YSN Member of the Year Award 2023

At the SSA UK Conference in Birmingham, the Young Storage Network (YSN) presented the very first YSN Member of the Year Award. We received a lot of fantastic applications and with great pleasure, Rennie Schafer was on hand to present the inaugural award to Kelsey Carter. 

Kelsey joined Squab Evesham as a part-time Sales Consultant and has progressed to be Squab’s youngest manager to date. Kelsey is a team player and works hard to communicate well with others and create a fun working environment. She ran the site on her own for a 3-month period and rose to the challenge, maintaining top-notch customer service during this period despite staff shortages. She is committed to learning and bettering herself, as well as sharing with others the tips she’s learned along the way. Recently, we managed to steal some of Kelsey’s time to ask her some questions about her self storage career and how the YSN has played a part in her self storage success.

When did you join Squab?

November 2019

What made you want to join the self storage industry?

I’m always up for a new challenge and when I saw the job advertised, it seemed so different that I just had to apply! In my previous role, each day was so varied which I really liked and the same can definitely be said about self storage.

What is your favourite thing about working in self storage?

For me, my favourite part is getting to help people all the time. If people require self storage, there’s a very good chance that it’s due to an event in their life that may be causing them serious distress or heartache. If I feel as though I’ve helped their process even slightly, I know I’ve done my job well.

How has the YSN helped your career?

It has helped in a number of ways, from helping me connect with like minded, inspiring young people in the industry to providing regular training in a variety of subjects – all of which have been incredibly helpful. Self storage can occasionally be quite a lonely industry as sites can be run with very little physical manpower so knowing that there’s a whole network of people who can help with any queries or problems I may have is really valuable to me.

What advice would you give to someone new to the industry, looking to build their career?

I’d definitely recommend tapping into the network available to you, whether that’s the YSN or SSA UK or even others in the industry. Don’t be afraid to ask questions as people are always happy to help. I would also recommend a strong social media presence as early as possible and visiting various facilities even if they are not a direct competitor. The industry is developing and growing so quickly too, I recommend taking advantage of all and any networking or training you can find to stay ahead of the game!

In your experience, what is a common mistake people make when it comes to running a self storage site, and how can this be avoided?

I’d say there’s always the risk of prioritising profits over customers – it’s easily done but I like to think with my customer service background, I am very conscious of how the entire experience can affect them too. Without customers, there would simply be no storage so take the time to listen to their comments and complaints if and when these arise.

Is there anything new coming up in your work/the company that you’re excited about?

Working for Squab, there is always some new and exciting things on the horizon but on a personal level, I am looking forward to continuing to train new starters as I have found I really enjoy sharing what I’ve learned over the past few years. On a site level, we are further expanding our external container area as due to immense popularity, they are all already occupied.

Which skills are you most interested in developing over the next 12 months?

I am looking further into completing more training especially, in the management area as I have only been in this position for a year and I believe there’s a lot more for me to learn. I am also looking into Mental Health in the Workplace courses so that I can help anyone who might be struggling.

You recently won the first YSN Member of the Year award. What would you say to other YSN members thinking about entering next year?

Definitely do not be afraid to nominate yourself – I did! I felt a little self-conscious during the process but it felt amazing to be recognised on a professional level. It was also lovely to sit and really reflect on everything I had achieved and it gave me a real boost.

Do you have any hobbies outside of work?

I’m really into photography as well as travelling as much as I possibly can. I’m also quite crafty – I cross stitch, paint, and sew some of my own clothes! Do you listen to any podcasts/ read any books that you would recommend? I am obsessed with True Crime podcasts and books – I’ve already read ten this year (three about Ted Bundy alone!).

What’s your perfect holiday?

A perfect holiday for me involves lots of activities. I don’t mind where I’m going, I just like to make the most of my time. Whenever I have a trip planned, I like to put together a full spreadsheet of everything we’ll be doing! I’m always very organised. At the moment I’m trying to visit 30 countries before I’m 30 which has brought me to some truly amazing places I may not have visited before.