StorMan Self Storage eNews - Issue #28
Christmas Edition (December 2010) |
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 Greetings, %%Facility name%%. Welcome to our massive Christmas edition, also known as eNews issue #28.
We've got lots of great articles for you this month - including Christmas messages from our staff, guest bloggers & business partners, as well as updates from the SSAA and a host of other bits & pieces to keep you occupied.
As usual, if you have any comments, ideas or suggestions, just get in touch with me via andy@storman.com. Until next time, Merry Christmas and happy surfing! :-)
 Regards,
Andy & the StorMan Software Team
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You burn more calories sleeping than you do watching television. |
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Due to continued growth, our New Zealand office has moved to a new location. The new contact details are included below, or view the info on our websites.
- New fax: +64 9 280 3394
- New PO box: PO Box 107091, Auckland Airport, Manukau 2150, New Zealand
- New address: Level 2 Cargo Central, Cnr George Bolt Memorial Drive & Tom Pearce Drive, Manukau Auckland 2022, New Zealand
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 Our recent series of PowerSessions were our most successful & well-attended to date! If you missed them, you can still catch the video recordings via the links provided below.
Please note that the links will take you to our myStorMan knowledgebase; some articles may require you to login with your 5-digit sitecode & website password first. Thank you.
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 As we head into the holiday period, it's important to ensure that you are completing your StorMan backups. Furthermore, it's important to make sure you test them, so that they are actually working.
It is fitting then, that we flash you back to May 2008, when my personal computer failed. While I was making a backup each month, I wasn't testing it. As such, I lost a lot of data...
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| Merry Christmas from our Guest Bloggers! |
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While we've no-doubt that all of our Guest Bloggers would like to wish you a safe & happy festive season, some have decided to put pen to paper (as it were) and write a special message for you. We've got a few more messages due to come in from our guests over the coming weeks, but for now check out some of the following Christmas wishes & messages...
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Have you ever looked at Google Maps and wondered... what did that area look like last year? Or even 5 years ago?
Good thing then, that there is a service called NearMap. The service works similarly to Google Maps, but allows you to adjust a slider near the top of the window to step back in time (to a degree) and view the same area over time, based on older photographs.
The photo quality & resolution also appears to be much better than that of Google Earth. Take this comparison of a local Brisbane intersection as an example...
The website also features user-tagged 'Interesting finds' for various cities, under the 'More' button. Here are some of our Australian staff favourites...
At this stage, only some Australian cities are supported - but the site has plans to expand the service further. Check it out, via www.nearmap.com. |
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 Each Christmas issue, we reflect back on the year in News & Blogs on our website to bring you the Top 10 posts, in terms of hits. Here they are - with the most popular post first...
- The Little Things (by Timm)
- Cap Rates 101 (by guest blogger Malcolm Collins)
- Why do people leave Bluetooth turned on? (by Andy)
- GST increase for NZ customers (by StorMan Software)
- Nardia's 'Worlds Greatest Shave' (by Nardia)
- The best software for Self Storage (by StorMan Software)
- Agency Opportunity (by guest blogger Malcolm Collins)
- Building a website for your business (by Andy)
- SMS in a mess (by Timm)
- Improve facility value & income (by guest blogger Michael Wilson)
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 This month's offer for StorMan eNews readers: In the southern hemisphere, the Christmas holiday period is one of the worst when it comes to severe storms & the resulting power outages and spikes. As such, it's also our busiest time of the year for customer's experiencing broken computers or data loss due to the lack of backups.
Good thing then, that this month's eNews Offer is about backups! Purchase our Internet Backups module for secure, off-site backups of your StorMan datafile and get the first 2 months at a discounted rate! Just AUD$20 / USD$20 / GBP£15 / NZD$25 (excluding any local taxes) per facility, per month for the first 2 months, then the usual AUD$50 / USD$50 / GBP£30 / NZD$65 (excluding any local taxes) per facility, per month.
This offer valid for uptake between 1st December 2010 - 31st January 2011. Upfront payment required; billed quarterly in advance. One quarter minimum. For details, please contact StorMan Sales via http://go.storman.com/contact/
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This month's Facility of the Month is Avon Quality Storage, in Avon Massachusetts (in the United States of America). We recently caught up with Clayton and Francine for a quick chat...
StorMan: How long have you been with Avon Quality Storage?
Francine: We started at the facility immediately after construction was complete in 2006. In fact Clayton originally worked with the crew constructing the building, so you can say he knows the building inside and out.
StorMan: Tell us a little about the facility & the units...
Clayton: Avon Quality Storage is the finest storage facility in a large area and certainly the best in the market we serve. But more important than just the bricks and mortar we specialize in providing the highest quality of customer service.
Francine: We have 702 units or 69,200 square feet of rentable space. Approximately 90% of this space is completely climate controlled while the remaining space is tradition dry storage with direct outside access.
StorMan: Besides storage, what other products or services do you offer...
Clayton: We carry a full supply of retail merchandise including boxes, locks and moving aids.
StorMan: Do you have any funny or interesting stories to tell?
Clayton: We do have a few fun stories that we could tell. However, they are too graphic to put into words... (chuckles).
StorMan: How long have you been using StorMan for?
Francine: Since our management company Storage Investment Management assumed responsibility of this property in April 2006.
StorMan: Anything interesting about your area, or the building itself?
Clayton: We are a new state of the art storage facility. We are surrounded by two of the most popular businesses in Avon's small 4 mile radius; Dunkin Donuts and Walmart. The grounds in which this facility rests on used to be a factory. The grounds required several years of environmental clean up before we could begin construction.
StorMan: How has StorMan made things easier for you?
Francine: Inventory has become so much easier in StorMan. It has made entering in new merchandise quicker and more efficient.
StorMan: And finally... what's your favourite StorMan feature?
Clayton: Features that we like about StorMan, hmm... so many to chose from, but the favourite would have to be cash sales. It helps your customers get in and out quickly.
Many thanks to Clayton and Francine at Avon Quality Storage in Avon, Massachusetts for their time and input. If you'd like your facility to be featured as a Facility of the Month, please get in touch with us. |
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| Access Control Software Backups |
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 The last thing you'd want to do over the holiday period is have to call a contractor to repair an Access Control System and reset it's database because your facility computer was stolen or damaged.
So, just like with StorMan, it's also important to backup your Access Control database & settings. To find out how to do this, contact your Access Control System supplier or check out this blog from guest blogger Ben Parsad if you use a PTI-branded system.
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 This maths riddle must be done in your head only; do not write it down.
What is the new total, when you start with 1000, and then add the following...
- 40
- 1000
- 30
- 1000
- 20
- 1000
- 10
Answer to this brainteaser: Since our next eNews issue won't be until February 2011, we thought we would answer this one for you in the current issue. Did you get '5000' as your answer? The correct answer is actually '4100'. If you don't believe it, check with your calculator!
Answer to last month's brainteaser: Of all the replies we received about this one, only one user was correct this time. The answer is not 'Nunu'... the correct answer is actually 'Jane'. |
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| Christmas / New Year operating hours |
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Just a friendly reminder that StorMan Software will be running on adjusted operating times over the festive season. The operating hours for each of our worldwide offices are shown below...
Australian Office
December 24th: 8am - 12noon AEST
December 27th (Boxing day): Closed
December 28th (Christmas day): Closed
December 29th: 8am - 12noon AEST (urgent support only)
December 30th: 8am - 12noon AEST (urgent support only)
December 31st: 8am - 12noon AEST (urgent support only)
January 3rd: (New Years day): Closed
January 4th: Open as per usual
New Zealand Office
December 24th: 8:30am - 2pm NZT
December 27th (Christmas day): Closed
December 28th (Boxing day): Closed
December 29th: 10am - 3pm NZT
December 30th: 10am - 3pm NZT
December 31st: 10am - 3pm NZT
January 3rd: Closed
January 4th: Closed
January 5th: Open as per usual
United States Office
December 24th: 8:30am - 2pm PTD
December 25th (Christmas day): Closed
December 29th: 10am - 3pm PTD
December 30th: 10am - 3pm PTD
December 31st: 10am - 3pm PTD
January 3rd: (New Years day): Closed
January 4th: Open as per usual
United Kingdom Office
December 24th: 8:30am - 12noon UTC/ZULU
December 27th (Christmas day): Closed
December 28th (Boxing day): Closed
December 29th: 8:30am - 12noon (urgent support only) UTC/ZULU
December 30th: 8:30am - 12noon (urgent support only) UTC/ZULU
December 31st: 8:30am - 12noon (urgent support only) UTC/ZULU
January 3rd (New Years day): Closed |
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| Christmas with the StorManite's |
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As the year draws to a close, we'd like to thank everyone for their business and support throughout 2010. Here are some personal messages from some of our managers...
 Aaron Alsweiler (CEO)
I think I may have slept through a month or so somewhere along the line - though I am not sure where. Here I am writing a Christmas message and I am sure it shouldn’t be due for another 6 months. The only thing that proves I am not dreaming is that once again the kids are thinking ideas for presents and the "let's do a pre-Christmas catch up this weekend" count seems to be running out faster than I care to admit.
It has been another year of full speed ahead for the whole StorMan team. On top of new versions, new customers and new staff we have just relocated our HQ. We finally admitted that we had indeed grown too big for the space that we had and that living in each other’s pockets may not be the best way to work. So after a month of headaches some of which were anticipated we find ourselves almost back up and running yet still surrounded by those boxes that we will get to unpack soon.
This has been a year of hard grind for the whole team and I pleased to say that it is paying off. We are close to releasing a whole new build that we have kept fairly well under wraps. It will bring a new level of integration possibilities to your businesses. Look out for that sometime in the new year. The sales team have battled uphill under a weak market to deliver an impressive number of new clients. This has been due to doing the hard yards and also the fact that there have been movements in the software marketplace that we have positioned ourselves to capitalise on.
To our customers old and new and to all the StorMan staff I wish you a heartfelt Seasons Greetings and thank you so very much for your partnership with us. No matter how you choose to celebrate please stay safe, enjoy your time with family and friends and strive to find a story that you can share with myself or one of the team in the New Year. Have a truly Merry Christmas and let’s make it a fantastic New Year.
 Steven Barker (Implementation Manager)
Many of you are probably already using a third-party application called VNC, which allows you to log us into your computer to help you out when required. When you're not using VNC, be sure to exit the program (or, under the options menu, select the Authentication tab and setup a password as an added security measure).
Now onto backups! My staff and I have been finding more and more sites that have become, for lack of a better work, lazy with their backups - especially those that are linked to a MultiView database.
Even if your database synchronises with a Head Office MultiView system, this doesn't negate the need to do a daily back. It is also a part of our terms and conditions that each facility does a daily backup. If you do not, you run the risk of voiding your support.
On that note, I would like to wish you have a very merry Christmas and please PLEASE remember to do your daily backups. If the worst should happen and you lose all your data, it is always reassuring to know that with a current backup the tech's at StorMan can have you up and running in no time. Stay safe!
 The Entire StorMan Team
From everyone here at StorMan - we hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a safe, happy New Year. |
 Ben Williams (Australian General Manager)
We again welcome all of our many new and existing customers to the end of what has been a very busy but fruitful year for StorMan. Standing here looking back over the decade it seems to me that a number of things have changed our lives. Firstly I remember that 10 years ago we were all bracing for the dreaded Y2K bug and all its infamy and hub bub.
Seeing it now with some perspective and it’s quite funny really but at the time it seemed too many IT professionals as the end of the "digital" world. Not so it seems. More and more we see online privacy diminishing and more ideas that come close to giving us the true big brother experience that seemed so intrusive and "Orwellian" 30 years ago. Remember that once you enter details into someone else’s database, i.e. one that you don’t own and control, they may not want to give it back.
To the future and I see that many of the existing operators will continue to expand and grow while our industry will continue to become one of solid growth and investment opportunity. So while we sit here and bask in the sunset of the first decade of the 21st century may I take this time to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year but more importantly look at where you have come from in the last 10 years and decide where you want to go in the next 10. Whatever you decide to do, know this, at StorMan we will be here to support and help you grow your business as we have done since 1992 and we look forward to continuing our journey with you. Merry Christmas!
 Chris Corcoran (United Kingdom Sales & Support)
Another year has flown by again - all too quickly as I'm sure you will agree. Once again looking back on the past year I can report back on what I have observed. New facilities are opening up, many of the sites which I have regular contact with are expanding or are looking to expand. All this can surely be a good thing for those involved with storage in the UK.
It is interesting, however, to see what extra services facilities have been adding to their core storage offerings. To give you a taste whether you think they’re a waste of time or a novelty offering, I've seen: car valeting, document shredding, packaging, piping internet into storage sheds, skip hire... the list goes on! Some of the things I have seen setup in our customer's StorMan 'Analysis Codes' lists have really surprised me. If you have any ideas or tried and tested additional services that you would like to share, please feel free to email me. Merry Christmas from a cold England!
 Robert Richardson (Development Team Leader)
If anyone remembers my message from last year you'll be pleased to know that the website interaction part of our software is currently in beta testing for version 8.2. As well as this there are performance enhancements, at least for those who have the hardware for it to use and a bunch of other new features which you'll hear more about early next year.
This year had a few curve balls with some major changes to the way the underlying code works for our MultiView customers improving the responsiveness of the product, the NZ GST change & unfortunately the departure of Stuart Grant our longest serving staff member. Any of you that use StorPay or use MultiView will have likely dealt with him over the years and it was sad to see him go. We do have a new kid on the block however, Denis Mikheev who comes to us all the way from Russia. He brings a lot of talent to our team and has been working on a lot of the background code for us as he learns more about the storage business and StorMan.
Hopefully you all have a wonderful holiday season with your friends & family, I know I will! A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone. |
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| Annual update from the SSAA |
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What a Whirlwind! (by Luisa Natoli, Self Storage Association of Australasia)
As the new Membership Officer for the Self Storage Association of Australasia, my first short four months has certainly been a whirlwind! My first order of business was to assist with the Trade Show and Convention that we hosted in October 2010 in Wellington. This was not only my first time to New Zealand but also my first time at a convention in a “behind the scenes” capacity.
It was a tremendous team effort, with lots of overseas planning and logistics but overall I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. I think it was a huge success and I can’t wait for the next Trade Show and Convention to be held right here in Melbourne from 16 to 18 August 2010. My personal prediction is that the Melbourne Convention will be the biggest turn-out to date!
After the Trade Show and Convention in Wellington, we got serious about organizing and hosting the SSAA Regional Meetings across Australia and New Zealand and have just capped off the very last of them in Auckland. We put on our Christmas round of Regional Meetings at the beginning of November - in Perth, Adelaide, Queensland, Melbourne and Auckland and it was a great opportunity for me to touch base with so many members.
I've found that these meetings are a great informal way to discuss matters or strike up a conversation amongst colleagues without the driving force of a conference behind you. Regularly hosted in a premier venue, such as the MCG, Pallazzo Versace or a winery, with great food, drinks and so many self storage people all under the one roof – what more could you ask for?
Continue reading Luisa's update on our website... |
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| Computer Tip of the Month |
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 Extend your browsing experience
If you use Firefox on your computer, did you know that you can 'extend' it through a series of free plug-ins or extensions? There's virtually a plug-in for everything.
Some of the popular ones include ad-blockers (great for blocking ads on those pesky online news sites), weather forecasting widgets, music players & script blockers. In fact, there are about 10,000 free plug-ins available!
If you run Firefox on your computer, be sure to visit their plug-in site. |
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When computer technicians have too much time on their hands...
Have you got a joke or funny pic to send us?
Please let us know! |
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 NORAD stands for 'North American Aerospace Defence Command' and is a joint organization of Canada and the United States that provides aerospace warning, air sovereignty and defence for the two countries.
The design of this facility makes it one of the most unusual installations in the world, as it is housed 600m into Cheyenne Mountain.
Although the mountain would probably not survive a direct hit from today's accurate and high-yield nuclear weapons, it could survive lower yield nuclear and conventional weapons impact. It is self-sustaining, capable of providing its own power, water, air and food for up to 800 people for 30 days.
You can read more about NORAD via Wikipedia. NORAD also has a "Santa Tracker" program for kids, via this link. |
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 Hi there - I'm Darran, one of StorMan's Technical Support Agents. Each issue, I'll trawl through the deep depths of the internet to find you a funky piece of software, hardware or other interesting technological trinkets.
Now - given that Christmas is fast approaching, here's a bunch of fun gadgets that'd make great gifts for friends, family - or yourself.
LED Car Sign: Have you ever wanted to tell the person tailgating you to back off a bit? What about a smile if they've let you push in front of them or an OOPS if you accidentally cut someone off? Well now you can, with the LED car sign. Containing up to 16 presets, simply touch a button on the controller up the front and the sign up the back displays what you've asked. For $30 USD, I reckon it's a bargain! Find out more here.
Retro Bluetooth handset: Who needs those fancy in-ear Bluetooth handsets when you can have a real "hand"set. You know, one that you hold in your hand. Get back to the good-old days, with this Bluetooth kit that looks like an old-skool telephone handset. Available in red or black. Find out more here.
Spycam & MP3 sunglasses: These sunnies will do more than just shade your eyes... they also feature a build-in MP3 player, headphones and a miniature video camera that can record up to 4 hours of video on the built-in memory. There's even a remote control that you can use to start the recording from inside your pocket or bag. Find out more here.
Nb. All 'Latest Gadget' information & imagery is sourced from online entities & supplier websites. StorMan generally doesn't endorse, own or test any of these products; we merely link to them as you might find them interesting or fun for your own use... |
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StorMan eNews is a monthly publication designed & compiled by
Andy P. + guest writers, and is ©
StorMan 2010. E&OE.
We use publicly available sources (web sites, magazines, news
clips, etc) to help write our newsletters, and provide links where
possible. All prices quoted, if any, contain GST (unless specified otherwise). |
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Please visit us online at www.storman.com/contact/ for full contact information. |
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