own your future

The next step in growing your self storage business

6885 Alton Pkwy #200Irvine, CA 92618

949.629.4142storelocal.com STAY INDEPENDENT | GROW YOUR BUSINESS | COLLABORATE TO INNOVATE

EDITION 3

Storelocal is a co-op created

and owned by independent

storage operators. We

develop and provide

education, services, and

technology to increase the

profitability of our members.

Technology Tools

own your future

Customer Experience

Online Visibility

Collaboration

Buying Power

Contents

Leadership 01 U.S. Storage Universe 02 Why a Co-op? 04 How We Think 06 What We Do 08 Collaborate with Industry Leaders 11 Technology Tools 13 Online Visibility 15 Customer Experience 17 Buying Power 19 What Our Members Say 21 Join the Movement 22 What It Costs 23 FAQ 24

We are investing to keep

your self storage business

successful now and far into

the future.

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own your future

Your Logo here!

Co-op Members

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0302 www.storelocal.com I

limited to 5,000 Stores

7,000 Stores

50,000+ Stores U.S. Storage Universe

Why we exist

1

Why It Works

2

3

First, we believe in the storage industry.

Second, we believe in serving our customers.

Third, we believe that together, we are better, stronger and smarter than we are individually.

Own the solutions that bridge the technology gap.

TechnologyStorelocal’s collective scale allows us to prosper in a competitive environment.

CompetitionWe provide the tools to meet evolving customer expectations.

Customer

Smaller Operators are banding together

StoreLocal is a cooperative created by self storage operators with the goal of leading our industry into an increasingly competitive landscape.

We’ve spent decades discovering and developing the self storage market. As a result of our hard work and success, self storage is now one of the best performing real estate investments in recent memory. What started out as an underserved real estate niche has grown to include thousands of entrepreneurs, tens-of-thousands of facilities (many still family owned) and high profit margins. Our success has attracted attention from entities interested in carving out their own share of the self storage pie.

Capital investment is increasing. Technology is shifting and government regulation is accelerating. Rather than fear these changes, storelocal sees them as an opportunity. This industry will continue to be profitable far into the future, and by banding together we will stay in the vanguard of this movement.

We believe that together great things are possible.

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Why a Co-op?

1

Challenging the status quo

2

3

First, we believe in the storage industry.

Second, we believe in serving our customers.

Third, we believe togetherwe are better, stronger and smarter than we are individually.

Own the solutions that bridge the technology gap.

The Technology Gap

storelocal’s collective scale allows us to prosper in a competitive environnement.

The Competition

We provide the tools to keep up with customer expectations.

The Customer

Independent Operators are banding together

Simply put, we chose the co-op model because it’s an organization that’s owned and run by its members. However, for the individuals who make up the co-op, it’s so much more than that. A co-op is an opportunity for entrepreneurs to unite and make their voices heard. It’s a way for independent operators to have the same power as the big guys. By joining a co-op, business owners have access to industry knowledge, buying power and dramatically increased exposure.

Chances are, you already know a few co-ops. If you’ve shopped at Ace Hardware, you’ve experienced a co-op that gives independent store owners access to $4 billion in wholesale buying power. If you’ve stayed at a Best Western, you’ve seen firsthand the power that a marketing co-op can have on hospitality and real estate branding. Your REI backpack came from a co-op made up of millions of members, all of whom receive a percentage of profits.

Storelocal is proud to be the first and only national self storage co-op. We believe in this industry because we’re self storage professionals ourselves. We offer the advantages of a big company all while maintaining the feel of a small, locally owned business. Like the self storage industry, storelocal is growing every day. We invite you to join the co-op movement and grow with us.

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How We Think

We call it the storelocal advantage. The self storage market is evolving, but you don’t have to face those changes alone. We do more than just cheer each other on; we research industry trends and develop cutting-edge solutions that set our members up for success.

Collectively leveraging knowledge, value and commitment, storelocal increases members’ competitive advantage in the marketplace. We think providing access to the best business tools will reduce your operational costs and increase your profit.

“The collective experience of the co-op fosters great ideas. Factor in storelocal’s technological advances and you’ve got a winning combination.”

Cris BurnamStorage Mart I 170 Stores

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What We Do

Grow your business Get guidance Increase your profit

Your future tenants are looking for you. Let us point them in the right direction with marketing that goes way beyond the phone book, including tools to enhance the customer experience like size guide videos and free online listings for all of your facilities. We’ll get your occupancy rate up by putting customers in touch with you.

By joining storelocal, you are becoming business partners with respected operators in the industry. The combined experience and expertise of our members is unparalleled. If you’ve got a question about your business, our co-op has the answer.

We’ve all heard the saying, “Work smarter, not harder,” but how exactly do you do that? Storelocal answers this question by providing members with the education, technology and quantifiable savings that were once only available to large, publicly traded companies. Technology Tools

own your future

Customer Experience

Online Visibility

Collaboration

Buying Power

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"The spirit of collaboration is what sets storelocal apart. We are able to work closely with other like-minded industry leaders and tap into the power of years of experience. Storelocal is truly a co-operative in the best sense of the word."

Brian CasterA-1 Self Storage I 46 Stores

Storelocal was created by self storage owners for self storage owners. We deal with complex issues involving technology, services and customer communication, but you will never need a translator. We strive to serve our members with simplicity and transparency.

Ever wanted to pick the brains of the industry leaders you admire? Looking for an industry mentor? Want advice on a business problem? One of the things that sets storelocal’s membership apart is its commitment to collaboration. Together we succeed.

We give our members access to thought leaders inside and outside the storage industry who would otherwise be unreachable. These relationships challenge our mission and improve our objectives. The information we gain from these thought leaders helps us stay ahead of the technology and marketing curve.

We Speak Storage

We Work Together

We Educate

Collaborate with Industry Leaders

We speak your language. We know your business. We are you.

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"The co-op's mission is to provide members with the tools they need to succeed. One of the most important tools in the modern self storage industry is technology. Thanks to storelocal's constant research and development, we're always one step ahead of the competition."

Lance WatkinsStorage Outlet I 10 Stores

Think of us as your personal research and development department. By pooling our access to industry information, we can also pool insights about our customers that are actionable and affordable.

The modern consumer—yes, we’re talking about millennials—wants a seamless experience. We’ve developed strategies to teach you how to attract and keep the business of this unique, tech-savvy demographic.

We’re in control of our technology because we have our own in-house development team. We leapfrog the competition, so you don’t ever have to feel left behind. Additionally, because we don’t ever have to rely on outside vendors, we save you money by eliminating the middleman.

Tools for Research

Tools for the Future

Tools for Development

Technology Tools

You own and control the tools that will help you succeed.

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“I think for the independent owner it’s very easy to say, “I’ll just sell because I can’t compete.” But why not try to compete? Why not be a part of something that will allow you to keep your business? Our increased online presence through the co-op allows us to do just that.”

Pam DomingueStorage Solution I 7 Stores

StorageFront.com has long been one of the self storage industry’s most respected and useful directories offering online rentals. Storagefront matches renters with facilities nationwide and is wholly owned by storelocal.

Getting traffic to your website doesn’t mean a whole lot if that traffic doesn’t rent units. Today’s Internet marketplace has taught our customers to expect a quality online experience. Is it easy for prospective customers to find your facility online, rent a unit and move in? If not, we can help.

Directory

Seamless Online Reservations

Customer Conversions

Online Visibility

If you thought the Yellow Pages were great, wait until you hear about the Internet.

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What do the hotel, airline, restaurant and car rental industries have that self storage doesn’t? An integrated reservation system. By developing this platform, storelocal is closing the loop from customer acquisition to move-in and providing another critical conversion tool for its members.

Don Clauson

97% of customers assume that a positive online experience will translate to a positive experience in person. At storelocal, we literally figured out the science behind getting customers to make purchases by partnering with a neuroscience team in order to find out how to make the online experience more approachable. Work with us to set a new standard for customer service in the digital age.

Customers will come into contact with your brand as well as many others while searching for storage. You need to know your brand is well represented, from the sign outside your facility to your website, and everywhere in between. The way we interact with our customers determines how long they stay. The co-op can help improve every customer touchpoint.

Simplified User Experience

Renter Retention

Consistent Contact

Customer Experience

Customer expectations have changed. Do you know what customers want?

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Customers come and go, but many of them use storage more than once. Storelocal wants to make our member facilities the obvious choice now and in the future.

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“I want customers to feel welcome, not just in person but online, too. Customers expect doors that roll up properly, a clean facility and good service. Today’s customer also expects a positive web experience.”

Strat Property Mgmt I 53 Stores

“The best thing we can share with each other is our ideas. We can then take those ideas and use them to get quality products, new technology, better marketing—whatever the co-op needs.”

Travis MorrowNational Self Storage I 14 Stores

Many services are not available to small or even large regional operators, but a co-op of our size can negotiate pricing for premium services across many industries affecting storage. From financial and administrative services to software, our members get the best at a fraction of the cost.

Have you ever felt lost in the shuffle or even ignored by a vendor? No more with storelocal. The relationships we cultivate with our industry’s vendors run deep and the attention our members receive is held to the highest standards.

You can trust that the products and services vetted by storelocal ensure the best value, customer service and access to our members. Enjoy peace of mind knowing we’re looking out for your best interests, because it’s in our best interest.

Price and Exclusivity

Service

Peace of Mind

Buying Power

It’s not about the money. It’s about the access.

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What Our Members Say

We know that storelocal can make your self storage business more successful than ever before. But don’t take our word for it; hear it from the source.

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Ron OsborneKeylock Self Storage | 7 Stores

“The savings alone with just our 6 facilities paid for our entire annual membership.”

Carl TouheySelf Storage Performance Group1 Store

“Part of being in the co-op is that now I’m part of a group that are some of the smartest, brightest, most intelligent and future-looking people in the entire industry.“

John LindseyLindsey Self Storage Group | 8 Stores

"We are using Select Merchant Solutions at all of our locations, and have been absolutely delighted with the extraordinary level of customer service and tremendous savings. Signing on with Select Merchant Solutions has added hundreds to our bottom line each month!"

Steve MirabitoStoragePro | 38 Stores

More than 80% of the self storage facilites are owned by people like you and me. When we all band together we can compete with anyone!

Ally YoungRV Storage Depot | 5 Stores

"By joining storelocal we've expanded our reach, and been able to shape and mold our business to compete with the larger operators."

Mark WinmillGlobal Self Storage | 8 Stores

"The co-op provides all sorts of tools to enable the independant operator to become a sophisticated operator."

AJ OsborneKeylock Self Storage | 7 Stores

“These are people that want to be involved in where the industry is going. They want to participate in where our industry is moving forward. These are people that are having 5, 10, 15 and 50 year visions on what our future in the industry will look like.”

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Join the MovementCompete with the Big 6 I Increase Profit I Research & Development

Storelocal is an investment, a partnership and an advocate for self storage operators. We understand that every dollar you spend needs to help your business succeed, which is why we strive to operate with transparency and collaboration.

Monthly membership dues are locked in for the term of your membership and we are always working to lower their cost. With a two-year commitment, owner share financing is available. All it takes to join storelocal is a one-time investment in an owner share that’s fully refundable upon leaving the co-op.

Interested in learning more? For complete information please give us a call (949) 629-4142 or go to www.storelocal.com.

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What It Costs

Owner Share Pricing

Stores

1 - 3

4 - 10

11 - 20

21 - 40

41 - 60

61 - 80

81 - 100

101 - 200

3

7

15

30

50

70

90

100

$3,000

$7,000

$15,000

$30,000

$50,000

$70,000

$90,000

$100,000

Shares Cost

Owners with more than 200 facilities should contact us for pricing at (949) 629-4142.

(one-time refundable investment)

Frequently Asked Questions

Q

A

Q

A

Yes, there is a one-year commitment when joining the co-op.

Is there a minimum time requirement?Q

A

Yes, storelocal is owned and managed by the people who use its services.

Is storelocal a true co-op?

Q

A The services offered by the co-op are designed to benefit all your facilities equally (e.g., collective bargaining prices) and therefore the expectation is that all your stores will be included.

Do all my stores need to join the co-op?The number of stores you own determines how many owner shares you buy to join the co-op (refer to page 23). If you decide to leave the co-op, your owner shares are bought back at the same purchase value.

What is an owner share? Q

A

A co-operative ("co-op") is an autonomous association of organizations or persons who voluntarily cooperate for their mutual benefit.

What is a co-op? The members own the company and any products or services offered. By design, profits go back to the members either in the form of dividends or by lowering the cost of services provided. Storelocal promotes true collaboration among its members. We believe in learning from each other and working together to achieve more. Our co-op offers a systematic approach to facilitate collaboration.

We are not a group of vendors marketing to owners. We are a group of owners looking for the right vendors.

Q

A There are no organizations similar to storelocal in the storage industry. Here are some important highlights:

a.

b.

c.

How is the storelocal co-op different from other organizations in our industry?

For additional FAQs please check our website: www.storelocal.com

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Yes, if you choose to finance the owner share purchase, you will commit to a two-year contract. The cost of the shares will be amortized over the contract period. A member is not eligible for dividends until the full owner share purchase is finalized.

Is financing available for the purchase of owner shares? Q

A

Q

A No, storelocal believes in freedom of choice. Operators should choose their own mix of products and services.

If I join the co-op, am I obligated to use your services exclusively?

Q

A We believe 5,000 stores provides you with the greatest benefits of economies of scale without creating inefficiencies on the co-op level.

Why 5,000?

Q

A No, we will never ask you to transfer real property interest.

Does the co-op require real property ownership of my assets?

Q

A No, we believe operators know what works best for them, and they should have free choice in vendors and services.

If I join the co-op, do I have to switch my property management software?

Q

A Yes, we have set the membership limit at 5,000.

Is there a limit to the number of stores that can join the co-op?

Q

A Three fundamental components enable a transparent, efficient and effective governance process:

a. Bylaws, modeled after other successful co-ops.

b. A board of directors elected every year to ensure the bylaws are integrated into the co-op’s operations.

c. An executive team that implements the strategic roadmap as directed by the board.

How is the co-op governed?

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