Self Storage Blog » student storage

Big Yellow Self Storage Bike Challenge

Big Yellow Blogger — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 14:01:06 +0000

On the 19th of August at 7am four of our staff members will be taking on an amazing feat for charity. The Big Yellow Fellows (Mike FitzGerald (the team leader), Richard Shubrook, Paul Holmes and Luke McLaughlin) will, along with badminton coach Stephanie Cartwright, be riding 191 miles visting 34 Big Yellow Self Storage stores within the M25. All this is in aid of national charity Get The Kids Going!

Get Kids Going! works to enable disabled young people to get involved in all kinds of sports, anything from powerlifting to tennis. They’re currently preparing for the London paralympic games in 2012.

The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Jane Emmerson, loves the idea. “It’s absolutely fantastic to see what the Big Yellow Fellow boys are doing – they are certainly putting themselves to the test! We receive no funding from the Government or the Lottery and rely solely on donations from public so the money that Mike and the team raise will directly boost GB medal hopes at next year’s Paralympics helping to buy much needed equipment and sports grants.”

The Big Yellow Fellows endurance cycle is one of six Olympic events they’ll be recreating this year. This is all part of the Gold Challenge. This initiative challenges the public to take part in Olympic and Paralympic events to raise money for sports charities and promote sports among young people.

Good luck to everyone on the Big Yellow Fellows team!

If you’d like to get involved in the cause then you can visit their donation page. All contributions, no matter how small, will be greatly appreciated. (If they reach £1000 then Mike will be having a leg wax. Just a little extra incentive for you there).

Tips and Tricks: Storage for Student Clutter

Big Yellow Blogger — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 13:52:02 +0000

It only seems like yesterday that your children left for their first term of the year for university, but it’s already that time again when they are bringing back all the clutter they initially took with them.
For those who have finished their degrees completely, most parents will be dreading the returning clutter, which may have doubled in size over the past three years with added University books, notes, sports equipment, DVDs and household items. When your family home is already short of space, this can be a frightening thought for most parents. If you are one of these parents, fret not, as Big Yellow Self Storage is here to help.

Big Yellow’s rooms are available in a range of sizes, access to which is available seven days a week. If you are unsure how long you will need self storage for, you can rent a room for as little as seven days, or as long as you may need.

It is even possible to down or upgrade your room size whenever required, so you could even rent a room whilst you sort out what to do with the clutter, and whether or not your children are set to go back to University in September, we have terms which are adept to anyone’s Self Storage needs.

If your children are worried about you having access to their belongings, you can reassure them with the fact that the space is locked with their own padlocks, so, if desired, only they have access to their prized possessions.

Big Yellow Self Storage realize that moving and packing can be one of the most stressful things to deal with, especially with young adults eager to hold on to memories of their University life. However, we are here to make the process as manageable as possible. We even deliver boxes to your home, ready for packing.
If you can identify with any of the above please visit www.bigyellow.co.uk to get a personalized quote and find out more about how you can use Self Storage units to eliminate your childs’ hoarding tendencies.

Top 5 DIY Websites For Tips

Big Yellow Blogger — Mon, 16 May 2011 15:02:28 +0000

There are many DIY websites on the internet, but we are big fans of five in particular. Some are strictly DIY while some are more design focussed. Some are glorified message boards while some are absolutely stunning websites. However, they’re all going to be help you fulfil your DIY needs.

Doityourself.com – A massive online resource filled with in-depth “how to” articles, forums, videos, and user submitted “Did it myself!” projects. There is also a Question of the Day section, Tips & Tricks, and more.

Ikeahacker.com – This website allows you to not only customise your Ikea flat pack furniture, but also offers fantastic ideas for modifications or “hacks.” The site is the brainchild of Jules in Malaysia (who lives only 15 minutes away from an Ikea store), but most ideas and articles are user submitted. Our favourites include the Billy Bookcase converted into a Marshall Amplifier and the stool that becomes a table for two.

DIYideas.com – A part of the Better Homes and Gardens network, this site really focuses on the community aspect of DIY. The site includes forums, photo galleries, and even a DIY wiki. There are also some great photographs of completed rooms for inspiration.

Instructables.com – Not strictly a DIY website, but offers “how to” information on a variety of things, from the wacky to the helpful. For example, have you ever wanted to build your own Dr. Who Tardis? You can find out how with a full explanation and photographs to guide you through each step here.

DIYnot.com – Its design makes it look unremarkable, but it’s actually a fantastic resource for any DIY experts and first timers alike. The site also features its own shop, and a search option that allows you to find an expert or supplier in your area just in case you need further help.

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Tips & Tricks: De-Cluttering Your Home

Big Yellow Blogger — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 10:08:09 +0000

Deciding how to store items in your home is a very important part of de-cluttering and getting organised. The following tips will help you make quick and valuable decisions which will help you organise all areas of your home.

Hallway – Sort through your collection of scarves, hats, coats and other items of clothing that take up space. You can keep the items that are used daily or weekly as any of the excess items can be moved into a nearby cupboard, donated to charity or put in a self storage room.

Living Room – Old books, DVDs and CDs are the usual culprits so lose the bits and pieces and only display your most prized possessions.

Kitchen – The main source of frustration in a kitchen is overstuffed cabinets and drawers filled with duplicate kitchenware, dishes that are used only on special occasions, mismatched containers and appliances that you no longer use. If you can’t bear to part with an item consider relocating it or putting the items in storage.

Closets – It’s time to be strong and clear out those items that haven’t been worn in the last year, no longer fit or are out of style.
Bathrooms – Throw away any items that have expired or those that are no longer in use. Items such as toothbrushes can be kept in holders to save space and keep them clean.

Office – Any paperwork that can be found on a website or email should be recycled. Filing systems can help you minimise the inflow of paperwork and help reduce your existing paperwork piles.

Kids Room – Teaching children the concept of ‘one in, one out’ can stop toys from becoming jumbled and cluttered on the floor.

Garage –When you clear space in your house, boxes of old clothing, sports equipment and extra furnishings usually end up in the garage and will never return inside your home. To create a vast amount of free space you can donate the items or keep them in self storage.

To find out how you can benefit from self storage, visit our Quote and reserve online page to get started.

Big Yellow Space Savers Winners Roundup

Big Yellow Blogger — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 10:47:10 +0000

Over the last few months we’ve been running our online ‘Space Savers’ game on our Facebook page which gave people the chance to win great prizes with the help of their friends. The final round ended on 31st January 2011 after a total of 131,612 items had been stored in virtual self storage rooms.

The aim of the game was to catch falling items from a moving van before they hit the ground. Once they had all been caught successfully players could then store and customise an item to go in their room. Each player could add one item per day which gave them a point on the leader board but the more friends they invited to play along and store items, the more points they scored.

The winners were Kelly Bourton, Emma Jacklin, Betty Blundell, Lea Grieveson, Cheryl Gauden and Margaret Richards who each grabbed a fantastic prize including an Apple iPad and the highly anticipated Nintendo 3DS. We would like to thank everyone who took part and stored an item in their virtual self storage room!

New Eco-Friendly Store in Camberley

Big Yellow Blogger — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 09:30:53 +0000

We’re very proud to announce that we’ve opened a brand new state of the art store in Camberley, Surrey on 24th January 2011. The new store maintains the high standards of energy-efficiency set by our other stores and is bordered by landscaping and a pedestrian cycle lane.

As well as creating several permanent new jobs in the Surrey Heath area, the new store features a number of eco-friendly elements. The additions include solar panels and energy efficient lighting, which are set to be rolled out across other stores as part of our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint in the future.

The area has been regenerated thanks to the bio-diverse landscaping and work to make sure that the local cycle lane continues around its perimeter. The store has been rated ‘A’ for Energy Performance with just 3% of the store requiring heating and cooling. Meaning that our customers are guaranteed the best in eco-friendly storage!

To book and reserve online at our Camberley store visit us at: http://www.bigyellow.co.uk/store/Camberley-self-storage/

Reception opening hours

Monday to Friday: 8am – 6pm
Saturday: 9am – 6pm
Sunday: 10am – 2pm

Bodega Catena Zapata Master Class

Big Yellow Blogger — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 12:14:24 +0000

Hi again! It’s Matt the wine manager at ‘The Wine Cellars’ located in Big Yellow Self Storage’s Fulham branch with an update to the wine blog from our recent Catena Zapata event.

We had the opportunity to invite Mariela Molinari to The Wine Cellars who is a winemaker at Catena Zapata. They have been established since 1902 and have become one of Argentina’s premier wine makers. Catena’s Alta range has regularly been awarded 90+ points from leading wine authority Robert Parker, making it some of the best value for money wine in the world.

All wines tasted on the night were of outstanding quality and here are my top picks:

Catena ‘Alamos’ Malbec 2009 £7-8 (Available at Majestic, Slurp & other retailers)

A fantastic nose of black cherries, plums, coffee and warm Bakewell tart. With a long, toasty blackcurrant and melted liquorice length on the palate. Amazing value for money!

Catena Chardonnay 2008 £10.95 (Majestic, Slurp)

Many people have steered clear of Chardonnay in recent years but this is sure to get everyone back on side. A delicate, creamy nose that reminded me of freshly cut pineapple. On the palate you get lovely, refreshing green apple, tropical fruit and light creamy finish from auspicious use of oak, again great value for money. Mariela informed us that the soon to be released 2009 is even better, so keep an eye out for that one!

Catena ‘Alta’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 £23.95 (Majestic, Slurp)

Although not the grape variety most associated with Argentina, this was my top wine of the tasting and could easily match up to most old world cabernets at twice the price! A very classy, complex nose showing rich cassis fruit, liquorice, desiccated coconut and after eight mints! Incredibly well balanced on the palate with intense bramble fruit and an amazing length.

Keep an eye out for my top picks next time you’re buying a bottle!

Bye for now,
Matt

Tips & Ticks: Using Self Storage While Studying Abroad

Big Yellow Blogger — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 10:40:28 +0000

Having the chance to study abroad can be a once in a lifetime opportunity as you become immersed in learning about another culture but there is often the issue of what to do with your belongings. Many items you have you will want to keep but not necessarily take with you while travelling. Here are some tips for if you’re thinking of studying abroad and want to avoid the hassle of transporting all your goods with you.

When you’re trying to pack the essential items to take abroad with you it may seem like an impossible task to fit everything into one or two suitcases. Firstly find out what your airline’s baggage limits are as you won’t want to pay an unexpected charge for going over the limit. Secondly, many halls of residence have limited storage facilities, meaning you could be left with a very cluttered room.

While you’re abroad you can also make the most of travelling in the location in which you’re situated. Whether it is Europe or the US, carrying extra baggage with you is going to slow you down.

To find out more information about how you can benefit from self storage and take advantage our 25% student discount while you study abroad, visit www.bigyellow.co.uk/personal to get started.

Theres over 350 Prizes to Win with Big Yellow’s Christmas Advent Calendar

Big Yellow Blogger — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 17:00:03 +0000

Over the next 25 days until Christmas we will be giving you the chance to win prizes everyday on our Advent Calendar! We will be giving away over 356 prizes exclusively to members of our Facebook page with a grand prize of an XBox 360 console and Kinect, which allows your own body to become the controller. The 360 Kinect camera tracks your movement, recognises your voice, scans objects into games, and works with every Xbox 360.

We will also be giving away gift vouchers for iTunes, IKEA, Homebase, Amazon and offering a 25% discount at Big Yellow Self Storage so you’ll be sure to find something to treat yourself! You can even increase your chances of winning by inviting your friends to take part.

To be in with a chance of winning any of these fantastic prizes visit the Advent Calendar tab on the Big Yellow Self Storage Facebook page.

The Voice Of Arbourthorne Project

Big Yellow Blogger — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 12:06:02 +0000

Recently our Sheffield Bramall Lane store had the opportunity to supply The Sheffield School of Architecture and Arbourthorne Community Primary School with cardboard boxes to use as construction material. The Sheffield School of Architecture has a unique formula whereby it sends its students out into the real world to work with real clients and briefs as part of their course.

For this particular project the client was Arbourthorne Community Primary School, which has the aim of encouraging positive behaviour in education, as well as wider society in general. They would be working together to create a structure that represents the culture of positive behaviour.

Many of the children from Arbourthorne Community Primary School act as mediators in their break-times to help take the load off their teachers. A workshop was arranged for the kids to help design a structure that could be used as area of mediation to be transported through their local community and the city centre as a beacon of positivity.

A full-scale prototype has been manufactured from the shelter that the children designed and has been displayed in Sheffield city centre. The whole journey from the workshops to the construction process has been documented and a short film has been produced with the purpose being of celebrating the children as positive role models for the local community and wider city.

At Big Yellow Self Storage we have been enthusiastic supporters of the project and you can see the finished cardboard shelters below.