Market Trends of Self Storage Industry
Personal Storage Segment is Expected to Hold Major Market Share
- In the personal sector, the demand for additional storage space is majorly driven by growing families, and their increasing material possessions significantly influence the performance of self-storage properties. Additionally, as baby boomers downsize, the need for storage units is anticipated to rise.
- Rising urban populations are leading to smaller and more expensive living spaces, particularly in cities, with a growing number of mobile renters. The United Nations projects global urbanization to reach 68% by 2050. North America is notably the most urbanized region, with over 80% of its population living in urban areas.
- Amid concerns of a recession, potentially driven by urbanization and exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the personal storage sector is experiencing a surge. Renters, facing space constraints, are turning to storage facilities as they downsize, move in with family, or adopt a more transient lifestyle. This shift is significantly boosting the personal-storage industry.
- With millennials comprising a significant portion of the self-storage user base, their expectations are evolving. They increasingly seek technologically advanced solutions from operators, preferring interactions through smartphones, apps, and mobile websites. Virtual tours, online bookings, contactless payments, and automated access are becoming industry standards, aligning with the sector's technological advancements. As the traditional advantage of physical location diminishes, these digital channels present a significant opportunity for emerging storage players to disrupt the market.
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North America is Expected to be the Largest Market
- North America, led by the United States and Canada, is set to dominate the self-storage market. The increasing demand for storage solutions and industrial automation is driving this growth. Key market drivers in North America include a focus on reducing infrastructure costs, a growing need for business insights, and the necessity for real-time data availability. The self-storage industry has been one of the fastest-growing commercial real estate market segments since its debut 36 years ago. According to SpareFoot.com, the storage industry recorded USD 29 billion in annual revenue as of January 2023, and the United States currently has an estimated 51,206 storage facilities in service.
- Furthermore, investments in the self-storage sector in the US have witnessed significant growth supported by the increasing adoption of self-storage facilities among businesses and individual customers in the country, which would increase the number of self-storage facilities in the US and can decrease rent prices in the market. This advantage of lower renting prices in the country’s self-storage market would fuel the occupancy rate in the United States and can drive market growth during the forecast period.
- For instance, in June 2023, Ivanhoe Cambridge, a global real estate company, announced plans to expand its self-storage portfolio in the United States through a strategic partnership with Safely Store Self Storage. This initiative aims to enhance the availability of self-storage facilities in the United States, supporting market growth.
- Also, in June 2023, SecureSpace acquired Northlynn Mini Storage in the Lynnwood area of Seattle. The leasing office will be upgraded with SecureSpace's modern design, and their proprietary high-security platform, managed by a national security team, will be installed.
- The demand for self-storage units is rising due to steady job creation and wage growth, which boost household formation and consumer spending. Additionally, the faster-paced lifestyles and the tendency to collect memorabilia among younger and older generations further strengthen the future need for self-storage space.
- Additionally, in November 2023, the Institute of International Education, which focuses on international student exchange and aid, foreign affairs, and international peace and security, stated that California, New York, and Texas have contributed the highest enrollment of international students, which would fuel the demand for migrant population growth in the country and can increase of population densities in these cities of the US, supporting the demand for external storage spaces during the forecast period.
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