Who Uses Self Storage? (A Popularity Poll)
Have you ever wondered who exactly is investing in self storage?
We sure have!
I’m betting anyone in this industry has too. After all, part of what we do is provide services for individuals who need us. But if we don’t know who those people are, we can hardly provide tailored service.
Over the years we’ve seen customers from very diverse backgrounds. Some are experiencing down moments, due to divorce or loss of home. Some are in high spirits, starting up a new business or moving to a new location. Some, frankly, we have no clue. They come and go with barely a word of context (which is fine as long as they aren’t storing bomb components).
As a result of these ponderings, we have created two polls in order to give us all a little better insight into the self storage landscape. If you are in the self storage industry, vote on what you see the most in your day-to-day business. If you are customer, tell us a bit about how you got here.
Have fun!
If You’re A Storage Business Owner…
If You’re A Self Storage Customer…
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The more answers we get, the better insight we’ll have! Be sure to share it around (use the floaty bar on the left <<<<
Affordable Self Storage near Mohrsville, PA
Mohrsville is a sister community to Leesport, home of DAK Self Storage. In fact, the two towns are only 8 minutes a part. The close proximity and affordable rates are what attract so many Mohrsville residents to DAK for their storage needs.
Close Proximity
If you browse around Google maps, you’ll quickly see that DAK is the closest facility around (click to enlarge):
This is good news because it is also one of the highest quality, with fully fenced facilities and well maintained units.
DAK offers both indoor and outdoor facilities, the indoor being a climate controlled building for your more valuable items. The outdoors units are drive-up accessible, making loading a much easier task.
The facility is entered using keycode access only, and is well lit.
Affordable Rates
The owners of DAK come from a small business background, and understand the value of a dollar. Because of that, they make sure to stay very competitive in pricing and offering discounts and deals as frequently as possible. They provide personal service and assistance whenever you need it.
What You Can Store
The units available vary greatly in size (browse available units here), so there is appropriate storage space for anyone. The outdoor units can easily handle large equipment, vehicles, furniture, and more. Conversely, if you need a small and climate protected unit for your antiques or books, we have that too.
Reach out to us, we can figure out the best option for you.
It brings tears to my eyes
Just before Christmas I wrote about my friend Peter Lojore. You can read his story here: http://raydsmith.blogspot.com/2011/12/there-he-lay-badly-beaten-while-others.html
In December I didn’t realize that there would be this kind of a follow up story; one that brought me to tears yesterday.
Peter spent about 10 days in the hospital. He had broken his right leg which was casted. Thanks to a Christmas check from a grandmother at home, I was able to pay for all of Peter’s medical expenses. As I went to find Peter a pair of crutches I met a hospital administrator that recognized me from when I brought Peter in. Normally, a pair of crutches would have cost about 5000 Shillings with at the exchange rate then would have been about $50. This admin offered me a pair that was in great shape and used once for 1000 shillings (about $10). Peter left the hospital that day with a cast on his leg, fed and with a pairs of crutches. Unfortunately, because of his injuries Peter was unable to go back to his job and has been forced to beg for money and/or food in the streets. The more I talked to Peter over the past couple of weeks the more it became clear that Peter really wants to work and get off of the street. Here’s where it gets good!
On Wednesday of this week I sat down with my friend Daniel Juma. Juma runs a children’s home just a few minutes away from here. He specializes in working with street boys. In fact, many years ago Peter actually lived in Juma’s home. There were some issues with the missionary sponsoring Peter at the time and eventually, Peter went to live with a local pastor. The pastor ended up not taking care of Peter and that’s when he took to the streets not knowing where else to go. I talked to Juma about taking Peter in if I could find him a sponsor. The organization that I am partnering with in Kitale, Transformed International, agreed to handle the sponsorship funds that came in for Peter. Juma was very excited about the idea but asked me to first talk to Peter and make sure he would be willing.
Yesterday I met with Peter in the afternoon and asked if there was a family he would want to live with. He mentioned Juma and that he would like to go back there. When I told him that I would make that happen for him his smile was so bright! He was so happy that he was forcing back tears. I left town that day in tears with how happy I was that this was becoming a reality. All I was left with was the task of finding a sponsor.
After putting something up on Facebook, I am pleased to say that Peter’s sponsorship is now set! Soon, Peter will can move into Juma’s home – a 5 acre farm. There, Peter will have a job of helping regulate the water supply to a greenhouse that Juma is building, something that he can do while sitting down and finally resting his broken leg. As his leg heals, Juma said he will give Peter a section of the farm to grown a crop to sell and begin to support himself. During the first month Peter will be given a bed, a mattress and a blanket. More importantly, Peter is being given a chance to LIVE. He is being given a family that will love him and care for him. A family that will not judge him for being a street boy. He’s being given the life he was meant to have back. Three days ago Peter was a 23 year old street boy with a very bleak future ahead of him. Today, Peter has hope of a bright and happy future.
I think of the life that Peter will now have and it brings tears of great joy to my eyes.
Nephew of Joe and Donna from DAK Self Storage in Leesport, PA
You can read more of my blogs here: http://www.raydsmith.blogspot.com/
10/10ths Iron Butt ride. Part 2
The second and third days I rode to Ohio, first a northern
route across Rt 80, and second a southern route across Rt 70. I
vowed I would not ride the Rt 80 route again due to Ohio turnpike.
The toll lanes said they were EZPass, but I found that to be
inaccurate. It was a real pain stopping and paying the tolls and
getting receipts. The southern route seemed to go easier, that is
when I finally got out of the rain. Riding out the PA turnpike at
o’ dark thirty in the rain is really not a lot of fun … but, I
realized I was still maintaining about 70 mph in the rain. This was
easy enough to do because the turnpike has reflectors about every
10 feet down both sides of the lane. When you are passing trucks
pushing a lot of water on you, headlights from oncoming traffic,
fogging glasses and faceshield, these reflectors became very
valuable to maintain steady speed and ease in staying in your lane.
The weather was great in Ohio and I stopped at F & S
Harley-Davidson in Dayton, OH to get a witness. I rode back into
the rain to get home. As I got into Leesport, Rt 61 was closed
because it was flooded! I was rerouted around the Leesport Auction,
got my daily ‘end’ receipt and went home to bed. It would be the
latest I got home, about 9:15 pm.
The next day the Doppler looked like less rain if I went to
Kentucky, so off I went. As I was riding around the lake to get to
the gas station, it was raining cats and dogs. The wind coming
across the lake felt like it was trying to unscrew my helmet from
my head. As I approached Rt 61 there was police activity ahead I
looked down at the clock, 3:42 am, what could be going on? I came
up on sawhorses across Rt 73, but they were not standing upright
like normal, they were laying flat on the street because they were
knocked over from the wind. So, I came around the back way to the
Sheetz and came up to a state highway truck, lights flashing, 2
workers were setting up sawhorses to close the road at the Sheetz.
I slipped between the truck and the sawhorse the cut into the gas
station. One of the workers was waving frantically for me not to
ride into the flooded intersection, I pointed into the gas station
and he waved back to acknowledge. I rolled out that morning at 3:50
am because I figured no one was showing up to ride along that day.
I rode to Morehead Kentucky that day, I think that was the day I
began to plan the town names for the Iron Butt certificate.
Saturday was much clearer, but very cold. I ran the Gerbings
jacket liner and gloves until about 1 pm that day. I went over to
New Jersey and straight up through New York. Lots of beautiful
scenery, probably the best scenery of the entire ride. Traffic was
very light and I stopped at a little rest area to relieve myself in
the bushes. As I returned to the bike I realized just how beautiful
it was there in the Adirondacks.
As I approached the bike I decided to grab a slim jim out of the
tourpack and have a snack. I thought for a second about what kind of
wildlife would be around there. I got a vision of a black bear
tearing up my tourpack to get to my snacks and I was back on the
road in 2 seconds. I got another witness at North End
Harley-Davidson in Plattsburgh, NY. I headed for home hitting some
heavy traffic around Albany, NY, and yet another shower around
Allentown, PA before returning home.
Respectfully submitted,
Harry Knerr
IBA # 7880
Team Lilley – SMD
