Category: News
This November is Cookes Storage’s 3rd birthday – and what a fabulous 3 years it has been.
We’ve grown.
In 2015 we opened with a single floor of units, 98 in all. This year we’ve completed our expansion to open our 301st unit.
We’ve not only grown in size, we doubled our staff too. But there’s one constant our long term clients will know – Branch Manager Deven. Deven has been part of the Cookes team since we launched, so we asked her about the last three years.
Who was the first client?
Deven: I’m not sure who was the very first, but one of the earliest is the Marshall Arts Shop, who are with us still. They are experts in martial arts, and sell equipment online and from their shop in Sutton Coldfield.
What’s the one thing you can never do without?
Deven: My calculator. All of our units are measured in square feet, and that is difficult for many people to picture. I’ve become very good at working with guestimates and converting metres to feet.
What else has changed over the years?
Deven: Aside from tripling in size, we also opened offices on site. Our resident businesses include Merry Maids and Guardian Office Supplies. And, of course, Andrew moved over from the Cookes furniture store in 2017 as our Director. He’s full of energy, very particular, and he also insists on working the later shifts, so that the rest of the team can go home for the evening.
So – tell us about the party!
Deven: We’re having a 3rd birthday party on Friday 16th November. Cookes is a local family business, and so we pride ourselves on helping other local businesses. We’re inviting companies we’ve worked with, networked with or who just want to meet us, to celebrate with us and enjoy some relaxed networking at the same time.
We’re also having some games, including our top secret Break In Challenge. There’ll be a raffle, and some other fundraising events, for our chosen charities, The Buddy Bag Foundation and Toys4TotsUK.
Every party needs a cake and some bubbles. All of the catering will be provided by Edwards Restaurant, so we’re looking at a fantastic afternoon and we hope plenty of businesses will want to join us.
If you would like to celebrate with us this Friday, just email info@cookesstorage.co.uk for the details.
You may already know that at Cookes we love to work with local businesses to help them grow, but you may not know that we also do what we can to support small charities as well.
It’s possibly not something you’ve thought about, but charities are often recipients of large amounts of donations, and they just don’t have the space or resources to manage them all at once. Particular times of year can get quite busy, and the winter season is one of them.
This month we’ve been pleased to help three separate charities, each of them unique and in need of some space, just for a couple of months.
Snuffles Hedgehog Rescue
Hedgehogs are synonymous of a British countryside – we all know that the prickly little creatures love to hide in leaf piles and trundle through gardens at night. However, before the team from Snuffles approached us, we were not aware that hedgehogs are endangered. There are now just under a million in the UK today – down from 36 million just 70 years ago.
Snuffles Hedgehog Rescue in Four Oaks aim to save as many injured hedgehogs as possible and help them get back into the wild. They’ve put together a fantastic website with lots of information, so you know whether the hog you found is really hurt or just out for an evening stroll. This time of year is particularly busy, as everyone starts to have garden fires just as our spiky friends are looking for cosy woodpiles to settle down and hibernate.
Local business Wheelers Timber and Builders Merchants were on hand to help the Snuffles team move into their temporary storage unit – a fantastic example of local businesses coming together to help out.
Duke of Edinburgh
In recent months we’ve seen a lot of teenagers hiking around the countryside earning their Duke of Edinburgh awards. It’s a charity aimed at helping young people achieve more. However, they also receive a large amount of donated goods and clothing, that need sorting out. We’ve been pleased to be able to offer them the space they needed.
Toys 4 Tots
While we get caught up in the frenzy of the Christmas planning, it’s easy to forget that some families just don’t have the resources. Toys4Tots UK was launched just four years ago by Matt Parkes, and is growing rapidly, collecting money and donated gifts for less fortunate children.
Not all the funds are spent on gifts though. Some is donated directly to charities that help underprivileged children to have a wonderful experience and create some happy memories, while some of the gifts are passed on to women living in refuges.
Of course, when we think about donating toys, we tend to think about smaller children, and forget that there are many teenagers also looking for a happier Christmas. So, if you would like to help out Tots4TotsUK in bringing Christmas to more homes and families living in refuges this year, take a look at Matt’s Facebook page to see how you can help.
A helping hand, when we can
If you are a local charity and need a helping hand, then get in touch.. Unfortunately, we cannot offer space every time, or store certain items such as flammable goods, plants, perishable items or animals. But, we do consider every request, and help where we can.
The Cookes Storage Service opening hours during the Christmas and New Year break are as follows:
- 23rd December – 9.00am to 5.00pm
- 24th December – 9.00am to 2.00pm
- 25th to 27th December – CLOSED
- 28th December – 10.00am to 3.00pm (Existing Customer Access Only)
- 29th December – 10.00am to 4.00pm (Existing Customer Access Only)
- 30th December – 10.00am to 4.00pm
- 31st December – 10.00am to 4.00pm
- 1st January 2017 – CLOSED
- 2nd January 2017 – 9.00am to 5.00pm
- 3rd January – Normal Opening Hours
If you require access outside of these core Christmas operating hours please give us a call on 0121 2505055 or email info@cookesstorage.co.uk.
Homeowners Storage
Throughout our lifetimes we build up a surprising amount of belongings. Research shows that we also move an average of 8 times during the same period – meaning that every possession needs packing up and carrying with us. Or does it?
The United States have been making use of Self Storage for years, with over 50,000 storage facilities in use. The UK may be slower to use offsite storage, but we are rapidly finding more uses for storage facilities, and gaining an appreciation for the versatility and convenience on offer.
So, here are some of the top reasons for homeowners to use Self Storage in the West Midlands.
1. Dressing your house sale
If you are planning on selling your home, you want to be sure it’s looking it’s best. It’s time to clear out your prized collection of figurines, take down the family photos and pack away the children’s toys. Put it all out of sight into a temporary storage room, and once your house is all dressed up it’ll soon sell.
2. During your house move
It’s becoming more common in today’s housing market that sellers have to move into temporary accommodation as one house sale completes before the other. Keeping your furniture safe, clean and dry while you rent takes some of the stress out of moving, and gives you peace of mind.
3. Settling into your new home
Deciding who has which room, and where to put your sofa and bookshelves – it all takes time as you settle into your new space and discover just where everything fits. So keeping the unnecessary clothing and boxes from the attic in low-cost, safe storage means you can relax and forget your boxes until you need them.
4. De-cluttering
With so many belongings it’s no wonder our homes start to feel full. But rather than throw out bikes and ski’s, winter coats and summer camping gear, it’s better to store it away safely until it’s needed. After all, there’s no need to be wasteful when there are a variety of personal storage options available providing just the amount of space you need to de-clutter your home.
5. Home office solutions
More and more of us are working for ourselves, using a room in the house as a home office or buying tools and equipment for a manual job. Storage provides different sized spaces to suit your needs, whether it’s a secure space for your expensive tools or somewhere to keep confidential documents completely safe.
6. DIY
After moving home, DIY and redecorating must be close on the list as one of the more stressful events in our lives. Save your stress levels by temporarily moving furniture and treasured heirlooms into short-term storage while renovations are carried out.
7. Downsizing
Whatever the reasons you are moving to a smaller home, it’s difficult to decide what you want to keep. Years of memories and keepsakes war with favourite armchairs and accumulated hobby equipment. Move it all into storage and you can sort through everything in your own time.
More homeowners are turning to offsite storage as a way of keeping their possessions safe. Try Cookes Storage. Dry and secure, they are the preferred option to a garden shed or garage if you have the need for more room at home. They’ll even collect your personal belongings for you, the perfect solution for those larger items.
This Sunday at 11am see’s the annual Great Midlands Fun Run which started in September 2003. Last year saw a capacity field of 7000 runners (and 87 dogs) take part raising £347,024 for charity.
Cookes Furniture, our parent company, has been a longstanding key sponsor of the event and will be taking along a team of 70 runners to support their own 70th anniversary!
Good luck to everybody taking part! It’s going to be a great day, whatever the British weather decides to throw at us!