Postcard Examples

Self Storage Postcard Examples for 10 Audiences

Twenty sample postcards, front and back, two for each audience worth mailing. Each pair shows the list to use, when to send each piece, and how to track which card produced the rental.

These are design samples for a fictional facility, Brightdoor Self Storage. The address, phone number, offers, codes and web addresses are placeholders, not real promotions.

The Approach

One audience, one message, two touches

Every card speaks to one situation, such as a move, a listing, a remodel or an HOA notice, and shows the unit size that situation usually needs. The headline names the reader’s problem. The offer has an end date. The facility’s brand stays small.

Each audience gets two pieces. The second is timed to the next step in that person’s situation rather than repeating the first. Every piece carries its own web address and promo code, so a facility can see which audience and which card produced each reservation.

The reasoning and sources behind each audience are in what the research says about self storage direct mail. For layout rules, see self storage postcards.

Audience 01

New movers

Who: Households that moved into a home within roughly the last 30 to 60 days.
List to use: A new-mover file refreshed weekly, filtered to a few miles around the facility.
Why this audience: Moving is the most-cited reason people rent storage in multiple tenant surveys. New-mover data vendors claim recent movers respond far better than settled residents, so timing matters more than volume.
Units: 5×10 to 10×10
Value: Medium stays, high volume

ANew address. Too many boxes.

Week 1 after the move

Welcome to the neighborhood, with a reason to act now.

Sample postcard front: stacked moving boxes, headline “New address. Too many boxes.” and a $1 first month badge. — Front · tap to enlarge

Sample postcard back: “Unpack at your own pace,” drive-up units, month-to-month, $1 first month offer and a QR code. — Back · tap to enlarge

Sample offer: $1 first month + free lock
Tracking URL: /move
Promo code: MOVE1

BStill living out of boxes?

About day 21

Follow-up reminder with a deadline on the same offer.

Sample postcard front: aerial photo of storage rows, headline “Still living out of boxes?” and an offer-ends tag. — Front · tap to enlarge

Sample postcard back: “Get your rooms back,” reserve today and move in this weekend, last-call offer and QR code. — Back · tap to enlarge

Sample offer: $1 first month, offer ends [date]
Tracking URL: /move2
Promo code: MOVE2

Audience 02

Homes just listed for sale

Who: Homeowners who have just listed their house.
List to use: Licensed pre-mover or new-listing data. Not scraped listing-site or MLS data.
Why this audience: Sellers clear rooms before listing photos, then move again after closing. One household can need storage twice, and homeowners skew toward larger units.
Units: 10×15 to 10×20
Value: Large units; often roll into a post-move rental
Watch out: Consumer listing sites generally prohibit using their data for mailing. Buy licensed data.

ALess stuff. Faster sale.

Within 7 days of listing

Declutter before photo day so rooms look bigger.

Sample postcard front: orange storage doors with a For Sale sign, headline “Less stuff. Faster sale.” and a photo-day checklist. — Front · tap to enlarge

Sample postcard back: “Stage it. Sell it. Store it.,” larger units, first month free while listed and a QR code. — Back · tap to enlarge

Sample offer: 1st month free while listed
Tracking URL: /sell
Promo code: SELL1

BSold. Now where does it all go?

When the listing goes under contract

Bridge the gap between closing day and move-in day.

Sample postcard front: a packed storage unit, headline “Sold. Now where does it all go?” and a closing-to-move-in timeline. — Front · tap to enlarge

Sample postcard back: “Between homes, not boxes,” month-to-month, free move-in truck, second month free and a QR code. — Back · tap to enlarge

Sample offer: 2nd month free
Tracking URL: /closing
Promo code: CLOSE2

Audience 03

Apartment renters

Who: Renters in apartment buildings near the facility.
List to use: EDDM carrier routes with a high share of renters and multi-unit buildings, or a renter list.
Why this audience: In StorageCafe’s 2025–26 survey, renters most often chose 5×10 units and valued 24/7 access more than homeowners. That makes them a fit for small units that are often hard to fill.
Units: 5×5 to 5×10
Value: Steady small-unit fill; cheapest to reach with EDDM

ACloset full? We’re not.

Drop 1

Small units for the overflow of apartment life.

Sample postcard front: a cluttered apartment corner, headline “Closet full? We’re not.” and size callouts for 5×5 and 5×10. — Front · tap to enlarge

Sample postcard back: “Small apartment. Big life.,” what fits in each size, $1 first month and a QR size guide. — Back · tap to enlarge

Sample offer: $1 first month on 5×5 and 5×10
Tracking URL: /closet
Promo code: CLOSET1

BYour bike deserves its own room.

Drop 2, about 3 weeks later

Gear storage: bikes, skis, camping, holiday bins.

Sample postcard front: red storage doors, headline “Your bike deserves its own room.” and gear icons. — Front · tap to enlarge

Sample postcard back: “Gear lives here now,” drive-up access, split with a roommate, $1 first month and QR code. — Back · tap to enlarge

Sample offer: $1 first month on a 5×5
Tracking URL: /gear
Promo code: GEAR1

Audience 04

RV, boat and trailer owners

Who: Owners of RVs, boats and trailers, especially in neighborhoods with HOA parking rules.
List to use: Registration data where a state licenses it for marketing, or HOA-heavy carrier routes combined with a homeowner list.
Why this audience: Industry research describes RV and boat storage tenures of two to five years with low monthly churn. Most new homes are built inside community associations, many of which restrict driveway parking.
Units: Parking spaces: open, covered or enclosed
Value: Highest lifetime value per renter

AYour HOA wants it gone.

Any time; HOA angle

Solve the violation-notice problem.

Sample postcard front: an RV in a storage lot with an illustrated HOA violation notice stamped “Solved,” headline “Your HOA wants it gone.” — Front · tap to enlarge

Sample postcard back: “Park it. Forget it. Tow it.,” space sizes, pull-through spaces, 50% off first month and QR code. — Back · tap to enlarge

Sample offer: 50% off first month
Tracking URL: /rv
Promo code: TOW50

BSeason’s over. Park it here.

End of season

Reserve before the seasonal rush fills covered spaces.

Sample postcard front: RVs parked in a desert storage lot, headline “Season’s over. Park it here.” and a covered-spaces-left meter. — Front · tap to enlarge

Sample postcard back: “Reserve your winter spot,” covered and pull-through spaces, 50% off first month and QR code. — Back · tap to enlarge

Sample offer: 50% off first month, reserve by [date]
Tracking URL: /season
Promo code: SEASON

Audience 05

Small businesses

Who: Contractors, trades, e-commerce sellers, sales reps and other local businesses.
List to use: A business list by category within a few miles, addressed to the owner by name.
Why this audience: Commercial tenants have the longest average stays of any group in industry length-of-stay data, at 28 months or more.
Units: 10×15 to 10×30, drive-up
Value: Long stays, large units

AYour stockroom. Minus the lease.

Monthly

Month-to-month space for inventory, tools, files and samples.

Sample postcard front: an indoor storage hallway, headline “Your stockroom. Minus the lease.” and tiles for inventory, tools, files and samples. — Front · tap to enlarge

Sample postcard back: “Built for business,” drive-up units, climate control, employee gate codes, first month free and QR code. — Back · tap to enlarge

Sample offer: 1st month free on 10×15 or larger
Tracking URL: /business
Promo code: BIZ1

BRent space, not an office.

Follow-up month

Side-by-side comparison with a commercial lease.

Sample postcard front: a storage building with a comparison table of warehouse lease versus storage unit, headline “Rent space, not an office.” — Front · tap to enlarge

Sample postcard back: “Your gear. Your schedule.,” early access, delivery sign-for, one invoice, second month free and QR code. — Back · tap to enlarge

Sample offer: 2nd month free for businesses
Tracking URL: /space
Promo code: BIZ2

Audience 06

Downsizing homeowners, 55+

Who: Homeowners 55 and older who have lived in the same home for 15 years or more.
List to use: A homeowner list filtered by age and length of residence.
Why this audience: In StorageCafe’s 2020 survey, 11% of Baby Boomers cited downsizing as their reason for renting, about twice the share of Millennials or Gen X. A household leaving a long-time home usually needs a large unit.
Units: 10×15 to 10×20, climate-controlled
Value: Long stays, large units
Watch out: Use calm language and large type. Never reference health, death or other life events.

ADownsize the house. Keep the memories.

Drop 1

Climate-controlled space for furniture and keepsakes.

Sample postcard front: a red storage door with an illustrated keepsake photo, headline “Downsize the house. Keep the memories.” — Front · tap to enlarge

Sample postcard back: “Take your time,” what fits by home size, climate control, family member access, free truck offer and QR code. — Back · tap to enlarge

Sample offer: Free move-in truck + 1st month 50% off
Tracking URL: /downsize
Promo code: HOME50

BThe family table still has a place.

Drop 2

Heirlooms kept safe until they are passed down.

Sample postcard front: red storage doors with an illustrated tag reading “Grandma’s oak table,” headline “The family table still has a place.” — Front · tap to enlarge

Sample postcard back: “We’ll help every step,” free move-in truck, indoor halls, pay by phone or mail, and QR code. — Back · tap to enlarge

Sample offer: Free truck + 2nd month free
Tracking URL: /family
Promo code: HOME2

Audience 07

Homeowners remodeling

Who: Homeowners who just pulled a kitchen, bath, flooring or addition permit.
List to use: Public building-permit records, mailed within a week of the permit date.
Why this audience: A permit is a dated, public trigger with a known need: furniture out of the work zone for weeks or months.
Units: 10×10 to 10×20
Value: Medium stays, large units
Watch out: Permit data availability and permitted uses vary by city and county. Check before you buy.

ARemodel without the mess.

Within a week of the permit

Keep furniture out of the dust until the paint is dry.

Sample postcard front: orange storage doors with an illustrated dust-covered sofa, headline “Remodel without the mess.” — Front · tap to enlarge

Sample postcard back: “Dust-free until it’s done,” sizes by project, month to month, first month 50% off and QR code. — Back · tap to enlarge

Sample offer: 1st month 50% off + free lock
Tracking URL: /remodel
Promo code: REMODEL

BPermit approved? So is your storage unit.

Before demo day

Clear the work zone before the crew arrives.

Sample postcard front: an illustrated building permit stamped “Approved” over red storage doors, headline “Permit approved? So is your storage unit.” — Front · tap to enlarge

Sample postcard back: “Before demo day,” book now and start paying on move-in day, contractor gate codes and QR code. — Back · tap to enlarge

Sample offer: 1st month 50% off, reserve by [date]
Tracking URL: /demo
Promo code: DEMO1

Audience 08

College students

Who: Off-campus students and the parents who often pay.
List to use: EDDM carrier routes near campus with a high share of 18–24 year olds and renters.
Why this audience: Move-out creates a predictable surge, but industry data puts student stays at only four to six months. Mail when small units are empty and skip it when they are full.
Units: 5×5 to 5×10
Value: Fill-only: short stays, low lifetime value

ADon’t haul it home.

Mid-April

One summer bundle price covers rent, a lock and protection.

Sample postcard front: red storage doors with an illustrated mini fridge, boxes and lamp, headline “Don’t haul it home.” and a summer bundle coupon. — Front · tap to enlarge

Sample postcard back: “Summer, sorted,” what fits, one price for the season, split with roommates and QR code. — Back · tap to enlarge

Sample offer: Summer bundle, May–August, $[price]
Tracking URL: /summer
Promo code: SUMMER

BOne less thing to study for.

Finals week

Reserve before move-out weekend while small units last.

Sample postcard front: aerial storage photo with an illustrated move-out checklist, headline “One less thing to study for.” — Front · tap to enlarge

Sample postcard back: “Reserve before move-out,” small units go first, free truck on move-out weekend and QR code. — Back · tap to enlarge

Sample offer: Summer bundle, bundles close [date]
Tracking URL: /finals
Promo code: FINALS

Audience 09

Military households

Who: Service members and families near a base.
List to use: EDDM routes around base housing, or a licensed military-household list.
Why this audience: Deployments and permanent change-of-station moves create sudden, certain storage needs. Stays tend to be short, but demand repeats.
Units: 10×10 to 10×20
Value: Short-to-medium stays, steady repeat demand
Watch out: Only advertise a military discount you actually honor at the counter.

ADeploying? Your stuff stays put.

Ongoing

Storage that waits as long as the deployment does.

Sample postcard front: a vehicle storage lot sign behind a fence, headline “Deploying? Your stuff stays put.” and a 10% off tag. — Front · tap to enlarge

Sample postcard back: “We’ve got the home front,” what fits by housing type, remote autopay, family access and QR code. — Back · tap to enlarge

Sample offer: 10% off every month
Tracking URL: /military
Promo code: SERVE10

BPCS orders? We’ll hold it.

PCS season

Store between duty stations, month to month.

Sample postcard front: aerial storage photo with an orders-pack-store-report timeline, headline “PCS orders? We’ll hold it.” — Front · tap to enlarge

Sample postcard back: “Store it from anywhere,” reserve online, one-time gate code for movers, and QR code. — Back · tap to enlarge

Sample offer: 10% off every month
Tracking URL: /pcs
Promo code: SERVE10

Audience 10

Past leads and tenants

Who: Web leads that never rented, reservations that never moved in, and former tenants.
List to use: Your own management software. This is a house list, so there is nothing to buy.
Why this audience: House lists outperform prospect lists in ANA’s response-rate reporting. These people already know your facility.
Units: Whatever they asked about
Value: Usually the cheapest move-in you can buy
Watch out: Personalize with first name and the unit they looked at. Stop mailing anyone who has already rented elsewhere or asked to be removed.

AWe saved you a spot.

Week 1

Personal note: the unit and quoted price are still available.

Sample postcard front: orange storage doors with an illustrated “Reserved for [First name]” tag, headline “Hi [First name], we saved you a spot.” — Front · tap to enlarge

Sample postcard back: “Still need the space?,” unit held through a date, same quoted price, a note from the manager and QR code. — Back · tap to enlarge

Sample offer: $1 first month + admin fee waived
Tracking URL: /welcome
Promo code: Personal code

BLast call, [First name].

Week 2

The hold ends on a real date.

Sample postcard front: red storage doors with an illustrated coupon, headline “Last call, [First name].” — Front · tap to enlarge

Sample postcard back: “One click and it’s yours,” scan with unit pre-filled, sign online, and QR code. — Back · tap to enlarge

Sample offer: $1 first month + admin fee waived, final day [date]
Tracking URL: /welcome
Promo code: Personal code

Credits

Photo credits

The sample cards combine original illustrated graphics with the photographs below. CC BY 2.0 photos are used under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 license; photos were cropped and combined with other artwork. No photographer endorses Fill By Mail.

Storage Units (series) by JeepersMedia · CC BY 2.0
Self Storage Units (series) by JeepersMedia · CC BY 2.0
Storage unit as it became fuller by jarrodlombardo · CC BY 2.0
Storage Unit by Penningtron · CC BY 2.0
RV Storage by douglas_coldwell · CC BY 2.0
RV Storage Apache Junction by Brett VA · CC BY 2.0
Moving day by Thad Zajdowicz · CC BY 2.0
Self storage garages by Wikideas1 · CC0
Self storage building and garages by Wikimedia Commons contributor · CC0
RV, boat storage policies change on post by U.S. Army · Public domain
Apartment moving boxes by Flickr contributor · Public domain

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