Episode Summary
Modern Storage® wraps up their coverage of ISS World Expo 2026 with Day 2 highlights from the show floor. They sit down with industry professionals from StoreIT, Central States, Wilshar Steel, and Bid13 to cover topics spanning self storage operations, construction, and auctions. The episode offers a ground-level look at the conversations and companies shaping the industry right now.
Real conversations with operators and vendors at ISS World Expo 2026 reveal where the self storage industry is focusing its energy heading into the future.
Construction and facility development remain central themes, with companies like Central States and Wilshar Steel representing ongoing demand for storage build-outs.
Auction technology and operational innovation are active areas of growth, as seen through perspectives from Bid13 and StoreIT on the expo floor.
Day 2 of ISS World Expo 2026 brought Modern Storage® back to the show floor for more candid conversations with some of the industry's most active voices. This episode captures the energy of a major trade event while delivering real, substantive insight into the businesses and ideas that are moving self storage forward. Rather than panel recaps or keynote summaries, the episode goes straight to the source, letting operators, builders, and vendors speak in their own words about what they are working on and where they see the industry heading. Wayde from StoreIT opens the conversation with a look at the operational side of self storage. Running a storage facility today involves far more than managing units and collecting rent. Technology, customer experience, staffing, and revenue management all intersect in ways that require operators to think strategically across every part of their business. Wayde brings a grounded perspective on what it actually takes to run a competitive facility in the current market, and his insights are relevant whether you manage a single location or a growing portfolio. Melissa from Central States and Modern Storage® from Wilshar Steel represent two major players in the storage construction space, and their appearances in this episode reflect how important the building side of the business remains for an industry that continues to expand. From prefabricated metal buildings to structural components and roofing systems, these companies supply the physical infrastructure that makes self storage possible. Their conversation touches on material costs, construction timelines, design trends, and how developers are adapting their building strategies to meet both budget realities and market demand. Erich from Bid13 brings a different angle to the episode by focusing on the auction and lien sale process, which is a critical but often underappreciated part of facility management. Online auction platforms have transformed how operators handle delinquent tenants, replacing cumbersome in-person auctions with streamlined digital processes that reach a larger pool of bidders and generate better returns. Erich discusses how Bid13 fits into that ecosystem and what operators should know about making lien sales more efficient and compliant. Taken together, these four conversations give listeners a well-rounded view of the self storage industry as seen through the lens of one of its biggest annual events. ISS World Expo brings together thousands of industry professionals each year, and this episode captures some of that collective knowledge in a format that is easy to absorb and immediately useful. Whether you are a developer, an operator, a vendor, or just someone curious about the business of self storage, this episode delivers real perspective from people doing the work. For anyone following the self storage industry in 2026, this episode of Modern Storage® Unpacked is a valuable document of where the conversation is happening and what topics matter most right now. Modern Storage® continue their role as connectors within the industry, bringing voices together that might not otherwise reach the same audience and making the insights from a busy trade show floor accessible to listeners long after the expo has ended.
Common questions about the topics covered in this episode.
ISS World Expo is one of the largest trade events in the self storage industry, bringing together facility owners, operators, vendors, builders, and technology providers under one roof. Attendees can meet suppliers, compare products, sit in on education sessions, and have direct conversations with companies serving the industry. For facility owners, it is one of the most efficient ways to evaluate new tools, find contractors, and stay current on industry trends without sorting through individual sales pitches.
When a self storage tenant becomes delinquent and the facility completes the lien process, the unit contents are typically sold at auction to recover unpaid rent. Bid13 is an online auction platform that facilitates these lien sales digitally, allowing buyers to bid remotely rather than showing up in person. This model increases buyer participation, can drive higher sale prices, and simplifies the administrative process for facility managers handling delinquent accounts.
Steel is the primary construction material for most modern self storage facilities, and building costs are closely tied to steel pricing, which fluctuates based on supply chain conditions, tariffs, and demand. Companies like Central States and Wilshar Steel supply the structural components for self storage builds and can provide guidance on current lead times and pricing. If you are in the planning phase of a development, getting quotes early and building contingency into your budget for material costs is a standard practice among experienced developers.
If you stop paying rent on a storage unit, the facility will typically send notices and attempt to contact you before initiating a lien process according to state law. After the legal waiting period, the facility has the right to auction the contents of the unit to recover unpaid rent. The unit is sold as-is to the winning bidder, and any proceeds beyond the amount owed may be returned to you depending on state regulations, though this process and timeline varies by location.
Facility operators are increasingly relying on property management software, automated payment systems, remote access controls, and digital auction platforms to reduce the labor required to run a site. Operational tools help managers handle tasks like reservations, move-ins, and delinquency management with less manual effort, which matters especially for smaller or remotely managed facilities. The conversations at events like ISS World Expo reflect a broader industry shift toward technology-assisted operations as a way to control costs and improve the tenant experience.
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