Today we’d like to introduce you to Sam Chason.
Hi Sam, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Storage Scholars began in a college dorm room during my freshman year at Wake Forest University when I was 18 years old. The idea initially seemed daunting, but by breaking it down into smaller, manageable tasks, we made it work. We needed boxes, so we ordered a tractor trailer’s worth and had it delivered to the freshman dorm hallway. For storage space, we went down the street to a local self-storage facility. To meet our labor needs, we hired our friends and teammates. A family member built our website. To spread the word about our service, we printed out free flyers in the library, went door to door, and wrote with chalk on the sidewalks. We kept everything as simple as possible, a business model we continue to follow today.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Our competitive advantage lies in our early start and relentless perseverance. It’s easy to find motivation in waves, working 12-15 hours one day only to burn out and lose steam the next. For us, we treated it like a job: we get up, get to work, and finish when the job is done, day in and day out. By consistently chipping away, we address issues head-on and solve problems quickly rather than letting them sit and fester.
Yes, there have been numerous hiccups along the way—from truck accidents and broken limbs to nearly running out of money and struggling to make payroll. We’ve even dealt with incidents like someone throwing a rock through a window and stealing customer belongings from the back of a truck. Shit happens, and things will inevitably go wrong, but what truly matters is how you react and move forward.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Storage Scholars hires and trains thousands of students across 40+ states to execute tens of thousands of moves within a few weeks each year. This is all possible through immense preparation, rigorous staff training, and our custom technology that significantly reduces manual work in our processes. We offer two main services: Summer Storage and Ship to School.
For Summer Storage, students receive boxes and packing supplies, pack up their belongings, lock everything in their rooms, and go home for the summer. Our team of students then moves everything out, potentially ships a box or two home, stores the items for the summer, and ensures everything is ready and waiting when the students return. For off-campus customers living in houses or apartments, we provide the same service but with the added flexibility of selecting a pickup or drop-off date, along with live tracking of their driver’s progress.
The Ship to School service is perfect for incoming freshmen and anyone who doesn’t want to drive everything to campus or wait in long lines at Target or the mailroom for shipped items. Over the summer, students can order anything online or box up their belongings from home using either their own boxes or ones we provide. Everything is shipped, stored locally, and then delivered to their rooms when they arrive on campus.
What sets us apart is our commitment to preparation and innovation, which allows us to deliver exceptional service. We are incredibly proud of our ability to streamline a typically stressful process, providing convenience and peace of mind to students and their families. Additionally, we have paid millions of dollars to these student employees, further supporting their educational journeys. Our brand is built on reliability, efficiency, and a deep understanding of the unique needs of college students.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
We take risks every day; it’s part of business. Our approach is often to make a messy sauce and clean it up afterward. It’s more about understanding how to assess risk tolerances over time, especially after experiencing a significant setback. At the end of the day, you have to be comfortable with not knowing what is coming on the other side of a situation or decision and proceed with the utmost confidence that you made the right choice, even if it doesn’t turn out that way. It’s more of an “ask for forgiveness before permission” type of world when you are starting and growing a business. Taking risks is essential for growth, and while it can be daunting, it’s crucial to move forward with confidence and learn from every experience.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.storagescholars.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storagescholars/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/storagescholars/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/storage-scholars/
- Twitter: https://x.com/scholarsstorage
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiig8l8COf4VjwNl4Ns2mZA
