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Don't box up

Andheri resident and entrepreneur Pratyush Jalan is assisting Mumbaikars to sort out their storage dilemmas with his out-of-the-box idea

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Pratyush Jalan, Founder, Box My Space
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Cartons of old family albums, DVDs that no longer provide visual treats on weekends, books whose pages may not be flipped through any time soon, winter wear that may never see the light of day at least in this city, the Christmas tree and decorations that adorn it only during the not-so-chilled month of December...we're probably guilty of owning one of the aforementioned junk. And if not, then we surely have a bunch of cluttered, wanted-but-hardly-used commodities that are, on an average, used on an annual basis.
With every passing year, each of these collectibles find a new mate of their kind, or another kind, only to help you wonder which nook in the house would you try and stuff them in. Not like the city gives you ample options to find a home with an underground store room (that'd make life easier and how; slight Conjuring-esque but still, very essential). Finding a house with ample storage area is a boon and a necessity at once. While the soaring real estate rates may not allow that dream (of many) to manifest into reality, one Mumbaikar has found a near-alternative.
27-year-old Pratyush Jalan's entrepreneurial venture, Box My Space, is allocating space crunch substitutes to those who need it the most. This westcoast resident, with an office based at Santacruz, owns his pet project only to benefit people who literally live out of boxes.

Born and raised in Kolkata and post a degree in Cornell University, US, Jalan decided to move back to India (after three years) in 2014 after a stint at Microsoft (SkyDrive and Bing). His next stop was Mumbai; here he worked at WebEngage, only to comprehend the so-called start-up ecosystem. "I always wanted to be an entrepreneur," says Jalan, "but I was still figuring out what to work on."
So how did the idea of Box My Space occur to him? Jalan explains, "When I moved from the States to Mumbai, I was living with a friend, in his living room (literally). I remember having several suitcases and my keyboard piano. Moving out was such a mess; finding an apartment in this city is quite a task." He continues, "In the US, self-storage is quite popular. The idea being, individuals store their possessions in large rented containers in warehouses away from the city. I researched and decided to use a similar concept of 'storage by boxes'. That's how Box My Space came into existence."

While Box My Space is a one-of-a-kind approach in India, the idea is gaining popularity abroad. A Reuters report dated 2014 claims that 'The British (self-storage) market had 355 million pounds in turnover last year, according to trade group Self Storage Association UK.' Self-storage incumbents like MakeSpace (a New York-based storage interface) and Rocket Internet (UK) are utilising the online space to provide effective self-storage for their customers.
Using the same theory, Box My Space helps you unclutter without having to tax yourself. Leasing out space from Sumit Logistics Park, a reliable, well-equipped warehouse company in Bhiwandi, Jalan says the key target for his company are people constantly on the move, and those who keep travelling in and out of the city.
Log on to Box My Space's web portal or easier, download their Android/IOS application and you can order the boxes to be used. Jalan explains, "Once an order is placed, we deliver (within 24 hours) high-quality, durable plastic containers that are 3sqft in size and 73lts in capacity. Allotting the customer about seven days to pack up their stuff in the boxes, they can then demand a pickup. A Box My Space team member then collects the boxes within 24-48 hours; and we store it in the warehouse." Every box has an inventory list, which drafts out the items stored in each box and every customer has an online profile, which allows them to view a visual catalogue. Jalan informs, "We seal the boxes right in front of the customer. The seals are not the regular number locks, but plastic ones with a unique ID; no seal can be recreated. We also provide an insurance of Rs. 10,000 per box and soon plan on installing a Google Business View of the warehouse, so the customer can check the same."

Targetting to store 1,000 boxes in the warehouse within three months and with expansion plans for Pune and Bengaluru in a six to eight month timeframe, Box My Space has a range of customers—a photographer who keeps moving to Delhi for assignments, and an expat who travels between Gujarat and Bombay regularly, among others. Such people prefer travelling light and thus can utilise the services of Box My Space.
While Jalan says that they refrain from accepting items that may be inflammable and have carefully drafted a legal document before any customer avails their service, we still think the only glitch of Box My Space is the lack of proper scanners. Nonetheless, Jalan says he will get them gradually. So if your mother's everyday grouse is 'where to stock these up (something she'd much rather give space to than throw away,)' you now know whom to call.
1. Box My Space is introducing the campaign, Rs. 99/box for the first month.
2. Check out the Box My Space kiosk at IIT Powai this weekend

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