Customer Story: A Relationship Painting Success

Background: A Painting Business with a Storage Problem

BAC Property Maintenance, established in 2013, is a thriving painting and decorating company owned by Brett and based in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. From sprucing up homes to revamping and maintaining business premises, founder Brett has built a reputation for transforming and fixing spaces with precision.

Brett handles everything from meticulous interior painting and wallpapering to regular site care and upkeep, always using top-quality materials and techniques to deliver flawless results. Reliability and professionalism are the cornerstones of Brett’s service, and clients across Bury St Edmunds and the wider Suffolk area appreciate his punctual, high-quality work.

However, with success comes the challenge of managing an ever-growing inventory of tools, equipment, and supplies. Ladders, paint sprayers, cans of paint, and decorating tools are the lifeblood of Brett’s trade, and storing them safely is critical. Brett found himself facing a common problem for tradesmen: where do you keep your valuable tools and materials when they’re not on the job?

The Search for Secure Tradesman Storage

For tradespeople, leaving tools in work vans has become increasingly risky. Theft from vehicles is a growing concern for decorators, electricians, plumbers, and builders alike. Brett has unfortunately been affected by this when he had his van broke into a few years ago and had £1,000 worth of tools stolen.

In fact, tool theft has reached alarming levels nationwide. Police have recorded 44,514 tool theft incidents in 2023 alone. That is about one every 12 minutes. Over half of these crimes involved break-ins to vans, with tool thefts from vehicles jumping 14% compared to 2022 (directlinegroup.co.uk).

This crime wave has serious consequences. Tradespeople not only face the cost of replacing stolen equipment, but they collectively lost an estimated £82 million worth of income in 2023 alone due to missing tools preventing them from working. Worse still, only around 1% of stolen tools are ever recovered (locks4vans.co.uk). A stark reality that underscores why secure tradesman storage has become an essential part of running a reliable service-based business.

At Blue Bear Self Storage, we understand the needs of local businesses. All of our sites are modern, well-lit, CCTV monitored 24/7, and accessible when you need them most. It’s perfect for trades storage, whether you’re an independent contractor or managing a team across multiple projects. You can read our full secure self storage guide here.

A Relationship Painting Success

Determined to protect his equipment and keep his business running smoothly, Brett began looking for a better storage solution for trades. He needed a secure, convenient space to store his tools and materials. Somewhere accessible daily, yet safer than his driveway or garage. That search led him to Blue Bear Self Storage in Bury St Edmunds.

With two locations on opposite sides of Bury St Edmunds, Blue Bear offered Brett the flexibility and easy access he needed to store his gear securely, without having to leave valuable tools in the vans overnight.

It just makes sense,” Brett from BAC tells us. “I don’t worry anymore about tools going missing or being damaged. Everything’s secure, and we can grab what we need any time. It’s right where we need it – on both sides of town.

Whether it’s brushes, ladders, paint stock, or power tools, Blue Bear’s self storage units are perfect for business use and have become a reliable extension of Brett’s operation. For a tradesman, this kind of dedicated tools storage is invaluable. It’s not just about theft prevention, it’s also about organization and efficiency. Brett can neatly stow away all his painting equipment and stock in one place, knowing everything will be right where he left it when he heads out to the next job.

You can check out Brett’s services through BAC Property Maintenance on their Facebook Page here or Nextdoor Page here. If you’re local to Bury St Edmunds go show them some love.

Brett’s experience shows that when storage is done right, it eliminates clutter, safeguards your livelihood, and even contributes to your company’s professionalism. No more delays due to missing or stolen equipment. It’s no surprise that many other tradespeople and small businesses in Suffolk are also turning to Blue Bear Self Storage for their trades storage needs, from plumbers and builders to landscapers and online retailers.

🎥 Watch Our Video Testimonial with Brett from BAC Property Maintenance

Brett even took the time to share his story, on camera, emphasizing the ease, security, and convenience he’s enjoyed with Blue Bear. Check out the video below to hear Brett in his own words explain why Blue Bear was the perfect tools storage solution for BAC Property Maintenance in Bury St Edmunds.

Blue Bear’s Self Storage Solution in Bury St Edmunds

For BAC Property Maintenance, having reliable and secure access to tools storage is essential, and Blue Bear Self Storage has delivered just that. Their purpose-built, drive-up units in Bury St Edmunds are specifically designed for the needs of tradespeople. Brett and his team at BAC can load and unload directly from their van, with no long corridors or stairs slowing them down. The units are also treated with Grafotherm to protect against condensation and moisture, ensuring that paint stock, power tools, and sensitive equipment stay dry and rust-free all year round.

The sites are open daily from 6am to 8pm, giving Brett the flexibility to grab gear first thing in the morning or drop it off at the end of a job. As a busy painting and decorating business covering all of Suffolk, that flexibility makes a huge difference. Brett sums it up perfectly:

“Everything works really well. It’s clean and [a] good price as well. I would 100% recommend Blue Bear to a friend.”

We’ve expanded and launched a second facility on the east side of Bury St Edmunds (on Barton Road) to complement our original site on the west side of town (Dettingen Way). This means tradespeople like Brett can choose the unit that fits best with their daily routes. Whether he is working near the town centre, in the villages, or further across Suffolk, there’s always a storage unit holding some tools and equipment nearby.

This kind of trades storage setup is a game-changer for decorators, electricians, builders, and other service professionals. It eliminates the risk of theft from vans, keeps expensive tools organised and secure, and supports smoother day-to-day operations. Both locations are secure, clean, and professionally managed—providing peace of mind for business owners who rely on their equipment. For Brett and the BAC team, storing with Blue Bear has proven to be a smart, scalable solution that grows with their business.

Blue Bear: Helping Businesses Store with Confidence

Brett’s story is a powerful example of how secure self storage can support local businesses. No more stressing about tool theft or cramming gear into every corner of the van, Blue Bear offers a better way. With its two convenient Bury St Edmunds locations, state-of-the-art security, and user-friendly drive-up units, Blue Bear Self Storage makes it effortless for tradesmen and businesses to store their equipment safely.

If you’re a tradesperson or business owner in need of extra space, take a page from BAC Property Maintenance’s book and consider Blue Bear Self Storage as your partner. From the first phone call to every visit to your unit, you’ll find that we “get stuff done” and truly make your working life easier. In the end, safeguarding your livelihood is as important as serving your customers, and with Blue Bear’s help, you can do both with confidence.

Your tools and supplies will be secure, and you’ll be free to focus on painting your own success story.