I first discussed the idea of setting up a storage business with my good friend Russell nearly 2 years ago. We had both run businesses before and we saw a strong growth in demand for storage, particularly in the Northampton area, where Russ is from. As a side note, as well as being good friends, Russ will tell anyone that listens that I sacked him about 10 years ago when we worked together in a document management business. What he normally doesn’t say is that it was completely amicable and his response was “I don’t know why you didn’t do it earlier”!! Anyway, it has strengthened our relationship, and we can laugh about it now - well I can!

 

Our first exposure to the storage industry was when we went to the trade associations annual conference in Telford. We were surprised how open and helpful everyone was. We learnt a lot in those few days and then went on a trek around the country, visiting other storage companies to see how they operated, what levels of security they had and learn the pitfalls.  This time was really valuable. We then set about trying to find a suitable site that had good access, we could make very secure and was in a prime area. This was harder than we thought but we eventually find a site on the Brackmills Industrial Estate in Caswell Road NN4. The negotiations for the lease were long and dull - especially for 2 people who are really impatient and can’t wait to get going! Finally, everything is in place and we launch on 1st April. 

 

We’re really excited about the site - it is on one of the main roads of the estate, so it is easily accessible; the security is all in place - monitored CCTV, automatic pin pad operated gates, fully fenced - and we have our first delivery of shiny new containers ready for use. We’ve taken on a great software system that makes booking really easy but we’re also on hand if you want to talk to us on the phone or in person. 

Anthony Pearlgood - Director 

A question that we get asked frequently is whether our container storage is suitable for online sellers. The answer is - 100% yes - it’s a great use of a shipping container to store your stock prior to despatch. Using Store Secure, you have access to your container 24/7 - so if you’re a ‘nightbird’ then that’s absolutely fine as your unique access code will let you in whenever it’s convenient to you. We can also reassure you about site security - there are automatic gates, which you can’t access without a special PIN code, the site is fully fenced, and we have CCTV which is monitored 24/7 by real people (not AI!). 

 

We can fit your container with racking on one or both sides, so you will have great storage space for your stock and all the containers have 14 ventilation points. As you can see from the pictures, all our containers are new and in excellent condition; You can also drive right up to the container (as long as you’re not in a truck), making it really easy to get in and out.

 

So, if you want to free up space at home, or you are paying for expensive storage elsewhere, just visit our website or give us a call and we would be delighted to help you.

Anthony Pearlgood - Director

There comes a point in everyone's life when they think they need to move to a bigger place. Some of us move more than others - at one point my eldest daughter thought that it was an annual event! But I’m so glad that I found container storage as it meant that instead of moving (again), we could decant our house and for a tiny fraction of the cost of moving, we secured some extra space. Our 20ft container is about the same as a single garage and it’s 8ft high so plenty of ‘air space’ to use. We thought about what we didn’t need to access - like Christmas Decorations and a spare wardrobe - and we put them at the back of the container and gradually filled forward. We pretty much filled it completely - my wife has lots of clothes, shoes & handbags - and made sure that we clearly labelled the boxes. When it came to delivering to the container, I used a hired transit van and within 2 journeys I’d removed all the non-essentials from my house. 

 

It’s a great feeling to declutter. We also gave away a few boot loads of clothes and ‘stuff’ to the local charity shop. Now, when I need anything from the container, it couldn’t be easier to gain access. I go when I want - so if it’s after work or at the weekend, I know I can always get in the site. There is good security on the site, and I have a heavy-duty padlock on my container. Also, I can drive right up to the unit so if I’m moving heavy boxes in or out, I’m literally a couple of metres from my car boot. 

 

No removal costs, no upheaval, no stamp duty - there are loads of benefits of taking on extra storage space.

Anthony Pearlgood - Director

Although we now operate a storage business, I have been - and still am - a customer of a container storage business near where I live, so I think I’m reasonably well placed to help people looking for storage, as I’ve seen 'both sides of the coin'. My circumstances were that I was moving house and the place we were buying fell through, so we ended up selling our house and moving into rented. We had a lot of items that we didn’t need in day-to-day life. Some of it was in boxes but there were also some large items like a spare bed, a wardrobe and a tonne of my wife’s clothes, handbags and shoes!! My main concern was the security of my possessions, so I visited the container storage site to see what they had in place. It was well organised with electric gates and CCTV. The containers were in good condition and the site was clean, which further built my trust. There were a fair few people loading or unloading at their container - companies and individuals - and they all said that the site was well operated and secure. 

 

The second issue I considered was proximity to my house. Unfortunately, the nearest/only site was 10 miles away but that wasn’t a big issue for me as I don’t go there very often. Ideally, I would have preferred something closer but there wasn’t anything apart from self-storage sites and they are expensive in comparison. Maybe it’s an opportunity for future expansion for Store Secure!

 

Price is always a consideration in any transaction, but I felt that the price being charged for container storage was much better than my removal company quoted for storage and certainly better than the aforementioned self-storage companies. I’ve had my ’stuff’ in store for about 9-months now - we’re soon to complete the purchase of a new house so I’ll be clearing the container quite soon. That’s the other thing about container storage; you’re generally not tied into long-term contracts. 

 

So, in summary, what I would look out for is - site security; condition of containers and the site; location; how easy the company are to deal with, contract length and value for money.

Anthony Pearlgood - Director