eKourier April 2014

FEATURES

Spotlight On North Lakes

the thousands of vehicles that will use what is to become a major thoroughfare linking the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane. The centre currently offers a choice of unit sizes catering to different needs. While the driveway units are far and

few, the two levels above consist of more than 360 units. Work is underway to reconfigure the units as the mix that we inherited does not match our needs. Along with a few larger units, the focus will be on having a mix of smaller units. Currently housing 387 units spread over an area of 4,223 square metres. These numbers will increase once the unit reconfiguration is completed. An added advantage that we offer is undercover storage for cars, trucks, small boats and caravans. Originally used as a car park for customers and an area that Depot Storage did not exploit, the response for undercover hardstand has been extremely encouraging. Of the 15 spaces available, 12 are currently occupied. As for competition, we have a few small operators around us. However, the location, pricing and the aesthetics of the centre are a major draw card for us and it is heartening to find out that customers are happy to pay that little bit extra to store with us. What differentiates us from the competitors and has made a difference in selling units, is the availability of 24/7 access. The North Lakes Team comprising of Glen D’Souza (Top left) and Craig McCall (Top right) are making every effort to give customers moving in a “Kennards Experience”. The success of this effort can be seen in the feedback that the Team has received from customers. Current customers from Depot Storage days have appreciated the efforts we have made to streamline the processes at the centre. Team North Lakes

N estled in the midst of the North Lakes Business Park, Kennards Self Storage North Lakes is just beginning to stamp its authority in the field of storage. The business recently purchased as part of the Depot Storage Acquisition, offers not just another option for customers from the area looking to store, but has raised the bar in areas of value and services offered. With the recent exterior painting completed, the purpose built centre stands out amidst the burgeoning array of modern houses. More work will be carried out on the interior as part of the second phase, bringing the centre up to Kennards standards. The growth of North Lakes itself has been phenomenal ever since Stockland decided to change the landscape of the suburb of Mango Hill north of Brisbane. In 2006 it was officially named a suburb with its own name, even though it shares the Mango Hill postcode. KSS North Lakes is aiming to mirror this success story as we go forward establishing ourselves as a major player in the business. Today North Lakes is a self-sustained community with figures indicating that it has as many as 25,000 people living in the locality. The recent announcements from Costco and Ikea to set up shop in the area are only going to enhance the status of North Lakes as a self-sufficient satellite town. This exciting development has come at an opportune time as Kennards Self Storage continues to increase its presence in the area.

Long deprived of quality storage, North Lakes saw the opening of Depot Storage a couple of years back. Though a perfect move to operate in the area, the facility lagged behind in terms of occupancy due to various factors, one of which was undoubtedly the over pricing. When KSS took over the property occupancy was sitting at a meagre 32%, even after operating in the market for more than two years. Today we have increased to over 60% occupancy in a short span of just over four months. This number is rising continually and we are aiming to get to around 80% by the end of the Financial Year. Dynamic Pricing, online presence and the proactive attitude of Team Members has all contributed to this near doubling of occupancy in such a short span of time. Other than North Lakes itself, we cater to the surrounding areas of Mango Hill, Narangba, Dakabin, Kallangur, Deception Bay and Rothwell. At the moment there are two major projects taking shape which will work in our favour once completed. Work is well underway to link North Lakes to the neighbouring suburbs of Dakabin and Narangba across the Bruce Highway, this will offer us a bigger opportunity to tap into these areas for business.The other project is the completion of the North-South Arterial Road. Currently the centre is hidden behind a cluster of shops and the only visibility from the main road is over these buildings. However, the new road will put us right on its edge exposing KSS’s rich colours of Orange and Blue to

11 Kennards Kourier April 2014