The United Kingdom has a large Self Storage industry although it may be behind the U.S. and Australia. It is estimated to have forty million square feet of rentable space covering some one thousand two hundred (1,200) facilities as of today. With housing in short supply, a transient population and most of us finding it difficult to organise our personal possessions.
Opportunities Offered by Self Storage
- Access to your unit can be made at any time; depending on your facilities, opening hours and some facilities now offer 24-hour access
- The facilities are very secure and user-friendly and often sell other useful items such as bubble wrap, boxes, and tape.
- However much it is your responsibility actually to get your assets in and out of the new unit, work is made easier for you since you use the facilities’ lifts and trolleys.
- Where you are the only person to own the key
- You have a variety of sizes to choose from
- A secure location is provided to you
- One can rent a unit of space.
What has led to the rapid growth and development of self-storage in Australia?
This state-of-the-art trend has been experienced because of:
- Business owners also recognise the importance of these units to keep their stocks instead of building their leasing commercial space and paying high fees for long-term contracts.
- The presence of small homes. With smaller homes, families are bound to face storage space problems, particularly for their personal belongings.
- Some companies use the self-storage units as their showrooms to reduce costs.
- High costs of retail space
How Australians are using Self-storage Facilities
- Among the retail business in existence in the Australia today, the Self Storage facilities have proven to be one of the most resilient. Reports have noted that the industry survived the hard economic times that have led other companies to close shop or lay off some staff. Today, this sector continues to experience growth and is contributing to the country’s economy.
- With these storage units readily available, Australians are making good use of them these days. They have realised that self-storage facilities are useful indeed not only in safe keeping the junk they have accumulated at home but in storing other valuable items.
- Moreover, not only the private individuals and families are taking advantage of these space-saving centres because even companies and other entrepreneurs are utilising them. They are mainly attracted to three things – the affordability of rental units, the convenience they provide what with the absence of a no-ties contract and the flexibility they offer to people.
- Owing to the fact that a Self Storage unit can accommodate a broad range of items for safekeeping, operators have recorded a rise in the number of businesses now becoming regular customers of these facilities. The Self Storage Association (SSA) in the U.K. reported a five percent increase in their business clients in the month of July alone.
- SSA CEO Rodney Walker said small businesses these days including the startups are finding it a sensible move to use self-storage. It is not only cheap but it is also flexible in that entrepreneurs can store their important things there while establishing their businesses. He added that facilities were more improved nowadays compared to the garage style in the past. They now have modern security systems in place as well as clean and well-lit units.
- Other than using the units as merely a place to keep important stuff, some enterprising Australians have found a way to maximise its use. One renter who is into martial arts, for example, thought it wise to use his unit as a training centre. The primary reason was the affordability of the space compared to renting a commercial space in their location. Therefore, what this man did was to hold his training classes right there at the unit itself, and as his students grew, he moved to a bigger unit to accommodate more people. His classes are usually held in the evening so as not to disturb other renters who may be accessing their units during the day.
Indeed being practical matters a lot these days. Doing business does not mean you will have to find a great commercial space. It may not be worth spending so much on that aspect particularly when you are just starting out.