Demand for self-storage services on the rise here

Need for flexible space solutions and diversified offerings among factors driving rapid growth

- Joyce Lim

Toy collector Jian Yang lives in a 1,050 sq ft two-bedroom single-storey terrace house, but it is far from sufficient to house his collection of 13,000 Barbie dolls.

To manage the overflow, Mr Yang rents two storage units at a facility in Eunos, where over 1,000 dolls are kept.

"I built my house around my collection, but space ran out," Mr Yang told The Straits Times.

The 45-year-old, who runs an advertising agency, was one of the first customers to rent a storage space at Storefriendly when it opened its flagship store in Eunos Avenue 3 in 2019. He pays less than $1,000 a month.

Mr Yang is part of a growing wave of individuals and businesses driving a boom in demand for self-storage services here.

Originally catering to relocators seeking temporary space for household items, the industry now serves diverse needs - from collectors like Mr Yang to businesses leveraging storage as a cost-effective alternative to larger premises.

Unlike warehouses that typically store bulk items or fast-moving consumer goods, Storefriendly focuses on providing personalised storage solutions for individuals and businesses, said its chief executive Jes Johansen.

"We're about storing your barang-barang, your personal items," said Mr Johansen, stressing that self-storage is way different from the traditional concept of warehousing.

The goal is to offer convenient, accessible storage spaces near where customers live or work, complemented by added amenities such as air-conditioning, security features and racking systems, he added.

For businesses, Storefriendly, which has seven branches in Singapore, also provides work-friendly features that include Wi-Fi, meeting rooms, and areas for live streaming or customer interactions.