ow do you plan for the unexpected? Think back to December 2019. Any plans that you made for 2020 went out the window just a few months later. Who knew that would happen? That’s the problem with planning in this day and age. We don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow, let alone in a few months.

It’s challenging to keep up with the times when the times are constantly changing! Nevertheless, any astute business owner or manager needs to plan. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail! The key is to set long-term goals for the year, as well as month-to-month goals. Therefore, if something happens, you can easily pivot, make changes, and adapt to what’s going on and how it affects you. Plus, when it comes to marketing, keep track of your analytics monthly so you can adjust your plan based on seasons and what’s working and not working.

Next, set your income goals for the next year. Then, break that down into 12 months. They probably won’t be the same for each month, especially if your location is seasonal. Naturally, this will help you start thinking on that month-to-month basis.

When you create SMART goals, each one must be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. That way, you set them in small bites that you can handle. They’re doable and you know if you hit (or missed) the mark.

At the end of each month, when you look at your sales figures, marketing analytics, and insights, you’ll be able to tell if your efforts were effective. Consequently, set goals for the next month based on your data.

Their August 2024 algorithm update demotes any website that is not 100 percent optimized for the search engine (that is, with poor search engine optimization [SEO]).

There are several things you can do to optimize your website. Make sure your page titles and meta descriptions are keyword centric and have the location/area that you serve. Your address and phone number should be the same everywhere you have a listing online, including your website and Google Business Profile (GBP). Add special amenities like air-conditioned units, mobile, RV or boat storage, etc.

You need to create fresh content on a regular basis. That means blogging or videos. Tell stories of the area, some of your stand-out customers, answer questions, solve problems, and/or alleviate your target market’s pain points. Make your videos personable with someone talking and explaining. YouTube is the second-largest search engine (after its parent, Google). Videos come up in Google searches and appear on your GBP.

How often are your competitors publishing content? Based on that, you can plan your content marketing. You need to create better content and more frequently.

Do keyword and competitor research and optimize your pages and blogs. That’s called On-Page SEO. Share your blog articles and videos on your social media. Doing that creates legitimate backlinks. If you’re still having trouble ranking for your local keywords or have a formidable competitor to contend with, visit my website (AZSocialMediaWiz.com) and schedule a Zoom call for a free SEO checkup.

• Experience – Here’s where you add your experience in the topic or field.
• Expertise – Does the material showcase the writer’s expertise? Does the author have a high level of knowledge or skill?
• Authority – Is this a topic that is often covered on this website? Is this the go-to person on this subject? Also, make sure the article has not appeared on another website. The first to publish has the authority.
• Trustworthiness – Is the information provided correct? Can you trust it? Are they legitimate?

People buy from whom they know and trust.

In case of an emergency, deal with the critical issues first, but don’t forget your social media. Customers and potential customers will be looking for information to see if you’re open, how the facility faired, even how you can help them store their belongings while they rebuild or recover.

If your area is prone to natural disasters, become known as a community helper by working with the local agencies. In fact, that’s something to blog about! How have you helped during tough times in the past? What tips can you give people to prepare? Think about the lives of your customers and target audience and provide assistance.

For instance, write a blog about how wise it is to have renters insurance, which may cover the cost of storing your belongings if you are displaced. I wish I had known that before there was a fire in my apartment building.

If you’re part of a corporate chain or franchise, look to your headquarters for their emergency preparedness instructions and make sure they are up to date. If you’re an independent facility, you need to have an emergency policy. Work with your local first responders to determine what’s best for your area.

Follow your local police and fire departments on social media to be alerted in the event of an incident or emergency.

Ultimately, the steps for effective marketing don’t change.

PURPOSE
What’s your business’ purpose? Is it to rent units? No! It’s to help the customer by solving their problems and alleviating their pain points. Think of all the possible reasons someone may need to store something in your facility.

PLANNING
Identifying your purpose will help you set those SMART goals. Once those are set, then plan out a strategy of how you are going meet those goals. The next step is to develop your tactical plan (your to-do list) of how you’re going to implement the strategy. Write it all out.

PREPARATION
Make sure you have quality graphics everywhere. Your branding should be consistent throughout; that means your website and your social media profiles. Do they look like they all belong to the same company? Plan out your marketing campaigns month to month. Put together an editorial calendar.

PARTICIPATION
You can automate a lot of the content, but you still need to be social! It’s about building relationships with potential customers as well as referral sources.

POSTING
People are not going to follow you if you’re not posting helpful, quality content!

PERSISTANCE
It’s a marathon, not a sprint. If you stop, people and Google will think you fell off the face of the earth.

PERSERVERANCE
Keep at it. You might not see results right away.

PATIENCE
There is a common misconception that if you post something on social media, it will automatically go viral. It may take three to six months before you start seeing results, depending on your facility, the competition, the economy, the seasons, world news, even the weather. You must put in that sweat equity up front to build a following.

Having good strategic and tactical plans will keep you from being overwhelmed!

mart units, call centers, and access control systems provide data that can make you a better operator, which also strengthens your bottom line. In today’s highly competitive market, modern technology that is easily available and deployed gives you the edge you need.

Kapp, who also owns the American South Storage portfolio in Charlotte, N.C., frequently hears about self-storage owners going through two or three COOs, vice presidents of operations, or district managers. They keep having the same outcome: ops leaders who were “ragged, worn down, mentally drained.” A review of jobs advertised on LinkedIn underscores that there are a lot of openings in these self-storage ops positions. This appears to be a failure point in the industry. It’s a hard job, full of difficult issues with staff, tenants, tech—you name it.

Remote tech helps resolve this bottleneck by institutionalizing and “technologizing” knowledge and processes. You no longer have to rely on one person who knows the lien laws and understands the nuances from state to state. You can use software like AI Lean to automate the lien process for you and increase revenue, because it also focuses on collections.

Instead of surveying the competition to ask about rates and occupancy, like owners have asked managers to do for decades, data services like Radius+, Yardi Matrix, and StorTrack automatically do that daily, giving you real-time, accurate data on your competition.

Technology designed to evaluate supply and demand can then make data driven adjustments to rates. Software like Prorize and Veritec can adjust rates automatically to match the market, according to the parameters you set. If your inventory of 10-by-10s is low and competitors’ rates for them are high, the asking rate can be automatically adjusted up to increase margin. If you have a plethora of 5-by-5s and competitors’ rates for them are low, the asking rate can be automatically adjusted down to attract renters.

In addition to renting space and serving customers well, call center technology gives you data about:

• How many calls you receive,
• What they are about,
• How long it takes for calls to be answered,
• How long the calls last, and
• How they are handled.

Did they result in new rentals? Were payments received? Were additional units rented to existing customers? Are there move-outs you know about, instead of being surprised? Were they calls to get information, like a gate code, an account balance, or office/access hours? Were they calls to report problems, such as maintenance issues or tenant protection or insurance claims?

If you have the right solutions in place, conveniently accessible without friction, many of these problems can be solved before the customer has to pick up the phone. Analyzing call data enables you to present tenant solutions where and when they need them, so they don’t have to call to report problems. This proactive approach strengthens your business in many ways, especially customer satisfaction.

Not only does this help you staff the facility appropriately, but this data also gives you valuable information for the next time you go in front of local planning and zoning decision-makers. Your hard data about frequency of customer visits could save you money and headaches when you remodel, expand, or build a new facility. Municipal authorities do not have self-storage traffic data. Instead, they want to apply data from other businesses with higher traffic counts to your business. That increases your impact fees, parking spaces required, and potentially other expenses. Providing your own hard data to prove your actual traffic count is powerful with local decision-makers.

Loftin says OpenTech access control also helps you with tenants who forget their access code. They can enter their mobile phone number, and if it matches what is on file, they can get the code. This feature solves a very common customer problem and prevents a significant amount of customer calls—all of which save you time and money while enhancing your customer experience. It’s a win-win.

Storage Defender is an affordable, easy way to turn traditional units into smart units. For a low up-front investment, you can buy Storage Defender units and offer them to tenants in any unit, or place them in all of your units. These devices notify your customer any time their space is accessed.

The SSA’s 2023 Demand Study shows that tenants are willing to pay more for such technology. Storage Defender data shows that this tech generates 10 to 15 percent in ancillary revenue. At this rate, Storage Defender rivals tenant protection as the best ancillary stream of revenue—without any claims to adjust and pay.

Speaking of claims, facility-wide use of this technology increases peace of mind for tenants, operators, and owners because it decreases crime, so you have fewer claims for tenant protection or insurance and commercial insurance.

There are many other consumer benefits of smart units using technology like Nokē, KISS, OpenTech, and others. For instance, tenants can share temporary access with friends, family, delivery services, etc.

With KISS tech, they can manage their account in the KISS app, from paying their bill to changing profile details.

KISS reports that their smart lock is successful with 98 percent of self-storage customers. Only a scant 2 percent of customers just can’t learn how to use the digital lock. That’s OK; there are disc locks for them, so everyone is happy.

One of the reasons for this high success rate is that KISS locks do not use electricity, batteries, Bluetooth, or facility-wide networks. They use the same NFC (near-field communication) tap technology you use to pay at Starbucks or the grocery store, avoiding all the failure points of tech that depends on other sources of power or connection. Did you know your smartphone could transfer energy to a lock to open it?

All of your tech provides data on customer interaction. The data tells you what your customers need and want. Use the data remote tech provides to improve your customer experience and stand out from the competition.

Your combination of high tech and high touch elevates your customers’ experience with your business and increases their satisfaction, length of stay, and likelihood of referring you to others and returning to you when they need storage again in the future.

re you looking for a little extra boost in your advertising/marketing, online presence, and SEO? Incorporate social media posts into your daily and weekly routine. This can easily be done by either the manager or the owner. You can post pictures or videos and add text, shorten clips, add music, ask survey questions, use “stickers,” add captions, and so much more. All the pictures and videos you see in advertising have something tweaked to make them more appealing and draw more attention. If you aren’t using social media, then you are missing an entire medium of advertising. There are countless apps or agencies that will aid you in your social media journey, but much or all of this you can do on your own with a little practice and being open to learning more and improving. At Storage Authority locations, social media is incorporated into the daily and weekly marketing plan.

When creating marketing videos, you should make one point or possibly no more than three to five points. Of course, this really depends on how long you will take to get your points across to the viewer. Just remember that most people only watch for about 15 seconds, unless they are truly engaged or really interested in your points. If you catch the viewer’s interest, you might keep them for two minutes. So, the next time you believe that you are making the “greatest video ever,” you might want to remember to make it great within two minutes or less, because your viewership drops off drastically after that point.

Consider creating videos of your showroom supplies and security monitors, gate entrance functionality, various storage unit sizes, wide aisles, or a view from the street. You can include your voice or add a voiceover, captions, and even some music.

How long will you grab the viewer’s attention? Here are some averages:

• YouTube – Up to a few minutes to possibly an hour (training videos, etc.)
• TikTok – 15 to 60 seconds (and watch multiple related videos reels up to 90 seconds)
• Instagram – 15- to 30-second stories
• Facebook – 24 to 90 seconds (up to three minutes)
• LinkedIn – 30 seconds to five minutes
• Twitter – 20 to 45 seconds

Check out these links for examples: www.facebook.com/StorageAuthorityFranchise and www.linkedin.com/company/43372522/admin/feed/posts/.

Let me provide an example: I recently spoke with a friend about this topic, and he stated that he was looking up how to play something on his guitar. He found numerous short videos that were 30 seconds to two minutes long. He also found a video from a guitar legend that discussed the same aspect he wanted to learn. He watched about five short clips, but never bothered with the guitar legend’s tips simply because it was just too long.

Most people watch complete business-related videos if they’re less than 60 seconds long, but less than 25 percent will complete a video that is longer than 15 minutes. Platforms offer what is called analytics to view your detailed results on how your video is doing. This will also clue you into how you should create future videos and what is catching the views. If you really feel the need to make a long video, then consider splitting the video into shorter video “chapters” to gain a higher SEO. The shorter durations will maintain viewers and make the eager viewers come back for more.

As far as grabbing attention with your video, you will want to jazz it up with the various options available during the posting process. Adding text, voiceovers, music, colors, stickers, captions, sparkles, surveys, and GIFs (even the way you move your hand, eyes, and head) make it more attractive. When you watch a video where the person constantly moves their hands in a small window, remember they are doing that on purpose. Once you notice this, you can’t unsee it! There is research available and all sorts of video editing apps for these little details that make your video more appealing.

As far as making the videos, give it a shot. You might make a few bloopers along the way, but just try to be natural. Scripting a video ahead of time is great, but when it comes time to shoot the video, have it memorized. Don’t read from the script. Pay attention to your lighting and background noises that may distract a viewer or make it hard to hear your voice. Have fun with it and figure out what works best for you. In self-storage, don’t be afraid to do a selfie video or an interview. Consider a video from the street or of your product in use (units, gate, security, showroom, etc.). You can make them fun, educational, and/or to the point.

You can do basic photo editing on your phone with the included editing tools or use an application on your phone or computer for more complex editing. Social media platforms offer a variety of tools to make these pictures pop even more.

Consider various angles of your facility and landscaping, unit sizes with added text, or other images/stickers to grab attention. Products in use bring the photo more “life.” Any other features you wish to promote should be included.

Don’t be shy about commenting or responding to comments. Be interactive with your posts and you will attain higher activity and improve your ranking. Ask your viewers to “like” and “share.”

Generally, the use of social media will add another aspect to your advertising and get your business name out there. Short reminders and consistency are the keys to having good penetration on any platform. Have fun with it and learn along the way. You can always hire a company to do this for you, but there are so many simple actions you can take to make a huge difference right away for little to no cost. This information only scratches the surface, or maybe it was too long? Did you read the first paragraph and move on? Did you make it to the end? Hopefully you did and you can venture into social media to make an impact on your business. Gain some viewers’ attention to promote your self-storage facility by making some creative and informative social media posts.

elf-storage operators often face a common but challenging issue: chronically delinquent tenants. For many storage managers, this subset of customers requires careful handling, as these tenants walk a fine line between profitable late fees and potential auction liabilities. Balancing late fees, lien laws, and customer relationships has become both an art and a science in the self-storage industry.

But the tolerance for late payments hinges on tenants’ reliability. As Sue Haviland from Haviland Storage Services explained, staff members are trained to work with customers who communicate clearly about their payment delays and follow through on promises. “It’s when they stop communicating or try to talk us into waiving fees that it becomes problematic,” she says. A good policy that clearly outlines acceptable behavior around delinquency is essential for managing these tenants effectively; it hopefully persuades tenants to pay in a timely manner to avoid fees, or accept the consequences, which inevitably benefits the facility through fees.

“Following the lien laws is key to managing delinquent accounts effectively,” Haviland says. “We include these terms in all rental agreements, so tenants are fully aware of the process. However, every facility must have strict policies around partial payments and late fees to ensure clarity and avoid ‘gray areas’ that may lead to misunderstandings or manipulative behavior.”

While lien laws vary state by state, some people are flippant and not in compliance with their lien laws. This breeds opportunity for chronic delinquency, as it is more difficult to hold tenants accountable. Establishing a strong boundary for late fees and providing a threshold for what the facility will tolerate in terms of late payments will mitigate the amount of chronically delinquent tenants.

Every facility has different terms for how they handle delinquency and the enforcement of late fees. Despite these differences, every facility should abide by these policies in order to sustain a strict, substantial expectation for tenants.

Regular training on handling delinquent tenants, maintaining a professional stance, and enforcing policies consistently is essential. Staff must balance maintaining a good customer relationship with ensuring that chronic late-payers don’t strain resources or cause operational challenges. Another effective strategy some facilities employ is reviewing accounts of habitually late customers and, when necessary, raising rent in accordance with lease provisions.

In addition to automated billing, facilities use a multichannel communication strategy, including emails, texts, and phone calls, to remind tenants about due dates and late fees. Although late fees can be a “taboo” topic, consistent reminders are proven to be effective.

For tenants on fixed incomes, like some seniors, flexibility around payment schedules can also be helpful. “If their income comes on a different date than their rent, we work with them,” Haviland says, adding that “being understanding in these cases prevents chronic delinquency.” This is a consistent theme for many facilities: working with their tenants to accommodate them as much as possible. Especially when some tenants are trying their best to make a payment and are fiscally debilitated, it is important to sustain a relationship with a consistent customer and occasionally make exceptions.

Managers also stress the importance of caution with auctions. “When in doubt, don’t sell,” says Weissman. Mistakes in lien procedures, even small ones, can expose facilities to legal liabilities. For this reason, many managers prioritize communication and flexibility over rapid escalation to auction.

This all ties back to the concept of facilities wanting to keep consistent tenants. They do not want to auction off tenants units and would much prefer to work with a difficult tenant than sever the relationship altogether.

Along with strict policies, one must consider the fine line that highlights customer service, which is understanding and an occasional leniency. Handling tenants on a case-by-case basis, and being as understanding as possible, will prove to sustain customer relations while also avoiding delinquency through constructive means.

Haviland says, “When you start managing delinquent tenants early in the process, you can often prevent long-term issues.” By setting clear boundaries, staying compliant with state lien laws, and offering proactive solutions like autopay, storage facilities can minimize chronic delinquencies and create a stable, profitable operation for the long term.

hey say when one door closes, another one opens. This describes the self-storage tenant journey in a nutshell, although that door is probably more akin to a revolving one. Every month, tenants come and go, with the facility owner’s goal being to keep as many as long as possible. What are the factors that determine how long a tenant will stay? To get into the psychology behind their behavior, it helps to understand the concept of move-out probability.

The move-out probability (MOP) in self-storage refers to the likelihood that a customer will vacate their storage unit within a given period. To come to any sort of conclusions, you’d first need to collect historical data in order to identify move-out trends based on rent increases, unit size, length of stay, time of year, and so on. Next, you’d need to conduct research, gaining an understanding of local market dynamics that could impact move-outs, such as housing turnover and economic conditions. Last, you’d want to revisit your customer retention strategies to be sure you’re implementing proactive measures to reduce move-out probability, like offering clear customer communication, flexible payment plans, and loyalty programs.

“It would be very difficult and time-consuming to do this manually, as each tenant has unique needs and behaviors,” says Dr. Ahmet Kuyumcu, CEO of Prorize, a revenue management technology company that launched in 2006, winning the coveted Franz Edelman Award for advanced analytics. “Your best bet is to use a revenue management platform with predictive technology.”

Kuyumcu adds that if operators aren’t crunching the numbers or employing a technology that does it for them, that they may rely on limited data to guide decision-making, which can be risky. “If one or two customers complain about rent increases and move out as a result, an operator may be biased not to increase rents because they assume that all move-outs are happening because of rent increases,” he says. “But was the rent increase the catalyst for higher move-outs? Perhaps it was natural churn, or a competitor lowered rates. Or, it could have simply been a seasonal thing. There are a variety of reasons that move-outs could have occurred that had nothing to do with the rent increase. However, by not considering these possibilities, the operator might avoid raising rents to the detriment of the bottom line.”

Thankfully, technology has turned educated guesses into informed decisions. Today’s predictive platforms are able to drill down into customer dynamics to identify segments of customers who are most sensitive to rent increases, and thus more likely to move out in the wake of one, and those who are less sensitive and more prone to staying put. This has proven to be invaluable for many operators.

“Our platform provides valuable insights into MOP by analyzing various factors. It measures the expected churn without rate increases and compares it to the actual churn one and two months after a rate hike, using baseline customer data for reference,” says Kuyumcu. “This works hand in hand with our demand forecasting module as well. Because think about it. If you’re 100 percent occupied and going into a season where you expect demand to be high, raising rates is low risk. But if it’s a slow season, and you’re only 75 percent occupied, with customers already paying above street rates, well, you probably want to leave those customers alone. Our data-driven algorithms decide which customer should get which increase.”

Dr. Warren Lieberman, CEO of Veritec Solutions, which has been helping self-storage owners and others since 2001 with decision support tools such as revenue management and pricing analytics, says that when it comes to existing customer rate increases, or ECRIs, many operators follow the “7-11 rule. They typically institute the first rent increase after seven months, followed by an additional increase every 11 months thereafter.”

However, he is well aware of the “pricing game” that has been happening lately, so much so that it’s become a topic of discussion at every industry workshop, on every self-storage podcast, and in many MSM stories.

“They bring people in with low rates, and then raise them aggressively in three months,” says Lieberman, who acknowledges that this can be a successful strategy. “Our analysis shows that any action that stimulates demand is going to have a positive impact on revenue. So, if low introductory rates bring in customers, that strategy is working.”

To illustrate his point, he offers the following example: At your normal rate, you’re able to move in five tenants in one month. Eventually, one moves out naturally. Now you have four tenants from that period. At a greatly reduced rate, you’re able to move in nine tenants. After a few months, you raise the rates aggressively. One moves out naturally and two move out due to the increase. Now you have six tenants from that period at a close-to-market price.

This is a problem because most people don’t have a concept of what self-storage should cost in their head. “When they see a unit for $39 per month, they may think it’s reasonable,” Lieberman says, “so three months later, when they get a notice that it’s $99, they’re caught off guard. Take something like milk, for example. If a consumer sees a gallon for 99 cents, they know it’s cheap. If they see it for $9.99, they know it’s expensive. This just isn’t the case with self-storage, so use those tactics if they’re working, but be transparent about it.”

Kuyumcu is not keen on the REIT strategy, especially when transparency is lacking. “We don’t recommend that our clients follow suit,” he says. “We know it can be tempting for the short-term revenue boost, but it’s not good for the customer experience. I do not believe it is good for the industry long term.”

To elaborate on the potential harm these tactics could cause operators, he points to the hospitality industry. In that world, some social sites and review aggregators have begun taking customer ratings into account, potentially altering the hotel’s traditional AAA or Forbes rating. “A hotel may have been deemed a five-star operation, but if customers are saying it is a three-star experience, this is what is highlighted,” says Kuyumcu. “Once that happens, the hotel is not able to achieve the high rates they want because those negative reviews have lowered their rating.”

Ultimately, Kuyumcu says the focus should be on maximizing revenue in the long term and keeping tenants on your good side.

Stevens acknowledges the varying philosophies on ECRIs, but he says that some people’s hands are tied. “For a while, they may have been hesitant to pull the trigger on rate increases, but because of the competition, they’re being forced to start doing them—and doing them more aggressively.”

Helping in the decision-making, of course, is move-out probability. “Understanding move-out probability will help clients achieve their revenue goals without taking a big hit in three months when half the people who took the bait move out,” says Stevens. “Obviously, when using aggressive ECRIs, move-outs are expected when the hike takes effect. But if you’re prepared for it, and know what to expect and can reconcile that, you’re still in good shape.”

This doesn’t surprise Stevens. “It’s not 2021 anymore,” he states. “Most facilities aren’t at 98 percent occupancy, with everybody happy and leaving early for the weekend. Now, many are really sweating, and that’s where we come in. Our technology helps them see how to close the gap between what they forecasted and the current reality.”

Stevens says their tool has analyzed several scenarios that apply to the state of the economy. “During economic downturns, move-out probability might increase due to financial strain on customers. In this case, self-storage is a discretionary spend and on the chopping block.”

There is another possible scenario, however. In this universe, Stevens says that self-storage unit isn’t discretionary, but rather a necessity. “They may be stuck in a holding pattern. They can’t move into a larger home or office, but they refuse to discard their stored belongings, so they essentially have no choice but to keep the unit.”

Predictive tools help in decision-making as they can look at factors like median household income, employment status, and so on to predict whether the economy is likely to have an impact on the facility tenants; if it doesn’t appear to be, then it becomes less risky to raise rates.

“We all know those five units by the elevator are in demand, but it’s broader than that,” he says. “The next 10 units may be less sensitive to a rate increase than the next 10 down the hall. And those 10 will be less sensitive to an increase than the 10 after that.”

Lieberman says this is an exciting development that operators can definitely capitalize on. “Think of it this way: When it’s time to raise rates, you might add an extra two percent to those first 10 units, 1.5 percent to the next 10, and one percent to the next. And then the remainder just get the regular increase. Those extra percentages on those 30 units can really add up.”

The size of a rental unit can also be a factor for MOP. Kuyumcu says that, in general, people renting a large unit tend to stay longer and are less susceptible to price increases. For one, they may be a commercial client using the unit as an extended arm of their business; they’re typically not going to fuss over a rate increase unless the business is in dire straits. Individual renters may also be less sensitive to increases if they have a large unit because, typically, that unit is full of a lot of stuff—heavy stuff. “Whereas someone renting a 5-by-5 can easily pack that up and move to a less expensive facility, someone with a full 10-by-30 doesn’t want to go through the hassle of moving,” he says, adding with a laugh that “They may not be happy about it, but for them it beats the alternative of moving!”

It makes sense, and would explain why a manager’s ability to increase enrollment in autopay often comes up in MSM’s annual Manager of the Year submissions. In 2024, for example, PJ Richards, director of learning and project management at Metro Storage, nominated manager Darryl Bridges for the recognition, citing that, among other things, Bridges was able to “increase autopays by 37.3 percent year over year.” This feat has been attributed to a 12 percent increase in revenue and keeping occupancy at 91 percent.

Kuyumcu agrees, which is why the Prorize platform analyzes the demographic of the facility in the surrounding areas. “For instance, if most of your tenants are rural residents, and research shows they tend to be more sensitive to price increases, you’ll want to proceed cautiously when implementing ECRIs,” he says. “You might also consider tenant attributes such as commercial versus residential usage, autopay versus manual payment preferences, or even the distance between where they live and where they store their belongings. For example, tenants who live far from the facility are less likely to move their items due to the inconvenience of the distance, making them more likely to tolerate a higher ECRI. These demographic insights are safe to use and help ensure you stay clear of any legal risks.”

“Prophet is a recommendation engine, not an all-powerful oracle saying ‘This is how it should be and don’t dispute it,’” says Stevens. “During onboarding, the operator establishes inputs that the algorithm abides by, like the maximum dollar value increase, the highest percentage increase, the occupancy threshold, the highest acceptable MOP, and so on. That way, they can be as aggressive as they want to be, or not at all. They always have control of the levers.”

Kuyumcu concurs. “Operators can set the frequency and limits for rent increases, and the algorithms operate within those parameters to determine eligibility and calculate the optimal increase for each rental to maximize expected revenue. Ultimately, customers have the flexibility to accept or adjust Prorize’s recommendations based on their specific circumstances.”

“We’ve basically flipped the process on its head,” says Lieberman. “Veritec helps facility operators understand not just who you can increase rates on, but who not to. This allows you to raise rates with less churn, which is of enormous value to the facility and their customers.”

oe Shoen has had enough.

The CEO of U-Haul, along with his son Stuart, executive vice president of U-Haul, and daughter Royal, vice president of aviation at U-Haul, recently sat down to talk with MSM about the ongoing beef with Public Storage over the color orange.

As MSM reported on its website news and exclusives, Public Storage has demanded that U-Haul discontinue use of the color orange on its doors, exteriors, and signage, as well as in marketing and promotional material. U-Haul has fired back, filing a complaint in the U.S. District Court of Arizona against Public Storage. The action is not seeking a payday or damages; it’s simply asking Public Storage to drop their pursuit of an orange trademark, in turn protecting the right of U-Haul (and every other self-storage facility) to use the color orange.

The complaint further states that Public Storage’s founder Wayne Hughes has previously admitted to using orange to draw an association with U-Haul in order to attract customers. The idea that U-Haul has to defend its use of the color, especially considering it has been using it since 1945, more than 25 years before the first Public Storage ever opened, doesn’t sit well with Joe. Now, he’s fighting back for U-Haul, its independent dealers, and “all the little guys.”

“I think us being family-focused probably aligns us with a lot of your readers, many of whom are running their own family businesses,” Joe adds, noting that when he attends storage events, he’s always being introduced to someone’s child who’s now part of the operations side of things. “U-Haul always gets classed with the REITs, but they’re big finance people, while we’re more operations focused,” which is why he feels a bit of a kinship with the smaller operators.

Joe goes on to say, “When they do build, they can expect to get a call from us asking if they want to be a U-Haul dealer. It can help new owners get their place started, and if they’re not interested, we just wish them well. We want everyone to do well.”

Of course, Joe acknowledges that times are tough. “Development is expensive, construction costs are up, zoning can be difficult. But you’ve got to work through these things one at a time. Dial some of those construction costs back if you can, for example. Just keep working at it until it makes sense.”

He also feels that self-storage will continue to innovate. “Storage has been around a lot longer than most people think,” says Joe. “It just wasn’t ‘self-storage.’ There were always storage warehouses, unbranded buildings with belongings stacked floor-to-ceiling, but everything was handled by a third party. What happened next was self-storage, which involved handling your own goods. It’s a much better business model and obviously, people have embraced it.”

Joe adds, “Every time the industry ups its game, consumers respond favorably.”

How does Joe feel about the trend toward remote management? “Remote shouldn’t mean no one is ever there,” he states. “Remote is about giving people more self-service options. Maybe it offers the owner a little more profit margin and the customer a little lower cost.”

“Also for the customer, more benefits,” adds Stuart. “For example, 24/7 access.”

“We have some facilities that operate this way, and we’ve learned a lot of lessons along the way,” says Joe. “I think Jefferson Shreve [the founder of Storage Express who recently won a seat in Indiana’s 6^th Congressional District] is really responsible for making the whole concept work. He spent time with us about 10 years ago and showed us the ropes of ‘remote.’ What I remember most is him saying, ‘It’s more difficult than it may seem,’ and he was right. We’re getting better at dialing things in, but again, there has to be some staff around. Completely unmanned, in my experience, is not a good solution.”

U-Box, U-Haul’s moving and storage hybrid, has been growing quickly over the last few years. U-Boxes can be kept on someone’s property temporarily or stored in U-Haul’s secure warehouses until renters are ready to pick them up or have them delivered. It’s a natural fit for U-Haul, which people have come to associate with both moving and storage. “That’s why we have 5,000 independent self-storage facilities using our trucks,” Joe says. “Of course, PODS has been a big player in portables for years, and they’re great at what they do, but they’re more industrial. Our U-Boxes are designed around household goods, with nice interiors so things won’t get banged up. We like to say U-Box is like the Door Dash of moving and storage. It’s a great convenience, and while it costs a little premium, people are willing to pay for that convenience factor.”

Another reason the company is betting on U-Box is the issue of vehicle electrification. “At the end of the day, trucks are going to burn a lot of gas. You get more fuel efficiency transporting six to 10 U-Boxes across the country than individuals driving six to 10 trucks.”

Joe believes U-Box will be even more popular in Canada with its vast expanses. “An 800-mile truck rental is not uncommon in Canada,” says Joe. “In fact, we serve the maritime providences, and that can be a 6,000-mile drive. U-Box is so much more economical in these cases. I’m confident it’s going to do great up north.”

“When people are in a jam, when there’s a disaster, our heart goes out to them,” says Joe. “We don’t want their money. We’ve got the space, so we let them have it. And who knows, maybe they’ll remember us some day down the road when they need a moving truck or storage.”

“Plus, it’s just the right thing to do,” adds Royal. “Helping within the community is important to us.”

U-Haul works directly with the American Red Cross, the military, and local police and fire departments in their efforts to get much-needed relief supplies to areas affected by natural disasters. The company became an official Red Cross Disaster Responder in 2015. The partnership allows the Red Cross access to U-Haul’s range of resources, including equipment, storage, and easily reachable U-Haul locations with an infrastructure encompassing 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces.

The complaint states that U-Haul believes Public Storage has “engaged in a multifaceted and corrupt campaign to wrongfully appropriate rights in the use of the color and word ‘orange’ in connection with self-storage services and to assert such rights against U-Haul, its sister companies, its dealers, and licensees.”

“Orange is a standard color in self-storage,” says Joe. “Claiming exclusive rights to the color, whether on doors, buildings, or marketing materials is egregious; if they can get a registration, they’ll enforce it and everyone, not just U-Haul, is going to have to change. A small operator with 500 unit doors? You’re going to have to pay to replace or repaint them. That is going to be an expensive undertaking.”

To support the notion that orange is a general self-storage color and not a color only associated with Public Storage, U-Haul has turned over to the court evidence of at least 800 self-storage operators that use the color orange on their doors. “That’s just what we’ve gathered in a few weeks,” Joe says. “I believe there are many, many more.”

A quick search of stock photography also confirms the prevalence of the color orange within the industry; there are hundreds of stock photos showing orange doors and buildings–none of which are specific to Public Storage.

U-Haul’s complaint further states that Public Storage is so determined to monopolize the color and/or the term “orange” that it has fabricated use of trademarks containing the word and knowingly filed fraudulent evidence of trademark use with the USPTO. As evidence, U-Haul has turned over examples of website pages in which Public Storage retroactively added slogans and marks centered around the word and color orange to existing pages, captured images of it, and then removed them. “It was only done to tell the judge they’d used it, but it was there for maybe four weeks,” states Joe. “They’ve also clearly been manipulating Wikipedia and AI so that orange appears to be attributed only to Public Storage. It’s all so dishonest, and I don’t think it’s wise to fib to the judge.”

Stuart speaks up on his father’s behalf. “Joe tries to be a good ambassador of the industry,” he says. “He’s looking out for everyone by doing this. We believe competition is healthy; it raises people’s games and makes them better. To try to take this color away from everyone else, that’s just picking a fight and playing unfairly.”

“U-Haul alone has 5,000 dealers who are also self-storage operators. These aren’t big operations, maybe one to three facilities. They aren’t in a position to fight this, and neither are the other little guys. So we are. Someone’s got to stop this.”

Joe continues, “But they’re the ones in the wrong. We’re not asking them to change the way they do business, we’re saying they can’t ask us to change how we do business, how our dealers do business, how other operators do business.”

“Royal and I are proud of our dad for doing this,” Stuart says. “Not just standing up for our team and organization but all these other family businesses. Dad taught me when I was a little kid that you need to stand up to bullies or they’ll continue to bully others, and the next person may not be able to fight back. So that’s what he’s doing, standing up for those that can’t stand up for themselves.”

Joe nods, and asks that others join them. “We don’t want anything from [other operators], and we certainly don’t need help with attorney’s fees. We just want to hear from you.”

He encourages anyone concerned about the case, and their own use of the color orange, to reach out to him directly on his cell phone at (602) 390-6525, or via email at Joe@Uhaul.com. “Let’s show the court that this will impact more than just U-Haul,” says Joe. “Strength in numbers.”

MSM previously reached out to Public Storage for comment but did not receive a response.

et’s be honest, today’s most widely used facility management systems have served their purpose. They helped build the foundation of the self-storage industry as we know it. But times have changed, and the business of self-storage is more complex than it was in 2010. You’re not just managing units anymore; you’re competing against tech-savvy REITs, navigating a rapidly evolving digital landscape, and striving to meet the demands of a new generation of tenants. Clinging to outdated software in this environment is like trying to win the Indy 500 with a horse and buggy. You might get there eventually, but you’ll be left in the dust by competitors who are leveraging the speed, precision, and agility of modern technology.

Discover the pitfalls of relying on legacy facility management software and learn how modern self-storage solutions can help you attract more tenants, automate operations, and maximize revenue.

Here’s the truth: Outdated technology and fragmented workflows are likely creating hidden costs that are impacting your bottom line. From inefficient processes to missed opportunities, the price of sticking with legacy software is higher than you might think.

In this article, we’ll explore the specific ways your current software is holding you back and reveal how a modern self-storage solution can revitalize your business. It’s time to break free from the limitations of the past and embrace the future of self-storage management.

In essence, outdated software is suffering from the “legacy system dilemma.” These systems, while perhaps groundbreaking in their time, have become a bottleneck for revenue growth and efficiency. Their outdated architecture, limited functionality, and inability to seamlessly integrate with modern tools are creating significant hurdles for self-storage owners and operators alike.

Here’s why outdated facility management software is struggling to keep up.

Outdated Technology
The underlying technology feels and looks outdated. The interface can be clunky and difficult to navigate, leading to frustration for your staff and a less-than-ideal experience for your tenants. This outdated architecture also makes it challenging to integrate with modern tools and services, limiting your ability to streamline operations and adopt new technologies.

Fragmented Workflows
Instead of simplifying tasks, outdated software often requires jumping between multiple screens and performing redundant actions. Need to send a late payment reminder? You might find yourself clicking through several menus and manually entering information that should be readily available. This fragmentation leads to wasted time, decreased efficiency, and increased risk of errors.

Modern Tenant Experience
In today’s digital world, the lack of a modern online experience is a significant disadvantage. Your tenants expect to rent their units and manage their accounts, make payments, and access information seamlessly online. Limited mobile functionality can lead to frustration and missed opportunities to connect with tenants on their preferred devices.

The answer often lies in a combination of factors, a mix of inertia, fear, and perhaps a bit of denial. Change can be daunting, even when it promises improvement. Here are some of the most common reasons why self-storage owners hesitate to make the switch.

Familiarity
Employees have grown accustomed to the legacy system, despite its flaws. They know its quirks, its workarounds, and its limitations. The prospect of learning a new system, even a more intuitive one, can feel overwhelming.

Convenience
There’s a certain comfort in the familiar. If the old software seems to be “working,” even if it’s not working optimally, there’s a reluctance to disrupt the status quo. The “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality can be a powerful obstacle to progress.

Sunk Costs
Many operators have invested significant time and money into their existing systems over the years. They may feel trapped by these past investments, reluctant to “waste” them by switching to a new platform.

Price Concerns
The upfront cost of a new property management system can seem daunting, especially when compared to the perceived “free” cost of sticking with what you already have. However, as we’ve explored, the hidden costs of outdated software can far outweigh the investment in a modern solution.

IT Fears
Some operators may be intimidated by the technical aspects of implementing a new system. They might worry about data migration, integration with existing hardware, and the need for additional IT support.

Legacy property management systems are like old cars: They might still run, but they won’t get you where you need to be efficiently or stylishly. They’re not innovating, not adapting to new trends in the self-storage industry, and definitely not investing in developing new tools that help you attract and convert more tenants. While you might think you’re paying for basic functionality, you’re missing out on leading tools that actively help you attract more tenants and maximize revenue.

Perhaps the most critical failing of outdated property management systems lies in their inability to deliver insightful, actionable reporting. When it comes to reporting, these systems often fall short because they have very limited data collection and analysis capabilities, leaving you in the dark on some of the most critical areas of your facility’s performance.

Imagine driving down a winding highway at night without headlights to illuminate your path. That’s what it’s like to manage a self-storage facility with outdated reporting tools. They provide a limited view of your company, fragmented and incomplete, with more questions than answers. Without a solid understanding of key performance metrics such as revenue trends across unit sizes, customer acquisition costs, and average lengths of stay, you’re relying on “gut feelings” instead of objective data for guidance. This is not only ineffective but also extremely risky—it can result in missed opportunities, low marketing impact, and, in general, lost revenue.

Some of today’s most widely used facility management solutions still rely on manual data entry, putting organizations in the archaic position of using employees’ time and other company resources to obtain the necessary information for reporting. This doesn’t just waste time and money; it also leaves a ton of room for error. Bad data leads to inaccurate conclusions, limiting your ability to optimize your activities and respond quickly to market changes and new opportunities.

Limited Reporting And Analytics
Outdated systems often have basic reporting features, making it difficult to gain deep insights into your business performance. You might struggle to track key metrics like customer acquisition costs, lifetime value, and unit type occupancy trends. This lack of data-driven decision-making can lead to missed opportunities and hinder your ability to optimize your operations.

Integration Challenges
Trying to connect your current software with other essential business tools can be a major headache. You might encounter compatibility issues with modern accounting software, marketing automation platforms, or even your website. These integration challenges can create data silos, increase manual effort, and limit your ability to automate tasks.

Lack Of Innovation
Legacy software development tends to stagnate. While modern self-storage solutions are constantly evolving with new features and integrations, outdated systems often lag. This lack of innovation can put you at a competitive disadvantage, as you miss out on tools that can streamline operations, enhance the customer experience, and drive revenue growth.

Vendor Lock-In
Once you’re invested in an older system, switching to a different platform can be a complex and costly process. This can create a sense of vendor lock-in, where you feel stuck with an outdated system despite its limitations.

Missed Opportunities For Automation
Modern self-storage solutions offer a wealth of automation features that can significantly reduce manual effort and free up your staff for more valuable tasks. An outdated system’s limited automation capabilities can lead to inefficiencies and missed opportunities to optimize your operations.

A modern facility management software solution goes beyond managing existing tenants. It actively draws in new tenants, simplifies day-to-day tasks, and boosts your facility’s profitability. Imagine a website that makes renting a unit completely effortless, or a property management system that automates the time-consuming tasks that eat up most of your time.

While you may think switching to a new platform is costly or disruptive, it’s crucial to consider that the expenses associated with maintaining an outdated system could outweigh those of an upgrade. A new platform’s ability to generate just one additional rental per month could easily offset the costs of moving to a new system.

Ready to break free from the limitations of your outdated system? Here’s how a modern, purpose-built self-storage platform can transform your business:

• Enhanced Functionality – Modern property management software offers automation and streamlined processes, freeing your staff for more valuable tasks.
• Centralized Control – New software consolidates various functions, providing a unified control system.
• Greater Scalability – Modern self-storage solutions are customizable and scalable, supporting business growth.
• Better User Experience – Intuitive interfaces enhance productivity, reduce training time, and help retain customers.
• Increased Efficiency – Automation and faster performance improve overall operational efficiency.
• Compliance – Modern systems help ensure adherence to regulatory standards, reducing legal risks.
• Own Your Data – Leverage your data to maximize the customer experience, optimize operations, and drive business decisions.
• Open APIs – Seamless integration with your website, access controls, accounting software, or other systems.
• Cloud-Based System – Avoid being vulnerable to equipment failures and power outages.

• Billing and Accounting
• Security
• Rentals and Move-ins
• Marketing and Lead Conversion
• Management of Multiple Locations
• Customer Communications
• Facility and Unit Access
• Upselling and Add-ons

Benefits of using a comprehensive, all-in-one platform include:

• Automated Operations – You can easily automate and streamline daily tasks to include rate changes, tenant communications, delinquencies and payments, revenue management, and more.
• Remote Management – Manage all your facilities in a single platform from anywhere in the world.
• Touchless Rentals – Complete rentals and move-ins online from start to finish, including ID verification, to meet the demand of today’s customers.
• Compliance Support – Ensure your business meets all regulatory self-storage standards in every state.
• Appearance – Websites that are not only user-friendly and offer a low friction rental process but also have a sleek and modern design to attract and convert more tenants.
• Seamless Integration – Effortlessly connect your preferred systems, like smart locks and access controls, call centers, and more with open APIs.
• Cloud-Based Access – Reduce IT needs and operate from multiple devices while avoiding on-premise equipment going offline and power failures.
• Data and Business Intelligence – A secured data warehouse instance, alongside a suite of pre-defined Power BI dashboards, allowing independent operators to fully own their data and harness its power to drive strategic decision-making, operational efficiency, and customer satisfaction.

The self-storage landscape is evolving rapidly, and technology is playing an increasingly critical role in success. While outdated systems may have served their purpose in the past, clinging to them now can hinder your ability to compete, grow, and maximize your revenue potential.

By understanding the limitations of legacy software and the advantages of modern solutions, you can make informed decisions about the future of your self-storage business. Investing in a comprehensive, user-friendly platform can empower you to streamline operations, attract new tenants, and gain a competitive edge in your market(s).

Ultimately, the choice is yours. But by staying informed and embracing innovation, you can position your self-storage business for continued success in the years to come.

ames Eckhart is no stranger to awards. He’s been named “Manager of the Year” by both the Georgia Self Storage Association and Universal Storage Group (USG), which brought him onboard as a relief manager in 2005. Twenty years later, he’s still at it, currently managing Paulding Storage in Hiram, Ga. So, we thought it was time to check in on him. As always, he’s happy to talk shop, share stories, and offer tips for other managers.

Eckhart has seen a lot of changes in the industry since those days. “We used to allow garage bands to rent units and practice in them,” he recalls. “No one was worried about the noise back then. With the introduction of new technologies, locks and gate systems, and other security measures, the environment has changed quite a bit.”

Eckhart explains that Paulding is a relatively small county (only 314 square miles in total area), but it’s growing with many new subdivisions beginning to dot the landscape. Because of this growth, most of his clientele is in the process of moving, so they’re already stressed out. By being there, he’s able to help them determine the best unit, explain fees, and so on.

Eckhart also keeps tabs on what’s selling and what’s not in order to adjust street and web rates. “We often have a good idea of what competitors are doing, and we know what units we need to push. For example, if we have 30 units of a certain size, maybe we need to do a special or match a price. We’re the boots on the ground, and we often know best what we need to do to sell units.”

Talk of pricing leads to the inevitable: REITs and existing customer rate increases (ECRIs). Eckhart is well aware of current strategies in which the big guys bring in customers with low rates, and then raise them dramatically and quickly. “That’s my customer’s biggest complaint when they come in. They’ve moved out of one of the larger operators and feel like they got duped.”

Paulding Storage doesn’t play that game. “We do increase rates, of course, but we don’t take them from $50 to $150 in three months,” says Eckhart. “We always tell them that our web rates are lower, and that the price will increase eventually and gradually. When you’re transparent, they’re understanding. It’s all about treating the customer how you’d want to be treated.”

Eckhart acknowledges that criminals can still get in, but if you catch it quickly, there’s less video to sift through, you can hand it over to the police sooner, and you can inform the tenant, which is better than them informing you.

“Second, time management is key,” he says. “If you see something that needs to be done, just do it. If you clean a unit immediately after it’s vacated, you’ll stay on top of the game. It’s the same thing I tell my kids when they have school reports and projects. Don’t procrastinate!”

Eckhart says, “Last, you’re going to have to deal with delinquencies. How you handle them will make a big difference.” When people are late, try to be courteous and understanding so they keep their calm. If you have a good tenant and see they’ve never been late, you might consider a little extension or waive a fee, but only once. “And if someone is consistently late, you have to put your foot down,” adds Eckhart. “Explain that you’re running a business and you have bills to pay just like they do.

Another new endeavor Eckhart spearheaded was a first responders’ barbecue. “We fed all the firemen and police officers for Paulding County and Dallas County. Some of these men and women get criticized more than they get appreciated, so it felt good to do this for them,” he says. “If it happens to inspire them to keep a closer eye on the facility, that’s just a bonus!”

Of course, most self-storage managers have had to deal with illegal live-ins, but imagine Eckhart’s surprise when he discovered a couple living in a 4-by-4 locker—a top one, no less! “They were sly. They’d slip in just before closing, you know, 9:55 p.m. or something, and they’d climb in this tiny locker. Who expects someone to sleep in a 4-by-4? But people fall on hard times and do things they normally wouldn’t do.”

Concludes Eckhart, “You’d think storage would be mundane, but you never know what’s going to happen. It’s always an adventure!”

uman trafficking is a pervasive crime that affects millions of people globally, including right here in the United States. Victims are often trapped in horrifying circumstances, stripped of their freedom, and subjected to unimaginable exploitation. For many, the journey to escape and rebuild their lives is daunting, requiring immense courage and support.

January, designated as Human Trafficking Awareness Month, was a time to shine a light on this hidden crime and take action to combat it. It’s a chance to raise awareness, support survivors, and work toward ending this form of modern slavery. Organizations like The Sparrow Foundation are leading the charge, providing survivors with the resources, care, and support they need to heal and start anew.

Human trafficking is one of the gravest crises of our time, affecting vulnerable populations worldwide. Today, 49.6 million people are trapped in modern slavery, with 12 million of them being children, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO). This heinous crime disproportionately impacts women and girls, who make up 54 percent of those enslaved. In the United States, sex trafficking is the most common form of human trafficking, per Polaris, and child sex trafficking has been reported in all 50 states. Alarmingly, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received 88 million reports of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in 2022 alone. Globally, human trafficking generates $150 billion annually, making it the second most profitable illegal industry in the U.S., as reported by UNICEF.

The foundation’s impact is transformative. Survivors are not only given a safe space to heal but also the support they need to reintegrate into society with confidence. The Sparrow Foundation’s work is a critical response to the overwhelming prevalence of human trafficking, and its efforts serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of fighting for the freedom and futures of those trapped in modern slavery.

StorageGives is deeply committed to supporting organizations that make a lasting impact on the lives of vulnerable individuals, like The Sparrow Foundation. As a non-profit organization, StorageGives ensures that 100 percent of every donation goes directly to charities that align with its mission of making a difference in critical areas such as medicine, veterans, children, clean water, and combating human trafficking.

The partnership between Storage Gives and The Sparrow Foundation represents a shared dedication to restoring hope and empowering survivors. By supporting Sparrow’s mission, StorageGives amplifies the foundation’s ability to provide essential services such as safe housing, counseling, and life skills training. For survivors of human trafficking, these resources are more than just tools—they are a lifeline to a new beginning.

In 2024, the success of the event continued to grow. This year’s banquet raised an impressive $40,000 to support The Sparrow Foundation’s vital mission. These funds will be used to expand services such as safe housing, legislative efforts, trauma counseling, and skills training, ensuring that more survivors can access the resources they need to reclaim their independence. The generosity and dedication of attendees, sponsors, and donors are a testament to the impact a united community can achieve.

The Louisiana banquet is more than just a fundraiser; it is a platform for raising awareness about the realities of human trafficking and inspiring action. Attendees leave with a deeper understanding of the issue and a renewed commitment to being part of the solution. Events like this not only raise essential funds but also serve as a powerful reminder that everyone has a role to play in combating human trafficking and supporting survivors. Together, through ongoing community efforts and partnerships with organizations like The Sparrow Foundation, we can make significant strides in the fight against modern slavery.

Human trafficking is a crime that thrives in the shadows, but together, we can bring it into the light and take meaningful steps to end it. The Sparrow Foundation, with the support of organizations like StorageGives, is leading the way by providing survivors with the tools and resources they need to heal, rebuild, and reclaim their lives. Their work is a critical reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the impact of community-driven action.

Human Trafficking Awareness Month was in January, but it is not too late to get involved. StorageGives offers a unique opportunity for self-storage professionals and others to make a tangible difference. By donating to StorageGives, you can help support the life-changing work of The Sparrow Foundation. Every dollar contributed goes directly to empowering survivors, whether through safe housing, counseling, or vital life skills programs. You can find out more at The Sparrow.Foundation.

Beyond financial contributions, there are other ways to make an impact. Attending future fundraising events or sharing information about The Sparrow Foundation’s mission can help raise awareness and mobilize more people to join the fight. Together, we can amplify the voices of survivors and bring more resources to the front lines of this critical cause.

Let this article serve as a reminder that every effort matters. By partnering with StorageGives and supporting The Sparrow Foundation, you’re not just donating—you’re changing lives. Join us in breaking the chains of human trafficking and creating a future where survivors have the freedom, dignity, and hope they deserve.