In a fresh YouTube deep-dive, Wendover Productions explores the explosive growth of self-storage in America—industry that's ballooned to over 50,000 facilities nationwide. Titled "How Self Storage Consumed America," the video unpacks how economic shifts, consumerism, and urban sprawl turned empty boxes into a cultural staple. From Carbondale's shiny new StoreQuest units to the sheer density of storage in places like Houston (where there's more storage space than in entire countries), it's a fascinating look at America's "stuff" obsession. But as Europe lags behind, BoxBox is stepping in to flip the script—without building a single warehouse.

Wendover kicks off with a tour of typical U.S. self-storage: fenced, climate-controlled, and omnipresent off main roads. The stats are staggering—America has enough self-storage to cover Manhattan 3 times over, with occupancy rates hitting 95% in peaks. Why the boom? It's tied to life transitions: moves, divorces, downsizing, and the e-commerce surge flooding homes with packages. Yet, as the video notes, this $40B juggernaut started small in the 1960s, evolving into a recession-proof asset class where REITs like Public Storage rake in billions.

Europe gets a nod too—far less saturated, with countries like the UK and Germany leading but still miles behind U.S. per-capita space. Wendover highlights inefficiencies: outdated booking, vague pricing, and underused private spaces. Sound familiar? That's the gap BoxBox is bridging.

How BoxBox Fits In

While America builds more warehouses, BoxBox builds the software that connects them—all of them. Our platform turns fragmented listings (professional warehouses, private garages, attics) into a seamless marketplace. Renters get a single dashboard to find, book, and manage inventory; hosts get tools to list, price dynamically, and earn passive income. We've standardized contracts, pricing, and ops data, making an illiquid market liquid—across Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, United States and beyond.

Key perks echoing the video's themes:

• Eco-Smart Reuse: Cut CO2 by 50% by maximizing existing spaces—no new builds needed.
• Affordable Flexibility: Rent by day/week/month at 50% less than traditional units.
• Tech Edge: iLOQ smart locks for keyless entry, AI matching for 30% faster fills.

As Wendover points out, self-storage is about enabling lifestyles amid clutter. BoxBox takes that global, starting in Europe where demand is rising but supply is sleepy.

Watch and Join the Revolution

Check out the full video here for Wendover's signature data-driven storytelling—it's 19 minutes of eye-opening stats. Then, head to boxbox.com to list your space or snag a unit. Use code "Wendover15" for 15% off your first booking.

‍

‍