Valet Self-Storage Startup Doorage Expands to Wisconsin, Eyes National Footprint

Update 4/15/19 – Doorage also added Madison, Wis., as a service city last month, choosing both Wisconsin cities due to their proximity to Chicago. The moves are a precursor to a much larger expansion initiative in which Sandona sees the valet-storage company operating in 50 markets, including Boston, Los Angeles and New York, during the next few years. The company expects to add three additional cities later this year, he told a source.

Doorage is reportedly negotiating with unidentified “large players” as potential partners for its push into 50 major markets, while also considering franchising opportunities in secondary markets by 2020, Sandona said.

3/27/19 – Doorage, a startup business specializing in valet self-storage, has added Milwaukee to its service area. The company, which launched in Chicago last year, has set up its warehouse on the city’s west side. It’s running with a staff of 10 people but expects to create up to 50 jobs within a year or two, according to the source.

“We’re bringing a fresh, new approach to storage to this great metropolitan area that is underserved because they are not viewed as epic-sized metro areas that other companies focus as their targets,” founder and CEO Sean Sandona told the source.

The Milwaukee business will largely target local college students as well as those in Kenosha and Waukesha, Wis. Doorage also will market to commercial customers who may need space for supplies or document storage, Sandona said.

Doorage will initially be able to serve about 2,500 customers in the Milwaukee area. It’ll increase capacity as it adds additional warehouse space, the source reported.

Founded in 2018, Doorage uses an online platform that allows customers to schedule item pickup, maintain a visual catalog of stored belongings, and schedule delivery of items to their home. The company determines each customer’s rental rate based on the exact amount of cubic footage used.

Sources:
SpareFoot Storage Beat, Chicago-Based Doorage Brings Valet Storage to Wisconsin
BizTimes, Illinois Self-Storage Company With ‘Amazon-esque’ Facilities Expanding Into Milwaukee