PODS to add competition to portable storage market

PODS will compete with Go Mini’s, a portable storage container business that Tom Barr opened in October 2005.

Clearwater, Fla.-based PODS has 151 franchises in the United States. Nine markets with PODS are smaller than Springfield, so Cates is confident he’ll find success in the Ozarks.

He’s so confident that he’s invested $650,000 already and is planning for steady growth over the next few years.

“It is a business that is poised for growth, because it gives new options to the customer,” he said.

Cates is starting with two transport trucks, 100 containers and three employees. He plans to add 100 containers per quarter until he has about 500 at his 62,000-square-foot leased warehouse at 1315 W. Chestnut Expressway.

Barr began his dealership with 35 containers, and now he’s now up to about 45. He said most of his containers stay leased at all times, and he’s planning to add about 15 more within the next few months.

See SBJ’s Jan. 8 story for more on this story.