I like the blood donation idea. It definitely shows community involvement and there's a customer base that likes to do business with businesses that care.

The facility garage sale idea opens you up to lots of liability issues. Bad idea.

We do this annually with all proceeds going to our charity of choice. We sell stuff from abandoned units as well as our customers set up tables and sell their stuff. I have never seen anyone sell their items and move out - they end up buying things from us and other tenants and put them in their unit - I am sure most don't even come close to emptying their units - LOL! As well we do hot dogs, pop by donation and sell boxes cheap so people can cart their items out. We actually open the fire gate and have everything at the fron of the property - have never had any issues with "non-tenants". As well the community knows we are hosting and they all look forward to it! It is great fun for the staff as well!!

Great idea to market to nursing homes! Perhaps ask the management if you can post fliers in an entryway. Coincidentally we are having to find storage for my husband's mother, who recently needed to enter assisted living. Let us know what works, if you do proceed.

The nursing Homes are a great Idea. I have one right down the street and we volunteer to go in and read to the elderly. I leave our information at the desk for the family and other visitors to receive. This is a wonderful area to market. You can aslo get some goodies from time to time to take to them, but ask the director first for what to bring and if this is allowed or not. You can make Wonderful friendships and it does not even feel like Marketing. Just remember to stay involved.

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Lovin it.

We did one a few years back and all went well. So much in fact that we are doing one in July as tenants have requested. Some may downsize or they may have other things to add to the unit.
It is a great way to advertise and get your name out there. Due to the security, isn't that why you have an extra person on hand or security cameras to help out with that? I keep a very close on my place. And it does not matter how much effort you put into keeping a tight rein on your place. If someone wants in, either they are going to rent a space to get into the units or they are going to hop fences or follow someone in by tailgating. And at my place, My customers keep a close eye out as well as they do not want any break-ins and it is great having good repoire with them.
We are excited to do our garage sale. I have planned on doing Hot dogs and chips nd giving away marketing items and hopefully have some new move-ins.
Good Luck and let me know how it goes.
Tracy

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Tracy
Facility Host
StoragePlus Inc
5937 South 1650 West
Taylorsville, Utah 84123
801-265-1540

We are on a very busy road from 3 pm til close. We are in Tampa and it gets hot. So we have created labels and put them on water bottles and hand them out to the people sitting at the light. It is the little things they will remember. We also do this with small candy bars and hand them out to people waiting in line at the bank. Just some ideas

I found a new online directory of self storage facilities at www.easystoragesearch.com. It uses google maps to show all units in a city. It's free to list, so it can't hurt to be included.http://www.selfstoragetalk.com/images/smilies/smile.gif