Merriment with a Mission

For those of us who don't live there, it's easy to think of Myrtle Beach as an affluent tourist town, where the ultra-rich enjoy frequent, leisurely strolls along the shore and luxurious evenings filled with fine dining, dancing, and other social pleasures. But Bill and Lisa Trinemeyer, managers for Plantation Storage's Myrtle Beach store, know that's not always the case. Like any other community in America, the Myrtle Beach/Carolina Forest area has pockets of poverty. Hardest hit, of course, are the children--many of whom frequently do without even the basics, such as decent clothing, food, and supplies needed for school. Though area public schools are able to provide some assistance, through the federally-funded free-and-reduced lunch program and health care assistance plans like Healthy Learners, these resources are limited. Additional support is desperately needed to see these children through--particularly on weekends, when hunger is a frenquent, unwelcome visitor.

That's where Backpack Buddies comes in. Backpack Buddies is a program launched by Help 4 Kids SC, an organization established in 1989 by caring Horry County citizens who were determined to help Hurricane Hugo survivors put their lives back together following the storm's devastation. During the process, these enterprising individuals met many underprivileged children, struggling for their very survival. So once Help 4 Kids' post-Hugo mission was accomplished, they narrowed their focus to providing basic necessities for children of the working poor in Horry County. These days, Backpack Buddies volunteers pack up over 500 snack packs per week, to be delivered to schools and homes of the area's poverty-stricken children. But these hearty volunteers couldn't succeed without some help. This year, Plantation Storage in Carolina Forest has gladly partnered with the Backpack Buddies program and 23 other local businesses, to host a community scavenger hunt designed to raise funds for the "buddy" backpacks--as well as the food, school supplies, shoes, and clothing needed to fill them.

The scavenger hunt, which is set for September 18, 2010, begins at 10:00 a.m., at Medieval Times, where all the participants in the hunt will sign up and pay a $5.00 entrance fee. Once "hunters" are registered, they will be given maps of the area, so they'll know which businesses to visit along the route, in order to complete their scavenger hunt. Plantation Storage, a designated scavenger hunt checkpoint, will award participants who stop at their store the chance to enter a drawing for a $50 gift card. At the conclusion of the hunt, scavengers will meet back at Medieval Times for the event finale--a festive awards ceremony, complete with music, prizes, and something to munch on, for those so inclined.

If you would like to participate in this event or make a donation to the Backpack Buddies program, please get in touch with Barb Mains of Help 4 Kids SC. Mail-in donations may be directed to: 12053-B Highway 17 Bypass, South Murrells Inlet, South Carolina 29576. Phone-in gifts may be made by calling: 843-651-4310. E-mail questions should be directed to: tmains@sc.rr.com. To learn more about Backpack Buddies or Help 4 Kids SC, check out their website: http://help4kidssc.org/mission.html. For more information on the Medieval Times concluding event, please contact Jennifer Willard by phone: 843-236-4635, extension 2703 or e-mail: jennifer.willard@medievaltimes.com .

And don't forget to join Plantation Storage for the Scavenger Hunt:
WHAT: Backpack Buddies Scavenger Hunt
WHEN: Saturday, September 18th, 10:00 a.m.
WHERE: Medieval Times (2904 Fantasy Way, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina)
WHO: anyone can participate
HOW MUCH: $5 per person
WHY: to clothe, feed, and provide school supplies for impoverished Horry County children

Hope to see YOU there!

Submitted by
Anne Youngblood
Assistant Manager/Public Relations
Hardscrabble Road, Columbia facility

K, C, and the Sunshine Plan

Forest Gump was right. Some things DO naturally go together, "just like peas and carrots." Some people do too. Nowhere is this ever more evident than with our Sparkleberry Lane store's newly-formed management team, comprised of manager Karen Frazier and assistant manager Colleen Wood.

Karen, whose affiliation with Plantation is now in its second year, has been capably "holding down the fort" since early summer, when our dear friend Brad, was lured away by other opportunities. Karen's sixteen years of management experience make her an excellent fit for our service-driven industry in general, and the Plantation family in particular. Though she has California roots, she has clearly cultivated her own brand of Southern charm over the last ten years that she and her family have called the Palmetto State 'home.'

We are also delighted to have Colleen Wood, another former Plantation employee, back on board as the facility's new assistant manager. Colleen left Summerville, South Carolina to join us, and brought with her nearly ten years of experience in self-storage, making her a gold mine of industry knowledge. Her quick, dry wit hints at a possible British heritage, but whether or not she's truly from "across the pond," we may never know. Colleen does, however, admit to being the proud parent of five adult children. When not working, she enjoys spending time with her two canine "children," Panda (a Japanese Chin) and China (a Pekingese).

So why do Karen and Colleen make such a perfect pair? That question is best answered by the Sparkleberry facility's customers, who often comment on this team's cheery good nature, high-quality customer service, and natural ability to coax a smile onto even the grumpiest of faces. One of their customers recently remarked, "Coming to the store each month to pay my bill is a special treat. Every time I leave, it's with a smile on my face. Those girls are like a ray of sunshine in my day!"

By Anne Youngblood, Assistant Manager
Hardscrabble Road facility, Columbia, SC

Hardscrabble to Host "Deal, Squeal, Meal, and Heal" Event

The kids are back in school in Columbia, and our Hardscrabble Road store is celebrating with its Fall Yard Sale and Back-to-School Bash! Be sure to join our crew on Saturday, September, 18, 2010, from 9:00am until 2:00pm for this fun, annual event.

Area Boy Scouts will kick off the day, welcoming sellers, shoppers, students, teachers, and other community guests. You can get started shopping at 9:00 with one of the many vendors who will be on site that day. Sellers will be joined shortly thereafter by officers of the Richland County Sheriff's Department (including the famous 9-foot-tall deputy!), who will register children for the Kid ID child safety program and show off their cool DARE truck.

When lunchtime rolls around, there's no need to go out or head home for your mid-day meal. Mr. Sam Caskey, award winning grill-master, will begin selling his mouth-watering barbeque at 11:00am. Advance orders, which may be purchased at the store for only $5 each, include: a barbeque pork sandwich, fresh homemade cole slaw, chips, and a drink of your choice. The day-of-sale price is $6 per plate.

Plantation will also unveil its brand-new "Color the City" coloring book at the extravaganza. This unique work of art features original, black line sketches of Columbia's most prominent landmarks, created by art students from Ridge View High School, under the guidance of their talented teacher, Mr. Chris Nostrant. A true collaboration between Ridge View and Plantation, these coloring books will be presented as gifts to new elementary school students in the Northeast Columbia community. Plantation Storage and its commercial customers also look forward to honoring the hard-working students and teachers of Northeast Columbia with door prizes, which will be awarded throughout the day.

And in recognition of those in our community who need a little extra help, Plantation is leading the charge by accepting donations for two different groups throughout the day:

* We are well aware that, with the recent economic downturn, many children in the Northeast Columbia community may have started school this year without the supplies they need to succeed. This being the case, Plantation is working to help these young learners by accepting school supply donations, which will be given to public schools in the area for distribution. For a list of supplies or to find out how you can help, please call or drop by our office on 4411 Hardscrabble Road any day during business hours (Monday through Saturday, 9am-6pm).

* Our Columbia stores are once again thrilled to partner with The Muscular Dystrophy Association in the battle against numerous degenerative muscular diseases. We encourage you to join us, by dropping off a cash or check (made payable to MDA). Those who do so will be added to our "MDA Wall of Fame," at the store. For additional details about what you can do to support this year's campaign, feel free to call either of our Columbia locations: (Sparkleberry store) 803-699-6600 or (Hardscrabble store) 803-865-8535.

So whether you're looking to make a deal, hear a squeal (of excitement), grab a great meal, or help someone heal, we have it all for you during Plantation Storage's Fall Yard Sale and Back-to-School Bash!

By Anne Youngblood, Assistant Manager
Hardscrabble Road facility, Columbia, SC

Ball's In Our Court

As self storage professionals, we have become accustomed to a constant state of transition. Customers come and go all the time as they work through major life changes such as moving from one home to another, adjusting to a military change of station, or dealing with excess personal property acquired after the passing of a loved one.

So when we face changes ourselves, we tend to “roll with the punches,” as they say. Such is the case at our Bluffton facility, which welcomed its newest team member, Elaine Ball, late last month. A long-time friend of Plantation Storage and Southeast Management Company, Elaine comes to us from Knoxville, Tennessee, though her roots lie in Virginia Beach, where she has spent most of her adult life.

With over 15 years in management—several of which were specific to property management—it is easy to appreciate why she was chosen to fill the vacancy. Though only less than a month into her new role, Ms. Ball’s years of experience in the industry are already proving indispensable. Though she enjoys and feels most comfortable with the managerial aspects of her job, one of her favorite parts of the new position is the opportunity to work with people.

The facility’s co-manager, Maureen Letendre, who has worked with the company off-and-on ever since the Chase family acquired the facility, is also a recent hire, coming back to work after taking a few years off for family. Originally a native of New York, Maureen now calls Sun City home.

So to Elaine and Maureen, from the rest of the Plantation family, we extend a hearty "Welcome (or welcome back). We’re thrilled you’re here!"

By Anne Youngblood, Assistant Manager
Hardscrabble Road facility, Columbia, SC

Here We Grow Again!

The sweltering heat of summer may have slowed progress for some folks, but not for Plantation Storage. The latest round of construction at our Myrtle Beach store has been moving right along and will soon be complete. Responding to overwhelming customer demand, Plantation’s newest facility is adding forty-nine more units—all in the most popular sizes. When asked about the expansion, site manager Bill Trinemeyer remarked, “More and more people are making their way south to enjoy life at the beach. Transitions like these are often accompanied by an increased need for storage space, which is why our smaller units have been renting like hotcakes! We are thrilled to be able to provide more space for our new friends moving into the Carolina Forest area and surrounding communities.”

Upon completion, the new addition will offer a total of thirty-three climate-controlled spaces and sixteen standard ones, ranging in size from 5’x5’ (25 square feet) to 10’x15’ (150 square feet). This latest project is the second of five phases of construction the facility has planned to meet the ever-expanding needs of Myrtle Beach customers. Bill’s wife and co-manager, Lisa, shares her husband’s enthusiasm about the facility’s growth, “The new building should be finished sometime around the end of the month. We are very excited about it and can hardly wait to meet all our new neighbors here at Carolina Forest!”

By Anne Youngblood, Assistant Manager
Hardscrabble Road facility, Columbia, SC

Our Hidden Hero

In spite of a faltering economy and ever-expanding unemployment rate, the Southeast Management/ Plantation Storage family is standing strong--refusing to waiver from its commitment to offer the high-quality self storage, a wide selection of packing supplies, exceptional customer service, and expert property management for which it is so well known.

This "customers come first" approach actually has its roots with SEM/Plantation's home office team, made up of owner Charles Chase and chief financial officer, Wendy Ashburn. In spite of his "captain of the (company) ship" position, Mr. Chase confesses that much of Southeast Management’s success is attributable to Mrs. Ashburn’s behind-the-scenes efforts. For more than two decades, Wendy has served as Charles’ “gal Friday,” attending to a myriad of administrative details such as: financial resources analysis and oversight, human resources and payroll, and various other office management tasks.

Staff members at the four company-owned facilities clearly appreciate Ms. Ashburn’s helpfulness and dedication as well. Colleen Wood, long-time relief manager for the Sparkleberry Lane facility in Columbia, recently gushed, “Wendy is an absolute sweetheart! She's extremely knowledgeable, highly competent, unfailingly helpful, and has a marvelous sense of humor. No matter what we need, she's always ready and willing to help.” Vice President of Operations, March Chase, echoes these sentiments, describing Wendy as “a great sounding board,” who is “wiser than all of us put together.”

Though it hasn’t always been easy to juggle the many responsibilities required by her position with the company, that doesn’t seem to be a deterrent for Ms. Ashburn, who readily admits that facing and conquering new challenges is her very favorite part of the job. Now you know why we call Wendy the "hidden hero" of Southeast Management Company and Plantation Storage!

By Anne Youngblood, Assistant Manager
Hardscrabble Road facility, Columbia, SC

Buh Bye in Bluffton

Every so often, you meet a manager who knows how to take things to the next level--a guy or gal who appears to have no trouble at all setting and meeting only the highest of standards in the industry. This is the kind of manager small business owners dream about: a respectful and kind customer service representative, an adept and personable salesperson, a flawless communicator, and a splendid time manager--who can juggle it all with a smile on her face! Louise Barnholdt, long-time manager of our Bluffton store, is just such an individual. Throughout her years as a member of the Plantation family, Louise has become a poster child, if you will, for what excellence in our industry looks like.

For this reason--and so many others--we are quite sad to report that Louise will soon be leaving us. Unfortunately for us, her skills have been noticed by more than one person elsewhere in the self storage industry. And just like a scout watching a talented young quarterback at a spring scrimmage, another East Coast property management company has come come along and offered her a district manager position, worthy of her exceptional skills. While we will most certainly miss her (Who wouldn't?), we wish her nothing but the best as she steps into this challenging, new role.

In the meantime, we are quite fortunate to have a well-rounded staff of other, highly-capable self storage professionals who have kindly offered to step in and "mind the store" until our new manager arrives. Bud Wien, manager of our Hardscrabble Road facility in Columbia, brings years of property management experience and a no-nonsense attitude to doing whatever it takes to help our customers with their storage needs. Bill Trinemeyer, of our Myrtle Beach management team, is recognized throughout the industry for his creative, multi-faceted approach to marketing exceptional self storage facilities like ours. He also has a marvelous dry wit that could even make Oscar the Grouch grin! If you have a moment to stop in, they'd love to meet our loyal Bluffton customers. And if any of you would like to jot a quick note to Louise, we'll be sure to pass it along.

By Anne Youngblood, Assistant Manager

Plantation-Hardscrabble, Columbia

Plantation Storage welcomes
its new management duo

BY MAEGEN SWEAT
FOR THE CHRONICLE


From the Sunshine State to the Palmetto State, Plantation Storage in Carolina Forest
welcomes the husband and wife management duo of Bill and Lisa Trinemeyer.Plantation Storage has been in the area for two years, and is well known for excellence. So far, the Trinemeyers are continuing that same path.Charles Chase, owner of Plantation Storage, says the facility won recognition as the new facility of the year in 2008 in Mini-Storage Messenger, a “fairly coveted award.” Having been in the selfstorage industry for the past four years, the Trinemeyers bring a sense of renewed management to the business said March Chase, director of
operations. “They are very competent.They came on board the end of April, and in that short time they have increased the facility’s occupancy by 10 percent which is pretty phenomenal. We feel extremely confident with a new facility coming along that they have the ability to fill that out for us as well and take it to the next level,” March Chase said. As far as personalities, the two managers have different styles but work together extremely well.“Bill is the marketing guru, he likes to get out and interact. Lisa has an accounting background. She is a very confident individual, and is very smart and quick,” March Chase said. It’s not hard to see why
Chase has such confidence in the Trinemeyers. Coming out of Orlando, Fla., Bill
Trinemeyer was named the marketing manager of the year at United Stor-All in
2008 and the facility manager for 2009. “It’s a service. You have to offer your customers better service than your competition. You have to know the community and be involved,” Bill Trinemeyer said. “We’re in Carolina Forest, this facility has to meet the same standards, and we bring quality customer service.” Since their move to the area, the Trinemeyers have made every effort to get involved with the community. They have been involved with the Carolina Forest Civic Association, the Myrtle
Beach Apartment Association as well as Old Coots on Scoots. “We want to let the communityknow who we are. We want people to feel like we are part of their neighborhood and not just a store on the road. We’ve helped at some of the local non-profit organizations. Even if they just need us to help move something, we’re there to offer our help,” Bill Trinemeyer said. Lisa Trinemeyer said thinks people in the Carolina Forest community are much friendlier and laid back than those in Florida. “People in Florida are very high strung and on-the-go. They [people in Carolina Forest]are friendly and will say ‘hello,’ and it’s a beautiful part of town. We have been very impressed,” Lisa Trinemeyer said. The Trinemeyers said they’ve become ambassadors to the area. “We do get a lot of people coming into the area that we’re the first person they call. We’re both military brats and have lived all over. It is nice when someone comes in from a town we’ve actually lived in,” Lisa Trinemeyer said. As well as being a storage unit, Plantation Storage is a
UPS shipping point. They also have a free move-in truck available, as well as a conference room with free wi-fi access. For more information about Plantation
Storage, visit www.plantationstorage.com or call 903-
7100.

Gift Card Winner

"New tenant Ronny Jackson of Columbia flashed his famous grin when he discovered one of the many benefits of renting with Plantation Storage. Mr. Jackson was randomly selected from among a group of more than 100 participants to be the winner of a $50 Woodley's Garden Center gift card. (Hopefully, he has a green thumb to go along with those pearly whites!)"
-Written by Anne Youngblood, Assistant Manager

Color The City

"Mr. Chris Nostrant, art teacher at Ridge View High School shares the spotlight with a few of his students, who participated in the recent 'Color the City' coloring book design contest, sponsored by Plantation Storage's Hardscrabble Road store in Columbia. Students were challenged to create original, black line drawings of some of the city's most prominent landmarks. Drawings that most accurately and artistically depicted the landmark were chosen for inclusion in the store's new 'Color the City' coloring book, which is set to be distributed to new students at area elementary schools this fall. The students' original pieces are also featured in the Color the City gallery, located in the store's main office."

By Anne Youngblood, Assistant Manager
Hardscrabble Road facility, Columbia, SC