Monday, April 28, 2014

Word Association - "Storage King = Storage"

By Team Onehunga
SK Onehunga, NZ

Recently we were asked by Storage King Head Office to write an article for our blog.
We decided rather than write ‘a story,’ we would produce a short article which is interactive with the reader, and as such created the following lists of words associated with storage.  If you feel like playing, the idea is to think of what the word conjures up in your minds when thinking about storage and what goes on in a storage Facility.  We’ve added our imagination from an employee’s viewpoint you may have other ideas as either a Storer - current, previous or potential.

1.    Administration =  keeping things in order
2.    Learn Where Everything is in Your Store = the amazing maze
3.    One size fits all? = or does it
4.    Customer service = managing expectations
5.    Unit rates = inversely proportional to unit availability
6.    Whenever Possible, Wear a Name Tag With Someone Else’s Name On It = re-      invent yourself
7.    Motorhomes =
8.    Police = surveillance
9.    Tradesmen = tools, materials
10.   Dogs = wet nose > electric fence > yelp!
11.   MPI = containers
12.   Boats = arc storage
13.   Importers/exporters =
14.   Tourists = surfboards
15.   Referrals = Friends
16.   Property management = dollars vs budget
17.   Merchandise = boxes, bubble wrap, tape
18.   Too much stuff =
19.   Storage Consultant =
20.   Why do people rent from us =
21.   Waiting to sell = waiting to go unconditional
22.   Can’t find a rental =
23.   Renovating = too much clutter
24.   Moving house =
25.   Break ins = ZERO at our facility
26.   Insurance = added extra
27.   Gates =
28.   Travelling =
29.   Resident Manager = neighbours
30.   Storage wars =
31.   24/7 = Resident Manager & alarmed units = come and go as you please
32.   Families = teenagers moved back home?
33.   Deceased estates =
34.   Alarmed & Monitored Units = Security
35.   Electric Fence = won’t touch that again > zap
36.   Furniture truck or trailer = FREEEEEE ( For move-ins )
37.   Motion sensor CCTV = look at that guy.  Look at him!
38.   Lock Checks = tiny suitcase lock
39.   Home Appraisals = meeting the community
40.   Removalists =
41.   Burglars = secure here
42.   Home Staging =
43.   Move ins = welcome, enjoy your stay
44.   Vacates = see you again
45.   Roller doors = red, blue, orange, green, yellow?
46.   Cubic measurements = air space
47.   Square measurements = footprint
48.   Security rounds = couple having sex, no joke….
49.   Clean, dry & vermin free =
50.   Neighbours = resident managers


We’re sure you can think of many more, but to play the game, you just add to our list and think of the first word that comes into your mind when it comes to the above dictionary that is Storage?
Have you ever given thought to what the role of a storage facility manager/storage consultant is?  To put the above words into a few words, as a storage facility employee/operator, our most important role is to provide that ‘Simple Storage Solution’ and in doing so, contribute to the profitability of running a successful storage facility.  In brief, we do this by developing and maintaining mutually beneficial business relationships and above all, being committed to exceeding our customer’s expectations.  We just don’t sit behind a desk watching people come and go through our gates.  Overall we are responsible for keeping the facility rented at optimum levels, all the while promoting worthy long term customer relationships by solving storage problems.  Included in our position as Storage Managers, but not limited to, is property maintenance, staff management, security, sales/marketing, monthly/daily accounts, health & safety, office administration duties, report writing, to name but a few areas of responsibility.  It is certainly a role that is varied and interesting and one that contains all the above list of words and more.

If you feel inclined to play this interactive blog please comment below.  We’re sure you’ll be surprised at how much you already know about Self Storage or perhaps we’ll discover that we still need to show you how trendy, how SOPHISTICATED storage really has become.