The Store Room finds space to grow

A SELF-storage company has expanded the facilities at all six of its sites, and is increasing its workforce by 10% after a new funding deal.

The Store Room was founded in 2006 after the shareholders, including retailer veteran David Hughes, spotted the opportunity to use their previous experience in high street retailing to create a chain of centres across the north, where customers are put first.

Since its launch the business has grown significantly, opening centres in Manchester, Leeds, Preston, Bradford, Rotherham and Leicester and employing 13 staff. The company now expects to double its current turnover of £2.5m within the next two years.

Due to growth in client numbers, bosses have used the £2.4m loan arranged by Lloyds Bank, under the Funding for Lending scheme, to increase the storage space at its sites by converting previously unused areas and office spaces into new storage facilities.

Managing director Jeremy Bradburn, said: “Previous self-storage facilities were often in unwelcoming buildings with no one on hand to help or advise customers. Combined we have more than 40 years’ experience working in the retail sector, so we decided to use those skills to develop a friendly business with approachable fully-trained staff.

“This is a concept which has proved very successful, and we have had more than 8,000 private homeowners and business clients using our centres. The upturn in the housing market and increase in business confidence has led to a rise in new business over the past 12 months, and the expansion of our facilities will help us take advantage of these growth opportunities.”
 
Michael Dinnell, relationship manager at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “Over a number of years we have developed a strong relationship with Jeremy and the senior management team, so when they approached us with their latest growth plans we could immediately see how it would help them to achieve their long-term goals.”