New ideas in the world of self-storage often begin in the US and then find there way to the UK many years afterwards.

The majority of ideas are simple improvements on the well-trodden path of self-st0rage design and build, but occasionally a brand new idea comes around and may re-define the industry. One such idea is the Boomerang Automated Storage facility.Rather than the customer being required to access their storage unit via corridors, the Boomerang Automated Storage facility brings the storage unit to the customer. By tapping in a unique authorisation code, the customer waits by one of the numerous access doors to the storage facility and the automatic system finds their storage unit and delivers it to them.

All credit to the brains at Boomerang. This setup provides maximum use of space for the company and the minimum effort on the part of the customer. A match made in heaven we think. See below for a video showing how it works.

CityStore Self-Storage has a self storage facility on Malden Crescent in Camden Town, London NW1 8BS. For prices and availability, call 0207 428 9988.

Within the world of file-sharing and data storage the market has changed focus. Rather than companies competing to produce hard drives with a bigger and bigger capacity to store music and photos,  the market is looking for products that make accessing these media items that little bit easier.

The PogoPlug may just be the bit of kit that does just that…How many times have you been away from home and wished you could access a file or a photo that is sitting on your hard drive at home? If you are anything like me then probably quite a lot. So what is differnet about the PogoPlug?

The PogoPlug is a new multimedia sharing device that connects your external hard drives to the web so that you can access all your music, photos and documents wherever you go. There is no uploading and sharing is as simple as sending an invitation through an automated email link. Pogoplug works across multiple operating platforms and even allows you to stream videos, music and photos directly to your iPhone® or Blackberry. Sound good? Well it is so check it out.

CityStore Self-Storage provides storage for music and files of a different kind. Rather than storing electronically, CityStore provides storage space for paper-based documents in our specially constructed archive storage rooms. Call 0207 428 9988 or visit us for more information.

Camden launched a new re-cycling service last week to encourage the residents to become ‘greener’ and to do their part for the enviroment.

Like councils in other parts of the London and the U.K, residents will receive a special recycling kit to enable them to easily recycle food and garden waste on a weekly basis.

As part of the service residents with individual bins will receive:

- small green kitchen caddy to use inside (for food waste)

- a lockable brown outdoor caddy to use outside (for food waste)

- three white reusable bags for garden wastea blue bag for paper and card

Residents with shared bins, for example those living in a high rise property will receive:

- a small green kitchen caddy (for food waste)

- new shared recycling containers for food and garden waste

In Camden the current rate of recycling is 29.75%. The council is in the top 10 of London boroughs for recycling performance and in the top five for dry recyclables. This new service means the council can get closer towards a rate of 45% by 2015. For more information, read Camden Council’s press release here. We wish them luck in reaching their target.

CityStore Self-Storage is committed to being as environmentally friendly as possible. CityStore refurbishes existing buildings rather than demolishing old ones and building new. This dramatically reduces the energy used.

Berlin was the host city of this year’s European Self-Storage Conference and CityStore were in attendance as full members of the UK Self Storage Association (SSA).

Over the 3 days of the conference all member visitors were able to see new innovations in the self-storage marketplace as well as hearing from guest speakers such as Anne Ballard (Universal Management Company) and Jonathan Perrins (Self Storage Association Australasia) about growth of self-storage in other world markets.

We were also lucky enough to be able to spend some time in Potsdam, the capital of Brandenburg, visiting one of the breathtaking palaces.

Roll on 2011 in Portugal!

CityStore Self-Storage have launched their Weekly Special Offer for all new customers taking storage space. Read on to learn more.

The rules? – every Monday morning, each of our Centre Manager’s choose a room size that is available at a heavily discounted rate for up to 6 months. Call 0207 428 9988 when you see it and ask whether it is still available. If it is, pay £20 to reserve the unit and it’s yours. Simple.

How many are there? There is only one of these units available, so it’s first come first served!

Is there any catch? No catches. All we ask is that you move into the room within 7 days of reservation.

So if you are interested in a great deal for storage, look-out for our Manager’s Specials every week. Even if you don’t happen to get this deal, we have other great offers in store. Just call 0207 428 9988.

Good luck.

CityStore Self Storage are offering 50% off your 1st full month’s storage rental at our facility in Camden Town. We are confident that we provide the best value self storage solution in the local area bar none. 3 great advantages of storing with us:

1. Our storage centre is all on one floor, so no hassle with using lifts or getting a storage unit on the 3rd floor!
2. Multiple access gates so you are never more than a few paces from your storage room.
3. Best Value Guarantee – we will aim to beat any quote for comparable self-storage in the local area.

Call our storage centre on 0207 428 9988 to guarantee yourself the best deal.

Saving money when storing your goods is all about maximising your use of space.

At CityStore we aim to provide you with the right size unit to fit your needs so you are not paying more than you require. Just remember to follow a few simple rules:

1. Ensure you use strong boxes and fill them full – this will mean you can stack them safely to the top of your unit without fear that they may collapse
2. Sofas / Settees – by storing them on their end you can save a significant amount of floor space.
3. Cupboards & Wardrobes – there is alot of empty space inside these pieces of furniture which you can use to store and protect smaller items.

We may not all be able to come up with the idea for the shoe wheel (see above) to save space, but we can all use a few tips now and then to save money.

The protection of customers and customer goods are of the highest importance so we have installed the following:

• 24hr CCTV covering all internal corridors and external access points
• Off-site alarm monitoring centre with remote access 
• Individual pincode access
• Individual storage unit alarms
• State-of-the-art fire protection systems

If you are interested in taking a storage unit, come down to the centre or call for more information.

Commuters and local residents have been calling our self-storage centre in Camden Town after seeing our quirky advert in the lifts at both Chalk Farm and Belsize Park underground stations.

We thought we would try and put a smile on peoples faces in the morning because, let’s be honest, who REALLY enjoys early mornings on the Tube?