| Mobile storage is a new and innovative | | | | pounds which is equivalent to 1 room of |
| alternative to traditional self storage. The | | | | furniture or 50 banker boxes for files. |
| concept is quite simple, states Bob DiBlasi, | | | | |
| a consultant to Mobile Storage Solutions, | | | | Depending on the location and optional |
| Inc., a Council Bluffs, Iowa based company. | | | | services offered, monthly rates for mobile |
| The mobile storage company delivers storage | | | | storage range between $50.00 and $85.00 per |
| containers directly to the customer's | | | | month. Tim Riley, founder of Door To Door |
| location. The customer loads the | | | | Storage, says when customers are educated |
| container(s) according to their needs and | | | | about the advantages of mobile |
| schedule. Once the storage container(s) are | | | | storage-including the fact it eliminates the |
| loaded, the customer locks the container(s) | | | | need for truck rental, as well as for double |
| and the mobile storage company returns to the | | | | loading and unloading- they are willing to |
| customer's location, picks up the | | | | pay higher rates. "Customers recognize the |
| container(s) and returns it to a secure, | | | | convenience", Riley says. |
| climate controlled warehouse for safekeeping. | | | | |
| The customer can access the container either | | | | Where did it come from? |
| by going to the warehouse or having the | | | | |
| container(s) redelivered to their location. | | | | Door To Door Storage was the first U.S. |
| | | | self-storage company to offer a 'deliverable |
| Self Storage customers want convenience, | | | | storage unit' which customers load at their |
| accessibility and reasonable rates says Ed | | | | home or business. With the slogan, "You pack |
| Byrd, chief executive officer of Kontane, | | | | it up. We pick it up", Door To Door set out |
| Inc, a Hickory, North Carolina based | | | | to revolutionize the mobile storage delivery |
| container supplier. "It is so easy for the | | | | service. Door To Door Storage was founded by |
| customer", Byrd indicates. No longer does the | | | | Tim Riley, a former self-storage executive, |
| customer have to rent a truck, pack it, drive | | | | who wanted to provide a secure and convenient |
| across town to a mini storage facility, | | | | alternative to the hassles customers face |
| unload the truck and then return the truck. | | | | when storing their belongings. Door To Door |
| All the customer has to do is make one phone | | | | Storage met with rave reviews from its |
| call and the container(s) are delivered | | | | customers. By 1998, the company had expanded |
| directly to them. | | | | into Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles and |
| | | | San Diego. Currently, the Kent, Washington |
| Randy Weissman, President of the Storage | | | | based company services over 3,000 towns and |
| Banc, a St. Louis, Missouri based storage | | | | cities nationwide. |
| company echoes the comments of Byrd. "Every | | | | |
| self-storage customer has a need for | | | | Where is it going? |
| transportation. Why not solve that need? If | | | | |
| we make it easy to get things into storage, | | | | Mobile storage is still in its infancy. |
| maybe we will attract customers who would | | | | Emerging on the market approximately 10 years |
| love to clean out the basement, garage or | | | | ago, customers are still learning about the |
| attic, but doesn't want to hassle with | | | | unique advantages the service has to offer. |
| renting a truck to get their belongings into | | | | Industry observers liken the challenges faced |
| storage". | | | | by mobile storage companies to those faced by |
| | | | traditional self-stage during its early |
| Although storage containers range in size and | | | | development. Lack of customer awareness is |
| material, the industry appears to be settling | | | | chief among the concerns. Many users believe |
| on a 5'by 8' by 7' tall model with a door in | | | | mobile storage offers the ultimate in |
| the front, according to Rob Nist, marketing | | | | convenience, which is an increasingly popular |
| manager for Seattle-Tacoma Box Co. Nist says | | | | attribute in today's fast paced world. As |
| it's a pretty ideal container because it | | | | customers become aware of the advantages of |
| maximizes stability; gives people the ability | | | | this new and innovative alternative to |
| to store their couches and can be stored 4 | | | | traditional self-storage the business will |
| high in most warehouses. Each container has | | | | continue to expand. |
| the capacity to store approximately 2, 000 | | | | |