Stop and Store Ltd.
Our Team transformed Stop and Store Ltd., now operating as Contain Your Stuff, into a multi-site containerized self-storage platform in British Columbia. By leveraging imported flat-packed containers, forming joint venture partnerships, and adopting a lean remote-management model, the business achieved capital-efficient growth. Furthermore, it delivered strong investment returns, ultimately culminating in a staged portfolio exit to Black Sheep Income Corp. (BSIC).
Investment Thesis
The British Columbia self-storage market is highly fragmented, with increasing demand driven by:
- Rising housing costs and downsizing trends.
- Seasonal demand from students and recreational property users.
- Population growth in urban and semi-urban markets such as Victoria, Squamish, Penticton, Kelowna, and Whistler.
The Stop and Store concept targeted this demand with a low-cost, scalable model:
- Flat-packed steel containers imported from the Czech Republic provided durable, modular units at a fraction of traditional construction costs.
- Sites were developed in phases, ensuring capital deployment matched occupancy ramp-up.
- Two projects were completed as joint ventures with landowners, reducing upfront equity requirements.
Portfolio Development
Phase 1: Establishing Flagship Site
- Victoria (3950 Quadra Street) – First fully developed and branded operation.
- Established systems for marketing, reservations, billing, and customer service.
Phase 2: Expansion to Growth Markets
- Squamish (1002 Enterprise Place) – Drive-up units catering to a fast-growing residential and recreational market.
- Penticton (1264 Carmi Avenue) – Large-scale site with 318 units on 1.84 acres.
- Kelowna & Whistler – Smaller complementary operations extending regional coverage.
Remote Operations Model:
All sites were operated from a single management hub using cloud-based systems for reservations, payments, and access control. This created a high-margin operating structure with minimal overhead.
Financial Outcomes
- Capital Efficiency: Containerised development reduced upfront cost per unit by up to 50% compared to traditional self-storage builds.
- Joint Ventures: Two sites structured with landowners minimised equity outlay while securing long-term growth.
- Phased Roll-Out: Staggered development aligned capex with occupancy ramp-up, limiting downside risk.
Exit Transactions
- 2020: Penticton Facility Sold
- 318 containers on 1.84 acres
- Sale price: $3.27 million
- Subsequent Years: Victoria & Squamish Facilities Sold
- Acquired by Black Sheep Income Corp. (BSIC), a consolidator of RV and self-storage assets.
- BSIC rebranded operations under Contain Your Stuff and has since reported >95% occupancy at Penticton with expansion underway.
Investor Takeaways
- Proof of Concept: Demonstrated viability of containerised storage as a scalable alternative to traditional facilities.
- Capital Efficiency: Use of JV structures and flat-pack units enabled faster ROI with reduced capital exposure.
- Operational Leverage: Centralised management created a high-margin business with strong scalability.
- Strategic Exit: Portfolio sale to BSIC validated the model, delivered liquidity, and allowed further industry consolidation.
Conclusion
The Stop and Store investment highlights how innovative asset-light models in fragmented industries can generate strong returns through:
- Cost-efficient development,
- Flexible growth strategies, and
- Timely exits to consolidators seeking stabilised assets.
The phased development and eventual sale to BSIC created substantial value uplift, making Stop and Store an excellent example of a private-market self-storage growth and exit strategy.
