Self storage supporting growth of Airbnb & short-term rental agencies
As Airbnb and other short-term rental platforms have gained traction in South Africa, so have a multitude of rental service agencies been formed to service this ever-growing industry.
One such company is Weaverbird Rental Services, a full-service agency for Airbnb and short-term rentals. As Weaverbird has grown, so has the company’s space requirements. They made the decision to use Stor-Age Gardens as a head site of operations, as opposed to signing up for an expensive and long-term binding lease.
It was a decision that completely changed their business. Self storage has allowed them to scale up and down as needed, with no long-term lease or having to worry about additional property maintenance. They can also rest assured that their company inventory is safe, secure and even insured by Stor-Age.
The business started when Shawn Graaff, owner of Weaverbird Rental Services, began renting out her own home with Airbnb. It quickly grew from there and today is a thriving business. She then joined forces with other hosts in the area to create a hosting collective, Weaverbird Rental Services. Comments Shawn "It’s called Weaverbird because we make and manage great nests.”
She adds, “The core of our business is to stay lean and mobile and a daily office space would be a limitation. As a mobile-work force, self storage has allowed us to save a lot of money that would otherwise be spent on expensive office space.
Self storage provides multiple perks for businesses like Weaverbird Rental Services. Full time employees are given access tags to the storage unit to access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This accessibility perfectly suits the 24-hour nature of the Airbnb business which often requires last minute preparations due to late bookings.
Adds Shawn, “Having a 24-hour 'support economy' allows me to have a 24-hour business. We refer to our storage unit as HQ, as it really is the centre of our business.”
Another advantage of self storage is the flexibility that it provides. Weaverbird Rental Services provide their expertise for listings all over the wider Cape Town area and beyond. The flexibility of being a mobile team requires a home base that matches this flexibility. Stor-Age meet this need by offering a variety of unit sizes and adaptable lease rental agreements depending on changing needs.
Shawn discusses the growing SME network in South Africa, “Once you build a relationship with other small business service providers, your small business will be more successful. When you support each other in that network, then the support is reciprocated and the micro-economy flourishes.”
Shawn takes her cues on business from her clients. Comments Shawn, "The client and service provider relationship can be more than just a contract agreement. My clients have made successful property investments and there's a lesson to learn from each venture we take on. Whether it's an arty flat in the City Bowl, a penthouse in Green Point, a farmhouse in Stanford, or even properties as far as Nairobi - we've learnt a lot from working with clients and helping their investment strategies come to fruition. It's always inspiring to see people begin a journey from their own unique starting point and all end with successful results."
We have certainly noticed an increase in the amount of small to medium sized businesses using our self storage facilities across the country as a low risk and flexible rental solution.
If you need a business self storage solution, we have over 50 conveniently located self storage stores nationwide. Get a quote online or call us on 0861 18 18 18, we can’t wait to be a part of your business journey!