Category Archives: Winter self storage

Mr. Nick in his moving truck

Mr. Nick in his moving truck

Mr. Nick is one busy storage unit renter

So, it’s December here at The Storage Inn in Egg Harbor Township New Jersey – Almost time for my annual visit from one of our biggest customers, Mr. Nick. Mr. Nick’s been a storage unit tenant with us for as long as anyone can remember. He’s an unusual guy – older – the outdoorsy type – from up North somewhere. You know, big bushy beard, wears a lot of red flannel shirts with suspenders. That sort of thing.

Mr. Nick has seven of our extra large storage spaces with the extra high ceilings. He stops in every year around this time to let us know that even though he’ll be emptying out the storage units, he’s not moving out.

 

feature_christmas-elf-featMr. Nick is certainly a bit on the eccentric side and I’m assuming pretty wealthy since he’s mentioned renting storage units like ours all over the world. Each year right around Christmas time, his crew pulls in with a couple of giant, red S.C. Moving and Storage vans, and empties out out all seven of his storage spaces. The funny thing is, beginning in January, I’ll see his helpers back again and on a monthly basis, refilling the storage units with electronics, toys, sporting goods, and all sorts of goodies.

This year I decided to have a little chat with his crew. Nice guys – unusually short, but very well mannered and hard workers too. They all refer to Mr. Nick as “The big guy” which is quite true in height and around the waist line.

While his helpers were in the yard the other day,  I decided to be a little nosey.

“Excuse me guys. Just curious. What type of business is Mr. Nick in if you don’t mind me asking?” I questioned.

“Import/export” replied one of his of helpers.

“Oh, so he buys and then resells things” I asked.

“No, no – He gives it all away!” answered a particularly short man, who appeared to be the leader of the crew.

“Wow, really? That’s great – a wealthy philanthropist!” I gushed.

“I guess you could say that, but the big guy really doesn’t care about money – He just likes to make people happy!” came a high pitched voice from behind a pile of toys.

If that don’t beat all I thought to myself. I tipped my Storage Inn hat and wished Mr. Nick’s crew a good day and Happy Holidays. I walked back to the rental office thinking about my conversation with Mr. Nick’s helpers. Hmmmm, I thought – Puzzling. A guy from up North, with a bushy white beard, dressed in all red, with an import/ export charitable organization?… who collects toys and other goodies throughout the year, only to give them away at Christmas time? If I didn’t know any better I would guess he’s… omg…. I think I know what the “S. C.” in  S. C. Moving and Storage stands for!  Happy Holidays from The Storage Inn!

 

Portrait of the Real Santa Claus gesturing to keep quiet

Portrait of the Real Santa Claus gesturing to keep quiet

 

Tailgating Storage Tips

So, September is here, along with a brand-spanking-new football season – and what fun would football be without tailgating? There’s nothing like meeting up with your friends, firing up the grill, and getting pumped up before kickoff – but this yearly ritual also comes with a fair amount of work attached. The last thing you want, is to be running around scrambling to find your tailgating gear on game day. Here are some tips to help you stay organized, and make your tailgating  adventure a bit easier.

Keep it Clean

Whether you’re putting it away just until next week, or until next season or packing up for the season and placing your vacation stuff into a storage facility until next year, be sure to thoroughly clean all of your gear before you put it into storage – especially anything that might have food residue on it.The smallest amount of food residue can easily attract insects, and rodents. Consider pressure washing your grill at regular intervals throughout the football season, and especially at the end of the season, when you put it into your storage space.

Tailgating Storage Tips from The Storage Inn

Tailgating Storage Tips from The Storage Inn

Tote It

Typical tailgating gear can include everything from Team Flags, to plastic utensils, table cloths, cups, radios, and more!  This is where plastic tote bins become your best friend. Not only will they hold just about everything that you need, but they’ll also stack nicely in your game day vehicle –  just be sure to distribute the weight evenly so that they’re not too heavy to lift. This also makes for easy placement back into your garage or storage unit after the big game.

Be Safe

Do not store hazardous or flammable materials such as propane tanks, lighter fluid, or any other flammable materials in your garage or self storage unit. Propane tanks should be stored outdoors in an upright position. Other items such as lighter fluid or fire starters should be stored at home in a secure  temperature controlled area.  Also remember to remove batteries from radios, flashlights, etc., while in storage between seasons, to avoid leakage.

Make it Easy

Whether you’re a football-only Tailgater, or a year round Baseball, Soccer, NASCAR kind of crew, part of successful tailgating is having a system that makes it easy.  You will want to be sure that your tailgating items can be easily accessed. If you find that you’re having a hard time doing this at home, you may want to consider a small self storage unit. The ease of driving up, throwing open the door, and loading your vehicle, could make the small monthly investment well worth it! Stop in to your local self-storage facility like The Storage Inn and check it out – We’d be more than happy to help you. Happy Tailgating!

Tips For Using Self-Storage Facilities During The Winter

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 Tips For Using Self-Storage Facilities During The Winter

Make repairs before putting items in storage – people don’t remove items from self-storage facilities until they are ready to use them, at which point repairs are inconvenient and may cost more if you’re in a rush. Take the time to make sure everything is in good condition before it’s stored.

Thoroughly clean items – this is especially important if you’re using storage services for something that is primarily used outdoors. Get rid of any dirt, bugs or moisture before sealing it into Self-Storage Facilities During The Winter.

Use cotton or wool covers – vinyl or plastic tarps can cause damage to your items and lock in moisture. Moving blankets are a better solution for long-term storage.

Consider climate control storage units – some self-storage businesses will offer the option of climate control units that can protect your items from extreme temperatures. If your items can be damaged by the cold, it may be worth the extra investment.Source – https://www.sparefoot.com/self-storage/blog/303-tips-for-using-self-storage-facilities-during-the-winter/

Secret Self-Storage Network Used by Santa Claus Unravels After Videos Surface

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Santa Claus on Self-Storage Security Video***By Storage.com

Santa Self-Storage Network

With Christmas quickly approaching, people expect to see Santa Claus at malls, toy stores or maybe even their local library—anywhere children typically go to see the jolly old elf. What we wouldn’t expect to see during the holiday season is Santa at a self-storage facility, which is why recent video footage of a man many believe is the real Santa has folks in the industry buzzing. Could it be that Santa uses a Self-Storage Network to stash gifts and ease his cargo loads?

The mystery (some say controversy) began when someone posted cell-phone footage showing a white-bearded man wearing red pants and suspenders running away from a storage unit. Most people discounted the video as a cheap joke or misunderstanding, speculating it was a mall Santa who simply didn’t want to be seen. Those thoughts changed, however, when leaked security footage showed the same bearded man present at multiple facilities across the country, all within several hours of each other.

As the videos surfaced, eyewitnesses started to come forward. One woman reported seeing Santa during a late-night visit to her storage unit. A number of storage operators have given credence to the Santa sightings after admitting they were approached by associates from the North Pole who wanted to rent units during the Christmas season to help with gift delivery. Negotiations reportedly fell through due to Santa’s high demands.

Santa Claus on Self-Storage Security Video***Now an elf, using the name “Pickle” to conceal her true identity, has given an interview confirming the existence of Santa’s secret storage units as well as the list of demands that prompted facility operators to cut ties with Santa’s Christmas Eve operation. Known as the “12 Conditions of Christmas,” the storage clauses include turning off security cameras ahead of Santa’s arrival, the use of climate-controlled units for storing gifts, and even a requirement for operators to have pine-scented beard oil on hand for Santa’s visit.

To read a full account of the Santa storage controversy, including the full “12 Conditions of Christmas,” visit the Storage Talk blog at Storage.com.