Portable Storage Gains Popularity on Oahu

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Though the island of Oahu has dozens of self-storage facilities, its two mobile-storage businesses have also gained popularity. Portabox Storage Hawaii and the local PODS Inc. franchise have rented more than 1,000 portable-storage units between them.

Both companies say business picks up during military deployments and when the real estate market is positive. The average customer rents for six months.

Portabox has four employees and has been doing business in Hawaii since 2001. It maintains an inventory of 600 wooden crates that are wrapped in a vinyl covering for weather-proofing. Halona Brooks, branch manager, said approximately 70 percent of its boxes are rented on Oahu.

PODS (Portable On Demand Storage), which started doing business in Hawaii in 2007, has approximately 650 of its units rented across the island. The 11-employee company offers three types of units: vinyl-covered plywood, double-thick plastic, and a dense plastic-fiberglass blend. All three have a steel frame that allows them to be stacked at the company’s warehouses. PODS plans to launch limited moving services on Maui next month, said Craig Watson, operations manager.

Source: Pacific Business News, Hawaii mobile-storage firms offer alternative to self-storage

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