We have an exciting partnership with Millennium Forum!
The Millennium Forum brings together the community of the City of Derry, the arts and showcases the talents that our community has.
We have a long-standing relationship with the Millennium Forum and we are super excited to show you the impact our partnership has and to be able to give back to that community and support the future of the arts here in our city.
New flooring you said you wouldn’t buy but you did anyway? New clothes that you need but maybe just not right now? The Christmas bits you couldn’t pass in the January sale but absolutely don’t need them for at least 11 months. Winter jumpers taking up too much storage space at home? That sofa you NEED for your own place, when you can eventually afford it. Somewhere to keep garden furniture that unfortunately has no use right now or a safe spot to keep valuables that you just don’t trust Airbnb users not to break…
We all drive past industrial storage unit buildings and look on in awe, who actually uses those and what do they use them for? We automatically think about moving house and packing up boxes upon boxes of prized possessions. Or, we think of storage wars – what could be inside? If I got a nosey through someone’s could I become a millionaire within seconds? Honestly? I’ve learnt recently that that is farfetched nonsense of what storage units can be used for. In reality, storage units can work for almost anyone.
On my last trip home I looked around my childhood bedroom, everything sitting as perfectly as I had left it when I went to study in Edinburgh over 7 years ago… books siting gathering dust, old Irish dancing pieces sat ready to be used at any minute. Old clothes that are way out of fashion but might come back in – you never know! Now when I come home for the weekend I feel as if I am setting up camp in the bedroom of a younger me. I decided it was time to ditch the junk. I went about like a lunatic for a full day organising and tidying, dumping and piling. Making sure nothing was getting binned without very good reason. I am a bit of a hoarder if you can’t guess…
With boxes, black bags and piles towering higher than I stood I wondered if this was in reality a good idea. The more I thought about it, the attic was filled to the brim with other bits and pieces that just couldn’t be throw out – so much so that this year’s new Christmas decorations had to be stored in the garage… maybe I would have to bin my ‘favourite possessions’ after all.
Despite the moments of doubt when I realised I’ve had created more mess than I had tidied, I started in on my wardrobe. After passing by my outfit I wore to my leavers night in 2012 followed by a dress that I loved but never managed to zip fully (someday…) and then my old school uniform, I realised that whilst this was stuff that I wanted to keep it didn’t have to be in close proximity to me.
I set about googling storage in Derry and as a complete beginner I felt that maybe I wasn’t the best candidate. Did I even have enough stuff to fill a storage unit? How much would it cost? Fast forward one hour I found myself stood in the warm reception of Store and Go! Grainne, the Store Manager, talked me through the entire process from operating the electronic entrance gate, temperature controlled units, different sizes of units (which blew my mind – why did I think they were all the size of a generic storage container?) and a dedicated app to control how I accessed my very own unit – I began to think of it as a second wardrobe that had the benefit of being out of sight (and out of mind!). I got a tour of the entire premises which was super interesting and then loaded my belonging into the biggest lift I’ve ever seen before organising my life into a 25 square foot unit!
For me being a clothes lover, this was the ideal scenario. Clothes given room to breathe and in a safe individually alarmed unit which I could access any time I needed! I genuinely wondered why I hadn’t considered this sooner. Wisdom comes with age they say? I’m unsure but this seems like a definite step I the right direction.
Now I find myself nipping down to check up on my unit every time I fly home, adding and taking away from the content and even hiding a Topshop bag in there on my way home from town when I’m ‘meant to be saving’. It’s almost like the best friend I never thought I needed… safe, secure, controlled and absolutely no judgement.
2020 must be the year of being organised and I am here for it! An absolute game changer.
The perfect solution to the Christmas present hiding problem.
Whether you’re a last minute shopper or a longer term planner, when it comes to Christmas presents they need to stay hidden until they’re ready to be handed over. For many people finding storage solutions that keep them safe, undamaged and hidden isn’t always easy. If you have children, it can feel almost impossible. We’ve pieced together 6 reasons we feel Elf Storage is the solution you need to make your Christmas a little less stressful.
6 Reasons to use Store & Go Elf Storage
1. Preserve the magic of Christmas!
Did you know that you can hire a 16 square foot storage unit, which will hold approximately 10 boxes for as little as £44.00+VAT ?
You could also get a larger unit and share with friends or family.
2. Keep them safe.
Don’t risk leaving your gifts outside, especially if they’re valuable or you don’t have enough time to replace them if something happens to them! Your gifts will be safe with us! Our facilities are covered by 24 hour CCTV, modern alarm systems and our receptions are staffed during opening hours.
3. Place to wrap and assemble.
It’s incredibly difficult to wrap presents away from prying eyes of children. This isn’t such a problem if you have a spare room, garage or shed handy so that you can lock yourself away in but many don’t. Climbing in and out of the attic space night after night to store and wrap presents is a real pain and runs the risk of you getting rumbled by your little ones. Having the extra space with a Elf Storage unit will also give you an opportunity to assemble any of the smaller gifts that need assembling.
4. It’s simple to book.
A. Choose a size that best suits you
Our unit size guide can help you to determine what storage is best for you.
6. Free up space for family
If you have friends and family coming to stay during Christmas but you need to empty your spare room to make room for them, a slightly larger unit would allow you to hide your Christmas presents and free up that valuable space at home.
We are privileged to be supporting the ‘Tree of Remembrance’ which takes place this year once again outside Foyleside Shopping Centre. Organisers expect it to be covered in yellow ribbons in the coming weeks in memory of all our loved ones.
To show our support, all customers that sign up between now and Christmas, a £5.00 allocation will be donated by Store and Go on their behalf, with all donations being distributed across 4 wonderful local charities.
HURT, AWARE, Foyle Food Bank, Foyle Hospice
John McMonagle, Organiser & director at Store & Go said:
“Through the Tree of Remembrance, every penny donated will go to AWARE, HURT, Foyle Foodbank and the Foyle Hospice, supporting the vital work they do for our community throughout the year. But this Tree is more than just fundraising. Most of us have lost loved ones and feel the need at times to commemorate that and dedicate a little time for remembrance, so that it brings us some degree of comfort to our busy lives at a time of year that can be difficult for many.
We are very grateful for the generous support of Foyleside Shopping Centre, local businesses, schools and the public in this important venture and I would encourage everyone to call at the tree and remember their loved ones by completing a ribbon. I also invite everyone along on Christmas Eve at 12.30pm where the four main church leaders in the city will hold a service to remember all those whose names are on the Tree.”
During our first year in business, it’s a real honour just to be nominated for any award, even better again when we go on to win ‘Best Start-Up’ at this year’s Junior Chamber of Commerce 2019 Nutts Ball. Privilege to be nominated by our customers and friends and the team here at Store & Go are grateful to everyone who helped us along this journey.
Featured is JCI Derry President Eighrean Horner & our very own Store Manager Grainne O’Doherty.
Store & Go wants you to have a great self-storage experience. Here are some tips on how to handle every step of the storage process.
Keep your frequently used items at the front of your storage unit. This will help you easily locate and grab them on your next visit. Make a basic drawing that points out locations of different boxes, such as kitchen stuff, toys, books, clothes… then tack it to the wall of your storage unit.
Stack boxes to the ceiling to make the best use of your storage space. Place the heaviest boxes at the bottom of the stack. Store larger items vertically. Think “stack” when you pack.
Allow for a clear path down the centre of your self-storage unit. Place items along the walls, but be sure to leave an inch of space for proper air circulation. Don’t forget to face box labels towards the aisle so you can easily read them and navigate your things.
You can free up space in your storage unit by storing books and CDs inside the fridge, or just leave the fridge door open for circulation. Use empty buckets to store garden tools such as shovels and hoses.
Tools like screwdrivers, a hammer, pliers and a utility knife can be useful when you need to disassemble furniture to make it compact for storage. Also a folding step stool will come in handy when accessing items stored above head height.
1. Protection from Environmental Damage
When we’re running low on space in our home, we tend to fill everywhere we can with our stuff, from cupboards to attics. You might even resort to a storage shed. Unfortunately, it’s in these dark, cold and often damp spaces that our possessions are at the most risk from damage from the environment. For our valuables, the climate they’re stored in is as important as the bubble wrap. Store & Go’s storage units are dry and have a controlled climate to prevent any damage, so you won’t have to worry about problems such as condensation affecting your items.
2. More Space to Store (And Live)
Storage is often a battle between items we want to display and hide. Store & Go shall enable our customers to store prized possessions securely, freeing up space at home, in the office, or wherever. Store & Go can be treated as a futuristic hideaway whereby you can privately access your stored goods at your own leisure. You can rent a unit that is exactly the size you need for the storage you require. Ultimately Store & Go shall help you de-clutter, make space and make items easier to find within the facility, at home or in the office.
3. Extra Security from Theft
If you’ve got a lot of valuable possessions to worry about, your home might be your fortress, but it isn’t always the best idea to keep everything in one place. With a storage unit, you can take that risk away. Storage units have several stages of protection, from a state of the art electronically secure locking system to CCTV and 24/hour security for monitoring.
4. Cost Effective
Ultimately storing goods can be cheaper in the grand scale of things. Often transporting goods is very expensive as well as a nuisance. A storage facility enables customers to store goods securely and cost-effectively without the drudgery of transporting heavy and awkward goods regularly.
5. Gives You a Permanent Base
As we’ve just mentioned if you’re living somewhere on a temporary basis or you’re always on the move, dealing with your possessions can be difficult. Are you supposed to transport everything, and often? That doesn’t sound practical or cheap. If you don’t have a base, you could store your items in a storage unit instead and give your items a permanent base. They’ll be kept safe, as long as you keep paying the bills, giving you the flexibility to move around with only the essentials.
The Benefits of Self-Storage Units Are Clear
Whether you’re worried about space or security, hiring a storage unit could be a savvy move if you have a lot of possessions. Self-storage units offer you extra protection from theft or environmental damages while giving you extra space to declutter your home. If you’re somebody without a permanent base, a storage unit could be the best place to protect your items on a long-term basis. If you live in Derry and need to hire a storage company you can trust, then please get in touch. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have. Get an online quote today.
