By Nick Bilava, Storage.com
The easiest way to stay up-to-date with new self storage laws, storage industry events, and valuable market research is by joining your state’s Self Storage Association (SSA). This gives you a better chance to grow your self storage operation through connecting with other owners and operators who are looking to accomplish similar goals. Here are a few benefits you can expect to receive by joining your state’s association.
Industry Information
Through your state SSA, you have access to information that would otherwise be inaccessible or costly to obtain. The information available to you—which is included in any dues—are as follows:
Legal Information
When you’re in need of information to better understand new laws that affect the storage industry, obtaining what’s necessary can often cost you an arm and a leg. When you sign up with your state SSA, you get access to the Self Storage Legal Network. Instead of paying an outside lawyer hourly fees, you’ll be given unlimited email access to the network as part of an annual fee, which will often be bundled with your dues each year to continue participating as an SSA member.
Market Reports
Being in a niche market can often limit the ease of access to important reporting numbers. When you’re a member of your state association, you can participate in and receive current self storage research and data when you need it. While there is a cost to these reports, being a member and a participant in the collection of self storage data makes the cost of getting the yearly reports much more manageable.
Industry News
Having access to storage industry news through your state SSA can help you see what’s happening in your market, how many facilities are opening or shutting down, how other operators are generating new business throughout the year, which amenities are rising and falling, and much more.
Networking Opportunities
As an SSA member at the state level, you can attend Self Storage Association trade shows and smaller, local events to get in touch with other facility owners and operators of all sizes. This is especially important if you operate a new or smaller facility, as these events give you a chance to find new ways to work with other facility owners, whether through building a new partnership or through working with outside vendors.
The self storage community is a growing one. Attending Self Storage Association events and using the information available to SSA members are can’t-miss opportunities when trying to improve your facility’s bottom line.
See a list of 2016 association trade shows, conferences, and networking events here.
Nick Bilava is Sales Director at Storage.com and a contributor for Inside-Self Storage, Mini Storage Messenger, California Self Storage Association, Florida Self Storage Association, Massachusetts Self Storage Association, and Connecticut Self-Storage Association.
