None at this time.

PRESIDENT'S LETTER

Thanks to all of you for twelve years of wonderful support.  My time as President of COSSA comes to an end on December 31, 2023. 

Your support has made it possible for COSSA to grow and flourish over that time.  We have drastically increased our membership, passed several pieces of legislation, and much more, including operating in the black every year.  Just prior to Covid in 2019, Tim Dietz, President of the National Self Storage Association, informed me that he thought that COSSA was one of, if not the best self storage association, in the country.  High praise, indeed!

First, I want to thank Chris Muhr and Tom Razo.  They have served as Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer, respectively, for most of the time I have been President.  They have also served on numerous committees.  It is people like them that make COSSA work.   

In addition, I would like to thank the COSSA Board members I have served with over the years.  The support that COSSA has received from them has been critical to its success.

Another grateful thanks to Todd Mackintosh, COSSA’s long-time attorney, for his able legal counsel during my tenure.

I also want to thank Maggie.  Some of you may be aware that on November 1st, Maggie informed COSSA that she would be retiring on December 31, 2023.  She is simply the best!  Without her, COSSA would not be the organization it is today.  She will be greatly missed.  Please feel free to send her a thank you/appreciation note.

Our sponsors deserve a big thank you as well.  They have played a critical role in COSSA’s success.  Our membership fees and the cost to attend COSSA’s meetings and trade shows would be much higher without them.  I would particularly like to thank Wayne Woolsey and Terry Conners of Kiwi II Construction for being a sponsor at every COSSA trade show and meeting from the very beginning.  In addition, a special thanks to Jeff Higashi and Rich Seaberry of Janus International for their support for close to twenty years.

Tim Dietz and the National Self Storage Association have been very supportive over the years.  Just one of the ways they have helped COSSA is to provide the funding for our legislative efforts.

Ben Vestal will be the President of COSSA effective January 1, 2024.  I ask all of you to welcome Ben and give him your full support.  COSSA will be in good hands with Ben, and it will continue to prosper under his leadership.

In closing, I would like to say, “Thanks for the wonderful memories.”  It has been a great pleasure and honor to serve as your President.

Best wishes to all of you,

Jackson White, President                               

RV STORAGE GROUP - Back to "Normal"

As we now find ourselves firmly in a post Covid environment, many RV Storage facilities are seeing a drop in occupancy levels. Should this be a major concern, or are we just back to normal?

It’s no secret that Covid presented an amazing surge in the RV lifestyle nationwide, with sales and shipments of new RV’s up over 600% at the height of the pandemic. As a result, it was only natural that such an increase would also lead to a spike in occupancy for RV Storage facilities. New customers flowed in, rent rates were up and life was good!

At the same time however, as demand for available RV storge space increased, so did the interest of seemingly every investment group and entrepreneur wanting to get in on the rising popularity of RV and Boat Storage. Now, we are ultimately finding that the RV Storage sector particularly in Colorado is quickly becoming over-saturated (have you driven I-25 to/from Fort Collins lately?!), while at the same time experiencing other identifiable trends leading to a decline in current occupancy levels.

Colorado is amazing and beautiful in so many ways that it organically lends itself to the RV and Boat enthusiast, but Colorado is also very expensive and among the top 4 in highest cost of living not on a Coast. Translated: people are moving out of State and/or simply disposing of their RV’s, boats and other “toys”. Both actions rank at the top of the list as ‘Reason for Moving Out’ according to fellow RV Storage Owners and Managers. Remember that surge in RV sales during the pandemic? As it turns out, many of those people now have buyer’s remorse! Recognizing the actual time, effort and cost associated with RV ownership, coupled with their life back to “normal”, many are also opting out having determined that the RV lifestyle is simply not for them, and thus another top reason for move-outs.

It's not all doom and gloom. When comparing year over year occupancy data, most facilities are likely to acknowledge that recent declines in occupancy have only just reverted back to pre-covid levels, and yet overall annual revenues remain strong due to the ability to maintain higher current rental rates. Although the increase in competition and inventory is likely to continue for some time, unlike traditional storage however, the RV Storage sector has yet to truly experience the need to succumb to overly aggressive price drops, dynamic pricing and/or other tactics often deployed to draw in new customers.

Overall, the RV and Boat Storage industry is expected to stay fully strong and steady for the long term just like normal.

In closing, and on behalf of the entire RV Storage Group within COSSA, I would like to give a massive THANK YOU and CONGRATULATIONS to our beloved and fierce ambassador; Maggie Thomas as she looks ahead to a well-deserved retirement and new chapter of life beginning in 2024.

Without Maggie’s direct influence and many efforts, the RV Storage Group would not be possible! You will be missed, but hopefully not a stranger, as you are always welcome with a lifetime membership!

The mission of the RV Storage Group is to focus on specific topics, ideas and trends generally applicable only to RV Storage Owners and Operators, and ultimately providing more value and a greater knowledge base to our Members.

The 2024 RV Schedule is already set, so be sure to download it and get the dates on your calendar.

If you would like to be included in emails regarding the RV Storage Group, please contact Maggie today! Hurry, before she retires!

THE INCOMING PRESIDENT MESSAGE

Dear COSSA Members,

I want to first thank the Colorado Self-Storage Association (COSSA) board for electing me as the 2024 COSSA president. I am very excited about the opportunity and believe that COSSA is well-positioned for success moving forward.  As many of you know, I am VERY passionate about self-storage and COSSA has played a pivotal role in keeping our membership educated on market conditions, industry threats, and opportunities.   Over the next two years I am excited to assist the COSSA membership and board as we navigate changing market conditions, protect our businesses, and ensure we are proactively addressing issues that are important to our membership. 

I want to invite all of our members to take an active role in COSSA and feel empowered to speak up and bring new ideas to the board to make sure we are continuing to provide value to our membership.  My contact information is below and I would welcome your call or email at any time. The next two years will go by quickly, but COSSA’s amazing board, growing membership, and continued membership outreach will ensure we are providing value to our members. I look forward to working with you all!

Ben Vestal
2953 S. Peoria St.  Suite 200
Aurora, CO 80014
303-317-4221 General
303-317-6469 Direct
303-717-3400 Cell
bvestal@argus-realestate.com

GOODBYE FROM MAGGIE!

As mentioned in Jackson’s President Letter above, I submitted my resignation effective December 31, 2023.  I have thoroughly enjoyed my 9 years with COSSA, and all of you, facility and vendor members alike, were a big part of that.  The opportunity to meet many, but unfortunately not all the members over the years, was something I always looked forward to and will miss terribly.  I also want to say thank you to everyone who helped educate me about the self storage industry over the years.

This was a very difficult decision to make, but when you finally decide and it feels so right, there is no going back. 

It was a pleasure to be a part of the Colorado Self Storage Association, and I wish COSSA much growth and success in the coming years. 

Happy Holidays,

Maggie