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Welcome back to Self Storage Lab, the podcast where we deconstruct how operators are adapting to today’s technology-driven landscape and what it means for the future of the industry.

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This episode’s guest is Brett Copper, President and Partner at Copper Storage Management. Brett grew up in the self storage industry but chose not to simply inherit the traditional playbook. Instead, he challenged it. What started as frustration with hiring inefficiencies evolved into one of the industry’s most recognizable remote-first management models. Today, Copper manages hundreds of facilities nationwide with a system built around operational efficiency, centralized teams, and disciplined technology adoption.

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In this episode, we explore:

• Brett’s journey from resisting the family business to redefining it
• The real economics behind remote-first storage management
• Why efficiency and NOI are the future battlegrounds for operators
• Misconceptions about unmanned facilities—and what actually works
• How to transition stores from traditional to remote without losing tenants
• Pricing pressures in a post-COVID world
• AI-driven search and the future of storage marketing
• What small operators can do to compete with REITs
• The long-term outlook for consolidation in self storage

If you’ve ever wondered whether remote management is hype or inevitability, or how to operate profitably in today’s interest rate and pricing environment, this episode delivers a candid, operator-level breakdown.

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In This Episode We Discussed

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(00:00:00) Nashville ice storms, puzzles, and married life
(00:03:15) When storage became Brett’s business, not just his family’s
(00:08:17) The origin story behind remote-first management
(00:11:41) The operational checklist that increases facility value
(00:15:16) Misconceptions about unmanned facilities
(00:19:26) Preserving human touch in automated environments
(00:22:19) What’s at stake if operators don’t evolve
(00:27:16) Today’s biggest operator pressures: pricing and occupancy
(00:29:28) AI, search, and marketing in a shifting discovery landscape
(00:35:29) Helping other operators adopt remote models
(00:37:23) Will storage consolidate like other asset classes?
(00:44:29) How small operators can differentiate
(00:48:46) What owners misunderstand about third-party management
(00:52:20) Rapid fire: tools, brands, gaming, and Nashville hot chicken

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Key Themes & Takeaways

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Efficiency Wins
In an environment of compressed margins and higher interest rates, operators who control expenses and maximize NOI will outlast those clinging to legacy staffing models.

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Remote Doesn’t Mean Less Human
Copper’s model emphasizes customer choice while delivering flexibility rather than eliminating service.

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Pricing Is the Industry’s Hardest Problem
Post-COVID distortions continue to impact occupancy and revenue strategies, forcing operators to rethink aggressive rate increase models.

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The Attention Layer Is Changing
AI-driven search and generative discovery are reshaping how renters find facilities, creating new urgency around digital presence.

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Favorite Nuggets

• “Operational problems are the easiest problems to fix.”
• “If occupancy is the same but expenses are lower, the math speaks for itself.”
• “Remote only works if customer service gets better, not worse.”
• “Eventually, storage will be thought of as self-service by default.”

🔗 More from Copper

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https://www.copperstoragemanagement.com

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