Update 3/12/18 – Public Storage has announced its two contest winners. Kaitlynn, a Public Storage staff member in Orange County, Calif., won in the employee category, while a former tenant, James, from Thornville, Ohio, won in the consumer category.

Kaitlynn’s video garnered more than 3,000 views. In it, she rhymed about cleanliness and the convenience customers can expect at Public Storage facilities. “My inspiration came from day-to-day tasks, how the facilities run and what the customers most appreciate,” she said, adding that she writes poetry and can edit videos. “I’m pretty tech-savvy, so I just brainstormed some ideas and put them together.”

The video also includes Kaitlynn’s co-workers, who were happy to participate. “It was a fun activity for us,” said Kaitlynn, a community-college student who plans to use the prize money for school.

The “fan favorite” video also racked up 3,000 views. The entry celebrated how self-storage can help anyone declutter a space. James had previously stored his grandfather’s 1949 Buick in a Public Storage unit near his home. He learned about the contest from a friend, and jumped at the chance to share his storage experience. “I checked the date and realized it was due that night,” he said. “So, I wrote the poem, I had my mom proofread it, and then I filmed it at 10 p.m.”

Although he had a grand plan for the entry, it would’ve taken “a week of time that I didn’t have,” said James, who’s studying business management in college. He plans to use the prize money to purchase more video equipment.

2/28/18 – Public Storage announced the six finalists of its “Be Our Valentine" video contest.” The videographers took inspiration from beatnik poets and Shakespeare, and even featured a poetic pup to create videos about Public Storage, moving supplies and the joys of clearing out spaces, according to a press release.

The public can view the videos and vote for their favorites on the company’s YouTube channel.

2/14/18 – Public Storage Inc., a self-storage real estate investment trust (REIT), has launched a “Be Our Valentine” video contest in which employees and the general public can vie to win one of two $2,500 cash prizes. The competition asks contestants to share poems about storing, moving and organizing, according to a press release.

Entries are required to be less than two minutes long and contain original content, including music. They must be uploaded to the “Be Our Valentine Contest” section of the company’s Facebook page or through its mobile-friendly contest page by end of day Feb. 20. Employee and consumer submissions will be judged separately, with the finalists in each category being be posted to the Public Storage YouTube channel on Feb. 26. The videos with the most views by 9 a.m. PST on March 5 will win, the release stated.

Earlier this month, Public Storage announced the two winners of its “Organization Transformation” video contest. Mary Rose, a manager at a company facility in New Hope, Minn., won in the employee category, while a Chapmansboro, Tenn., woman named Lauren (last name not disclosed) won in the “fan” category. Each received a cash prize of $2,500.

Based in Glendale, Calif., Public Storage 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.

Sources:
Business Wire, Public Storage Launches Be Our Valentine Video Contest
Public Storage, Public Storage Feels the Love in Valentine Video Contest