Bill Alter of Rein & Grossoehme Commercial Real Estate negotiated the sale of two Tucson, Ariz., self-storage properties for $1.1 million. Stor-All Discount Storage is a 317-unit, 28,000-square-foot facility at 2850 N. Tuttle Ave. 7A Budget Mini Storage is a 119-unit, 9,700-square-foot facility directly across the street at 2825 N. Tuttle Ave. These unrelated properties were purchased by S.C.I. LLC of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., which will combine and operate them together as one larger facility. The sellers were two unrelated entities.

The sales represent Alters 104th and 105th successful self-storage closing in 25 years. Rein & Grossoehme specializes in the sale of investment properties and commercial leasing.

The U-Haul Company of Alabama is expanding its network of self-storage locations with the purchase of an existing Alabama storage facility in Fultondale, Ala. The new U-Haul Storage of Fultondale has 17 single-story structures featuring inside storage, outdoor storage, drive-up storage and truck/RV storage. It has 436 storage units with more than 59,500 square feet of self-storage.

"We are pleased to be expanding our presence in Fultondale and look forward to continuing our long-standing relationships with local communities throughout Alabama," said Scott Fall, president, U-Haul Company of Alabama.

U-Haul Storage of Fultondale will be selling a wide variety of environmentally friendly packing supplies including boxes made from recyclable materials, 100 percent biodegradable packing peanuts and moving pads made from recycled denim. Also on site will be a Take a Box/Leave a Box display, which allows customers or anyone in the community to leave moving boxes or unwanted electronics boxes for another customer to reuse for free.

Since 1989, AMERCO Real Estate Co., an affiliate of U-Haul International Inc., has been responsible for providing real estate services to AMERCO subsidiaries that include more than 1,350 U-Haul moving and storage centers throughout the United States and Canada.

The Maine Self-Storage Association (MeSSA) will hold a workshop at the Italian Heritage Center in Portland, Maine, on Oct. 21. The event will feature a four-hour marketing boot camp with Derek Naylor, president of Storage Marketing Solutions. Naylor will discuss marketing strategies and how to attract and retain new customers. The event is open to association members and non-members. Interested parties should contact Scott Yount at 207.67.1012 or [email protected].

This month MeSSA held a membership meeting this month at the Muddy Rudder in Brewer, Maine. Attendees reviewed proposed changes to the states lien law, and Erin Moulton Jones of Secure Records Management Systems spoke about proper document disposal.

Information about MeSSA can be found at www.mainessa.com.

A fire at a self-storage facility in Port Charlotte, Fla., Monday caused serious damage to the facility and injured five firefighters.

The blaze at Storage America Self Storage off Sandhill Road damaged at least 140 self-storage units. A dozen fire trucks were on the scene, with several firefighters battling the blaze. The conditions of the injured firefighters hasnt been released. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Every good business story can be broken into chapters. There's an intro, which outlines the business' early years. There are chapters in which conflict creates stumbling blocks the operator must overcome. Perhaps there are chapters chronicling new partners, huge victories or a poignant moment or two. There's no doubt your business story will have many twists and turns, ups and downs.

After recent years of financial struggle, it's time to write your next chapter, one that includes growth and the knowledge to facilitate it. The Inside Self-Storage World Expo in Las Vegas is an important part of the process. The biggest show of the year, March 14-16, combines education, networking and exhibits as well as a special showcase of industry technologyall fodder for industry success.

Superlative Resources

Now more than ever, today's self-storage operators must be tech-savvy marketing gurus and expert salespeople. The ISS Expo collaborates with the brightest minds in the business to create the best learning resources the industry has to offer. The Las Vegas show offers an all-inclusive education program addressing critical industry topics:

• Management: Customer service, sales skills, facility maintenance, collections, staff training, cost-cutting, ancillary services, rate management, sustainability and more
• Marketing: websites, online advertising, SEO, e-mail marketing, direct mail, Yellow Pages, social networking and more
• Construction and development: Trends and techniques, project feasibility, site selection, zoning, real estate trends, green building and more
• Finance: Interest rates, capital markets, loan processes and more
• Technology: Software, security equipment, call centers, kiosks, online directories and more
• Legal issues: Lien sales, rental agreements, value limits, bankruptcy, abandonment, risk-management and more

In addition to the core seminar program, the show includes intensive workshops in the specialized areas of legal issues, development, management and marketing. Roundtable discussions and the Self-Storage Q&A flesh out the education experience, providing you with individualized attention and the opportunity to get your questions answered. Attendees will also have access to dozens of industry suppliers who are well-versed in the business and hold a tremendous amount of valuable knowledge. The exhibit hall provides the perfect venue for testing, experiencing and exploring the industrys products and services.

The Paris

With the twinkling lights of Las Vegas as the backdrop, the Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino pays homage to the French "City of Light." A replica of the Eiffel Tower just outside the hotel draws tens of thousands of visitors each year. The lavish accommodations keep them coming back. Highlights of the hotel include:

• Nearly 3,000 opulent guest rooms and suites featuring custom European furniture and extravagant marble baths.
• Entertainment including singer/songwriter Barry Manilow, live entertainment at Le Cabaret, and an Eiffel Tower ride in addition to the casino.
• Seven distinctive bars and lounges including the nightclub Risqué and Napoleons Champagne Bar.
• A 26,000-square-foot spa with Balinese-inspired décor, a complete menu of treatments, a whirlpool, sauna, steam room and fitness center.
• A 2-acre rooftop pool with poolside attendants and views of manicured French gardens.

Looking Ahead

Writing your business' next chapter will probably not be easy. There may be more challenges on the horizon, but there could also be many successes around the corner. The ISS Expo is the best place for self-storage operators to get the knowledge they need to make informed decisions and keep their companies strong and solvent. Its about gathering ideas, making connections and finding the most cost-effective products and services for your business.

The Las Vegas expo delivers an extensive, hard-hitting program encompassing education, community, exhibits and more. For details about attending, exhibiting and registration, visit www.insideselfstorageworldexpo.com.

One manager started a Self-Storage Talk thread with a unique question, to say the least. He's wondering about a tenant who makes a habit of walking onto the property as a man, visiting his unit, and leaving the facility dressed like a woman.

The thread-starter, hurlco, wants to reserve moral and social judgment, but he has customers threatening to move out if they see the guy one more time. As Hurlco gathered more information on the situation, he learned the tenant is involved in an ongoing drag show, meaning he's likely using the unit to change into his work attire. 

Hurlco is looking for a solution, whether it's to evict the guy for violating terms of his lease (i.e. by inhabiting a unit or loitering), to not renew his lease when the time comes, or maybe to have a frank discussion with the customer about how his attire makes other customers feel uncomfortable.

Another member, ssmgr, suggested the second option. But other members are quick to the tenant's defense. One asked, "Who is the tenant hurting besides whomever he is hiding this from?" Then the member suggested the direct approach: "Let him know that by getting changed in the facility he is making other tenants uncomfortable."

MusicCity Gal, a frequent poster, says that kicking out the tenant shouldn't be the method: "Your tenants trust you why should you lose any customers? He is not a criminal." Others have questioned the legality of looking for a reason to terminate his lease.

By the same token, member Jughead makes an interesting point and expands the conversation into the issue of tenants' clothing in general. What if, Jughead poses, the tenant weren't a cross-dresser but instead a Nazi and consistently wore clothing that displayed the swastika. Would the facility allow him to rent and visit a unit regularly, defending his right to free speech, or would it find a way to get rid of him?

What would you do in Hurlco's situation? How would you assuage the concerns of other customers without disrespecting the tenant? How big of an issue is tenant clothing and personal expression at your facility? Post a response and join the discussion. If you're not a member of Self-Storage Talk, you can register here.

Caster Properties Inc., operator of the A-1 Self Storage chain of facilities in California, acquired Garfield Avenue Self Storage in Bell Gardens, Calif. The 873-unit, 78,000-square-foot property will be rebranded under the A-1 name. It was bought with cash.

The facility, near the El Paseo Shopping & Entertainment Center, has high visibility and convenient freeway access. It offers climate control, digital surveillance cameras, private access codes, individually alarmed units, floor-level access security and monthly pest control. It also features a rental kiosk, bilingual staff, free use of a truck at move-in, and moving supplies. Commercial deliveries are accepted on behalf of customers.

A-1 Self Storage has 17 locations in the greater San Diego County area and more than 40 locations across California. It is the self-storage division of the Caster Cos., a third-generation, family-owned company headquartered in Southern California since 1959.

Robert (Bob) Boilini, a self-storage veteran, has formed the ACERO Group to serve the building-component, selfstorage and engineered-systems industries.

What we are seeing in the industry right now are companies that have had to scale back on salaried sales and customer service representatives. These businesses still need highly qualified people to represent them in established, underserved and all but abandoned markets, Boilini said. The ACERO Group is uniquely positioned to offer quality representation and marketing assistance for a wide variety of industry products.

The ACERO Group brings a set of nationwide industry contacts and customer base along with experience in building new territories and increasing and enhancing the sales in existing territories and markets. My goal has always been to provide the best product and market information, sales representation, ideas and customer service in the industry, Boilini said. Whether the need is to strengthen an existing sales force, enhance existing markets or build new territories, the ACERO Group can provide a level of service you cant match.

Boilini has extensive market development, sales and account-management skills, and more than 30 years of direct sales and customer service experience.

The board of Lok'nStore Group recently optioned to acquire a site in Southend, England. The site contains 1.2 acres and fronts the busy Eastern Avenue near the town center. When developed, it will provide up to 60,000 square feet of storage space in a prominent, modern building. The project is subject to planning permission.

"We are pleased to have secured an option on this attractive site. By acquiring an option we are locking in the current low land values while monitoring the recovery of the economy to ascertain the appropriate moment to build out the new store pipeline, said CEO Andrew Jacobs. Lok'nStore has a strong operating business, which is cash-generative and backed by substantial property assets. Against this background the board will continue to pursue further value creating asset-management opportunities."

Lok'nStore has a portfolio of 22 self-storage centers across the southeast of England. The portfolio includes 1.2 million square feet of self-storage.