easyStorage is delighted to have on board new franchisees, entrepreneur Satwant (Sat) Kalirai and his Operations Manager, Navin Kataria.

They’ll be covering the cities of Derby, Nottingham and Mansfield areas, as well as Loughborough and Burton-on-Trent, and everywhere in between. It’s a big area, but they have a huge warehouse ready and waiting to fill with easyPods, the secure containers used by easyStorage to keep customers’ belongings safe and dry.

Both have just had new additions to their families: Sat’s four-year-old just became a big brother, and Navin has become a first-time father. It’s a really exciting time for a new beginning for the good friends, who met through their profession more than a decade ago.

Navin was working in a pharmacy belonging to a friend of Sat (who has been a pharmacist for over 20 years), and as soon as they met they became firm friends.  Although Navin soon moved jobs, their close friendship has seen them through double dates, attending each other’s weddings and now, finally working together again.

It speaks volumes that Navin was prepared to put his burgeoning career to one side and join Sat in his new venture, coming at time when he was expecting his first child, and being having been given a promotion in the secure employment of the NHS Royal Derby Hospital.

But Satwant had attended an easyStorage Discovery Day and could see the massive potential in self-storage ‘easy’ style in his region, which he both lives in and loves. His existing businesses, a pharmacy and a care home, are an extension to the caring professions, and the ethical company values of easyStorage fitted with his own: great value; fairness; efficiency; honesty; care; keeping it simple, and relentlessly innovating.  Not to mention the attraction of taking on the big boys!

When the COVID pandemic began, both of them decided to pause before  taking the next step, as, being frontline NHS health workers, they felt that that was where they were needed most. In February of this year, they attended another Discovery Day together, and the rest, as they say, is history. They presented an impressive business plan which wowed the easyStorage board, and the pair were set to go. Since then, they’ve been training hard (mentally and physically!).

easyStorage collects belongings from customers and returns them, with prices around half that of traditional storage. The pair were, at one point, looking for some storage space locally and could find nothing to suit them, demonstrating clearly to them just how desperately extra storage is needed in the region.

They love the idea that this new form of self-storage, where the hard work of delivery and return is done by the storage company, actually means less cost for the customer, not more!

The pair did their on-the-job training alongside the team in London, where on the hottest day of the year they were carrying belongings up eight narrow flights of stairs. Despite this baptism by fire, both are buoyant and enthusiastic.  

They already have well-honed customer service skills, but have also spent time with our own Scottish Ray of Sunshine, Tariq.

Personally? Despite the recent family addition, Navin remains a passionate petrol head, with his dream next car being a BMW M3. Unfortunately, for now he is going to have to settle for the two-tonne forklift truck they have just bought, which Navin, as operations director, is now qualified to drive. (When you meet them, ask them about the tarmac outside head office – oops!).

Sat loves football and follows Derby County, though his loyalties are somewhat divided having lived and studied in Nottingham, which he loves.  He calls the area they will be operating in ‘Brian Clough Land’ and says he always wants the two Nottingham teams to win (unless they are playing Derby of course!) He has also worked in Mansfield, Loughborough and Burton-upon-Trent, so knows his territory well!

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An unnaturally long delay in being granted their Operator’s Licence from the DVSA meant they found themselves in the awkward situation of getting orders before they could use their own gleaming brand new 7.2 tonne truck.  But with the help of (Super) Sam from their neighbouring territory of Leicester & Coventry, they were able to fulfil their bookings and they’ve already had some fantastic reviews.

These two have everything going for them: experience, a caring nature, enthusiasm, a sense of humour and a strong friendship. I, for one, can’t wait to see just how well they do. And they are firm favourites of the team at Head Office, as they keep them supplied with tasty samosas every time they come to visit!

If determination to succeed is a factor, these two are more than prepared to put in the hard work to serve their area. And they’re already having fun along the way!

I nearly forgot. Every easyStorage van gets a name, often that of their first female customer. But let’s give these guys a break: who can blame them for wanting to call it after the Apple of Daddy’s eye, Navin’s beautiful new baby daughter, Mia. Repeat after me: aaaaw!