A new Storagebase Self Storage facility in Wednesbury, England, was designed to be eye-catching and energy efficient. The £5 million project features a seven-story building constructed with 5,200 square meters of brightly colored insulated panels on the exterior walls and roof. The work was performed by Hallford Refurbishments Ltd., a company that specializes in the design, supply and installation of metal-roof and wall products throughout the United Kingdom.

“Using Kingspan insulated panels with contrasting colors was a relatively simple way to create a visually stunning and unique building,” said Simon Hallowell, director of Hallford Refurbishments. “Kingspan provided very valuable assistance on the Storagebase project during the initial design work. They also helped us overcome some of the challenging access issues on site.”

In addition to their flexibility in design aesthetics, the panels provide energy efficiency, fire safety and air tightness, according to the source. Inside, the storage facility offers more than 40 unit sizes.

“Functionality and speed of construction will always come first for storage buildings, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be interesting architecturally,” said Martin Robinson, national sales manager for Kingspan Insulated Panels, a U.K.-based manufacturer that expanded to North America in 2007. "The team at Hallford Refurbishments has done an excellent job in showing what can be achieved with Kingspan insulated roof and wall panels and a little bit of imagination, creating a building that is not only highly functional, but also makes an interesting and colorful architectural statement.”

Storagebase is the operating brand of Spensa Holdings Ltd. Founded in 2002, the privately owned company operates several self-storage facilities in the United Kingdom.

Inside Self-Storage (ISS), a provider of ongoing information and education resources for industry professionals, will host a two-day Owner/Investor Executive Symposium, Sept. 23-24, at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers in Chicago. The symposium consists of two separate events: a Self-Storage Owner/Operator Executive Conference, designed for existing facility operators, on Sept. 23; followed by a Self-Storage Developers Conference on Sept. 24, targeted toward interested investors and developers as well as existing owners who wish to expand their business.

ISS hosted its first regional developers conference last month in New York City. “The conference in New York was tremendous,” said Troy Bix, vice president of ISS. “Based on the feedback we received from attendees, we believe hosting a second event in the Midwest and pairing it with an operational workshop will be of tremendous value to owners, developers and investors in that region.”

The Owner/Operator Executive Conference will address executive-level issues pertaining to self-storage facility operation. It will include industry principles and best practices designed to help operators run an efficient, profitable business, meet and exceed customer expectations, and generate more revenue.

The full-day session will be conducted by Bob Copper, owner and partner in charge of Self Storage 101, an industry consulting firm specializing in operational improvement, training, audits, feasibility and market studies, and due diligence. Copper is a prominent industry consultant, author, speaker and trainer, as well as a self-storage owner.

The Developers Conference will provide expert insight to ground-up construction, conversions and remodeling projects, and include case studies to illustrate specific development strategies. The conference will begin with an overview of the current development climate and then unfold in dedicated segments covering all aspects of the development process including feasibility, financing, new construction, the conversion process, facility renovation and expansion, and boat and RV storage. Time will be allotted for a question-and-answer period with the presenters.

Speakers for the Developers Conference have not yet been announced. Seating will be limited for both events. Additional details will be announced at www.insideselfstorage.com/conf.

For nearly 25 years, ISS has provided informational resources to self-storage owners, managers, developers and investors. Its educational offerings include a monthly magazine, annual conferences and tradeshows, an extensive website, an online store, and Self-Storage Talk, the industry’s largest online community.

OpenTech Alliance Inc., a Phoenix-based provider of self-serve kiosks, call-center services and other technology for self-storage businesses, has been named one of the Top Companies to Work for in Arizona in an annual list presented by online jobsite CareerBuilder.com. OpenTech was among 75 companies selected by CareerBuilder, consulting firm BestCompaniesAZ LLC, research business Best Companies Group and Republic Media, a Phoenix media group that includes “The Arizona Republic” newspaper and affiliated television news and websites.

Companies that made the list were selected based on employer practices as well as employee engagement and survey scores, according to a press release issued by BestCompaniesAZ. Survey topics included human-resources programs, benefits, company diversity, workplace culture and employee satisfaction. The businesses were honored during an awards breakfast reception in Phoenix on June 27.

“Our goal with the ‘Top Companies’ program is to assist in advancing Arizona into the future as a leader in creating quality, successful companies, thus positively impacting our local economy and attracting the top talent all businesses need to succeed,” said Denise Gredler, CEO of BestCompaniesAZ. “This year’s winners scored exceptionally high in employee-engagement scores and clearly understand the benefits of employee surveying and responsive leadership. It sets them apart.”

“We feel attracting and retaining talented employees is more critical than attracting and retaining customers, no offense to our customers,” noted Robert Chiti, president and CEO at OpenTech. “Our people are what make OpenTech successful and why we continue to deliver innovative solutions that improve the financial performance of self-storage operators across the globe.”

OpenTech employee perks include organic fruit deliveries twice per week, chair massages in the office, premium memberships to automotive and travel club AAA, and 160 hours per year of paid time off after 10 years of service, according to the company profile included in the online list.

“We are proud that our employees feel so good about working at OpenTech, even though we do not buy them lunch every day or throw beer parties at the office. Their motivation is more serious. They are working on developing their skills and accomplishing their goals,” Chiti said. “Our culture is based on doing it right and continuous improvement, which is evident in all of our employees’ behavior. They give it their all because they want to make the life of our customers—and their customers—simpler and less stressful.”

OpenTech provides several models of INSOMNIAC self-serve kiosks as well as a range of self-storage rental solutions including the INSOMNIAC Live! Call Center, INSOMNIAC Online Web and mobile applications, LiveAgent! software products, and the INSOMNIAC ILock Security System, all available through the company's Self-Storage Cloud.

The U-Haul Co. of Tidewater in Portsmouth, Va., and the U-Haul Co. of Raleigh in Raleigh, N.C., are offering 30 days of free self-storage or U-Box portable storage to East Coast residents who’ve been affected by Hurricane Arthur, which made landfall on July 3 in North Carolina.

The U-Box program enables customers to store their goods in a storage pod, which they can move to a location of their choice using a custom-designed trailer. Alternatively, they can store the container at a U-Haul location or request to have it delivered to a specific site.

Individuals who want more information about the 30-day storage offer can contact one of the following U-Haul centers:  

• Tidewater, 2855 Airline Blvd., 800.633.4647
• Raleigh, 3001 Capital Blvd., 800.850.2330

In addition, those in need of storage boxes can take advantage of the U-Haul Take a Box, Leave a Box program. U-Haul invites local residents to drop off their reusable boxes and bins at its locations, making them available for free to anyone who needs them. Customers can also purchase supplies such as tarps and propane.  

“I hope this effort will help provide assistance to families across the East Coast who need support,” said Ray Smith, area district vice president. “We will do our best to help our friends and neighbors in this time of need.”

Hurricane Arthur brought 100 mph winds and heavy rain to East Coast residents. The storm caused flooding, downed trees and power outages in Maine, North Carolina and Vermont. It was downgraded to a post-tropical storm on July 5 as it moved into Southeast Canada. It was the first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season.

Established in 1945, U-Haul International Inc. has more than 40 million square feet of storage space at more than 1,000 owned and managed facilities throughout North America.

By G5

Getting your self-storage facility well-ranked on search engines has a number of benefits including increased brand awareness, website traffic and, optimally, customer conversions. A traditionally undervalued benefit of search engine optimization (SEO) is the brand legitimacy that’s carried with ranking well. A prominent listing is an implied endorsement from the search engine, and your brand is most likely perceived as an authority in your industry.

Accordingly, ranking well also means delivering the searcher—typically a prospective self-storage tenant with an immediate need—with the digital experience he’s seeking, including direct access to information or an easy transition to a “next step,” such as inventory availability or pricing.

Last year was a wild ride in the SEO world. The list below summarizes key terms and tactics that will help you gain better online ranking for your self-storage business.

• Authority: After 10 months when Google’s public-authority measure wasn’t updated and there was plenty of speculation that it would be gone forever, this public measure of authority was finally updated in December 2013. It remains one of the hundreds of items Google's algorithm looks at when evaluating which results to return in the search engine results pages (SERPs).
• Backlinks: This is another word for inbound links that, when ethically gained, are still helpful for improving organic rankings. Search engines continue to develop new ways to find—and punish—sites with unethical link-building practices.
• Content: Any guide to SEO success would be positively incomplete without a mention of content—specifically fresh and high-quality content. Google’s own quality guidelines should be your BFF.
• Conversion rate optimization (CRO): Actively working to improve conversion rates is a good SEO move because it tells Google that readers find your content helpful and your site is sticky (more on this below).
• Duplicate content: Generally, you should avoid this stuff at all costs. So long as the vast majority of your on-page copy is original, you’re likely in the clear.
• GYM: This isn’t referring to where you go to burn calories. It’s actually a common acronym for “Google, Yahoo and Microsoft (Bing),” the three largest search engines. Yahoo and Bing are sometimes forgotten, but they still capture 8.1 percent and 3.4 percent of U.S. search traffic, respectively.
• HTML: The native language of search engines and the basic structure that holds up your Web pages.
• Responsive design: A responsive website uses a code base that allows it to appear properly proportioned and easy to read on any device, like a tablet or a smartphone. These sites can improve conversions, as self-storage traffic from mobile devices is increasing.
• Indexed pages: The number of pages on your site that are crawled and indexed by Google’s bots.
• Latent semantic indexing: A term you can use to sound smart, or a descriptor of the fact that Google’s gotten much better at indexing the right results for variations of longtail (three or more words) phrases.
• Meta descriptions: The description of your website pages that appear in SERPs. Meta descriptions are primarily a function of user experience, and the best marketers use this space to hook readers’ attention.
• Natural (or organic) search results: The result of an awesome SEO strategy, these are the search results that are earned, not bought like paid ads.
• Social sharing: Google's looking more and more at social shares as a signal of content quality and, thus, a reason to elevate a site's content in the SERPs. So for better SEO, you should be incorporating social sharing and social media marketing into your inbound marketing.
• Stickiness: A measure of how well-designed and enticing your Web pages are. Sticky pages draw in readers to engage with your website or convert into leads.
• Time on page: How long Web visitors spend on each page, a crucial measure for determining the relevance and quality of your Web content.
• User-generated content: The practice of incorporating other people's words, images and videos into your own outreach for social proof of your shared awesomeness.
• White-hat SEO: An old-school but entirely relevant term used to describe the only proven way to win the Google game. Publish quality content, build relationships with other bloggers, maintain your community and repeat. The opposite would, of course, be black-hat SEO.
• XML sitemaps: Think of your website’s XML sitemap as an open letter to Google. Technical marketers should learn to review and update this content to communicate whether pages should be indexed.

Keeping up with SEO best practices can be challenging but also critical to your online presence. Use this list of terms and tactics as building blocks to expand your SEO knowledge and launch initiatives to improve organic rankings and traffic to your website.

G5 is a provider of Digital Experience Management software and services for the self-storage industry. For more information, call 800.656.8183; visit http://getg5.com.

By Kay Miller Temple

They’ve plotted. They’ve planned. They know which camera, which gate, which unit is vulnerable. Criminals are imaginative. They’ll always be working on their next great heist.

With modern security technology, self-storage facilities can minimize the chance of seeing their business appear in tomorrow’s crime headlines. Without compromising customer service or your bottom line, do you have all the components you need? Here are a few things you can add to your security arsenal to minimize crime and maximize facility revenue.

Standard Components, New Functions

Some products, like access gates, keypads and video cameras, have remained steady staples of self-storage security, but their features have evolved to include many more options. New wireless and mobile technology provides a lot more flexibility to facility owners and customers alike. Remote-access tools are also hot on the market.

For example, keypads come customizable with a variety of amenities. Some models work via a mobile app that allows users to enter their access code via their smartphone or other device. Other features include intercoms, pinhole cameras and proximity readers for card or key fob entry. “Keypads are being sought after due to the adaptability to each customer’s specific needs,” says John Boire, an electrical engineer for Stor-Guard LLC, a company that specializes in security solutions.

Video cameras have also improved. Software can link a camera to a specific door opening and include a time stamp. "This allows the operator to have instant viewing, rather than the typical search through countless hours of DVR files," Boire says.

As security amenities become more automated, the difference for operators is apparent on their bottom line because automation improves revenue, says Tony Gardner, vice president of QuikStor Security & Software, which provides software and security products. "Operators are looking to cut costs, get more from their security and access-control solutions, and expect more value-added functionality from their security solutions," he says.

Hot Sellers: Alarms and Controllers

An improved economy has caused many self-storage owners to open their purse strings for the purchase of door alarms and controllers. This year, QuikStor has seen a “dramatic upswing” in wireless unit-alarm sales. "More and more operators are acknowledging the value in setting themselves apart from the pack by offering a higher level of security and peace of mind to their tenants," Gardner says.

Individual door alarms not only provide proactive theft prevention, they can serve as a marketing advantage. Jon Loftin, vice president of business development for PTI Systems, which provides hardware security systems, says having door alarms improves a facility’s public image. "No one wants a security breach to be the first thing people see about the facility when potential customers search the Internet for self-storage," he says.

Also on the hot-commodity list are door controllers. Those that have the ability to run on a network are especially popular. "The controller’s information can be sent over a network and be received at a main office, which allows the operator to see and control the activity of a remote site," Boire says.

2016 Gate Changes

Gates are among a facility’s most valued security components, and important changes are coming in 2016. Underwriters Laboratory (UL), an independent safety company that provides certification for electrical products, is changing codes for automated gate systems and gate-associated devices, referred to as UL 325. Predictably, these updates will trickle down to fire and building codes.

The changes will only apply to new installs of vertical-pivot, horizontal-slide and swing gates, but not barrier gates. The changes involve new ways that communication between the gate and its intricate protection devices, such as photo eyes and contact sensors, must happen, says Brian Fritz, the national sales manager for Autogate Inc., a company that manufactures vertical-pivot and lift-gate entry systems.

"Typically, if a photo eye fails to work now, the gate will continue to function," Fritz says. "In 2016, the gate will not function. If the photo eye dies, is absent or is otherwise inoperable, the gate shuts down. 2016 will make it hard to cut corners and also make owners aware if a safety device is not working.”

Price Considerations

Though creating a secure property is a top priority for self-storage operators, there’s no avoiding a discussion about price. John Fogg, general manager for Sentinel Systems Corp., a provider security components, says that to meet today’s security needs, a self-storage owner should expect to pay about $1 to $3 per square foot for his system. Loftin says the investment should be approximately 5 percent of the overall cost in the budget for new construction. "Remember, this is for access control and security that every customer uses every time he visits the property," he says.

To get the most bang for their buck, owners should consider installing components that serve a double role, both protecting the property and functioning as a marketing tool. For example, a predominantly placed security monitor in the management office allows the manager to keep his eye on the property and tells tenants and prospects that the operator cares about security.

The Operator’s Role

Although technology is essential to site security, one of the most important barriers to crime is not a product for sale—it’s the person behind the counter. Not only does the manager make decisions about who can rent a unit at the property, he’s the one responsible for ensuring tenants understand the facility’s security features and benefits.

The reality is, despite a robust security system and an operator’s best efforts, theft can still occur. It’s important to make this clear to prospective tenants, says Len May, owner of Easy Move Mini Storage in Grain Valley, Mo. May reviews the list of things he does to prevent crime with every new customer. He also provides them with a list of important actions they can take. "Make sure the customer is aware of what is considered normal for theft deterrents and the things you offer that are extra," he says.

The self-storage industry is largely defined by its security. Needs change over time, making a one-size-fits-all-and-forever solution impossible. Glimpsing into the future, security companies are promising even more sophisticated wireless technology geared to avert crime and offer convenience. From lighting to modern wireless amenities, reviewing what your facility’s security layers are—and could be—can add to your bottom line, and attract and retain happy customers.

Kay Miller Temple is a physician and recent graduate from the master’s program at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. To reach her, e-mail [email protected].

A former employee of the Marina, Calif., Police Department was arrested this week on suspicion of embezzlement and possession of stolen property after a self-storage unit he rented went to auction containing allegedly stolen police equipment and uniforms.

The delinquent tenant, Santos Bautista, 58, worked for seven years as a community-services officer. Marina police commander Bob Nolan said Bautista was not a sworn officer while with the department, although his job enabled him to wear a uniform and badge. The suspect was let go by the department in 2007 for disciplinary reasons, according to the source.

The two men who bought the auctioned unit in February reportedly found about 80 police uniforms as well as an assortment of police badges, batons, handcuffs, mace, radios, sirens and urine-test kits. The equipment belonged to police departments in Marina, Santa Cruz and Salinas, as well as a sheriff’s office. Firefighter clothing belonging to the Salinas Fire Department was also found.

Police needed two truckloads to haul away all the items, the source reported. Nolan said the equipment and uniforms would have value on the black market, but investigators have not determined if Bautista was selling any of the goods.

The auction was reportedly conducted by Dave Hester, a former star of the reality television show “Storage Wars.”

Inside Self-Storage (ISS) and Extra Space Storage Inc., a self-storage real estate investment trust that also provides third-party management services for the storage industry, have released a new whitepaper, “Why Self-Storage Management Matters: A Closer Look.” The free publication includes a case study of a 20-property portfolio in four states and shares important factors to consider when choosing a property-management company, such as company experience, revenue-management tools, staff training and marketing power. It also includes performance data on occupancy, rent per square foot, net rental income, street rates and discounts, property revenue, Internet rentals, and website performance.

The nine-page PDF can be downloaded from the ISS Resource Center at www.insideselfstorage.com/whitepapers. Other whitepapers may be downloaded through the same page.

Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Extra Space owns or operates 1,052 self-storage properties in 35 states; Washington, D.C.; and Puerto Rico. The company’s properties comprise approximately 700,000 units and 78 million square feet of rentable space.

For nearly 25 years, ISS has provided informational resources to self-storage owners, managers, developers and investors. Its educational offerings include a monthly magazine, annual conferences and tradeshows, an extensive website, an online store, and Self-Storage Talk, the industry’s largest online community.

Access Self Storage, which operates six facilities in Texas, and Bienvenidos Mexican Restaurant and Sports Bar hosted charity events on June 7 and 21, raising $8,7000 for Texas education and outreach organizations. The “Fiesta Fundraisers” at the Bienvenidos restaurant in Lancaster, Texas, included food, a cake walk, Mexican music, a silent auction, and a live auction hosted by Walt Cade of A&E’s “Storage Wars: Texas.”

Proceeds from the events benefited the North Ellis County Outreach Center, Lancaster Education Foundation Inc., Lancaster Outreach Center and Red Oak ISD Education Foundation. The outreach centers provide a variety of services including emergency assistance, job training, counseling and school-support services to low-income families in Texas. The education foundations provide resources to support innovation, enrichment and equity in pursuit of academic excellence within the school districts.

Access Self Storage first partnered with the eatery three years ago to host a summer fundraiser formerly called the Boot Scootin’ Benefit. A second event and additional beneficiaries were included this year.

Co-owned by brothers David and Doug Hunt, Access Self Storage has facilities in East Dallas, Garland, Lancaster, Oak Cliff, Pleasant Grove and Red Oak, Texas. The company has a corporate responsibility program through which it regularly contributes to local causes. According to the company website, each Access facility sponsors events throughout the year designed to support and encourage education, volunteerism and charitable giving.

The Hunts are also fundraising co-chairs of the Texas Self Storage Association, which has raised more than $500,000 for the Shriners Hospitals for Children in Galveston, Texas.

Walt Cade of A&E’s “Storage Wars: Texas" led a live auction during
a June charity event co-hosted by Access Self Storage.

 

 

 

 

The deadline for industry professionals to cast their votes in the Inside Self-Storage (ISS) 2014 Best of Business reader-choice poll is fast approaching. Participants have until July 7 to vote for their favorite product and service suppliers in more than 30 categories. They can vote one time in as many categories as they wish after verifying their e-mail address. Voting is ongoing at www.insideselfstorage.com/vote.

The results of this year's campaign will be published on the ISS website on Aug. 1. The winners will also be featured in the November edition of ISS magazine and honored at the Inside Self-Storage World Expo in Las Vegas, April 7-9, 2015.

The winners of previous Best of Business campaigns can be viewed at www.insideselfstorage.com/best-of-business/index.aspx.

For nearly 25 years, ISS has provided informational resources to self-storage owners, managers, developers and investors. Its educational offerings include a monthly magazine, annual conferences and tradeshows, an extensive website, an online store, and Self-Storage Talk, the industry’s largest online community.