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Four Key Takeaways from the Self-Storage Industry’s Annual Report
The self-storage industry is one of very few which has continued to thrive over the past two years, adapting and flourishing in the changing circumstances brought about by the coronavirus pandemic. The annual report by the UK’s self-storage industry (SSAUK) proves that suppliers are proving remarkably resilient in the face of numerous challenges.
Here Hamiltons Removals, who offer storage rental in the heart of East Anglia, look at some of the key facts and figures from the report, and how we can meet all your self-storage needs.
The ‘Churn’ is Down
In the past two years, the self storage market has been fairly volatile, with a lot of people renting out space on a fairly short-term basis. In the past 12 months, not only has overall occupancy gone up slightly (from 82.3% to 83.3% of the total available space), the so-called ‘churn rate’ has fallen from 118% pre-pandemic, to 76% now.
The churn rate is measured by the total number of move-outs in a year, divided by the total amount of units that were occupied during that period. However, not only does this reflect the greater stability in people’s domestic and commercial lives, it also shows that people appreciate the value of having somewhere to put their possessions, and the quality of service being offered.
It Reflects the Post-Covid Times
There are other ways in which the industry has reflected the post-coronavirus times as well. More people are now likely to sort out the details of their contract (or pay a visit to their storage facility) online rather than by phone, even if the facility offers both. Some 86% of self-storage suppliers now allow customers to reserve or pay for their unit online.
Taking an extended holiday used to be one reason for using self-storage, but since the start of the pandemic, this has been almost non-existent because of ongoing uncertainty about possible travel restrictions.
Business Use is Changing
The retail sector accounts for around 14% of all commercial use of storage. SSAUK thinks this is down to government subsidies being wound up or decreased in value. E-commerce was down for a similar reason.
However, while the retail sector has reduced, others, such as the IT industry, have increased to fill the gap. In addition, many areas (particularly in the fields of professional services and travel companies) have been using it more this year, but not quite to pre-pandemic levels.
Another interesting point from the report was that 84% of businesses that use self-storage have 10 members of staff or less, which shows that small businesses are increasingly relying on self-storage.
There is still some uncertainty surrounding the sector, with the war in Ukraine, Brexit and the possibility of further outbreaks of COVID-19 all meaning suppliers are not that optimistic about future growth.
‘Life Events’ are Still a Major Factor
A death in the family is the most common reason cited for using self-storage, with about one in three of those surveyed stating it as their reason for use. Moving house is the next most common, at just under 30%, with international moves accounting for around half of this figure.
Divorced or separated people are more likely to use self-storage compared to (married) couples, with the end of a relationship given as the reason by 12% of those surveyed. Around three out of every four users are over 40.
Other reasons for using self-storage include a change in employment (6%), children returning home (2%), and the birth of a child (2%).
Self-Storage Rental in East Anglia with Hamiltons Removals
Whatever reason applies to you, Hamiltons Removals are the people to call if you are interested in self-storage in Norfolk and Suffolk.
We have two Safe N Stored sites, at Harleston and Aldeby; the former has self-storage rooms of varying sizes, while the latter has self-storage containers ranging from 5’ to 20’ in size, making it ideal for larger items such as motorbikes and caravans.
Both sites are extremely secure and are protected by CCTV cameras. As one of the leading Suffolk removals companies, we can sort out everything on moving day, and store any items you haven’t got room for in your new home, or haven’t decided what to do with yet.
Both depots are now open as usual, and we are safely dispatching online orders for packaging materials. The Harleston self-storage centre is currently open Monday to Friday 08:30 – 17:30. If you need to visit your unit outside these hours, call our sales team on 01379 855203 to see if this can be arranged.
- The SSAUK survey was completed by 66 self-storage companies, encompassing 489 stores in total. They were all members of the SSAUK. The survey was completed in the months of January and February based on data from the 2021 calendar year unless otherwise stated.
The Top Five Countries to Move to in 2022
Now that restrictions are being eased, more and more people are realising that their dreams of moving abroad can become a reality.
Hamiltons offer Canada removals as well as commercial and domestic moving packages to many other countries across the world. Here we look at countries that are predicted to be popular destinations for expats – particularly British ones – in 2022.
Canada
Many people are interested in moving to Canada, above, because of its political and economic stability, stunning scenery and an outdoorsy lifestyle , and tolerance (women make up almost half the country’s workforce – a global record). There are also expected to be lots of jobs available once the pandemic is over.
Canada also ranked 14th in the World Happiness Index – compiled from data supplied by polling group Gallup by the UN’s Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and which looks at areas such as life expectancy, income and trust both in Government as well as their fellow citizens.
The country is home to half a million Britons, and is also popular with expats from across the world. And, with English the major language, getting settled in will be much easier than in many other countries.
New Zealand
International relocation experts MoveHub have put New Zealand top of their annual list of countries to move to. This is partly down to its strict coronavirus response, which largely kept Covid-19 at bay. The country, which was 9th in the World Happiness Index, is also well known for its liberal attitudes, particularly on racial and gender equality issues.
New Zealand is home to a quarter of a million British expats, so the social scene and the language won’t create any problems.
Switzerland
Is predicted to be popular because it is expected to bounce back strongly from the pandemic. In part because the country is very stable politically and has a thriving financial sector. Switzrland, which ranked 3rd in the World Happiness Index, also scores well for universal healthcare. English is widely spoken, and there are more than 45,000 British expats in the country.
The Netherlands
Like a number of countries in this list, the Netherlands is expected to recover from the pandemic well, with employment levels in particular expected to increase markedly later in the year. The country, which ranked 5th in the World Happiness Index, also does well in terms of gender equality.
The relatively short trip back to the UK, and the fact that a lot of people speak English (even though it’s not an official language) are also plus points for many Britons.
The United Arab Emirates
Many people across the world are interested in international removals to Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and other parts of the UAE. This is because it has the highest demand for highly skilled workers – initially to build all the infrastructure, but now to sustain and grow the country. So much so that nine out of every ten workers in the UAE have come from a foreign country.
The low level of taxation and high salaries are appealing for expats across the world. As are the high temperatures and under 25 days a year when the sun doesn’t shine – this is especially true for those who don’t like the idea of a cold British winter.
International removals with Hamiltons Removals
Hamiltons Removals can help with removals to all of these countries, as well as many other international destinations.
You can have your own container for shipping or share one with other customers who do not have sufficient volume to fill their own container (our groupage service).
We can professionally export, pack, load, and transport the container to the appropriate port and forward it onto your chosen destination. This applies to pianos, motorbikes, cars and other larger objects – we also run a specialist service for pets. We can advise and provide you with all the necessary paperwork required by your chosen destination, relieving you of some of the stress of relocating abroad.
For more information, call us on 01379 855203 or click here for a free online moving quote.