A Year of New Beginnings

     While most of us would like to think that we do not follow the swing of social conventions, the majority of us must readily admit that we too are looking forward to new beginnings this new year.  Whether you have made a new years resolution, or you are just wanting things to be different/better this year we recommend starting tabla blanca, that is, starting with a blank slate.

1.  Small Steps    

     How exactly is this possible, you may ask?  We recommend beginning your new years transformation with daily formations that are added to your everyday rhythms of life.  Still lost?  Let me explain.  Most all new years resolutions fail within the first month of which they are started, this is because most people want to 'tackle the world' so to speak, by adding routines to their days which they have never even practiced until January 1st.  By doing this, most people find extreme discomfort in their new years resolutions because life in general becomes foreign and there is no since of rhythm that is tied to the life they have been living.  So, instead of saying you are going to wake up an hour early to read or exercise, first, learn to add your reading to your current daily routine, i.e..while eating breakfast, or exercising right before you would normally shower.

2.  Starting Fresh

     Another very positive way to start the new year is to start fresh.  This may mean a lot more work at the beginning but, it may set you up to more easily adhere to your new rhythms of life.  One way that we here at Star Storage Self Storage in Grandview, MO recommend doing this is by completely cleaning and reorganizing your work and living space.  We have found that people are more motivated and productive in and environment that is orderly and more conducive to a relaxed mentality.  We recommend clearing the clutter out of the house, office, and garage and putting it in storage.  The result will be an environment that is more easily maintained and less anxiety over the house, office, or garage that has become so cluttered or messy that it is no longer enjoyable.  

     So, while you are still motivated for life transformation this year, put the initial work in so that you can start tabla blanca and the transformation can stem from the existing rhythms of your uncluttered life.

     Come see us at Star Storage in Grandview, MO and we would love to help you with beginning fresh.  We will provide you with tools to help reorganize your life.

-Joe Goodwin-

Star Storage Manager

12120 Grandview Rd, 64030

816-765-7300

Holiday Storage, Is it a Must?

From Granny's Halo, to little Larry's Lego's, we find ourselves in a world of excess.

We simply have more than we need and refuse to part with it.  To add to it, we have commercial holidays like Halloween and Christmas that demand the need for MORE; More money, more food, more decorations, and just plain ol' more STUFF.  However, while it is hard to stop the momentum of a moving culture, we do not need to be sucked into the vortex of MORE CLUTTER.





One remedy this season is to find a place to store your holiday decorations, your summer clothes, your bass boat, and even tools.  Make room for family to stay by clearing out the basement and the attic.  Make room in the shed for the mower, and easy access to the snow blower.




Many people are turning to storage for such needs, and we at Star Storage Self Storage in Grandview, Mo want to help meet that need.  We are trying to be the best Storage Facility in Kansas City and currently have some of the best reviews on the web (look for yourself).  In fact, if you tell us you read this we will give you $100 or more toward your storage needs.
Have a Blessed holiday season,
From us at Star Storage.

Recreational Space

     Well every man knows that sometimes he just needs HIS space.  He may have his trophy mounts, his fishing gear, the oversize pool table, or even a poker table that he may want to set up, but just doesn't have the space to do so (or mamma wont let him).  Well, a new idea and one that is becoming quickly popular is to rent out a storage unit for a man cave.  This allows men to have the freedom to do what they have been wanting to do for years, and women have the luxury of not having the things they don't want in their house, while still knowing where to find their husbands.





    It's strange to think that marital bliss can come from renting out a dis-connected garage of sorts, but it really can be an answer to a number of storage, tailgating, and guy-nights.  People have start placing poker tables in units lit by battery powered halogen lights and have even brought smokers to prepare for game day.

Men, if you want the space and freedom to hang that oversize elk mount that stares down on you while playing holdem',

or

Ladies, if you want to surprise your husband with a place to spend time with the guys, then maybe you all should come to Star Storage in Grandview, Mo and rent a MAN CAVE space from us.  Plus, we will give you a free month of rent right off the bat to see if you like it.

-Joe Goodwin-

www.starstorage.us
816-765-7300

The Contours of the Storage Industy

     When an outsider looks at a storage facility, I would bet (because I once was one) that one of the first images that comes into their head are, a lot of lockers, and an old man sitting in his pajamas watching television waiting for someone to rent one.  This is the image that has been portrayed to the nation over the last couple of decades due to the large number of small storage facilities with resident managers.

     However, after stepping into the storage industry one will quickly recognize that this is just one of the many fashions of the industry and that self-storage does indeed have a number of different contours to it.

There is resident manager storage facilities, like noted above, where a person worries that he may find a rat as big as his dog digging through his stuff when he moves out; then there are the Mega-Storage facilities where the tenants rent is almost as high as their mortgage.

     I think that the goal is to be and to find a storage facility that aligns itself appropriately between these two extremes.  It is this appropriate middle way that we are seeking at Star Storage Self Storage in Grandview, Mo.  We seek to have the cleanest, most fair, and respectable storage facility in the area.  We do this not just to beat the competition, but because it is an overflow of who we are.  We want to have a good work ethic and believed in always striving to be better than we currently are.  It is as much a personal goal as it is a business goal.

    We as an individual, family owned, storage facility are trying to move with the contours of the industry.  We try to offer the professionalism and cleanliness of the Mega-Storage facilities while trying to keep the integrity and comfort of the small business storage facilities.

     We would love to hear from you and your philosophy of business within the contours of the storage industry.  Let us know some tips, suggestions, or let us know if you have any specific questions for us.

Most of all, we would love to see you, come visit and if you do need storage, we'll give you 1 month free, and we wont charge you any hidden fee's.

-Joe Goodwin-

Star Storage

Manager 

816-765-7300

The Key Ingredient For Choosing A Great Manager

(Michelle)      It's amazing to see the transition of one personality and management style to another go so smoothly. And that is what we are witnessing with the transition of management teams at Star Storage. One successful manager moves on to manage another property and a new manager takes over. Both successful in their prior careers and both with different personalities and management styles. Both have backgrounds in different industries. So, there must be a common denominator. What makes both a good choice to manage the same location? Great customer service skills, that's what, and a love for the people who walk in the front door.
     I was thinking about the week I spent training Joe, our new Manager. Although we only had a week together before I headed to the Pacific Northwest, when I left, I felt I had known him for a long time. Our customers who seemed a bit apprehensive about the transition in the beginning, seemed to really like Joe. Joe has an amazing personality and is very customer service oriented. He understands the needs of both the business and the customer and balances both very well. His background in management prepared him very well for this position. When you understand the needs of the business, it is easier to understand how to serve your customers. It takes someone who is able to withstand some hard punches as well as some big hugs. People are still people and their current circumstances often follow them inside. To know and understand as well as know how to draw boundaries from the beginning without making them feel unwelcome are all key to success. I knew after spending the first day with Joe that the owner made a wonderful decision when he chose to hire Joe.
     So, as I transition into my new position co-managing a facility with my son in Washington, I pass the baton to Joe and ask him to begin with this blog a contribution of what customer service means to him and why it is equally as important for him to serve the needs of Star Storage, both business and clientele, in a manner that makes us all proud to be a part of that entity.

(Joe)      Famous philosopher and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer says it well when he states that "Action springs not from thought, but from a readiness for responsibility." A readiness for responsibility is the keystone to good management and in-turn is also the keystone to good costumer service. I very much believe that great costumer service begins with great management and, anyone who has managed people knows that 'yes' is not always the right answer. Good management and customer service does not always except the easy and safe answer, but instead is always looking ahead in foresight.
     Foresight, defined in two ways is 1) provision for or insight into future problems, needs, etc., and 2) the front sight on a firearm. Foresight, like the front sight of a firearm keeps us aimed in the right direction and always focuses in on what the true problems and needs that lie ahead are. Foresight simultaneously lives in the past, the present, and the future. Foresight understand needs before they arise, but also uses the sources available to move forward. This is where the costumers and tenants come into the picture. Without great insight from our clientele we lack foresight, but with great communication and ongoing dialogue we strive for what is best for the community as a whole.
     So, as we move forward through these new transitions and times, we look forward to hearing your input in how we can better serve you. Swing by, see us, tell us where you read this, and ask us how you can get a free month worth of storage.

At Your Service:

-Joe Goodwin-

Are You Prepared For The Move?

I'm feeling slightly overwhelmed lately.  I'm not going to lie (not a good practice for anyone to fall into) however, moving isn't easy.  So, I thought I would write about it since moving and self storage often go hand in hand.  Many years ago, my Mother taught me this wonderful trick, pack what you own in plastic totes.  They don't fall apart, don't collect mildew, don't have to be taped and re-taped each time you want to search for something and they are easy to carry.  You can normally use a dry/erase marker on them and if not, write with permanent marker on masking tape because the masking tape removes easy.  So, totes have been my friends for a long time.  I would highly recommend stocking up when you see them go on sale.

Once you have those in place, you can begin to sort through items to keep and items to toss/sell/give away.  Because I had already packed our items in totes during the last move, I took two empty totes and we brought out one tote at a time and went through each item, three totes: keep, toss, throw.  Doing it that way made it go so much more quickly.  Once we were finished, we took clothes we no longer needed to the donation center, thew away what we couldn't give away and then gave away the items we didn't need.  This drastically reduced the amount of items we knew we would ship later.

Once you have "purged" your household, the easiest thing to do is rent a storage unit.  Yep, that's the business we are in but let me tell you, it truly is the best way to prepare for a move.  You can then begin to pack the items you are keeping in the totes and place them in a storage unit so you can focus on staging your home or pre-cleaning your apartment prior to move-out.  Prior to moving there is often much cleaning involved.  "What?!" You may exclaim, "I'm a very clean person!".  Well, you would be very amazed once you begin to move items around how much dust hides from your eyesight.  And, what about filling nail holes from the pictures which adorned your walls?  Then there is the touch up paint job that follows. Oh, and have you dusted your baseboards in a while? It all takes time.

Saving all of these items until moving weekend can be very exhausting.  Plus, if you are working and have little time during the week, you will suddenly feel panicked, overwhelmed and stressed while trying to juggle it all.  And this is where I have been finding myself as of late.  This is with everything you see above in place and with the exception of part of the pre-cleaning and touch-up painting.  I'm ahead of the game but still wanted the pre-cleaning and painting finished by now. I know, I know, I really should be patting myself and my son on the backs.  High fives are in order.  But, as the old adage says, "It's not over til the fat lady sings".  So, in my eyes, I still have a lot to accomplish in a short amount of time.

If you find yourself preparing for a move, I would highly suggest making a priority list.  Here are the most important things to list:

1)  Purchase several totes
2)  Place totes in each room
3) Start with the front room and make your way to the back, there is a method to this madness.  People have a tendency to pack more junk in the back of the house out of a person's sight. You put the things that mean a lot to you out for everyone to see. So, once you have packed the kitchen, living room and front bathroom, you are ready to get rid of everything.  This will make packing and purging things in the back part of the house much easier.
4)Rent a storage unit and start taking your totes to the unit
5) Assess what cleaning needs to take place in your home
6) Assess the painting that also needs to take place
7) Make your shopping list
8) Go through one room at a time until finished
9) At this point, you may even decide to go through items again, if so, the great news is that you can open your storage unit, go to the tote you want to go through and take care of it at the storage facility.  Most have dumpsters you can use.  Take a few extra totes with you when you go in the event you purge more items.
10) Relax, you have accomplished a lot.  Take yourself out for a nice meal, gourmet cup of coffee or a movie.

All in all, moving is stressful and no matter how much planning you do, it will be impossible to knock out that feeling of being a little overwhelmed.  However, if you put a list in place and have the materials handy that you need to get the job accomplished, you will have a feeling of structure and order and will be able to accomplish this huge endeavor and you will succeed and be able to enjoy the move a lot more than you would have had you not planned at all.

Have a great week!

Michelle Armstrong
Manager
Star Storage
816-765-7300

I'm So Glad We Had This Time Together

We all know that seasons change.  Not only within nature, but within humans as well.  I remember the moment I realized I was already homesick for Washington state, it was the moment I saw the top of Mt. Rainier as I drove East on I-90.  However, personal and family matters called us to the Midwest and as the tears rolled down my face, I continued to drive.  When we arrived in KC after spending some time with family in Indiana, I had no idea what was going to happen.  I was working a temporary night job but searching for something to fit my marketing background.  It just so happened, my new landlord also owned a storage facility. I asked him if he was hiring and he was.  I was up to the challenge and was available to work the hours he needed to fill on a part time basis.  Two months later, I became the full-time manager for this little diamond in the rough.  I had a huge challenge facing me, to put Star back on the map, raise our occupancy rate and lower our default rate (including eliminating as many auctions as possible).

Having a background in non-profit development, sales, marketing and database management, I was able to utilize everything I knew and put it to test while learning the self-storage business.  I had extensive experience with property management laws in other states so understanding most of the self-storage legalese was not an issue, either. I succeeded in doing everything he asked from me (and more).  However, what came out of working here went far beyond the scope of anything I thought would be possible: the gift of my customers.  I've worked with Governor's, Senator's, major league athletes, major motion picture executives, tourism professionals, CEO's and financial gurus.  But never have I had the blessing of being able to meet people who aren't forced to put on a presence for all to see.  Blue-collar workers, the unemployed, homeless, military men and women, you name it, these are the people you pass by every single day and the people who visit me.  The one's who serve you at McDonald's.  The one's who serve you at Ruth Chris.  The one's who scan your Fruit Of The Looms at WalMart.  The ones who process your payments and pick the perfect units for you at self-storage facilities.  People who are clad in t-shirts, jeans, capris, tennis shoes, tired, circles under their eyes sometimes, no holds barred, real people.  

Not saying that the other people in my life prior to this weren't real.  That was my lifestyle for a long time.  Heels, suits, meetings, blackberry's, shaking hands, perfect grammar, we know the routine.  It's what is expected.  And contrary to popular belief, these are also pretty incredible people.  Spending time with many of them people after work hours proved they were no different than anyone else I see here every day.  Each possessing his or her own set of heartaches, triumphs, struggles and victories.  The difference is that here, no one has to pretend.  I like that. I want my customers to know when they walk in that although there are set boundaries for payments and business items, they can still tell me about their day, their new grandchild, their lost job or anything that's on their mind.  It may be only a one or two minute conversation but it's still important to me, nevertheless.  

With all of that being said, I have built over a year's worth of amazing relationships with some very amazing people here at Star.  From the wonderful owners to my incredible co-workers (on the property management side) to working side by side with my amazing son, learning the business has been wonderful and has broadened my knowledge of property management.  I have met other people in the self-storage business, great people, and I have gleaned invaluable information from them.  I have met some of the most wonderful people who walk through my door each day.  From customers who have been here since day one of the business' inception twelve years ago, to those who have just moved in, I have met some truly amazing people.  

We weren't certain how long we would be here, one year, two years or more.  We were homesick when we arrived but we allowed ourselves to grow while here.  This was a new experience, one in which to gain perseverance and a wealth of knowledge.  So, when my Grandmother passed away in January, I knew it was time to think about returning home.  I spoke with the owner about a month later and we began the process of preparing for the moment.  It wasn't long after that we (my son and myself) were chosen for a team management position back in the Evergreen State with yet another great company.  With a couple of weeks to spare, we really wanted to take the opportunity to let you all know how blessed we are to have met so many wonderful customers here and how excited we are to meet many more wonderful customers in Washington in the coming years.  

Some of my fondest memories include going to my Grandmother's house each week to watch The Carol Burnett Show.  It was my favorite show and at the end of each show, she would sing a song to her audience.  During that song, even at a young age, I would well-up with emotion and have to wipe the tears.  Saying goodbye is the hardest thing to do sometimes. So, I won't say goodbye.  Instead, I will just leave you with this:

Have a great day!

Michelle Armstrong
Manager
Star Storage
816-765-8300