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7 UNIQUE DISCOUNT IDEAS

Providing discounts is a great way to bring in customers and even make current tenants happier.

We’ve been creating websites for storage operators for years now, and throughout that time we’ve noticed some common discounts. Do any of these sound familiar?

DISCOUNTS AT YOUR STORAGE FACILITY

Lifestyle discounts. Students, military personnel, and senior citizens can usually find some sort of deal on self storage.

Promotional discounts. A good example of this is “$1 for first month’s rent (when second month is paid in full).”

Promotional coupons. Many storage facilities change up their coupon offers periodically with deals like 50% off rent for a limited time.

COMMON SELF STORAGE DISCOUNTS

COMMON SELF STORAGE DISCOUNTS (CONT.)

Long-term renter discounts. When a renter pays the cost of a long-term storage unit upfront, facilities often take a percentage off the total.

Free resources. While these don’t save on the renter’s monthly payment, resources like moving trucks and locks can save them money.

Referral discounts. One way that facilities can get more tenants in the door is by providing discounts to current customers for referrals.

As you think about starting or changing your offers, remember that discounts aren’t always beneficial to your bottom line. Think about the following questions as you consider adding new discounts:

CONSIDER A FEW POINTS FIRST

1. How does your occupancy look? Discounts are ideal for filling up empty units when you have a low occupancy rate. If your occupancy rate is high, offering discounts can hurt your profits.

2. What’s the average time span for rentals at your facility? Most renters rent self storage for one to two years. How do your discounts help or hurt that average?

3. What’s the condition of your facility? Discounts will make your brand look more affordable, but it’s important to maintain an image of a clean, secure, and professional facility.

UNIQUE DISCOUNT IDEAS

I’ve compiled some ideas for creative discounts you can offer at your facility. I’ve been mindful not to tell you how much of a discount to provide, because what’s right for your facility is dependent on your business goals and your answers to the previous questions.

Feel free to alter these ideas to make them work for your facility. Think of them as a starting point for trigging your discount creativity.

1. BUSINESS PARTNERS

Check out the other small businesses in town and see if anyone is interested in a partnership.

Offer a discount on rent for those who shop with your business partner while at the same time asking your partner to provide discounts on its products to your renters. With the right strategy, this can benefit everyone!

Try offering “storage scholarships” to college students in the area.

Vary your approach! For example, award a storage discount to the student who creates the best new marketing material, social media campaign, or logo for your brand.

2. SCHOLARSHIPS

3. TENANT OF THE MONTH

A fun and simple way to get your current tenants excited is to randomly select one each month as the recipient of a discount on rent.

You can even feature the winner on your social media accounts and attract interested leads to your facility’s creativity and generosity.

Try offering various discounts through sites like Facebook and Twitter. Use the business account you already have and earn yourself some more likes and follows along the way.

For example, you can offer your current tenants a discount for inviting their friends to like your page!

4. SOCIAL MEDIA PROMOTIONS

5. WECOME PACKAGES

Depending on the size of your town, try being a hospitable greeter to new families who move into the area.

Send them a welcome package with information about the town and coupons for renting at your storage facility.

Get back to the good ol’ days by sending out personal cards and letters to people in the area (bonus points for handwriting them!) Include recent happenings and a helpful discount on storage.

The great thing about this approach is it can be completely customized. Depending on how small your town is, you can send out graduation cards for local high school seniors or get well wishes for a neighbor who’s recovering from an injury. Of course, there are always holidays and birthdays, too!

6. CARDS & LETTERS

7. EVENTS

Events provide a wonderful outlet for building a sense of community while providing meaningful discounts. You can always host the standard auctions and facility-wide garage sales, but feel free to get creative.

Try teaming up with businesses in town to host a scavenger hunt, talent show, or charity event. Hold a raffle, drawing, or even various competitions so that the winners score great deals on a storage unit at your facility.

TRY A FEW METHODS AND FIND WHAT WORKS FOR YOU

As you weigh the pros and cons of offering more discounts at your facility, give yourself the freedom to experiment with slightly less conventional ideas.

If you really want an expert opinion, you can even ask your customers what discounts they would like to see!

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