From Start-Up to Success

Learn the tips and tricks when opening up a new self storage store from two industry professionals who, between them, have developed and opened dozens of stores across the country.  Split over two days, these sessions will explore everything from financing and site selection, through to design and construction, budgeting, planning permissions, branding, staffing and then fill-up.   This is the most comprehensive training ever offered to the industry from two of the most successful and skilled self storage operators in the UK.

Note: This is a two-part training session, split over two dates, a week apart.  Bookings are for attendance at both sessions.  It is not possible to book either Part One or Part Two only. 

Part One – Before you build
Wednesday, 24 March 2021 - 10.00am - 1.00pm

Financing

• Finance options
• What banks want
• Covering fill up

Site Selection

• Main road vs secondary
• Freehold vs leasehold
• Demographics
• Construction impacts (ground work, slopes etc)
• Competition – barriers to entry
• Conversion vs new build

Design Considerations

• Load limits
• Size/height
• Fire regulations
• Access requirements
• Corridor widths
• Unit mix
• Loading bays
• Number of lifts
• GLA vs MLA

Budgeting

• Construction
• Operating
• Bridging
• Valuations
• Build cost vs day one value

Part Two – Planning, building and fill up
Wednesday, 31 March 2021 - 10.00am - 1.00pm

Planning

• Timescales
• Pitfalls
• Signage

Getting it Going

• Indicative price to build
• Construction methods
• Build times, impacts

Brand

• Store name considerations
• Brand / image / colour

Staffing

• Key functions
• Recruiting – past storage experience vs fresh

Fill-up

• Website
• Local marketing
• Start-up pricing
• The first move out!
• What is mature occupancy

Exit Strategy
 

Chair - Rennie Schafer

 

Rennie is the current CEO of the Self Storage Association UK, having previously been the CEO of the Australasian Self Storage Association for over 9 years.  Rennie has extensive knowledge of the self storage industry across the world, from the developing Asian markets through to the birthplace of self storage in the USA. He is a bit of a tech Geek and is currently on the Beta testing group for Google Maps and My Business

Speaker - Dave Davies 

 

Dave is an accomplished self storage professional with over 19 years experience in the industry.  He spent 17 years at executive board level at Safestore joining at 15 stores and 40 employees. As a member of the Management Buy Out Team in 2004 and the IPO Team in 2008 he played a major role in the companies success and its growth to a FTSE 250 company with over 580 employees, 134 stores and revenues of £112m and EBITDA of £64m. Dave was also Managing Director of Space Maker Self Storage (12 stores) for 6 years before Safestore acquired it in 2016.  He is passionate about self storage, the people who work in it and the customers who use it and believes the key to a successful self storage business are the people.  His unique set of knowledge, skills and practical hands on experience has proved invaluable to many businesses in the self storage sector.

Speaker - Mike Wilson 

 

Mike has over 9 years experience in the self storage industry, and is co-founder of recently opened SureStore Storage, having previously being CEO of North-West based Smart Storage. Mike also has spent the last 16 years in senior board positions in a number of sectors, giving him widespread corporate governance experience in delivering goals in an effective manner. Mike joined the Board in June 2015.

Cost:
SSA UK/FEDESSA Members @ £100 + VAT per person
Non-Members @ £200 + VAT per person

Who should attend?
This is essential training for anyone considering opening and/or developing a new store or site.

Member Pledge
If a non-member takes up membership within 6 months of attending an event, the SSA UK will reimburse the difference between the non-member rate and the member rate for the event