The American Religion of Self-Storage Facilities
3 hours ago
- The author's cross-country road trip observing that church and self-storage are two great pillars of American culture.
- Self-storage industry is massive: more U.S. facilities than Starbucks, McDonald's, Walmart combined, with annual revenues over $40 billion.
- Driven by 'four D's': death, displacement, divorce, downsizing, plus delusion about inheritors and disease from COVID.
- Personal stories illustrate the inertia and difficulty of emptying storage units, often costing more than the stored items are worth.
- Technology and AI are transforming management, enabling remote operations and automated customer interactions.
- Expansion into RV/boat storage and luxurious car condos reflects America's 'stuff society' mindset.
- Industry events like the Inside Self-Storage World Expo show continued growth and investment opportunities despite saturation concerns.