Thoughts From the Road: Holiday Marketing and the Self-Storage Facility

Im excited to be back writing for ISS, this time as a blogger following 10 years of writing the Thoughts From the Road column for the ISS print edition. Please let me know if you have any blog ideas or concerns youd like me to address by posting a comment below or sending me an e-mail.

Lights Camera Action

You dont have to wait for Martin Scorsese to knock on your door to take advantage of this unique time of year to adorn your office and facility with lights and decorations. Getting into the holiday spirit from Thanksgiving until the end of December can draw attention to your business. Remember the fight you had with the local municipality about signage or dealing with code limitations? Nows payback time. Unless youre living in Scrooges hometown, most communities will not object to holiday decorations.

My friends know that Im not very PC, but whether its a Christmas Tree, Hanukah Menorah, Kwanzaa Bush or a Festivus Pole, there are ample ways to get into the holiday spirit. Im not really that cynical, but why not take advantage of the opportunity to light up your facility or even consider entering a local decorating contest.

Provide your managers with a budget for office decorations and maybe some special candies or other holiday gifts. Help out with the annual Toys For Tots holiday drive, offer to be a drop-off for the local food pantry or collect coats, hats and gloves in cooperation with a local church or synagogue.

You might just discover that in doing all of these things with a selfish desire to promote your storage business that some holiday magic will rub off on you and your management team. Your current customers are treated to a different and positive environment. You feel good about helping people in your community who are less fortunate, and youll discover, for a short time, your business has become a shining light for all to enjoy.

Happy Holidays!  

Jim Chiswell is an industry veteran and owner of Chiswell & Associates LLC. Since 1990, his firm has provided feasibility studies, acquisition due diligence and customized manager training for the self-storage industry. He has served for a number of years on the Inside Self-Storage Editorial Advisory Board, is a moderator on the SelfStorageTalk.com interactive online community and is faculty member of the Self-Storage Training Institute. He can be reached [email protected] or www.selfstorageconsulting.com .