Holidays of all sorts make excellent marketing opportunities for retail-style businesses, including self-storage. I find patriotic holidays to be particularly ripe in this regard, as they carry far less risk of offending customers than some of the more religious celebrations. So if you haven't already launched some sort of Memorial Day marketing initiatiative at your self-storage locations(s), make sure you get something going. There's still time!

Not sure where to start? Keep it simple. Here are a few examples of campaigns being used by other self-storage businesses:

The Lock Up, a Chicago-based operation with more than 30 facilities nationwide, is offering discounts of up to 30 percent to military personnel renting at its Waipio and Pearl City, Hawaii, locations. Offering military discounts is a great idea year-round but has a poignant resonance with customers during this holiday. (For more info, read "The Lock Up Self Storage Thanks Troops with Memorial Day Discounts.")

Managers on the Self-Storage Talk forum are also sharing their specials: A facility in Richmond, Va., has a standing discount for active and retired military. Another in the San Francisco Bay area is offering a 25 percent discount this weekend on a 12-month rental of its least-popular unit size.

It might be as simple as posting a thank you to servicemembers via your marquee sign or a printed sign in your office. SST member Astro, manager of a facility in Cashiers, N.C., wears a red shirt every Friday until all military members are back home. Even the simplest recognition of Memorial Day at your facility will express gratitude for the sacrifices of our nation's soldiers and veterans as well as help you create rapport with your customers and prospective customers. Don't miss the opportunity to convey your patriotism and reach out to the local community.

On behalf of all of us at ISS, I want to thank all active and retired military servicemembers and wish everyone a happy and safe Memorial Day weekend.