Built in the heart of the industrious Waikato suburb of Te Rapa is Safeguard Storage’s latest new-build facility – one of the most contemporary and “best looking” storage buildings in the region.
That’s according to Brani and Shannon, the facility’s owner-operators who go the extra mile to connect with their customers. With a determination to leave every visitor – customer or not – with a smile and good feelings, this power-couple deeply cares about their business.
“It’s all about people,” they say.
Today, we get to know one of Safeguard Storage’s legendary leaders – helping Kiwis across their patch store away their belongings with confidence, then walk away knowing their units are in safe hands.
“We want people to leave with a smile.”
Brani and Shannon took over the Te Rapa facility at the end of 2019, they’d always had an interest in storage businesses since Brani became fascinated with shipping containers.
He said the idea of running a storage business came to him whilst he and his wife worked on cruise ships, where they learned a variety of skills around customer service that have helped them in their entrepreneurial ventures.
“We spent four years on the cruise ships and during that time, we underwent some very strict customer service training,” said Brani.
“Things like greeting every customer with a smile, making sure every person leaves smiling, resolving problems with a smile and ensuring that when things go wrong, that nothing ends with bad comments.
“Sometimes we win and sometimes we lose, but we’ll always try to end with people winning.”
As owner-operators, Brani and Shannon have no intention of taking their hands off the wheel and leaving things to chance. They’re both deeply driven to create a “people-centred” service that requires them to go above and beyond.
The quote they’ve built their business on is “under-promising and over-delivering”. They want to remain available to their customers around the clock, willing to solve problems and reassure any concerns, whatever time they arise.
It’s because of their love for meeting, connecting with and serving people that they continue to push the boundaries and keep their customer base happy.
“We run it like a family,” said Brani.
“We love meeting new people and getting to know them, our facilities are really well set up for that.”
“It’s all about trust.”
Brani and Shannon believe that trust is built one conversation, one tour and one secure storage unit at a time.
They’re not just interested in locking things up, they’re deeply passionate about keeping things safe in a way that gives customers reassurance, from the moment they walk through the door.
Security is key, both Brani and Shannon are always determined to make sure their clients understand this.
It begins with the first point of contact.
“They’ll send us an email and we’ll get in touch with them right away, often we’ll invite them over to check out the units for themselves – but there’s never any obligation for them to sign up for anything,” said Brani.
“We’ll show them around the facility, offer them a coffee and make them laugh. Then it’s down to whether the customer believes our units are right for them.”
The Te Rapa facility is one of Safeguard Storage’s largest facilities – a grand total of 640 units spread across two facilities that are within 1km of each other.
Customers can choose from a range of unit types, be it cupboard-sized storage spaces, units that could fit the contents of multiple-bedroom homes or units for filing archived business documents.
There are even suitable units to store a large vehicle, if it’s what the customer requires.
But the key to establishing trust isn’t just telling people, but demonstrating how secure their units are. Brani is quick to show customers that they take the safety of their belongings seriously.
“If someone was to open their unit’s door without being authorised, it would trigger an alarm and we would receive a call right away,” said Brani.
“Whenever we show people their ideal unit, we’ll trigger the alarm on purpose to show our reaction and response time – they’ll see that we send out a patrol team immediately to follow up.”
However, Brani also noted that the alarm and security call-out is the last line of defence in what is already a highly-secure facility, which features 24/7 CCTV and locked gates throughout the premises.
The couple will go the extra mile to ensure that safety is prioritised.
“Even the padlocks are sourced ourselves – we try to keep the facility as high-spec as possible to make sure that quality is always maintained in everything that we do.”
“We want to be known in the community”
While their commitment to the Safeguard family is without question, Brani and Shannon’s focus extends beyond the facility’s gated walls and onto the community that surrounds them.
Shannon is heavily passionate about giving back in ways that truly make a difference. For her, it’s about being part of something bigger and lending a hand wherever she can – whether it’s donating cans, sponsoring the local schools’ sports teams or getting involved with their camps.
Having been personally supported by the Waikato Family Centre through her early years as a mother, Shannon felt a deep desire to pay it forward. That’s why she and her team donated a brand new car to the Centre, helping them continue their incredible work with new mums.
But Shannon didn’t stop there, she’s also been heavily involved in the True Colours Foundation, helping families dealing with childhood cancer or the loss of a child – gifting them six cars with the help of some additional businesses.
“Community is so important, it’s always good to give back because you never know when those services will be needed,” she said.
“If we’re able to get involved, we really should be doing it.”
Shannon puts her hand up for anything and everything, especially with her kid’s local school events which they regularly donate towards.
“We want to be known in the community for playing our part. It helps to build trust with people, that we’re normal people that care – so they can trust that we’ll keep their stuff looked after when they rent a storage unit with us.”
Building Trust, One Storage Unit at a Time
Brani and Shannon’s success comes from their people-first approach. They’re not just running a storage facility, they’re building relationships and fostering trust whilst remaining active in their community.
Safeguard Storage takes pride in representing the values that Brani and Shannon stand for – a passion for hands-on customer service and the willingness to go above and beyond to show that we care.
Whether it’s offering a secure place for belongings or investing in the surrounding community, our range of facilities across New Zealand are run by teams that are determined to make a genuine difference in the people who lease a storage unit.
Our commitment to high-quality service sets us apart from other storage businesses, ensuring our customers don’t just leave with peace of mind – but a smile on their face.