Marketing, it’s an important aspect of any self-storage business if you want to continue to gain new customers. Creating successful and creative marketing campaigns can be difficult. Thinking outside of your usual “box” and working with other businesses in your community might be just the strategy to liven up your current marketing efforts.

Vickie Fletcher, the manager of Walker Road Storage in Houston, TX, prides herself on fun and thoughtful advertising campaigns. Her most recent campaign has resulted in several new customers.Growing up my mom would plant flower seeds when we moved to a new house. She said it was a growth for all of us and when they bloomed we would pick them and put them in a vase on the table. I wanted everyone to have special memories like that. My mom passed away six years ago and every time I see a pack of seeds I remember the tradition we had of planting flowers.

Growing up my mom would plant flower seeds when we moved to a new house. She said it was a growth for all of us and when they bloomed we would pick them and put them in a vase on the table. I wanted everyone to have special memories like that. My mom passed away six years ago and every time I see a pack of seeds I remember the tradition we had of planting flowers.

Flier – Walker Road Storage

Vickie uses various marketing materials that all focus on a flower seed theme. For example, Vickie will bring a brochure on their facility taped to a pack of flower seeds to a real estate office. The real estate agents give the packets to new home buyers. Her technique involves helping people in transition set down roots. “The clients buying and selling their houses loved the idea,” Vickie said. “With the economy the way it is, it brings a fresh start to everyone. I received a card from a lady who had to sell her house. She didn’t want to but she had to, and she said it gave her hope to put down roots again in the near future.”

Vickie’s flower seed packets are an original way to connect with new members of her community. This symbolic gesture helps her connect and get her facility’s name out there.

“Every month I try to come up with some thing new to get our name out there,” Vickie said. “I work in a town of 6,000 and we have nine storage facilities here so it is very competitive.”

When Vickie went to a nearby nursing home on Grandparent’s Day she brought goody bags for the patients, including the flower seeds. From that visit alone she received six new clients. Vickie is clearly doing something right.

Creating different and creative marketing ideas might be just the thing to help you expand your customer base. Consider working with other businesses in your area like restaurants, gas stations, dry cleaners, etc. and create a clever tie to them with your marketing materials.

Have any fun marketing strategies you use at your facility? Share below.