Archive for November, 2006
Despite a promise from officials to put off building a controversial public storage facility, a group of about 60 residents protested Saturday against potential projects in the Southern California Edison industrial corridor in East Pasadena, according to the Pasadena star.
Protesters were carrying signs that read “Preserve Open Space, No New Public Storage.”
This is a public relations nightmare.
Of course, sometimes such protests can’t be avoided. But then again sometimes they can. The best thing to do is to talk with the stakeholders in the community long before they rally in protest and gain supporters for their cause that might otherwise not have cared. You need to communicate the benefits of self-storage, but you need to do it through multiple channels to multiple audiences in a language that speaks directly to them.
Public relations, community relations, government relations and media relations can do wonders to garner support for proposed facilities. It can save you many thousands of dollars as you work to get your approvals because you’ll see less resistence if you educate the interested parties with a convincing argument.
Once you get the protesters against you, you have to shift to crisis communications mode in attempts to stem the tide of negative feelings.
The moral of the story…whatever action you can take to build relationships with the community stakeholders at the onset of a project, do it…but consider all the audiences and their potential concerns — and then address them point by point.
Click here to read more about this public relations nightmare.
November 20th, 2006
If you’ve ever had a conversation with Ann Ballard at Universal Management Co. you’ll quickly realize two things… She’s a very busy woman and her insights are extremely valuable (that’s one reason why she’s a very busy woman.)
Not everyone gets one-on-one time with Ann, but you can glean some insights from her about how to avoid expensive mistakes during facility layout and set up. You can also get some inside information on the newest marketing and management initiatives and tips on how to upgrade operations to compete, and more.
Click here to learn more about this opportunity.
November 18th, 2006
“They thought their stuff would be safe at the Store Safe self-storage in Miramar, but a huge water main break at Miramar Road and Camino Santa Fe has changed all that. It sent water rushing into some units.”
This was the lead in to a KFMB TV report in San Diego, and the beginning of a small crisis for Store Safe. Sure, it’s been said that there is no such thing as bad publicity, but who wants that message blasted over the airwaves.
Whether it’s a meth lab found stowed away in a unit or a flood that causes major disruption, your crisis communications plan should offer strategies for dealing with the media and the public in times like these. You need to counteract the negative perceptions with solid information — and fast — or it could hurt your good brand name.
Click here to read more about how the media reports on these types of incidents. How would you respond?
November 17th, 2006
This is public relations at its finest…leveraging a beloved sports icon to promote an event.
Four-time Super Bowl Champion Terry Bradshaw will deliver the Keynote Address at the 2007 International Self Storage Convention & Exposition, in New Orleans next March. The Self Storage Association (SSA), the only non-profit organization that supports the 55,000-facility U.S. Self Storage industry, and the Canadian Self Storage Association, are sponsoring the event.
This year’s theme, “An American Renaissance,“ will draw on the rejuvenated sprit of this storied city and will be packed with tremendous education and networking opportunities, as well as the largest and most impressive trade show of industry insiders, featuring all of the leading providers of self storage-related products and services.
Who better to welcome the self storage community back to New Orleans than the native Louisianan and proven winner Terry Bradshaw? As the keynote speaker, Bradshaw brings an infectious enthusiasm and a track record of widespread success in business, sports, broadcasting, and now acting.
Click here to read more about this effective strategy. And as you do, consider that you don’t need a NFL superstar at your event. Any local celebrity will do at your grand opening or other grand event. The point is, the SSA is riding on Bradshaw’s winning record…well done!
November 16th, 2006
Who Says You Can’t Mix Business with Peasure?
Educational Resources will show you how as you cruise to self-storage development profits aboard the Carnival “Fun Ship” Fascination from April 16-20, 2007.
You won’t want to miss this opportunity to learn self-storage development secrets by day and enjoy views from the western Caribbean by night.
Educational Resources presenters have a collective over 50 years of experience in every aspect of self-storage development – from feasibility to finance – and we’re ready to share our secrets with you as you enjoy an unforgettable journey through the western Caribbean.
Click here to learn more about this awesome opportunity.
November 16th, 2006
U-Haul Company of California is offering 30 days of free storage to families in Southern California who need to move their belongings away from the growing fire.
“This fire has already caused tremendous damage and inflicted extreme hardship on the communities we serve,” said Area District Vice President Tony Waters. “I hope this effort will provide assistance to families that truly need a helping hand if this fire affects their areas. We will continue to help our friends and neighbors in this time of need.”
Brilliant! Uhaul is known for these types of initiative. This is one form of community relations that leaves a lasting impression. But Uhaul demonstrates an important lesson — do good and then let the world know you did it.
November 13th, 2006
A recent press release on a leading newswire reports, “Newark Mayor Cory A. Booker, Senator Robert Menendez, Essex County Executive Joseph N. Divincenzo and Essex County Sheriff Armando B. Fontoura all joined representatives of The Hampshire Companies to break ground on Hampshire Storage Post, a 926-unit state-of-the-art climate-controlled self storage facility, and Newark’s first-ever “ground up” facility of its kind.”
So begins a potentially beautiful relationship between the new facility and the local media. The Hampshire Companies did everything right in this press release. But it doesn’t stop there. Media relations is not just about issuing a press release — it’s about building relationships. I’m sure The Hampshire Companies have it covered… do you?
The only downfall is that the press release was not posted on the corporate web site at the time of its release, or I would be sending you to their web site right now instead of to a press release service to read this well-crafted release.
November 5th, 2006
The self-storage industry is seeing yet another major acquisition…and another brand gets bigger.
Los Angeles-based real estate developer Barker Pacific Group, through its affiliate, Union Development Company (UDC), has acquired eight self storage properties from Empire Companies and will rebrand them under its storage operation’s new name – Storage Solutions. The acquisition includes nearly 500,000 square feet of space with 4,000 storage units on 25 acres. UDC paid just over $30 million for the portfolio. The properties are located throughout Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties.
Notice here that Storage Solutions is rebranding its acquired properties. Why? They already have a brand presence in their markets. Why mess with what works? Storage Solutions understands that mega brands span regions and territories and give customers comfort. Brands are a promise. A customer who rents storage in one city under one brand will feel comfortable renting from that same brand in another city.
A brand is more than a name and a colorful logo. Is your brand communicating what your business is all about? Storage Solutions has a clear branding scheme. Do you.
Click here to get the nitty gritty details about this self-storage acquisition.
November 2nd, 2006
Community relations can pay dividends in the short-and long-term. A Chicago facility got on the FBI’s good side by helping agents in a sting operation to bust corrupt cops. The FBI busted the bad guys who were allegedly invading homes, stealing valuables and storing them in self-storage.
“In June, undercover agents rented a unit at Grand-Pulaski Self Storage and stored a black bag containing $20,000, according to an FBI affidavit. They then instructed an informant to share the information with two suspected officers, Richard Doroniuk and Mahmoud Shamah, as well as a civilian intermediary, Larry Cross. Cross had supposedly asked the informant for details regarding good targets for theft,” Inside Self Storage reports.
I’m sure the community — and especially those homeowners who were robbed from — are grateful that the self-storage facilities didn’t bury their head in the sand. News like this that demonstrates the industry’s willingness to rid itself of evil doers is good for us all.
Click here to read the rest of this story in Inside Self Storage magazine.
November 2nd, 2006
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