As an entrepreneur, there are difficult decisions and hard sacrifices that have to be instituted to find success. Businesses aren’t built in a day, but rather through an arduous dedicated process over many years. Nonstop hours, networking with your community and figuring out the best marketing strategies for your brand are just a few of the many things a business owner has to think through when starting up in their chosen industry.
Ryan Rodney of Riverbound Custom Storage & RV Park is one of those dedicated and motivated entrepreneurs who had a vision and made it a reality. Self-storage units and buildings are increasing in number across America, because let’s face it, we all have stuff, and it needs to be stored somewhere!
Seeing a need and making an effort to fill that need takes a true entrepreneurial eye to fulfill. Rodney has spent most of his working life working toward the dream and goal of having his combined luxury storage and RV park. Many years of hard work has proved to be worthwhile for Rodney, and he is ready to see what other needs he can reach in his and surrounding communities.
The beginning of a dream
From a young age, Rodney knew that in order to make something of his life, he was going to have to work hard. He started out working for a golf club manufacturer in California, but after some time he knew that he wanted to be his own boss and blaze his own trail in the entrepreneurial world. He found a large plot of land (about 160 acres) off of Interstate Highway 95 close to Lake Havasu City, Arizona. The area held a special place in his heart, and there he envisioned his storage city.
Rodney’s storage and RV company, Riverbound Custom Storage & RV Park, first launched in 2017. It was not an easy start, and after 2 years of construction he had to postpone a highly anticipated Grand Opening event. After some help from some friends and little tweaks in the business model, the business opened July 4, 2020, and it has been going strong since. As housing continues to increase in pricing, his unique hybrid concept is now showing signs of becoming an affordable housing alternative, which is bringing substantial value to the business and its future growth.
The idea of owning a storage center and RV park in the same location weren’t initially in Rodney’s plans, but he knew he wanted to stand out and be different and combining the two industries was just the way he wanted to do it. Initially, his company almost seemed too unique. Nobody wanted to jump into his business. However, after some price analysis and advice from other business owners, Rodney tweaked the prices, altered his marketing approach and soon enough sales started rolling in. It takes teachability to be able to grow and change a vision of a business into a flourishing reality, and because of his ability to listen to others, Rodney has been able to grow his business and his dream.
Making the dream grow
In any sort of vision or dream with a business, there is an element of excitement in the planning. Figuring out the details leading up to opening day, the emotions, labor and planning are all for a purpose: to bring the plans to life. Rodney has learned that despite all the mundane daily chores that go into running his business, he has to remember to keep his dream alive.
Rodney has faced obstacles on his journey including property issues, making significant improvements to I-95, having to push marketing despite not having any good feedback and combating harsh social media attacks on the business premise. Despite all the pushback, Rodney pressed on, worked long days, and he knew that his dream was worth the pain.
Because of Rodney’s desire to keep pressing forward, his business is looking to expand outside of Lake Havasu. They are looking to increase their unit numbers and sizes, also while closing on a property in the Idaho mountains. The future looks bright for Rodney and everyone else helping him and Riverbound to grow.
Moving forward with his family
We each have 24 hours in a day, and for business owners, there is no clocking out; they’re on the clock 24/7. Rodney realized that in order for his business to grow, he needs to be able to be reachable for any issue anytime of the day. Dreams take maintenance to ensure they are profitable, and you have to know first hand that your time is your business, but it will be worth it in the long run.
The brunt of the work is done to start the business, but there is always more to do and maintain to keep the business successful. However, Rodney is happy to be able to spend more time with his wife and two kids. They now are able to enjoy their property on the river together, and he is grateful for the journey so far and what is yet to come.
