Toy collector Jian Yang lives in a 1,050 sq ft two-bedroom single-storey terrace house, but it is far from sufficient to house his collection of 13,000 Barbie dolls.
To manage the overflow, Mr Yang rents two storage units at a facility in Eunos, where over 1,000 dolls are kept.
"I built my house around my collection, but space ran out," Mr Yang told The Straits Times.
The 45-year-old, who runs an advertising agency, was one of the first customers to rent a storage space at Storefriendly when it opened its flagship store in Eunos Avenue 3 in 2019. He pays less than $1,000 a month.
Mr Yang is part of a growing wave of individuals and businesses driving a boom in demand for self-storage services here.
Originally catering to relocators seeking temporary space for household items, the industry now serves diverse needs - from collectors like Mr Yang to businesses leveraging storage as a cost-effective alternative to larger premises.
Unlike warehouses that typically store bulk items or fast-moving consumer goods, Storefriendly focuses on providing personalised storage solutions for individuals and businesses, said its chief executive Jes Johansen.
"We're about storing your barang-barang, your personal items," said Mr Johansen, stressing that self-storage is way different from the traditional concept of warehousing.
The goal is to offer convenient, accessible storage spaces near where customers live or work, complemented by added amenities such as air-conditioning, security features and racking systems, he added.
For businesses, Storefriendly, which has seven branches in Singapore, also provides work-friendly features that include Wi-Fi, meeting rooms, and areas for live streaming or customer interactions.
This story is from the December 23, 2024 edition of The Straits Times.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 23, 2024 edition of The Straits Times.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Rust prosecutor withdraws appeal of dismissal of Alec Baldwin case
The effort to prosecute Alec Baldwin (right) for the fatal shooting of a cinematographer in 2021 ended on Dec 23, when the special prosecutor withdrew her appeal of the judge's decision to dismiss the involuntary manslaughter charge during the actor's trial.
Stray Kids' album Hop gets historic sixth Billboard 200 No. 1
K-pop boy band Stray Kids marked a historic milestone by ranking No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart for the sixth time with their latest album, Hop.
New entries to a hallowed catalogue: The holiday album
NEW YORK A holiday album offers musicians a chance to adopt or reinvent a classic format and show fans a different side of themselves. Here is a sampling of 2024’s releases, from singers exploring the standards to artistes rethinking the meaning of the holidays.
‘I was upstaging myself constantly'
Actor Jim Carrey comes out of retirement to play dual geniuses in Sonic The Hedgehog 3
Binge-worthy Gong Yoo shows fragile, vulnerable side in The Trunk
A gunshot and sinking of the titular trunk set up this psychological-romance drama led by South Korean star Gong Yoo.
Thrills and spills abound in legal thriller Juror #2, airport actioner Carry-On
The story: Hollywood icon Clint Eastwood's 40th directorial feature has a juror (Nicholas Hoult) in a high-profile murder trial weighing a crisis of conscience.
History is handled with care in Harbin
The period drama directed by Woo Min-ho is a handsome but reverent account of a Korean hero
The extremely offline joy of the board game club
When Ms Michelle Kong started a chess club in 2023, hoping to meet other players in their 20s, attendance was so meagre that she needed only one chessboard.
You may not need protein powder if you are eating right
But if it is necessary to use the supplement, choose one that has fewer extra ingredients
Exercise helps with almost everything, including hangovers
Electrolyte drinks, ibuprofen, a bagel overflowing with bacon, egg and cheese - everyone has his or her own way of nursing a hangover.