by Holly Robinson
June 8, 2011 5:22 PM
In the dog eat dog world of business it can be hard to stand out over ones competitors, especially in an industry like self storage where the product that everyone provides is essentially the same—space. Yet just like in every other business in the world, the self storage industry can be just as cutthroat as the next one. After all, everyone is in business to make money and if the other guy is making it that means that you are not.
Finding a competitive edge in the self storage industry can be a bit challenging. After all, how different can you make a storage unit? What self storage facilities can do in order to make themselves more appealing to prospective tenants is something that is very basic—make people like you more than the next guy.
The idea is a lot like dating. The pretty girl in the room knows she has her pick of all the guys in the place. Appearance is important (just like with self storage facilities), but there has to be something more to reel her in beyond the looks; there needs to be a likability factor. For self storage facilities price is a good starting point, but other factors can actually trump that.
One such factor can be community service. In today’s world everyone knows someone that is suffering due to the poor economy. Most people have likely done something to help alleviate the struggle that others in their community are going through. It is human nature to care and people tend to appreciate a business that shows how much it cares by giving back to the community.
Charitable work can also get lost in the shuffle; especially if many people are engaged in it. So just like guys need to stand out to grasp the girl’s attention, self storage facilities that are doing charitable work need to stand out (if they want to be noticed).
Access Self Storage in Dallas, Texas, has made it a habit to get involved in the community in a variety of different ways. Company owner Doug Hunt has recently announced that throughout June people will be able to swing by one of his self storage facilities for a car wash.
“I’m surprised it hasn’t popped up sooner,” Hunt said. “Car washes are simple ways for student groups or churches to raise funds.”
That is only one of the ways that Access Self Storage gets involved. On June 10 they will be hosting the Boot Scootin’ Benefit for the Lancaster Outreach Center and Lancaster Education Foundation. They have also helped raise money for the Red Oak Independent School District Education Foundation, helped the First Baptist Church of Dallas Chapel Choir & Orchestra raise $56,000 for a trip to Chicage, as well as many other charitable endeavors.
The great thing about every event is that not only do the people involved from Access Self Storage get the opportunity to feel good about helping out there community, the company is likely to reap the benefits when all the people touched by each charitable endeavor talks about them with their friends.
Sources used:
“Access Self Storage Hosts Summer Charity Car Washes.” Inside Self Storage; 07 June 2011.
“Access Self Storage Makes Donation to Texas Education.” Self Storage Industry News; 23 February 2010.
Access Self Storage