RV and boat purchases are up, creating new opportunities for self-storage tenants and self-storage operators offering enhanced protection on renters’ valuable assets. Jacquelyn Nash, Sr. Account Executive with On the Move, broke down these and other industry trends for Daniel Litwin. “With the big boom in purchases of RVs, tenants are having a challenge trying to find where to put their big-ticket items,” Nash said. “There’s a lot of regulations through homeowners’ associations that don’t allow people to have these items on the street or in their driveway. Anything like that they are against. So, there’s a big opportunity for self-storage operators that have a little bit of room for expansion or already have a parking lot, or maybe a small RV and boat section to expand.” The need for RV storage grew over the past eighteen months, according to Nash. With the pandemic causing a halt to travel across the United States, owners need places to store their RVs and boats. Before the pandemic, Nash said this type of storage was more of a niche market. And this increase in demand is also increasing the need for protection for these vehicles. On the Move recently introduced a new program called Secure Outdoor. This deductible reimbursement program assists On the Move customers who offer their tenants boat and RV storage. It’s a way for operators to offer protection as an alternative to insurance or as an insurance supplement. Another trend Nash pointed to is the growing need and acceptance of tenant protection programs. These programs are a must-have for self-storage operators, according to Nash. While no one likes to think of damage or theft at a facility, Nash said incidents such as theft or weather damage are facts of life. “I like to look at the positive and the negative and look at something that could be a potential customer-service tool,” Nash said. When implemented correctly, a protection program can take care of the problem for a client should something go wrong instead of simply providing a tenant with a phone number to call if there’s an issue.
On this episode of Impressions, an On The Move podcast, Host Daniel Litwin talked with Erin King, Director of Education and Events of Self Storage Association. They broke down everything you need to know to get caught up on what the Self Storage Association is bringing to the industry and why, if you're in the industry, events like national conferences are so important to elevate and innovate within our critical markets. "Planning events on all levels has been tricky since the pandemic started," King said. “Things have constantly changed. Sometimes things are getting better, and restrictions are getting lifted, then they're getting put back in place."So this year, SSA has been mixing it up. They've leaned into a more regional event format, both to adapt to the pandemic but also to tap into more niche markets and allow more independent communities to tap into each other and come together. "We're really excited to bring these regional events," King said. "These are the only events that will be taking place this year. These regional events allow us to slowly gear up for what we use to consider the norm, get people back face to face, get people learning, and get our vendors and sponsors in front of operators in their state." This year's SSA Conference takes place Sept. 7-10 in Las Vegas at MGM Grand, and guests can Register Here.
On this episode of Impressions, an On The Move podcast, Host Daniel Litwin talked with Erin King, Director of Education and Events of Self Storage Association. They broke down everything you need to know to get caught up on what the Self Storage Association is bringing to the industry and why, if you're in the industry, events like national conferences are so important to elevate and innovate within our critical markets. "Planning events on all levels has been tricky since the pandemic started," King said. “Things have constantly changed. Sometimes things are getting better, and restrictions are getting lifted, then they're getting put back in place."So this year, SSA has been mixing it up. They've leaned into a more regional event format, both to adapt to the pandemic but also to tap into more niche markets and allow more independent communities to tap into each other and come together. "We're really excited to bring these regional events," King said. "These are the only events that will be taking place this year. These regional events allow us to slowly gear up for what we use to consider the norm, get people back face to face, get people learning, and get our vendors and sponsors in front of operators in their state." This year's SSA Conference takes place Sept. 7-10 in Las Vegas at MGM Grand, and guests can Register Here.
The housing market’s recent boom shows no signs of slowing down. While the uptick in prices has been a boon for some, it’s presented tremendous challenges for many looking to navigate it.Chiefly, higher housing prices and a general “Wild West” atmosphere have led to material shortages and price hikes, as well as significant obstacles for professional realtors looking to help clients buy or sell homes.Add in supply chain disruptions over the past year and a half, and you’ve got a recipe for a “survival of the fittest” landscape.To dig deeper into the challenges facing the real estate industry and how professionals can work to adapt, host Daniel Litwin was joined on this episode of Impressions from On The Move by On The Move Marketing Director CJ Stratte and industry veteran Marisa Ann Cortez, who has spent more than a decade in the industry and currently sells homes in the San Antonio, Texas market.So, in the face of high-priced materials, marketplace chaos and more, what can realtors and their clients do?“We have to kind of reassure our local buyers that this is it. Take advantage now with the low interest rates, because inventory is coming,” Cortez said. “It’s really hard to tell our clients to wait, because they get impatient. … But we have to just keep reassuring them that the prices are not going to go lower. If they see something they like, they just have to be well-prepared.”
Real estate is all about space. Real estate professionals are in constant competition for properties to buy and sell for clients, and getting their business out front and center in a crowded marketplace is everything.
The self-storage landscape is changing, creating both new challenges and opportunities. Last year, the industry had a sales volume of $3.68 billion, covering over 46 million square feet. The sector did not see a downturn during the pandemic, causing lots of new capital investment.
There are many ways to market a business, but making an impression that sticks with a potential customer isn’t always easy. The self-storage industry relies on exact timing to get their offerings in front of customers’ eyes when they need the service.This is where trucks come in. CJ Stratte, Marketing Director with On The Move, is a huge proponent of utilizing trucks as a frictionless way to market and advertise self-storage services. She joined CEO and Co-owner of Pinnacle Storage Properties, John Manes, to talk about the latest marketing trends in the self-storage industry and why maximizing the use of trucks to advertise is a smart way to go.When Manes started his self-storage career, marketing wasn’t as sophisticated as today, and grassroots marketing was rarely thought of.
Carol Mixon-Krendl, President of SkilCheck Services, began her journey into the self-storage industry in 1984. Over that time, and through myriad other industries, including real estate, RV parks, auto repair and call centers, Krendl picked up more than her fair share of stories and tales.
Getting minds set for accomplishing goals in 2021 can be a challenge after a year like 2020. But, lucky for “Impressions,” Ashlee Tirevold, Sales and Leadership Coach at Southwestern Coaching, and CJ Stratte, Marketing Director for On The Move, were available to help provide some insights and expertise on the subject.
It’s the whole point of a self-storage facility. Customers put their things there and can be at ease knowing nothing will happen. But, of course, there are things that can’t be prevented that take place now and then, from natural disasters to theft and accidents. That’s where a tenant protection program can be the right answer for facility owners. While a tenant protection program can lead to a big increase in profits for the owners of storage facilities, Derek Gariss, Senior Broker at On The Move, said there first needs to be a true desire to help those tenants who want their items to remain secure. “In real estate, it’s location, location, location. In the self-storage business, it’s implementation, implementation, implementation,” Gariss said. “What I mean by that is, when we get the managers involved and get them believing in how successful it can be and how it can help the average tenant, I think that is what makes the program successful. It’s the belief you’re actually providing a customer service for your tenant – because, if you’re not, you’re just selling something.” The tenant protection program also takes risk off the facility owner, said Amber McLane, Account Executive CSR at On The Move. “They’re going to have peace of mind knowing that they’re not going to be liable in the event that a theft were to occur or if there’s a major catastrophe – heaven forbid, we don’t want that to occur. But, that way they’re not going to be liable for themselves,” she said. “They’re protecting their tenants and having peace of mind that, were something to happen, there’s an answer. That way, they can sleep at night.”
On The Move's Marketing Director, CJ Stratte, and Specialty Vehicle Program Manager, Tim Moranz, see food trucks' fantastic potential to stand out in today’s restaurant landscape. And, with the ongoing pandemic forcing many restaurants hampered, some permanently and others by reduced capacity, there is a need to find ways to increase revenue, think outside of the box and stay in business. Food trucks can be more than just a lifeline for restaurants; they can open new doors and generate more customers. Moranz said, even though the occupancy restrictions vary from state to state, most, if not all restaurants, face some form of limitations to the number of patrons they can serve inside their establishments. And, if that restaurant doesn’t have a drive-thru or limited outdoor space to accommodate customers, the options for making up lost revenue are few. “Even at those occupancy levels, it is difficult to get customers to go through the doors,” Stratte said. “People are still nervous about being out and about.” Some solutions Stratte sees restaurants moving toward are more family-style takeout meals, both for pickup and delivery. And Moranz noted some subdivisions are getting food trucks to come in so everyone in the neighborhood can get a meal for their family right from the truck. Getting food to the customers is quickly becoming the new method for restaurants to stay afloat. Stratte said she’d seen an uptick in restaurants that previously did not have a delivery option adding a food truck to sell and deliver their food. “Food trucks have always been around,” Stratte said, “But now, they’re really trending. It’s increasing year after year, and we see a lot of growth in the industry. Even fast-food restaurants are getting food trucks instead of having drive-thrus.” While Stratte and Moranz know all the advantages that food trucks bring to the restaurant industry, the restaurant industry is beginning to see those advantages for themselves due to circumstances brought on by the pandemic.
Food trucks have driven a successful food business path, growing to more than a $2-billion-per-year industry. On The Move's Marketing Director, CJ Stratte, and Senior Sales Executive Tim Moranz gave their impressions on what can help separate one food truck owner’s business from the rest of the pack on this episode of Impressions. “This industry is growing and changing so rapidly,” Moranz said, “that they have to be unique. They have to find a niche that sets them apart from their competition.” The innovations On The Move puts into its food truck vehicles are focused on that very thing: setting themselves apart from the competition. Increased truck size to accommodate additional food sales and a patented extended slide-out and step-down service area are two innovations On The Move uses to improve the amount of work and storage space without compromising employee comfort or safety. “With the growth and popularity of food trucks, we have to be able to feed more people,” Stratte said. “We see trucks with lines around the block, now.” Well-supplied food trucks are a necessity. “Most of these mom-and-pop operators only run them during the summer months or when its good weather. We’re winterizing the trucks for year-round use,” Moranz added. Some of the criteria Stratte said go into On The Move’s food truck ideas and innovations involve making a unique, safe, clean and unparalleled customer experience for food truck operators. Double-serving windows and an easy-to-use menu screen are more features that make On The Move’s trucks easy for customers to order.
Moving is a hassle. Few like it because of the constant frustrations that can pop up. On the Move works to make sure a rental truck isn’t another thing causing a headache during the moving process. Its trucks are specially designed for easy transport of cargo, with subtle touches like the wheel well not extending into the back portion of the truck, making for a more pleasant experience. And the ramp up the truck won’t be stolen – like many were during the recession when they caught the eye of desperate scrap metal resellers – or misplaced thanks to an extended rear door that also allows for more real estate for marketing or advertising messages. “My grandpa thought of the solution. He thought, ‘Well, let’s cover the ramp up.’ He was able to extend the door over the ramp and (box truck partner) Unicell was able to comply with that and make it work for us,” said On the Move Marketing Director CJ Stratte, whose grandfather founded the company after years of experience with Ford. While the trucks’ graphics pop thanks to a lack of exterior rivets or other things that could mar the wrap, they’re also designed with efficiency in mind. “Our trucks are aerodynamic and designed this way, because it makes it more fuel efficient,” Stratte said. “(This design) is actually 20% more fuel efficient for these trucks. It’s a little bit more economical.” On The Move’s rental solutions also serve realtors, who can offer them to movers to provide these benefits – and advertise their services. In addition to being friendly on the wallet, the trucks also are designed to be easier to drive, with extra mirrors to aid drivers who may be more used to piloting a sedan or an SUV than a 15-foot machine with all their possessions inside. That, along with many of the other features setting On the Move apart, provide movers peace of mind in a stressful time.