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Self Storage comes to Dorset
It was a networking event that first interested partners Spencer Bowley and Anita Bowley in an easyStorage franchise. When a colleague recommended the franchise to them, their interest was stirred.
Fast forward through the first parts of the COVID pandemic, and the husband and wife team were joined by son, Connor Budny, and opened their doors in late 2020 to ‘self storage’ customers across Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire and Somerset.
Whilst that's a big area, it's no problem for customers, as easyStorage collects customers’ goods from their door for storage, and delivers things back when needed.
Which leads me nicely to introducing you to a key member of the team: Susie. Susie is the bright orange easyStorage van, named after the first customer to use her – an easyStorage tradition.
easyStorage vans are bespoke vans, built to allow ‘easyPods’ to fit perfectly. easyPods are the units that goods are stored in, packed at the customers premises They are delivered to customers and collected by the easyStorage team, who can also help with packing, loading and even with providing the packing materials. It’s a simple concept, and saves customers approximately 50% on their self storage costs.
Susie clearly loves the limelight: apart from appearing in several franchise magazines, she has appeared in local papers including:
However, eye catching vans aside, it was the simplicity and slightly rebel nature of the way that easyStorage works that drew them to easyStorage, along with the way it complements the other businesses in the entrepreneurial couple’s portfolio (largely property based).
Rebel nature? easyStorage could be described as 'mobile storage' since the strain is taken away from the customer by collecting and returning goods instead of having expensive self-access units open to the public with lots of wasted space. People's goods are taken instead to a safe, clean, well managed and secure unit. This is a model set to revolutionise the old way of handling self storage.The concept is already well established in the US, but relatively new here in the UK. (The ‘mobile storage’ term also often gets used for ‘home storage’ or storage container hire in the UK, so we don't use it much.)
Customers can get a no-obligation quote online, and even book there, making the process even easier. Once a collection date is agreed in the Dorset area, it’s usually Spencer and Connor who come to take customer's goods into storage (at the moment!)
However, Connor is way more than just an extra pair of hands for removals. He had just finished his marketing degree and was looking for an opening when dad, Spencer, suggested he joined the company. Spencer wasn’t going to let that talent escape him!
And Spencer and Anita themselves? This smart, friendly couple live in Poole, and between them have three children.
They attended an easyStorage ‘Discovery Day’ and were impressed. They have since undertaken intensive training, and created a sound business plan before formally joining the ‘easyStorage family’' - with easyStorage they have their own business, but with the backing, processes and technology investment provided by easyStorage, part of the known and trusted ‘easy’ brand.
Whilst their first storage facility is in Bournemouth, further storage spaces will be rolled out across the region as the company grows to meet the needs of customers.
We can't help but wish them all - including Susie of course - a fabulous first full year!
If you're interested in joining easyStorage as a franchisee, you can find out more here: About franchising.
And if you'd like to join the team as an employee, our vacancies are always listed here: Jobs.
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