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Climate-Controlled Mobile Storage Comes to SWFL!
Southwest, Fla.— Storage in Floridais a challenge! Extreme heat and humidity breeds mold and mildew, while heavy rains and insects can infiltrate storage units and damage contents in the blink of an eye. COOL-BINZ unique design and insulated climate-controlled interior solves the problem and can be delivered right to your property or jobsite.
Once on site, the BIN easily plugs into a 110v outlet to keep contents cool and protected from Florida’s harsh sun and high humidity. Onsite storage is also available at the COOL-BINZ facility in Naples
COOL-BINZ Founder and Owner Kathryn Padalino is excited to bring this valuable service to the community. “Let’s face it – heat, humidity and storage aren’t a good mix,” she said.“Our innovative containers offer a solution to the challenges presented by southwest Florida’s tropical climate, as well as the convenience of having your stored valuables right where you want them.”
Contractors that are renovating, businesses that may be relocating, and residents who need accessible climate-controlled space for their belongings are welcoming COOL-BINZ to the area.
“This is a great service and product for people like myself who need to find sufficient storage space for our clients’ during a job,” said Greg Cook of Cook Brothers of Collier County Builders. “Being able to have an attractive container on site that is climate-controlled, and can be delivered and positioned anywhere on the property is a game changer for anyone in the business.”
COOL-BINZ 8-by-16-foot containers are fully insulated, have marine-grade wooden floors, and are constructed from steel to protect from heavy wind and rain. Barn-style doors allow for maximum interior space and are specially designed to protect from the elements. Each container is 8-foot wide and can hold up to 10,000 pounds. COOL-BINZ also now offers refrigerated walk-in cooler units.
The community is invited to stop by the COOL-BINZ facility located at 5555 Taylor Road in Naples to see our innovate products and learn why they
are superior to other storage offerings here in Florida. For information about COOL-BINZ, call 239-370-2332 or visit www.cool-binz.com.
Hurricane Irma Set the Stage for a New Business
March 01, 2019
By D. K. Christi | Spotlight News Magazine
dk@swspotlight.com
Finding safe temporary storage outside the home for valuables, whether furniture or appliances, always has been a challenge in Florida. Heat, humidity, mold, mildew, insects and driving rain can cause expensive damage. Kathryn Padalino, owner of Cool-Binz, created the solution after her own experience with inadequate storage.
Padalino moved to Southwest Florida from New Jersey in 2012 and set about a house renovation project that had just gotten underway when Hurricane Irma struck. Planned temporary storage of furniture, valuables and appliances became long-term with the aftermath of Irma’s destruction and the demands on the renovation industry.
Padalino was led to develop Cool-Binz over frustration with lack of access to her property when she needed it, lack of climate control, and shock when she discovered even her major appliances were rusting and valued leather items were molding along with the rest of her personal property.
“After more than a year of research, I realized that what I wanted did not exist – portable, climate-controlled storage with the flexibility of onsite or facility storage,” said Padalino, who then designed containers to her specifications.
Since opening in July 2018, Cool-Binz has been busy renting units. Clients include real estate agents who need storage containers while staging homes; contractors in the construction industry who need safe storage for furniture and appliances while work is done in their clients’ homes.
Cool-Binz’s all steel containers have clean, simple exteriors with a friendly logo and smooth interiors, are fully insulated and tightly sealed and have marine board floors. Each 8-by-8-by-16-foot unit is climate- controlled and also portable, brought to the user who can plug it into a normal 110 volt outlet or send the unit back to the facility where it’s charged and accessible to the client 24/7.
Additional options include containers that cool to 40 degrees, which may appeal to florists, or others seeking cool temperatures, as well as refrigeration and freezers. A Cool-Binz mobile office unit is also available for temporary, on-site offices with attractive multi-paned glass doors.
With experience in home staging and design, Padalino designed storage units to look good at a business or home while meeting a temporary storage need.
“I am also accessible,” adds Padalino. “I answer the telephone.” Cool-Binz serves Marco Island to North Fort Myers and will go farther with additional fees. A local moving business is available for packing and unpacking services.
“Who would think it would take a woman to make storage classy,” said Padalino. “I am trying to take portable storage to another level.”
To learn more visit www.cool-binz.com or phone 239-370-2332 for portable storage to park, pack and plug.
Learn about Florida Entrepreneur Kathryn Padalino
Originally from New Jersey, Kathryn Padalino, owner and founder of Cool-Binz, didn’t plan on starting a business when she and her husband retired to Naples, FL. However, as Padalino shared, a need to find a solution to a problem is what ultimately led to the formation of Cool-Binz.
“After first purchasing our home in 2012, we decided to retire and move year-round in 2015,” she said. “We moved all of our possessions down to Naples and stored them in what we thought was a climate controlled storage space. Unfortunately, after a four month renovation turned into 10 months, we unloaded the container and most of our stuff was ruined. That’s when I told my husband, ‘Why can’t we build a climate controlled portable storage unit’? For the next year, I started doing research on storage containers, went to trade shows and learned how to insulate a bin to make it climate controlled. I discovered that insulation was the key to making it work. Once I had working models, I set them up on our own property, plugged them in and basically ran them until I worked out the kinks and got them to run perfectly.”
Along the way, Padalino designed a container that was aesthetically pleasing, but also made of steel and capable of withstanding hurricane force winds. She made tweaks as she went and also found a unique delivery system that allows her containers to be picked up and moved to a single parking space with ease. The result is a one-of-a-kind product catering to builders, realtors, homeowners doing renovations and anyone else in need of quick, easy, portable and on-demand climate controlled storage.
“I’ve been approached by people that want to franchise them and some that want to buy them,” Padalino said. “However, I’m trying to build the business slowly. Since my product is so new to the market, I’m not just building brand awareness, I’m introducing an entirely new concept.”
Padalino shared that, not only do customers have a secure climate controlled space to store their possessions, they also have the ability to store the actual container at the Cool-Binz facility and have 24/7 access to their stuff. Typical customers include people remodeling their condos who need a temporary place to store their possession and flooring companies that need a safe place to store furniture while they redo flooring.
According to Padalino, Cool-Binz has been aggressive with their marketing strategy and they continue to innovate and introduce new products. “I’m doing a lot of digital marketing,” she said. “That includes social media marketing and guerilla marketing. I’m also launching new products to come up with a wider array of options. I have a bin that can cool down to the 40s for florists and two refrigerated bins that cool to the 30s. I’ve also introduced a mobile portable space complete with glass doors, lighting and power. The idea is to have a space for builders to use as an onsite mobile office, for people working at outside events or for man caves and she sheds. I’m basically taking a box and figuring out how many ways to cool it and use it.”
Looking ahead, Padalino remains focused on building the business and creating happy customers. She enjoys the creative process and the satisfaction that comes from bringing a new product to market. At some point, she might consider franchising or selling the business.
What advice does Padalino have for aspiring entrepreneurs? “Do your research,” she said. “Also, be confident in your idea and don’t listen to people when they say it can’t be done. Also, be prepared for long hard days. The beginning is slow and you’ll often doubt yourself, but see it through. There’s a big reward at the other end.”
Our Mascot JRZ shares his story
Our Best FRIENDS: English setter Jersey always points to fun
Jersey points – and plays.
Kathryn and Ernie Padalino’s 17-month-old English setter is purebred and registered with the AKC. True to his heritage, Jersey freezes and points for every rabbit, squirrel and bird even though that is not his job. English setters have been trained as bird dogs for more than 400 years in England. Jersey is ready to hunt.
Jersey’s purebred status doesn’t upstage his most endearing qualities. “He’s just goofy,” said Kathryn Padalino. “He has a goofy personality and that’s the reason he became a cartoon logo and mascot for our business.” He understands the work environment, though, where he goes every day and spends most of the time sleeping. He also travels along on deliveries.
“We’re pretty much joined at the hip,” said Padalino.
When she first brought him home, Padalino says he was a bit clumsy – like Winnie the Pooh’s friend Eeyore or a toddler. Jersey’s favorite sleep position is on his back with all four feet in the air. Even today Padalino says his body posture is still a bit like Eeyore’s.
There’s no denying the goofy look on the face of a sitting English setter. The sad eyes are inherited and the loving disposition shines through. Padalino has owned setters before and says that Jersey, true to nature, has a fun and very playful personality. For fun, Jersey enjoys the dog park.
Jersey loves to swim – and enjoys his private pool in the backyard. When he’s not swimming, he rearranges the landscape, dragging palm fronds around the yard and chasing geckos at the same time. He travels well and visited New Jersey, Charleston South Carolina, and St. Augustine, where he went swimming and played on the beach. The most exciting visit was to Central Park in New York. Locally, he may be seen proudly sitting in the back seat of a convertible.
While he qualifies at 69 pounds, Jersey’s personality rules out any responsibilities as a guard dog. He would lick the intruder to death. He prefers licking ears and chewing on earlobes. He likes to be with his people, preferably snuggling. He is loyal, and his desire to please makes him easy to train.
Jersey needs grooming every three months and brushing often. His taste in food is easy to please – including a fondness for cheese, applesauce and Padalino’s husband Ernie’s biscotti.
According to the AKC, an English setter’s nose may lead him to food anywhere: Some have been known to try to get into the dishwasher following the scent of a morsel left on a plate.