When a long-time Arizona resident is asked how he tolerates the scorching summer heat, he may reply, Well, its a dry heat. The climate is obviously no deterrent to the influx of people to the area. More than 150,000 people migrate to Arizona each year, creating a ready market for top-shelf, climate-controlled storage.

For the owners of Scottsdale, Ariz.-based McDowell Mountain Storage (MMS), the booming population made their state-of-the-art facility a sound business decision. Keith Gordon, Cody Martin, Hayes Martin and Dan Murphy used their extensive knowledge in development to create a luxury storage facility, providing a valued service for neighboring residents and businesses.

In a region where first-class commercial real estate is difficult to obtain, MSS landed a prime location in the McDowell Mountain business park. We opened in April 2005. The facility and location are superior to many others in the competing market, says Mel Holsinger, president of Tucson, Ariz.-based Professional Self Storage Management (PSSM), which was awarded the consulting and management contract for the facility.

The three-story building with full subterranean basement incorporates an architectural style compatible with the surrounding professional buildings. The 115,000- square-foot, 812-unit structure is made of concrete and steel with a stucco-finish exterior and is designed for an air-conditioned, temperature-controlled environment. In addition to self-storage, MMS offers a separate secured room for wine storage and exterior boat and RV stalls.

MMS features a high-tech security system, including 24-hour video surveillance with digital recording to monitor all activity at the site. Individual unit alarms provide added protection, giving each customer a personal access code for the building as well as their specific area of the facility. Were proud of the fact that we are able to offer a very secure environment, says Holsinger. When people come in the door and see the plasma screens with the cameras and site graphics, they are comfortable their goods will be safe.

Amenities Mean Value

For an upscale city like Scottsdale, it isnt enough to offer climate-controlled storage in an attractive, secure setting. Services must be exemplary, catering to clients who expect the best. MMS excels by offering amenities such as online reservations, high-speed Internet workstations for customer use, and a fullservice mailing center. Retail items such as boxes, locks and other moving supplies are offered to facilitate customer packing and storage. In addition, MMS can help customers find a reputable moving company to transport their belongings.

Arizona may be a desert state, but its lakes and rivers make it a recreational and water-sports paradise. MMS offers a secure, convenient environment to store RVs, boats and other water toys. The vehicle-storage lot, with 24-hour access, is surrounded by a secured masonry enclosure with automated gates that require keypad entry and exit. The MMS retail center even offers a select line of boat and RV supplies. Any items not in stock can be special ordered via catalog at a discount. They are delivered to the facility within a couple of days for customer pickup.

For those with a palate for good wine, MMS features a wine-storage area in the facilitys basement, distinguished from the conventional storage via décor, lighting, music, security and technology. Individual wine lockers hold 12 cases of wine, and custom-size lockers are available for those with larger collections. The wine room is monitored for consistent humidity and temperature and has a backup generator system. The MMS retail center offers wine-related products to meet customers needs.

Recipe for Success

The owners of MMS have designed and built a first-class facility to meet the wishes of their clientele. Customer satisfaction is a key element in the long-term success of the business.

PSSM is responsible for hiring and training the stores managers and overseeing ongoing operations. According to Holsinger, it doesnt take a large team to ensure a facilitys success, just an effective one. MMS employs two full-time, nonresident managers and a part-time relief manager. All three have had extensive management and software training.

Facility marketing is handled through marketing director Korey Hanson. Following the stores grand opening, PSSM implemented a plan that includes Yellow Pages advertising, advertising in neighborhood newsletters, listings in local directories and direct mailers. We have established a direct-marketing program targeting local apartment complexes, community centers and businesses, along with referral programs that give bonuses to people who send us rentals, Hanson says.

Thanks to quality products and employees as well as a dedication to customer satisfaction, the MMS ownership is optimistic about the facilitys future. According to Holsinger, the stores prime location in a high-growth market, combined with the owners planning, research and knowledge and the ability of the management team to capture market share will contribute to its success. We do our best at maintaining a good reputation as a service provider, and our goal is to make referrals our No. 1 source of customers, he says.

For more information, call 480.657.7867; visit www.mcdowellmountainstorage.com.