Local storage company hits the road with new mobile units

A shifting population, changing economic times and a sometimes volatile housing market has increased the demand self-storage units. Industry data shows that more than 12 percent of U.S. households rent at least one unit. 

It’s a trend well recognized by Reese Stanley. 

Stanley, along with his siblings, owns and operates Dudley’s Cardinal Stow-A-Way. The company is in the midst of an expansion, branching out from its original Oak Street location, with 125 units, to a new storage lot on Field Street.

“We’re seeing a lot of people move into the area and they need short term storage as they work to buy or build a house,” said Reese Stanley. “Also, more people are moving to rental (homes), that seems to be a trend nationally. Rental places aren’t as big so they need storage.” 

Already constructed on the new lot is 20 outside units and 38 climate-controlled storage rooms. A concrete pad stands ready for future expansion and the property is large enough to support future growth. The location also houses a new endeavor, one that Stanley hopes meets another local need, Cardinal’s Nest Mobile Storage.

Similar to the national brand PODS, Cardinal’s Nest takes storage directly to the customer, offering delivery and transport of portable storage units. Stanley is currently the only local provider of such a service. 

“I’ve always had this dream of having the mobile storage,” he said. “There are people doing renovations, just needing to clean out a couple of rooms; some people who will potentially rent them as storage units in their yards; and for local moves. There is a void here in town.” 

Stanley has 12 mobile units ready to lease, and is prepared to add more if demand proves high. 

Cardinal’s Nest will serve Laurens and surrounding counties, Beckley; Twiggs; Wilkinson; Treutlen; and Johnson. 

“I’m not set up to move somebody to Los Angeles, but we can help folks locally,” Stanley said.