The Storage.co.uk Award 2011-12 for Excellence in Customer Service

In much the same way that behind every great man there’s a great woman, behind every successful self storage centre there’s a great team of staff. This is why Storage.co.uk awards the Excellence in Customer Service Award: to highlight the efforts of those companies that go the extra mile in satisfying their customers’ needs.

Specifically, we were on the lookout for those that manage to maintain excellent relations with their customers over a sustained period of time, and who respond promptly to enquiries from new customers.

The chosen few who we felt managed to satisfy these stringent criteria are given below (in alphabetical order):

Admiral’s Yard Leeds – The Leeds branch of the Admiral’s Yard container self storage company (which also has sites in Sheffield and Slough) was chosen because of positive customer feedback and the detailed responses they give to prospective customers who ask for a quote. In particular, they provide well-laid out information to the potential customer, which includes transparent price details and makes it clear what customers need to bring with them in order to sign up a unit. As one satisfied customer said in the reviews section of Storage.co.uk: “A great little storage facility, very very good prices and friendly staff. Convenient loading, no trolleys lifts or stairs, all very straightforward.” www.admiralsyard.com/self-storage-leeds.html

Gloucester Self Storage – A company that describes itself as “a family concern offering you friendly service on an individual basis”, Gloucester Self  Storage has over twenty years’ experience in providing high-quality customer care. They are particularly being rewarded for the friendly tone of their communications with prospective customers, which are dispatched promptly and provide lots of useful information. www.gloucesterselfstorage.co.uk

Plymouth Self Storage – A family business that operates two sites in Plymouth and provides a range of other services (including professional shredding), Plymouth Self Storage has strongly established itself in their region over the last eight years. The judges particularly wanted to highlight the friendly and approachable tone they used in replying to requests from new customers, whose concerns are dealt with speedily and in a highly professional manner.  www.plymouthselfstorage.co.uk

Steeles Removals – A Barrow-in-Furness-based international removals and storage company that also offers containerised self storage, as well as indoor self storage units, Steele’s Removals may have fingers in many pies, but that doesn’t stop them from providing their customers with excellent service. In particular, they manage to respond with tremendous speed and clarity to requests from new customers. www.steelesremovals.co.uk

UK Storage Company – One of the major self storage companies in the South-West, a region traditionally ignored by the big operators, UK Storage Company has built-up an impressive range of sites in Bridgwater, Bristol, Taunton and Yeovil. The judges found that they were very helpful to new customers, providing detailed quotes in a timely manner that put everything someone planning to use self storage for the first time could want to know at their fingertips. As one satisfied customer put it: “Fantastic. I really could not recommend these guys enough. Nothing was too much trouble for them.” www.ukstoragecompany.co.uk