Ash Properties Inc., a development and property-management company that operates the Atlantic Self Storage brand in Florida, has teamed up with local businesses to collect donations for its “Back 2 School Supply Drive.” Contributions can be made at Atlantic’s 45 facilities as well as participating partner locations in Northeast Florida through Aug. 4. The suggested list of supplies includes backpacks, composition books, notebook paper, crayons, glue and glue sticks, erasers, markers, No. 2 pencils, and scissors.

Elaine Ashourian, active principal of Ash Properties, launched the drive to aid local students in Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns Counties. “We are committed to ensuring kids have the supplies [they] need to succeed throughout First Coast communities and across campuses of local schools,” she said.

The drive’s business partners include Bailey’s Health & Fitness, Beach Boulevard Flea Market, the Black Student Union at the University of North Florida, Jax4Kids, Money Pages and Times-Union Media. “We’re thankful for the support and contributions of the community and our participating business partners,” Ashourian said. “Remember, children are the future, and building a brighter tomorrow starts with them.”

Ash Properties is a locally owned real estate development company with more than 40 years of combined experience in the leasing, management and development of commercial, retail, storage and office properties. The Atlantic portfolio comprises 4.7 million square feet of storage space in nearly 30,000 units.

Kure It Cancer Research, a nonprofit dedicated to funding kidney cancer and other underfunded malignancies, has reached a $6 million milestone through continued support from self-storage organizations, including national and state industry associations as well as individual operators.

Kure It presented a $100,000 check last week to Dr. Richard Van Etten, director of the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of California, Irvine. The funds will support two projects, one focused on kidney-cancer therapy development and another on gastro-esophageal carcinomas. Both involve research in patient treatment and therapies, according to a press release.           

Now in its 10th year, Kure It has provided grants to leading medical institutions across the country and internationally for research projects that can be translated into new treatments and better understanding in the fight against cancer. “The $6 million milestone is a huge achievement for Kure It, and has allowed us the ability to make a significant contribution to fund innovative research,” said Todd Perry, president of the board of directors. “However, Kure It has only scratched the surface of what can and needs to be done. Our team remains committed to raising funds that will eventually lead to a ‘Kure.’"

Kure It was launched by self-storage industry veteran Barry Hoeven, who was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 1998. In April 2007, Hoeven partnered with cancer center City of Hope to create the Kure It! Kidney Cancer Research Fund, which raised more than $400,000. Kure It Inc. was established in January 2010 to grant funds to cancer researchers investigating progressive treatments and cures.

Hoeven, who passed in June 2016, was a member of the California Self Storage Association and founder of Westport Properties Inc., which operates more than 100 facilities in 13 states under the US Storage Centers brand.

Hawaii Gov. David Y. Ige signed an update to the state’s self-storage lien law on July 11 that enables storage operators to communicate with tenants via e-mail, advertise lien sales in a place other than the local newspaper, conduct auctions online, place value limits on stored items and have motor vehicles towed, with certain stipulations. Senate Bill 288 (SB 288) passed through the house and senate with just one “no” vote. It went into effect with the governor’s signature.

Similar to other recent state lien-law updates, the Hawaii measure allows self-storage operators to advertise auctions in a “commercially reasonable manner” other than the local newspaper as long as three independent bidders participate in the sale. Delinquency notifications now include e-mail, but communications must also be sent via regular mail. Certified Mail is still required but only on final notification informing the tenant of the sale.

Auctions may be held online as long as they’re done through a website that “customarily conducts self-storage lien sales,” according to the new language. The new law also allows storage operators to place a maximum value of stored contents based on limits expressed in rental agreements, as long as the provision is presented in bold type and underlined, and the limit isn’t lower than $1,000.

SB 288 also allows operators to have stored boats and motor vehicles towed after default reaches 60 days, but tenants must be notified by Certified Mail and e-mail at least 15 days before the vehicle is removed. The communication must include the name and full contact information of the towing company.

The measure was supported by the national Self Storage Association (SSA). "Unfortunately we were unable to get the vehicle-removal provision or the safe-harbor protection for late fees," Erin King, executive director of the California Self Storage Association and a special assistant to the SSA’s government-relations team, said in a July 17 e-mail newsletter to SSA members. "It takes a lot of time and effort to bring everyone up to speed. We had great lobbyists who worked tirelessly on our behalf, but you only have so much time to educate the members and pass the bills."

King testified on two bills this year during Hawaii's legislative session. A measure addressing tenant insurance stalled in the senate, according to the newsletter.

Hawaii doesn’t have a state self-storage association.

MiniCo Insurance Agency LLC, a provider of insurance products for the self-storage industry, received an “Award of Excellence” last month from the Insurance Marketing & Communications Association (IMCA) for its marketing campaign supporting the launch of the company’s wind/hail deductible buy-back program, according to a press release.

"I am proud to be a part of a marketing team that has been recognized by the IMCA consistently with awards in 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2017," said Dan Sommer, vice president of marketing and communications and chief marketing officer for MiniCo. "Our team members hold themselves to the highest standards of professionalism and creativity, and it is an honor to be recognized by our peers in the insurance-marketing and -communications industry."

The multi-faceted rollout campaign included company website updates, press releases, print advertising in self-storage industry publications, and an educational video designed for independent insurance agents. MiniCo also leveraged search engine and social media advertising as well as ad insertions in its own trade publications, the release stated.

“We are honored to be recognized by the IMCA again this year,” said Mike Schofield, president and CEO of MiniCo. “The association's dedication to educating the insurance industry about innovative marketing and communications tools and techniques has had a positive impact on our marketing efforts and aligns with MiniCo's focus on providing value-added information and educational topics to our policyholders and agents via a variety of creative platforms."

MiniCo received its award on June 27 during the IMCA’s 59th annual Showcase Gala Awards in Scottsdale, Ariz. The event was part of the association’s annual conference, June 25-27.

Founded in 1921, the IMCA serves insurance-marketing and -communications professionals in North America. Its membership includes brokerage firms, domestic and international multi-line insurance companies and brokerage firms, general agencies, industry suppliers, and regional and specialty companies. Professional members include senior-level management and professional staff working in the areas of advertising, corporate and marketing communications, public relations, sales and marketing, and technology.

MiniCo was founded in 1974 as a provider of specialty insurance products and publications for the self-storage industry. The company offers multiple specialty property and casualty insurance products for a variety of industries and exposures, including self-storage. MiniCo also operates MiniCo Insurance Agency of Canada Inc. Both are members of the Aran Insurance Services Group.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor of the District of New Jersey has approved a $5.08 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit against Extra Space Storage Inc., a self-storage real estate investment trust (REIT) and third-party management company. The 2013 case was filed by tenant Steven Gomes who alleged the REIT sold the items he had stored in an Extra Space storage unit before the deadline he received from the company for paying his delinquent rent. The class-action suit involves nearly 155,000 Extra Space customers, according to the source.

Gomes failed to make the monthly payment on his storage unit in December 2011 and January 2012. The delinquency letter he received from Extra Space indicated his items would be auctioned if he didn’t settle his balance or retrieve his belongings by March 15, 2012, according to the source. Gomes later learned the contents of his unit were sold at auction on Feb. 16, 2012. He estimated the property value at $8,700.

The class-action suit was filed about a year later, alleging violations to the state’s Self-Storage Facility Act (SSFA) as well as the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act and the Truth-in-Consumer Contract, Warranty and Notice Act. A mediation attempt in 2014 was unsuccessful, but an initial settlement agreement was reached last year, according to the source.

Under the July 13 agreement, Extra Space will place the settlement amount into a common fund. Gomes will receive an incentive award of $22,500 and $725,000 in legal fees. All class members are eligible to receive a $75 certificate they can use in New Jersey toward Extra space products and services. They’ll also receive $25 for administration expenses. A subclass containing 7,700 members can pursue separate action to recover the sale of property if it violated the SSFA, the source reported.

"We think that it was a very fair and reasonable settlement for the class in this case," said lead attorney Andrew R. Wolf of The Wolf Law Firm LLC, which represented the plaintiffs in the case. Extra Space was represented by attorney Daniel Brown of Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton.

Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Extra Space owns or operates 1,441 self-storage properties in 38 states; Washington, D.C.; and Puerto Rico. The company’s properties comprise approximately 980,000 units and 109 million square feet of rentable space.

A tornado that whipped through Livingston, Texas, Saturday afternoon caused serious damage at W&W Self Storage, ripping apart a building and leaving several units and their contents drenched by rain. A few local residents shared camera footage of the twister and the wreckage it left behind with media outlets.

Gordon Pyle and a friend were fishing on a pond near his home when they spotted a tornado taking shape along the tree line. Pyle recorded the action on his cell phone. "We started seeing some clouds swirl, then the next thing you know, it was picking up water off the pond and hit the storage buildings,” Pyle said.

The twister hit the facility at 4950 U.S. Highway 190 W. just after 4 p.m., tearing off the building’s roof and walls. Pyle’s video shows debris from the facility swirling inside the tornado above the tree line.

The storage site’s video cameras recorded the intense wind and rain as well as part of the destruction before the power cut out, a source reported. Others passing the property recorded the aftermath, which showed metal strewn about the property and the building’s insulation dangling from nearby power lines.

Following the storm, Brett Foisie, whose family owns the storage property, attempted to salvage what he could from the damaged units. "We've put a lot of money and renovation into this over the last year," he said. The family had just moved back to Texas and also stored their belongings at the facility.

A police officer stood guard outside the property to protect the business as tenants arrived to claim their belongings. Gina Beacher was on her way to work as a police dispatcher when she saw the ruined storage building. The single mother stored furniture and pictures of her children in the unit. "They're wet. It could be worse, though. They could all be gone,” she told a source.

Although the tornado only touched down in Livingston, the surrounding areas were hit with heavy rain, thunder and high winds, a source reported. The storm caused downed trees and minor street flooding, and knocked out the power for nearly 30,000 homes and businesses.

By Chester A. Gilliam

Every year I attend the International Security Conference & Exposition, an event designed for the security industry where all the new whiz-bang technology and tools are on display. Unfortunately, not a great deal of new equipment has been introduced over the last few years. What has changed, though, is the reliability and functionality of existing products and how we interface with them, meaning how we end users access and use their features.

In the self-storage industry, we mainly deal with just a few types of security products: access control, alarms, intercoms and cameras. Occasionally, we’ll mix in a few others; but for the most part, this where we focus our attention.

Of these, access control is one of the most important for facility operators. It includes keypads, card readers and automatic gates. There have been several advancements in these technologies including near-field communication (NFC), mobile apps, license-plate recognition (LPR) and automated vehicle identification (AVI). Let’s look at these products in detail.

Near-Field Communication

According to Wikipedia, NFC is a set of protocols that enables two electronic devices, one of which is usually a portable device like a smartphone, to establish communication by being within very close proximity. For example, in self-storage, a customer can use his phone to open the facility’s access gate. It’s easy to use, and makes it so tenants don’t have to remember their access code. It also shows them your business is embracing technology.

There are also some disadvantages. The biggest drawback is you must position your device close to the receiving equipment, within an inch or even touching.

Mobile Apps

Mobile apps are gaining in popularity and are a better fit for access control, as you have a greater distance of use. This technology is also evolving faster than NFC, and we’re seeing a great deal of added features. This is the same technology being used in “smart homes” to control lights, thermostats, blinds, coffee pots and ovens.

The consumer market is driving this technology. NFC is flashy, but WiFi and Bluetooth are more robust and expandable. There are apps that allow you to view your storage facility’s video cameras, and security and management system remotely. Some allow your tenants to open the gate, receive notifications when their unit is opened or closed, access their account balance, and make a payment. This technology is where everything is heading.

One note of caution on using mobile apps for gate access: You should never open a gate remotely unless you can see it. Otherwise, you have no idea if a person could be injured in the process.

If you’re planning to use an app, you need to install an arming loop at your gate. This is the same equipment you use to keep the gate from closing on a vehicle. It’s positioned so a vehicle must be present at the keypad before the gate opens. You can consult with your gate supplier about installing one.

License-Plate Recognition

LPR isn’t a do-it-yourself product, but if you hire someone to set up the system, it’s easy to maintain and use. You enter the customer’s license-plate information into the LPR software. When his car approaches the facility gate, the system reads and recognizes the plate and permits entry.

LPR is obviously tied to your camera system, because you’re using a camera to identify the license plate and allow access. When using this type of integration, it’s best to set up a camera or set of cameras specifically for this purpose. A camera set up to give you a general view of the area won’t be reliable.

An advantage of LPR is there’s no intervention by your customer. He simply drives up to the gate and it opens. The drawback is if you can’t see the license plate, neither can the camera. There are no magic filters that allow you to look through mud, snow and ice. Also, if the customer visits the facility in a different vehicle, he’ll need an alternative access method.

Automated Vehicle Identification

LPR and AVI technologies are not only more widely used today, they’re becoming more affordable. AVI is sometimes referred to as radio frequency identification—fancy words that simply mean you have a “tag” in or on a vehicle that sends a signal to a receiver and opens your gate without any involvement from the user.

We’re seeing this type of technology being used in commercial, RV and higher-end storage facilities. AVI tags come in several configurations, from a small puck that’s placed on the dash or windshield to a thin clear strip on the headlight. If your customers are already using this technology for other places they access, there’s a good chance they can use their existing tag with your system.

The big draw of AVI is customer convenience. The user simply drives to the gate and it opens. That said, if he plans to visit your property with more than one vehicle, he’ll need more than one tag, as each is uniquely coded.

Wireless Options

If your site has no infrastructure, conduits or wiring to support this new access-control technology, fortunately, wireless and radio-transmission products have improved and become more affordable. While wireless cameras aren’t a valid solution, using cameras with point-to-point radios is viable. You’re not going to be totally wireless, but you can get signals from cameras in places where you can’t connect wires.

In some cases, it might be more feasible to use point-to-point radios instead of wires. These systems are limited in their abilities and scope, but if you have nothing at all and no feasible way to get wires in place, wireless technology is a good option.

As the consumer market changes, the security and self-storage industries will evolve. Customers want more convenience and accessibility on their terms. They want to have little to no interaction with another person or object. They just want to just click, swipe and go. This is the world in which we live. If you want to know what the next big thing in security technology will be, just watch what’s being presented from the consumer industry.

Chester A. Gilliam is the owner of Wizard Works Security Systems Inc. in Castle Rock, Colo. He’s been involved in the self-storage industry for more than 30 years, and holds certifications in the design and installation of automated-gate, access-control and video systems. He can be reached at 303.798.5337; e-mail wizard-works@att.net; visit www.wizardworkssecurity.com.

It’s simple really: The job of a self-storage company is to provide a secure place for customers to store their belongings. Folks only agree to this concept because they believe their possessions will be there when they return. Knowing this, it’s imperative that you do everything you can to ensure their property is as safe as possible. Achieving this feat is another matter.

The Nordstrom Effect

If you’ve ever walked into a Nordstrom department store, you’re immediately transported into a world of gleaming floors, and well-lit and impeccably organized displays. The employees are attentive, greeting you with a friendly, helpful air. The company understands that creating this upscale environment shows would-be crooks they care about every aspect of their business, including its security.

Now compare this with a cut-rate department store. The décor is dated and worn, the lighting dim and uninviting, and the salespeople nowhere to be found. Or if they are in the store, they’re certainly not approaching the customer to offer assistance. Criminals take their cues from this atmosphere and understand the security is most likely also neglected.

The same thing holds true for a self-storage business. The image a property projects is a signal to criminals of the security they’re likely to encounter. Take, for example, the simple act of trash pickup. A would-be crook passes the property and notices a fast-food drink cup has been sitting in front of a storage unit for several days. To him, this is an obvious sign that the staff isn’t walking the property, which makes it a great target for theft.

By contrast, when management puts emphasis on keeping the office, driveways, hallways and bathrooms clean and well-maintained, its lets customers and passers-by know the facility is well-run. By extension, the opportunities for undetected theft are low.

The Vigilant Manager

Storage managers should be visible and active on their property. An important part of being visible is to ensure you walk the grounds every day, with the goal of identifying anything out of the ordinary. This includes checking the perimeter fence, doing lock checks, looking for signs of vandalism, picking up trash, and checking access points for proper function.

Being a vigilant manager also involves consistent monitoring of the entrance and exit for each unit. Occasionally, you’ll find a customer has entered his unit but hasn’t left. This could be a situation in which the customer is trying to live in his space.

In these instances, engaging with customers doesn’t have to be confrontational. When you notice a non-exit, approach that person from an informational stance: “Good morning. I noticed you didn’t punch out with your code last night. I just wanted to remind you that we don’t allow customers to be in the facility after access hours.” The goal is to let the tenant know you’re paying attention without directly accusing him of acts that could be detrimental to the continued rental of the unit.

You should also conduct a full, weekly reconciliation of all units to ensure they jive with your store report. Anything that looks off should be investigated.

Customer Rapport

Another element to crime prevention is developing a relationship with customers. Whenever a tenant comes to the property, engage with him. It can be as simple as asking, “How’s it going?” Over time, this rapport pays off. As the customer gets to know you and your staff, a bond of trust is created. This can deliver big dividends when he turns into a community watchdog, alerting you to potential illegal activity on the premises.

“We’ll have customers calling our office to report that someone followed them in, or that they’re at the gate and someone is asking them to be let in,” says Scott Timmons, district manager for West Coast Self-Storage. “These customers have paid to keep their things safe and are contributing to that effort as part of relationship we’ve established with them. They’re eager to volunteer information to assist in keeping the facility secure.”

Law Enforcement

It’s also a good idea to develop relationships with the local police and fire departments. When West Coast builds a new facility, it invites law-enforcement officers and firefighters for a property tour, Timmons says. If there’s ever an emergency such as a break-in or fire, officers or fire crews will know the lay of the grounds ahead of time, and can therefore react more quickly.

Some West Coast properties also allow police K-9 units to train on their grounds. The officers place contraband in a storage unit and train their dogs to find it.

The development of good relationships with the local police and fire community can be invaluable when there’s a need to call on them. If you haven’t already built this connection, reach out and invite them for a property tour.

Video Surveillance

Most self-storage operators today understand the need for video surveillance of their facility. But for video to be a truly effective tool in crime deterrence and apprehension, it must meet certain requirements.

Cameras must be set up to monitor of every inch of the property. While many operators recognize this and install cameras to provide full coverage, they often employ too few cameras with too wide a field of view, which results in poor facial recognition. Instead, install more cameras, with each responsible for a narrower area. The resulting resolution will be more effective in determining what happened and who was involved.

Other factors in surveillance setup are camera angle and lighting. Cameras should be installed at a height that allows for better facial viewing and must have adequate illumination. Lights should be placed uniformly throughout the viewing area to avoid bright or dark spots, which can result in poor image quality.

Video-surveillance company Pro-Vigil recommends upgrading any old closed-captioned TV systems that produce grainy black and white footage to the newest high-definition systems, which deliver higher-quality video and enable easier identification of thieves and their actions. These new systems also allow for local hard-drive storage or even cloud storage of video, rather than onsite analog-tape storage that can wear out and fail.

Lastly, it’s important to use a backup power supply in the event the storage facility loses power from storms, blackouts or even the would-be thief. Some advanced systems can even send alerts if the system goes offline.

A video-surveillance system is only as good as the staff that maintain it. Set up routine inspections to ensure your system is working correctly. The last thing any business owner wants is a situation in which a crime has been committed and the evidence of the theft is missing due to a technology malfunction.

No prevention method will solve every potential crime. By understanding your facility’s weak spots and acting to improve your systems and staff training, you should be able to limit your exposure to criminal activity. You’ll also keep your customers’ possessions safe and secure.

Derek Hines is an Internet-marketing assistant for West Coast Self-Storage, a self-storage acquisitions, development and management company with facilities in California, Oregon and Washington. He writes extensively on all subjects related to self-storage. For more information, visit www.westcoastselfstorage.com.

England self-storage operator Storage King is sponsoring the local Shrewsbury Recreational Rounders League, a women’s sports group. As part of the agreement, the company has supplied the team with peacock-blue shirts and hoodies for its uniforms. The collaboration came after Storage King Director Sarah Hopkins became interested in the sport and reached out with an offer to help.

“Shrewsbury Recreational Rounder’s team has massively contributed to their community, helping to increase and encourage the number of local ladies who are involved in a sporting activity,” Hopkins said. “Like them, we wanted to give something back, which is why we offered to sponsor them.”

The league was created six years ago under a “leisure services” umbrella in partnership with the local council to provide greater sporting opportunities for the community. It began with five teams and 60 players, but nearly folded shortly after its founding. A volunteer committee stepped in to keep the league running. It currently boasts 12 teams with more than 120 players.

Rounders is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams. It’s popular among English and Irish school children, according to Wikipedia.

Storage King operates 24 facilities across Dudley, Nottingham, Shrewsbury, Warrington and West Bromwich, England. The company regularly supports local charities and other organizations.