Storage Bro’s
Turning a simple storage solution into a thriving local business
With demand growing and their storage site at capacity, Jamie O’Mara and George Leighton knew they needed funding to take Storage Bro’s to the next stage. Through the British Business Banks Start Up Loan scheme, delivered by Let’s Do Business Finance, they secured £50,000 in total (£25,000 each) to invest in their growth.
When friends Jamie O’Mara and George Leighton first started exploring the idea behind Storage Bro’s, they weren’t setting out with a huge investment behind them or a fully formed business model. They started small, with a handful of storage containers, a good idea, and the determination to build something of their own.
Just two and a half years later, their Newhaven-based self-storage business has grown into a modern, independent storage provider supporting local residents, entrepreneurs and businesses across the area.
For Jamie and George, the journey has been about spotting an opportunity, taking calculated risks and gradually building a business that reflects their values: accessible, friendly and built around the needs of their customers.
Humble Beginnings
Jamie and George have been friends for many years and had already worked together on a number of ventures before launching Storage Bro’s. Before entering the storage industry, they spent seven years building and scaling a hospitality business before moving into consultancy.
Their consultancy work saw them help international brands launch into the UK market, supporting everything from recruitment and compliance through to project management and operations.
It was actually through this work that the idea for Storage Bro’s first emerged.
Helping a client launch a restaurant in London, Jamie and George had sourced specialist equipment and needed somewhere affordable to store the equipment before it could be installed. Doing some research they quickly discovered that traditional self-storage options were expensive and would significantly impact their project costs.
After researching alternatives, they came across container-based storage.
“We didn’t know much about container self-storage at the time, other than the big high street brands,” explains Jamie. “We found a container storage site, unloaded the equipment and thought, ‘this is actually pretty neat.”
Over the following months, as they returned to the site to collect equipment, they noticed more and more containers arriving.
“We were sitting there thinking, this looks like a pretty good business.”
Using retained profits from their consultancy business, they decided to take a chance and build their own storage business.
Creating a different kind of storage experience
Storage Bro’s set out to challenge traditional perceptions of container storage.
Jamie and George wanted to create a premium, modern alternative, somewhere clean, secure and easy for customers to use.
“Container storage has sometimes had a bit of a reputation for being quite basic,” says Jamie. “We wanted to do things differently.”
The site features modern security systems, online bookings, automation and a customer-focused approach designed to make storage simple and stress-free.
“We’re not the cheapest option, and we’re proud of that,” Jamie explains. “That’s because of everything we put into the customer experience. People are trusting us with their possessions; we want to make sure they feel safe, secure and comfortable.”
Starting small and growing organically
Storage Bro’s began with just four containers that Jamie and George funded themselves. Filling those quickly, they reinvested their own money to add more capacity.
The business continued to grow organically until they reached a point where demand was exceeding their ability to expand.
“We were at capacity for almost 12 months,” Jamie explains. “We had revenue coming in, which was great, but we wanted to grow. We knew the model worked, but we needed funding to get to the next stage.”
That was when they began exploring finance options.
Finding the right funding solution
Initially, Jamie and George were looking into asset finance to purchase additional containers. However, because Storage Bro’s was still a young business, accessing this type of finance was challenging.
Through their finance broker, they discovered the Start Up Loan scheme and were introduced to Let’s Do Business Finance.
“The Start Up Loan scheme was something we didn’t even really know existed until we spoke to our broker,” says Jamie. “They advised that it would probably be the best route for us because it offered a much more favourable interest rate than some of the alternatives we were looking at.”
Provided by the British Business Bank, the Start Up Loan scheme is a government-backed programme designed to help new and early-stage businesses access affordable finance to start and grow.
Through accredited business support partner Let’s Do Business Finance, eligible entrepreneurs can apply for Start Up Loans from £500 to £25,000 to help with essential business costs, including equipment, stock, marketing, premises and other investments needed to launch and develop their business.
Unlike many traditional business loans, a Start Up Loan is an unsecured personal loan for business purposes. This means applications are assessed on both the individual applicant and the viability of their business plan, rather than relying solely on an established business trading history. Where a business has multiple directors or partners, each eligible individual can apply for their own Start Up Loan, providing greater access to the funding needed to invest in growth.
A supportive journey through the Start Up Loan process
For Jamie, the Start Up Loan application process was different from the types of finance they had previously considered.
“With asset finance, you’re generally supplying company information, accounts and financials. The Start Up Loan process is quite different, with things like the business plan, cash flow forecasts and personal budget,” he explains.
With support from Chris Smith at Let’s Do Business Finance, Jamie and George were able to build a strong application and secure the funding they needed.
“At first you think, ‘this feels like going back to school!’ But Chris was brilliant. He guided us through the process, helped us understand what was needed and showed us where we could add more detail.”
Jamie and George successfully secured Start Up Loans of £25,000 each, taken in two stages. The first instalment of £22,500 each allowed them to invest in the infrastructure needed to continue growing, while a later top-up provided an additional £2,500 each to increase capacity further.
The funding was used to purchase additional storage containers, improve security fencing and gates, and install CCTV systems, investments that were essential in creating the high-quality facility they wanted to offer customers.
The approval was a significant moment for the pair.
“Let’s Do Business Finance and the Start Up Loan Scheme were instrumental to our business. It really kick-started our growth and was a truly validating moment for us as business owners, knowing that someone else had as much faith in us and our business as we did.”
Supporting local people and businesses
Today, Storage Bro’s supports a wide range of customers, from families moving house to local businesses needing flexible space.
Around half of their customers are domestic users, including people moving home, decluttering or needing temporary storage. The other half are businesses — from electricians and plumbers to online retailers, removals companies, anglers and importers.
For Jamie, one of the most rewarding parts of the business is seeing the role Storage Bro’s plays in helping others grow.
“Whether someone’s moving house, launching a new business or just needs some extra space, it’s often a busy and sometimes stressful period in their life. We like to think we can provide a bit of calm in the middle of that by making the whole process as simple, friendly and hassle-free as possible.”
Looking ahead
The journey is far from over. Jamie and George are continuing to grow Storage Bro’s and are already exploring opportunities for new locations.
Their ambition is to have five sites across different areas, increasing capacity while continuing to build the business organically.
They now also share their experiences through their podcast, The Storage Hustle, and mentor other entrepreneurs looking to enter the storage industry, helping others understand the challenges and opportunities of building a business in the sector.
To find out more about Storage Bro’s, or to get in contact with them about your storage needs, visit https://storagebrosuk.com/