Concept offers room to grow
THERE seems to be an insatiable appetite for small spaces in Durban. In Chris Hani (North Coast) Road, XtraSpace is a building that stands out because of its bright orange façade.
The four-floor building used to be the home of ToysRus.
Relaunched as XtraSpace in October, it offers a business centre and offices for short-term lease (two months). It also offers storage spaces ranging from 3m and 80m .
The facility in Chris Hani Road is one of five in KZN. There are two others in Umbilo and two in Pietermaritzburg.
The company offers home and business storage in a building that has 24-hour security and is open Monday to Friday between 8am and 5pm and on Saturdays between 8am and 2pm.
The storage involves neatly fitted corrugated iron units with well-lit, wide corridors and access to free trolleys and a lift.
Christine Fraser and Helen de Lange are tenants and during an impromptu visit from the newspaper raved about the facility.
They run their business, Bits and Pieces, which supplies print and art material to schools, from XtraSpace. They have an office and a 21m storeroom for their stock.
“This is amazing. It’s the best concept because it’s so flexible,” De Lange said.
“We’ve been here since April and we didn’t want to tie ourselves to a long lease. We wanted to see how it worked out and it has been great – we don’t have to worry about anything. Everything is here, from desks in the office to trolleys in the warehouse. We didn’t have to bring anything in and the landlords are superefficient.”
Colleen Mansour, the chief operating officer of XtraSpace, said the self-storage company bought its first property in 2007. It now owns 24 storage and flexioffice facilities nationwide, renting out about 125 000m².
“As a national owner and operator, our focus is on providing excellent customer service. We achieve this by applying our management expertise and best practices at each facility.
“Our strategy is to grow our portfolio, consolidating the fragmented flexible space industry in South Africa by offering affordable, accessible and secure storage and office space for residential and commercial use.”
XtraSpace is privately owned and Abri Schneider is the managing director.
The company says it has 90 percent occupancy in its buildings and office sites such as that in Khuzimphi Shezi (Williams) Road are sought out by young entrepreneurs.
“Entry-level into office space is affordable,” says Mansour.
A one-month deposit is required and leases are month-to-month.
Fifty new offices will be available in Umbilo soon.
Office space ranges in price from R2 052 for a 9m unit to R3 192 for 18m . Storage starts at R275 a month for 3m . XtraSpace Flexi offices provide internet, copy, fax and scanning services, equipped kitchens, optional cleaning and servicing and courier services.