annual ISS Cocktail Reception, open to all attendees, as well as several private parties for specific attendee groups. On the evening of March 31, join us in the expo hall for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, courtesy of ISS and Sentinel Systems Corp. The two-hour event kicks off at 5:30 and is included with all registration packages. Peruse the booths and set your plan for day two, or skip the business talk and just enjoy the camaraderie of fellow professionals.

Buyers & Sellers Meeting

If youre looking to acquire or sell a self-storage facility, the Buyers & Sellers Meeting is the perfect place to locate available properties or advertise one for sale. You can check or list board postings, chat with brokers, and meet potential business partners. Held on the show floor on April 1, this is a special event for the real-estate-minded.

More Than Networking

Merriam-Webster defines networking as the cultivation of productive relationships for employment or business. The ISS Expo offers so much more. If youre looking to shop for products, ask questions, gather information, make an investment or build connections, our show has a meet-and-learn opportunity that's just right for you.

For the complete agenda and details regarding events, exhibits, seminars, speakers, workshops and more, visit www.insideselfstorageworldexpo.com .

Self-storage investors Steve and Chris Jensen of Escondido, Calif., recently purchased Performance Plaza Self Storage in Fort Mohave, Ariz., for $1.04 million. The property at 5630 S. Highway 95 comprises 28,175 square feet in 321 units, six vehicle spaces, eight retail suites and two residential apartments. The facility was 50 percent occupied at the time of closing.

According to a real estate listing on LoopNet.com, one of the residential apartments is currently rented, but the second space could be used for an onsite manager. The property is 2.31 acres and features a remodeled office. The facility was sold by a family trust.

Bill Alter and Denise Nunez of Rein & Grossoehme Commercial Real Estate negotiated the deal. The firm specializes in the sale of investment properties and commercial leasing. The transaction was the 122nd self-storage closing handled by Alter and Nunez.

Attendees of the concurrent education program at the Inside Self-Storage World Expo in Las Vegas on April 1 will have the opportunity to participate in a three-session Game-Show Learning Track inspired by the classic TV programs “Family Feud,” “Hollywood Squares” and “1 vs. 100.” The one-hour seminars are designed to provide educational content on self-storage marketing, facility operation, and feasibility and due-diligence issues, in a fun and interactive environment.

Beginning at 8:30 a.m., the game-show track will kick off with "Self-Storage Family Feud," hosted by Rachel Greenfield, marketing manager, and Barry Finder, client relations manager, of industry online marketplace SpareFoot. The marketing-related game questions will cover customer needs, facility differentiation, online strategies, rate enhancement, multi-channel marketing and more.

The 9:45 a.m. session, "Self-Storage Celebrity Squares," will focus on facility operation. Hosted by Stacie Maxwell, vice president of marketing at third-party management firm Universal Storage Group, this session is a spin on “Hollywood Squares” and will feature several well-known names in the industry serving as celebrities, including Universal’s president Anne Ballard (aka “The Hat Lady”) and Dan and Laura Dotson of "Storage Wars" fame. Questions will be directed to panelists about key operational issues, but contestants from the audience will have to determine if the celebrities are telling the truth or lying to successfully complete Tic Tac Toe and win prizes.

The third session, "1 vs. The Audience," at 11 a.m. will be patterned after the popular “1 vs. 100” game show. In this version hosted by Jim Chiswell, president of consulting firm Chiswell & Associates LLC, the questions will hone in on issues associated with conducting feasibility studies for new self-storage projects and acquisition due diligence for existing facilities. Single contestants will go up against audience members serving as “the mob,” as they vie for prizes. Topics covered during the session include construction costs, common due-diligence challenges, competition examinations, site demographics and more. Chiswell will also share case-study information for those interested in building or buying a self-storage facility.

The expo’s concurrent education program, March 31 and April 1, includes 10 tracks covering issues related to self-storage ownership, management, marketing, investment, finance, building, development, liability and more. Five add-on workshop options are also available.

The conference and tradeshow will take place at the Paris Hotel & Resort. Extended early-bird registration rates are available through Feb. 13.

Created for self-storage industry owners, managers, developers, investors and suppliers, the ISS Expo comprises four days of education, exhibits and networking opportunities. The event focuses on strategies for generating revenue, industry best practices, current trends, and new products and services. Details and online registration are available at www.insideselfstorageworldexpo.com.

MiniCo Insurance Agency LLC, a provider of insurance products for the self-storage industry, has named Gerry Corrigal and Rick Gabrielle of McElhoes & Duffy Insurance Brokers in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, as preferred brokers for its subsidiary company, MiniCo Insurance Agency of Canada Inc.

Corrigal and Gabrielle will serve self-storage operations in Manitoba. They join MiniCos list of Canadian preferred brokers that includes Rob Clarke of Clarke Insurance Services Inc. in Alberta, Dave Ebner of Johnston Meier Insurance Agencies Group in British Columbia, and Sean Bell of Canadian Insurance Brokers Inc. in Ontario.

Our preferred-broker system has proven to be an effective method of communicating with Canadian self-storage operators in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario, said MiniCo President and CEO Mike Schofield. We look forward to working with our newest brokers in Manitoba.

Phoenix-based MiniCo has provided self-storage insurance programs since 1974. The company offers multiple specialty property and casualty insurance products for a variety of unique industries and exposures and carries an A.M. Best rating of A. MiniCo is a member of the Aran Insurance Services Group of Rockville Centre, N.Y.

The planning commission in Midland, Mich., unanimously approved the site plan for a 20,900-square-foot self-storage facility at its Jan. 28 board meeting. The 1.4-acre property at 1547 Washington St. is near the Midland Towne Center commercial plaza and Midland Fire Station No. 1. Developed by Rapanos Family LC, a privately held company in Naples, Fla., it will feature four buildings with a total of 166 units.

Brad Kaye, Midlands director of planning and community development, told the source the site plan calls for the construction of a board fence along the propertys north side. Trees will also be planted to act as a buffer between the facility and nearby residences.

The Midland City Council is expected to review the development request at its Feb. 10 meeting.

Self-storage financing firm The BSC Group LLC reported a record year in 2013, closing 54 loans on 99 properties totaling more than $319 million. The deals included more than 30 small-balance loans under $5 million that used a wide range of funding types including commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS), Small Business Administration (SBA) loans and balance-sheet executions.

This past year we were able to take advantage of the abundant liquidity in the capital markets, said Devin Huber, principal. Based on our clients current demand for financing, the low interest rate environment and the continued liquidity in the capital markets, we expect 2014 to be another strong year.

Among its deals, BSC Group helped Storage Pros Management LLC secure nine loans on 29 properties totaling more than $69 million. The company placed more than $45 million in debt for Storage Pros in 2012. Late last year, BSC Group also closed a $51.75 million CMBS refinance loan for a 10-property portfolio operated by iStorage.

We owe a huge debt of gratitude to our loyal customers for our continued success, said Shawn Hill, also a principal.

BSC provides financial and loan advisory, mortgage brokerage, and loan-workout solutions to commercial real estate owners and investors, with a special emphasis on the self-storage market. Through its capital source network, the company provides access to debt and equity financing for commercial real estate investments nationwide.