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Faces of Kelowna: Storage

"I know self storage isn't sexy, but it's my passion," says Curtis with a laugh. "I love helping people with their storage solutions."

With two facilities in the central Okanagan, Storage Bear can help securely stash your excess, seasonal, work, or recreational stuff. "Once you move things out of the house and into the garage, then in the storage business that's what we call 'clutter' haha. So, come 'hibernate' your stuff with us."

The most popular size of locker to stash stuff is 10 feet by 10 feet. It’s enough room for all your holiday decorations, spare tires, and family keepsakes. Curtis has seen it all – lockers crammed to the roof a la an episode of the TV show 'Hoarders' vs. immaculately organized lockers by local plumbers and electricians.

"Ten years ago, I opened up a locker that only had a stripper pole and a gettoblaster. ‘Pour Some Sugar On Me’ by Def Leppard was in the cassette tape.”

Curtis's sole job isn't hiding clutter. Storage Bear has custom drive-in lockers and outdoor stalls for providing the right space to securely house high-end toys such as collector cars, boats, motorcycles, and snowmobiles. Storage Bear also has garage lofts – the ultimate man-cave space with single- or double-bay parking and a mezzanine living room with its own bathroom. An ideal place to hang out or start up a business.

Packing House's niche is climate-controlled wine cellars with 5-foot by 5-foot cages to securely store your prized bottles. Packing House is also big with tradespeople and sales representatives who need quick and easy space to store tools, equipment, materials, and stock.

"We're proud that we're locally owned and operated," says Curtis. “We don't have a rigid corporate structure like the big national brands who treat all customers the same. Instead, we can be flexible and design customized storage solutions for our customers on a case-by-case basis.”

You won't see any unnecessary 'move-in' or 'lock' fees at our facilities – just the cost of the locker. "Plus, our staff genuinely care," says Curtis. “People looking for storage are usually in a transition period of their lives, so we are all here to help."

Speaking of customers, Curtis lives for them and their stories. "I hear it all," he says with a chuckle. "Of course, I hear how we've helped alleviate people's crammed apartments with extra space. But, I also hear about their divorce, bad health, or a death in the family. I also hear the good stuff – like why an item is sentimental to them, an inheritance, a job promotion, and about how stoked they are to be moving to Kelowna."

Curtis was working in marketing 20 years ago when he and his family put some money in Packing House as an investor. He quickly realized it was a sensational business. So, he pivoted his whole career and went to the Sauder School of Business at UBC Vancouver to earn his MBA and return to take over management of Packing House, grow the business, and build and open Storage Bear in 2019.

"I've never heard anyone say they have too much storage space," quips Curtis.

Clutter anxiety? We can help.



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