The professionals at Coast-To-Coast have aligned themselves with the most progressive local moving franchise in the US, Move-It-Now. After careful market research, we have determined the Move-It-Now team to be the clear industry choice.

Moving is one of the primary reasons consumers use Self-Storage.  Does it not make sense to control the storage options…at a profit???  Call the Coast-To-Coast team today at 877 9622-5508 Extension 81 for more information about a local moving franchise.

» THE PERFECT MARRIAGE – Self Storage and Local Moving Services

I think Self-Storage has finally found its “soul mate”.  In examining successful industries, the moving and storage business is a great model.  In peaceful and profitable co-existence for many years.  Long distance movers have enjoyed strong profits from renting box space in it’s industrial warehouses.  With virtually no need for retail exposure, and a high investment in rolling stock, moving and storage business stabilize cash flows with storage.

Institutionally owned Self-Storage companies tried to encroach on the moving and storage market with Pick Up and Delivery (P.U.D.) divisions.  Very few of those institutions today have P.U.D. operations.  While many of the companies still have some form of truck rentals for D.I.Y. moving, either a strategic alliance with a truck rental company or with company owned or leased proprietary rental trucks, few have entered the full service moving business.

When conducting a feasibility study for clients, Coast-to-Coast Storage offers its clients a moving storage franchise analysis.  In a strategic marketing alliance with Move-It-Now, a franchise moving company, Coast-to-Coast clients can see the profit model and compatibility of integrating a local moving operation to a Self-Storage store.

I. MADE IN HEAVEN MARKETING

The match is incredible.  One of the largest consumers of Self-Storage are clients on the move.  Either commercial or residential, the need for storage when moving is at a peak.  Not coincidentally, when storing, moving the contents is also at a peak.

The advertising targets for both businesses are a nearly perfect fit.  While Self-Storage has traditionally relied on yellow page advertising for the largest prospect draw, moving businesses have used other advertising and marketing mediums to build their business.  Move-It-Now relies heavily on telemarketing and direct marketing to develop its business.  The company purchases mailing lists of consumers who are moving (we can’t give away all the trade secrets) and sure enough, this is the same list Self-Storage properties desire.

In many markets, yellow page directories will not permit Self-Storage companies to advertise in the moving category.  Well, problem solved, and – vice-versa for the moving companies targeting Self-Storage ad readers.

II.  THE BEAUTY OF COMBINED “HOUSEHOLDS”

Remember when you got married and moved into one home or apartment?  This is a garage sale, or better yet, storage opportunity in the making.  One rent payment, one utility bill, lots of savings by combining households, and what about combined incomes?  How many couples start off together with one of the spouses fully salaried and the other on commission, seasonal, or irregular income – the marriage made for much smoother cash flows.

The moving and Self-Storage marriage is similarly synergistic.  While experiencing the sometimes painful “feeding” of a Self-Storage property as it goes through lease up, the Move-It-Now revenue streams can be terrific.  The match up is further enhanced by the opportunity to grow the moving business during development and construction of the Self-Storage property.

Here are some examples of expenses that can be combined by the union of moving and Self-Storage:

• Rent
• Utilities
• Payroll & Payroll Burden
• Telephone
• Computer
• Advertising and Marketing
• Volume Pricing for point of sale moving merchandise
• On-truck Advertising

III.  STARTING A FAMILY

As the union gets stronger and matures, both sides of the business find compatibility a natural bi-product of the marriage.

The ability to offer customers increased ranges of service builds profits and, equally important, customer base.  For both moving and Self-Storage, referrals are a fantastic asset.  Building a repeat book of business for each business promotes healthy referrals.

As with any family, conflicts may arise.  If the Self-Storage operation contemplates rental truck revenues as a major course of other income, there may be a “struggle” for customers who decide to self-move instead of full service move.  However, there are many opportunities created when clients ready to self-move decide that the hassles of D.I.Y. moving outweigh the cost of having it done.  We submit that you may lose in D.I.Y. moving supply sales could be more than made up for in full service moving profits.

The moving business and Self-Storage operations do require some differing skill sets.  For example:

These are a few of the attributes unique to each side of the business.  Smart and savvy owners and operators will see the symmetry in the operations and understand that “dove-tailing” the operations creates tremendous opportunity.

As in marriage, the joining of the two entities should require a great deal of courtship.  The moving and Self-Storage equivalent to dating and engagement is planning and risk analysis.  Conducting a thorough feasibility study for Self-Storage is tantamount to understanding the risks and rewards of a moving franchise.

Move-In-Now is a franchise moving organization based in Cleveland, Ohio, owned and operated by Phil Kubec.  Phil can be reached through Coast-to-Coast at the toll-free number 1-877-779-8804 ext. 87.