STEP THROUGH TIME – A HISTORY OR SELF STORAGE THROUGH THE AGES
We all love a good origin story, right? How Spiderman got bitten by the spider, how Bruce Wayne became the Caped Crusader, how some clay pots in China long ago became a brilliant way for people to keep their belongings safe and stored away …
Yes, even the self-storage industry has an origin story – let’s take a closer look at how those clay pots evolved into the storage units we know and love today!
Ancient Times
A long, long time ago – approximately 2,000 years – there’s evidence to suggest that Chinese people stored certain belongings in clay pots and then placed them in an underground storage pit which was guarded so that no one but the pots’ owners could access them. That’s monitored self-storage right there!
In Total De-Nile
In another cradle of civilisation – Ancient Egypt – the people there constructed elaborate tombs filled with chambers and compartments, not just for their deceased loved ones, but for their valuables too. Archaeological evidence has shown that among their constructions were huge granaries along the banks of the River Nile in which crops were stored. Like the Chinese, these were monitored – scribes kept detailed inventory lists of stock and of the workers who stacked heavy sacks of valuable grain in orderly systems. These self storage units were even climate controlled, utilising specialist techniques to keep the grain preserved for long periods of time. And as useful as they were inside, the granaries were beautiful on the outside, carved ornately and featuring colourful painted scenes.
What Have The Romans Ever Done For Us?
Of course the Romans were in on it too! Climate-controlled storehouses were built there also in order to preserve food, and keep valuables safe. Called horrea, the immense warehouses stored goods intended for trade – much like a modern day business might use a unit to keep inventory under lock and key, and in optimal condition. These horrea had secure locking systems, rooms for different product types and were heavily guarded. Goods from olive oil to spices to textiles were transported in and out of the horrea – they were bustling, colourful spaces where every item was meticulously catalogued before being stored in its rightful place. A forerunner of modern day logistics warehouses, trade networks sprang up with the horrea at their hub
Feels Like Yesterday
Let’s zoom through time to the C18th and C19th in the British Isles where people travelling overseas stored their items in sturdy crates kept in banks. Soon, the banks became overcrowded with the belongings of people on their travels and in need of another storage solution. By the 1850’s, purpose-built warehouses began to spring up for the storage of personal and household items.
Born In The USA
Around the same period, self-storage began to take on the form in which we know it today, in the good ol’ US of A. In the late 1800’s the Bekin brothers founded Bekin Van Lines in Omaha, Nebraska and built the first concrete and steel storage warehouses in 1906. In the age of the Pioneer, modern self-storage was born. The Bekins’ warehouses provided temporary storage for people who were moving and also helped local businesses store their records. In fact, Bekins still exists as a moving company to this day.
Swingin’ Into A New Age
It wasn’t until the 1960’s that modern-day self storage really got up and running. The sweeping societal changes of the day meant that lifestyles were different, the population grew and became more mobile. Mass produced consumer goods were more widely available, people lived in more compact homes – entrepreneurs recognised that there was an opportunity here to rent space for additional belongings and so the self-storage industry took off. The first storage facility with garage-style doors was built in Texas in 1964 with the catchy name of “A-1 U-Store-It U-Lock-It U-Carry-the-Key” – just rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it?! Throughout the ‘60’s and 70’s, self-storage facilities popped up all over the US and Canada with their convenient and practical space solutions, with rental rates costing roughly 15c per square foot.
You’ve Come A Long Way, Baby
By the mid 1980’s, rates had risen to approx. 60c per square foot, rising to a dollar by the late 1990’s. Today, the industry continues to thrive with a global market predicted to reach $71.37 billion by 2027.
Today, self storage is, of course, radically different than those old Chinese pots. 24-hour security and CCTV are de rigeur, climate control is hugely popular and technology is transforming how the industry works with online booking platforms, remote access, biometrics and continuous monitoring. Take a look at some future trends here: https://www.storageworld.ie/blog/storing-tomorrow-future-trends-in-self-storage
Whatever happens will be truly exciting and there’s no denying that modern-day societal changes will drive yet another self-storage revolution – remote working, minimalist lifestyles, increased travel, downsizing – whatever life you choose to lead, there’s a self-storage solution to suit.
Unlock the freedom of extra space. Get in touch with Storage World today or get a quote online. Find out more about our storage pricing.
