Hotel Avalon is a coliving space for digital nomads located in the small skiing village of Bansko, Bulgaria. The owner is James Hughes, who has been living in Bansko for 20 years and has a passion for the outdoors.
Transforming Hotel Avalon's empty room downstairs into a storage facility.
Construction: Two weeks during March 2023
Initial Launch: March - May 2023
Construction of storage space, marketing, payment processing, customer management
James and I discussed setting up a compact storage business in the basement of his coliving space.
After evaluating the space that James had in mind for storage, we devised a plan to maximize the space’s potential. Our plan involved relocating James’ existing ski lockers to a different room and incorporating shelving units for increased revenue.
By collaborating in this manner, we created a seamless and efficient storage solution tailored to James' needs.
I relocated all the ski lockers from the storage room to the adjacent space, which would be available for future customers to rent. Recognizing that many of the locks on the ski lockers were damaged, James purchased new locks, and I promptly replaced them. Taking extra care, I securely fastened the ski lockers to the walls to ensure their stability, and meticulously cleaned them for a pristine appearance.
With the ski lockers successfully set up in the new room, I tidied the storage room and applied a fresh coat of paint to the walls. Once the paint dried, I assembled the shelves that James had acquired, ensuring uniform dimensions and leveled placement.
Following the installation of the shelves, a final thorough cleaning was conducted, leaving the room ready to welcome customers.
With James' storage facility now fully prepared, it was time to attract customers and spread the word. We began by targeting the immediate community, including those residing in the coliving space who required temporary storage for their belongings during their departures. To inform the broader community of our new storage services, I designed and printed stickers, flyers, and even created a custom sweatshirt showcasing GlobalStash. Strategically, I placed stickers throughout the village and even at the ski resort, capturing attention from passersby. Flyers found their way into coworking spaces and local businesses, while I frequently wore the GlobalStash sweatshirt to start conversations about our services.
Expanding beyond physical marketing efforts, I actively posted in relevant Facebook, Telegram, and WhatsApp groups to raise awareness. Additionally, I launched targeted Facebook Ad campaigns tailored specifically for the Bansko area, further amplifying our reach and capturing the attention of potential customers.
2 months after launching, we received 8 customers and about 320 euros of revenue.
With Hotel Avalon now hosting customers and boasting a fully operational storage facility, my focus shifts to maximizing its occupancy.
To achieve this, I will market the storage space during Bansko's peak seasons, leveraging the increased demand. Additionally, I plan to implement referral programs to incentivize customers to invite their peers, fostering organic growth.
Continual market research will be conducted to provide valuable insights and suggestions to optimize the balance between occupancy and rates, ensuring maximum revenue generation.
Furthermore, I am shouldering the administrative responsibilities on James' behalf, streamlining the process for him. By handling all the administrative tasks, James is able to concentrate solely on customer interactions, specifically coordinating drop-off and pick-up arrangements. This seamless arrangement allows James to focus on delivering exceptional customer service while I take care of the behind-the-scenes operations.
Feel free to contact us and we'll be happy to answer any questions you may have!
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