Welcome back to Self Storage Lab, the podcast where we deconstruct how operators are adapting to today’s technology-driven landscape—and what it means for the future of the industry.
This episode’s guest is Tommy Nguyen, co-founder and COO of StoragePug—a company that started with one family-owned facility and evolved into one of the most beloved tech brands in self storage. From his early days as a pre-med student to becoming a bootstrapped founder serving over 2,000 facilities nationwide, Tommy’s story is one of grit, humility, and relentless optimism.
In this episode, we explore:
If you’ve ever wondered how to scale a business without losing your soul—or how to stay customer-obsessed while saying “no” to the wrong ideas—this conversation is a masterclass in building with heart.
(00:02:11) From Vietnam to Knoxville—Tommy’s immigrant story and the inflection points that shaped his path.
(00:09:01) Helping small operators compete head-to-head with REITs.
(00:13:16) Are we a product company or a service company? Defining the StoragePug identity.
(00:20:38) Bootstrapping in a world of venture-backed startups—and why it worked.
(00:28:34) What Tommy believed as a first-time founder (and doesn’t anymore).
(00:36:23) The three-part framework for deciding which features to build.
(00:41:06) When to kill a product—and why sunk costs don’t matter.
(00:47:21) Staying focused in a crowded landscape of new tech.
(00:54:56) Why small operators can’t afford to look “small” online anymore.
(00:57:47) AI as augmentation, not replacement—and what’s next for StoragePug.
(01:07:24) How becoming a dad changed Tommy’s priorities and leadership style.
Frameworks & Philosophies
Tools & Rituals
Favorite Nuggets
🔗 More from Tommy & StoragePug:
storagepug.com
