Eversley Storage turns 21

North Hampshire Chamber of Commerce & Industry May 2009

A SELF-STORAGE firm in North East Hampshire is celebrating 21 years in business.

The self-storage industry was in its infancy when Eversley Storage started out, but has boomed in the past decade, as householders and businesses have sought alternative storage space.

“Entrepreneurs have started up their small businesses from home, using Eversley for their warehousing, or business archiving,” said Michael Woolfson, the company’s Managing Director.

“The aspiration of all of us with regard to housing is still driving much of our business, but this year it has been for people building extensions and protecting their furniture and belongings whilst they do it.

“People are less willing simply to chuck things out now, and store with us whilst they sell on ebay or keep items of furniture that might be required by another family member.”

With many householders unable to move in the current property market, they are effectively using a storage unit as an extra room.

“Shortly after we first opened, at the beginning of the development of the UK self-storage industry, economic conditions were also tough,” Michael continued.

“Many of our first customers stored goods or office furniture as their businesses downscaled.

“People stored seasonal stock, to minimise the in-town rents they paid. We were brilliantly located for the motorway network and were very lucky to be located on the A327, a good through route, which provided easy access to the premises.

“Cars, vans and almost all lorries could simply drive up to the storage unit and customers could load or unload directly into their unit.

“In the early days, we needed to explain exactly what self-storage was to our prospective customers. Not any more!”