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California Self Storage Association

The Latest Industry News

With the daunting amount of news and information coming at you constantly it is impossible for any one person to keep up. Our team curates and alerts you to the "must have” information to ensure you are in the know. Having relevant, current information helps you to make the best decisions possible.

  • Thursday, May 15, 2014 2:11 PM | CSSSA Admin (Administrator)

    When anyone celebrates a 10th anniversary, it is a big deal. In the case of the California Self Storage Association, celebrating the 10th annual Owner’s Summit on July 17 at the Balboa Bay Club & Resort in Newport Beach is a VERY big deal! Thanks to the generous support and involvement of Talonvest Capital, a great lineup of speakers and panels will once again demonstrate why the CSSA Owner’s Summit is one of the most highly anticipated self storage events of the year in California.

    It starts with a top-notch keynote speaker in Neel Kashkari, former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury whose topic is “Lessons Learned from Public Service and the Private Investment World.” Kashkari is a 2014 Republican candidate for Governor of California, who also raised capital to help Silicon Valley entrepreneurs grow their companies at the San Francisco office of Goldman Sachs and led the Equities Group at PIMCO.

    The panels and presentations at this year’s gathering will also include: (1) Private Owner CEO Panel – topics covered to include Value-add Acquisitions Completed in 2014, Increasing Cost of Customer Acquisitions Due to Online Bookings ,and Effective Growth Strategies for Small to Large Operators for 2014 and Beyond; (2) a Split Roll Proposition 13 presentation; and (3) a Developments and Construction Panel.

    Of course, it wouldn’t be a CSSA gathering without great networking opportunities, a cocktail party and the opportunity to support Kure It Cancer Research at a special event following the cocktail party. It is also worth noting that this year’s Owner’s Summit will be starting earlier than usual (10:30 a.m.).

    “The Owner’s Summit has become one of our most anticipated events every year,” said Erin King, Executive Director of the CSSA. “Even after nine highly successful recent gatherings, we realize that we need to keep upping the ante and making it better. We think the 2014 version will be our best yet. Many thanks to Talonvest and Jim Davies for helping to pull so many parts of the presentation together.”

    The event has been a sellout in recent years, so those interested in attending may want to act quickly. Early Bird rates of $225 for owner/members are in effect until May 30, after which time the regular registration rate of $275 is in effect. The Early Bird rate of $525 is in effect for vendors/members until May 30 and then goes to $550. For those wishing to stay at the Balboa Bay Club and Resort, there is an exclusive discounted rate of $220 per night. The phone number for Balboa Bay is 888-894-2788 or you can book online at the Balboa Bay website, which is balboabayresort.com.

    For more information about the 10th annual Owner’s Summit, please visit the CSSA website at californiaselfstorage.org or call the CSSA office at 949-783-4130.


  • Thursday, May 01, 2014 2:11 PM | CSSSA Admin (Administrator)

    Education may be the single greatest weapon in the battle to be the best at anything in life. The more you know, the more you can accomplish. Certainly, in self storage, the ability to learn about all aspects of the business – the latest trends, how to market your company, how to deal with customers, what the latest laws are – can go a long way toward making your business even more successful. The California Self Storage Association (CSSA) is singularly dedicated toward helping its members in every fashion, so it comes as no surprise that a new program offering CSSA members free webinars goes into effect on May 1.

    The webinars are being made available courtesy of Skilcheck Services. Among the topics available to CSSA members on May 1 are: Security Issues: Help Protect Your Company’s Goods; California ADA Appliance; and Making More Money at Your Auctions. CSSA members must log in at the CSSA website to view the videos. If a member doesn’t have an account for the CSSA’s online community he or she should contact Brenda Lafontaine at Brenda@cssaweb.com today.

    “We are so pleased to roll out this program to our members,” said Erin King, Executive Director of the CSSA. “We’d like to thank Skilcheck Services for helping us make these webinars available. Our mission at the CSSA is to do everything within our power to improve the lives of our members here in California and we think these webinars will provide great information and tips that all self storage owner/operators and managers can use.”

    The CSSA just concluded another highly successful West Coast Self Storage Owner’s Conference in Napa, CA. Included on the docket for upcoming months are an Owner’s Networking Breakfast at San Diego/Mira Mesa on June 26 and the 10th annual Self Storage Owner’s Summit July 17 in Newport Beach, CA.

    For more information about the free webinars or other CSSA member offerings, events and news, please visit the CSSA website at www.californiaselfstorage.org or contact the office at 949-783-4130.

     

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  • Wednesday, April 09, 2014 2:11 PM | CSSSA Admin (Administrator)

    Performance Self Storage Group (PSSG) just announced that it has successfully represented the seller in the sale of Solano Storage & Retail Center located in Fairfield CA for $9,100,000. The facility is a multi-story institutional quality storage property that consists of 587 self storage units and 7 retail units. Carl Touhey and Jay Allen of Performance Self Storage Group represented the seller, who was a private self storage investment group and the buyer was a 1st time self storage investor.

    "This trophy property was well managed and cared for and as part of the purchase, the buyer had to assume a conduit loan. Our firm has handled multiple transactions with loan assumptions in the past and they are the furthest thing from being easy. Their complexity, constant delays and hurdles often-times send buyers the other way. However, there is a lack of quality storage properties on the market right now in CA and this combined with still low interest rates and influx of cash into our industry, a true seller’s market has been created and one where if the deal makes sense, buyers will do what they need to do to get it done,” said Touhey.

     

    Performance Self Storage Group

    570 El Camino Real #150-411

    Redwood City, CA 94063

    Office: (650) 260-2242

     wwww.PerformanceSelfStorageGroup.com


  • Thursday, April 03, 2014 2:28 PM | CSSSA Admin (Administrator)

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    Media Contacts: Anton Communications
    Vanessa Showalter  949-748-0542  vshowalter@antonpr.com
    Genevieve Anton  714-544-6503  ganton@antonpr.com

     

    StorageTreasures/StorageBattles Signs Exclusive National Agreement with Pop-A-Lock

    Will eliminate the inconvenience and liability of cutting locks and taking photos of storage auction units


    SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - April 1, 2014 - Auctions of abandoned self-storage units made famous through reality television shows such as Storage Wars, Auction Hunters and Storage Hunters are moving to a new battleground - online.

     

    Storage Treasures/Storage Battles, North America's largest and fastest growing online self-storage auction company, has partnered with Pop-A-Lock to offer customers lock cutting, photo taking and inventory services. The exclusive agreement with the nation's largest locksmith network will streamline services for Storage Treasures/Storage Battles managers and their customers.

     

    "This added service will bring convenience and a time-saving option to self-storage facility managers who no longer desire to cut their own locks, take pictures and inventory their storage units in preparation for sale," said James Grant, CEO of StorageTreasures/StorageBattles.  "This will also reduce their liability, as an insured third party will be performing this duty while being observed and witnessed by the facility manager."

     

    "Pop-A-Lock is the preferred provider to numerous corporate strategic partners. Our large footprint, prompt response, latest technology, and top quality make us the first choice for security. We look forward to working with Storage Treasures and their innovative, industry leading marketing and methodology." said Don Marks, CEO of Pop-A-Lock.

     

    StorageTreasures/StorageBattles has more than 4,000 self-storage facilities that have signed up to hold online auctions on its website-- from large publicly traded companies to independent operators. With a database of 800,000 registered buyers nationwide, StorageTreasures/StorageBattles averages more than 4,000 online auctions a month and expects to double that in 2014. With the national Self-Storage Association estimating there are 2 million auctions a year, the potential for growth in the online auction market is phenomenal.

     

    About StorageTreasures/StorageBattles

    StorageTreasures/Storage Battles is a free, social site to find live on-site storage auctions at any self-storage facility across the United States and Canada. Members also can bid on storage units online from participating facilities. StorageTreasures/Storage Battles has revolutionized the way in which the contents of self-storage units are marketed and publicly auctioned after the lessee has failed to pay rent. The site fills the gap between the operational systems that the industry currently utilizes and the public buyer who may be interested in the contents of a unit that is going to auction. The tools StorageTreasures/Storage Battles provides allows the storage industry not only to comply with, but also to exceed the intent of state laws governing the self-storage industry, protecting tenants and bidders alike. For more information please visit http://www.storagetreasures.com and http://www.storagebattles.com.

     

    About Pop-A-Lock

    Pop-A-Lock is the country's largest group of locksmiths, providing 24-hour locksmith service across the country. As a result of years of dedication to pride in service and customer satisfaction, we have developed a reputation for fulfilling customer needs quickly and professionally. Today, Pop-A-Lock is home to the nation's most trusted locksmiths. For more information please visit http://www.popalock.com.


  • Monday, March 31, 2014 2:28 PM | CSSSA Admin (Administrator)

    Westwood, KS – StorageAhead launched its innovative self storage management software, StorEdge, at the Inside Self-Storage World Expo in Las Vegas, NV, on March 31, 2014. The new platform features a streamlined interface, built-in lead management, and CRM capabilities. The cloud-based application is easily accessible and scalable to the individual needs of storage managers and owners.

    StorageAhead’s dedicated team worked closely with strategic customers to develop easy-to-use management software that meets the needs of an increasingly competitive and technology-sensitive market. “We put our engineers and designers in self storage facilities for months of hands-on experience so they could design and build a product that they would actually use themselves,” said President Robert Zhou. “The result is an intuitive product that a manager can learn in a day instead of in months.”

    StorageAhead’s experience in website design and lead generation provided the knowledge to create a platform capable of integrating all areas of operation. “StorEdge has all the functionality of the most sophisticated systems out there,” said Zhou. “We’ve incorporated rate management and manager task lists along with all the standard features users would expect, providing the most powerful and cost-effective solution in the industry,” said Zhou.

    StorEdge also allows the user to handle leads from the very first point of contact. “There’s not another solution that integrates lead tracking into facility management so seamlessly,” said Miller. “You have to have lead tracking in order to measure return on investment.” By consolidating lead, tenant, and unit management, StorEdge provides the tools to monitor the complete marketing apparatus, from inquiry sources to move-ins to length of stay.

    Because the software is cloud based, owners will have the ability to supervise their facilities from any location. “With the evolution of mobile computing, renters and owners are demanding solutions that meet those needs,” said Miller. “Whether you’re moving in prospective renters from iPads or opening gates from smartphones, you need a web-based solution to reach those goals.” Forthcoming updates will release quickly and directly with no disturbance to the user.

    StorEdge’s easy-to-use interface offers owners and managers the opportunity to minimize the time and cost of training and technical support. The attractive pricing model makes StorEdge an affordable solution for small-to-medium storage businesses, although it’s easily scalable to the needs of larger brands as well. For more information or to schedule a demo of the product visit www.StorageAhead.com/StorEdge.

     

    About StorageAhead

    StorageAhead offers the most comprehensive web technology for the self-storage industry. We give your business the competitive edge by providing the tools you need to boost your rentals and maximize your profits. With our personalized marketing websites, lead-generating search engines, and business management software, our professional team is dedicated to your brand. Together, our experience in online marketing and our knowledge of the industry is what makes our technologies – and your self-storage facility – succeed.

     

    Contact

    For more information about StorageAhead and our products, please contact:

    StorageAhead

    4830 Rainbow Boulevard

    Westwood, KS 66103

    Office: (913) 954-4110

    Email: info@storageahead.com

    www.StorageAhead.com/StorEdge


  • Monday, March 24, 2014 2:29 PM | CSSSA Admin (Administrator)

    Westwood, KS – StorageAhead’s cloud-based management software, StorEdge, is approaching its launch at the Inside Self-Storage World Expo in Las Vegas, NV. The new platform is easy to navigate and features built-in CRM capability as well as financial and business analytics. Live demos of StorEdge will be available at ISS Booth #421 from March 31 to April 1, 2014.

     

    About StorageAhead

    StorageAhead offers the most comprehensive web marketing technology for the self-storage industry. We give your small business the competitive edge by providing the tools you need to boost your rentals and maximize your profits. With our personalized marketing websites, lead-generating search engines, and business management software, our professional team is dedicated to your brand. Together, our experience in online marketing and our knowledge of the industry is what makes our technologies – and your self-storage facility – succeed.

     

    Contact
    For more information about StorageAhead and our products, please contact:

    StorageAhead

    4830 Rainbow Boulevard

    Westwood, KS 66103

    Office: (913) 954-4110

    Email: demo@storageahead.com

    www.StorageAhead.com/StorEdge


  • Monday, December 16, 2013 1:29 PM | CSSSA Admin (Administrator)

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    December 2, 2013

    For more information, contact:

    Red Nova Labs

    info@rednovalabs.com

    913-384-5700


    Kansas City Startup,  StorageAhead, Appoints Robert Zhou as President

    WESTWOOD, Kan., (December 2, 2013) -  Red Nova Labs, a Kansas City-based web marketing company, is pleased to announce the appointment of Bob Zhou as President, effective November 18, 2013. Mr. Zhou, who had been the VP of Engineering and CTO with the company since its inception in 2008, will manage all operational aspects of the company.

    According to Dan Miller, who will remain as CEO, "Bob has taken a more proactive role in all aspects of the business in the past year. In addition to driving our SEO and technology, Bob assumed responsibility for marketing last February, driving our content, branding and design operations. It is only fitting that Bob has the title that goes along with the job he has been performing.”

    Although many Red Nova Labs employees won’t see much difference in the daily routine as a result of the change, the company has undergone a major transformation over the past year. Miller believes "the rapid growth presents several new opportunities and challenges which Bob is ready to approach head on.” According to Zhou, "with sales up nearly 50% percent and record profits in 2013, it’s great, but never enough. We have so much work to do in terms of market penetration and new product development.” In order to continue pushing the company past its current boundaries, Miller will be spending more time focusing efforts on business development and strategies needed to grow Red Nova Labs even faster.

    Red Nova Labs’ affiliate company, Storage Ahead, focuses on boosting online visibility for storage facility owners and operators. With the upcoming release of StorageAhead’s newest product StorEdge, facility management software for self storage, Miller can now spend more time developing this market and helping define an integrated business strategy in moving forward. Miller is ready to pass the torch in light of the company’s growth, saying "Bob has been instrumental in the growth and success of Red Nova Labs and has proven he is capable of taking us further, faster.”

    For more information, e-mail info@rednovalabs.com or call (913) 384-5700.


    About Red Nova Labs:

    Red Nova Labs is a Kansas City-based web marketing company that focuses on creating robust solutions for the self storage industry. From lead generating facility search engines to search engine optimized sites, we provide the online tools self storage owners and operators need to stay competitive by boosting their leads and overall rentals.


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  • Friday, December 13, 2013 1:30 PM | CSSSA Admin (Administrator)

    Farmington Hills, MI (PRWEB) December 03, 2013

    The Storage Business Owners Alliance LLC ("SBOA”) (http://www.theSBOA.com), the premiere buying group for self storage owners and operators nationwide, announced today that it will no longer charge membership fees to join its ever-growing buying group.

    Since its inception in 2010, the SBOA has grown to more than 3,000 member-facilities in just 3 years, and has seen growth as well in the number and quality of preferred vendor-partners.

    "We wanted to eliminate the membership fee so that self storage owners would not feel inhibited from using the SBOA vendors and the terrific deals they offer,” stated Ian Burnstein, President and co-founder of the SBOA. "Our size of membership and strength of vendor partnerships have strengthened our business model to the point where we can waive the membership fee and continue to provide outstanding service and pricing to our Members,” Burnstein added.

    SBOA Members can take advantage of pre-negotiated discounts on goods and services used daily in the operation of their self storage business without being required to pay a membership fee. These vendor partners include nationally recognized companies such as SBOA Merchant Services, SiteLink, OpenTech Alliance, SBOA Tenant Insurance, the Storage Group and many others.

    With more than 30 vendor-partners, Members can expect savings of 10% - 60%, with easy access to view all offerings through the SBOA website (http://www.theSBOA.COM/deals).

    "We enjoyed tremendous value from the SBOA with the membership fees in place,” said Chris Potash of Self Storage Zone. "The removal of the fee will open up opportunities for others to enjoy the same benefits that we have enjoyed for more than three years,” Potash added.

    To sign up for the Storage Business Owners Alliance (SBOA) or to learn more about these affiliate programs, please visit http://www.theSBOA.com. The Storage Business Owners Alliance (SBOA) features pre-negotiated discounts for owners and operators in the self storage industry.


  • Friday, December 13, 2013 1:30 PM | CSSSA Admin (Administrator)

    It is inevitable that when December rolls around we all start casting an eye back to the year that was. In some cases there are amazing events, in other cases there are difficult stretches to be navigated. In the end, we always hope that the positives outweigh the negatives and good things are accomplished. And that certainly was the case for the California Self Storage Association in 2013, as the organization truly came through with stellar efforts to help CSSA members.


    The CSSA played host to many highly successful events and added a number of benefits and programs for members. The CSSA also moved to a new headquarters (4000 MacArthur Blvd., Suite 600, Newport Beach, CA 92660) and added new staff member Amaris Burkel (Manager of Operations & Member Relations), while Erin King (Executive Director) and Brenda Lafontaine (Online Business Development & Marketing Manager) maintained their usual high level of dedication, energy and sense of humor.


    Here are a number of 2013 highlights, as well as a preview of what is coming in 2014.


    Listen Up, Bootcampers!

    The CSSA decided to get tough about self storage legal issues by hosting four different Legal Bootcamp sessions. Jeff Greenberger led attendees in Sacramento, San Jose, San Diego and Santa Ana. The gatherings were so successful that the CSSA will offer more bootcamp-style classes in 2014, including a revamped legal session and other new topics, as well.


    Wine, Women and Song…and Self Storage

    So, you want to host an event in a place that everybody loves and will have a great time attending? What better place than Napa? The CSSA organized its 1st Annual West Coast Self Storage Owner’s Meeting in Napa with over 200 attendees. Erin and Brenda made sure that the content was solid, the oysters were fresh, the networking was in high gear and the bocce ball event to raise money and awareness for Kure It came off without a hitch. The good news is that the event will be back again in 2014 with Dr. Christopher Thornberg of Beacon Economics serving as the keynote speaker. Don’t miss it!


    Hitting It Big in Newport Beach

    The CSSA’s 9th annual Summit in Newport Beach this past July was the CSSA’s biggest one to date. The event saw over 260 attendees on hand for the CSSA’s usual winning combination of serious and important content and fun events. Ron Havner answered questions while Jim Sullivan of Green Street Advisors served as the moderator. That session was followed by a capital markets presentation and an owner’s development and acquisitions panel. On the light side, Kure It’s Poker Fun Run once again was a big hit. The 10th annual gathering in 2014 will likely see over 300 people attending with event hours extended.


    Pancakes, Coffee, Anyone?

    The CSSA’s Owner’s Breakfast Program was a success in 2013 and will continue in 2014. The program allows owner and vendor members the opportunity to meet, discuss local trends and results, and exchange information.


    Meanwhile, the CSSA will continue to host coffee meetings throughout the state that are free for anyone to attend (well, except for the coffee). The meetings are typically led by Erin King or Mark Beck, take place from 7-9 a.m., and are very informal with the agenda often dictated by the group on hand. It serves as a terrific opportunity to meet people, catch up with members and see what is happening in the field.


    Fighting the Good Fight in Sacramento

    Everyone was amazed when a bill that the CSSA had hoped to move through this year’s California Legislature hit a snag in the California Senate Judiciary Committee. Bill AB 983, intended to help self storage operators dealing with lien laws, was surprisingly voted down (the bill had moved smoothly through three prior committees). The CSSA has pinpointed the area that likely caused the bill’s downfall and is now proceeding with a new version it hopes will make it all the way through the California legislature starting in 2014.


    Member Benefits Keep on Coming

    The CSSA kept the benefits coming for members in 2013. The two new programs were offered: (1) a new portion of the CSSA store that allows its members to purchase forms and other paper products with printing options through Optimal Outsource and (2) special discounted pricing on moving supplies from New Haven Moving Equipment. As for the benefits, the CSSA came up with a new Employee Manual and anaccompanying user workshop, access to the Self Storage Legal Review Network, a Self Storage Operator Forms Packet, and an Office Depot Discount program.


    Stepping Up in 2014

    The CSSA will continue to add and improve in 2014, with renewed efforts in Sacramento, more gatherings and a new, informative and exciting newsletter.


    "We feel like we had a terrific year in 2013 and our members are as enthused about our direction as we are,” Erin King concluded. "The CSSA is dedicated to doing as much as we possibly can for our members, while keeping our events both informative and fun. We expect more of the same in 2014.”


    Stay tuned, stay involved and Happy Holidays from everyone at the CSSA!


  • Monday, December 02, 2013 1:30 PM | CSSSA Admin (Administrator)

    GLENDALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 2, 2013--Public Storage(NYSE:PSA) announced that it has entered into a$700 millionone-year term loan withWells Fargo Bank.

    John Reyes, the Company’s Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, stated, "Given the state of the preferred equity market, we have decided to take advantage of the attractive rate on a short-term bank loan. We intend to use the borrowings to fund acquisition and development activities and for general corporate purposes.Wells Fargo, our bank for over 30 years, once again has supported us with this financing.”

    Company Information

    Public Storage, a member of theS&P500 and FT Global 500, is a fully integrated, self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust that primarily acquires, develops, owns and operates self-storage facilities. The Company’s headquarters are located inGlendale, California. AtSeptember 30, 2013, the Company had interests in 2,110 self-storage facilities located in 38 states with approximately 135 million net rentable square feet in the UnitedStates and 188 storage facilities located in seven Western European nations with approximately tenmillion net rentable square feet operated under the "Shurgard” brand. The Company also owns a 43% common equity interest inPS Business Parks, Inc.(NYSE:PSB) which owned and operated approximately 28.6 million rentable square feet of commercial space, primarily flex, multi-tenant office and industrial space, atSeptember 30, 2013.

    Additional information aboutPublic Storageis available on the Internet. The Company’s web site is www.publicstorage.com.

    Source:Public Storage

    Public Storage
    Clemente Teng
    (818) 244-8080, Ext. 1141


California Self Storage Association

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California Self Storage Association
5325 Elkhorn Blvd., #283 
Sacramento, CA 95842

P: 888-CSSA-207 or 888-277-2207

EMAIL: info@californiaselfstorage.org

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