Gabfocus Self Storage Podcast

Join us for lessons and insights from our favorite self storage people. At the end of each year, we like to invite some of our favorite experts to share their lessons and insights from the year and what they're dreaming up for 2023. Featured Speakers:  Chad Lundberg ,  Jane Sauls ,  Nick Newcomb ,  Stephanie Tharpe , &  Sue Haviland Brought to you by the teams at StoragePug and Affordable Storage...

You've done all the work of getting a potential customer on your radar. What do you do now? Having good communication, follow-up, and sales training is crucial for your team. Join us as we talk about the best ways to follow up with your self storage leads and communicate with your customers. Guests: Carol Mixon-Krendl (SkilCheck) and Hailey Teal (Jenkins Organization) Brought to you by the teams a...

From operations to marketing to team processes, there are plenty of lessons that large, multi-location storage businesses have to teach us. Whether you're a fellow large operator looking to improve or a small operator looking to level up, we dive into how these big brands are making it happen. Guests: Guy Middlebrooks (CubeSmart) & Darren Kelley (Right Move Storage) Brought to you by StoragePug an...

From the costs to customer expectations, running a facility focused on storing boats, RVs, and other vehicles is very different from running a traditional self storage facility full of storage units. There's a lot to know to set yourself up for success. Whether you're new to storage entirely or you're a seasoned storage veteran trying to add vehicle storage to your portfolio, this Gabfocus session...

We answered your self storage questions LIVE to wrap up the Fall Conference in Tennessee. Topics ranged all over the place- pros and cons of 24/7 access, auction timelines, best office hours, software, gate companies... you name it, we probably talked about it. We even had a few industry experts chime in like Cindy Ashby and Stephanie Tharpe. Special thanks to the TNSSA for letting us record this...

Marketing is a crazy world, and there are tons of ideas about what works and what doesn't. This goes double for online marketing. The problem is that not every marketing strategy works for every industry or even every business in a given industry. Plenty of marketers who don't know the industry try to apply strategies that work in other industries but don't quite fit the landscape of self storage....

Do you take advantage of national, state, and local shows for you and your self storage teams? The education and networking opportunities at these events are essential for your success in this industry. Josh and Melissa recap two of the shows they recently attended in Mississippi and Tennessee and discuss some of the highlights, a few things they learned, and why they think you should go, whether...

Are you interested in constructing a new self storage facility? Have you thought about remodeling an existing facility? Do you know what materials to consider, what a reasonable timeline is, or even what questions to ask? In today's episode we cover just about everything from feasibility studies, to materials, to lease up. Special Guests: Nigel Kreft ( Storage Structures ) and Jeremy Rollwitz ( Th...

I'm sure most of us in self storage have insurance, but is it the right kind? Are the right things covered? What are the events that should trigger reevaluating your level of coverage? We aren't insurance agents, but we tackle a few of these key questions every facility owner should ask. If you need a solid agent, contact your local storage association for recommendations for your area. Brought to...

There's a lot of talk about making money in self storage, but what about the best ways to spend it? Do you have a handle on managing your finances? They're the lifeblood of any business. Without proper financial management, you can easily find yourself digging your business into a hole. See what our expert panelists have to say about keeping track of and even improving your self storage business's...

Finding balance between work and everything else can be a struggle, especially if you own and operate a self storage facility. Customer interactions, maintenance issues, and operational tasks don't always fit neatly into a 9-5, 40 hour a week job. How do you find balance? How much work is too much or not enough? Our hosts offer some tips about making the most of your time and focusing on what real...

Keeping your facility and your customers' belongings safe is one of your highest priorities. But, there are a lot of security features to choose from. Let's explore the range of security options, what matters most to customers, and what the future of self storage security looks like. Featured Speakers: Kristi Adams (Open Tech), Kevin Alvarado (Storable), & Hayden Buettner (Janus International). Br...

Self Storage has been booming lately, but is that season coming to an end? What concerns are facing our tenants? What are the concerns owners should have? Jane Sauls, a facility owner and self storage broker from Sauls Storage Group , joins us to talk about the market and what we should be looking out for as facility values settle down and as the country faces economic uncertainty. Brought to you...

Self storage has given a lot to us. It's helped pay the bills and provided income for thousands across the nation. Today, Lonnie Bickford (Appletree Storage, StorageAuctions.com) joins us to talk about giving back. His organization Storage Gives provides a unique way to contribute to vetted charitable organizations from the proceeds of our storage auctions. For more info, visit  StorageGives.org B...

If you're a self storage owner or manager, you probably get a few calls a week asking if your facility is for sale. What do you need to know to make the most of a sale? What should you look for when buying a new facility? Our experts join Tommy to discuss the market, buying, selling, and growing your facility. Guests: Jane Sauls ( Sauls Storage Group ), Kris Bennett ( PassiveInvesting.com ), and M...

The self storage world is always changing. One of the best ways to stay informed is to attend national and state shows. In this episode, we catch up with Chad Lundberg ( The Storage Group ) at the SSA Spring show. Chad is a part of the Self Storage Association of Michigan ( SSAM ) and loves shows like this for a ton of reasons. Melissa and Tommy also give their takes on the importance of continuin...

These days software is almost as essential as a building in self storage. But which program is the best? From Sitelink to Easy Storage Solutions to Web Self Storage (and just about everything in between), we cover the good, the bad, what brings a headache, and what we can't live without, all from an operator's/manager's perspective. Special Guests- Brian Ward, Erika Weidman, & Steven Jeffers Broug...

We caught up with special guest Tim Dietz (CEO of the Self Storage Association) at the SSA Spring Show in Orlando. Tim shared his take on the conference and the future of self storage. Is the outlook bright? Any big ticket legal items? How many attended the conference? You'll have to listen to find out. Brought to you by the teams at StoragePug and Affordable Storage Guys Management .

Automation doesn't always mean unmanned. From leasing to access control to communication, there are self storage facilities implementing technology and automation across their business in all sorts of different ways. Find out how operators are navigating a modern world, when they're adding automation, and when they're not. Guests: AJ Osborne, Mason Levy, & Josh Parker Brought to you by StoragePug...

Self storage properties are being bought and sold in record numbers these days. Do you know what your facility is worth? Do you know how to increase its value? Special guest Andrew Beeckman (Marcus & Millichap) joins us after a delightful Valentine's day dinner for a fun chat about what drives self storage value. We hit on some important practices to put in place and a few things we think may incr...

Are you offering No Contract Rentals? What about online payments? Automation shouldn't be seen as a threat to managers, but an asset to help do the myriad of jobs in self storage faster and easier. Come see what tools and integrations are out there to boost your efficiency and revenue while maintaining the safety of your team and customers. Featured Speakers: Stephanie Tharpe, Jim Ferguson, Jane S...

2021 has come to a close. We took a chance to catch up with some familiar faces, wrap up the year with some final thoughts and to talk about what waits ahead for self storage in 2022! From value pricing to lessons learned, our panel covers it all, including several hilarious and crazy stories from the past year.   Featured Speakers: Alonna Ross, Jim Mooney, Stephanie Winfree, Chad Lundberg, & Grac...

This webinar originally aired in April, 2020, but is still packed with great info for us today where we'll learn what you can do to empower your manager to maximize their potential. How do you communicate with your teams? How do you handle bonuses? What are the most important tools used to help managers? These are just a few of the self storage questions tackled by our panel. Panelists: Stephanie...

Welcome to the show! Self Storage has never been this fun and informative! Listen in as we gab about the industry and focus in on particular areas. Want to learn more about auctions, operations, management, marketing, best practices, customer service, and more? Interested in what the best in the industry have to say? Melissa Huff and Tommy Nguyen bring in nationally recognized speakers, leaders of...