Put a Box in It

Carson Block set up a self-storage company, Love Box Self Storage in Shanghai and shares a few tips on how we can store our extra "stuff".

City Weekend: So what exactly can people store with you?

Carson Block: Businesses can store inventory, samples, files, furniture, whatever they need to, at our facility.

We certainly all have things that we need (or want) to hold onto but that aren't necessarily useful. What are the benefits of storing these items?

Well, by freeing up space, small companies may be able to downsize their offices. Individuals and families can put things in storage and downsize their apartments in order to save money.

There's definitely a lot of movement among expats right now.

Yes, for expats being sent home who are uncertain about whether or not they're coming back, self storage is a great option. They can rent a unit for a few months. If they come back, their belongings are waiting for them.

What if they don't?

We can ship their belongings over for them. Here's a tip: If you think you may need your goods shipped and they amount to less than a container load, use hard, cheap plastic bins (you can find them at WalMart or Carrefour) instead of boxes to store breakable items. We also offer a mailbox service, so we can receive bills, letters and so forth for people who've left town.

That's helpful. Any other tips?

Actually, as lots of people are moving around right now, storage also provides a solution for tenant-landlord disputes over furniture. Many landlords are reluctant to remove furniture because they have nowhere to store it--it end ups in their own home. With our service, they can put it away for a while and not worry about it.