Category Archives: Uncategorized

Storing Tips 101: Patio Furniture

As the weather turns cooler, it’s time to start thinking about storing your patio furniture for the fall and winter months.

To ensure that your furniture stays in good condition and is ready for use when spring arrives, there are a few important steps you should take. First, give everything a thorough cleaning with a brush or mild detergent. If you notice any damage, make repairs or dispose of those items that are beyond repair. If any of your cushions are on their way out, toss them now and plan to buy yourself a new set in the Spring.  We recommend that you disassemble what you can to maximize storage space. Depending on the materials your furniture is made of, you may want to consider a climate-controlled storage unit to protect it from extreme temperatures. You may want consider putting a barrier on the floor of your unit, such as a durable plastic tarp or a wooden pallet.  Once in place, its a good idea to loosely wrap your furniture with old blankets to prevent damage. By following these tips, you can ensure that your patio furniture is well-protected and ready to use when the weather warms up again.

The managers and yard support are looking forward to seeing a parade of those beautiful patio sets sailing through our gates soon! If you need to rent the box truck, stop in the let the managers know! Ask for the current special once onsite!

Backyard Party Season

Hello All! Summer is now here and it is time to let the backyard party season begin! I am having my in-laws over next weekend and we are having a big party in the backyard. I have to the menu ready to go, but setting up the backyard is going to be the biggest effort. We have a smaller yard so we have to be mindful about the equipment we are going to need keep our guests well taken care of. Things I’ll be pulling out of storage this week:

1.) Our lawn mower, weed whacker, and hedge trimmer. To be honest, the only time we ever fully manicure the lawn is when we have company.

2.) The Smoker- for the brisket AND the regular grill for the hot dogs and chicken!

3.) Sprinklers & Super Soakers for my son and my nephew, they are the only kiddos attending the party, so they get free reign of the supplies. Some of the adults are big kids at heart, I am sure there will be a war.

Oversize Flower Pots- so I can run to the local garden market and plant some red, white and blue flowers, VERY last minute, so my yard looks festive!

Canopy Tent, Tables & Chairs- Our relatives are all older and need to stay out of the direct sun, so we need to keep them in the shade and set up some fans. I have about 6 folding chairs, so they are going to have to bring what they have to help!

Large Camping Coolers- to fill with the beverages- I have about 10 kinds of soda in my trunk right now, and I need to keep them all cold.

So thankful that we have a place to keep all these things during the fall, winter and spring seasons! As always it’ll be so nice seeing the managers and yard support on my visit to my storage unit.  Happy Backyard party season from The Storage Inn.

http://www.thestorageinn.net

 

 

 

 

 

Let’s Go Eagles! Prepping for the Party

It’s been 4 years since the Eagles last brought us to the Big Game. But by George, they’ve done it again! 2023 is off to a great start!

Everyone is excited! The Eagles are in peak form. And the lamp light posts around the city of Philadelphia are greased and ready for a celebration. There’s no way we are not winning it again this time!

Around the Storage Inn office this week, we’ve been speaking victory into existence, “When the Eagles Win…’ rather than “If They Win…”

Prepping for the party, I found myself digging through my storage unit this week; sifting through totes to find those football party supplies from Super Bowl LII. Eagles plates, cups and napkins, extra folding chairs, the long 8 foot folding table for snacks and my favorite football serving tray that I keep just for these special occasions. Since, THE EAGLES WILL BE WINNING on Sunday, we are making Philly favorites this year!

On the list is homemade Philly cheesesteak dip with soft Philly pretzels,  nachos inspired by our favorite Atlantic City Pool Bar and we’ll order out for hoagies. The 10 of us should be all set. Although, my sister will be at the party and while she did grow up here in South Jersey with me, she lived in Massachusetts during college, and now her and I are in an unending debate about whether it is a Hoagie or a Grinder… this weekend, at the Eagles Super Bowl Party, we are having HOAGIES! I love watching football with my family! Let’s keep the good vibes and Philly pride going strong. Go BIRDS!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Mother of Father’s Day 

The Mother of Father’s Day

We’re well into June here at The Storage Inn in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, and the temperatures and the activity are on the rise! Our storage rental customers are on the move as they take summer items out of their storage spaces, and stowaway cold weather gear for now.

One of our longtime customers, Mr. Osborne, stopped into the rental office today to purchase some boxes, with his five kids in tow. ”I see that you’ve got a lot of helpers today” I quipped. “Yes, Father’s Day is a very busy day around our house!” Mr. Osborne replied. 

This got me thinking about Father’s Day. When did someone decide that Mothers were not the only ones that needed a special day? I decided to find out…

The Origins of Father’s Day

While listening to a Mother’s Day sermon in 1909, the idea of Father’s Day suddenly struck Spokane Washington resident, Sonora Dodd. She wanted to honor her own father, William, who was well-deserving of a special day as a widowed farmer, left alone to raise his six kids single-handedly.

The local residents embraced the idea so warmly that by June 19th, 1910 the first Father’s Day celebration was proclaimed in Spokane, because it was the month of Dodd’s father’s birth.

Decades later, the first presidential proclamation honoring fathers was issued in 1966, when President Lyndon Johnson designated the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day.

Father’s Day in America has been officially celebrated annually since 1972 when President Richard Nixon signed the public law that made it permanent. Due to her efforts, Sonora Dodd is now known as “The Mother of Father’s Day”.

Did You Know?

  • Today, some of the most popular Internet searches connected to the day include “Father’s Day recipes”, “Father’s Day poems”, and “Father’s Day crafts.”
  • Roses are the official flower for Father’s Day. A red rose is worn in the lapel if your father is living, a white rose if he is deceased.
  • Father’s Day is celebrated in most places on the third Sunday in June, but not everywhere. In Spain and Portugal, for instance, fathers are honored on St. Joseph’s Day on March 19. In Australia, it’s the first Sunday in September.

Father’s Day Facts

This is a big day for the 70.1 million fathers in America. Nearly 95 million Father’s Day cards were given last year in the United States, making Father’s Day the fourth-largest card-sending occasion.

Sons and daughters send 50 percent of the Father’s Day card to their dads. Nearly 20 percent of Father’s Day cards are purchased by wives for their husbands. That leaves 30 percent of the cards which go to grandfathers, sons, brothers, uncles and “someone special.”

While not everyone in America is a fan of Father’s Day, nearly 75 percent of Americans plan to celebrate or acknowledge Father’s Day.

Mr. Mom

Mr. Mom is becoming a more common sight at parks across America with 154,000 estimated “stay-at-home” dads. These married fathers with children under 15 years old have remained out of the labor force for more than one year primarily so they can care for the family while their wives work outside the home. These fathers cared for 287,000 children under 15.

The dads seem to stay home more with younger children. Preschoolers claim 20 percent of fathers with employed wives who were the primary caregiver for their preschooler. In contrast, only 6 percent of fathers provided the most hours of care for their grade-school-aged child.

Many families split the responsibility of child care. Many Dad’s (32%) with full time jobs regularly worked evening or night shifts and were the primary source of care for their preschoolers during their children’s mother’s working hours.

Gifts for Father’s Day

Neckties are an old standby and lead the list of Father’s Day gifts. 

Other items high on the list of Father’s Day gifts include those items you may find in Dad’s toolbox such as hammers, wrenches, and screwdrivers. 

Other traditional gifts for dad such as fishing rods and golf clubs make for a happy Father’s Day- Good news for the more than 22,000 sporting goods stores in America.

More than 85 million Americans participated at a barbecue in the last year — it’s probably safe to assume many of these barbecues took place on Father’s Day.

The staff here at The Storage Inn wishes all of you Dads and Mr. Moms a Happy Father’s Day – And if you’re out there shopping, your Dad asked me to let you know that he has enough neckties – Happy Father’s Day!

 

Santa’s Little Secret

Santa’s Little Secret

Santa's Secret Hiding Place Revealed

Santa’s Secret Hiding Place Revealed

Well, here it is December, and the holiday season is upon us at The Storage Inn in Egg Harbor Township New Jersey. One of our recent storage customers, Mr. Robertson, came in today for a van rental. “ You just moved into your storage space last month –  you’re not leaving us already, are you?” I asked. “ No, just doing some Christmas shopping”, he replied.  It turns out that Mr. Robertson  has three sons, ages 13 through 18, and he was on his way to shop for a bicycle, a surfboard, and a big screen TV!  “Pretty hard to hide gifts like that around the house” he said. “I would ask a friend to hide them for me, but the only people that I know that would have space, and don’t have kids in the home, are my parents, and they live in the next state.”

So we completed the van rental, and off went Mr. Robertson. What a great idea, I thought to myself. What better place to hide gifts, then under lock and key, in a totally secure, weatherproof storage space, that only you have the passcode to?  “That’s one smart Santa” I thought to myself.

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Mr. Robertson returned late that afternoon, and stopped in the office. “ How did you make out?” I asked.  “Great!” he replied. “I even found some really good sales on TVs and bicycles – My wife will be so happy”. So after purchasing some boxes, tape, and bubble wrap for the additional gifts that he had bought, Mr. Robertson went back to his self storage unit to unload.

So if you’re a secret Santa in need of a great place  to hide your holiday gifts from prying eyes, stop into your local self-storage facility, The Storage Inn for a convenient solution. No matter what the size, or how many gifts you have to hide, I’m sure we can find the perfect storage space for you. Well, I’ve got to go now – just heard about a place that’s having a great sale on big screen TVs! Happy holidays!

Why do we keep stuff?

Why do we keep stuff?

Americans love to keep stuff. As the manager at a local self storage facility, this is something that I can attest to firsthand. We love  to keep things that we will probably never need, or use again – but why?  A recent survey asked just that , and surprisingly, 94% of the people asked had an answer.
Here are the 5 top reasons that people say that they keep too much stuff…..

“I might need it sometime”

I have a friend that has a storage unit that includes a box of size 30 jeans. He is currently a 36 inch waist. He is in his 50’s, and does not exercise.  He will never need those jeans again.

“Sentimental Value”

This one I get to some extent – Photos, awards, etc., kept in storage – but Grandma’s old tattered armchair is just going to sit there – I guess sometimes we feel that we are discarding part of our family history.  A photo of grandma  sitting in that armchair, might be the better thing to keep.

“I’m going to sell it “

A friend of mine has a pile of stuff stored in one corner of his garage, that he has kept for years, with the intention of selling. These items include a punch bowl set,  a VHS tape rewinder, and a rooftop TV antenna .The best salesman in the world could not sell these items – ‘nuff said.

Pleasantville Self Storage Facility

“Feeling guilty”

This is a tough one. Some people just feel guilty discarding anything that is not complete and utter trash, even though they know that they will never ever use it. This is one of the biggest reasons that people become hoarders.

“I can use it as a gift “

This is a great one!  These are new or unopened items that you have no desire to keep for yourself, but somehow think that a friend, or family member would be thrilled to receive as a gift. All I can say is that if you have a family member or friend, who receives a punch bowl set, or a VHS tape rewinder, as an anniversary gift , you will know what happened.

Weddings and Self Storage Space

Weddings and Self Storage Space

It’s Spring! Love is in the air, along with the buzz of millions of brides making the final plans for their wedding day. Time to deal with guest lists, seating charts, floral arrangements, decorations, and so much more! Most couples don’t think of self-storage when planning a wedding, but it could be very helpful !

Egg Harbor Township Storage Space

A self storage space can come in handy for items like decorations, centerpieces, extra tables and chairs, linens, and much more. This is a great way to keep everything organized and neatly tucked away until you set up for the big day – A one stop pick up for all of your items to be delivered to your reception hall!

Your storage space could also come in handy immediately after your wedding day. Have your parents, best man or maid of honor collect your gifts from the reception, and take them to your storage space for you to sort through after the honeymoon. You may even want to consider keeping a small storage space permanently for all of your wedding mementos. Considering a climate controlled unit if you plan to store temperature sensitive items such as photographs or your wedding gown.

So head on over to local self storage facility, and take some of the stress out of planning your big day. See you after the honeymoon!

Self Storage and Seniors – Perfect Together!

nj self storage fopr seniorsLife is good! The kids have grown and moved out, and are starting families of their own. We finally have the house to ourselves – Yay!  The problem is that it’s way too much house for the two of us. It’s time to downsize, possibly with a nice condominium in a senior community. No cutting the grass! No shoveling snow! Uh-0h , we forgot about the limited storage space. Where we once had a house filled with children, we now have a house filled with family photos, children’s books,souvenirs from vacations, scrapbooks, trophies, and stuffed animals. Hmmm…What to do? A self storage space  may be the answer!

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Once your family memories have been laughed over, cried over, sorted and boxed, take some time to check out your local Self Storage facility. Your family memories are valuable to you, so be sure to choose one with good security features. Most are security gated with video surveillance – some even offer resident security managers. You may also want to consider a climate controlled unit to minimize the effect of extreme temperatures and moisture  on your stored items . Choosing a location close to your new home can provide a simple, and stress-free solution to your problem. You may however, want to get one with a little extra space. I am sure that once the kids find out that you have a storage space, they will want you to share !