Our last blog talked about some of the strangest things recovered from abandoned self storage units, but it never ends. Here are some more amazing and unusual items to demonstrate how eccentric people can be.

Electric Chair

Let’s start with the rather gruesome find of an electric chair, which left staff at a US storage facility speculating on its presence. One also wonders who the last unfortunate person to sit on it might have been when in use.

Unexploded Hand Grenade

This caused a bit of a commotion at a unit in Michigan when this live device was found, causing a bomb disposal unit to be hastily called.

Burt Reynolds ‘Things’

Jaws dropped as the contents of a container once owned by the movie celebrity were revealed, including the canoe used in the iconic 1972 film Deliverance. Amongst the other numerous items were a horse carriage made by Dolly Parton, a toy car from Smokey & the Bandit, and a doctor’s note about an op Burt had in 1955.

Body Bits

There have been many shocking things discovered in storage units……like body parts. One of the less horrific is a jar of gallstones, and one guy kept a severed leg he lost during a plane crash, so he could eventually be buried with it!

Loved Ones

Urns are often kept in storage units, but one family kept the body of their Grandma in a casket for 17 years in one.

Michael Jackson Songs

One lucky new storage unit owner found himself with a unit previously owned by Michael Jackson’s father. It contained around 250 unheard and unreleased recordings of the singer some featuring Tina Turner. There was no existing legal ownership, as they were recorded when Jackson was between recordings!

We don’t recommend storing some of the more whacky items listed here at our Cubic Storage facilities. We are however happy to advise on your storage needs in Gosforth, Ponteland, Newcastle & Wallsend.

Self Storage, Holiday Storage, Container Hire, Short or Long Term Rental, Ponteland, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Apart from the more mundane [yet practical] uses we find for self storage, there some extremely interesting items chilling in storage units. Popular shows about the contents of self storage units and containers have awoken people’s interest in the secret world of storage. Even many celebs utilise these handy spaces to keep their weird and wonderful items and collections.

Million Dollar Comic

Celebs like Nicholas Cage is famously an avid reader and collector of comic books [everyone to his own] which is why he must have been gutted to be burgled in 2000. He possessed a first edition copy of Action Classics worth £1 million dollars that was stolen. There is a happy ending to this story though, when 10 years later it was found in an abandoned self storage container.

Hidden Bond Car

In 1989, somebody purchased a storage container with contents at a Long Island auction, and got a bit of a surprise on opening it. Contained inside was the original Lotus Submarine Car used by Roger Moore in Bond film, The Spy Who Loved Me. A little dented and with a few missing tyres, the impressive vehicle was restored and shown in various museum exhibitions for 24 years. It was finally sold to Elon Musk in 2013 for £616,000.

Rocket in Space

How about the storage unit auctioned off in Florida which contained a NASA rocket and countdown clock. The items were placed in storage after a space programme was discontinued. Then there are the garments of soul diva Aretha Franklin, found in a unit in Michigan. They say the clothes were placed there following a fire at her home, then probably forgotten about.

These are just a few examples of the fascinating tales of self storage units and containers, contact Cubic Storage if you have anything you want to store. We cater to customers all over the North East in places like Jarrow, North Shields, Whitley Bay and Tynemouth.

Self Storage, Holiday Storage, Container Hire, Short or Long Term Rental, Whiteley Bay & Tynemouth

Owners of small businesses need to be able to do a sort of juggling act, balancing finances, dealing with sales, organising any staff etc. If this isn’t done efficiently, chaos can often ensue, with paperwork, bills, orders etc piling up or getting mislaid. All this unnecessary activity can lead to stress and wasted time.

Clutter = Chaos

If business owners are disorganized, they will probably find themselves searching through tons of paperwork, invoices or files. This is frequently the case with a virtual office too, either through lack of motivation or digital knowledge. Using and sorting separate folders for important emails, bills and documents can be confusing if you aren’t sure what you’re doing. There’s nothing more frustrating than not being able to lay your hands on some information when needed.

The Taxman

Keeping up to speed with your documents is essential when it comes time to file your taxes. If the business undergoes an audit, missing documents can become a legal problem. Proper filing of invoices, receipts and statements, and getting your head around basic accounting software can be a huge help. This will keep the tax office, and company accountant happy.

Customer Service

As we all know, it’s a very competitive world, so keeping customers happy is crucial to success. This means dealing with enquiries effectively and as soon as possible. Doing this is a great way to keep existing customers, win new customers and receive excellent reviews.

Working from Home

Whether you have an office space or work from your home in Ponteland, you should consider hiring a self storage container. Many businesses are turning to this type of solution especially in recent times. An increase in home working has created a situation where people are having to declutter to provide more work space. You can also store files and other paperwork, as well as stock, equipment and packaging. Maybe you have excess furniture that you need temporary storage for? Let us help with your storage needs by calling 07531 435637.

Self Storage, Holiday Storage, Container Hire, Short or Long Term Rental, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Lots of industries that are property based, have taken a hit and struggled over the past year or so, due to the Coronavirus. However, the self storage industry has seen the opposite happen. Self storage has experienced growth in customers according to the Self Storage Association UK. The industry has experienced a steady increase in occupancy of 2.9 points year on year to 79.2%. Revenue has also been regular, as customers more often prefer to pay for their units by direct debit or other non-contact methods.

Post lockdown saw occupancy levels rise to higher levels than pre Covid, and enquiries reached record levels. This was probably a result of uncertainty about the future, and people wanting to know their best options for storage. Self storage has always been about life changing events and the virus is just one of them. Some core reasons for using self storage include:-

• People getting divorced and having to move the possessions around
• People moving back home to their family from rented accommodation with nowhere to store their belongings
• Businesses forced to decrease their furniture etc to enable easier social distancing
• Downsizing companies needing somewhere to keep stock, appliances etc
• An increase in working from home meaning businesses reducing their office space
• Families down-sizing their homes because of financial concerns related to the pandemic

Self storage businesses are also extremely flexible, allowing people to change their requirements as and when needed. Contracts can be long or short and usually may be updated with very little notice. This can be helpful, especially in these uncertain times, when everything is a worry.

Make sure that the self storage company you choose takes security seriously with additions such as CCTV, perimeter fencing and state of the art locking systems. 24/7 access is also a bonus in places like Ponteland, which is what you will find here at Cubic Storage.

Self Storage, Holiday Storage, Container Hire, Short or Long Term Rental, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Apparently many universities and further education establishments are trying to tempt students back with promises of a sort of pre-Covid student life. Statements offer a ‘totally open campus’ or an experience ‘much more like usual’. This isn’t really working though, as many students and academics believe a more realistic picture should be portrayed. They think that there should be no glossing over of the fact that continued disruption to classes and social life is likely.

The attitude of the universities is kind of understandable though, as competition to attract students will be particularly fierce this year. Many smaller institutions fear that the more acclaimed universities will once again expand and snaffle the majority of students. After all, the £9,250 that each student pays is not to be sneezed at. Universities such as University College London, Sheffield University, Edinburgh University and Ulster University tell students to expect ‘blended’ learning. This means online lectures where possible and reduced in-person workshops or seminars.

But some university websites make hardly any mention of the pandemic, or simply say that the next academic year could look very similar to pre-Covid years. Of course this is what a lot of students want to hear, and who can blame them! Professor Karen Stanton, vice-chancellor of Solent University, Southampton says: “We have exciting plans in place to bring all our students back to campus in the ‘new normal’ we’ll be facing.”

However, professor of higher education at the University of Oxford, Simon Marginson, says institutions who are struggling might be tempted to tell students what they think they want to hear. “They will pitch it as normal or near normal higher education in term 1 of 2021-22,” he says. “After the experience of the current academic year, we know this is unfair to students.” Professor Marginson says universities will probably end up having to offer online as well as face to face learning, and students may be once again faced with studying in their bedrooms.

Don’t forget if you’re studying and in need of affordable storage space in Gosforth, Cubic Storage are bound to have the exact unit or container you require!

Self Storage, Holiday Storage, Container Hire, Short or Long Term Rental, Gosforth

There are a number of extremely sensible and practical reasons for using self storage, but the more frivolous ones can be fun. People love to collect ‘things’. You only have to discover a friend collects ceramic pigs, and everywhere you go you seem to notice an unusual ceramic pig! It seems once people start, they can’t sop and their collection soon begins to take over the living space. This can become a source of contention among partners and the family. This is why many collectors rent a self storage unit, where their treasured collection can grow unabated. There is also less chance of them gathering dust getting damaged or causing a red face for the collector.

Belly Fluff Anyone?

Stamp collecting has always been a popular pursuit for many, but there are also plenty of bizarre collections around. One of the most strange collections is Australian, Graham Barker’s collection of his own navel fluff! He began his er…different collection in 1984, which is now stored in three large glass jars. It’s also led to appearances on many of America’s biggest talk shows.

Bagus Vomitous

Another surprising collection comes in the form of aeroplane sick bags [hopefully empty], which are highly sought after! Who knew this was a thing? Niek Vermeulen from Holland, is down in the Guinness Book of World Records as having the largest collection. This consists of 5,468 [at the last count] of different sick bags from more than a thousand airlines.

Other impressive [sort of] collections include 1800 types of historic toothpaste and powders, 5,239 unique rubber ducks and 6,652 different table napkins. Some collections are generally considered more acceptable or desirable than others, such as British Royal Family memorabilia, musical records, cars and chocolate wrappers.

At Cubic Storage you will find high quality units and containers at affordable hire rates to keep your collections in Whickham, whatever they may be, in mint condition!

Self Storage, Holiday Storage, Container Hire, Short or Long Term Rental, Whickham & Newcastle-upon-Tyne

More and more people are realising what a good solution self storage is where there’s a lack of space. There are a multitude of reasons for needing somewhere to store items, here are a few:-

Moving Home

We’ve all heard about ,or experienced, the dreaded property chain when moving house, the cause of much stress. Where there are hold ups beyond your control, but you need to move out pronto, simply temporarily hire a self storage container. Your belongings will be safe and secure until you need them, and most companies offer a flexible solution. If you’re eager to downsize and find the perfect place but have too much furniture etc, store it until you have time to sell.

Need More Space at Home

It’s always hard to throw belongings away and declutter, even a determined clear out ends up with most things being put back. We keep things in case they are needed in the future, or we plan on passing them on eventually. Maybe good quality items are to be given to the kids for their first house. But where to store them in the meantime? Again self storage is the favourite choice for many.

Home Improvements

Renovations or extensions etc cause a lot of dust and debris to circulate, there are also many ways for things to get damaged during the work. Keep your sofas and other belongings pristine in a self storage unit.

Keeping Tools Safe

Tools are expensive and difficult to quickly replace should they be stolen, meaning lost work opportunities if you’re a tradesman. Thousands of vans, garages and sheds are broken into in the UK every year, and many valuables taken. Self storage ensures that your tools and equipment will be secure and safe until you need them.

These are just a few examples of self storage advantages, Cubic Storage always put the customer first, with a flexible affordable service in Tyne & Wear. Contact us on 07531 435637

Self Storage, Holiday Storage, Container Hire, Short or Long Term Rental, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

The Self Storage Association website has some fascinating info about all aspects of the industry. It also has a section which puts to bed some common misconceptions about self storage. Apparently some people think of self storage as a graveyard for unwanted and unused junk. Others think of it as a saving grace during life transitions such as moving home. In reality self storage is many things to many people in places like Blaydon.

Some people think [wrongly in our opinion!] that the self storage industry simply panders to hoarders who need a place for even more clutter. True, units and containers are great for freeing up space in the home and office, but it’s not only hoarders who benefit. Most people accumulate objects and possessions that they neither need or want to be rid of. Perhaps they have sentimental value, or are used less frequently, but still required. According to Professor Danny Dorling, of Oxford University, “we’ve got, by weight six times as much stuff” as previous generations.

Self Storage Facts

In just one year:

• Most women purchase half their body weight in clothes
• Many parents spend around £639.60 on toys for children aged 0-5
• Londoners spend approx £5,781 on decorating and new furnishings

Millennials, are often blamed for the obsession with having ‘things’, but buying and storing stuff is sometimes better than sending it to landfill. A self storage unit serves as a sort of spare room, while freeing up the real spare room for a visiting family member! Don’t forget that over one third of the self storage space in the UK is used by blossoming businesses. This percentage represents a staggering 150,000 business customers. Check out what Cubic Storage have to offer with its high quality self storage units and containers.

Self Storage, Holiday Storage, Container Hire, Short or Long Term Rental, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

North Shields, Tyne and Wear, is an historic town which dates back to 1225. One of the many tourist attractions of this area are The Lights of North Shields. These 16th century buildings incorporate permanent lights, once intended to safely guide ships. The Wooden Dolly statue also draws many an interested visitor, and has been replaced 6 times since it first appeared in 1814. If you are intending to move to North Shields or another part of the North East of England, here are a few reasons you may be pleased with your decision : –

• Regeneration and Investment have in recent years grown significantly here, and planning and design is focused on enhanced living. Improved play areas, modernised town centres and new build homes abound. Quaysides are being transformed into leisure hot spots, and some extremely desirable apartments are popping up.
• Employment is continually increasing in the North East, as major companies clamour to invest. Many sectors within the digital industry are migrating to the North East, along with scientific research bodies and chemical processing specialists. Tens of thousands of jobs have been created by major manufacturers such as Nissan. Tourism is of course yet another big employer in this part of the world as people flock to take in the sights.
• Eye Popping Scenery with numerous places of interest which boast breathtaking views from the rugged wilds of the Northumberland Coast to the North Pennines. Stunning scenery can be found in such places as Keider Forest and Park, Durham Heritage Coast, Hadrians Wall and Whitley Bay.
• Housing Prices in North East England are some of the lowest in the UK, with something for all budgets
• North Easterners are renowned for their warmth, friendliness and willingness to chat to or help a stranger. The locals are extremely proud of their heritage and culture, and aren’t shy about telling you. You’ll be feeling at home before you know it.
   

Remember, if you need to hire a self storage container during your move to North Shields, contact Cubic Storage on 07531 435637, we’ll be delighted to assist.

Self Storage, Holiday Storage, Container Hire, Short or Long Term Rental, North Shields

Self storage containers are being used for all kinds of things these days, some of which will leave you open mouthed! Modifying or re-purposing items intended for one use in order to fulfil a different function is a big trend nowadays and self storage units and containers are no exception. Here are some of the ideas people have come up with:-

Affordable Homes

Structurally sound, dry and inexpensive, shipping containers are increasingly being recognised as substitute housing. They are fairly portable, so easy to set up wherever needed, and can be tailored as desired. These metal boxes are favoured by those wishing to decrease their environmental impact. From luxury homes to temporary solutions for the homeless, storage containers are used world wide as unique, robust abode options.

Schools

We often think of storage containers as purely somewhere to store excess belongings, but in some undeveloped parts of the world they are being used as schools. With the addition of windows, air conditioning or heating, these low cost spaces are ideal where traditional school buildings are not possible. In fact they are sometimes used in countries like the UK as additional annexes or ‘add ons’.

Pop up Shops, Cafés and Restaurants

All kinds of businesses like shops, bars, cafés, art galleries and even theatres now use storage containers as temporary pop up facilities. This is an extremely modern concept and one that works well for everyone. Combinations of multiple containers are also being used as more permanent solutions.

These are just a few of the ways that storage containers are solving modern day issues, other uses include sheds, natural disaster shelters, home offices, garden nurseries, garages and as hobby spaces such as dark rooms. At Cubic Storage though, we recommend more traditional storage uses, check out our website to see what we offer.

Safe, Dry Summer Self Storage, Holiday Storage, Container Hire, Newcastle, Newcastle-upon-Tyne