Self-storage real estate investment trust Public Storage Inc. launched a “Sing to Win” music-video contest on Sept. 22 in which company employees, customers and fans created original submissions focused self-storage, moving, and related products and tasks. Winners were announced this week, with two of them receiving a $250 prize.  

Public Storage received 11 employee submissions and two from outside the company prior to the Oct. 16 deadline. Videos from three staff finalists and the two created by “fans” were posted to the REIT’s YouTube channel, where they can be viewed by the public. A post about the contest is also available on the REIT’s blog.

The employee finalists were from Public Storage facilities in Charlotte, N.C.; Groveport, Ohio; and Houston. They featured original lyrics referencing customer service, units, boxes and bubble wrap. The videos range from 38 seconds to two minutes. “From dabbing to rapping, our employees took company pride and teambuilding to a whole new level,” company officials said in a press release.

The winner in the employee category was a Public storage team from Columbus, Ohio, who received more than 2,300 views with their video, “We Can Help You With That.” The on-screen talent performed a rap song about assisting a distraught customer. “It’s been a whole team effort and a great team-building experience,” said Justin, the district manager who stars in the opening scene.

The winner in the customer/fan category was Corbin, a guitar teacher and performer from New Hope, Minn. His classic-rock tribute, “This Is My Public Storage Song,” was submitted only hours before the deadline and garnered nearly 1,000 views, the release stated. “Spontaneity seems to be a good quality in music and video,” Corbin said.

Based in Glendale, Calif., the REIT has interests in 2,358 self-storage facilities in 38 states, with approximately 156 million net rentable square feet. Operating under the Shurgard brand name, the company also has 220 facilities in seven European countries, with approximately 12 million net rentable square feet.

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