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PODS (company)

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PODS
Company typePrivate
IndustryMoving & Storage
Founded1998
Headquarters
United States Clearwater, Florida
,
USA
Key people
Tom Ryan, President and CEO
Websitewww.pods.com

PODS, or Portable On Demand Storage is a moving and storage company. It was founded in 1998 and is based in Clearwater, Florida.[1]

Business

PODS operates by delivering a storage container to the customer's house.[1] The containers are constructed of plywood over steel frames,[1] are available in three sizes,[2] and customers have the only set of keys to the units.[3] The customer can pack their items in it and have the unit stored at a warehouse, or it can be delivered to another location.[1] The units and warehouse are owned by local franchises.[4] PODS is working with Sprint Nextel to use wireless GPS that can be used to track trucks in the fleet and to give directions to drivers making deliveries.[5]

History

PODS was founded in 1998 by Peter Warhurst who was looking to expand his family's storage business. He invented the PODS, as well as a hydraulic lift system that enables operators to easily deliver and transport the units, which he named PODZILLA.[6] In 2005, PODS grossed over $200 million in revenue.[1] In addition, as of 2005, PODS was still privately owned, however, PODS is now franchised in 45 states, and logs 2,500 pickups and deliveries a day.[1] Between 2005 and August 2009, PODS service expanded to include 48 states, including Australia and Canada.[7]

In February 2007, PODS was acquired by Bahrain-based Arcapita Bank for $451.4 million.[8] In June 2008, PODS and the Real Estate Staging Association reached an agreement to form a strategic partnership. [9] In September 2008, PODS and and Mobility Services International (MSI) announced a partnership where PODS would be providing services for MSI client transferees and assignees. [10] In December 2008, PODS and Wabash National announced they have signed a multi-year agreement to build and service all of PODS' portable storage container requirements.[11] In August 2009, PODS and UniGroup reached an agreement to share services. Under the agreement, PODS will have access the packing and loading services of United Van Lines and Mayflower Transit while UniGroup can access 138,000 PODS moving and storage containers.[7]

Disaster Recovery

PODS franchises around the country provided units for collection of donations as well as providing units for storm victims of Hurricane Katrina.[1] PODS has also served in many situations that are less conventional than moving, assisting in recovery efforts during the Malibu fires and the recent Midwest flooding in Iowa, and routinely delivers PODS containers around the nation to communities experiencing emergency situations.[12]

File:PODSContainer.JPG
PODS container at sporting event.

Activity

PODS has delivered more than one million units, and there are more than 137,000 units in service.[13]

PODS are left either in the customers driveway, or in certain areas, on the street, which some local governments require permits or charge fees.[3] Other towns have passed ordinances stating where the storage units can be placed.[1]

In the 3rd quarter of 2009, PODS signed The Richards Group as their creative agency.[14]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "PODS taking a chunk out of moving and storage market". USA Today. 2006-08-04. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
  2. ^ "PODS and UniGroup Create Alliance to Better Serve Customers". Reuters. 2009-08-04. Retrieved 2009-09-10.
  3. ^ a b Razzi, Elizabeth (2006-11-26). "Neighbors' revenge: Counties crack down on storage pods". Honolulu Advertiser. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
  4. ^ Fowler, Melissa (2003-06-27). "Packing in the PODS". bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
  5. ^ . ComputerWorld. 2007-03-17 http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9013399/PODS_picks_GPS_for_tracking_workers_storage_containers_. Retrieved 2009-09-10. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. ^ "Invasion of the PODS". BusinessReport.com. Retrieved 2009-09-09. {{cite news}}: |first= has numeric name (help); |first= missing |last= (help)
  7. ^ a b "PODS allies with UniGroup's United Van Lines, Mayflower Transit". Tampa Bay Business Journal. 2009-08-04. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
  8. ^ "Arcapita acquires US company for $451m". Gulf Daily News. 2008-02-27. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
  9. ^ "Real Estate Staging Association and PODS Form Strategic Partnership". PR.com. 2008-06-15. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
  10. ^ "MSI and PODS Announce Partnership". MSI. 2008-09-17. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
  11. ^ "Wabash National(R) and PODS(R) Announce Partnership Agreement". Reuters. 2008-12-16. Retrieved 2009-09-21.
  12. ^ Vervoorn, Tina (2008-08-15). "Moving and storage firm PODS, Inc. celebrates millionth delivery". California Chronicle. Retrieved 2009-09-10.
  13. ^ Vervoorn, Tina (2008-09-18). "Tri-County PODS franchises celebrate millionth delivery". California Chronicle. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
  14. ^ "For Richards Group, PODS Delivers". ADWEEK. 2009-09-16. Retrieved 2009-09-21.
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