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Gabfocus Self Storage Podcast

Melissa Huff, Josh Huff, Tommy Nguyen

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Listen in as we gab about the self storage industry and focus in on particular areas. Want to learn more about auctions, operations, management, marketing, best practices, customer service, and more? Interested in what the best in the industry have to say? Melissa Huff and Josh Huff tap into a combined 30+ years of experience on operations and marketing to speak to the issues that concern owners and operators. This is also the place for the monthly Gabfocus webinar rebroadcasts where Melissa ...
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Welcome to the Lighthouse Leadership Podcast, where host Evan Hickok unpacks the simple yet powerful frameworks that help managers become exceptional leaders and guide their teams to success. Drawing from real-world experiences, hard-learned lessons, and proven strategies, this podcast explores the hidden factors that cause team underperformance — misalignment, broken processes, psychological danger, and lack of cohesion — and offers actionable solutions to fix them.
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The Lighthouse IT Podcast - May 2nd, 2025 This week, Matt and Griff delve into how Sam Altman stresses the unexpected computational cost of digital politeness in AI interactions, security vulnerabilities, such as a critical flaw in CentreStack and Triofox, and an unconfirmed Oracle Cloud breach. Also, Apple is looking at new Vision models to advanc…
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In this quarterly Legal Chat, self storage attorneys Scott Zucker and Carlos Kaslow tackle the toughest legal challenges operators face in 2025. From military tenants and bankruptcy stays to lean sale objections and law enforcement searches, this conversation dives deep into the real-world scenarios that take storage owners out of the office and in…
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The Lighthouse IT Podcast - April 18th, 2025 This week, we discuss the latest tech breakthroughs, as well as some history. They explore Microsoft's 50th anniversary celebration, where past and present CEOs reflected on the company's influential history and future potential. The launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 boasts some upgrades and exciting new g…
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What separates the good from the truly great in self-storage management? In this episode, Melissa and Tommy are joined by Mark Green from The Jenkins Organization to explore what top-performing managers do differently—and how their daily habits, communication, and customer care lead to higher occupancy and better results. Together, they dive into k…
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What does it take to truly master self-storage management? In this episode, we give a preview of our upcoming session at the Inside Self-Storage World Expo on Friday morning, where they’ll break down the essential skills every great manager and owner needs to succeed. We will expand on these four core areas: ✅ Managing Yourself – Building disciplin…
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So, you’ve got the land and a feasibility study in hand—now what? In this episode, we walk through the critical next steps before breaking ground on a new self-storage facility. From layout decisions to customer flow to operational planning, this conversation is packed with practical advice for developers and future owners. Topics covered include: …
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The Lighthouse IT Podcast - April 4th, 2025 This week, we discuss a wide range of developments in the tech world, first the Pebble Smartwatch. The Core 2 Duo ($149) is bringing back the nostalgia of the original Pebble with the same black-and-white e-paper display and a battery life lasting over 30 days. The addition of an in-device speaker for cha…
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Fresh off the Self Storage Association (SSA) Spring Conference & Expo in Orlando, we break down key legislative updates and share our top takeaways from the event. New and Pending Legislation – Updates on non-monetary defaults, unsigned leases, and the push to remove outdated newspaper advertising requirements Why Industry Self-Regulation Matters –…
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The Lighthouse IT Podcast - March 21st, 2025 This week, we discuss the massive security update for Windows; make sure you install it as soon as possible! Additionally, more security updates include a new VMware exploit that has been discovered and patched. We now have the first reported incident of an AI-created ransomware attack, with the unfortun…
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Five years ago, Gabfest kicked off the Gabfocus webinar series to bring expert insights and real-world strategies to the self-storage industry. Now, in our 70th webinar episode, we’re diving into one of the most important topics for storage operators: How to Dominate Your Local Market. In this special episode, Tommy and Melissa sit down with indust…
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With so many self-storage management software options available, how do you choose the right one for your facility? We unpack the key features and must-haves for 2025, helping you navigate the software landscape to find the best fit for your business. Online Rentals & Payments – How to streamline the tenant experience with electronic signatures, ID…
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In this episode of the Lighthouse Leadership Podcast, Evan Hickok shares a cautionary tale from early in his career, highlighting how a seemingly insignificant $1 oversight escalated into a costly $90,000 issue. Evan unpacks critical lessons on the importance of effective issue tracking, clear alignment within teams, and the shift from individual e…
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Welcome to the first episode of the Lighthouse Leadership Podcast! In this powerful kickoff, Evan Hickok shares the personal journey that inspired the creation of this podcast—a failed team turnaround that left him wondering: What makes some teams thrive while others fall apart? Diving into eye-opening statistics, Evan highlights the staggering fai…
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The Lighthouse IT Podcast - March 7th, 2025 This week, Matt and Griff discuss their favorite computer manufacturer, Framework, and their upcoming releases. To no one's surprise, another Fortinet vulnerability has been discovered and patched, but not that many people have installed the patch. While cybersecurity knowledge is becoming more common, it…
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Pricing your self-storage units isn’t just about setting a number and hoping for the best—it’s about staying informed and adapting to market conditions. In this episode, we break down why keeping an eye on your local competition, regional trends, and even seasonal factors is essential for optimizing your rates and specials. Topics covered include: …
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A consultant shows you the path you need to walk, but a mentor walks the path with you. In a business as nuanced and unique as self storage, enlisting a mentor can be the difference between a successful business venture and one that never makes it through lease up. As the industry evolves, new investors often face overwhelming decisions about facil…
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The Lighthouse IT Podcast - February 21st, 2025 This week, Matt and Griff discuss OpenAI's allegations that DeepSeek used OpenAI's models to train DeepSeek's open-source model. Bing is seeing a rise in search engine usage and authority due to its collaboration with ChatGPT, with some companies reporting better results from Bing Ads than Google Ads.…
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In this rebroadcast of our February 20, 2025 webinar, John Chang from Marcus & Millichap provides an in-depth analysis of the self-storage industry's economic landscape in 2025. With inflation stabilizing, interest rates remaining high, and occupancy trends shifting, John breaks down key market forces shaping the industry and what operators should …
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Self-storage isn’t just for life transitions anymore—more and more small business owners, gig workers, and entrepreneurs are using storage units to run and grow their businesses. From Etsy sellers and antique dealers to pharmaceutical reps and lawn care companies, these customers have unique needs and can be some of the longest-staying tenants. In …
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The Lighthouse IT Podcast - February 7th, 2025This week, Matt and Griff discuss Google releasing the source code for Pebble OS and allowing for the creation of a new Pebble smartwatch. Finally! Sweden has seized a ship known as Vezhen over suspicions that it is directly responsible for the recent damage to the Baltic Sea fiber data cable running to…
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Today we dive into figuring out your self storage story- the characters, the plot, and the target audience. It's only after those pieces are in place that an effective story can be told, and your business is no different. But that's only half of the journey. Once you've figured out your story, you have to tell it, and often words just aren't enough…
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We're back for part 2 of the self storage SEO discussion that began on last week's episode. There were so many unanswered questions that needed a response: What if you have multiple locations? Do you use 1 website, 1 Google Profile? How do you get in the Map Pack if your not already? Should my website list every single chain restaurant near my faci…
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What is SEO, why does it matter, and how does it work for self-storage specifically? Today we tackle search engine optimization basics and discuss the impacts of the REITs, AI, and changes to expect in the coming year. Do you need to still be on page 1 of Google? What metrics should you pay attention to? Who and how do you target your ideal custome…
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When is the last time you looked through your self storage operations manual, assuming you have one in place? Is it still fully applicable and relevant? Are you using it to train new employees or is it so out of date it just collects dust on the shelf? Today we talk best practices for optimizing your operations manual. These documents should be reg…
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A new year is here and change is in the wind! Is it time to get into TikTok? Do you need to pivot to AI search? Maybe a billboard strategy or having a manager available 24/7 is what you need. As more and more options for doing self storage become available, what do you need to be doing as a business owner or operator? As with most things, the more …
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The Lighthouse IT Podcast - December 27th, 2024This week, Matt and Griff discuss how Amazon Auto now lets you buy a Hyundai online, how Automattic must restore access to WordPress.com, sparking a very passive-aggressive response, Ev Williams introduced his new app, Mozi, designed to help facilitate in-person connections, Instagram launched 'Trial R…
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Welcome to Episode 4 of Legal Chat. This virtual "Power Hour" covers a variety of topics and questions sent in from self storage owners and operators around the country. Today it's all about costs, data protection, and un-signed leases. Is it okay to pass along costs to your tenants? How long should you hold on to your tenants information once they…
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"The sky is not the limit, demand is the limit for what we can do in self storage." This is just one of the nuggest from our end of the year review. What was your toughest challenge this year? What are the weaknesses you identified in your business? What worked? What didn't? What trends are you expecting in 2025 for self storage? We look back on 20…
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The Lighthouse IT Podcast - December 13th, 2024 This week, Matt and Griff discuss Meta's ambitious $10B plan to build a world-spanning undersea fiber-optic cable. The countdown for TikTok continues as the Appeals Court has upheld the decision that TikTok must be sold or banned in the United States, although they now plan to appeal the Supreme Court…
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You're paying hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars to get website visitors, walk-in traffic, and phone calls to rent self storage units. But what if you're not there to answer the phone? Too many voicemails and missed calls turn into missed opportunities if you aren't connecting with customers in the moment. But is a call center the right solutio…
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Cameras and gates and wasp spray, oh my! Yes, these are all great ways to keep the trash off your property and to give your security a boost. Security is top of mind for most self storage tenants. It consistently ranks in the top 3 for what is most important to our customers. What security do you need for your facility? Do you really need a gate? W…
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The Lighthouse IT Podcast - November 29th, 2024 This week, Matt and Griff discuss recent security updates for MacOS, iOS, and VMware, including active exploitation of vulnerabilities and a Zero-Day flaw in Palo-Alto Firewalls enabling authentication bypass and root access. Finnish authorities suspect sabotage in the C-Lion1 data cable break. Amazon…
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Happy Thanksgiving! As 2024 begins to wrap, we reflect on what makes us most thankful in the self storage industry. From trade shows to business opportunities to our crazy travel schedule, there's a lot to think back on. Yes, we give several specific shout-outs to vendors and individuals who have impacted us, plus some bonus content about our favor…
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Melissa Stiles from Storage Asset Management brings her expertise managing marketing for over 600 self storage locations to the group as we dive into digital marketing. What tactics work for lease up, large stores, small stores, or stable properties? When is it time to change things up? What should your budget look like? We explore social media, Go…
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What's obvious to you might not be so obvious to others. We swim in the self-storage world, so things like month-to-month leases, drive-up access, online rentals, and pest control might not seem like amazing amenities to highlight. However, the average customer doesn't know the standard self-storage package. Handicap access or the fact that they ar…
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The Lighthouse IT Podcast - November 15th, 2024 This week, Matt and Griff discuss Apple's updates to the Mac Mini hardware, Walmart is pushing hard towards eCommerce, even going so far as to implement a brand integration into Roblox and integrate actionable AI into its customer support chatbots. To everyone's shock and surprise (we are not actually…
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Welcome to Episode 3 of Legal Chat. This virtual "Power Hour" covers a variety of topics and questions sent in from self storage owners and operators around the country. Today it's all about disasters. With the recent hurricanes hitting the southeast, it's important to understand the legal challenges. Here are a few of the topics covered: Tenant Co…
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The Lighthouse IT Podcast - November 1st, 2024 This week, Matt and Griff discuss the recent discovery of the largest prime number known to date, and holy cow, it's a big one. Also, do you remember when Windows 10 was going to be Microsoft's last OS? Lighthouse IT Solutions remembers. But unfortunately, it doesn't matter anymore since Microsoft anno…
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Your Google Business Profile accounts for almost 50% of the ranking factors that impact when you'll show up in Google's search results. This free tool is constantly updated and is often the first intro customers have to your business. This profile is a free tool available to every self storage business owner. Are you making the most of every featur…
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Are you tired of hearing "Well, I'm not an attorney, but..."? Worry no more- we have one of the best self storage attorneys in the country joining the webinar today. Scott Zucker has decades of experience in the industry. Today, he updates us on the top changes in 2024, laws from other industries that are impacting self storage, and what's coming i…
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The Lighthouse IT Podcast - October 18th, 2024 This week, Matt and Griff discuss the growing dispute between WordPress.org and WP Engine over their contributions to the open-source project vs. their monetization of it. The internet domain .io has seen a spike in popularity from tech companies, but a potential upcoming change in domain ownership cou…
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In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, many self storage owners across the southeast experienced one of the D's that drive rentals in our industry- Disaster. Whether it's a hurricane, tornado, fire, burglary, or some other form, disaster hits us all. Are you prepared? The best plan is one that's in place before disaster strikes, but even in the mids…
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The Lighthouse IT Podcast - October 4th, 2024 This week, Matt and Griff discuss the discovery that Meta has been scraping public posts on Facebook and Instagram since 2007 and using that data to train their AI models. TikTok is hoping to avoid a ban in the U.S. without selling themselves and has taken their plight to the U.S. Court of Appeals. Addi…
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Customer service makes all the difference. You can have a fantastic self storage facility with a great location that is beautifully clean, but if your customer service is terrible you won't rent a unit. Lee Creech joins the webinar today to share his tips, tricks, and basic principles from his years of experience working in the hotel industry as we…
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There is a question in the self storage industry that brings to light just about everything you need to know about a tenant. Will they rent long term? Will they pay their bill? Are they a business owner? Are they a security risk? Do they need climate control storage? One simple question unlocks the door to all of these answers. This question change…
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Are you even doing trade shows right? There's a right way to do a trade show, and then there's just wasting your time and money. This is just one of many topics we cover as we return to the mics and gab all about the recent Self Storage Association Fall Conference in Las Vegas a few weeks back. We learned alot, from Google updates, to data analytic…
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The Lighthouse IT Podcast - September 20th, 2024 This week, Matt and Griff discuss Yelp filing an antitrust lawsuit against Google on the grounds of Google unfairly dominating local search and advertising. Also unfortunate for Google, the DOJ recently ruled against them in their recent antitrust case, finding Google to be guilty of maintaining a "t…
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The Lighthouse IT Podcast - September 6th, 2024 This week, Matt and Griff discuss how issues with the Boeing Starliner have led NASA to drop it from use, the approach of Microsoft's new Windows Recall AI feature and the potential cybersecurity risks, the FTC recently imposed a ban on the buying and selling of fake reviews online, the rise of AI and…
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The Fall Conference season officially kicks off this week with the SSA Fall Conference & Expo in Las Vegas. With more shows than a person possibly attend over the next few months, how to do you know what is the right show for you? How do you get the most out of your trade show? And should you even attend one? We discuss a few of our tips and tricks…
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Matt Enger, co-founder of Cubby Storage, joins us to talk about his journey into self storage. From his beginnings storing artwork, to the development of Cubby, he has used his tech background to increase efficiency and enhance the customer experience in a variety of industries. We also dive into self storage software, which has become integral to …
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