Sam and her husband wanted a new and exciting challenge after a change in career. The couple decided to build their own business
Sam Hunt and her husband Gary both had successful careers with Leicester police and wanted the new challenge of building a successful business of their own. Through family connections, Sam learnt about the rapidly growing demand for storage. Not sure where to begin, by chance Sam read an article on easyStorage and got in touch.
Sam said: “I was drawn to easyStorage as they were revolutionising the way storage is provided, making it more affordable and easy too.
“The model enables us to build recurring revenue. We launched the Leicester-Coventry franchise in 2021 and have recently moved into our own warehouse.”
The ‘easy’ family of brands
easyStorage is part of the ‘easy’ family, made famous by easyJet. “People trust the brand for value and service and that is a real benefit” easyStorage has disrupted the storage market. Unlike traditional self-storage where customers have the nightmare of getting their belongings to storage, easyStorage takes the storage room to the customer. Sam explains: “Our van is specially built to hold 3 easyPods which are ideal for storing furniture and belongings. Although a management franchise, I like to be hands-on with driving and loading. It leads to fun conversations with customers and there’s a life story behind every job.”
easyPods are stored in warehouses where customers can book access. As the number of easyPods grows, so does recurring revenue. Franchisees store in partner warehouses to begin with, before moving to their own warehouse. Modular stacking is highly efficient and unlike traditional self-storage, it does not lose space to infrastructure, access corridors and lifts. “Efficient modular storage means we can set our prices up to 50% lower than competitors.”
Powerful new technology
Technology is the cornerstone of the business and includes VAULT, a bespoke platform used to manage storage, recurring payment, the van and bookings. Sam says: “My day starts by checking new bookings on Vault and putting a call into customers. Then I plan the crew and ensure empty easyPods are loaded and ready to go. It is rewarding to see the business developing through our commitment. We have just taken our own warehouse which is incredibly exciting.”
Central sales and support
Sales come in through centrally managed digital campaigns. These are supported with social media, SEO and a powerful partnerships program. Customers book online or speak to a ‘real person’ via a dedicated central Sales Centre.
Sam says: “I push local marketing by contributing to social media, networking and leaflet drops when out on jobs.
“The van is branded with ‘easy’ orange and acts as a fantastic billboard.”
At a glance
Established: 2018
Number of franchised outlets: 24
Location of units: UK wide & Europe
Investment range: £80,000 – £100,000
Minimum required capital: £60,000
Contact: nigel.dawson@easystorage.com
