The Inside Self-Storage World Expo kicked off today in Las Vegas. The four-day event combines the industry's best resources with the largest vendor exhibit in the self-storage industry.

About 700 attendees turned out to hear four self-storage veterans open the Expo this morning with advice to not just survive in 2009, but thrive. Attorney Jeffrey Greenberger gave sound advice about avoiding lawsuits and safeguarding your business. His advice included "thinning the herd," dropping those problem tenants, creating an ironclad rental agreement and selling tenant insurance.

Terry Campbell, president of BETCO Inc., urged self-storage owners to make sure their facilities are in the best possible condition. Refurbishing has been "a hot topic for the past six to 12 months," he told the crowd. Campbell emphasized the importance of curb appeal, attractive, easy-to-use doors and leak-free roofs.

Bob Cooper, president of Self-Storage 101, said many self-storage owners are "not expecting much" this year. Instead, they should focus on ways to "thrive." Branding it an Operational Tune-Up, Cooper encouraged attendees to take a hard and honest look at their facilities, managers and themselves and uncover what's working and what's not. Owners need to provide training for their managers and be willing to try new things.

The educational seminars followed the morning address. Eager attendees soaked up information on self-storage marketing, facility auditing, practicing green and collecting on delinquent accounts.

Seminars continue tomorrow, followed by the opening of the Expo Hall from noon to 5 p.m.

To learn more, visit www.insideselfstorageworldexpo.com.