Self-storage veteran Matthew Van Horn has launched a new industry consulting firm, Black Swan Storage Advisors. The company specializes in facility management and operation, providing training systems for marketing, sales and revenue management. It’ll also serve developers and investors via feasibility studies and underwriting and investment analysis.
“Black Swan's goal is to empower independent self-storage owners, operators and investors to find success within the industry. We provide our clients with the tools and systems needed to be successful in today’s rapidly changing environment,” Van Horn said. “The larger self-storage companies have people on their side; independent owners, operators and investors should as well.”
Van Horn is also launching a podcast titled “Behind The Roll Up Door” to focus on industry financial, real estate and investing metrics. It'll provide interviews, vendor overviews, operational discussions and other information of interest to facility operators. It’ll be available at blackswanstorage.com and streaming services including iTunes, Spotify and others.
Van Horn has more than 20 years of self-storage experience. He began his career as a manager for Cutting Edge Self Storage Management and became the firm’s first district manager within a year. He was promoted to East Coast regional vice president, then vice president of operations. In 2004, he became a partner in Cutting Edge Development, assisting with acquisitions, development and feasibility studies nationwide. He left the companies in 2015 to co-found 3 Mile Domination Self Storage Services, a third-party management and consulting firm.
Van Horn has been involved in the operation and development of millions of square feet of self-storage. He’s a regular presenter at national and state conferences and writes for industry publications. He’s also the co-author of “Self-Storage Domination” and created of the “Behind the Roll Up Door” newsletter. Van Horn is a former president and board member of the Florida Self Storage Association. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Florida Atlantic University and holds a Florida real estate license.
