U-Haul Features Self-Storage Reuse Center

U-Haul, the leader in self-storage, with more than 34 million square feet of storage space at more than 1,075 owned and managed facilities throughout North America, recently introduced the latest in Sustainability initiatives: U-Haul Reuse Centers. U-Haul of Yonkers, 155 Saw Mill River Road, in Yonkers, New York, is now featuring a Self-Storage Reuse Center for customers. The U-Haul Reuse Program was developed to provide a redistribution network for unwanted, gently used household goods, furniture, sporting equipment, bikes and clothing that formerly were destined for landfills.”At U-Haul, we are committed to sustainable development through environmental protection, social responsibility and economic efficiency,” stated Jeff Sonberg, president, U-Haul Company of Manhattan/Bronx. “This program gives U-Haul another opportunity to provide a service which will enhance the self-storage industry by improving the environment for generations to come.”

Items placed in the area are available for reuse, not resale, by the U-Haul community, including U-Haul employees. U-Haul continues to support humanitarian, community-based organizations such as the Salvation Army, Goodwill and the like, by placing clothing-donation bins in close proximity to the designated reuse area so that customers may donate directly to these groups.

Corporate citizenship is U-Haul Company’s commitment to being accountable to the communities in which we live and serve. With nearly 1,100 self-storage facilities conveniently located in North American communities, U-Haul is an innovative leader in the field of shared storage–providing shared spaces which enable local residents to live comfortably in more compact homes and apartments with substantially reduced living expenses, while at the same time being able to store their possessions at another location.

Since 1945, U-Haul has been the best choice for the do-it-yourself mover, with a network of more than 15,800 locations in all 50 United States and 10 Canadian provinces. U-Haul customers’ patronage has enabled the U-Haul fleet to grow to approximately 101,000 trucks, 76,000 trailers and 34,000 towing devices. U-Haul offers more than 395,000 rooms and approximately 35 million square feet of storage space at nearly 1,090 owned and managed facilities throughout North America. U-Haul is the consumer’s number one choice as the largest installer of permanent trailer hitches in the automotive aftermarket industry. U-Haul supplies alternative-fuel for vehicles and backyard barbecues as one of the nation’s largest retailers of propane.

U-Haul was founded by a Navy veteran who grew up in the Great Depression. Tires and gas were still rationed or in short supply during the late 1940s when U-Haul began serving U.S. customers. Today, that background is central to the U-Haul Sustainability Program: “Serving the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Our commitment to reduce, reuse and recycle includes fuel efficient moving vans, neighborhood proximity, moving box reuse, moving pads made from discarded material and packing peanuts that are 100 percent biodegradable. Learn more about these facts and others at www.uhaul.com/sustainability.

Add comment August 21st, 2009

Webinar: Accelerating Self-Storage Sales

On September 29, 2009, MiniCo Insurance will present a free webinar for new producers and other independent insurance agents who want to learn sales strategies for writing self-storage risks. The webinar “New Producers: Accelerate Your Sales Through Self‑Storage” will address topics to include the following:

Closing the sale
Distinguishing yourself with the facility owner
Utilizing the MiniCo network to make the sale
Leveraging MiniCo’s brand recognition to your advantage

There are over 59,000 self-storage facilities in the United States, and many will shop their commercial insurance coverage this year. MiniCo’s Customer Care Manager Keith McConnell, Underwriting Team Supervisor Chris Nelson, and Underwriter Christina Cullen will discuss in detail how new producers may leverage the company’s over 35 years of self-storage industry experience and strong name recognition among facility owners to get the competitive advantage in writing self-storage risks.

For more information or to register, visit www.minicoinsurance.com. Online registration is required for this free live event.

Add comment August 21st, 2009

Self-Storage Acquisitions Still Hot

Storage Opportunity Partners and Storage Pros Self Storage have acquired two self-storage facilities in southeastern Massachusetts, one in the Cape Cod town of Falmouth and one in Fairhaven, across the Acushnet River from the City of New Bedford.

The acquisition brings StorageOp’s holdings to 13 properties totaling 780,000 rentable square feet, 6,800 units and more than 950 outdoor parking spaces for rent in its initial target markets of New England and southeastern Michigan, all acquired within the last 28 months.
“Once again, our strong investor base and solid financing relationships have allowed us to further implement our acquisitions strategy in New England at a time when the capital markets continue to pose enormous challenges,” says David Levenfeld, co-founder and CEO of StorageOp. “We intend to continue our disciplined growth strategy within our core markets.”The Falmouth facility, located on State Route 28, has 79,495 rentable square feet in five two-story buildings featuring more than 30,000 square feet of climate-controlled space.

The Fairhaven facility has frontage on State Route 240, and consists of 41,500 rentable square feet in six single-story buildings. New ownership will update the Fairhaven facility, including the complete renovation of one of the six storage buildings to convert 6,100 rentable square feet into climate-controlled space. Budget Truck Rental will also be added at Fairhaven.

“We will realize immediate operational synergies by adding these two properties to our existing New England portfolio,” says Ian Burnstein, co-founder and COO. “Our scale allows increasing efficiencies to maximize facility performance at all Storage Pros locations.”

The properties will be rebranded Storage Pros Self Storage, and will be operated by Storage Pros Management LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of StorageOp that also offers third-party self storage property management services.

Add comment August 21st, 2009