Monday, November 8th, 2010
On the closing day of the Big Thinker’s competition, I was on my laptop at home feeling frantic. I furiously messaged friends, family and anyone else who would take any notice, to convince them to ‘Like’ my Big Thinker’s entry before 4pm so I could win the Big Thinkers Internship.
For those of you who don’t know what I am talking about – earlier this year the Big Yellow Self Storage Company launched a competition to win a month’s internship with their online communications team in London.
I had to write something funny, catchy or downright silly, incorporating the words ‘Big’ and ‘Yellow’ and submit it on the Big Yellow Self Storage Facebook page. My challenge was to then get the most ‘Likes’ or retweets on my entry from friends and family.
I was a Facebook fan before this competition, and could sometimes be accused of indulging in my ‘News Feed’ a little too often – but in the days leading up to the closing date, I turned into a fully fledged Facebook addict. At any given opportunity, morning, noon or night, I would bug absolutely anyone (including complete strangers) to find my post and click ‘Like’.
When the results were revealed, I was gutted to discover I was placed a close second, losing out by only 22 ‘Likes’! Luckily though, Big Yellow decided to re-open the competition, and this time, my determination paid off, I won with 174 ‘Likes’ on my post.
I was so excited to get stuck in and become the Big Yellow Blogger for a month. I was greeted by smiling faces from the whole team and we chatted over a lovely brew, as I was told more about what I would be doing.
Relieved to discover that I would not be the team’s new tea lady or stood next to a photo copier all day, I checked out Big Yellow’s Self Storage blog and read through previous entries to get to grips with the style of writing and type of content.
Each month the blog has a self storage related theme, for October the subject is ‘collectors’ so I came up with some content ideas for the blog and got cracking with writing the first article.
Some of my posts are already online, so have a read through to see what I’ve been up to. I would love to know what you all think so feel free to leave comments. Also, keep an eye out over the next two weeks as there are many more posts to come!
It has been a fantastic experience so far, finding out about Big Yellow Self Storage and learning the ins and outs of online communications. My first two weeks have flown by, and I cannot believe I am already at the halfway point of the internship! I would recommend this fantastic opportunity to anyone who is considering entering the Big Thinker’s competition next year.
This is Anna Naylor signing off!
Tags: big yellow, Big Yellow Self Storage, byss, Competition, personal storage, self storage, self storage blog, storage, storage solution, student storage
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Monday, October 4th, 2010
We’ve launched our brand new Facebook game ‘Big Yellow Space Savers’ and every two weeks we’ll be giving away some amazing prizes including an iPad and an Xbox console. To win one of our prizes you’ll have to store as many items as possible in your virtual Big Yellow Self Storage room and by inviting your friends to take part in the game, you’ll be earning points when they store items too!
All you have to do is catch falling items from a van before they hit the ground. Once you’ve caught them successfully you’ll be able to store an item from the gallery in your room, with each item giving you points on the leader board. You can personally add one item a day and you can see your friend’s recently added items in your virtual self storage room. However, the more friends you invite to play who store items, the more points you can score each day.
To take part in Big Yellow Space Savers and get your hands on fantastic prizes all you have to do is head over to http://bit.ly/spacesavers and start filling your room up with the help of your friends!
Tags: big yellow, Big Yellow Self Storage, byss, clutter, Competition, de-clutter, declutter, personal storage, self storage, self storage blog, storage, storage solution, student storage, UK storage, water storage
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Thursday, September 30th, 2010
Making use of the space under your bed is a great storage solution, it’s also an area which is often forgotten about. The area can be used for items that aren’t used regularly such as out of season clothes, shoes and bedding. Whether you have drawers or a raised bed, a little creativity and a few simple storage solutions can transform an empty area into an indispensible storage space.
One of the best storage solutions for underneath the bed is vacuum storage bags as they come in a variety of shapes and sizes.
They can be filled with sweaters, clothes and any other soft items, then by using a vacuum cleaner you can easily suck the air from the bags which reduces them to a compact storable size. The deflated bags can then stored underneath the bed and even stacked together to maximise the space you have available.
There are always more traditional storage containers such as clear plastic bins that can be used to store bulk items. They come in different sizes depending on the space you have available to use and can easily slide from beneath your bed.
For all of your storage needs including storage boxes and vacuum storage bags visit us in store or order online at our online box shop.
Tags: big yellow, Big Yellow Self Storage, boxes, business storage, byss, clean, clutter, collectibles, de-clutter, declutter, fine wine storage, furniture storage, personal storage, self storage, self storage blog, Self Stroage, storage, storage solution, student, student storage, tips and tricks, UK storage, wine storage
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Wednesday, September 15th, 2010
Making tough decisions about what clothes to keep can be the hardest part of de-cluttering your wardrobe and many people are afraid that they might throw out something they’ll want in the future. As a result wardrobes can become your own personal indoor storage sheds which house all the old, off season and mismatched things you can’t bear to throw away. Indecision is what causes clutter to build-up and often leads people to hoarding clothes that they would no longer wear, but keep just in case.
Keeping all your clothing may seems to be the easiest option but if you can replace the thought of “I’ll get into this someday” with, “I’ll get new things when I lose weight” as an extra incentive and you’ll be on the right path.
Here’s some top tips on how to tackle the mountain in your wardrobe:
1. Start at the top of your wardrobe, pick a shelf and take out all of the items. Be hard on yourself because if you haven’t worn an item of clothing in over a year, it’s unlikely that you ever will in the future. If other items don’t fit you can give them away, donate to charity or keep in a self storage room.
2. When your wardrobe is empty, clean the shelves, walls and the floor to freshen up the area before you put sorted clothes back in. Once you have done that, start organising your clothes by everyday items, colour and by the length. If there are items that you wear more frequently than others you can place them in an area where it’s easily accessible for you.
3. For every new item of clothing that you add to your wardrobe, be sure to remove an old item so it won’t take up valuable space. It will also ensure that your wardrobe doesn’t get re-cluttered and stays manageable.
You can even maximise your wardrobe space by keeping your out of season items elsewhere and rotating them. We have wardrobe boxes that help to make storing clothes easy. To find out how you can benefit from storing your clothing in our self storage rooms at any of our stores, visit our Quote and Reserve Online page to get started.
Tags: big yellow, Big Yellow Self Storage, boxes, business storage, byss, clean, clutter, collectibles, de-clutter, declutter, furniture storage, personal storage, self storage, self storage blog, Self Stroage, storage, storage solution, student storage, UK storage, wardrobe, wine storage
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Thursday, September 9th, 2010
When students move into university halls they’re often faced with small rooms and not enough space to accommodate their stuff. Rooms usually come with a basic wardrobe, bed and desk fitted into a tight space. Here are some top tips to help organise and store things efficiently.
As students usually stay in rented accommodation there are limits to what can be done with the room. Drilling into the walls to put up hooks and shelving won’t be allowed so you will have to be ruthless with the items you want to take and be imaginative with the space available. Bringing boxes, containers and over-the-door hangers will stop items becoming cluttered on the floor.
You’re likely to hoard more items throughout the year with university work and any purchases you make. Keeping all your work together in designated areas will make sure it’s organised.
Many universities don’t allow you to keep your items in halls during the holidays so it can be inconvenient to bring everything home only to drag it all back. If you’re a student looking for storage solutions, find out how Big Yellow can help by visiting our student’s online page to get started and receive a 25% student discount on all storage costs.
Tags: big yellow, Big Yellow Self Storage, de-clutter, declutter, personal storage, self storage, self storage blog, storage, storage solution, student, student advice, student housing, student storage, tips and tricks
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Monday, July 19th, 2010
Earlier in the summer we unveiled the Big Think to search for students that are passionate about social networking, social media and web culture. Those taking part had to prove their enthusiasm for social media by submitting a catchy, funny or downright silly news headline which had to include the words “Big” and “Yellow” on our Big Yellow Self Storage page on Facebook. Many of the entries were topical as they mentioned the General Election that was happening at the time and the noisy Vuvuzelas in the World Cup.
Entrants were then encouraged to get as many ‘Likes’ or retweets on their entry as possible from their friends, family and complete strangers to get their hands on the prize. The winner would win an internship with the Big Yellow online communications team and the runners-up would receive an iPod Touch.
After a great deal of hard work, our winner with 223 ‘Likes’ was Nicholas Wellings whose entry was ‘BIG Bird from Sesame Street is BIG and YELLOW just like the BIG YELLOW Storage’.
We saw some really passionate individuals rise to the challenge and we thought it was a shame to pick just one bright spark. So, we were delighted to be able to offer a 2nd month-long internship!
Our 2nd Big Thinker winner was Anna Naylor with 174 ‘Likes’ whose entry was ‘Strangest proposition I have ever had; A YELLOW toothed BIG issue seller asked me if I would like to go out drinking with him, but only if he sold enough copies of the BIG issue that day’.
The internship is a fantastic opportunity for Nicholas and Anna to work and learn with our online communications team in London this summer. The scheme will offer them a detailed program focusing on how to effectively enhance brand presence online and through social media sites such as Facebook.
With well over 300 entries and 2,500 ‘Likes’ from both internship competitions, we would like to thank everyone who took part in Big Thinkers and we can’t wait for our fantastic winners Nicholas and Anna to get started later in the summer!
Tags: big yellow, Big Yellow Self Storage, byss, Internship, personal storage, self storage, self storage blog, storage, storage solution, student, student storage
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Friday, June 18th, 2010
We recently unveiled the Big Think, a search for students passionate about social networks, social media and web culture. Entrants had to prove their gusto on Facebook and Twitter to craft attention grabbing headlines, whilst promoting themselves on the social web.
Designed for undergraduates and graduates alike and those interested in social media the internship is a fantastic opportunity for the winner to work and learn with our online communications team in London this summer. The internship scheme offers students a detailed program focusing on how to effectively enhance brand presence online and through social media sites such as Facebook.
To secure this prize, students had to enter by submitting a catchy, funny or downright silly news headline which had to include the words “Big” and “Yellow” on our Big Yellow Self Storage page on Facebook.
We saw many Big Thinkers with well over 250 entries for the internship, but the overall winner with 223 ‘Likes’ was Nicholas Wellings whose entry was ‘BIG Bird from Sesame Street is BIG and YELLOW just like the BIG YELLOW Storage’.
He’s currently finishing off his AS exams at Sixth Form College in Sheffield and is a budding actor after beginning to break in to TV and film by appearing in some BBC dramas. Nicholas also has a great techie side to him as he’s a web designer who’s created sites for local businesses.
We would like to thank everyone who took part in Big Thinkers and we can’t wait for Nicholas to get started later in the summer!
You can check out Nicholas’ recent interview with the Guardian Careers site about how he got involved in the Big Thinkers internship here.
We’ve seen some really passionate individuals rise to the challenge over the last couple of weeks, so it’s seems a shame to pick up just one bright spark. That’s why we’re we are delighted to be able to confirm that we’re able to offer a 2nd month-long internship to join our fantastic winner Nicholas Wellings and the rest of the team at Big Yellow Self Storage. The closing date is 2nd July so you better get a new entry in and as many ‘Likes’ as you can fast! http://bit.ly/dx2GKA
Tags: Big Think, Big Thinkers, big yellow, Big Yellow Self Storage, byss, Internship, personal storage, self storage, self storage blog, student, student storage
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Friday, June 4th, 2010
As you prepare to move house, there’s inevitably going to be a lot of clothing, possessions and gadgets that you don’t need any more. While the most important things that you can’t quite part with – or simply don’t quite need to be a part of your new home immediately – can go into self storage, the sites below will help you get rid of the things you no longer want and make some money in the process!
eBay - the original and biggest auction site, sell anything here from cars to computers on your own terms.
Gumtree – started in March 2000 as a local London classified ads and community site, it is designed to connect people who are either planning to move, or had just arrived in the city, and needed help getting started with accommodation, employment and meeting new people. Now a much more comprehensive offering, it covers 60 countries and allows you to find or advertise everything from a nanny for your kids to a bargain for the living room.
Amazon – Amazon.co.uk includes a feature in which you can enter your own goods into its seller’s marketplace. This means that you can add your books, clothes or toys to its main directory, and while buyers are scrolling through the products, they can choose your item if the price is right.
Tags: amazon, auction, big yellow, Big Yellow Self Storage, boxes, business storage, clutter, collectibles, de-clutter, declutter, ebay, furniture storage, gumtree, online, personal storage, self storage, self storage blog, selling, sites, storage, storage solution, student storage, UK storage
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Monday, May 24th, 2010
Spring is coming to an end, and summer is just around the corner. At this time of year, many people have spent weeks cleaning the house, de-cluttering, storing away stuff for safe keeping – and are feeling that air of change. If you’re planning to sell your home, the sites below will provide advice and gets things moving from your own front room.
Tepilo – Sarah Beeny’s smarter way to buy, sell or let a property. Though some people will always prefer to use an estate agent, for those that like to take control of the sale/rental of a property, this site simplifies and explains the whole process – which is often perceived as something more complicated than it really is.
Globrix - In 2008, Globrix.com launched as a joint venture with News International, the media company behind The Times, The Sun and The News of the World. Since then, Globrix.com has quickly grown to become an award winning property search engine, listing more UK properties to buy or rent than any other property site.
Rightmove – Rightmove.co.uk is the UK’s number one property website, aiming to be the place for UK home movers to find details of all properties available to buy or rent. It’s a more convenient and effective way for people to find their next home, including: up-to-date property information, available for free, accessible 24 hours a day to anyone with web access and far more complete in terms of number of properties and depth of detail.
Tags: big yellow, Big Yellow Self Storage, boxes, business storage, buying, clutter, collectibles, de-clutter, declutter, fine wine storage, furniture storage, Globrix, letting, lettings, personal storage, renting, rightmove, self storage, self storage blog, selling, storage, storage solution, student storage, tepilo, UK storage, wine storage
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Wednesday, May 19th, 2010
Did you know that the magpie – like all crows – does not have a musical voice and instead uses shiny objects stored in its nest to attract a mate? As with so many aspects of evolution – its reputation for stealing things is actually a feature of selection within its species.
Magpies collect and display objects with reflective surfaces in an attempt to find a partner, as the bird with the most objects of highest quality gets the strongest mate.
The birds will reputedly steal jewellery, silver and metals, earning them the name ‘The Thieving Magpie’. Rossini wrote an opera of this name (La Gazza Ladra). It concerns a French servant-girl who is accused of theft. She is tried, found guilty and executed. Later, the true culprit is revealed: a magpie. In remorse, the town organises an annual ‘Mass of the Magpies’ to pray for her soul. The title The Thieving Magpie was later used by progressive rock band Marillion for one of their albums.
We don’t condone stealing at Big Yellow Self Storage. If you’d like to store your valuables for safe keeping we provide 24 hour digital CCTV and every self storage room has its own alarm for you own peace of mind. We also have coded electronic gates, perimeter security fencing, smoke detectors and fire alarms to protect your things. All corridors are well lit, and all floors have an emergency phone just in case you need us. Visit our Quote and reserve online page to find out how you can benefit from self storage.
Do you think our friend the magpie has a bad reputation? Or is it a symbol of something else? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
Tags: big yellow, Big Yellow Self Storage, boxes, business storage, clutter, collectibles, crows, de-clutter, declutter, fine wine storage, furniture storage, magpie, music storage, personal storage, secure storage, self storage, self storage blog, storage, storage solution, student storage, UK storage, wine storage
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