Building a Better Box: Instaboxx AI Benefits Operators & Tenants

Sometimes thinking outside the box means reinventing it. That’s exactly what Instaboxx founders Larry Balaban and Carmen Mirabella have done. Although their product has captured plenty of attention in the self-storage world, neither man started with a background in the industry.

Instaboxx In Its Infancy

“I was the creator of Baby Genius in the ’90s,” recalls Balaban, who had recently become a father when he developed the brand of children’s CDs, DVDs, and books. The products proved wildly successful, and once they blew up on the talk show circuit, Balaban needed someone to handle fulfillment. That turned out to be Mirabella. “I was moving upwards of 40,000 packages per day and even more during the holiday season,” he says.

Eventually, Balaban sold the company, earning plenty of money with which to start experimenting with new ideas. Mirabella also found success, launching the fulfillment house Fulex. The two reconnected when Balaban conceived Instaboxx—an e-commerce platform that ships curated moving kits directly to consumers within one to three days. The boxes are ergonomically designed – more rectangularly shaped than square – making them easier to carry. They are also made of a hard corrugate, so they’re easy to stack and travel well.

Self-Storage Connections

Balaban and Mirabella quickly realized their idea needed a self-storage component. They connected with Darren Kelly, president of Right Move Storage, and Jim Mooney, president of Freedom Storage. “Those guys were instrumental in helping Carmen and me get this off the ground,” says Balaban. “They spent so much time with us, showing how their business works, explaining what customers need, and giving us a lens into the future of the industry.”

Armed with new insight, Balaban and Mirabella began identifying benefits for storage operators, including:

• Earning ancillary revenue (20% on every Instaboxx order)
• Eliminating on-site inventory and shrink
• Repurposing inventory space for other uses

They also conducted a study revealing that 50% to 80% of tenants book their units online and never set foot in the facility until move-in day. That means they’re likely buying boxes elsewhere, such as Home Depot or Lowe’s. “Now, they can simply order Instaboxx from the storage facility’s website,” says Balaban.

Currently, the founders are working on ways to seamlessly integrate Instaboxx into any company’s website, regardless of platform. In the meantime, facilities can link directly to the Instaboxx site. Each partner is assigned a unique tracking code to monitor sales, so if a tenant orders through a facility’s link or QR code, that facility earns 20% of the sale. “The more they promote us, the more they can earn,” Balaban explains.

Introducing Instaboxx AI

Anyone who’s ever moved or stored items understands the futility of trying to list everything that’s in a box. So, generally, they scrawl KITCHEN or DINING ROOM on the side. That’s not very helpful, though, when you wind up with 10 boxes labeled the same and you’re looking for one specific item. Instaboxx AI solves this problem.

“It’s a digital app designed to keep track of all your items when you move or store them,” says Balaban. Using the app, users simply snap a photo of the items they’re packing—no need for individual shots—and the system automatically itemizes what it sees, creating a searchable list. Each box is assigned a number and category name. Need something later? Type the item in the search bar, and Instaboxx finds it instantly. You can also download a full inventory for safekeeping.

“It’s a real time-saver,” explains Balaban. “If you were to write all 20 items you put into a medium-sized box on the side, it wouldn’t help much once you leave the unit. Now, you just take a photo, and everything inside is searchable. Of course, if you take out an item or move it, you can reassign or delete it.”

That feature can also be a life-saver. “Say there’s an incident at the storage facility—a break-in or a fire—all you have to do is pull up the app or downloaded spreadsheet and hand it to the insurance company or police,” Balaban adds.

The team isn’t stopping there. “What we’re developing right now, as part of our patent, is the ability for the app to tell you exactly how many boxes you need and what sizes to order based on your photo,” Balaban says. “And of course, you can order them right from the app or a link on the facility website.”

“No more going back to Home Depot for more boxes—or winding up with ten unused ones,” laughs Mirabella.

The tenant benefits are clear, but the facility wins too. “They still get the 20%, they still free up space and reduce inventory, but now they’ve also got something unique,” says Balaban. “Everybody’s looking for a leg up right now. People will be talking about this, and that gives them an advantage over the guy down the street.”

New Innovations

Balaban and Mirabella have no plans to slow down. “Absolutely not,” confirms Balaban. “We’re really more of a tech company than a box supplier. The boxes are great and will always be part of our foundation, but we’ll keep looking for ways to make things easier for people and businesses.”

For more, visit: www.instaboxx.com or www.instaboxx.ai or email info@instaboxx.com.

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Brad Hadfield is MSM's lead writer and web manager.

This is part of MSM's Innovation Spotlight, updated to include Instaboxx AI.