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Operator Showcase: Go Store It Self-Storage Takes a Triple-Pronged Approach to Growth
Go Store It Self-Storage, with 146 facilities across 10 states, has been steadily on the rise since its inception a little more than a decade ago. Now that it’s bolstered its size and strength through a recent merger with sister company Snapbox, it’s ready for still more aggressive portfolio growth, pursuing it through a can’t-miss, triple-pronged approach.
4 Min Read
Go Store It Self-Storage, Pico Rivera, California
We’ve seen many self-storage operators clock significant growth in 2024, some through consolidation, others through very determined acquisition or development plans. Charlotte, North Carolina-based Go Store It Self-Storage isn’t limiting itself to just one approach. This company lives by the philosophy “Go big or go home.”
A subsidiary of real estate investment and development firm Madison Capital Group, Go Store It officially joined forces with Philadelphia-based sister company Snapbox Self-Storage at the end of August. Both founded in 2013, the individual operators were already boasting healthy performance. Now that they’ve unified, they’re aiming to take the self-storage industry by storm.
The combined entity, operating under the Go Store It moniker, already oversees more than 146 locations across 23 states. That’s more than 10 million square feet. Now, the company has put itself on an ambitious path to expand through a three-pronged approach.
“I’ll be very surprised if we’re not one of the fastest-growing private operators in 2025,” says chief operating officer Beau Agnello, who joined the company last year. “The goal was to combine two strong companies to enhance market position and drive innovation for the two groups. So, the thesis was that one plus one equals three, and we can be stronger together as well as grow more quickly.”
Go Store It Self-Storage in Opa Locka, Florida
The Triple Play
At the time of the merger, Go Store It operated about twice as many facilities as Snapbox. Moving forward, the company will use the Go Store It name on any newly added sites; however, any facilities that already carry the Snapbox branding will keep it.
As it chases growth, Go Store It plans to expand via three tried-and-true methods, becoming an even bigger player in the self-storage industry.
Acquisitions. The company will focus on buying class-A facilities with at least 40,000 to 50,000 net-rentable square feet in the Sun Belt states and along the West Coast. Targets will be primarily in major metro areas, though secondary and tertiary markets will also be considered. Go Store It will evaluate stabilized, value-add and lease-up facilities as candidates, says Evan Stephens, chief investment officer.
Development. Go Store It intends to pursue 10 to 15 ground-up self-storage projects per year. “From the development standpoint, we’re focused on markets and submarkets with tangible barriers to entry to ensure insulation from supply challenges,” says Stephens, who was promoted to his position in January.
Third-party management. Go Store It didn’t previously provide this service, but Snapbox did. Now the new company has more options. “We are expecting the third-party management channel to continue to grow at a healthy pace,” Agnello says.
Beau Agnello, Chief Operating Officer
A Technological Trajectory
Technology continues to be a key driver for Go Store It as it forges ahead. The operator remains focused on delivering a tech-supported customer experience. All of its facilities are staffed, but tenants who require before- or after-hours help can be connected with an employee via two-way video. In fact, the company intends to make “significant investments” in advanced technology, according to Agnello.
“If you asked 10 operators, ‘What’s the key to your success?,’ nine of them would tell you that it’s their people. But they’re not using technology to put the best people in front of the customers,” Agnello says. “So, for us, it ’s putting the best people with the right skillset in front of the customer every time. And we can meet the customer’s needs with longer operating hours [thanks to technology].”
Evan Stephens, Chief Investment Officer
Continuing Down a Productive Path
Because Go Store It and Snapbox were already synergistic before the merger, the combined entity faces almost no challenges. The companies were highly aligned, and they had compatible cultures and priorities, according to Agnello. As with any joining of forces, the new entity must now properly manage “the speed of change,” meaning it must now ensure clear communication between employees at all levels. Still, the growth potential is immense for this operation on the rise.
“As a larger organization, we can unite resources, have more efficiency, and ultimately offer better services for customers, employees and investors,” Agnello says.
John Egan is an Austin, Texas-based freelance writer and content-marketing strategist who specializes in real estate, personal finance, and health and wellness. He’s the former editor-in-chief at SpareFoot (now Storable) and the author of “The Stripped-Down Guide to Content Marketing.” His work has been published by outlets such as Bankrate, Experian, Forbes Advisor, Investopedia, Nareit, Wealth Management, Urban Land magazine and U.S. News & World Report. To contact him, visit https://johnegan.net.
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