KSS January eKourier 2023

FEATURE

Our company recently reached the milestone of 100 storage centres. This is an accomplishment that I never imagined when I joined the company in 1991. 2023 also represents our 50th year since we developed our first storage centre. We have a couple of milestones coinciding. KENNARDS HITS 100 AND CELEBRATES 50 YEARS

Me with my father, Neville Kennard outside KSS Wetherill Park, NSW in 1992

T he acquisition of the Eveready Mini Storage property in South Nowra became our 100th centre. This first-generation and humble little development will be completely rebuilt and remodelled. Though it doesn’t (yet) exemplify the latest iteration of quality and customer experience we are proud of, Nowra will be another great asset. It is also a nostalgic and apt reminder of the simple and basic beginnings. Today KSS boasts 700,000 square metres of space available and 70,000 storage spaces. When I joined KSS in 1991 we had a mere eight locations with one more due to open that year. The business was simple with a manual customer

billing and administration system and huge dependency on Yellow Pages for attracting new business. Our footprint has grown very deliber - ately. We have developed a strong skill set in acquiring and developing our new locations, with strong preference to secure high profile gateway locations. We are happy to be patient and wait for the right opportunity. Importantly, we have also been focussed on differentiating through delivering an exceptional customer experience. This is evident with the commitment to training, development and culture that is woven throughout the business.

greatly to the sophisticated systems and practices we operate with now. The pace of this innovation has been pioneering and very exciting. While reflecting the accomplishments on the journey to 100 it is also worth acknowledging that KSS is an increas - ingly rare enterprise. Achieving this quality, scale and reputation, while remaining a private family-owned and operated business is not common. Most have sold to large institutions or listed.

There are many things to be proud of.

Sam Kennard Chief Executive Officer

The humble beginnings contrast

3 Kennards Kourier Jan 2023