BUILDING COMMUNITY IN AND OUT OF THE OFFICE

Building community from the inside out can benefit your business. Not only does it have a profound impact on your employees' well-being and job satisfaction, but it can also strengthen your business's resilience and success in challenging economic environments.

In today’s ever-changing business environment, building community in and out of the office is more critical than ever. Not only does it have a profound impact on your employees’ well-being and job satisfaction, but it can also strengthen your business’s resilience and success in challenging economic environments. In this post, we will explore how cultivating a sense of community can benefit your business.

A POSITIVE COMPANY CULTURE

One of the most immediate and tangible benefits of building a strong workplace community is the boost it provides to employee morale and productivity. When your employees feel a sense of belonging and connection with their colleagues and your company, they will be engaged and motivated. This engagement translates into increased productivity, benefiting your bottom line. Plus, collaboration and creativity thrive in environments where a business has a sense of community. If employees feel comfortable sharing ideas and working together, they can create innovative solutions as a team.

To create a positive working environment, it is key to show your employees that they are valued and supported. A strong workplace community encourages continuous learning and adaptability. These are essential traits in our rapidly changing economic environments. According to an article in the Indeed Career Guide, “How To Build Community at Work (And Why It’s Important),” it is quite important to build workplace community. Environments that successfully foster community among employees often experience higher rates of trust, respect, empathy, and cooperation overall.

COMMUNITY BUILDING OUTSIDE THE OFFICE

Building a community that extends beyond your office walls is also important for the success of your business. Be sure to nurture the relationships with your employees, customers, and local community. All these connections contribute to a positive workplace culture and reinforce the idea that your business is part of a broader community.

Establishing connections with your team, industry professionals, and potential partners can open doors to collaborations and opportunities you might not have otherwise encountered. An active community of a variety of people can provide valuable feedback. Listening to suggestions and concerns can help you make improvements to your products or services, increasing satisfaction and loyalty.

Customers who feel a strong connection to your brand are more likely to continue buying from you and advocate for your business. A loyal community of customers can serve as a powerful marketing tool. Satisfied customers and engaged employees are more likely to share their positive experiences with your business, leading to organic word-of-mouth marketing and potentially attracting new customers. Engaging and loyal customers are invaluable, especially during economic downturns.

HOW STORAGE CAN MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT

The portable storage and self-storage industries are more than just convenient solutions for individuals and businesses; they are integral parts of the communities they serve. Through various charitable initiatives, partnerships with local organizations, and efforts to reduce their environmental footprint, these industries are giving back in meaningful ways. They help build a community that can weather any storm and prosper together.

In recent years, the portable storage and self-storage industries have seen significant growth as people seek convenient solutions for their storage needs. Portable storage and self-storage companies are also making a positive impact on their communities through various initiatives and partnerships. One of the most significant ways the storage industry is giving back is by providing free or discounted storage units to non-profit organizations, such as schools, sports teams, churches, and veteran’s projects. And with a perpetual increase in natural disasters, communities often need extra storage on the fly. Portable storage companies can provide temporary storage solutions for relief organizations, enabling them to efficiently distribute aid to those in need. This assistance helps communities recover faster and rebuild their lives.

Here are some examples specific community outreach programs or events we recommend:

• Offer a storage unit to a local organization in need
• Support local schools and aging facilities
• Make a donation every time someone signs a lease at your facility
• Sign up for volunteer opportunities as a team
• Give monetary donations every year to nonprofits
• Work at local soup kitchens during the holidays
• Make giving part of your company culture
• Offer discounts to local nonprofits
• Match employee donations
• Sponsor local sports teams

Many storage companies actively engage with local non-profit organizations. They donate both time and resources to support these organizations’ missions. This can include organizing charity drives, providing storage for donated items, or offering their facilities as collection points for community initiatives. They often donate funds, supplies, or equipment to help improve educational facilities or support after-school programs. And by participating or sponsoring local events, fairs, and festivals, involvement in the storage industry can benefit the community at large.

HOW CUSTOM CUBES BUILDS COMMUNITY

One of our most recent contributions to our local community was for the Veterans Community Project of Longmont. VCP is an amazing organization that focuses on addressing the root causes of homelessness through its Veteran Support Services. The project offers fully equipped, trauma-informed tiny homes with furniture, appliances, bedding, and utilities at no cost to the Veterans. Our 16′ portable storage unit will add storage to their village of 26 tiny homes and a community center. They are thrilled to have a place to put equipment, tools, and housing items for their community. In the words of the Director of Development, Melissa Gruber, “The Colorado community is unreal! Custom Cubes generously donated one of their portable storage containers for our Village in Longmont! We are so grateful to their team for making this happen!”

It’s also important for us to support our neighborhood restaurants and businesses. Custom Cubes has commissioned local artist, Katherine Homes for paintings in our office. And we regularly donate to our local non-profits, such as Community Food Share, South Boulder Little League, Emergency Family Assistance Association, There With Care, Drylands Agroecology Research, Luvin’ Arms Animal Sanctuary, and Growing Gardens, and Pride Pads.

Companies need to take a close look at who they are and who they want to be. Write it down, share it, work to achieve it. We at Custom Cubes spent time considering the company we want to be. Our mission is to build the future of storage, today. And here’s how we to do it:

We work hard. Our team uses a hands-on approach to business. We are a group of problem solvers, always ready to roll up our sleeves, jump in, and figure things out. We stand by our product, no matter what. From the first phone call to the finished install and onto the next order, every step and detail along the way matters to us.

We innovate. When intrigued with something new, we give it a try. We explore technologies, materials, size options, features, and manufacturing locations. Anticipating what’s ahead is key to prepare for possible shifts. So, we ask, “What could be better?” And we make thoughtful, bold updates to our storage solutions.

We give back. Community connection is important to us. It’s our company culture to support organizations that have big hearts and small pockets. We volunteer as a team and share our resources with non-profits, schools, sports programs, farms, and museums. We believe compassion and generosity are essential to the success of our business.