Gabfocus Self Storage Podcast

It's easy to become complacent in any industry, thinking you've got the answers. Maybe you do know all the answers to your questions, but are you sure you're asking the right questions? That's where a consultant proves their value.  Have you enlisted a consultant to maximize your self storage business? If not, why not? Consultants provide a valuable second set of eyes to evaluate your operation, p...

A picture's worth 1,000 words, but a drone photo is worth 1,000 photos. If you haven't gotten on board the drone train to showcase your self storage facility, you're missing out on a valuable marketing tool. But once you decide to enlist a drone company, how do you pick the right one? Can't you just do it yourself? Melissa and Josh cover just about everything you need to know to make sure you get...

Did you have a fun day off celebrating the 4th of July? Did your customers know you were closed? We dive into some basic best practices for holidays, plus talk through some scenarios brought up on the self storage managers Facebook group. How do you deal with a potentially problematic tenant who is on property all the time and may be up to no good? Should you just raise their rent? Lock them out?...

Business success comes down to the daily choices you and your team make. What do you prioritize? What's working? What needs to be better? In this rebroadcast of the Gabfocus webinar Optimizing  Your Day-to-Day, we'll take a magnifying glass to small tasks that make up managers' and operators' days and see how you can make them better. Tommy and Melissa will be joined by Denise Bowley (Self Storage...

It's Episode 50! We dive into Melissa's article recently published by Inside Self Storage (ISS) about the importance of policies and procedures. These are your living documents in case the "hit by a bus" scenario happens to you. P&Ps have a huge impact on all aspects of your business, from operations to employees to customers. Do you have them in place? We talk all about why you need them, how to...

We finally rented a storage unit. It was a first for Josh and the first in more than 15 years for Melissa. We walk through our experience, touching on what went well and highlighting some missed opportunities. From the online search, to the rental process, to the boots on the ground move-in, there's a lot involved in self storage. Are you aware of what your customers are going through? Is it simpl...

We open up the Facebook mailbag today, grabbing some popular questions from various self storage groups. As Melissa says, there are no bad questions, but there are some questionable answers. We hit on three common issues that had a few of those questionable responses: What do you do about someone who won't setup auto pay? What are the do's and don'ts for social media posts? How many times do I put...

In this special rebroadcast episode, we take you back to a recent webinar where Anthony Krupa from the Self Storage Networking and Acquisitions Group hosted Josh and Melissa as guest speakers. Join us as we delve into their fascinating self storage journeys, tracing their origins, and exploring their current ventures with  Lighthouse Storage Solutions and Melissa's Management & Consulting . Discov...

This is a rebroadcast of the insightful "Storage Tech Summit" webinar from our monthly Gabfocus. Featuring Chuck Gordon, the CEO of Storable, and Raheem Amer, the President of Mini Mall Storage, this episode offers a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the world of self storage technology. Discover the state of storage tech, the latest trends and innovations, and the impact of automation on the i...

In this second installment of our maintenance series, Melissa and Josh navigate through the integral aspects of marketing and operations for your self-storage facility. Discover how routine attention to your digital tools like your website and Google utilities can ensure they remain effective marketing instruments. But it's not just about marketing: they'll also shed light on operational maintenan...

How are you maintaining your self storage facility? This is part one of a series, focussing on the importance of maintenance, but not just mowing and cleaning. Maintenance is important for employees, operations, and marketing too. But, in this episode, we start with the importance of routine maintenance for your self-storage property. Discover how sticking to a schedule, utilizing a checklist, and...

Who's ready to play "That's Not Self Storage!" Josh and Melissa dive into various storage options and determine whether they qualify as self storage or not. From a traditional 10x10 storage unit to more unconventional options like valet parking and safety deposit boxes, the duo breaks down each option and explains why it does or does not fall under the self storage category. Throughout the episode...

Industry experts Adam Steckler (StorageMart) and Drew Pearson (Pearson Partners) share their thoughts on evaluating, managing, and growing storage facilities. They emphasize the importance of data-driven decision-making, with Adam highlighting the use of scorecards to monitor performance and guide improvements, while Drew discusses the significance of key metrics, such as lead-to-lease conversion...

Are you ready to unlock the secrets of successful self storage auctions? We cover a ton, from the importance of following state lien laws, to balancing business with compassion, to tips about avoiding auctions all together. But don't worry, it's not all serious business - we'll also throw in some auction humor to keep you entertained. And if that's not enough, we'll give you the inside scoop on Jo...

We're excited to announce the launch of Josh's new company- Lighthouse Storage Solutions . He is focussing on marketing for vendors in the self storage industry. As for your regular "all things self storage" chat, we're taking a little pause to let everyone breathe after ISS, but we'll be back next week at the usual time. Host: Josh Huff

Ready for a dive into the world of cause marketing? We're going to talk about the importance of telling your company's story and connecting with your customers on a deeper level. We'll define cause marketing and share practical tips on how to implement it in your business. It's essential to understand why cause marketing matters today and how it can impact your company, your employees, and the com...

Join Heather McCombs, Stacie Maxwell, Tommy Nguyen, and Josh Huff in this exciting podcast episode as they share their expertise on marketing your self-storage business in slow markets. They reveal the importance of hiring managers with a concierge-like personality and making friends with your competition. We highlight the importance of getting entrenched in the community and sponsoring local even...

Ready for a knowledge drop? We recap the SSA Spring Show in New Orleans and share our top takeaways, including insights from Archie Manning. We discuss the dangers of perfectionism and the importance of focusing on progress, the changing demographics of self-storage renters with the influx of millennials, and the critical role of employee management in placing the right people in the right positio...

Some very special guests joined us before the recent SSA show in New Orleans to swap self storage stories. People storing rocks? Hook-ups? Drug busts? We get into all the facility shenanigans, plus hit on a few state associations and discuss the place of social media in the industry. And don't forget the recommendations at the end. Guests: Chad Lundberg , Max Vallotton , & Alonna Ross Hosts: Josh...

The phone is still a major source of communication with our self storage customers. Are you asking the right questions? Are you actively listening? From effective selling techniques to striking the right balance of friendliness and professionalism, we cover it all (or at least most of it). Learn how to evaluate phone calls and identify key indicators that can help you close the deal and make a goo...

This week we dive into the world of reputation management, exploring the importance of reviews and customer follow-up. What messages are you sending out? Should you always respond to reviews? What should I look for in a reputation management company? Learn the strategies and tools you need to manage your self storage facility's reputation effectively. Hosts: Josh Huff & Melissa Huff

John Chang (Marcus & Millichap) joins us on this rebroadcast of our recent webinar and shares his expert insights on the current state of the self storage industry in relation to the broader economy. We explore the future of the economy and identify key economic indicators to watch for self storage operators. Is it time to buy or sell your facility? Will Public Storage acquire Life Storage? Will w...

It's the episode you've been waiting for! Tommy, Stephanie, and Julio join us to share some of the wildest stories from their self storage experiences. From snakes to suspicious employees, Disney swag to daring break-ins, we've got it all! Recorded live at the Florida Self Storage Conference in Orlando, tune in to hear the craziest self storage stories from the Sunshine State. You won't want to mi...

On today's episode, we delve into the top applications we use to manage marketing, operations, customers, and the team for our 30 self storage facilities. From Adobe Creative Suite to Google and Monday.com, discover the benefits of these programs and how they help us streamline processes and improve operations. Plus, we give a shout out to our new at-home bartender. Hosts: Josh Huff & Melissa Huff...

What stats do you use to measure your success in self storage? Do they look sexy, but lack substance? If a stat only backs up what you want to see, it could mean trouble for your business. Every stat has a story behind it and understanding that story can make all the difference. Today we look at the examples of occupancy rates and website traffic to find what is truly "sexy" about our stats. Quote...