StoreSmart Self Storage opened in Columbia, S.C., in July 2009 with 108,900 square feet, 89,600 of which are rentable. Of StoreSmart’s 799 units, 646 are climate-controlled. The business is owned and developed by StoreSmart Development LLC and managed by HAT Management LLC. Manager Paul Chien lives on site.
Construction Snapshot
General Contractor: Boyd Corley Construction
Construction Manager: Tony Kippes
Building Supplier: Kiwi II Construction
Software Supplier: SMD Software Inc. (SiteLink)
Security Supplier: Nu Enterprises
Development Time: One Year
Construction Time: Seven Months
More About StoreSmart
StoreSmart was designed to meet the increased demand for drive-up, non-climate-controlled storage space, but also provides a mix of climate-controlled units with high-security features. The customer base is 60 percent residential, 5 percent military and 35 percent commercial. Add-on services include boat/RV storage, records storage, retail-product sales, U-Haul truck rentals and more.
StoreSmart's philosophy is to find the best site in a target market area, build the finest facility consistent with that market's needs, and staff it with the most experienced, well-trained and enthusiastic team of onsite managers. The Columbia property on LeGrand Road is the manifestation of this vision.
The feasibility studies and market analyses were essential to identifying this site. The developer then focused on a grassroots marketing plan that included door-to-door marketing within a 5-mile radius of the facility.
“After StoreSmart invested the time, sweat and millions of dollars necessary to bring it to fruition as the finest institutional-grade facility in the market, it instilled life and competitive spirit into concrete and steel by employing and empowering the most positive, proactive facility management team possible, and the most effective marketing and sales tools we know,” says Todd Allen, vice president of operations. “The result is a beautiful, safe, and accessible property that is well ahead of our predictions, even in this soft economy.”
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