Massachusetts Self Storage Association Selects MiniCo Publication as Member Benefit

The Massachusetts Self Storage Association (MASSA) has joined associations from 22 other states and the District of Columbia in choosing to provide MiniCo's Self-Storage Now! magazine as a member benefit. The quarterly management-focused publication will be distributed to MASSA members beginning in the third quarter of this year.


Publisher Poppy Behrens commented, "MiniCo welcomes Massachusetts Self Storage Association members to its readership. We look forward to working with Executive Director Lorna M. Bolduc and the association leadership in support of the association."

MiniCo Insurance Agency, LLC, publishes the Mini-Storage Messenger, the leading monthly trade magazine covering the global self-storage industry. Other publications include Self-Storage Now!, Mobile Self-Storage Magazine, RV & Boat Storage Today, Self-Storage Canada, the Self-Storage Almanac, the Self-Storage Development Handbook, and the Self-Storage Buyer's Guide.

Since 1974, Phoenix-based MiniCo Insurance Agency, LLC, has been a self-storage leader providing superior specialty insurance programs, informative publications and valuable products and services created expressly for the self-storage industry.

For More Information:
Massachusetts Self Storage Association - www.maselfstorage.org

Self-Storage Expert Anne Ballard Hosts MiniCo Webinar Focused on Helping Owners Find "Hidden Money" and Improve Income

On June 23, 2010, M. Anne Ballard, known throughout the self-storage industry as “the hat lady,” will present a free webinar entitled Finding Hidden Money in Your Store’s Operating Reports. The presentation will discuss techniques self-storage facility owners may use to find “hidden money” inside a store’s operating reports in order to improve income. Topics will include the following:


· Specific actions to improve store income in 2010
· The benefits of balancing and making deposits daily
· Writing successful rate-increase letters
· Management techniques for achieving monthly income goals

Ms. Ballard is the president and founder of Universal Management Company, the sponsor of the webinar, and a longtime top operator in the self-storage industry. The company provides professional, unbiased third-party management services backed by extensive self-storage industry knowledge and experience. Ms. Ballard is a frequent speaker at self‑storage industry conventions and workshops and a regular contributor to the Mini‑Storage Messenger, Self‑Storage Almanac, and other self-storage publications. Her latest book is The Hat Lady Speaks: Marketing Self-Storage.

Finding Hidden Money in Your Store’s Operating Reports will be hosted by MiniCo Publishing as part of the ongoing Mini-Storage Messenger Self-Storage Webinar Series, which offers informative monthly webinars free of charge to self-storage professionals and other individuals. Publisher Poppy Behrens will moderate the presentation. For more information or to register, visit www.ministoragemessenger.com. Online registration is required for this free live event.

MiniCo Insurance Agency, LLC, publishes the Mini-Storage Messenger, the leading monthly trade magazine covering the global self-storage industry. Other publications include Self‑Storage Now!, Mobile Self-Storage Magazine, RV & Boat Storage Today, Self-Storage Canada, the Self-Storage Almanac, the Self-Storage Development Handbook, and the Self‑Storage Buyer’s Guide.

Since 1974, Phoenix-based MiniCo Insurance Agency, LLC, has been a self-storage leader providing superior specialty insurance programs, informative publications and valuable products and services created expressly for the self‑storage industry.

MiniCo to Add Mobile Storage Specialty Magazine to Print Version of Flagship Publication

MiniCo has announced that the company’s Mobile Self-Storage Magazine, currently available as a digital publication only, will be printed within the pages of the Mini‑Storage Messenger magazine on a quarterly basis. The first print issue of Mobile Self‑Storage Magazine will be distributed inside the July 2010 issue of Messenger. Subscribers will continue to receive the digital version of Mobile Self-Storage Magazine.


Publisher Poppy Behrens commented, “Adding a print edition of Mobile Self-Storage Magazine to Mini-Storage Messenger fulfills a long-standing request by Mobile readers and advertisers, and we are happy to have developed a strategy to make that request a reality.”

MiniCo Insurance Agency, LLC, publishes the Mini-Storage Messenger, the leading monthly trade magazine covering the global self-storage industry. Other publications include Self‑Storage Now!, Mobile Self-Storage Magazine, RV & Boat Storage Today, Self-Storage Canada, the Self-Storage Almanac, the Self-Storage Development Handbook, and the Self‑Storage Buyer’s Guide.

Since 1974, Phoenix-based MiniCo Insurance Agency, LLC, has been a self-storage leader providing superior specialty insurance programs, informative publications and valuable products and services created expressly for the self‑storage industry.

Finding Hidden Money in Your Store’s Operating Reports

Known throughout the self-storage industry as “the hat lady,” M. Anne Ballard, president and founder of Universal Management Company, will host this free webinar focused on helping self-storage business owners improve income throughout the year. During the webinar, she will provide techniques for using a store’s operating reports like a treasure map to unlock additional income.


TOPICS WILL INCLUDE:

• Specific Actions to Improve Store Income in 2010
• The Benefits of Balancing and Making Deposits Daily
• Writing Successful Rate-Increase Letters
• Management Techniques for Achieving Monthly Income Goals

It will take place on Wednesday, June 2, 2010 at 2 pm ET / 1 pm CT / 12 pm MST / 11 am PT.

This webinar will be presented by M. Anne Ballard, President, Universal Management Company and will be moderated by Poppy Behrens, Publisher, MiniCo Publishing.

M. Anne Ballard is the founder and president of Smyrna, Ga.-based Universal Management Company. Universal Management Company is a longtime top operator in the self-storage industry offering self-storage business owners the benefits of the company’s extensive industry experience as well as professional, unbiased management services. A global industry consultant, Anne has served for more than a decade on state and national self-storage association boards. She has written many articles for the "Mini-Storage Messenger" and other publications, and is a regular contributor to the annual "Self-Storage Almanac." Anne’s latest book is "The Hat Lady Speaks: Marketing Self-Storage."

Go to https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/946347642 to register.

ARAN INSURANCE SERVICES GROUP ACQUIRES MINICO INSURANCE AGENCY, LLC

PHOENIX, ARIZ. – MiniCo, Inc., today announced that the company has sold its insurance agency operations and publishing division, MiniCo Insurance Agency, LLC, to Aran Insurance Services Group, an insurance services provider based in Rockville Centre, N.Y. MiniCo Insurance will continue to operate from its Phoenix headquarters providing commercial insurance, tenant insurance and publishing products and services.


Hardy Good, founder of MiniCo, Inc., will assist in the transition and serve as a special advisor to the board of directors of MiniCo Insurance Agency, LLC. Mr. Good, an icon in the self-storage industry for over 35 years, commented, “I am pleased to pass the MiniCo baton to Aran Insurance Services Group and look forward to the positive benefits of this transaction for our self-storage customers and independent insurance agents.”

Mike Schofield, President and CEO, MiniCo Insurance Agency, LLC, said, “This step will enable MiniCo to join a growing multi-faceted insurance organization that will allow a wide range of insurance products to be made available to customers. We want to assure MiniCo’s self-storage insureds and independent insurance agents that their interactions with the company will be unchanged as Liberty Agency Underwriters™ will continue as our underwriting partner and MiniCo’s underwriting, claims, and customer care staff will remain in place to provide the world class service for which our company is known.”

MiniCo’s insurance products include MiniPak Gold commercial property and liability coverage, MiniPak Silver general liability only coverage, TenantOne Direct customer storage insurance, and MiniCo pay-with-rent tenant insurance. Publications include Mini-Storage Messenger, Self Storage Now!, the Self-Storage Almanac, and the Self-Storage Development Handbook.

Since 1974, Phoenix-based MiniCo Insurance Agency, LLC, has been a self-storage leader providing superior specialty insurance programs, informative publications and valuable products and services created expressly for the self storage industry.

For More Information:

MiniCo Insurance Agency, LLC – http://www.minico.com/

Aran Insurance Services Group – http://www.aranins.com/

CMBS Loan Workouts, Modifications and Maturity Extensions

The challenging real estate market of the last two years has put a spotlight on commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) as a financing source. In this webinar, a group of experienced self-storage finance professionals will provide strategies for addressing CMBS loan issues.


TOPICS WILL INCLUDE:
* Maturity Date Extensions
* Modifications
* White Knight and Capital Providers
* New CMBS and Other Debt Available

It will take place on Wednesday, June 9, 2010 at 2 pm ET / 1 pm CT / 12 pm MST / 11 am PT.

This webinar will be presented by Shawn R. Hill, Principal, The BSC Group, Devin Huber, Principal, The BSC Group, Ann Hambly, President/CEO, 1st Service Solutions, Todd Moore, Executive Vice President, 1st Service Solutions and will be moderated by Poppy Behrens, Publisher, MiniCo Publishing.

The BSC Group offers financial and loan advisory, mortgage brokerage and workout solutions to commercial real estate property owners and investors with a special emphasis on the self storage market. 1st Service Solutions was the country’s first firm dedicated to serving as a borrower advocate in loan restructuring and assumptions for CMBS borrowers.

Shawn R. Hill, Principal, The BSC Group, advises clients on debt and equity financing and loan workout services for all commercial property types, with an emphasis on self-storage. He is a frequent speaker and panelist at self-storage industry trade shows and contributes to self-storage industry publications.

Devin Huber, Principal, The BSC Group, arranges commercial property debt and equity financing across the capital spectrum with expertise in the multi-family, medical and self-storage asset classes.

Ann Hambly is the President/CEO and founding partner of 1st Service Solutions. She has more than 30 years of commercial mortgage servicing experience.

Todd Moore is Executive Vice President of 1st Service Solutions. He has more than 20 years of experience performing commercial loan servicing and problem loan resolutions.
 
To register go to https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/608407643. Space is limited!

Security

Physical security is a minimum expectation customers have of their self-storage providers. Self-storage renters are paying rent so that they can leave their belongings and return to find them safe and intact. Part of the services self-storage operators are offering customers is keeping their belongings secure.

Customer surveys show that the perception of adequate security is one of the three leading characteristics that attract new renters to a self-storage facility (curb appeal and convenience being the other two). Crime threatens self-storage owners and manager's ability to attract ad retain customers by critically impacting service delivery. While actual crime has decreased dramatically over the past 30 to 40 years, concerns with crime have not fallen. In fact, concerns about security and terrorism are higher than ever.

While the best time to put security systems into place is during facility planning and construction, self-storage sites can also be upgraded and enhanced with contemporary security measures at any time. Security installation typically falls within the five to six percent range of total initial facility development cost.

The sophistication of security systems can vary greatly from facility to facility, from individual unit alarms, comprehensive activity monitoring, and electronic access on the automated end of the spectrum, to staff scrutiny of new renters, adequate padlock requirements, and ample lighting on the low-tech end. Fancier facilities tend to employ more advanced, expensive security measures.

Crime impacts all aspects of life, personal and business, and crime in self-storage occurs withing this larger context of crime in America. Criminals are opportunities, taking advantage of situations that lend themselves to anonymity and easy access to goods. Self-0storage can seem tailor made for theft with its storage of personal property combined with discrete comings and goings.

Law enforcement and officials categorize crimes into two main groups: crimes against persons and crimes against property, with crimes against property involving no force or threat of force against those victimized.

Crimes against persons are unarguably the most serious, but the nature of the self-storage industry leads to a significant concern with property crimes, particularly theft. Property crimes make up over 75 percent of all crimes in America, and theft makes up 66.7 percent of property crimes. In addition to theft, employee fraud, storage of illegal and dangerous materials, violence, and graffiti are the most frequent crime-related concerns of storage owners and operators.

Besides the harm crime causes to victims, crime negatively affects employee morale, customer satisfaction, operation costs, and general community and individual well being. The costs of crime far exceed the value of stolen property. Those costs extend to include damage to both the renter's and the facility owners’ property, fire danger, civil suits, and loss of rental income.

By working to prevent crimes, self-storage owners and managers increase the stability of their rental base, lower operating costs, increase marketability, and reduce anxiety amongst staff. Crime prevention techniques include target hardening; this involves making properties less vulnerable to theft, renter and employee screening, management awareness of the signs of illegal activity and how to respond, and rental agreements that enable managers to take action when they suspect a renter or employee is engaging in criminal activity.

Security measures need not employ expensive or technically advanced equipment to offer renters, staff, and property adequate protection. That being said, computerized access control confers a sense of security that enables operators to charge an average of 30 percent higher rents. Security enhancement, therefore, can serve dual goals of protecting people and property and enhancing a facility's appeal to prospective renters. Security measures combine with a facility's convenience and overall physical appeal to attract new business.



For more information about the 2010 Self-Storage Almanac, please visit http://www.ministoragemessenger.com/cart/shopexd.asp?id=1998