Self Storage Steel Building Owners Adding Extra Services to Boost Profits

By using existing land resources to build up product offerings, self storage steel buildings are reaching out to a new and bigger segment of customers.

Tulsa, Okla. (PRWEB) December 17, 2007 -- In an effort to expand their businesses and reach out to a new segment of potential customers, a growing number of self storage owners have broadened their range of services.

These services include everything from retail space to technology-based offerings. Considering that the need for storage remains relatively steady, adding these kinds of services allows self storage businesses to increase revenue at a level not possible with basic self storage steel and metal buildings.

However, by narrowing your focus on just the steel and metal buildings, you're missing a huge opportunity to draw in customers with additional needs. And if you can attract them with other services now, perhaps they'll remember you when they do need self storage services.

Depending on the location of the self storage buildings, additional business opportunities abound. Owners who know the needs of local residents or other businesses in the area should be able to determine what supplementary services would be successful.

"A good business owner knows the area and the people who live and work in that area," said Dean Brown, president of American Steel Buildings (http://www.gosteelgo.com), "By talking to people and surveying existing businesses, you should be able to determine what types of offerings will thrive."

The Self Storage Association recently released a study showing that a vast majority of self storage facilities compete with anywhere from 3 to more than 20 other facilities. With this level of competition, business owners must carve out an additional niche to set themselves apart from the others.

Brown recommends taking the surrounding area into account when choosing additional services to offer. A self storage business in an industrial area might do well to add a shipping or mailing service. In a residential area, shipping services or a retail store may also be popular.

The layout of the property also can help determine what additional services will succeed. If self storage steel buildings sit back from the street, Brown advises business owners to consider adding a retail space, perhaps even a strip mall. Land with the steel buildings situated toward the front of the property might be more suited to the likes of moving trucks or the installation of a cell tower--anything that doesn't rely so heavily on impulse purchasing.

The SSA study also shows that an average of one in every 10 U.S. households currently rents a self storage unit. While that represents a large customer pool, business owners still have the potential to reach out to the other 90 percent of the population who is not currently in the market for self storage.

"Self storage by itself is an extremely lucrative business," Brown said. "However, by narrowing your focus on just the steel and metal buildings, you're missing a huge opportunity to draw in customers with additional needs. And if you can attract them with other services now, perhaps they'll remember you when they do need self storage services."

In addition to drawing new customers, a self storage facility can entice existing clients to buy into more than just their storage space. According to Brown, customers looking for convenience are often attracted to a business's ability to help them multi-task -- they can complete one or more errands in one simple store visit.

Even diversifying existing self storage offerings, such as adding climate-controlled self storage or facilities to store large recreational vehicles or boats, has the potential to draw new customers and bigger profits.

Visit American Steel for more self storage tips or get $400 off your free self storage building quote at http://www.gosteelgo.com

About American Steel

American Steel Buildings designs and distributes quality pre-engineered commercial steel buildings, including mini-storage/self-storage buildings, offices, shops, retail businesses, warehouses, churches and agricultural buildings.

American Steel planted its roots in the heart of America in the 1980s. American Steel offers service and quality products to a growing customer base spanning the entire United States.

Since its buildings include construction drawings, most smaller buildings can be erected with basic construction knowledge. However, American Steel also offers erection labor services, and all buildings are designed to be compliant with local codes.

Press release provided by Xeal Inc. (http://xeal.com)

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