Today’s Notable Young Entrepreneurs are Torey Celinskis and Trevor Loose, who worked in the finance sector for years but noticed a lack of storage solutions in Calgary. The solution? YYC Storage, an on-demand self-storage company that provides cloud-like convenience and storage solutions for everyday belongings…
WORK
Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. Go.
We make self-storage easy, modern, and innovative. We pick up and store people’s stuff, and create an online inventory so they can request delivery of any items they need.
What was the inspiration for your career route?
It all started with the frustration of our corporate jobs and wanting to do something entrepreneurial on a full-time basis. Having lived in condos most of our adult lives along with many other young professionals, it became obvious that storage space was a huge issue facing most. And the other, maybe bigger, issue was that people (us included) would much rather hang out with their friends and enjoy their day than spend it dealing with storage lockers. We wanted to solve these problems for Calgarians.
What is the most memorable milestone in your career so far?
Definitely the day we launched the business. A lot of time and effort went into planning and development, so it was awesome to finally set things in motion. Plus, we had never done anything this big entrepreneurially before, so there was a lot of excitement (and anxiety).
Where do you see yourself in 5 years, 10 years, 20 years?
I’d like to say on a yacht somewhere for all three, but we’ll probably still be working. We have a lot of directions we want to take the business, both in terms of geographic expansion and other businesses under the broader idea of ‘living clutter-free’.
Do you have any advice for other young professionals?
Focus on building relationships regardless of your field. Never hesitate to help someone else out. It’s humbling how helpful we’ve found people, even people we barely know, especially in tough times.
Do you support any charities? If so, which one(s) and why is it (or they) important to you?
We’re partnered with Goodwill Industries of Alberta, a charity that uses the donation of clothes and belongings to provide jobs to those with disabilities. With every pick-up, we provide a Goodwill bag for people to fill with unwanted items. It’s easy to take health and jobs for granted, so we think this is a great organization for helping the community and building awareness.
What is one major challenge that you’ve had to overcome in your career? How did you overcome it?
Leaving our corporate jobs, the steady paycheque, and the great people. Ultimately, getting there was a combination of figuring out what we really wanted and realizing that the worst case scenario is almost never as bad as it seems in your head.
What does the word notable mean to you?
Notable to us is something or someone with the potential to drive positive change, to make things better, and to make people sit up and take notice.
PLAY
Where is your favourite place to wine/dine in your city and why?
TC: Cassis Bistro; the best French cuisine in the city. Definitely order the steak frites.
TL: Anew Table; the food is fantastic and the menu changes every day.
What’s the most visited website on your Internet browser? The most played song on your phone?
TC: Website: Right now? yycstorage.ca. Typically ESPN. Song: Free by Zac Brown Band.
TL: Most visited website is probably Quora; it’s always surprising how many people have the same random questions I do. The live version of Springsteen by Eric Church.
Who’s one person you think everyone should be following on social media?
TC: @Pizza – I’m clearly a pizza lover.
TL: @SeinfeldFullHD – There is never too much Seinfeld in my life.
What’s your favourite country to visit and why? And what’s the next one you plan on travelling to?
TC: Colombia – With all of its regional diversity, you can’t ask for more in a country. Beautiful beaches on both the Pacific and Caribbean coastlines, amazing hikes in the various mountain ranges, the Amazon, coffee growing regions and hidden gems that aren’t going to remain hidden for much longer. Up next, Ushuaia on the southern tip of Argentina.
TL: Croatia. Awesome mix of great food, scenery, parties, beaches and good memories. Close runner-up is Ireland – rugged coastlines, lively pubs, and friendly people are some of my favourite things. Next up is Iceland.
What gives you the greatest FOMO?
TC: Missing out on trips. I don’t care if it’s a day trip to the mountains, a weekend NFL game with buddies, or a trip across the world.
TL: What Torey said.
What’s your guiltiest pleasure?
TC: The inner fat kid is coming out here. Fake nacho cheese. I can’t keep it in the house or else it goes on everything (including day-old pizza).
TL: Full box of KD, usually eaten right out of the pot. Not always at the end of a night out, either.
What’s something you wish you didn’t spend so much money on? What’s something you wish you spent more on?
TC: Business suits. I have a closet full of suits that rarely get used anymore. Travel; always more travel.
TL: Less money: probably rent, although suits (and ties) is a good one. More money: travel, new experiences, and the important people in my life.
And finally, what does success look like to you? Work, play, or otherwise…
TC: To me success isn’t easily quantified, but is finding the balance between work and play where you get the most out of everyday and you don’t take the little things for granted.
TL: Success is having the flexibility and the means to choose whatever path you want in life, professionally and personally.
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