Today we’d like to introduce you to Sam Chason.
Hi Sam, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a graduate of the Wake Forest University class of 2020. I studied Business and Entrepreneurship but spent most of my time as a student growing Storage Scholars. As the youngest of three in a family of high school teachers in New York, I was offered a lot of independence as a child. At six, I was running three-figure lemonade stands. At nine, I was making four figures selling candy out of my locker at school. At twelve and throughout high school, I made five figures with massive garage sales. At these garage sales, where I would sell t-shirts for $1 and BMW M3s for $15,000, I learned the foundations of my entrepreneurial skill set. Everything I have done in my career has been progressive. I’ve been slowly building and honing a skill set culminating in my most significant venture yet, a seven-figure college storage business.
We all face challenges, but would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Running a successful business is complex and challenging, and Storage Scholars is no exception. Founder Sam Chason’s early years were characterized by grueling eighteen-hour workdays of relentless physical labor that often lasted until the wee hours of the morning. As a freshman in college, going door to door to promote his business quickly earned him the unenviable moniker of the ‘storage kid,’ further ostracizing him from his peers pursuing more traditional collegiate paths. Despite these challenges, Sam and his team persevered, navigating a maze of obstacles, including a shortage of labor, inadequate storage space, and a website that needed significant improvement. But the biggest challenge was the business’s seasonal nature, which made it difficult to onboard, train, and retains talented employees within the bootstrapped company. However, the seasonality of the business also proved to be its biggest asset, providing the team with eight months every year to step back, reassess their systems, and rebuild where necessary. This allowed them to continually refine their processes and innovate, leading to the exceptional customer service and technological advancements that Storage Scholars is known for today.
We’ve been impressed with Storage Scholars, but for folks who might need to be more familiar, what can you share about what you do and what sets you apart?
Storage Scholars is the nation’s premier provider of student storage, moving, and shipping solutions, with operations on 60 college campuses nationwide. Their dynamic team of innovators is passionate about delivering unparalleled service quality and cutting-edge solutions. Powered by their proprietary technology, every process step is meticulously documented and updated in real-time for a seamless customer experience. It’s no wonder they have earned an impressive 4.8-star customer satisfaction rating, setting the industry standard. True to their mission, Storage Scholars provides valuable business training to a new group of student employees each year, enabling them to lead and serve their peers on campus. Over 1,000 students have already benefited from this program, and Storage Scholars will continue creating on-campus jobs and paid internship opportunities for years to come.
Here’s how it works: students receive convenient packing supplies on campus, pack up their belongings, and leave. Thanks to their partnership with the University, everything is moved into secure storage for the summer once the campus closes. The best part is that everything is ready and waiting in their new rooms when they return to campus.
In addition to their exceptional storage and moving services, Storage Scholars offers a unique solution specifically designed for incoming first-year students known as ‘ship to school.’ This convenient service streamlines moving to campus by providing students with boxes, tape, and prepaid return shipping labels. Students can pack and ship their belongings back to Storage Scholars, along with anything on their online shopping list from major retailers like Bed Bath&Beyond, Target, Amazon, and more.
With everything safely stored and waiting, students can focus on settling into their new surroundings and starting their college journey easily. The ‘ship to school’ service is just one of the many ways Storage Scholars goes above and beyond to simplify the moving process for students and their families.
Founded by Sam Chason in 2017, Storage Scholars has come a long way since its humble beginnings in his Wake Forest dorm room. Appearing on Shark Tank on October 14th, 2022, was a game-changer for the company’s trajectory. They have since partnered with StarRez, the world’s largest student housing platform, and SIRVA, the largest relocation company globally, responsible for moving most Fortune 500 companies. This partnership has strengthened their logistics network and allowed for global expansion. All parties involved are thrilled with this exciting opportunity.
Once Storage Scholars moves students from some of the most elite universities in America during their four years at school and then to their first job when they graduate, who do you think these same young adults will be calling to move into their first home or downsize the offices in their new companies? Partnering with universities also means that Storage Scholars can bid on or accept large-scale commercial jobs, supplementing the seasonality of the business. It’s no wonder Storage Scholars is well on its way to becoming a globally recognized brand within the next five years.
Any big plans?
Storage Scholars is committed to expanding our reach across college campuses nationwide as we look to the future. We focus on two core services: summer storage and shipping to school. We aim to become the go-to provider for students seeking storage and shipping solutions by continually enhancing our technology and refining our processes. In our quest for growth, we are committed to empowering young people by providing employment opportunities and valuable hands-on experience in the business. We have provided jobs to hundreds of students and plan to increase that number in the coming years. As we grow, we are also working to establish official partnerships with universities to offer students the chance to earn academic credit for their work with us. Our ultimate goal is to create a sustainable business model that benefits students and provides a valuable service to the community. As we expand our operations, we will prioritize innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction. Through hard work and determination, Storage Scholars can become a nationally recognized brand synonymous with excellence in student storage and shipping.
Contact Info:
- Website: 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://twitter.com/scholarsstorage
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@storagescholars/featured
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@storagescholars
Image Credits
Dylan Blackburn
