Posts filed under 'Mobile Storage'
The affordable housing debate is raging from coast to coast as cities recommend strategic plans to accommodate teachers, police offers and other workers whose salaries don’t keep pace with rising home values. Many of these initiatives, however, are long-term plans for a very immediate problem.The statistics are telling. For every 100 very low-income renters, only 76 affordable rental units are currently available, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. What’s more, for the 14.8 million U.S. households that make $10,000 or less per year, a year’s rent costs about 70 percent of their annual income, reports American Fact Finder.
“Construction costs are rising, despite the downturn in the residential real estate sector. And although home values are declining in some regions of the country, housing is still not affordable for many,” said John Finnessy, CMP, Executive Director the National Portable Storage Association, or NPSA, a nonprofit membership association dedicated to the advancement of the portable storage industry. “Portable storage containers offer an economical alternative to new construction.”
Indeed, so-called “container homes” are springing up across the nation. Portable storage containers are being transformed into actual hurricane-proof, fire-resistant homes with a “no termite” guarantee. The 32,000-pound containers, some as large as 20-by-48 feet, can be used as the framework of a beautiful new home. Call it 21st century recycling. The concept is finding acceptance in communities like St. Petersburg, Fla. and Atlanta, Ga., where multi-story dwellings are being built as a solution to affordable housing issues.
“Portable storage containers can be turned into a home in a matter of days, sometimes a single day,” said NPSA Operations Manager Joel Rathbone. “I’ve heard estimates that these container homes can run about 65 percent of the total buildout cost of a traditional, bricks and mortar or cinderblock home. Once again, portable storage finds a new use for a new challenge.”
July 24th, 2007
“Transformers” is one of the most anticipated movies of the summer – and the DreamWorks-Paramount Pictures film has plenty in common with portable storage.The Transformers movie is based on Hasbro’s Transformers Action Figures. As its name suggests, Transformers are robots that have the ability to transform themselves from one object to another. In the Michael Bay film, for example, a yellow Camero transforms itself into a guardian robot to protect Sam, the story’s teenaged protagonist. Another Transformer morphs from a cell phone to a Decepticon, an evil robot clan with hopes of taking over the world. Transformers, in essence, can transform into electronics, vehicles, animals and other objects.
If you are still wondering what that has to do with portable storage, the answer is simple: Portable storage units can transform from a large steel box to many other practical commercial, educational, government and industrial uses. In other words, portable storage isn’t just for storage anymore. Indeed, portable storage can be transformed into classrooms, air conditioned office space, makeshift pharmacies, informational kiosks and much more.
“The classic Transformers story line is just as relevant today as it was when the toys were first introduced decades ago,” said John Finnessy, CMP, Executive Director the National Portable Storage Association, or NPSA, a nonprofit membership association dedicated to the advancement of the portable storage industry. “Much the same, portable storage is just as relevant today as it was when it was introduced 50 years ago. Actually, portable storage is even more relevant because it’s evolved beyond containerized shipping to offer many innovative uses that save users time and money and make doing business more convenient.”
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July 14th, 2007
According to the AT&T 2006 Business Continuity Study, nearly 30 percent of companies across the nation have suffered from a disaster: 19% from extreme weather, 16% from fire, 19% from floods, 10% from earthquakes, 7% from terrorist attacks, and 8% from tornados. However, U.S. government studies report that only a quarter of companies are prepared for emergencies.
According to the FBI, there are several benefits to establishing an Emergency Action Plan, or EAP, such as restoring a sense of security to workers and reducing missed workdays. An Emergency Action Plan is a comprehensive system that spells out how a company or facility prevents, prepares for, and responds to an emergency. It offers guidelines and steps to follow in the wake of an emergency. For many companies, portable storage should be part of that plan.
“Portable storage is an integral part of emergency preparation for home dwellers and companies alike,” said John Finnessy, CMP, Executive Director the National Portable Storage Association, or NPSA, a nonprofit membership association dedicated to the advancement of the portable storage industry. “Custom-order shipping containers can be fitted with windows, electricity and plumbing. What’s more, these containers can withstand the winds that accompany a Category 5 hurricane. That means items stored inside are safe and sound.”
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July 5th, 2007
As the dust settles on the National Portable Storage Association’s (NPSA) 4th biannual Resale Expo in Monterey, Calif., industry leaders are beginning to implement many of the best practices and cutting-edge strategies that were discussed.
Now, members who were not present, as well as portable storage industry players who want to tap into the benefits of the association’s educational and business resources, can obtain video of the speaker presentations. This is an unprecedented opportunity to discover knowledge that is not available anywhere else in the convenience of your home or office.
“The Resale Expo is a premier portable storage industry event that gathers the industry’s thought leaders for a meeting of the minds,” said John Finnessy, CMP, Executive Director of the NPSA, a nonprofit membership association dedicated to the advancement of the portable storage industry.
Click here to read the rest of this release.
July 2nd, 2007
Edmond residents, like most Americans, own a lot of stuff — so much stuff, in fact, that they don’t have room to store it all at home, according to an article that recently appeared in The Edmond Sun in Oklahoma.
The self-storage trend is on the rise locally, as well as across the country, the story reports. According to the Edmond Economic Development Authority, building permits have been granted for 107,000 square feet of self-storage space in the Edmond area since 2004.
The industry coverage is awesome, but is self-storage still in the trend stage? Or is it just that this reporter hasn’t been duly educated on the industry’s decades-long history? Sure, the industry is relatively young, but it’s not wearing diapers, either.
So, yes, perhaps it is a trend the reporter is seeing, but it’s not a new trend. It’s a trend that remains alive and well — and it’s spreading, which is probably what our reporter friend in Oklahoma is noticing. In any case, it’s great to see the story. It’s our job to educate reporters from coast to coast and in other nations about self-storage so the trend can live on in a positive light.
June 28th, 2007
Divine Development LP, in alliance with the Agape Foundation and Mobile Master Trucks, has developed the first “green” business grant available to the self-storage industry. The grant offers low-cost use of clean-emissions vehicles to members of certain businesses, predominantly self-storage. It also provides a driver/employee for each vehicle (a type of moving truck), available for use six hours per day, five days per week, acording to an article in Inside Self-Storage.
Click here to read more about it. And don’t forget to check into options to advertise your business on the sides of these trucks. That’s where true self-storage promotions comes into play.
June 27th, 2007
The National Portable Storage Association, or NPSA, is leveraging the popular viral video site YouTube and its Web 2.0 technologies to help educate its members on safety issues related to loading and unloading containerized storage.
YouTube lets people watch and share original videos through a Web experience. The Google-owned property allows people to upload and share video clips on YouTube.com and across the Internet through Web sites, blogs, and e-mail. Now, portable storage operators can glean valuable information from the NPSA’s sneak peak by visiting www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uJ0y8MxBYs.
“Containerized storage may be an industrial business, but we use modern, cutting-edge technologies to help our members learn how to safely load and unload portable storage units,” said John Finnessy, CMP, Executive Director of the NPSA, a nonprofit membership association dedicated to the advancement of the portable storage industry. “What we’ve posted on YouTube is just part of our soon-to-be-released video, but you can begin learning online now through the power of Web 2.0 technologies.”
Click here to read the rest of this release on ClickPress.
June 18th, 2007
Check out the results for Atlas’ 2007 Corporate Relocation Survey. They bode well for self-storage and mobile storage firms.
According to the survey, over a fourth (29%) of responding firms expect their relocation volumes to increase in 2007 and 32% expect their relocation budgets to increase, nearly identical to expectations for 2006 (similar to 2004-2005, and significantly above the respective 13% and 15% levels reported in 2003).
Around half of all firms, regardless of size, expect relocation volumes and budgets to stay the same, similar to the past three years. As in the previous two years, roughly a fourth or more of all size firms expect increases and more large than mid-size or small firms expect increases.
- As in 2006, the majority of large firms expect relocation volumes to be at the same levels as last year. However, fewer large companies indicate increased expectations in relocation volume than in 2004 and 2005 (38% vs. 44% and 47%), although expectations remain significantly higher than in 2003 (only 19% projected increased volumes).
- Expectations for increases in large company relocation budgets dip slightly lower than in 2006 and 2005 (39% vs. 44%), returning to levels near 2004 (37%); but the percentage predicting increases remains considerably above that reported in 2003 (20%).
- Slightly more mid-size firms expect increases in relocation volume in 2007 over 2006, and significantly fewer expect decreases (10% vs. 22%). While the majority expects both budgets and volumes to remain static from last year, notably fewer indicate they expect budget decreases (8% vs. 17%).
Click here to read more about this telling study.
June 11th, 2007
The Grand Rapids Press reports, “Moveable storage containers are growing in popularity, and one local entrepreneur has big plans for the business he started here in the fall, MyWay Storage. Company founder Bryan Houck said mobile self-storage is beginning to take a bite out of the $22.6 billion self-storage industry. In 2000, $75 million was spent on mobile self-storage while, this year, it is projected to be $700 million, he said.”
With magazines and franchises springing up, it looks like a battle brewing between self-storage and mobile storage at some level. Could it be possible that mobile storage has done a good job educating the market about its benefits while traditional self-storage has stood by and watched? I’ll let you decide. What are your thoughts?
June 5th, 2007
Portable storage is getting an audience with the stars – music stars, that is. As the Lawn at White River State Park gears up to host its open-air concerts this year, including a visit from the legendary Bob Dylan July 15, portable storage will play a role in the production.Indeed, when the trucks drive up to the park’s green space toting mega speakers, musical and staging equipment and other gear, portable storage units will arrive with them to keep the entertainment kits safe and sound in between shows. Portable storage containers offer the secure, dry, and even air conditioned space required to store sensitive equipment. With multiple entrances, portable storage containers make it easy to access the equipment stored inside.
“Industries of all kinds are discovering the value and convenience that portable storage offers,” said John Finnessy, CMP, Executive Director of the National Portable Storage Association, or NPSA, a nonprofit membership association dedicated to the advancement of the portable storage industry. “Concerts at the Lawn are one of the many venues where containerized storage units can be seen across the country. The common denominator is that all of these venues place a high priority on securing equipment.
Portable storage containers may also be found on on-location movie sets. Weather elements can shut down entertainment industry productions, but rain, snow and other harsh weather conditions won’t put the equipment – if portable storage units are present. Of course, portable storage isn’t just for concert venues, on-location film productions and theater. Portable storage is finding uses across a broad variety of industries, from sports to construction to government to universities and beyond. The benefits are clear: safe, secure, convenient, climate-controlled, and versatile storage.
“If you’ve never paid attention to portable storage containers, start keeping your eye out for them,” said NPSA Operations Manager Joel Rathbone. “You’ll begin to notice them at local shopping centers, in schoolyards, on construction sites and in many other places. Portable storage is a part of doing business for many companies in many industries.”
June 4th, 2007
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