USA Storage

Since 1980, Public Storage has been the nation’s largest and most successful self storage providers in the United States. They have over 2,000 self storage facilities in the United States and they are currently expanding into Europe with 49% ownership of Shurgard Europe. Public Storage’s major markets are in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, and Atlanta.

Fitch Credit Ratings have affirmed Public Storage with “A” rankings due to minimal debt, low financial risk, large number of shareholders, and strong liquidity. These high rankings are making it possible for Public Storage to attain more funding and expand. They are providing loans to PSB (Public Storage Business Parks) and are looking to acquire more Shurgard facilities overseas.

“One For The Troops”

Inside Self Storage (ISS) and the Self Storage Association (SSA) in partnership with Self-storage facility owners, have launched a fundraising program called “One For The Troops”. This program will help rehabilitate and provide therapeutic services for our combat wounded troops. One For The Troops is asking self storage facility owners through out North America to support this cause by donating proceeds from ONE unit per facility, ONE per month for ONE year.

All proceeds will go directly to benefit Wounded Warrior Outdoors. There are several facilities through out Southern California who are participating and can be located in Newport Beach, Oceanside, Lynwood, Lancaster and Riverside. Call your local self storage facility today to see if they are participating. You may also donate privately by contacting Wounded Warrior Outdoors directly.

In April, All Mini Storage in North Highlands, CA is sponsoring two NASCAR events. The tickets are now on sale for the Bonus Challenge 100 and the NASCAR K&N Pro Series Toyota Napa Auto Care 150. On Friday April 15 the Bonus Challenge race will be held at All American Speedway in Roseville, CA. Also on April 16 the NASCAR K&N series will run at the same track.

The All American Speedway is located at the Placer County Fairgrounds. Drivers such has Kevin Harvick, Clint Boyer, David Gilliland, and Trevor Bayne will begin on the circuit. Friday’s event will open the season for the late models at the track and Saturday’s event is the premier regional stock car events for up-and-coming drivers

Earlier this month, Las Vegas, Nevada hosted the 20th anniversary of the Inside Self-Storage World Expo. Stretched over a period of 3 days, this event drew hundreds of self-storage owners, operators, investors, builders and vendors from all around the country.  Seminars offered financing, development, marketing and more. One particular topic of interest at this year’s show was lien sales.  Not only have many operators seen an increase in defaulted rental contract, but the popularity of the A&E hit TV series “Storage Wars” is shining a light on the self-storage industry and driving people who want to seek out auctions, hoping to find hidden treausures.

The InsideSelf-Storage World Expo will head up north to Tacoma, Washington for their annual fall conference Oct. 4-6. The event will he held at the Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center. The expo will include educational track, exploring marketing, management construction, finance and more. There will also be workshops and networking events with over 75 of the industry’s leading suppliers.

The Santa Clara Valley Fiddlers Association went acoustic over Christmas.

Not because the fiddlers wanted to go low-key, however. The group’s sound equipment was stolen, ripped out of a storage locker in San Jose before Christmas, leaving the 150 members without nearly $4,000 worth of speakers, microphones and mixers.

“There are some very desperate people out there,” said Richard Brooks, president of the nonprofit association, whose members jam every Sunday at San Jose’s Hoover Middle School. He added that no one’s fiddle was stolen; fiddlers keep their beloved instruments with them at home.

San Jose police Officer Jose Garcia, a department spokesman, said police have no suspects in the theft, which possibly occurred on Dec. 30 or 31.

Brooks said he received a phone call from the property manager at Central Self Storage on Spring Street on Dec. 31. Brooks and police said the thief had cut through the storage lock to enter the unit.

Storage locker break-ins are on the upswing, San Jose police reported last week.

On Dec. 30, sometime before 5 p.m., Public Storage on Santa Teresa Boulevard was robbed. A total of 14 victims reported that their units had been broken into, with an undetermined amount of property stolen, Sgt. Ronnie Lopez said last week.

And that was just one of the many examples, he said.

Always do your research when choosing a self storage facility and follow these simple guidelines:

Meet the manager.
Make sure the video cameras are working and pointed at your storage unit.
Frequently visit your unit.
Buy locks that can’t be cut.
Inspect that the integrity of your unit is good.
Photograph the property inside the unit for your records. Note the serial numbers on your belongings. If possible, etch your drivers license into your property so that when it’s recovered, police can help get it back to you.

There appears to be a bedbug epidemic growing before our eyes, one that we aren’t necessarily able to see. Bedbugs… This problem has reached unprecedented levels, with infestations affecting places such as upscale stores, 5-star hotels and single- and multi-family housing as well as self storage facilities. A major self storage firm has announced that they are in the works of implementing strict policies in order to prevent bedbugs through out its trucks and facilities. These policies will set guidelines requiring that all furniture such as sofas and mattresses must be wrapped with plastic. To better protect your own belongings from being infested with these bedbugs, avoid wrapping items in sheets and blankets as well. You may even want to call the storage facility directly and ask if they have had any known cases of bedbugs.