To the casual observer, the self storage industry is pretty cut and dry. Business owners essentially own buildings full of spaces as small as closet sized to as big (or bigger) than the average garage that people can store their personal treasures in. However, there are many stores that do a lot more than just store things.
Take what one self storage unit in Florida is doing. STORE Self Storage & Wine Storage in Palm Beach Gardens is hosting the Wine and Design Showcase event for the South Florida Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers.
The event is scheduled to include an awards ceremony honoring local area politicians and will also serve as a fundraiser to benefit the Place of Hope, a local charitable organization.
Often times, facilities that are also involved in wine storage have a space where people can hold wine tasting and other such events.
Space tends to be the theme with whatever goes on at self storage facilities, whether for storage or something else. Some self storage facilities have started taking advantage of the space their facility is located on in order to generate more income by contracting with telecommunication companies to let them place their equipment on site.
Many of the things that occur at self storage facilities that do not relate directly to storage are intended to make money, but not always for the facility itself. Self storage facilities are well known for having big hearts and getting involved in a wide variety of national, state, and local charities.
On many occasions it entails acting as a drop off site for whatever the charity is collecting. Other times it involves simply donating money or a storage unit for the charity to use. Sometimes the way a self storage facility gets involved with a charity is a little more creative.
Brian West, a radio personality for 107.5 Dave FM (a Cambridge, MA, radio station) is going to be living in a mobile storage unit for a week in order to help raise money for the United Way.
“There are people in the community who do live in tough conditions,’’ said West, morning co-host of Brian and O’Brien at 107.5 Dave FM. “If I can live in this box for five days, that’s really nothing compared to some people …’’
As you can see, whether it is for telecommunications, charity events, parties, or storage, the self storage industry has a plethora of uses.
Sources Used:
“Wine & Design Showcase features Florida Legislative Champions.” TCPalm; 13 September 2011.
“Radio host living in a box for worthy cause.” The Record.com; 13 September 2011.
“The More you do the More you Earn in Self Storage.” Self Storage Industry News; 09 August 2011.