The concept of self-storage first emerged in the United States in the late 1960s. As urbanization increased and average home sizes declined, people found themselves with possessions that no longer fit in their residences. Recognizing this need, entrepreneurs began developing standalone storage facilities that rented small, secure units to customers on a short-term basis. By the mid-1970s, the self-storage industry was established nationwide. However, growth was slow in the early decades as the business model was relatively new.
Boom Time in the 1980s and 1990s
Things started to change dramatically in the 1980s. Population shifts led to more downsizing and moving, increasing demand for temporary Self-Storage solutions. At the same time, a real estate boom flooded with empty big box retail locations suitable for conversion into self-storage centers. Realizing the opportunity, major operators began acquiring and developing facilities at unprecedented rates. Between 1980 and 2000, the total number of self-storage facilities in the U.S. grew from around 2,000 to over 25,000. This explosive expansion transformed self-storage from a niche product into a mainstream service used by millions of customers annually.
Consolidation and Competition
With so many new entrants, competition became fierce. Large, well-capitalized firms acquired smaller regional players to achieve greater economies of scale. By the late 1990s, just a handful of huge corporations controlled over half the industry. This consolidation trend has continued into the present as the major players look to strengthen their geographic footprints and vertically integrate operations. Additionally, many new buildings started offering fancier amenities like climate control, outdoor storage, and covered vehicle parking to distinguish themselves.
Technology Transforms the Business Model
While physical storage space remains the core product, technology has revolutionized how customers utilize and pay for units. Modern facilities offer digital access controls, touchscreen rentals kiosks, and web/mobile apps for account management. Online payment platforms have automated billing and collections. Operators have used these technologies to reduce operating costs while improving the consumer experience. Many companies now offer cryptocurrency as a rental payment option. These technological upgrades have kept the industry competitive and the customer experience fresh.
The Impact of COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic upended traditional storage patterns and provided an unexpected boost for operators. With more people working from home or relocating entirely, demand surged for extra residential space. Self-storage filled the need for many by offering short-term overflow units close to residences. Lockdown-induced decluttering and do-it-yourself projects like remodeling also lead to higher occupancy rates. While traditional business customers declined during economic shutdowns, residential growth more than offset those losses.
Looking to the Future
Going forward, industry analysts expect self-storage fundamentals to remain strong as trends like remote work and downsizing become more permanent lifestyle shifts. Operators will focus on hyper-locals, multi-story facilities, specialized units, and value-added amenities to drive new customers and premium pricing. Self-storage real estate investment trusts are projected to continue their dominance as public vehicles for the sector. With persistent space constraints in dense cities worldwide, off-site storage looks poised to grow rapidly both in the United States and globally to satisfy ongoing residential demand well into the coming decades.
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