The Storage Team – a very different self storage operation

The Storage Team operate a storage centre that grew out of a removal business, and they now operate the two in tandem. The Removal Team started in 2001 and The Storage Team in 2007, but its 25,000 square feet is already 80% let and they plan to increase their available space to 31,000 square feet.

There are 250 units offering a range of sizes from as little as 11 square foot. The Removal Team and Storage Team each offer a discount of 25% off the other service when you use both services. The Storage Team has other offers – 10% off for a year’s prepayment, 5 free boxes when you buy 10 boxes, and exclusively they offer 5 free boxes when you arrange an appointment to view ‒ whether you sign up or not.

Special offers

Managing director Kevin Thompson says, “We like to do things that other storage companies don’t do. For example, we are so confident of our service that if within the first four weeks of storing our customers aren’t happy with their storage space, they can simply move out and have their money back.” A risky-sounding offer perhaps, but one that The Storage Team are confident about ‒ and it hasn’t yet been taken up.

The Storage Team also offer free van hire for people moving into a unit, an introductory free period (2 or 4 weeks), and a £25-off deal if an existing storage user introduces a new customer.

New website has led to lots more self storage enquiries

The results of redesigning The Storage Team’s website surprised Kevin ‒ enquiries to the website increased sevenfold. Kevin puts this down not just to the increase in people using the web but to the more dynamic and user-friendly website. One feature of the new site is a sort of treasure hunt around the website ‒ if you find the code hidden on the website to “unlock the door”, you get a £50-off voucher.

Happy storage customers, and offering a range of services
There’s a lot of inertia in storage but also users seem to like the way The Storage Team is run, so they tend to stay. Many customers have been storing with them since they first opened: “Self storage facilities tend not to be hectic by nature, so we are trying to build a community spirit. We let out a number of workshops and offices and we have various facilities, including free Internet access and a virtual address service, so our customers create a community.” It is also popular with the local community, and about a third of the storage customers are business users.

Service, not price

The Storage Team believe their service is better than their rivals’, and they aim to be the best in quality, value and cleanliness. The Storage Team, based at Lea Green Business Park, is the only dedicated self storage facility in St Helens. There are some competitors who will store items relating to a domestic move but not where you can get instant access to your things.

The Storage Team plans to open new facilities in the same region ‒ the North West.

You can contact The Storage Team on their freephone number 0800 007 6822; their website is www.thestorageteam.co.uk