Phakdee Aniwat, CEO and Founder of "Storage Asia," plans to grow by expanding service branches and launching the new i-StoreGo platform, a Door to Door service aimed at providing comprehensive solutions to enhance the business. The personal storage rental market in Thailand has seen a growth of 200-300%, with significant potential for further expansion due to changing consumer behaviors driven by three main factors: smaller living spaces, the work-from-home trend due to COVID-19, and the increasing popularity of online transactions.

 

Mr. Phakdee Aniwat, CEO and Founder of Storage Asia Co., Ltd., a premium personal storage rental service provider in Thailand under the brand "i-Store," revealed that over the past four years, the company has continuously grown in the personal storage rental market under the brand i-Store Self Storage. This growth is evident from the investments made by 4-5 operators in expanding their storage areas from 5,000 square meters to 20,000 square meters, with an average occupancy rate exceeding 80%.

"Looking at the expansion of storage areas by various operators, I believe the overall market could grow by 200-300%, and there is still significant room for growth," Mr. Phakdee emphasized.

Additionally, Mr. Phakdee commented on the reasons supporting the continuous expansion of personal storage rental services, primarily due to changing consumer behaviors:

1. Changing consumer behaviors due to limited living spaces, particularly in condominiums. Customers living in condos are the main demographic using Storage Asia's services, which include both individual clients and co-promotions with major real estate companies.

2. Adjusted consumer behaviors resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, where consumers living at home or in condos require additional space for work-from-home setups, leading to an increased need for off-site storage.

3. Growth of the E-Commerce market, which involves buying and selling through online channels that require stock storage.

Introducing the i-StoreGo platform to enhance off-site storage rental services without the need to leave home.

Recognizing the continuous growth trend in the market, Storage Asia has launched premium personal storage rental services in central urban locations under the brand i-Store Self Storage to address the needs of both Thai and foreign customers living in condos who require storage space, including expatriates and those on workcations. As the number of foreigners begins to rise again and with the company entering its fifth year, preparations are underway to support customer service and company growth through branch expansions and new service platforms for comprehensive solutions.

The launch of the new service platform aims to capitalize on business opportunities. Recently, the i-StoreGo platform was introduced to provide comprehensive off-site storage rental services through an online management system, where staff will pick up and return items to customers' homes in a Door to Door manner. The i-StoreGo team manages and stores customers' belongings, allowing clients to request their items back simply by selecting what they need. This service follows the concept of "Cloud storage but for your stuff," with a target of approximately 1,000 users in 2022 and an increase to 3,000 users in 2023.

 

Additionally, Mr. Stefano Cassio, Director of Business Development at Storage Asia Co., Ltd., mentioned that the inception of i-StoreGo stemmed from recognizing customer needs during the past period, where they sought to organize their homes for work and renovations but could not leave home. i-StoreGo was developed to meet the needs of those looking for storage solutions.

Customers can choose to store small items such as documents, books, shoes, personal belongings, clothing, bicycles, golf bags, or luggage, as well as larger items, with storage sizes tailored to customer needs. The i-StoreGo team will handle packing, moving, storing, and returning items through an online management system. This one-stop service significantly reduces the hassle of storage for customers.

At the same time, Mr. Phakdee noted that with the increasing rate of online transactions in Thailand, i-StoreGo is evolving from the original business to provide online services to reach a broader customer base without limiting the number of units. Regarding disruption in the business, he views it as complementary rather than competitive, as it strengthens the brand and enhances customer trust. When customers' belongings are stored, they receive careful attention and care under the i-Store brand. He believes that i-StoreGo Door to Door Storage will create a comprehensive business model that can address problems and offer the best solutions for customers, especially as they increasingly rely on mobile devices.

i-StoreGo plans to expand its service areas throughout Thailand and internationally in the next 3-4 years, particularly in densely populated countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines. This service is ideal for those seeking convenience and additional space. Services can be accessed through www.i-storego.com or by contacting 093-128-3199.