Lawai Cannery Self Storage of Kalaheo, Hawaii, will host a garage sale on June 17 to benefit the Kauai Special Olympics, according to facility manager Lorna Santos. Space is available for vendors to sell items from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the day of the event. The Special Olympics will get proceeds from the vendor-registration fees. A food-vending station will be available for attendees.

Santos has spearheaded other charitable efforts through the self-storage facility. For example, in October 2009 she provided free use of a storage unit to collect donations for Oceanit, one of the facilitys clients. Oceanit was collecting items as part of a relief program after the earthquake-generated tsunami that struck the Samoan islands on Sept. 29.

Special Olympics Hawaii is founded on the belief that people with intellectual disabilities can, with proper instruction and encouragement, learn, enjoy and benefit from participation in individual and team sports, adapted as necessary to meet the needs of those with special mental and physical limitations. The Hawaii organization offers eight local programs.

Lawai Cannery Self Storage is part of a chain of self-storage facilities operated by Super Space. In addition to its single Hawaii location, Super Space has more than 30 facilities throughout California.

Big Yellow Group PLC, a self-storage operator in the United Kingdom, posted a profit during the first half of 2011.  Highlights include:

• Annual store revenue was up 7 percent to £63.7 million (U.S. $89 million)
• Total store revenue for the 52 stores was £15.3 million for the quarter (U.S. $21.3 million)
• Closing occupancy was 2,020,000 square feet across all 52 stores as of June 30, representing 61.3 percent of the storage companys 3,293,000-square-foot total capacity. 
• Rental rates have increased year-on-year but are slightly down in the quarter due in part to a significant increase in the number of new customers who benefited from concessions.
• In the same quarter last year, average achieved rental rates fell 1 percent from the quarter to March 31, 2010. 

"Given the continuing uncertainties in the macroeconomic environment it is right to remain cautious, said CEO James Gibson. We are, however, encouraged by the continuing positive performance of this business."

Big Yellow Self-Storage has more than 50 facilities in the United Kingdom, with most concentrated in Greater London.

SelfStorage.com has launched a new blog titled Storage Facilitator for self-storage operators seeking to understand and master Web-marketing strategies and new technologies. The blog features writing and original content from self-storage experts including RK Kliebenstein, Carol Krendl, Kenny Pratt, Matthew Van Horn and M. Anne Ballard.

The blog is managed by the editorial team of SpareFoot, an online self-storage marketplace that powers the rental activity of SelfStorage.com. Covered topics include social-media marketing, search-engine optimization and website best practices. Now publishing two new posts weekly, the blog is designed to be approachable and accessible to all users, regardless of Web experience or comfort level.

Keeping up with Internet and technology trends can be overwhelming, said Rachel Greenfield, the blogs editor-in-chief. Our goal is to demystify the most useful tools and strategies available to help self-storage operators pursue smart marketing efforts that grow their bottom line.

Blog readers are invited to contribute guest blog posts on any topic of expertise. Editors also accept nominations for a Manager of the Month feature, which spotlights a facility managers exceptional customer-service skills or creative marketing prowess, for example.

Bloggers Ballard, Kliebenstein, Pratt and Van Horn are also regular contributors to Inside Self-Storage (ISS) magazine and website as well as the Inside Self-Storage World Expo. ISS has provided informational and educational resources for self-storage operators, developers and investors for more than 20 years.

SelfStorage.com is an online consumer marketplace that lists thousands of self-storage units nationwide. Founded by Michael McCune, president of the Argus Self Storage Real Estate Network, the website also includes tools and content for self-storage facility owners, vendors and real estate brokers.

SpareFoot has 5,000 storage listings nationwide. The company generates revenue from transaction fees paid by those who list their space.

By Julie Purcell

Getting involved in the community is a good thing. Most of us volunteer every now and again, donate to the local food bank during the holiday season, or take a few items every so often to a local clothing charity.

From a self-storage operators perspective, is getting involved in community causes really worth the time and effort? Yes! It isnt always easy. It can be a big time commitment and take a lot of planning, but it also can be very rewarding for you and your community. Bottom line, it brings you rentals and helps a good cause.

Working with a charity doesnt necessarily mean donating moneyits so much more than that. It means putting together a mutually beneficial partnership and making use of everyones current customer base and business strengths. Here are some simple strategies to working with charitable and other community groups.

Choosing an Organization

When choosing a group with which to work, there are guidelines to follow. First, pick a charity close to your heart. If you feel really strongly about the fight against breast cancer, find an awareness group. If youre an animal lover, consider working with a pet rescue or adoption charity. If your facility is in an area where going green is gaining momentum, working with a local recycling company could be beneficial.

Consider choosing a group thats geographically close to your facility. Storage customers usually live or work within a five-mile radius of where they store. When the organization talks about how great you are and refers people to you, youll be just a short distance away. If you host events together, the vicinity will be much more convenient for everyone involved.

Choose an organization in which youll feel comfortable. Read its website and talk to a few people whove worked with the group. See if you feel at ease with the groups dynamics, goals and mission. Consider local vs. national. Keep in mind if you pick a bigger group, developing a partnership may be more time-consuming than if you work with a smaller one, but it will also have more name recognition.

Finally, look for a group thats active in its community. The more involved it is, the more opportunities it will have to spread the good word about your facility. Finding a group that needs storage itself or works with people who do is an extra perk.

Make the Connection

Once youve identified one or two charities, make the connection. The majority of organizations are always on the lookout for new volunteers and community partners. Set up a meeting with someone at the charity to discuss how you can help. Its best to have a plan of action in place before the meeting. Explain what you can offer. Here are a few ideas:

• Offer a free unit for a year for the group to store donated items, office supplies, etc.
• Allow the charity to host meetings in your conference room.
• Give a special discount to group employees and clients.
• Host a community fundraiser.
• Post the groups information at your facility and on your website.

All of these increase exposure for your facility and get potential customers to visit your site, which increases the likelihood they will store with you.

Hosting an Event

Having an onsite event is probably one of the biggest time and financial commitments youll undertake when it comes to being involved with a charity. However, it can also bring you the most potential customers. Before you host this type of event, here are a few things to consider.

Timing. Schedule the event when you have time to really give it thought. Your busiest rental month of the year may not be the best time; however, scheduling the event it for the month after will allow you to promote during your busiest time for great exposure. Also, consider good times for people to attend an event. For example, an event a few days before Christmas or during a holiday weekend may not be well-attended.

Ideally, you should start planning at least two months ahead so you have enough time to organize the details and maximize your marketing efforts. Build a master timeline to keep everything in order.

Cost. To help cover costs, ask other local business to pitch in by donating products or services. Form a planning committee and ask everyone to accomplish different tasks so everything doesnt fall on you.

Marketing. Properly market the event by posting fliers around your facility, and send a press release to local newspapers. Send invites to your current customers, drop off fliers at the local real estate office or apartment complex, and ask other businesses in your area if you can leave fliers for their customers. The bigger and more official you make the event sound, the more attention and attendance youll receive.

Creativity. Most important, have fun and make it interesting. You dont have to invest a huge budget to host a community event, just time and creativity. It can be something small such as a yard sale where the items sold benefit the charity. Consider hosting a car wash, blood drive, clothing or canned-food drive, or even a family-fun day.

Getting involved in your community garners your facility free publicity, drives potential customers to your site, supports a worthy cause, and solidifies your relationships with the local business community. Studies have shown that customers appreciate it when businesses are involved in their communities and will make their purchasing decisions accordingly. It may be the difference between someone picking you over your competitor, and having that advantage can be priceless.

Julie Purcell is the marketing director for Storage Asset Management Inc., a third-party management and consulting company that manages self-storage facilities across the mid-Atlantic and New England. For more info call 717.779.0044; visit www.storageassetmanagement.com.

Strategic Storage Trust Inc., a real estate investment trust (REIT) targeting self-storage, recently completed a $20.9 million deal that includes an approximately 1,000-unit facility and 7.3 acres of land in Ladera Ranch, Calif. The facility, which accounted for $17 million of the deal, will be rebranded as SmartStop Self Storage. The property includes approximately 114,000 square feet of rentable space on a 3.7-acre lot, but 3.6 acres of adjoining land were also included for $3.9 million.

Chairman and CEO H. Michael Schwartz stated in a news release the facility and land are located next to the company's corporate office, which will allow it to use the space for a training program and investor tours. Schwartz also said the company is currently exploring feasible uses for the adjacent vacant land.

In December 2010, Strategic Storage Trust acquired a pair of properties in Los Angeles County for approximately $26 million. The company is publicly registered and non-traded. Since its launch in 2008, its portfolio of has expanded to include 73 properties in 17 U.S. states and Canada.

California self-storage operator A-1 Self Storage is donating money to the Rady Childrens Hospital of San Diego for its Chaplaincy Program and the purchase of surgical equipment.

Opened in 1954, Rady Childrens Hospital has treated nearly 2 million sick and injured children. It is the county's only hospital dedicated solely to pediatrics and the region's designated pediatric trauma center. Its focus is on research and innovation as well as helping patients receive state-of-the-art care. The hospital includes a Center for Healthier Communities, the Chadwick Center for Children and Families, and the new Acute Care Pavilion.

This year Rady achieved rankings in all 10 pediatric specialties identified by the U.S. News & World Report 2011 edition of Americas Best Childrens Hospitals. The hospital ranked in the top 50 in the areas of orthopedics, urology, neonatology, diabetes and endocrinology, cancer, pulmonology, nephrology, cardiology and heart surgery, gastroenterology, and neurology and neurosurgery.

A-1 Self Storage has 16 locations in the San Diego County area and more than 40 locations statewide. It is the self-storage division of the Caster Cos., a third-generation, family-owned company headquartered in South California since 1959. Caster Cos. develops and manages A-1 Self Storage, A-1 Car Storage and other commercial properties in California. Its portfolio includes more than 4 million square feet of real estate.

BETCO Inc., a single-source manufacturer of self-storage metal buildings and components, has hired Rick Spry to its sales staff, representing East Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi.

A native of Fort Hood, Texas, Sprys sales background is primarily in the insurance business in North Carolina. As an Army brat, he spent his formative years following his fathers career throughout Kentucky, New Mexico, North Carolina and Texas. He received a bachelors degree from North Carolina State University in Raleigh, N.C., and a masters degree from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.

BETCO produces self-storage roll-up doors and hallway systems and also provides refurbishing of existing buildings.

Beacon Storage Co. in Oakland, Calif., was recently sold to private investors for $5.4 million. The facility consists of more than 950 self-storage units with approximately 62,000 net rentable square feet. There are also four cell towers and two billboards on the facilitys roof.

Located at 2227 San Pablo Ave., the facility is just one exit from the Mac Arthur Maze, which is the intersection of several highways. The building has excellent visibility just off highway I-980, which has a daily traffic count of more than 200,000 vehicles per day. Oakland, with a population of approximately 400,000, is in Alameda County, the sixth most populous county in the state.

Beacon had been in and out of escrow in previous years and was bank-owned at the time of sale. Carl Touhey of Performance Self Storage Group Inc. brokered the transaction.

Touhey and Jason Jay Allen, co-owners of Performance, have more than 30 years of combined self-storage experience. They offer industry brokerage, marketing and consulting services to facility owners and investors nationwide.

Sentry Self Storage LC acquired Red Self Storage, 3300 N.E. 2nd Ave. in Miami. The facility will be rebranded Sentry Self Storage.

The 45,000-square-foot facility has 670 units on nearly an acre of land in the Miami-Dade submarket in one of the major redevelopment areas in Dade County.

Based in Coral Spring, Fla., Sentry Self Storage LLC provides management and consulting services to the self-storage industry. The company has more than 40 properties under management in several states.

A body was found Saturday inside a burning car parked at a self-storage facility in Rochester, N.H.

Police responded to a fire at Rochester Self Storage about 3:30 p.m. Once the fire was contained, a body was discovered inside the car. Police identified the person as Carl Hills, 39.  The death remains under investigation.