You might have seen them speed past you in the infamous Gem Cart or on e-scooters. Or you might have watched the good-for-many-laughs MI-BOX video that showcased some unique talents, but I can pretty much guarantee that you’ve been in the presence of the Martyna brothers.
Space Centre Storage has been a staple in the Kelowna community before Cam, and Brett Martyna took over operations. The vision for the business stems from their father; quality care and excellent customer service will only result in success.
"Growing up in the family business, we witnessed firsthand the importance of traditional business values, quality care, and unwavering integrity in serving our customers." Brett
Cam—General Manager, and Brett—Special Project Manager, carry on the legacy of their father while emphasizing another key aspect of the business. Space Centre Storage would not be who it is or where it is without the people that show up every day for work.
“Our team is irreplaceable. There isn’t a single person that we can’t depend on, who won’t step up and do what needs to be done, whether they are helping us, other team members, or our customers. We couldn’t be more proud of the team and refuse to take them for granted.” Cam
REVOLUTIONIZING THE STORAGE INDUSTRY: THE PASSION & DEDICATION OF CAM & BRETT MARTYNA
The Martyna Brothers have banded together to conquer the challenges and embrace opportunities since taking over the business. Integrating themselves into the community and doing better for Kelowna—these are underliers in their day-to-day operations. A few stellar examples of this were the upgrade to the keypad system (improving access, security, and usability), the installation of solar panels on the roof for a positive environmental impact, and technical improvements to their customer process and physical grounds.
"We share an instinctive understanding and a can-do mindset. When there's a task at hand, we don't hesitate—we simply get it done. And we are continually looking for things that make us say, “Yep, we should be doing that." Cam
FOSTERING A POSITIVE WORK CULTURE
But even with all of the cool techy things and operational improvements that have been made over the past few years, Brett and Cam always come back to the people. Fun is ingrained in Space Centre—from epic corn-hole tournaments to unforgettable anniversary celebrations (1985 until now means a LOT of anniversaries!). Creating an atmosphere of camaraderie and team only enhances the level of customer (and team) service that is evident as soon as you enter the storage facility.
“Work hard. Play hard. You’ll often find us indulging in our own activities, from piano and guitar to a heated court battle of squash. And we encourage our staff to live their life outside of these walls—join a sports team, go hiking or camping or traveling, teach yourself a new skill. And then come back to work and tell us all about it.” Cam
Although Space Centre Storage can feel like a bit of a maze of storage units, you’ll always be able to find one of the brothers and pick their brains or share your thoughts on how things are going. The level of trust and support within the team helps create a positive work environment where all are respected and included.
HOT SEAT Q’s AND A’s
Let’s take a few minutes to ask Cam and Brett some questions.
1. What qualities about your brother do you admire?
Cam’s ability to look at everything from a holistic perspective. Rather than simply solving a problem, he will often find solutions by completely changing our approach. He has a great ability to simplify problems without sacrificing quality of service. He also has a big heart and is always patient with customers' needs. He treats every situation uniquely rather than finding a cookie-cutter solution. - Brett
Brett is always willing to put in the hard work—it doesn’t matter the task. I’ve seen him in the attic pulling cables in 40-degree heat! He also has a great understanding of the ‘customer’s perspective,’ and he is always trying to achieve maximum efficiency. - Cam
2. What quality about your brother makes you want to lock him in one of your storage units?
I’ve had many opportunities to lock him in a unit, especially because he and I built over 300 lockers just a few summers back. Brett is the easiest guy to get along with, and I can’t think of one person that would disagree. - Cam
3. What is the biggest lesson you learned since you took over the business?
You can’t solve every problem, but people are understanding and appreciative when they have been listened to, and you do the best of your abilities to solve or improve the situation. - Brett
I’ve learned lots. Prioritizing, trusting, and empowering employees, coping with the stress of business ‘hic-ups,’ and how to pick up the phone and solve problems. - Cam
4. What is the strangest thing you’ve found in one of your storage units?
(No Comment)… but one time, someone had a drum kit, art hung up, and a sofa as if it were an upscale living room. - Brett
I’ve seen a storage unit made up just like a bedroom with a bed and alarm clock and everything. I’ve seen a grenade! – We had to get some help from the police with that one. - Cam
The moral of this story? There is a difference when it comes to storage facilities. Cam and Brett recognize that the people are just that. Combined with good old-fashioned face-to-face customer care, Space Centre Storage offers a range of services that exceed expectations.
Space Centre Storage can answer any of your questions around safely storing your items. They are the largest facility in the Okanagan and have been serving residents since 1985. Contact them today to inquire about the perfect storage solutions.