Fedessa 2026 Independent Store of the Year Award
Family-run, carbon-negative storage facility on Larchfield Estate recognised as Europe's best independent, just over a year after opening
Think Storage, the self-storage facility created from converted agricultural sheds on Larchfield Estate near Lisburn, has been named Independent Store of the Year at the FEDESSA Industry Awards 2026. The award was presented at the FEDESSA Awards Dinner in Wiesbaden, Germany, on Thursday 24 September. The dinner closed the FEDESSA Conference & Trade Show, the main annual gathering of Europe's self-storage industry.
The Independent Store of the Year award, sponsored by OpenTech Alliance, is one of eight FEDESSA awards. It recognises an outstanding independently operated store, judged on location and construction, appearance, security, marketing, online presence, pricing strategy, community and sustainability.
It is a remarkable result for a business that opened its doors only in July 2025. Husband-and-wife team Sarah and Gavin Mackie, who have run Larchfield Estate since 2007, founded Think Storage with no prior storage experience and no dedicated team, in a rural location outside conventional catchment models. Industry advisers had forecast it could take two to three years to reach 80% occupancy from a standing start. Think Storage got there in under ten months, and its original two sheds are now around 90% full.
Sarah Mackie, Co-Founder of Think Storage, said:
"We're genuinely overwhelmed. When we started, we were told to be patient, because a new independent in the countryside would take years to find its feet. What we didn't expect was how much people would value the setting. Customers drive in past apple trees and alpacas, park right outside their unit and leave feeling calmer than when they arrived. To be recognised alongside the best operators in Europe, as a small family business in Northern Ireland, means an awful lot to us."
Gavin Mackie, Co-Founder, added:
"Sustainability has shaped every decision we've made at Larchfield, and Think Storage was no different. Rather than building new or bringing in containers, we gave redundant farm buildings a new purpose. This award shows that doing things the right way and running a successful business aren't in conflict. They go hand in hand."
A different kind of storage
Think Storage is Northern Ireland's first carbon-negative self-storage facility. It sits within the 425-acre grounds of the Georgian Larchfield Estate, around 20 minutes from Belfast. Front elevations are clad in reconstituted wood and recycled plastic, and the site features LED motion-sensor lighting, rainwater collection, automatic dehumidifiers, an overnight robotic cleaner and a wildflower meadow at the entrance.
The facility combines a fully digital customer journey with a distinctly personal touch. Around 95% of bookings are now completed entirely online, with identity checks, payment and OpenTech digital access credentials all handled without staff involvement. Around 40% of customers visit outside office hours. Yet Sarah personally phones every enquirer, and every new customer receives a handwritten welcome card and a pot of honey from the estate on move-in day. The approach has earned Think Storage a perfect 5.0 rating on Google, with every one of its 25 reviews at five stars, and a 100% invoice collection rate in its first year.
Security includes 24-hour CCTV, individual door sensors, digital access control and instant alerts to the owners for every entry to the site, and the Mackie family live on the estate itself.
Rooted in the community
From day one, Think Storage has donated three units free of charge to Madlug, the Northern Ireland charity providing bags for children entering foster care. The business also works closely with local estate agents, removals firms and house-dressing services, and visitor attractions wishing to store display items.
What's next
Following strong demand, Think Storage opened Phase 2 in July 2026. It added 20 Bonus Capacity units offering around 30% extra cubic volume, up to 240 sq ft, and four were booked within the first fortnight. Phase 3 is planned for January 2027, when further estate sheds will be converted. To support this next stage of growth, Think Storage is now recruiting a full-time Manager who would be excited to help grow this business. Interested in the role can be registered via [email protected].