The Difference Between Mini Storage and Self Storage

There are a lot of people out there who don’t really know the difference between self storage and mini storage Colorado Springs. You’ve probably asked yourself what the difference is between mini storage and self-storage.

That was our question, too. It turns out that there isn’t much of a difference after all. The terms “mini storage” and “self-storage” are sometimes used interchangeably in the industry. Today, self-storage is the most frequent term used in the sector.

Self Storage

Self-storage is a storage facility that allows customers to access their belongings without the assistance of staff. The idea (as we know it now), was created in Texas in the 1960s by Russ Williams and Bob Munn, his stepson. Williams and Munn opened “A1 U-Store-It U-Lock-It U-Carry-the-Key,” a cinder block facility with a wooden overhead door that was marketed to oil firms as a secure location to store barrels and materials.

Mini Storage

The “mini warehouse” concept took off. Large national storage chains debuted in 1972 to cash in on the demand for self-service storage, and many smaller independent stores sprouted up across the country, establishing the self-storage industry as we know it today.

What’s the Difference for You?

Although the words self-storage and mini storage are sometimes used interchangeably, there may be some functional distinctions between the facilities you’re looking at.

The facility name may include Mini Storage, which simply implies that the facility has been there since the mini warehouse boom of the 1960s and 1970s. The size of the facility, the number of units, or even the size of the parking lot can all play a role in determining whether something is deemed “mini.”

Mini storage Colorado Springs, on the other hand, is not always a good indicator of what a facility can provide. Storage facility design has evolved to meet changing consumer storage demands over time. Older structures are frequently retrofitted by new owners to provide more unit sizes in the same area, thanks to their outdated design.

Small storage units might be available in one mini storage facility but not in another. 5×5, for example, is a tiny size – the smallest possible – that may be found in one mini storage facility; however, across town at another mini storage facility, you could not find anything smaller than 20×40 (a great size for a real).

Mini storage can be hard to find, especially in Colorado Springs. American Storage is our go-to for all of our storage needs. Whether we need a small unit or big, or a climate controlled unit.

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