by Tony Gonzalez
August 15, 2011 1:53 PM
When people think about self storage units, they often think about individual people needing some extra space to store their odds and ends whether it is because they are downsizing their living arrangements or are trying to de-clutter their home. However, more and more businesses are starting to realize that they too can benefit from the use of a self storage unit.
Recent statistical data shows that there has been an increase in business oriented tenants renting self storage units. According to Rodney Walker, CEO of the Self Storage Association in England, there was an increase of five percent during the month of July in the number of business customers at self storage facilities.
"We're seeing a change in the proportion of business customers to private customers. This is part of the recessionary effect. If you are starting a business in today's landscape it makes sense to use a facility that is flexible and cheap. For start-ups, self storage has always been a potentially more cost-effective way of getting established,” said Walker.
The type of businesses utilizing self storage units is pretty broad. For example, since September 2009 there has been a mixed martial arts training facility called Gods of War Mixed Martial Arts Training Facility, operating out of a Safestore Self Storage unit in Reading.
“…The overhead of starting a new business in our own premises would have been huge, around £3,000 a month, which we couldn't have afforded,” said Catherine Edge, owner/operator of the Gods of War Mixed Martial Arts Training Facility along with her husband Phillip.
Paul Bowe, a 30-year old musician, runs the Stockport Music Academy out of another Safestore Self Storage unit. After doing private lessons he decided it was time to branch out and turn his passion into a business. Renting a 1,500 self storage unit was much more economical than signing a lease on commercial real estate of the same size.
Many start-up business owners are using self storage units to store their product while they try to get their business through those tough early years. Using a self storage unit to store product and/or supplies is much more affordable than renting a warehouse or buying larger office or store space for the business.
Using a self storage unit allows some beginning entrepreneurs to work from home while they work at getting the business up and running. Such is the case for Trish Richards and Brad Cheng of Wear Chemistry, an eco-friendly clothing line. They use a unit at Shurgard Self Storage in London to store their product before it ships out.
“…We could not have afforded to sign a long lease on a shop. We realized there were businesses being run out of the storage facility we used…it made a lot of sense to base our business there,” said Richards.
Sources Used:
“Through the keyhole: Self storage units aren’t just for stashing junk.” The Independent; 13 August 2011.
“Chambers of secrets: What people really get up to behind the steel shutters of Britain's private lock-ups.” The Observer; 29 November 2009.