One Team in Monaco: How easyStorage came of age – Conference 2026

Sometimes you leave a conference with a notebook full of ideas. Then there are conferences that leave you with new perspectives.

The latter was Monaco.

There was a sense that was hard to deny, in between chats overlooking the harbor, talks about artificial intelligence, honoring coworkers on stage, and laughing together late into the nite. EasyStorage has accomplished yet another significant goal. Not because we would grow larger. Not because we had additional locations.

since we had matured.

When Tony Anderson entered the stage the next morning and said, “Haven’t we grown up?!” those four words would unintentionally become the conference’s theme. It wasn’t the slogan of the conference. It wasn’t practiced. However, by the time delegates left for home, it encapsulated easyStorage’s current situation.

OneTeam was this year’s conference theme, but it was clear what those two terms signified even before the first session started.

More than a welcome

Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou and easyGroup presented a reception on the magnificent Stelios Rooftop Terrace on Thursday nite, marking the official start of the conference.

It would have been simple to spend the evening taking in the surroundings with expansive views over Monaco’s well-known harbor. Rather, people conversed. First-time attendees were greeted by current franchisees. Almost immediately, new relationships were developed. Discussions flowed naturally from technology to operations, from company to family, from pricing tactics to amusing tales about life on the road.

The fact that hierarchy subtly vanishes during occasions like this is one of the factors that sets easyStorage apart. The leadership group is not concealed. Sponsors do not remain with sponsors. Franchisees don’t organize themselves into small groups.

Everybody mixes. Everybody contributes. Everybody gains knowledge.

OneTeam wasn’t anything that was shown on a screen before a single presentation had begun. It was taking place all around us.

Sir Stelios discussed the larger easy family and what it truly means to be a part of one of the most well-known companies in the world during the evening. The simple logo is well-known. The Stelios Philanthropic Foundation’s work is far less well-known.

Sir Stelios described how companies that use the easy brand give back to easyGroup, supporting entrepreneurship and charitable causes around Europe. He illustrated how commercial success may provide opportunities well beyond the companies themselves by using easyJet as an example. It served as a reminder that creating a profitable business involves more than just expansion. The goal is to produce something with a more extensive and long-lasting effect.

Few people appeared to be in a hurry to go as the evening was coming to an end. Thursday nite could not have done a better job of setting the tone for the conference.

“Haven’t we grown up?”

Tony Anderson doesn’t require much introduction to many members of the easy family. He joined easyJet in its early years and has seen firsthand what occurs when bold ideas are met with unwavering perseverance.

Tony told the participants about his discussion with Sir Stelios in April 1995, “the Victorian era,” as easyJet was getting ready to take on a well-established airline sector.

In retrospect, it seems almost inevitable. It was anything but at the moment. It sounded like a huge ambition. The competition appeared to be unbeatable. The model’s potential for success was questioned by many.

Does that sound familiar?

Tony thot back to Sir Stelios’s explanation that airlines were just the start. The idea was far more expansive. to establish a family of companies that, by doing things differently, challenged established sectors.

Tony acknowledged that he considered Sir Stelios to be “slightly bonkers” at the time. It didn’t sound crazy at all when I stood in front of one of the newest members of that family thirty years later. It sounded like a vision.

He wasn’t only reflecting on the past. They focused on identifying the parallels between the current state of easyStorage and the former state of easyJet. Markets change throughout time. Consumer expectations are subject to alter. Industries are reshaped by technology. Successful companies aren’t always the largest. They are the ones ready to go against the grain.

Tony talked about establishing “clear blue water” between easyJet and its rivals. Not by imitating the actions of others. There has never been a more pertinent message. EasyStorage is not just competing in the self-storage market as it continues to invest in technology, customer experience, and operational quality. It’s contributing to a new definition of contemporary self-storage.

Tony concluded with a statement that made it clear to most that he believed in the company. He thinks easyStorage has every chance to grow into the next billion-pound business. It’s an audacious goal. However, the simple story has always included ambitious goals.

Growth starts with people

Growth is not a coincidence. Opening new sites isn’t the only way to achieve this. Building a company that people want to work for is the key to real growth. Suppliers and customers. partners. coworkers. franchisees.

Tim Slesinger went back to the goals and principles that guide what easyStorage does:

Prioritize the customer. compassion. Transparency and trust. equity. effectiveness. One group.

These are not terms that can be found in a manual and then forgotten. Every day, they influence decisions.

One lesson in particular struck a chord: efficiency isn’t about cutting costs. It’s about doing things more intelligently. eliminating superfluous administration. returning people’s time. enhancing rather than replacing the customer experience with technology. preserving profitability while building potential for future expansion.

Throughout the conference, that mindset was evident. Artificial intelligence was not portrayed as a threat. It was offered as an additional resource to assist franchisees spend more time expanding their businesses and less time in front of a laptop.

Tim talked enthusiastically about keeping up his investments. keeping up the innovation. keeping up the improvement. Not because the company has arrived at its destination. since it’s just getting begun.

There were several grins in the room after one comment. Tim made a joke about how quickly the company is developing, saying that Akhil Sharma somehow manages to put in 26 hours a day. Everyone understood the reality behind it, which made it humorous.

Over the past 12 months, easyStorage has seen a sharp increase in innovation. The company plans to double down instead of easing down.

Building Better Every Day

Consistency becomes more crucial as the network expands. Regardless of the easyStorage location they select, customers anticipate the same fantastic experience. This entails raising standards continuously. gaining knowledge from experience. Never assume that the best method to work now will also be the greatest way tomorrow.

Raising the bar together was the focus of Nigel Dawson’s seminar. The message was not that perfection had been attained. It was that everyone contributes to strengthening the network.

Then everyone in the room burst out laughing, in typical Nigel fashion. A €100 casino chip was concealed under the chair of one fortunate delegate. In a matter of seconds, individuals were diving beneath tables to see if they had struck gold.

It was one of those gloriously unexpected moments that encapsulated the mood of the entire conference. Expert. concentrated. aspirational. But always remember to enjoy each other’s company.

Smarter decisions

Commercial Director James Thomas’s introduction of PULSE was one of the most eagerly awaited sessions.

Each franchise generates data. Revenue and occupancy. move-ins. Move-outs. Information gathering has never been a problem. It involves identifying the most important information and keeping it in one location.

That is altered by PULSE. Bringing operational performance together into one live dashboard, it allows franchisees to assess the health of their business in real time, uncover opportunities more rapidly and direct their attention where it will have the largest impact.

However, what PULSE does now may not be its most fascinating feature. It’s what it stands for. PULSE, which was created in collaboration with Akhil and the R&D team, is intended to change constantly by utilizing automation and artificial intelligence to assist franchisees in making quicker, more educated decisions.

It’s more than just another reporting tool. It’s the start of a new approach to managing an easyStorage company.

It was evident from looking around the room during the demonstration that this wasn’t just technology. It was the use of technology to solve actual issues. assisting franchisees so they can spend more time creating profitable businesses and less time analyzing spreadsheets.

The conversations that matter most

Strangely, some of Conference 2026’s most memorable events took place off stage. They took place in between the talks. while drinking coffee. returning to the meeting room. standing with a view of Monaco from the terrace.

Even tho the conference was amazing, most people won’t likely remember a specific slide deck. They came up with a novel idea during their lunch talk. The franchisee who candidly revealed a lesson they had discovered the hard way. or the assurance that someone else has encountered and conquered the same obstacle.

Perhaps one delegate summed it up.

Another thot about something that has come to be associated with easyStorage.

Maybe that’s the true meaning of One Team. Not a catchphrase. Not a show. a culture. And that culture had never been more powerful by Friday lunchtime.

There was a palpable air of expectancy when delegates came back from lunch. Hearing straight from the man who started it all is one of the benefits of belonging to the easy family, and Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou’s afternoon session was excellent.

Thinking bigger

It’s amazing how Sir Stelios can make enormous accomplishments seem wonderfully mundane. He made a joke about the “very expensive facilities” that everyone was enjoying in Monaco while reflecting on the easy brand’s success. He then swiftly reminded us of the need of investing in people and uniting the network.

Attending a conference is free. It’s a financial commitment.

He spoke fervently about the power of the easy brand and the opportunity still available to companies willing to defy expectations. Then one of the long-awaited moments arrived.

The easyStorage television pilot – Life in Storage

The parallels were hard to overlook for anyone who has ever watched Airline. Millions of viewers were not the only ones amused by that show. It helped turn a low-cost airline into a household name by introducing a whole generation to the easy brand and showcasing the actual people behind the business.

Is it possible for history to repeat itself?

With well over 2 million views, the pilot has already attracted a lot of attention. There is real enthusiasm about what might happen next as talks with mainstream broadcasters move forward.

It was more than just seeing easyStorage on TV when watching the preview. It was about realizing how far the company had come in such a short time. There are stories. The personalities are present. There is undoubtedly passion.

In the same genuine manner that Airline did for easyJet all those years ago, the series has the potential to bring millions more people to easyStorage. It was hard not to feel enthusiastic about the future after that session.

Learning from those around us

The fact that the easyStorage leadership team wasn’t the only source of knowledge was one of Conference 2026’s advantages. Throughout the day, delegates heard from organizations that support the network in marketing, operations, technology, finance, and franchising. Our partners continue to play a significant role in assisting franchisees in building stronger businesses.

Tim Morris and Nikki Senior from The Bridge provided insightful information about the franchising industry.

Their message was refreshingly frank. Every franchise network goes throughout periods of expansion. Every prosperous franchisor faces obstacles. The fact that every issue had previously been resolved wasn’t what most impressed them with easyStorage. It was the readiness to recognize difficulties, make investments in fixes, and keep getting better.

They also highlighted something many franchisees possibly take for granted. the network’s readiness to support one another. Compared with many franchise systems, easyStorage has established an exceptionally collaborative atmosphere where sharing best practice is encouraged rather than guarded. Many of the discussions that took place at the conference itself mirrored that observation.

Delegates also heard from key partners including StableLogic, Rocketer, Coconut Marketing, Cleveland Containers and others, each showcasing how their expertise continues to support franchisees as the network grows.

There was a recurring theme whether talking about infrastructure, digital marketing, technology, or customer acquisition. Everyone must be pulling in the same direction.

Looking behind the storage door

The Senior Leadership Team Q&A was one of the afternoon’s most beneficial events.

Delegates had the chance to ask open-minded questions about the company, future strategy, and areas they wanted more clarity on instead of listening to carefully prepared presentations. Everything from operations and growth to marketing, investment, and technology was discussed.

The questions weren’t the only thing that caught my attention. It was the responses’ candor. There was no avoidance of challenging subjects. There was no question that felt off-limits. That degree of openness reveals a lot about the culture that easyStorage is still developing.

Leadership can easily become aloof as networks expand. The opposite was shown by the conference. The Senior Leadership Team continues to be personable, reachable, and sincerely dedicated to hearing what the local company owners have to say on a daily basis.

That could be another indication that a company is maturing. Not because all the answers are already known. since everyone is ready to locate them together.

Celebrating what great looks like

There are happy moments at every conference. The awards are those moments for a lot of people. Not because of the actual trophies. Because each award symbolizes innumerable early mornings, tough choices, interactions with customers, and hours of unseen labor.

It might just take a few seconds to stand on stage and accept an award. It frequently takes years to complete.

The winners this year embodied the pinnacle of easyStorage’s development.

Congratulations to all our 2026 award winners:

• Brand Ambassador Award – Alan Kerrison & James Meddick from Bath, Bristol & Cheltenham
• Franchise First Award – John McGloughlin from Berkshire
• Growth Award – James Norris & Mike Groves from Sussex, Kent & Hampshire
• Customer Service Award – Bilal Qamar from South Mimms & Chalton
• Marketeer of the Year – Daniel James from Dorset
• Best Newcomer – Jia Cheong & Mag Tan from Rochester
• Franchisee of the Year – James Norris & Mike Groves from Sussex, Kent & Hampshire
• Colleague of the Year – Mohammed Awan, Sales Manager
• TV Personality Award – Richard Shaw & Oliver Wood from Huddersfield
• Mindset Matters Award – Andrew Sieprath from Leeds

Each winner earned thunderous acclaim. Success wasn’t only being celebrated. They were honoring each other. It’s a minor distinction. But a significant one.

One last evening together

Focus shifted to the last evening as the formal proceedings came to an end.

Another chance to unwind, catch up, and enjoy each other’s company outside of the meeting room was offered by the conference supper. They told each other stories. The flow of ideas persisted. They made new friends. The ones that already existed become even more powerful.

Naturally, a friendly competition is an essential part of any easyStorage conference. James Norris of Sussex, Kent, and Hampshire won this year’s quiz, which once again featured lots of laughter, a little healthy rivalry, and more than a few dubious answers. It was the ideal way to cap off two days that will never be forgotten.

Thank you

Conference 2026 and similar events simply cannot take place without a significant amount of behind-the-scenes labor. We would like to express our gratitude to all of the easyStorage team members who contributed to the event’s planning, our speakers who candidly shared their experiences, and our partners whose ongoing support makes our network stronger each year.

Special thanks also go to:

Cleveland Containers; DSOC; Coconut Marketing; Adaptainer; Newmark Capital Markets; Rocketer; StableLogic; Astute Access; Machins Solicitors LLP; Primis Installations; FASTSIGNS; S Jones Containers; and, lastly, easyGroup.

We are thankful to have you with us on this journey, and your support continues to be crucial to the success of our franchise network.

So… have we grown up?

Tony’s opening remark seems much more pertinent in light of Monaco than it did on Friday morning. Have we matured? Of course. Not because we’ve given up on learning. Not because we’ve crossed the finish line. But because we’ve discovered what matters most.

Franchisees are working more efficiently because to this technology. the collaborations that make our network stronger. the readiness to push ourselves and never stop getting better. the expenditure on innovation. the courage to pose challenging queries. the self-assurance to think more expansively than before.

Above all, the people. Because businesses don’t flourish in buildings. Individuals do. That has always been the case. When Sir Stelios introduced easyJet over thirty years ago, it was accurate. It still holds true today as easyStorage keeps redefining what contemporary self-storage looks like.

Furthermore, Conference 2026 demonstrated that OneTeam is far more than just this year’s topic. EasyStorage is progressing because of its culture.

Tony remarked on how we had matured. Yes, we have. Additionally, it seems like we’re just getting started.