Gabfocus Self Storage Podcast
Melissa Huff, Josh Huff, Tommy Nguyen
Listen in as we gab about the self storage industry and focus in on particular areas. Want to learn more about auctions, operations, management, marketing, best practices, customer service, and more? Interested in what the best in the industry have to say? Melissa Huff and Josh Huff tap into a combined 30+ years of experience on operations and marketing to speak to the issues that concern owners and operators. This is also the place for the monthly Gabfocus webinar rebroadcasts where Melissa Huff and Tommy Nguyen bring in nationally recognized speakers, leaders of companies, and top experts to help you maximize your self-storage business, optimize your management team, and prepare for what's ahead.
Brought to you by the teams at Lighthouse Storage Solutions and StoragePug.
Brought to you by the teams at Lighthouse Storage Solutions and StoragePug.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Feb 2, 2023 • 31min
Sexy Stats
What stats do you use to measure your success in self storage? Do they look sexy, but lack substance? If a stat only backs up what you want to see, it could mean trouble for your business. Every stat has a story behind it and understanding that story can make all the difference. Today we look at the examples of occupancy rates and website traffic to find what is truly "sexy" about our stats. Quote of the Day- "The numbers don't lie if you're looking at the right numbers." Hosts: Melissa Huff & Josh Huff Brought to you by the teams at Affordable Storage Guys Management & StoragePug
Jan 26, 2023 • 27min
Feasibility Studies
It's important to count the cost before you start any project. That's the goal behind feasibility studies in self storage. Will I make money? What does my competition look like? Can I afford to run this? What are the red flags and green lights? All of these questions and more are answered with a feasibility study. We get into all the details of what it is, why it's important, and where you can get one if you're thinking of buying or selling self storage. Plus our usual recommendations (spoiler, we recommend getting a feasibility study). Hosts: Melissa Huff & Josh Huff Brought to you by Affordable Storage Guys Management and StoragePug
Jan 19, 2023 • 53min
Self Storage Ownership with Adam and Megan Armstrong
Special guests Adam & Megan Armstrong join us today to give us the inside scoop on owning and operating self storage. We get into the lessons learned, what has given them success, what has given them heartburn, and things to consider if you are thinking about owning and/or operating your own facility. Plus, some key recommendations at the end of the episode. Hosts: Josh Huff & Melissa Huff Guests: Adam Armstrong & Megan Armstrong- A&G Storage Solutions
Jan 12, 2023 • 29min
Storage Stories: Volume 1
A fake manager, a domestic dispute, and an afternoon rendezvous highlight the tales in this first volume of storage stories. So pour yourself a drink (if you're not at work), sit back, relax, and enjoy a few fun and crazy stories we all can relate to if you've been in self storage for a minute or two. Plus a few more recommendations at the end of the episode. Hosts: Josh Huff & Melissa Huff
Jan 5, 2023 • 26min
Security Street Smarts
Do you have the street smarts to keep your self storage facility secure? We've all heard about cameras, locks, and gates. But even "secure" facilities can have security problems if people see an opportunity to make trouble. How can you limit those opportunities and go beyond the hardware to increase the safety of your facility? We'll get into all that and more. Plus, stick around for our recommendations at the end of the episode. Hosts: Josh Huff & Melissa Huff Brought to you by the teams at StoragePug and Affordable Storage Guys Management
Dec 29, 2022 • 26min
Setting SMART Goals
As the calendar turns, most of us will set all sorts of goals for the new year. But are your goals SMART? Josh & Melissa break down some important categories to make sure your goals are effective in bringing success to your self storage business. Goals need to be Specific, Measurable, Achievable... tune in to hear all about the importance of SMART goal setting for 2023. Hosts: Josh Huff & Melissa Huff
Dec 15, 2022 • 25min
The Main Thing: The Customer Experience
What is your "main thing" heading into 2023? If it isn't your customer, it probably should be. It's easy to get distracted from our main thing, whether through pet projects, a focus on revenue, or being stat driven. But at the end of the day, the customer pays the bills and is a fantastic source of free advertising. Happy customers make life easier and business more profitable. Plus, Josh and Melissa share a few non self storage recommendations. Hosts: Melissa Huff & Josh Huff Brought to you by the teams at StoragePug and Affordable Storage Guys Management
Dec 10, 2022 • 1h 9min
2022 Year in Review
Join us for lessons and insights from our favorite self storage people. At the end of each year, we like to invite some of our favorite experts to share their lessons and insights from the year and what they're dreaming up for 2023. Featured Speakers: Chad Lundberg, Jane Sauls, Nick Newcomb, Stephanie Tharpe, & Sue Haviland Brought to you by the teams at StoragePug and Affordable Storage Guys Management Watch the webinar here
Nov 10, 2022 • 1h 12min
Teaching Your Team to Follow Up and Sell
You've done all the work of getting a potential customer on your radar. What do you do now? Having good communication, follow-up, and sales training is crucial for your team. Join us as we talk about the best ways to follow up with your self storage leads and communicate with your customers. Guests: Carol Mixon-Krendl (SkilCheck) and Hailey Teal (Jenkins Organization) Brought to you by the teams at StoragePug and Affordable Storage Guys Management
Oct 21, 2022 • 1h 17min
Lessons from Large Operators
From operations to marketing to team processes, there are plenty of lessons that large, multi-location storage businesses have to teach us. Whether you're a fellow large operator looking to improve or a small operator looking to level up, we dive into how these big brands are making it happen. Guests: Guy Middlebrooks (CubeSmart) & Darren Kelley (Right Move Storage) Brought to you by StoragePug and Affordable Storage Guys Management
