Unfamiliar with Yelp?  Yelp, Inc. is a Web 2.0 company that operates a social networking, user review, and local search web site of the same name, combining features from traditional Internet yellow pages sites such as Yellowpages.com, local city guide sites such as Citysearch, and community-oriented social media sites like Facebook and Myspace. Over 10.6 million people access the Yelp web site each month, putting it in the top 100 of U.S. Internet web sites.  Look for reviews for SMARTBOX Portable Self Storage and other local companies at yelp.com.  Even better, express your opinions and feelings regarding your experience with SMARTBOX and their staff.  Simply surf your way over to yelp.com and enter the word SMARTBOX and your city and zip code, or browse for us under “home services” or “local services.”  SMARTBOX Portable Self Storage is categorized as both Movers and Self Storage under these headings.

SMARTBOX Chicago recently joined NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers) - the Chicago Chapter.  On the NAPO web site, I came upon a few interesting statistics that I thought I would share. 

The statistics are below and are mostly for entertainment purposes.  But, there is validity to a lot of the statistics out there.  A partnership between NAPO and SMARTBOX is like the perfect marriage.  A NAPO member can help you organize your clutter, your office, your closet, etc.  SMARTBOX can help you maintain the items that are either near and dear to you; something you love but don’t have a good spot for or simply don’t have the space for. 

Another use of SMARTBOX in conjunction with a NAPO Organizer can be as simple as getting all of your “clutter” out of your place and into ours, via a SmartBox.  Then, the Organizer can help you get your place in better organized condition, get a system in place to stay better organized, etc.  The stuff in the SmartBox then can be sifted through in a more timely, less rushed fashion.  NAPO and SMARTBOX - a great combination to work with!

Scroll down below the screen shot for the “statistics” I pulled out…….

These are statistics I found on the NAPO web site, feel free to view the PDF for more detail.

• According to a New York Times Article published March 2001
  • IKEA did a survey of customers in which 31% reported they were more satisfied after clearing out their closests than they were after sex.
• An unnamed source stated that
  • More than one out of four Americans remarked that they would like to be better organized.
• The April 23, 2004 issue of The Chicago Tribune (via The RedEye) stated the following statistics
  • 81 % of participants plan to spring clean this year
  • 74% of participants spring clean because they are tired of clutter
  • 39% of participants plan to organize their closet first
  • 62.8% plan to get rid of their outdated wardrobe next
  • 58% of participants said photos of their children are the one thing that they would never get rid of

I was recently asked by SMARTBOX Corporate to contribute to our blog.  If you’re reading this, you know the address already.  Corporate Web Logs are becoming more and more prevalent these days. Some of the largest companies in the world are blogging.  According to Technorati the top 10 Corporate Blogs as of May 2008 are:

1. Google – Shocker, I know!
2. O’Reilly Media
3. Yahoo Search
4. Tom Peters Company
5. Ask.com
6. Adobe Software
7. General Motors
8. Sunbelt Software
9. Thomas Mahon
10. The Otter Group

The reason I point out the top 10 blogs above is that it’s interesting in that they are not necessarily the ones you would expect.  Some are obvious – Google and Yahoo.  But some of the others I’d venture to say are blogs for companies and/or people from companies you’ve never heard of.  I know that’s a safe statement on my end.  So how does this all fit in to SMARTBOX and our Corporate Blog?  Hopefully this Blog will become – over time – a useful resource of information regarding the Portable Storage (and storage in general) industry along with tips on moving, packing, organizing and the like.  There are so many resources out there it’s hard to know what’s valid and what isn’t.  Rest assured, if it says SMARTBOX, it’s legitimate.  Greg Kaufman SMARTBOX Chicago – Owner

SMARTBOX portable storage containers are becoming very popular due to their ease of use, convenience, affordability, and reliability. One of the most important factors to consider about these storage units is their level of protection from damaging elements.

SMARTBOXes are constructed from wood, which helps protect items inside from changes in temperature and humidity. Rising humidity can create condensation inside storage containers made from different materials, such as metal. This condensation can then cause water damage to stored belongings. To ensure no water can enter the SMARTBOX, the wood on the bottom is pressure-treated. This protects any groundwater from damaging your stored contents. The SMARTBOX is also covered with a heavy-duty water-proof cover to keep out rain.

Many business can make use of SMARTBOX’s portable storage units by using them to store promotional tools. For many businesses, promotional material is rotated frequently, requiring an appropriate place to store such items when they are out of rotation. Signs, banners, displays, and other point-of-purchase materials can be safely stored away inside one of the SMARTBOX containers, and delivered back to the business when it is time to use it again. Some good examples of these types of promotional tools may include seasonal, holiday, and now hiring items.

Many businesses are finding that SMARTBOX portable storage units are an efficient and innovative way to store excess inventory. When these businesses find that they have too much of a particular good, portable self storage units are an excellent way to store these products safely and securely. When the products are needed again, they can be delivered right back to the point of purchase, making the whole process a little easier for the businesses. When excess inventory can be controlled in a manner such as this, it means higher efficiency and productivity for the business, and less waste.