Suzana MikolovaEnsuring Your Self Storage Business Succeeds
Any business has a chance to succeed if the right preparation and steps are taken. The right attitude is also crucial to make everything work for the best.
In the self storage industry, owners and their partners need to have the proper business plan and marketing strategies if they want to gain profits moving forward. Research and careful planning must be done to ensure that the business moves to the right path.
By research, this means learning about the latest trends and news in the self storage sector and even doing a feasibility study or perhaps a survey among consumers. By gathering information on the changes that occur in the industry, you will be able to have a better grasp of the factors that cause the changes and determine as well whether it will be a good time to get into this kind of business.
As customers are the ones who will contribute to the success of your self storage facility, exert effort then to determine what they are looking for in terms of their storage needs. And doing a survey will be the best option to achieve this. A recent research has shown that almost 44 percent of consumers utilize self storage particularly when they are moving from one house to another or from one place to a new location.
Keep in mind that self storage trends in the past differ from what is happening today. In the marketing aspect alone, a lot has changed. It used to be that people rely only on word of mouth in promoting and advertising their business. Today, however, there are so many avenues business owners can use to market their products and services to their target audience. While the old methods such as using the traditional media (newspapers, TV and radio) still work, more ways are available nowadays especially those that can be easily and conveniently done on the internet. With online or internet marketing, the reach is global and communication is done in real time.
Location is another crucial factor. In the past, spaces utilized to build storage facilities were far from the city center and not easily accessible by customers. Any available space will do and some operators were not necessarily particular about the location. But since most customers today prioritize the area where they can store their personal or business belongings, this should really be an important consideration. A rental unit close to a customer’s residence or place of work will most likely be their first choice compared to one situated far from home.
Offering various types of storage units is ideal. Considering that not only individuals and homeowners are utilizing the facility these days but business organizations as well, providing both the standard and temperature controlled units will enable operators to attract more clients. Self storage has become more diverse and is no longer limited to accommodating just furniture, other personal possessions and motorcycles.
Finally, don’t ignore the security aspect as this is important in keeping stored items within the facility safe from burglars. Investing in the proper security system from locks and keys, lighting to fire alarms and surveillance camera is a must.
