Whilst they came on board as easyStorage franchisees for South Wales at the end of September, the three strong Werner family team – father Tyrone, son Carl and mother, Sandy - are now fully operational and open to the public: their essential team member, the easyVan has arrived!

In true easyStorage style, the distinctive ‘easy orange’ van has been named after their first customer, Ashleigh. Ashleigh is, by coincidence, Carl’s sister. She had been storing her belongings in a dark, metal-based storage unit, and her things were leaving the unit “smelly”. She was eager to sign up for a better type of storage, so immediately after picking up the van in London, the new team were able to pick up and take her belongings into the easyStorage wooden pods and on to dry storage in the easyStorage warehouse in Cardiff (Caerdydd). Being the first customer, we’re sure she negotiated a ‘friends and family’ deal, and will become a great advocate for the team.

Who, incidentally, have an unusual job to do imminently. The Freedom Church is part of the Every Nation family of churches and ministries, and their mission in Cardiff needs to move from their warehouse style premises, which are closing down. easyStorage South Wales is due to clear the church and keep everything – from pews to pictures – in safe dry storage until new premises are found.

The team has already helped a man who lived in Southampton to move all of his things into storage in Wales whilst he looks for his dream home there. And they understand why! Whilst mum, Sandy, is British, Tyrone is South African and Carl grew up in beautiful Durban on the South African coast, they are very enamoured of Wales. (With so much to offer, who wouldn’t be?) Carl is settled in Cardiff, whilst Sandy and Tyrone are living in Sketty in the Swansea (Abertawe) area. They have integrated easily, and find the people welcoming and friendly.

‍

‍

Carl suggests that there may be a keen rugby connection between Wales and South Africa, although he admits to watching the Springboks in the privacy of his own home!

Having lived on the coast in South Africa, all feel at home in their coastal locations, and have plenty of experience to help make easyStorage South Wales a huge success. Carl worked in digital marketing for many years, but then, seeking change and adventure, moved to Hong Kong as a teacher. He met his partner there, a midwife, and they moved together to London. Carl had already spent several months in the UK, having come over to care for his grandfather.

When his parents also decided to head to the UK, all three looked into businesses to start together. Because of the cultural difference, they were keen to look at a franchise type business where the differences in legal systems and accounting rules are dictated in advance. Although the systems in South Africa are very similar to the UK, there are naturally differences. The team looked at many franchises, but easyStorage was by far and away less boring to them than shop-type franchises, and as well as liking the business they were impressed by both the easyStorage leadership team and the prospects for the business.

Whilst Carl brings the marketing experience, Tyrone brings the logistics experience. A pilot for over 30 years, his logistics experience was built running the cargo team for an airline. He decided to retire to the UK to be closer to his children. South Africa’s loss, our gain!

Carl loves racing cars, and he and Tyrone ran a race team for around four years. They worked well together in that high pressure environment, so they are very confident about working well together in their new venture. The location is also perfect for their ‘out of work’ interests. Carl loves surfing and kiteboarding, and Tyrone loves mountain biking. Tyrone also still flies small aircraft whenever he can, and both he and Carl are planning to learn to glide.

The whole family take off periodically on themed adventures, visiting, for example, places with Viking origins, or the oldest pubs in Britain (although with the Felinfoel brewery just along the coast in Llanelli, we don’t know why you’d leave!). The team are stunned by Wales’ rich and diverse history, and have been particularly impressed by Caerphilly (Caerffili) Castle. Travelling doesn’t daunt them: Cape Town to Durban is a 21 hour drive, so the five hour drive to St Ives, for example, is a doddle by comparison.

‍

‍

The newly open easyStorage South Wales is offering fabulous incentives to customers: a 50% discount for the first three months, with further discounts thereafter according to customers’ needs. They are also running a ‘switch’ programme, where they’ll collect items from other storage units free of charge. Their prices are already competitive, and as they additionally collect and deliver, they are confident that they have an almost unbeatable offer.

The team expect easyStorage to appeal to people living in central city locations, where homes tend to be smaller and more expensive. Storage to keep life clutter free without needing a bigger home is hugely appealing.

There is also a big student community in South Wales. The University of South Wales has campuses in Cardiff, Newport and Pontypridd. Cardiff Metropolitan University is a ‘Russell Group’ University, as is Cardiff University, the largest university in Wales. UWTSD, the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, has three main campuses in South West Wales – Carmarthen, Lampeter and Swansea (as well as campuses in Birmingham and London and learning centres in Cardiff). Swansea too boasts its own university, with almost 18 thousand students based at two waterside locations.

And as construction is the 5th largest industry in Wales, directly employing 8.2% of the Welsh population, easyStorage South Wales also expects to appeal to this sector (and estate agents!) as more than half are independent contractors. The team also loves the flexibility to offer bespoke packages for both businesses and individuals.

In an area bordered by England and the Bristol channel to the east, easyStorage South Wales is now serving customers in towns including Cardigan and Fishguard to the west, Merthyr Tydfil to the North and all of the major southern towns including Tenby and Llanelli.

We know customers in South Wales are going to love this great family team just as much as the family loves Wales. We wish them every success: ‘Pob lwc!’ as they say in Welsh.

To book storage in South Wales or find out more, call freefone 0800 061 4091.