Q: We’re planning on renovating our 4-bedroom home, how do we best organize our household possessions for easy access while it’s in storage?
A: Place the items most likely to be needed closest to the door. As a general rule, you want to store the heaviest items on the bottom and lightest on top; the whole idea is to load snuggly and spread the weight as evenly as possible inside so items won't shift in transit and heavier items won't crush anything underneath them.
Most important, make sure you label your boxes, listing all the items in each box. Many people neglect to do this but it can make a huge difference when you’re looking for, say, that clock radio or piece of kitchenware.
— Mark Clauder; Owner, UNITS Mobile Storage Arlington
A Daniel Island moving and storage company with more than 30 nationwide franchises has a secret business weapon: a robot.
UNITS Portable Storage, which operates its corporate headquarters on Seven Farms Drive, recently unveiled the forklift-like machine at its Charleston location. Movers use a remote control to make the robot guide the company's boxy white storage containers into place. The device is particularly helpful for maneuvering the oversize storage containers into tight quarters, such as crowded city streets, UNITS says.
The robot can handle up to 10,000 pounds.
The company says the technology doesn't exist anywhere else in the industry. Several branches have bought the robot, and the company said all locations will eventually offer the technology.
A Charleston based company has added a new robot delivery system for its portable storage customers that can lift up to 7,000 pounds and move up to 10,000 pounds. It also fondly reminds us of a late 1980s Peter Weller movie in which he played a cyborg police officer.
You might not have that much stuff in your garage or maybe you do, but Robo-Units are made to fit in small places, and the company says they draw a crowd when theyíre doing their thing. Check out the video below for an example.
Units Portable Storage in Charleston recently unveiled the Robo-Unit, which can place a storage container anywhere that a full-size vehicle can fit. Because of its size, the Robo-Unit can place containers in smaller areas such as city streets and cul-de-sacs in suburbs.
"The Robo-Unit is completely changing the portable storage industry and will allow more consumers to use portable storage for moving and storage," said John Steeves, Units Portable Storage COO. "Customers want more flexibility when it comes to where containers can be placed, and we have been searching for an alternative solution to transport and maneuver items once the Units container is delivered on site. This new delivery system provides that."
The new robotic delivery unit uses a leveling system to stabilize the container while transporting, so items inside won't shift and break. Because the Robo-Unit carries the container, the truck stays in the street, meaning less property damage to driveways and lawns, the company said.
Apparently, it's also fun to watch.
"When that sky blue robot comes out, there is really a wow factor that draws a crowd on many residential streets. There really is nothing out there like it," said Paul Cardosi, owner of the Units Portable Storage in Phoenix.
The Wall Street Journal ran an article on white collar employees starting their own businesses to make ends meet in this increasing difficult economy. Here is an excerpt with an interview with UNITS Portable Storage of Atlanta owners Craig and Stefanie Miller.
… "When job demands clash, moonlighters' day jobs win. Stefanie and Craig Miller both work for the same big company, she as a customer-marketing vice president, and Mr. Miller as a senior logistics executive. For much of the past two years, the Atlanta couple has worked nights and weekends starting a Units mobile-storage business on the side to avoid having "all our eggs in one basket," Ms. Miller says.
They use almost all their vacation time to attend trade shows and other events. When Ms. Miller was called on unexpectedly on a vacation day to make a presentation at her day job, she had to scramble to find someone to cover her planned appearance at a trade show. Mr. Miller sometimes makes storage-unit deliveries after work, driving the truck as late as 1 a.m. On weekends, he sometimes takes his two older children, 9 and 7, along on deliveries." … More
… "Giving his wife a performance review is something Jim Larson would have preferred to avoid, but he felt it was necessary after he and his wife Janelle opened their Units Mobile Storage container business near Milwaukee, Wis., he says. Worried that Ms. Larson wasn't making enough sales to incoming callers, Jim started hanging around outside her home-office door, listening. He noticed she sounded nervous at first when customers called, says Mr. Larson, former co-owner of a mortgage banking firm that he and his partners closed in 2008. She seemed to gain confidence after a minute or two.
When he asked Ms. Larson for a meeting, it was his turn to be nervous. "I was ready to throw up," he says. "That is a really difficult conversation to have." He told her she had to increase sales, adding, "I think you need to start communicating at the beginning of your conversations like you sound at the end," he says.
Ms. Larson wasn't surprised. "Like I didn't see him hiding outside my door?" she says, laughing. "To be honest, it's harder to take criticism from your spouse than from a boss. But it was true. We weren't closing sales," she says. Soon, "I found my voice," and telephone sales began rising.
The Larsons draw boundaries among roles. At work, Mr. Larson handles finances, operations and outside sales, and Ms. Larson manages customer service and phone sales. At home, they step back into their marital roles and have their usual husband-and-wife conversations. "There is Janelle who is my wife, and Janelle who is my business partner," Mr. Larson says. They hash out problems during long daily walks together with their dog." … More
Ogden warehouse ready to store portable storage units for businesses
Burke Shupe poses for a portrait recently at the newly built warehouse for UNITS Mobile Storage of Utah, a Weber County business he runs with his two brothers.
OGDEN -- Big boxes are big business for three Weber County brothers. Todd, Burke and Matt Shupe, of South Ogden, Pleasant View and Liberty, respectively, are expanding their portable storage business less than two years after they got into it.
The brothers recently finished a 21,000-square-foot warehouse at 3273 S. Midland Drive to hold the large storage containers the business is built on; 4,000 square feet will be office space. Burke attributes the growth to good customer service. He said he has worked with too many companies that made him wonder if they even want his business to provide bad service himself.
"If I'm going to run a business, we're going to take care of people," he said. "Our number one goal is to make people happy." Burke Shupe said the three grew up around storage facilities because their dad owned one in North Ogden. Although it was later sold, the brothers kept thinking about doing storage as a second income all three could work on, but the market was saturated with storage facilities at the time. When they started looking into running a franchise, the idea was still around and was what attracted them to UNITS, a mobile storage business.
They weren't always so sure the business would thrive, Burke said. When they started in August 2008, the economy was on the verge of collapse and gas prices were soaring. The cost of shipping the containers to Utah from California, where they were then made, went up $10,000.
It was scary to see costs going up so high with their new business, Burke said, but by the next fall the brothers couldn't keep up with demand. He said people who are remodeling, doing disaster cleanup or moving before a new place is ready like having the large, portable storage containers.
So during winter, which is the slow season, Burke said they started ordering new containers and building the new warehouse. Although they had 55 empty containers at the time, he said, the six that recently arrived from Arizona are already rented out.
Building the warehouse during the economic downturn saved hundreds of thousands of dollars on construction costs and kept other people working, Burke said.
Hard work has gotten UNITS Mobile Storage of Northern Utah a lot of referrals, Burke said, and the future is looking bright. He said they want to expand to Salt Lake within the next two years.
"It's fantastic," he said. "We're really excited this year especially. The demand is such that we can't even get enough boxes to keep up. It's really encouraging."
… "Janelle Larson also knew when to ask for help. In order to be able to work on her franchise and not just in her franchise, Larson contracted with a copywriter, an SEO specialist and a computer technician, and hired a driver and a customer service representative. She also hired workers at home to help her with her lawn maintenance and house cleaning. By accepting and understanding that she simply can’t do everything, Larson is able to run her UNITS Mobile Storage, a mobile and portable storage franchise, in Milwaukee while raising two boys.
While being a mom and a franchisee are two separate roles, Larson has been able to combine the two worlds in a way that benefits both. “Being a franchisee has helped our children see and experience what it is like to own and operate your own business,” she says. “They join in our conversations about work issues. They have learned about customer service, sales, financing, warehouse management, and taxation. They also help in the business by cleaning up at the warehouse and filing at the office.” … More
… "Some franchise organizations haven't been around long enough to find out the full extent of their potential. One of those is UNITS Storage, a Charleston, S.C., provider of mobile moving and portable storage containers that just started franchising in 2006. The sales figures reported by franchisees so far are encouraging, says John Steeves, chief operating officer. "We're finding numbers that would equate to the million-dollar revenue mark somewhere between years five and six," he says.
Mobile storage itself is still a young industry, with many potential business and residential customers still unaware of its advantages. Businesses often use portable containers to help with records storage because it's cheaper than adding office space. Restoration and construction industries similarly find containers convenient, safe,and less expensive for on or off-site storage. Residential customers tend to employ the containers to help with relocations, parking a container in their driveway, and packing it themselves, then having UNITS pick it up for temporary storage or moving to a new home. That lets them save considerably over conventional pack-and-move services.
The newness of the concept supports its rapid growth in sales. "We're seeing high growth numbers in the 200-plus percent range within a five-month period," Steeves says. UNITS leverages the quality of its steel-framed containers to differentiate its offering as more secure and watertight than competitors."We've invested a lot of funding into making our container what it is today," Steeves says.
Franchisees like the opportunity to grow a sizable business with substantial assets without having to wait a long time. "It ramps up very quickly because of the need for storage," Steeves says. The typical franchisee is a former executive-level corporate employee who may have been downsized. Strengths in executive management or sales and marketing are particularly desirable, he says.
In 2010, Steeves plans to add from 13 to 15 franchise territories to the nearly 40 already opened. They also are introducing a robotic delivery system that can be operated from a distance, reducing the safety risks employees run when delivering containers. "Once the economy is turned around, we hope to be close to the 100 mark by 2013," he says. " … More
Entrepreneurs turn to 401(k)s to fund start-up businesses
… " When Paul and Annette Cardosi purchased an existing franchise, Units Mobile Storage Franchise in Phoenix in May 2009, they decided to use their 401(k) plan savings. They converted about three-quarters of their plan into 300,000 shares of stock for the business.
"I had worked for a Fortune 500 company for 28 years and left them in 2008, and I never intended to do anything with my 401(k) plan but use it as a retirement fund — that is, until this option came about," Paul Cardosi says.
The Cardosis had other money saved but wanted to hold onto it to run the business. When they tried to get an SBA loan, they were told they had to be in business for two years before any lender would consider them.
"It's been a great product to sell, even in a down economy," he says of the storage unit business. "But can I say that it is risk free? Absolutely not." … More
UNITS Portable Storage of San Antonio helps Packrats store their stuff in the youTube video below:
Raiding the retirement fund to keep your business afloat
… " Paul Cardosi, 52, used a self-directed IRA to buy his Units Mobile Storage Franchise in Phoenix in May 2009. After spending 28 years in corporate jobs, he got laid off. Rather than trying return to that world, Cardosi wanted to work for himself.
He used a method known as ROBS -- "rollover as business startup" -- to create a new corporation with the help of Guidant. The new business had its own 401(k) plan, for which he directed the investments. He put about $250,000 from his longstanding corporate 401(k) into the new one.
"It enabled me to buy an existing franchise that had been started a year earlier. Now the new 401(k) owns the majority of the business, but I haven't lost the money, I just invested it," he says. "When I sell, the money goes back into the 401(k)."
Cardosi knew he was taking a big risk in using a substantial chunk of his nest egg for a new venture. Six months out, though, his sales were up more than 200% from what they were when he first took over. Looking back, he says the decision was "absolutely a positive for me. In fact, it would have been hard for me to start up any other way." … More
A mobile storage facility is giving the gift of storage to charities, schools and churches in Orange County.
UNITS Mobile Storage of Orange County – based in Lake Forest – has donated several of its mobile storage containers to Saddleback Church to be used for its Angel Trees Ministry Christmas charity. The unit will store toys donated by residents and congregation members. The toys will be given to children who have parents in prison.
The Lake Forest mega-church will use will use an additional unit to store donated food intended for local as well as international destinations to help hungry people the world over.
Plaza Vista School in Irvine. was given a container to store food donations for its food drive. UNITS picked up the container from Plaza Vista and delivered it to Families Forward in Irvine, a program designed to provide food to low-income families and the homeless in southern Orange County. The storage company has donated two more containers to the school.
"Because of the generosity of local businesses and the community, Familes Forward needs extra storage space for donated food during the holidays," said Judy Leonard, owner UNITS Mobile Storage of Orange County in a statement. "It's great to see the community be so giving in such hard times, so I felt the least we could do was insure they had a place to store the donations. We're honored to be part of such an important effort." MORE
Boys and Girls Club collect clothes for the needy - UNITS Donates Container !
FOX 6 NOW
Sarah Platt FOX 6 Reporter
October 29, 2009
WITI-TV, MILWAUKEE - Some folks are still having hard time getting used to Brett Favre sporting a jersey for the other side. So today, some kids teamed up with a local business to let go of Favre.
Whether it's hard feelings or just jokes, most Packer fans have some feelings towards Brett Favre. To help Milwaukee let go of the former Packer, Boys and Girls Club kids are releasing green and gold balloons into the sky. Devaughn Ross says, "I feel better, because now I know I can rely on Aaron Rodgers.
It's for a fun raiser that gives you a chance to shed old Favre Packer clothing or memorabilia, stuff the Boys and Girls Club will gladly take. Jim Larson of UNITS Portable Storage says, "We're really hoping this little measure can help him release whatever anxiety they have over him leaving the Packers. We're all still Packer fans, we may root for Brett Favre. As long as he still doesn't beat the Packers."
During all the fun the Boys and Girls Club kids also got Favre Packer jerseys many die-hard fans will always proudly wear. Christopher Howell says, "He took us to the conference and then we went to the jets and they looked good, and he went to the Vikings and he had a nice team."
If you'd like to purge any of your old Favre clothing or memorabilia, you have the whole month of November to do it. Just come on down to this mobile storage unit next to Leff's Lucky town on State St. in Wauwatosa. You can also drop off your donations at Units Mobile Storage headquarters on 83rd St. in West Allis.
Obama, Congress propose help for small businesses looking for loans
Paul Carosi bought Units Mobile Storage in Phoenix 18 months ago, wasn't able to get a small-business loan, and has walked the treacherous line of relying on his 401(k) savings to fund his business.
Business has gone well — sales are up, and he's been able to sell all of his storage containers — but an expansion loan can't be had, either.
"I have been frustrated," Carosi says. "I can't find anybody to even consider us."
The initiatives announced last week by President Obama, and a separate proposal this month by Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., aim to fix such quandaries.
Warner wants to create a $50 billion loan fund for small businesses by taking $40 billion of the remaining Troubled Asset Relief Program money and adding $10 billion that would be raised from banks of all sizes. The president's plan would increase the top limits on Small Business Administration loans and provide lower-cost capital to community banks, credit unions and community development financial institutions. He's asked the Treasury Department and SBA to confer with Congress members, lenders and small-business leaders to determine additional steps to help businesses.
Many small-business owners and industry experts praise the proposals but say they are a little late in coming. More
UNITS Portable Storage of Atlanta
Stefanie Miller, Owner of UNITS Portable Storage of Atlanta, was interviewed on ABCTV after a fire in the home of a local Pack Rat brought to light the needs of people who just can not give up their extra stuff.
We are pleased to share the FOX-TV Phoenix channel 10 segment on franchisee Paul Cardozi of UNITS Mobile Storage of Phoenix, Arizona, that ran October, 2009.
Franchise Ownership on the Rise, is a powerful segment that leads and concludes with UNITS Mobile Storage, enhancing visibility of the brand as well as the franchise opportunity in the Arizona market. In addition to highlighting Paul’s background and why he chose to invest in a small business, the piece heightens brand awareness among consumers in the region for all Arizona UNITS franchisees, helping to drive local foot traffic to each location.
Franchise ownership Phoenix Arizona
Business startup: opportunity or disaster?
Current economy provides pluses and minuses for new ventures.
by Jan Norman
Orange Country Register
Dan Leonard has been in the banking industry for more than 35 years. He currently is chief executive of Triad Financial, an auto finance company that has ceased to do new business and is slowly liquidating its loan portfolio. After that, Leonard is out of a job at age 60.
Not willing or able to retire, Leonard is starting a business. He recently bought an Orange County franchise of UNITS Mobile Storage in Lake Forest, which leases storage containers to people who either are moving or out of space. Once they fill the container, UNITS will transport it or store it.
The Cincinnati Inquirer talks with Gorden Wright of UNITS Mobile Storage of Cincinnati about his success in the mobile storage franchise business in these hard economic times.
UNITS Mobile Storage Houston To Open
August 5, 2009 Houston Business Journal
Units Mobile Storage is set to open its first Houston location.
The Charleston, South Carolina based mobile storage company will open a climate-controlled warehouse facility in Hammerly Business Park on Sept. 1, according to John Steeves, the company’s chief operating officer. Residential and business customers can store items in containers supplied by Units that are water, mold and UV resistant. The containers are then removed for storage.
The company is targeting Houston because of its growth, according to John Steeves, chief operating officer. “Houston is a prime market for us,” he said. Steeves said the company plans to add three more Houston area locations. Units has also opened locations near San Antonio and Dallas and plans to expand to Austin within the next year.
Door-to-door mobile storage has arrived in San Antonio. UNITS Mobile Storage, a technologically advanced, affordable and convenient mobile storage company has opened its first San Antonio location at 8919 Aero Lane.
By Michael McAlhany
President UNITS Mobiel Storage
March, 2009
The $40 billion dollar mobile self-storage industry is changing the way American consumers and businesses safely transport and store possessions as it straddles two rapidly growing sectors of the U.S. economy: moving and storage. What began as a unique way for traditional storage facilities to differentiate themselves among competitors in the marketplace, has now spawned an industry revolution that has created a recession resistant business opportunity for investors.
With nearly 41 million Americans throughout the nation moving into new cities each year and the rise in home foreclosures at an all-time high, the residential housing market is a prime example of the business opportunities that exist in the mobile self-storage industry. Plus, with commercial and industrial businesses downsizing and new infrastructure projects created under the economic stimulus package that will result in demand for secure, onsite construction storage containers, the need for mobile self-storage solutions is on the rise.
Note: most of these news stories come from other web sites. We provide links to those web sites as a courtesy but we are not responsible for the content of any web sites that we link to.
UNITS Portable Storage
UNITS — the very best in mobile moving and portable storage containers.
Portable storage containers from UNITS are economical and easy.
with more than 30 nationwide franchises has a secret business weapon: a robot.
employees starting their own businesses to make ends meet in this increasing difficult economy. Here is an excerpt with an interview with 
warehouse for 
to work on her franchise and not just in her franchise, Larson contracted with a copywriter, an SEO specialist and a computer technician, and hired a driver and a customer service representative. She also hired workers at home to help her with her lawn maintenance and house cleaning. By accepting and understanding that she simply can’t do everything, Larson is able to run her 
to find out the full extent of their potential. One of those is 
Mobile Storage Franchise in Phoenix in May 2009. After spending 28 years in corporate jobs, he got laid off. Rather than trying return to that world, Cardosi wanted to work for himself.
and churches in Orange County.
used to Brett Favre sporting a jersey for the other side. So today, some kids teamed up with a local business to let go of Favre.
wasn't able to get a small-business loan, and has walked the treacherous line of relying on his 401(k) savings to fund his business.
was interviewed on ABCTV after a fire in the home of a local Pack Rat brought to light the needs of people who just can not give up their extra stuff.
segment on franchisee Paul Cardozi of UNITS Mobile Storage of Phoenix, Arizona, that ran October, 2009.
35 years. He currently is chief executive of Triad Financial, an auto finance company that has ceased to do new business and is slowly liquidating its loan portfolio. After that, Leonard is out of a job at age 60.
Houston Business Journal
consumers and businesses safely transport and store possessions as it straddles two rapidly growing sectors of the U.S. economy: moving and storage. What began as a unique way for traditional storage facilities to differentiate themselves among competitors in the marketplace, has now spawned an industry revolution that has created a recession resistant business opportunity for investors.