Self Storage Lab

Welcome back to Self Storage Lab , the podcast where we deconstruct how operators are adapting to today's technology-driven landscape and what it means for the future of the industry. This episode brings two guests from StorageMax, Mississippi's largest self-storage operator, spanning 39 locations across three states with a lean 48-person team. Nick Newcomb stepped into the CEO role in lat...

Welcome back to Self Storage Lab, the podcast where we deconstruct how operators are adapting to today's technology-driven landscape and what it means for the future of the industry. This episode's guest is Joel Patterson, SVP of Operations at Personal Mini Storage and past president of the Florida Self Storage Association. Joel got his start in moving and storage at U-Haul in 2001, then j...

This episode's guest is Travis Morrow, Chairman and CEO of Store Local and President of National Self Storage. Few people have seen the industry from as many angles as Travis: operator, co-op founder, publisher, event host, and one of the most connected voices in self storage. He runs a 29-store portfolio, learned the business from the ground up doing feasibility studies as an intern, and has been...

Welcome back to Self Storage Lab , the podcast where we deconstruct how operators are adapting to today’s technology-driven landscape—and what it means for the future of the industry. This episode’s guest is Brett Copper , President and Partner at Copper Storage Management . Brett grew up in the self storage industry but chose not to simply inherit the traditional playbook. Instead, he challenged...

Welcome back to Self Storage Lab , the podcast where we deconstruct how operators are adapting to today’s technology-driven landscape—and what it means for the future of the industry. This episode features Amanda DiGaspari and Austin Simmons , CEO and COO of Storagely , a company rethinking what a self storage website should actually do. What started as a digital marketing agency turned into a Saa...

Welcome back to Self Storage Lab , the podcast where we deconstruct how operators are adapting to today’s technology-driven landscape—and what it means for the future of the industry. This episode’s guest is Anastasia Malagisi , Vice President of Marketing at Safeguard Self Storage . With roots in the industry going back decades, Anastasia brings a rare blend of institutional knowledge, operator e...

Welcome back to Self Storage Lab , the podcast where we deconstruct how operators are adapting to today’s technology-driven landscape and what it means for the future of the industry. This episode features a special roundtable conversation with the leadership team at Access Self Storage , a Northeast-based operator approaching its 50th anniversary. Joining us are Andrew Rockoff (Marketing), Brian...

Welcome back to Self Storage Lab , the podcast where we deconstruct how operators are adapting to today’s technology-driven landscape and what it means for the future of the industry. This episode’s guest is Susan Hovey , Director of Marketing at Strat Property Management , whose career path spans tech, wine, and now self storage. Susan is known for blending creativity with data, grounding modern...

Welcome back to Self Storage Lab , the podcast where we deconstruct how operators are adapting to today’s technology-driven landscape—and what it means for the future of the industry. ‍ This episode’s guest is Noah Starr , founder and CEO of Tract IQ —a data intelligence platform giving operators, brokers, and investors visibility into over 70,000 self storage properties nationwide. Before launchi...

Welcome back to Self Storage Lab, the podcast where we deconstruct how operators are adapting to today’s technology driven landscape and what it means for the future of the industry. ‍ This episode’s guest is Jessie Lamb , VP of Self Storage at and one of the sharpest minds working at the intersection of people, operations, and technology. Jessie’s path into the industry is anything but traditiona...

Welcome back to Self Storage Lab , the podcast where we deconstruct how operators are adapting to today’s technology-driven landscape—and what it means for the future of the industry. This episode’s guest is Tommy Nguyen , co-founder and COO of StoragePug —a company that started with one family-owned facility and evolved into one of the most beloved tech brands in self storage. From his early days...

Summary In this conversation, Faraz Hemani shares his journey from a successful career in big tech to becoming a self-storage entrepreneur. He discusses the challenges and motivations behind his leap into entrepreneurship, the importance of understanding risk, and how his upbringing shaped his views on money and investment. Faraz elaborates on his early ventures in real estate, the transition to s...

Welcome back to Self Storage Lab, the podcast where we deconstruct how operators are adapting to today’s technology-driven landscape—and what it means for the future of the industry. This episode’s guest is Jackson Stevens, co-founder and CEO of SpareBox Technologies. From classical musician to building one of the most operator-informed tech stacks in self-storage, Jackson’s path is as unconventio...

Welcome back to Self Storage Lab, the podcast where we deconstruct how operators are adapting to today’s technology-driven landscape—and what it means for the future of the industry. This episode is a throwback to the early days—with just Mason, Rodolfo, and Kyle at the mics. Together, they unpack where we really are in the AI timeline, why some businesses are pulling back from their GenAI experim...

This episode’s guest is Robert Madsen, president of U-Lock Mini Storage Group and the Canadian Self Storage Association. Robert’s story is rooted in the early days of the industry in Canada, having grown up working in his family’s first converted warehouse facility. Today, he leads one of British Columbia’s most recognizable storage brands and is a fierce advocate for the Canadian self-storage ind...

Company Overview & Background Founded by Peter and Alex (met at Harvard Business School) Started as Local Locker in NYC - urban storage platform focused on unused spaces Evolved into White Label Storage - third-party management service Alex just had second boy (now 5 kids between the two founders) Currently operate 30 stores under management platform 50+ stores in pipeline Growth from 15 to 30...

In this episode, we welcome Katharine Lau, an accomplished entrepreneur and innovator in the real estate and proptech space. Katharine is the Co-Founder and CEO of Stuf Storage, a fast-growing self-storage startup that’s reimagining how we use urban space. Katharine shares her journey from a decade-long career in commercial real estate—working at firms like Prudential Real Estate Investors, Equino...

In this episode, the podcast hosts welcome Gabriel Luna, an accomplished marketing expert known for his strategic acumen and innovative use of AI in marketing. Gabriel is the Engagement and Communications Manager for KobreCo, overseeing brands like Trojan Storage and QuikStor. Gabriel shares his journey from a background in computer science to a leadership role in self-storage marketing, detailing...

This year on Self Storage Lab , we’ve unpacked the biggest shifts and challenges in the self-storage industry—where operators are adapting to new tech, redefining customer experiences, and learning to balance automation with the human touch. In this special year-end recap, we let our AI co-hosts, Hoover and Athena, take the wheel as we revisit the standout insights, game-changing trends, and best...

In this episode, Rick Beal and Magen Smith, co-founders of Atomic Storage Group, share their journey of rapidly scaling their company to manage over 90 facilities across 20 states since its inception in 2019. They discuss their backgrounds, challenges faced, and how they successfully balance technology and the human touch in operations. The conversation delves into their hiring strategies, the imp...

In this episode, the first vendor guest, Matt Engfer, CEO and co-founder of Cubby, discusses how his company is transforming the self-storage industry with modern facility management software. Matt shares his journey from various industries—retail, life insurance, martech—and how these experiences influence his approach in self-storage. The conversation explores critical topics like revenue manage...

Today’s episode zeroes in on using technology to slash expenses and redefine the role of the manager. We'll discuss everything from the latest tech innovations to old tech and DIY budget-friendly solutions that have stood the test of time. Plus, we'll dive into effective ways to incentivize managers in this evolving tech landscape. Joining us is Raheem Amer, President at MyPlace Self Storage. With...

In this episode of the Self Storage Lab, the focus is on third-party management with a special emphasis on branding and marketing strategies. Melissa Stiles, Chief Marketing Officer at Storage Asset Management (SAM), joins the discussion to share her extensive experience and insights. Key topics include grassroots marketing, reputation management, word-of-mouth referrals, and digital marketing tec...

Welcome to the Self Storage Lab — where we deconstruct how operators are adapting to today’s technology-driven landscape and how it might impact your business. In episode 22 of the Self Storage Lab, the team sheds light on how self-storage operators are adapting to the latest in tech. From the latest in kiosk technology to advanced unattended systems, they dive into insights on how operators can m...

Welcome to the Self Storage Lab — where we deconstruct how operators are adapting to today’s technology-driven landscape and how it might impact your business. In episode 21 of the Self Storage Lab, we’re diving back into the world of AI with all of the recent buzz over the last week. We review key announcements from the Google I.O. conference, including AI overviews in search, and OpenAI's ne...