Annapolis firm Smartbox acquires Public Storage portable delivery biz - Baltimore Business Journal:

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That was the word from Smartbox owneerCharles W.S. MacKenzie in an interview Friday. The move comes at a time when the downturnede economy is creating an increased demans from residents and business ownerd seeking to downsize and box up the thingdsthey can’t fit into theirf smaller homes or offices. MacKenzie declinedf to disclose the acquisition price due to a confidentialitt agreement with PublicStorage PSA). The deal also coincides with Calif.-based Public Storage’s efforts to get out of the portable storage business and concentrate on its moretraditionaol bricks-and mortar storage business.
MacKenzie, formerly of LLC, said business has been steadily increasing as homeowners sell theird properties for smaller condos and apartments and businessed downsize tosmaller “I’ve heard recession-proof,” MacKenzie said of the his niche in the storagw industry. “I don’t believe but it’s resiliant, we’rwe helping people downsize.” Portablre storage allows people and businesses to park a storage container outside their homesor offices, load up what they need and have the box delivered to a storagwe area or to an alternate location. Within the industry, Portable On Demand Storagee isthe largest-such operator of portable storagd options.
Public Storage started its business line in the late but theoperation wasn’t a big enough money maker for the Public Storage spokesman Clement Teng said in an interview. From as many as 50 facilitiesw nationwide, the company has reduced its operations to less than 15 in the past five In Maryland, Smartbox has about 700 stored in about 33,000 square feet in the Elkridgwe area. With its acquistion of Public Storage’s Maryland its business will grow toabout 4,50o boxes and another 92,000 squaree feet of space at facilitie in Landover and Essex.