www.LoveSpace.co.uk reinvents self storage 

A growing number of businesses are turning to a novel way to deal with the common problem of mounting archive files and other materials.

LoveSpace's unique ‘mailstorage' concept, launching nationally at www.LoveSpace.co.uk after a successful six month pilot scheme, is aimed at businesses that want to de-clutter, but who want to avoid the often sizeable costs associated with traditional self storage or document storage companies.

Uniquely, LoveSpace sends customers the boxes and packaging free of charge; customers pack these in their offices and LoveSpace picks them up and transports them to its secure regional warehouse, again free of charge. Customers can store as little, or as much as they wish, since the space is measured in terms of boxes rather than storage areas; and, at only £4.95 per box per month, significant savings can be made.

Medical practitioner Karim Hussain says: "I use LoveSpace as a reliable way to store the medical records of my patients on an indefinite basis. It means we don't have to invest in a larger office for records which we are obliged to keep but shall, realistically, never use again."

Jeremy Stein is a London-based planning consultant. He says: "Our consultancy relies on LoveSpace to store all our important documents and drawings. We can easily and quickly retract work or add to the number of boxes we have in storage without ever having to leave the office.

"At £4.95 a box, this is really great value as it frees up so much of our expensive office space."

Convenience and competitive pricing are at the heart of this new take on the traditional storage industry.Brett Akker, chairman of LoveSpace (and one of the duo who founded the highly successful Streetcar car club) commented: "The LoveSpace service is totally hassle-free and will appeal to a whole new breed of business customers for whom traditional storage has been too expensive or unsuitable. Mailstorage will suit any business which may want document storage services as well as those needing to store promotional materials, which can even be re-delivered somewhere else in the country, as and when they are needed."

One of the key attractions of LoveSpace is that customers do not have to make long term commitments to pay for storage spaces that may be larger than needed. Akker explains: "They only pay for the actual boxes they store, rather than a whole storage room which may be only half full. At just £4.95 a box, it will generally be far more cost effective to use LoveSpace if you are storing anything under 15 boxes - and in some areas of the UK, it is cost effective for many more than that. We also offer discounts for bulk storage so we can be competitive across the board."

Given the low costs per box and the savings associated with the free packaging materials and free transportation to the LoveSpace storage facility, businesses storing around 20 boxes per month over a 12 month period can save over £750, compared with a typical document storage company. Without minimum term contracts for businesses, LoveSpace also offers complete flexibility.

Other benefits include the rapid return of stored items. Providing LoveSpace is informed before 3pm, Monday to Friday, boxes will be back with their owners by the following day if not before (excluding Sundays). Boxes are stored in a secure storage facility in the UK and pricing includes £100 of insurance cover for each box, including transit and storage. There are no additional charges for this cover.

Brett Akker adds: "We've simplified the process of document storage by doing away with admin fees, minimum term contracts and minimum storage restrictions. Instead, we've prioritised a service which is cost effective and hassle free - customers can retrieve a box for £6.63, including next day delivery, and once they've taken their file, LoveSpace will pick up their box again, free of charge."

The concept is also proving popular with residential customers. The company is seeing a range of individuals and families using the service including downsizing couples, couples about to start a family, those between permanent homes and landlords letting out their property. 
 
For media enquiries, please call Louise Evans, LoveSpace PR, on 07891 242476 or email louise.evans@loop-pr.co.uk 
 

 

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Notes to editor

Storage Facts

• A typical document storage company currently charges around £1300 for space to store 20 boxes for twelve months, including the price of the packaging materials. LoveSpace charges £494.40 to store 20 boxes over the same period. 
• According to the Self Storage Association, one in 100 UK households (235,000) uses self storage. LoveSpace is expected to widen this market further, by making storage options available to a much broader audience.
• Britain has more than 800 major self-storage units - as many as can be found in the rest of Europe put together (BBC News Magazine).
• The UK Self Storage Association estimates that the average length of storage is now 38 weeks in 2010, compared with 22 weeks in 2007. Growth in the market is, in part, attributed to the growing number of single dwellers who live in accommodation without sufficient storage space. Some growth is also attributed to the modern trend for an uncluttered, minimalist look.

Investment
LoveSpace is supported by Carl August Ameln and Lasse Hoydal, who were Streetcar's first ever investors and have significant storage experience across Europe and Smedvig Capital, which also invested in the car club in 2007. Carl, Lasse and Smedvig's CEO, John Hewett, have joined the LoveSpace board which is made up of individuals who have over 70 years experience in the storage industry. Detailed profiles of the board can be found at www.lovespace.co.uk/investor-relations.