February 1, 2000

2 Min Read
White Rabbit

White Rabbit

i021te.jpg (12793 bytes)The caterpillar was an enigma to Alice--abrupt, rude, perplexing. She foundhim hostile and revolting, though I remember being entertained by his antics. Recallingthis childhood narrative--with all of the more mature connotations I was not to understandfor several years--makes me wonder what must have gone through the minds of the owners ofone Phoenix facility when informed by officials that a clandestine methamphetamine lab hadbeen discovered in one of their units. What a trip (no pun intended, of course). And whoprepares for that sort of thing? Unless it's happened to you or someone you know, dealingwith unexpected crime and all of its repercussions is like stumbling down the rabbit hole.

When we were contacted about this story, I admit I chuckled at first. Not because Ifound it humorous, but because it took me a bit off guard. It hadn't occurred to me that atenant would run this sort of operation out of a self-storage facility, but then--howclever. It amazes me what owners deal with sometimes. You have to be prepared foranything.

Angela Kiper shares her experience with drug-related crime at her facility, and how thesituation was handled. There were several elements to consider--both legal andenvironmental. She also provides a list of warning signs to be alert for, as well asthings you can do as owner/manager to prevent crime at your own facility.

This is our show issue. Those of you attending the Inside Self-Storage Expo in LasVegas will be looking for products and services to boost your business. As a supplement toall of the marvelous options you'll find on the show floor, we've included in this issue aspecial marketing section, aimed at assisting owners and managers in making the most oftheir marketing budget. In addition to having the perfect doors and locks and the rightmanagement software, it's important that you think about such things as Yellow Pages ads,signage, promotions and publicity.

In addition, we have a full line up of insightful articles: Industry expert Mike McCuneshares his insights on the state of real-estate, the effect of overbuilding and thedirection of financing. A one-on-one interview with Clark Hotard of Overhead Door Corp.can be found. Finally, learn how to close the deal with prospective tenants, as well ashow to use total climate control in your facilities to gain a marketing edge.

As always, we urge you to come visit the Inside Self-Storage booth at the RioSuite Resort & Casino during the expo. Introduce yourself. Give us your suggestions,opinions and insights. We always welcome feedback from our readers. And don't worry--we'remuch nicer than that caterpillar.

Best regards,

Teri L. Lanza
Editor
[email protected]

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