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Aligning Vendor Strategy With Your Goals
28 May 2025

Aligning Vendor Strategy with Your Goals: A Guide for Self-Storage Operators

Aligning Vendor Strategy With Your Goals

In the self-storage industry, vendor partnerships can impact your facility’s performance, tenant satisfaction, and bottom line. Choosing the right ones isn’t just a box to check; it’s a strategic decision. 

At Storage Asset Management (SAM), we know exactly what it takes to build a reliable, cost-effective vendor network. 

Why Vendor Selection Matters 

Selecting the right vendor can elevate the tenant experience, mitigate potential risks, and reduce costs. The right partner helps ensure consistency in service, fast response times, and even access to valuable industry insights. Long-term vendor relationships often lead to early access to new offerings, better pricing, and more personalized service. In short, when you partner with the right people, your business runs smoother, and your tenants notice. 

What to Look for in a Vendor 

When evaluating vendors, self-storage operators should focus on more than just cost. Look for: 

  • Stability & Compliance: Is the vendor financially sound? Are they known for fair labor practices and regulatory compliance? 
  • Reputation: Do they have a positive online reputation? Ask for references so you can talk to current clients about their satisfaction with the vendor. 
  • Quality & Scalability: Do their products or services meet your current needs, and will they grow with you? 
  • Reliability: Can they deliver consistently on time and to your expected standards? Pay attention to communication habits and response times. 
  • Value: Are their prices competitive? Do they offer rebates or flexibility in negotiations? 
  • Commitment: Are they invested in your long-term success? Look for vendors who communicate openly and proactively support your goals. 

Local vs. National: What Works Best? 

At SAM, we use a blend of national providers and local vendors, depending on what makes the most sense for the facility. National vendors can offer consistency and negotiated pricing, but local vendors often provide more flexibility. Our vendor strategy always centers on our clients’ operational needs and financial goals.  

Building Successful Vendor Relationships 

Strong vendor relationships rely on open communication, accountability, and a shared commitment to success. It’s essential to work collaboratively, be open to innovation, and remain flexible when needs evolve. Regular check-ins or formal reviews allow both parties to evaluate performance, discuss goals, and refine processes, turning a service provider into a strategic partner. 

We recommend reviewing vendors at least annually, with more frequent, less formal check-ins when needed. If performance concerns or complaints arise, don’t wait—those are natural triggers for reassessment. 

Handling Underperformance the Right Way 

Even with strong vendors, issues can arise. A well-structured contract outlining service level agreements (SLAs) and expectations is the best protection. At SAM, we stress the importance of documented processes for escalating and resolving issues. Open, transparent conversations focused on problem-solving rather than blame are essential to getting back on track. Everything should be documented to guide future performance reviews and vendor decisions. 

How SAM Supports Vendor Management 

A valuable benefit of partnering with SAM is our proven approach to vendor management. We bring self-storage industry expertise and operational rigor to every step of the process: 

  • Our vendor and risk management departments ensure vendors meet all compliance requirements, including insurance and certifications. 
  • We manage the entire vendor lifecycle from vetting and contract negotiation to ongoing performance monitoring. 
  • Our standardized intake process includes reviewing proposals, confirming scopes of work, and training onsite teams to work efficiently with vendors. 
  • As a third-party management company, we reduce client costs by leveraging economies of scale to negotiate better pricing and terms across our vendor network. 
  • By monitoring key performance metrics, we can spot trends early and make informed decisions to protect your operations and reputation. 

Whether you’re opening your first self-storage location or scaling across multiple markets, we’d love to talk to you about our third-party management company and our client-focused approach to vendor management. Let SAM help you build the operational foundation that drives long-term success. Reach out to us at info@storageasset.com or (717) 779-0044.