This paper is my thesis for my master’s degree studies in the Executive MBA course at
the International Hellenic University. The main body of this project is a business plan for
the development of a self-storage facility in the area of Thessaloniki.
Self-storage (a shorthand for "self-service storage") is an industry in which storage space
(such as rooms, lockers, containers, and/or outdoor space), also known as "storage
units" is rented to tenants, usually on a short-term basis. Self-storage tenants include
businesses and individuals. The specific industry exists since the 1960s in USA and is
already very mature in most countries of western Europe. In my paper I focus mainly to
modern indoor self-storage facilities that provide privately accessible and secured
storage units to customers, in most cases with 24/7 access. In Greece at the moment,
the specific industry is practically non-existent with only one small business operating in
Attica.
The business plan concerns the hypothetical case of an existed building that is going to
be converted to a Self-Storage warehouse. Literature review and data analysis revealed
a strong correlation between supply of self-storage industry with specific statistical data
in European countries. I exploited this fact and using multiple regression analysis I
estimated the floor space per capita for Self-Storage in Greece. This number can be used
by anyone that wants to make an estimation for the demand of a self-storage facility
that is established in Greece.
Making a research through questionnaires, I tried to reveal the storage needs, the
likelihood of using self-storage and the possible patterns of use of people that answered.
Some results were used in order to define specific characteristics of the facility of my
case study.
Market and industry analysis examined the factors that can affect positively or
negatively the establishment of a similar business in the area of Thessaloniki. Finally, the
marketing analysis, the management and financial plan complete the structure of a
business plan, which is intended to investigate the viability of the specific business
venture.
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