Year in Review: SPS Adapts in a Contactless World

At Security Public Storage, we wanted to look back and review 2020, a year unlike any other in modern history. We’ve all done our best to adapt to the challenges of 2020 and, with a coronavirus vaccine starting to be administered across the country, we look forward to regaining some normalcy in 2021.

Here at Security Public Storage, we learned to work together in new ways and changed our operations at all of our locations to provide a clean and safe self-storage experience for our customers and team. From masks and social distancing to contact-free rentals and payments, we learned a lot in 2020. We also had some fun, including participation in Red Nose Day, Toys for Tots and fundraisers for our local community partners.

Adapting to a Changed World

In mid-March, it seemed as though the world stopped turning. The Covid-19 pandemic forced lockdowns all across the globe. With strict health and safety restrictions in place, we had to modify our operations in order to serve our customers. We were fortunate to be deemed an essential business and continued our operations, with new procedures in place to protect both our customers and our team.

During this time, our team members, leadership, owners and renters took moments to slow down and truly check in with each other. We got to know our neighbors even better (often from lawn chairs in our driveways at least 6-feet apart). Video technology from Zoom, Google and FaceTime changed the way we worked and connected with our friends and family. Video allowed us to be there for each other even when we couldn’t be there in person.

SPS Santa Rosa Teams Up with Food Bank

In September, SPS Santa Rosa teamed up with the Redwood Empire Food Bank to collect food and funds to help our neighbors. The donation drive included non-perishable goods and monetary donations through a contactless drive-through drop-off event, with Plinko prizes for some added fun. Thank you to the SPS team and community members for your donations to the Redwood Empire Food Bank.

SPS Team Members Participate in Red Nose Day 2020

On May 21, a number of our team members participated in a virtual Red Nose Day, an annual campaign supporting programs that address the immediate needs of children in poverty while fostering long-term change. In the past, participants would make a donation at their local Walgreens, but this year prompted a virtual version of the iconic event. Many of our team members donated online and unlocked a digital red nose. Supporters were encouraged to share their red-nose selfies on social media using the #NoseOn hashtag to show their support for children in need.

Camper and Boat Sales Rise

Nationwide, camper and boat sales soared as people took to nature in 2020. After being cooped up at home in the Spring, many people wanted to escape these confines and the great outdoors provided a safe retreat from crowded cities during the pandemic. The rise in camper and boat sales also resulted in the need for RV and boat storage, which has been thriving. SPS opened our new, covered RV storage lot in Fairfield, CA, this fall to a warm and welcoming response.

Toys for Tots Breaks Records… Again!

For the 23rd consecutive year, SPS locations participated in the U.S. Marines’ Toys for Tots donation drive. This marked the 6th consecutive with every one of our 50 of our self-storage locations participating. It brings such warmth to our hearts knowing our community, team and customers came through in a year when it was especially important. We broke our previous year’s record with an increase of 939 toys! SPS collected and donated 3,087 toys in 2020.

Oceanside Debuts New Mural for the Community

We truly believe that art enriches our communities and brings life to our environments. SPS has embraced the arts by adding beautiful, large-scale murals and window screens at nearly 20% of our locations. In 2020, we unveiled the latest mural at SPS OCeanside at an event hosted by the local Chamber of Commerce. The mural, designed and painted by Jerry Ragg, depicts surf culture and includes a nod to San Diego Chargers Hall of Famer Junior Seau (and his retired number 55). We have additional murals in the works at several additional SPS locations, set to debut in 2021.

Ready to Take on 2021

At SPS, we’re poised and ready to take on the challenges and celebrations in store for 2021. Coronavirus vaccines have started being distributed all over the world and while the timeline may not be as fast as anticipated, it’s a light at the end of the tunnel. We’re not out of the woods yet and encourage you to continue wearing a mask, social distancing and washing your hands often. We will get through this.

Happy New Year from all of us at SPS!