Inbox Storage bucks the economic trend.
SELF STORAGE EUROPE magazine (vol.4 2010)- Inbox Storage was founded in November 2006, by Rik Snelleman and Nico Snelleman, with operations starting in a former pottery factory in Waddinxveen, The Netherlands. This facility had 266 units with 16 direct access units
new site in Gouda, which has a potential of 7500 square metres spread over two (and a half) floors. In addition, this site has up to 10 office units with a shared pantry and conference room.
Inbox Storage started in 2006 in a vacant business unit. They filled this site up in 9 months and did numerous internal rebuilds but they always felt they would have to move to a better location closer to our primary market, Gouda, when the right opportunities arose. By the end of 2008 a building had been located directly on highway exit 'Gouda Centre', fully visible from highway A12/A20 that accounts for around 5,000,000 'car passings' per month. Additional exposure is planned and this will be created with the use of a 16 metre-high commercial pillar that stands next to the facility. Moreover, the site is located on the entrance road of an area that will be redeveloped into a large volume retail estate e.g. for furniture-, DIY- and interior accessories stores, etc.
At first all the plans were evolving as expected but then, during the purchasing phase of the new facility, both the financial and the real estate crisis hit the global markets which also impinged upon the Dutch economy and local markets. The situation suddenly created market uncertainty leading to governmental and finance issues. It was no mean feat, therefore, that Rik, Nico and the Inbox team managed to surmount such problems so that building work was finally able to start on the 26th of April 2010.
They chose to build a steel/ concrete floor as a first floor and to use a steel floor for the second floor. The steel solution was required since they only had limited room for the second floor.
During the designing period of the new site in Gouda Inbox Storage were given the opportunity to still rent out their Waddinxveen business unit. The condition was that the first floor of the Waddinxveen site had to be empty before the 1st of June 2010. This left them with approx. 45 effective days to bring the Gouda site into operational mode, dismantle the first floor in Waddinxveen and to move it's customers to Gouda!
Despite this considerable time pressure they were very pleased to eventually achieve the aforementioned prior to set the deadline - which once again serves to prove the determination and energy of this 'go-ahead' team.
Although Inbox Storage have only been in the self storage market since the end of 2006 and, with their own admission, have only limited data; they have seen many changes (potentially) caused by the economic conditions.
Inbox Storage firmly believes that rapid response to market changes pays off. By drastically modifying their marketing approach and adapting to conditions in the housing market they were still able to attain their growth target for 2008-2009.
The new approach led to the establishment of a nationwide partnership with "House of Kiki", a training institute for interior decorators. In this partnership City Box has become our strategic partner and supplies us with nationwide coverage. Together with "House of Kiki", the partners can now provide local real estate agents and a home seller's full service "hands on solutions", such that their property is presented in the best way possible - 'optima forma'!
Based on Rabobank's 2010-2011 quarterly housing report slight signals of recovery are now expected in the Dutch housing market. This tendency is in accordance with further macroeconomic improvements. Since self storage is an industry driven by change, Inbox Storage are anticipating that a restored market and consumer confidence will allow the consumer to make more decisions that lead to change (rebuilds, children, moving, self employed, etc.). Secondly recovery of the housing market will definitely help the sector to grow. In line with macroeconomic tendencies and by readjusting their company focus, Inbox Storage fully expect to attain their planned goals for the upcoming 36 months.
With such dynamic entrepreneurship, we feel certain that they will achieve their aims and be going from strength to strength in the future. This is a company that we look forward to following and reporting on again as future development takes place. Our sincere thanks go to Rik, Nico and all at Inbox Storage for this fascinating insight into the creation and expansion of Inbox Storage.
