Asia’s Brightest: The 2025 SSAA Award Winners and the Future They’re Building
Every year, the Self Storage Awards Asia showcase the best and the brightest of self storage in Asia. They also show how our industry is maturing, diversifying, and redefining our industry as it introduces new services to customers. The 2025 winners illuminate an ecosystem defined by creativity, resilience, and a shared ambition to elevate service standards across the region.
This year’s Asia-wide winners represent the boldest expression of that progress. Their achievements — in design, technology, marketing, leadership, customer experience, and community impact — are shaping the future of self storage in Asia.
Take a moment to learn from the best of 2025 as you shoot for the stars in 2026!
Multi-Site Operator Store of the Year
Work+Store (Asia Winner)
Work+Store’s flagship at 202 Kallang Bahru is a case study in modern storage excellence. This eight-level hub merges storage, creative studios, and last-mile logistics under one roof — a concept that reflects the needs of today’s SMEs, creators, and hybrid workers. Wine storage, air-conditioned units, photo studios, packing station, EV charging stations, and a generous communal lounge create a facility that feels less like a warehouse and more like a thriving urban micro-ecosystem.
Performance metrics underline the success of this model:
86% occupancy
SGD 5.88 million(USD 4.55 million) in annual revenue
65% viewing-to-close conversion
Sustained retention supported by strong customer engagement
Work+Store’s transformation of an industrial building into a vibrant, customer-friendly, multi-purpose space signals a new era — one where operatioina excellence allows Lock & Store to serve business and personal needs alike.
Regional Standouts:
RedBox Storage (Hong Kong), Loc&Stor 24/7 Sucat (Philippines), and Work+Store (Singapore) each earned top honours in their respective markets, exemplifying operational strength and customer-focused design across Asia.
Independent Store of the Year
IZIBOX (Asia Winner)
From the island of La Réunion, IZIBOX wins again for the second year in a row by demonstrating what dedication, clarity of purpose, and operational precision can achieve. Their independent model thrives by delivering a warm, reliable, and highly polished customer experience. Judges praised the facility’s clean execution, intuitive layout, and the team’s strong service culture — qualities that make IZIBOX a standout even amidst fierce regional competition.
IZIBOX is proof that great independent operators succeed not by scale, but by crafting a storage experience deeply rooted in place, community, and trust. Their win this year affirms that independent operators remain one of Asia’s most innovative forces.
Regional Standouts:
INSTORAGE (Philippines) and Easy Storage (Jordan) were celebrated as national winners for their agility, customer care, and the strength of independent-brand storytelling in emerging markets.
Valet Storage of the Year
Valet Stored! (Asia Winner)
This win evokes extra poignancy as we close 2025. The founder and CEO, Gabrielle Churchouse, left this plane for a better place earlier this year. Gabrielle was an Expo regular pre-COVID and an exemplar of a small self storage operator who cared about her customers and provided a top-notch service and facility for her customers. Operating out of the Hing Wai Centre in Hong Kong’s Aberdeen district for many years, her friendship, kindness, generosity - and style! - were renowned to all that knew her. Those of us at the Secretariat welcomed her advice and support over the years.
Beyond storage, she was an accomplished professional photographer and a brilliant sailor. Many of her madcap adventures occurred on the high seas and the places the ocean took her, far beyond her native New Zealand. She is survived by her loving husband, Peter Churchouse, who many will remember from his insightful keynote speech at Expo 2016 in Singapore, and their children and grandchildren.
--------------------------------------------------------
At the time of winning, the judges took note of the legacy of trust and personal service that Valet Stored! has built over more than a decade in Hong Kong. Their family-owned model emphasises stewardship, precision, and a concierge-style customer journey that very few operators can replicate. Climate-controlled units, complimentary onsite insurance, a highly personalised retrieval system, barcoding for long-term storage, meticulous records, and strong partnerships with professional movers create a storage experience that feels bespoke at every touchpoint.
The brand’s outstanding delinquency record — only two significant cases in ten years — speaks volumes about customer loyalty and operational discipline. For many Hong Kong residents navigating relocations, renovations, or life transitions, Valet Stored! is more than a storage provider; it is a trusted partner.
Creative & Effective Marketing Award
Work+Store (Asia Winner)
The “Store with Ease, Store with Breeze” campaign was a performance-driven triumph that redefined industry expectations for launch marketing. Focused on Work+Store’s new air-conditioned storage line, the campaign delivered:
80% occupancy in four months
98.63% by month five
17× ROAS on digital advertising
Over 5,000% growth in enquiries
40% lift in social engagement
A strong mix of SEO, SEM, influencers, remarketing, video teasers, outdoor (banner) ads, and PR coverage
It wasn’t marketing for visibility — it was marketing for velocity. A tightly orchestrated strategy grounded in data, customer insight, and disciplined execution.
Regional Standouts:
Work+Store (Singapore) and IZIBOX (La Réunion) took home regional honours, demonstrating how creative marketing can be adapted for both metropolitan and remote island markets.
Manager of the Year
Rumiko Uchida, Quraz (Asia Winner)
With 18 years of service, Rumiko Uchida is not only a manager — she is a culture-carrier at Quraz. As District Manager for Kanagawa, she leads eight shops, including the massive Kannai facility with over 1,200 units. Her commercial and leadership results are extraordinary:
90%+ occupancy across her district
Over JPY 700 million(USD 4.5 million) annual revenue
A 90% close rate for walk-in customers
400+ five-star reviews
10 years ranked No.1 in employee satisfaction company-wide
A team whose average tenure is an astonishing 10 years, five times the national average
During the RSA site tours in November, SSAA Executive Director Andrew Work got to visit and speak to the staff. They said they were inspired to do their absolute best, knowing that they were working for the 2025 award winner. Typical Japanese modesty was on full display, but could not cover up the immense pride of the team on-site.
Ms Uchida’s marketing ideas — disaster-preparedness activations, summer festivals, emergency-supply exhibitions — brought the community into the store in joyful and meaningful ways. Her staff describe her as strict but supportive, and peers describe her as the kind of leader who lifts morale simply by walking into a room.
Ms Uchida’s story is a reminder that outstanding managers don’t just “run stores.” They build trust, shape culture, and turn everyday operations into long-term success stories.
Regional Standouts:
Soh Xun Ling (Lock+Store, Singapore) and Walter Wu (The Store House, Hong Kong) were each celebrated for elevating the quality of frontline leadership in their home markets.
ESG Initiative of the Year
Arealink / Hello Storage (Asia Winner)
Arealink’s ESG programme is one of the most holistic sustainability frameworks we have seen in the Awards. Their 2025 campaigns included:
Outreach Tidying Programme — More than 500 elementary students learned organising skills from certified advisors, nurturing lifelong habits around space and responsibility.
100% Green Electricity — The company undertook a full energy transition, resulting in a reduction of 43.2 tonnes of CO₂ per year.
Paper File Initiative — Arealink moved decisively to eliminate plastic clear files, reducing plastic usage by approximately 1,400 sheets annually.
These initiatives demonstrate ESG not as a marketing theme, but as an integral part of operational integrity. Their commitment influences not only their customers, but future generations — something few operators can claim.
Regional Standouts:
StorHub Self Storage (Singapore), INSTORAGE (Philippines), The Box Self Storage (Dubai), IZIBOX (La Réunion), and Storefriendly (Hong Kong) each earned top regional ESG distinctions for programmes reflecting community care, energy efficiency, and responsible facility management.
Technology & Innovation Award
LEO Self Storage (Asia Winner)
LEO Self Storage’s in-house Smart Self Storage System is one of the most ambitious technology transformations undertaken by an operator in Southeast Asia. This custom-built platform integrates:
Smart web booking
Digital ID verification
Online payment and contract signing
Fully keyless mobile access
Smart gate and door locks
Smart elevator control
Real-time monitoring
A multilingual mobile app
A centralised operations dashboard
Scalable cloud-based architecture
The impact is profound: reduced manpower overhead, tighter security, faster onboarding, more reliable data, optimised energy use, and a customer journey that feels seamless from booking to access. LEO engineered a future-ready system that positions them as a digital leader in a rapidly modernising sector.
Regional Standouts:
LEO Self Storage (Thailand), MyStorage (Vietnam), and Storefriendly (Hong Kong) were recognised for regional excellence, each showcasing innovations suited to the scale and rhythm of their home markets.
Customer Satisfaction Award
i-Store Self Storage (Asia Winner)
Customer satisfaction is often talked about, but rarely measured with the level of discipline and consistency demonstrated by i-Store. As the Asia-wide winner of the Customer Satisfaction Award, i-Store stood out for delivering a customer journey that is not only smooth and reliable, but deeply aligned with how people actually live, move, and store in dense urban environments.
Operating under Storage Asia Public Company Limited in Thailand, i-Store has built its brand around accessibility, clarity, and peace of mind. With strategically located facilities across Bangkok, flexible unit sizing, climate-controlled environments, and 24/7 secure access, i-Store’s offering is intentionally simple — and that is precisely where its strength lies. Customers know what to expect, and consistently receive it.
Judges highlighted i-Store’s strong operational standards, cleanliness, safety, and responsiveness, alongside its ability to serve a wide spectrum of users — from condo residents and expats to SMEs, travellers, and customers navigating renovation or relocation. The brand’s clear communication, transparent pricing, and well-maintained facilities have translated into high repeat usage and strong word-of-mouth advocacy.
Beyond physical infrastructure, i-Store’s emphasis on service quality is reflected in how customers interact with the brand at every touchpoint — from enquiry to move-in, access, and ongoing support. The result is a storage experience that feels dependable, professional, and reassuring, even during moments of personal or business transition.
In a category defined by trust, i-Store’s Asia-wide recognition affirms that customer satisfaction is not created by one standout feature, but by many small, thoughtful decisions made consistently over time.
Regional Standouts:
RedBox Storage (Hong Kong) and INSTORAGE (Philippines) were recognised as regional leaders in customer satisfaction, reflecting their consistent focus on service quality and customer experience.
Looking Ahead: Asia’s Next Chapter
Across all categories, this year’s winners remind us that the self storage industry is expanding not only in size, but in definition. It is becoming more digital, more environmentally conscious, more service-oriented, more community-rooted, and, significantly, more innovative.
What unites these operators is not their market or model — but their ambition. They prove that excellence can be achieved in megacities and island territories, in independent shops and multi-site networks, in traditional storage or fully automated systems. Asia’s self storage landscape is more diverse and more dynamic than ever.
Self Storage Awards Asia 2026 — Entries Now Open
As the industry continues to evolve, so do the stories behind every facility, every manager, every campaign, and every innovation. The SSAA Awards Asia are not just an annual celebration — they are a reflection of the collective ambition that drives our community forward.
And this year, your moment begins now.
Entries for the Self Storage Awards Asia 2026 are officially open at
➡️ https://selfstorageasia.org/self-storage-awards-asia-2026
Whether you are a multi-site operator refining your model, an independent facility reshaping your local market, a manager building culture from the ground up, or a supplier driving technological change, your achievements deserve regional recognition.
There are new awards to reccognise the CEO of the Year, the Innovative Supplier of the Year, and recognition for the fastest growing self storage companies, by total GFA and by number of sites.
Share your work.
Celebrate your team.
Inspire the industry.
Submit your entry today — and help write the next chapter of Asia’s self storage story.