Extra Space Storage Features Zoo Animals at Facility Grand Opening in Florida

Mar 25, 2010

Wild Grand Opening is the theme for the opening of Extra Space Storage of Naranja, in Hialeah, Fla. The event, April 10 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., will feature animals from The Zoological Wildlife Foundation.

Attendees can take pictures with zoo animals such as a camel, zebra, capuchin monkeys, feline cubs and more. There will also be free food, live entertainment and prizes including a flat-screen TV, PlayStation 3, iPod nano and one year of free storage. The first 50 people attending the event will get a free gas card. Customers can also file a simple tax return with H&R Block.

"Everyone is welcome to attend, and we extend the invitation to all area residents,” said Lili Acosta, store manager. “We are conveniently located with a variety of all climate-controlled unit sizes, a full line of moving and packing supplies, and an extensively trained staff to serve you."

Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Extra Space Storage Inc. is a fully integrated, self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust that owns and operates 766 self-storage properties in 33 states and Washington, D.C.

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U-Store-It Creates New Blog for Self-Storage Customers and the Public

Mar 25, 2010

National self-storage operator U-Store-It Trust has launched a new blog at http://blog.ustoreit.com to engage with the company’s customers and the general public, offer advice and share U-Store-It stories. The blog will feature a variety of content including tips to help people stay organized while moving or remodeling, ways to maintain belongings in storage, and insight to maximizing living space throughout the year. In addition to articles from industry and U-Store-It insiders, the blog will host contributions from other knowledgeable experts and feature articles on some of the innovative ways customers are using U-Store-It space.

U-Store-It Trust is a real estate investment trust that owns or manages 374 facilities nationwide and operates the U-Store-It Network, which consists of approximately 725 additional storage facilities.

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The Fundamentals of Face-Time Marketing

Mar 25, 2010

Isn’t technology grand?! We have a plethora of avenues at our fingertips to keep us in touch, in tune and globally aware. Within seconds we can be perusing The New York Times, The Washington Post or going global and reading about news in foreign lands we may never visit.

Then there’s the downside of all of this power at our fingertips on the Internet Highway ... information overload. We need to learn how to social media market, host community events, not be a lemming (nod to the two Bobs), audit your site, do auctions correctly ... the list goes on and on.

Being a good manager, in my humble self-evaluation, I’m constantly reading and absorbing as much as humanly possible to gain the upper hand on my friendly competition for the customers. How do I reach them? What should I work on next? Do I need to re-vamp our website to market to the Gen Y customer? Or should I stay tried and true to the current bread and butter Baby Boomer generation? What to do?

If you’re like me, you participate in so many of the wonderful offerings presented by our industry associations—signing up for an e-newsletter or three or more, association’s e-mail list, and maybe a legal missive too. With so much information to absorb and so many things coming at you it can be overwhelming.

Like taking your car off of cruise control with a flick of your finger, the Internet can also be flicked off. I’m three weeks behind in a webinar series I signed up for, and there are others I’d like to partake in. I’m a news junkie to boot, but at some point the insanity must stop. We can only take in so much information, then comes the time for action.

The best advice I have for those of you out there in the Fast Track Lane on the Information Highway alongside of me is to slow down. I realized I’m trying to go in too many directions at once when trying to determine the best avenue for our next marketing focus. Sometimes, the simplest solution can be right in front of our face, and not contained in a computer screen. Face time is one answer.

Waiting in line at the grocery checkout line, the bank, post office or hardware store is a great time to commiserate with fellow busy people who are also waiting and can give you the chance to soft sell your facility. “Gee, the wait is long, but isn’t the weather great? I’m buying new plants for our office.” With an overflowing wagonload of plants at your feet, they’re bound to ask, “How big is your office?” You can then explain you manage that great storage facility and the plants are going into the planter boxes at your front entrance.

By being empathetic to their agony of a long wait line, seeing your purchase of beautiful, colorful plants and your engaging personality, you’ll make a positive impression. If the conversation can be easily continued, ask if the person knows where you’re located. Invite him to stop by any time to use your impeccably clean restroom facilities or grab a cup of coffee. I promise it won’t be just the person you’re speaking with, but a person or two ahead and behind you in line that you’ll be imprinting with a visual image of how nice your site is as well.

Keeping in mind that you're taking a soft sell approach, start rummaging in your pockets or purse as you’re speaking and say something along, “We pay a referral fee, so if you have any friends or neighbors that may need storage ... let me see if I have any business (or referral) cards ... oh, good here’s some.” And you miraculously find three or four and to hand out, if the person wants them.

With springtime bringing more people climbing out of their winter cocoons it’s a great time for face-time marketing. While the webinars and e-news are all great tools in which to learn new marketing strategies, there’s no better marketing than human interaction.

Just being the friendly, warm you that you are can be a great boost to your rentals. Give being neighborly and friendly a try, just remember to market in a subtle and soft manner. The other person should not feel as if he just encountered a used car salesperson.

If you’re willing to give it a try, post a comment and let us know how you pulled off a face-time rental by posting a comment below or join the discussion at Self-Storage Talk.

Bill for Self-Storage Insurance Licensing Resurrected in New York

Mar 24, 2010

Senate Bill 7118, a bill clarifying the right of self-storage operators to offer point-of-rent tenant insurance, was introduced in New York on March 15 by Sen. Neil D. Breslin. SB 7118 authorizes the issuance of limited licenses to self-storage companies for sale of insurance coverage on personal property stored in self-service storage spaces. It has been referred to the Committee on Insurance.

Last year similar legislation, Senate Bill 3477, was vetoed by the governor after passing the House and Senate. Technical corrections have been made to the new bill. The national Self Storage Association and New York Self Storage Association are working to get the legislation passed.

The details of SB 7118 can be viewed at http://open.nysenate.gov/legislation/bill/S7118.

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Extra Space Storage of South Brunswick (NJ) Celebrates Opening

Mar 24, 2010

Extra Space Storage Inc. will celebrate the opening of Extra Space Storage of South Brunswick in South Brunswick, N.J., Saturday from 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

“Everyone is welcome to attend, and we extend our invitation especially to area residents," said Jacob Burkhart, divisional marketing manager. “We have a great day planned and look forward to celebrating with our new neighbors. We are excited for the chance to be a part of the community.”

The grand opening will include free food, prizes, tours, games and special promotions. It will begin with a ceremonial ribbon cutting by South Brunswick Deputy Mayor Frank Gambatese. Three members of the New York Jets Flight Crew will sign autographs and take pictures with attendees for two hours.

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Bermuda Self-Storage Facilities Leasing Up Before Opening

Mar 24, 2010

Two new self-storage facilities slated to open this spring in Bermuda are already seeing a lot of interest from the locals.

Island Self Storage, developed by Don Mackenzie, chairman of New Venture Holdings Ltd., in collaboration with business consultant Glen Smith, president of Island Solutions (Bermuda) Ltd., will open in May. Bermuda Public Storage, developed by Troy Burrows of Burrows Construction, will open in June.

Both companies began marketing the facilities months ago. Brochures detailing Island Self Storage’s services and amenities were distributed in November and December to commercial renters and condo developers, followed by a billboard campaign in January and February, and website and advertising promotions. The facility already has 20 percent leaseup.

Island will have 300 self-storage units in a variety of sizes, plus wine storage and climate control. It will also have a retail shop for packing supplies, fax and photocopy services. It’s located near one of the island’s biggest industrial estates.

"We feel the market will not only appeal to residential clients, but we are getting interest from small businesses who want small spaces on a month-by-month basis as well," Mackenzie said.

Burrows also launched a marketing campaign through the local media and signage to promote the development of Bermuda Public Storage. "We are renting storage units now on a daily basis, with businesses taking quite a bit of space and some interest from the residential market as well,” he said. “We are at about 50 percent full and expect to be up to about 65 to 70 percent by the time we are ready to open."

The 50,000-square-foot facility has two underground floors and five above ground floors, including a mezzanine level. The facility also offers specialty storage for files, wine and climate control.

Source: The Royal Gazette, Self-Storage Buildings Generate Good Take-Up Ahead of Openings

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Friend Writes Plea for Stuff in Renton Self-Storage Robbery

Mar 24, 2010

The friend of a renter at Public Storage on East Valley Road in Renton, Wash., published a public plea on King5.com, asking for help in locating items that were stolen from a self-storage unit two days ago. The poster, identified only by the username “lill0ne,” said the friend’s unit was broken into between 7 and 8:30 p.m. on March 21.

The following items were reported as stolen: 2007 Kawasaki ATV Brute Force, 2009 Kawasaki KLX 250 S (green, white and black with green D-Flec BarkBusters and a damaged front fender), 1996 Suzuki DR 350 (white with a blue seat and purple front shock boots), men’s and women’s riding gear, helmets, boots, pads, and other items.

The poster wrote that on Monday evening three trucks entered the self-storage facility, one of which was driven by a woman, and at least four units were broken into. The poster did not indicate how he or she knew this information, but did say police were viewing the surveillance tapes.

Source: King5.com, Renton Public Storage Major Robbery

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