Self-storage: the next great iPostal1 industry partnership
Insurance premiums are climbing. So are property taxes and the cost of marketing a facility. For most self-storage operators looking to increase ancillary income to protect and grow their profit margin, selling another packing box or lock moves the needle only so far.
For over ten years, iPostal1 has helped owners of retail pack-and-ship stores and coworking spaces enhance profitability and cash flow. We are now ready to do the same for the self-storage industry.
We bring a proven digital mailbox model to self-storage so you can earn recurring, ancillary revenue with no investment and no contract, using space and downtime you already have.
Here is why self-storage and digital mail fit together, how iPostal1 came to be, and how the model creates new revenue without adding overhead.
How iPostal1 came to be
iPostal1 is a SaaS tech company that grew into the leading digital mailbox provider, with about 4,250+ mailing address locations worldwide that customers use as their virtual address for receiving mail and packages or for business use.
The company did not start as a tech platform, though. Founder and CEO Jeff Milgram, a software engineer by training, opened a retail pack-and-ship store simply to turn a profit on the thousands of educational CDs he was shipping to customers. He had no idea what lay ahead.
In 2007, he leased a warehouse to receive and manage mail and packages for international customers. He eventually served 30,000 customers across 118 countries, all using proprietary digital mailbox technology he built so they could view and manage their mail from anywhere.
The secret to scaling: partnerships
In 2015, Jeff made the pivot that changed everything. Rather than chase growth one warehouse at a time, he repurposed the digital mailbox platform into something his single location could never become on its own.
Relaunched as iPostal1, the company began licensing its software to partners who list their addresses on iPostal1.com and share in the revenue. The model has compounded ever since, one industry at a time.
Retail pack and ship
iPostal1 started with stores that already offered standard lock-and-key mailboxes, beginning with 6 pilot locations. Today, over 2,000 retail pack-and-ship stores are partners.
Staples U.S.
Then Staples came knocking, looking to grow revenue and foot traffic by adding services that complemented its office products. In 2020, over 1,000 Staples U.S. stores joined the network.
Coworking
As hybrid and remote work boomed, coworking spaces offering short-term offices and virtual services proved a natural fit. Close to 700 coworking locations are now listed on iPostal1.com.
Three industries, one model, and over $150 million in revenue share paid out to partners. Self-storage operators are next in line.
Self-storage: the next big partnership opportunity
Since first exhibiting at the TSSA show in Fort Worth in October 2023, the first time a digital mailbox vendor appeared at a self-storage event, we have had hundreds of conversations at national and regional trade shows coast to coast. The takeaway is consistent: self-storage and iPostal1 are a great match.
We are now focused on adding self-storage partners, not only to list your address on iPostal1.com, but to let you offer digital mailbox service to your renters.
Here is why it fits:
Rising costs demand new revenue: With insurance, taxes, and marketing all climbing, most operators are looking for turnkey ways to add recurring income.
Subscriptions beat transactions: Digital-based subscription revenue is a major step up from one-time sales of boxes and locks.
A proven model: iPostal1 has already sent over $150M to partners. The business case is not theoretical.
Almost no overhead: Store managers can handle the iPostal1 business during downtime, with no investment or contract required. All it takes is a file cabinet to store mail.
We do the heavy lifting: iPostal1 signs up new customers and manages every transaction. Our industry-leading software makes it easy to insert customer mail and complete task requests.
Your renters already need it: Many are in flux from a move, a downsizing, or a divorce, and need a convenient, secure way to receive and manage mail and packages.
A superior mail and package experience
iPostal1 delivers an upgraded mail and package experience for personal use or with a business address. Customers choose a mailing address where their mail and packages are securely received by professional staff at retail pack-and-ship stores, coworking spaces, and soon, self-storage facilities.
Recipients get an alert when new mail arrives and is uploaded, then use the iPostal1 app or website to see an outside image of each item in their personal digital mailbox.
From there, they can forward mail, request that contents be scanned to a PDF, shred or discard unwanted mail, or schedule a pickup. The entire experience, including history and reporting, is managed from an app or online, 24/7.
Who uses iPostal1?
Home-based businesses get a real street address to register their company, an upgraded business image, and privacy protection, with optional phone and fax to build a complete virtual office presence at a fraction of the cost of a traditional shared office.
Frequent travelers, RVers, expats, renters, and multi-home families quickly see the value of a virtual mailbox when they are away or on the go.
And for families worried about porch pirates stealing their packages while they are out, iPostal1 offers nationwide package receiving and last-mile delivery solution.
The opportunity for self-storage operators
Digital mail is not a side project or a low-tier add-on. It is a recurring revenue engine that runs on the space and staff hours you already have, with iPostal1 handling the marketing, the customers, and the transactions. You bring the location. We bring the business.
Ready to get started with iPostal1? Contact us today to start building a new recurring revenue stream for your self-storage business with digital mailbox solutions.
