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Storage West: A Company’s Journey From Local Business to Regional Force

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There are so many features that constitute the “right” storage unit. From the amount of square footage to how secure the storage unit is, lots of things contribute to making the perfect fit. An ideal storage unit offers oodles of space, along with diversity in space size as well. For maintaining the safety and security of one’s personal belongings, the self-storage unit has to be lockable. And to keep the stuff in good condition, it should be climate-controlled while also being clean and tidy.

Addressing many, if not all, issues and providing the customer with top-quality care is Storage West, a storage unit business that was launched by “The Los Angeles Athletic Club” (LAAC) almost 42 years ago. Since then, Storage West has not just been renting out the best storage units for their customers but also aiming to improve every day.

PROVIDING THE BEST SERVICES

Over the years, the company has determined what clients are most likely to need and has styled its units accordingly. As such, the sizes go up in increments, starting with a studio apartment storage unit to a four-bedroom house storage unit. There are also spaces where customers can park or store big RV, cars, and even boats.

Storage West realized that space was at a premium in big cities like San Diego, Houston, and Las Vegas.  Therefore, a business customer is in sales or supplies may need a place outside of their home or office where goods can be stored.  These storage units serve as the perfect solutions for keeping equipment or products safe. This set-up is used by landscaping contractors, real estate agents, and other entrepreneurs. A Business PASS program allows for packages to be delivered directly to the Storage West facility office and placed in the business storage unit without the owner’s presence.

Another way that Storage West has built up a business is by providing a free moving truck. Home movers can use the company’s moving truck for up to seven hours. There are no extra fees or hidden charges, and the trucks also have gas included. The company also offers boxes and other packing supplies at most locations. From temperature control to its recent COVID cleanliness measures, Storage West aims at providing quality services to its customers.

The level of the company’s growth in the last decade shows little signs of slowing down. Whether the economy is experiencing a boom or a bust, the business of storage is clearly big business for Storage West.

Solid Growth Over Four Decades

When Storage West was founded in 1978, the idea of storage units was still new. There were few climate-controlled places which families or individuals could rent out to secure their extra belongings or park an RV for the winter. People had to either give up their belongings or stick them in a shed, garage, or attic.

The company began with the name “A1 Storage” and had three locations in Nevada. A few years later, the business expanded to California with two locations in Orange and Fullerton, and the company name was changed to California Self Storage.  In 1985, the company built its first facility from the ground up, choosing Anaheim, California, for this venture. Within a few years, six more storage sites were launched.

As new sites were opened in Nevada and California, the name Storage West stuck, and by 2000, the company’s name was permanently changed across all locations. The company then obtained IOF Storage,  which allowed them to expand by eight storage locations in California, Nevada, and Arizona.

During an expansion campaign, 15 new locations were added that expanded the business model into Texas in 2012. Later in the decade, Storage West built six storage sites in Texas and five new sites in Arizona. At the same time, the company also expanded other websites, including Scottsdale and Surprise, Arizona sites.

Today, Storage West operates in 59 locations in four states: California, Nevada, Arizona, and Texas.  In Phoenix and across Arizona, there are 16 locations and one under construction. There are 13 locations in three Nevada cities, including Las Vegas. The Texas locations include many facilities in the Houston area. Among the 23 locations in California, there are Storage West facilities in Fullerton, San Diego, Santa Ana, and Irvine.

The idea of Bigtime Daily landed this engineer cum journalist from a multi-national company to the digital avenue. Matthew brought life to this idea and rendered all that was necessary to create an interactive and attractive platform for the readers. Apart from managing the platform, he also contributes his expertise in business niche.

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Business

Remote Professionals Getting More Value for Their Work Thanks to Borderless Banking

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Not too long ago, the idea of working remotely from an island in Thailand or a co-working space in Berlin sounded like the kind of fantasy only tech moguls or backpacking freelancers could afford. 

Fast forward to today, and it’s as good as a global reality. Millions of professionals have cut the cord from traditional office life in exchange for flexibility, freedom, and a work-life balance that fits their personal rhythm and not their employer’s timezone.

However, as remote work has reshaped how people earn a living, it’s also pointed out the existing limits to most of the world’s financial systems. Traditional banking simply wasn’t built for a workforce that’s always on the move, operating in multiple currencies, and getting paid across borders. 

Thankfully, that’s where borderless banking like Black Banx have proven vital, and has quietly transformed the way money is managed for people vacationing and working overseas alike.

The Rise of the Remote Work Economy

Remote work isn’t just a pandemic-era trend that faded with Zoom fatigue—it’s become a defining feature of the modern workforce. A recent survey revealed that over 39% of Gen Z and Millennials planned to live and work abroad for extended periods this year, many staying six months or more in a single location. That’s beyond a short trip, and can be considered as good as a sabbatical with a substantial lifestyle shift.

According to recent estimates, the digital nomad economy now also contributes as much as US$787 billion annually to the global economy. And this isn’t just entry-level gig work. A third of digital nomads earn between US$100,000 and US$250,000, while another third take in US$50,000 to US$100,000 annually. 

It is indeed evident that the manner in which many make a living has changed. Unfortunately, most financial systems haven’t kept up.

Where Traditional Banks Are Still Falling Short

For those who have ever tried to open a bank account abroad or receive payment from a foreign client, they already know the drill: the paperwork is endless, delays are frustrating, and the fees? So much to do, even for the smallest amounts of money.

Just to name few of the hurdles remote workers still face with conventional banking:

  • Account setup restrictions: Need proof of residence, tax IDs, or a local job offer—things many digital nomads simply don’t have.
  • Slow international transfers: Payments can take days to process, which is a nightmare when rent’s due.
  • High foreign exchange fees: Currency conversions often come with steep, hidden costs.
  • Limited multi-currency support: Most banks still force users to operate in a single currency, making financial planning chaotic at best.

And perhaps most tellingly, many banks have digitized their operations but haven’t personalized their services. According to Accenture’s 2025 Banking Trends Report, while digital transformation has improved efficiency, it often sacrifices the customer experience. That’s not great news for people who live outside the lines.

Borderless Banking for Professionals Across the Globe

The concept of borderless banking goes far beyond wiring money internationally. Fundamentally, it’s also about being able to eliminate the friction between people and their money, no matter where they are in the world, and maintaining an ecosystem where geography, bureaucracy, and currency don’t stand in the way of financial freedom.

A working example of this is Black Banx, a Toronto-based fintech founded by German billionaire Michael Gastauer. Since launching globally in 2015, it has grown to serve over 78 million clients in 180+ countries as of Q1 2025, proof that people take to digital banking solutions when it is accessible, affordable, and is useful in just about any locale.

In the first three months of this year, Black Banx had also earned US$4.3 billion in revenue and US$1.6 billion in pre-tax profit, more than double from the same quarter the previous year and showing it has consistently delivered tangible value to global customers—remote professionals included

How Borderless Banking Maximizes Value for Remote Workers

1. Instant Account Access—No Strings Attached

The times of hunting down local branches or collecting endless documents just to open an account are finished. With borderless banks, users can open an account in minutes using just a photo ID—no proof of address or income required. That’s a lifesaver for anyone living outside their passport country or hopping from one location to another.

2. Multi-Currency Mastery

Managing money in multiple currencies used to mean juggling several accounts—or worse, losing money on conversions. Borderless platforms like Black Banx support 28 FIAT currencies and allow real-time currency conversions at competitive rates. That means remote workers can:

  • Invoice clients in one currency
  • Spend or save in another
  • Hedge against local currency fluctuations
  • Avoid excessive conversion fees altogether

3. Seamless, Real-Time Global Payments

Getting paid late, or paying others late, isn’t just inconvenient; it can damage relationships and disrupt your cash flow. With real-time payment support, remote workers can receive funds instantly, no matter where their clients are. This is particularly valuable for freelancers and entrepreneurs juggling multiple contracts across time zones.

Plus, bulk payment features and API integration streamline processes for those running teams or businesses.

4. Built-In Crypto Options

It isn’t surprising that many digital nomads are already deep into crypto. Whether it’s for investment, faster transactions, or avoiding traditional finance red tape, crypto is becoming essential.

Since 2016, Black Banx has allowed users to send, receive, and convert crypto (like BTC and ETH) within their accounts. That integration saves users from having to manage separate crypto wallets, and adds another layer of flexibility to their financial toolkit.

5. Secure Transactions

Remote workers often log in to work from cafés, coworking spaces, and airports, to name a few. Of course, this flexibility of being able to work almost anywhere should never come at the cost of security. Borderless banks like Black Banx use end-to-end encryption, AI fraud detection, and two-factor authentication to keep accounts safe from risky elements.

Financial Freedom, Not Just Convenience

Perhaps the most overlooked benefit of borderless banking is the freedom it provides. Not just to access money, but to fully participate in the global economy. For millions of professionals in underbanked regions like Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia, borderless banking has become a gateway to financial inclusion and a way to take on opportunities that typically wouldn’t be available to them if not remote.

By removing barriers to entry, platforms like Black Banx empower underserved individuals to both take control of their finances and increase their earning power by working with companies from higher paying markets. This democratization of finance isn’t just good for individuals, it’s good for the global economy as a whole.

As Black Banx CEO Michael Gastauer put it: “Our multi-currency solutions enable businesses to tap into global talent without worrying about payment complexities. We make cross-border transactions as seamless as local ones.”

The Road Ahead

By 2030, the number of digital nomads worldwide is expected to soar past 60 million, according to the Forbes Technology Council. That means tens of millions of workers will be navigating foreign currencies, time zones, and financial systems—all while expecting the same seamless experience they’d get at home.

Indeed, remote professionals aren’t just looking for places to work—they’re looking for systems that work for them. In a lifestyle built on flexibility, traditional banking is proving too rigid, too slow, and too expensive.

Borderless banking services like those offered by the likes of Black Banx, on the other hand, offer exactly what today’s global workforce needs: instant access, multi-currency support, real-time payments, crypto integration, and enterprise-level security—all in a streamlined experience.

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