I have been involved in the property sector all my working life and now have over 25 years experience in the delivery of development projects across a variety of sectors and regions 

Recently I have focused on the self storage sector, owning and operating facilities as well as providing 3rd Party Management Services to both property owners and investors interested in getting involved in the self-storage sector. 

I have also been a trustee of Resurgo Trust (www.resurgo.org.uk) which helps communities overcome social challenges through church based social ventures and 1MoreChild (www.1morechild.org) which provides housing and schooling for children in Uganda. I am currently a trustee of The Branch (www.thebranchtrust.org) which is a community hub run by St Mary’s Church in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire.

I can be contacted on 07767 896 292 or nick@wigwamstorage.co.uk

Nick Grant

I'm seeing a number of misconceptions about self storage that are causing landowners and investors to either miss the window of opportunity entirely, or enter the market badly and lose capital.

Self storage still represents a significant property investment opportunity in the UK, but these misconceptions are hindering perception. So I've written this helpful article to expose the myths and reduce your risk.

Hope you like it.

#selfstorageuk #commercialproperty #commercialpropertyinvestment
#landdevelopment

Director at Wigwam Storage Management, pioneering centrally managed, tech enabled self storage facilities and JV partnerships to unlock profitable commercial property value across the UK

Open article: Seven Self-Storage Misconceptions That Could Cost You Hundreds of Thousands by Wigwam Storage Management • 10 min read

Seven Self-Storage Misconceptions That Could Cost You Hundreds of Thousands

One of the fastest-growing customer segments doesn’t have a credit card.


We discovered this first-hand at the weekend after a long dog walk.

Five of us sat down for lunch.
We were handed six menus.

Turns out Snoopy was eating with us.

He had his own menu.
On offer;

• A Doggiecino (frothy milk with lamb bone biscuits)
• Steamed rice with braised beef and vegetables

I briefly considered switching orders (His was cheaper.)

Naturally, I assumed this was a quirky one-off — so I checked when we got home.

It isn’t.

There is now a pet-friendly restaurant meal market worth circa $2bn globally, and it’s growing fast

This isn’t a fad. It’s the result of three bigger forces:
• Pet humanisation – dogs aren’t pets anymore, they’re family(I am guilty of this)
• Experience-led spending – people want shared moments, not just meals
• Social amplification – dogs at brunch = free marketing

In fact, a restaurant in New York has recently launched a full dog-only menu called “À La Bark”.
Starters.
Mains.
Puppuccinos

*Snoopy now expects table service at home*

*97%



That's the annual customer churn rate across the UK self-storage industry.

Operators replace nearly their entire customer base every single year.

I think about this number constantly. 

Especially when I speak with investors and landowners drawn to self-storage by the strong property fundamentals like yield compression, undersupply, and resilient demand.

All true and compelling.

But here's what often gets missed:

Self-storage isn't passive income. It's retail. Every Single Day.
If you're losing 97% of customers annually, you're on a treadmill:

Marketing to fill units
Converting enquiries under pressure
Onboarding new customers
Forever

At Wigwam, we manage 16 facilities and the fundamentals haven't changed.

Over 70% of customers are residential users making emotional decisions. They're stressed about a house move, worried about their belongings and trying to solve a problem quickly.

That requires:

People
Process
Persistence
Pace

This is why specialist self-storage management companies like ours exist - to handle the relentless operational rhythm so owners don't have to.

Execution beats strategy - especially when you're replacing your entire customer base annually. 

*SSA

L&P Property Consultancy Ltd

Chartered GP Surveyors covering all England but with emphasis on Hands-on freelance property management within the Black Country.
Advise on all aspects of property surveying including: strategic option appraisal * Acquisitions &amp; Disposals* Rent Reviews &amp; Lease Renewals * Property Management eg Dilapidations * Surrendering/ Taking On New Leases * Assignments/ Underletting * Property Refurbishment * transactional activity * Disputes eg boundaries * Statutory Regulations eg EPC's, Asbestos * Plus Occupational &amp; Investment strategies eg Increasing Rental Yield *
SEE BELOW FOR PROFILE OF SOME COMMISSIONS: 
Eg. Sandwell &amp; Dudley Metropolitan Borough Councils

Director/ Principal

Metro Business Partnership Ltd

Metro Business Partnership (MBP Ltd), a local business forum that provides advice and guidance to local SME's and leading Council officials, including Shadow Business Minister Pat McFadden MP.  Rep. on Business Leaders Steering Groups

Director

 Government Property Agency

Interim Asset Manager at Government Property Agency

Our Place Our Plan - Neighbourhood Plan for Tettenhall & District

Volunteer Steering Group Member
Our Place Our Plan - Neighbourhood Plan for Tettenhall & District

July 2011 – Present (1 year) Tettenhall, Wolverhampton

Steering Group Member

Worcester City Council 

Interim Officer at Assets & Estates Dept. Worcester City Council 

Shropshire Council

Interim Consultant Estates Surveyor

Place Partnership Limited

Place Partnership is a new, private company wholly owned by the public sector, delivering innovative, profitable property services and significant savings to its shareholders.

Developed from the One Public Estate programme, the establishment of Place Partnership has been sponsored by the Government Property Unit in recognition of its capacity to create a step change in the way a public sector property portfolio can be managed.

Using its skills in strategic land and project management, the company will act as a catalyst for regeneration proposals and, in conjunction with the private sector and other funding institutions, an enabler for economic growth. By combining the property departments of the shareholders, Place Partnership is able to increase operational efficiency, providing the platform for economies of scale, cost reduction and significant savings.

Interim Consultant Estates Surveyor |

NHS Property Services Ltd

Management of all properties in line with best
practice, leases,
management agreement and client instruction.
Ensure clients are kept regularly updated with
scheme funds, expenditure and arrears.
Period inspection of properties to identify
 issues eg. maintenance
Setting budgets and monitoring expenditure.
Hold regular meetings with Accounts Group Team
Leader to review accounts/budget process to
ensure statutory and internal deadlines are met

lnterim Senior Property Manager

Cannock Chase Council

Asset management including valuation and estates management for Property Services Dept. at Cannock Chase Council

Interim Property Services Officer

South Staffordshire Council

Estates Management in Commercial Development Dept at South Staffordshire Council

Freelance Estates Officer

Hands on Estates Management Consultant. 
Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors 1995 (General Practice) 972287
Incorporated own company L & P Property Consultancy Ltd. 16/7/07.

Highly experienced Property and Facilities Management professional, with strong commercial awareness & well developed relationships within the Real Estate sector. 

Proven track record for the delivery of extensive Disposal, Acquisition, Capital Development and Maintenance programmes with 2 Major FTSE Retail/ Leisure/ Supply Chain Organisations. Many successes with identifying & delivering value creative disposals.

Specialties: Commercial property with specialist Retail & Leisure knowledge in both private & public sector.

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