InTents

Event Service Professionals Association rebrands

Industrial Fabrics Association International — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0600

InTentsMag.com | February 6, 2012

The Event Service Professionals Association (ESPA) (formerly Association for Convention Operations Management) celebrated the launch of its new name, logo and mission statement at its annual conference Jan. 6-8 in San Diego, Calif. David Dvorak, CMP, vice president, catering and convention services at Starwood Hotels & Resorts, was announced as ESPA’s 2012 president.

“This year’s conference was the first one under our new name and brand, so we wanted to make a major impact for all attendees,” Dvorak said. “The program was elevated, encompassing new educational additions, interactive contests and dynamic speakers, and illustrating to service professionals and the industry that this was an event they didn’t want to miss.”

ESPA offered a new way to get to know its conference destination and fellow attendees through its Seek & Tweet contest on Twitter. Attendees participated by selecting any five off a list of 10 photos to snap and share with others using the hashtag #ESPA2012, a scavenger hunt style activity to incorporate social media. As a result of this contest and other Twitter participation, tweets using #ESPA2012 reached over 20,000 people and yielded over 87,000 impressions.

During the awards luncheon and business meeting, several industry awards were presented. Given in conjunction with Successful Meetings magazine, the CSM of the Year Awards honored

Lori Denning, CMP, The Conference Center at NorthPointe
Samaria Williams, Greater Houston CVB and
Mary Ann Torres, Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority.

Other awards included

Casandra Matej, San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Executive Excellence Award
David Renzi, CMP, American Helicopter Society International, the Meeting Professional of the Year Award
Zach Davis, Louisville CVB, the Member of the Year Award and
Rhonda Eaton, CMP, Reno Sparks Convention Center, the President’s Award and
Amber Mitchell of Metropolitan State College of Denver, the fourth annual Donald S. Freeman Jr. ESPA Conference Scholarship.

Cast your vote for the InTents 2012 Buyers Guide cover

Industrial Fabrics Association International — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0600

InTentsMag.com | January 4, 2012

It’s time for the second annual InTents Buyer’s Guide cover contest! We asked for the best work you had to show off, and you gave it to us. Narrowing the choices from nearly 100 submissions to three finalists was hard enough. Now we need everyone in the industry to help select the final cover.

View the choices at intentsmag.com/forms/bgcovercontest and cast your vote today. Voting is open through 5 p.m. CST, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012.

ABC Industries names Lisa Bauer inside sales coordinator

Industrial Fabrics Association International — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0600

InTentsMag.com | December 19, 2011

ABC Industries Inc, Winona Lake, Ind., announces that Lisa Bauer has joined the company’s industrial textile fabrics division as inside sales coordinator. Bauer brings more than 16 years of customer service and inside sales experience to ABC.

Bauer will be responsible for managing customer accounts, fielding inquiries, order entry and price quotations. She will work closely with outside sales to assure all aspects of customer service are executed in a timely, accurate manner.

“Lisa brings a wealth of experience in both sales and customer service to ABC,” says Troy Burns, Eastern regional sales manager for Industrial Textile Fabrics. “We are extremely pleased to add her to the ABC Industrial Textile Fabrics team.”

Source: ABC Industries

IFAI Expo Asia 2012 postponed

Industrial Fabrics Association International — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0600

InTentsMag.com | December 5, 2011

The Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) announced in a Dec. 1 press release the postponement of its second IFAI Expo Asia in Singapore.

The release said that due to the uncertainty of the completion of construction at the Suntec Center, and the continuing softness of the global economy, it will postpone its Expo Asia 2012 trade event originally scheduled for June 26-28 at the Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

According to IFAI’s conference management vice president, Todd Lindemann, “This decision will allow us to evaluate the date and venue for the event. We expect the second edition of IFAI Expo Asia to be bigger and draw larger attendance, and we are carefully planning for that success.”

IFAI Expo Asia 2011 had a strong premiere March 22-25, 2011, in Singapore at the Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre, according to the release. The 2011 event included 90 exhibitors and more than 1,400 registered participants from 45 countries.

About IFAI

The Industrial Fabrics Association International is the largest and longest-running textile trade organization in the world, celebrating its 100-year anniversary in 2012. IFAI publishes seven market-specific magazines in print and online, organizes global industry events such as IFAI Expo Americas 2012 in Boston and Geosynthetics 2013 in Long Beach. IFAI supports the growth of nearly 1,900 member companies located in 54 countries.

Source: IFAI

Aztec Tents introduces Jumbotrac Lite

Industrial Fabrics Association International — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0600

InTentsMag.com | December 2, 2011

Aztec Tents, Torrance, Calif., has unveiled Jumbotrac™ Lite, the newest addition to the Jumbotrac family of kedered-frame tent products. Using a reinforced, twin channel, 2-inch West Coast frame platform, the Jumbotrac Lite Frame System significantly reduces wear to the fabric and provides exceptional performance in both short-term and season-long applications.

“The Jumbotrac Lite’s innovative, slide-in design protects fabric from scrapes and drag marks and makes tent installation a breeze. Instead of pulling the entire top over the frame, the channels in the Jumbotrac frame do the work for you,” said Alex Kouzmanoff, vice president of Aztec Tents. “The slide-in design allows you to install the fabric on the ground or in the air, and no pins are required.”

The non-engineered frame tent system allows the fabric to slide through a channel in the extruded aluminum frame, making for easier installations and a significant reduction in wear to the fabric. Hip and gable-ended configurations are available to customize the system for the perfect fit for any job site. Aztec’s proprietary valance and tensioning systems keep the fabric uniformly tensioned and free of wrinkles without added complexity.

The Jumbotrac Lite Frame System extends the life of tent fabric and greatly improves installation efficiency. Most of Aztec’s existing traditional 2-inch West Coast-style frames can be converted to this new system simply by replacing rafters, intermediate and ridge fittings and base plates. Kedered uprights are also an option for those who wish to keep the side wall in place. For those who own Jumbotrac in larger widths, existing Jumbotrac walls can be used with the new Jumbotrac Lite Frame System. Jumbotrac Lite is available in 10-, 15-, 20- and 30-foot widths, in both hip and gable-ended configurations with 10- and 15-foot extensions. Custom widths and lengths are also available.

Source: Aztec Tents

Vintage event decor trends

Industrial Fabrics Association International — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0600

From flea market chandeliers to bone china, vintage event decor trend is here to stay.

InTents | December 2011

By Melissa Paul

Once relegated to rockers, hippies and uber-trendy jetsetters, the vintage trend has progressed from the fashion industry to the event world, becoming a permanent part of the party planner repertoire. Although some event industry icons proclaim it won’t last, four years of sustained popularity show that the trend isn’t ready to be relegated to the attic any time soon.

What makes a party design vintage? It’s the blending of old, well-worn and sometimes rustic decorative pieces that, when combined, create a warm and inviting ambience. Think of it as emptying out your grandmother’s long-forgotten china cupboard and finding everything from embroidered linen tablecloths and fine-bone china to tarnished silver flatware and crystal candlesticks. Now, use those once-formal, traditional tabletop elements under a spacious tent installed with recycled plank floors, salvaged antique dinner tables, mismatched dining room chairs, painted firehouse benches and suspended flea-market chandeliers. Bang! You’ve got a decidedly vintage party tent.

Among myriad interpretations, two versions of this trend seem to have caught hold. One is a rustic interpretation, with every element farm- or barn-inspired, from tin containers and old benches to salvaged tools, canning jars and rusty lanterns. Frankly, if I never see another canning jar filled with flowers, I’d be happy, because there are so many more age-old vessels that tell far more interesting tales.

The other approach is more formal, mixing metals such as mercury glass and old silver with antique gold accents and crystal bowls, giving the table setting a comfortable-yet-glamorous effect. This interpretation offers more bling for sophisticated events. With both concepts, fresh flowers are added to provide a whimsical or bold pop of color. Monochromatic compositions of large-headed garden flowers create a dramatic statement in a large tented environment, while soft garden flowers loosely gathered may be better suited to more casual settings.

There’s a treasure hunter in all of us. So much so that event designers now regularly paw through estate sales, thrift shops and antique stores looking for furniture and treasures that can be repurposed in unconventional ways. An old door can be used as a coffee table, old books can be stacked as tabletop props or as wall decor, beat-up farm tables can serve as wedding head tables and kitchen hutches can function as food stations, place card tables and bar backs.Each well-loved element introduces a vintage vignette and when taken as a whole, the elements connect each space to the next.

A mix of old and new, combined with heartfelt touches and personal collections, conveys intimacy and a sense of comfort that can even be appropriate for corporate events and nonprofit galas. For those without the time or inclination to scour estate sales, rental businesses focused exclusively on vintage decor have popped up.

Perhaps one of driving forces behind the vintage trend is the desire to live more environmentally conscious lifestyles with less waste and more repurposing of old favorites. It is certainly preferable to make the most of decor with a past, rather than letting it sit packed away in the dark, collecting dust.

By Melissa Paul, owner of Melissa Paul Ltd. Paul is a brand storyteller for the luxury wedding, culinary and hospitality industries.

Strategically vintage

The individual with the event’s vision (event designer, planner) should provide the props. Others may spend too much time, effort and stress (not to mention money) on collections that have no meaning or functionality in the design scheme.
Avoid collections of tiny objects that, even when grouped together, are miniscule to the eye in a big space such as a tent. Think big for big impact.
If you can’t do it all well, focus on one or two elements and don’t hold back. Make a vintage statement with the place card table, from the table itself to antique bud vases and stacked books. Then let the rest of the party design fall into a more conventional design scheme that doesn’t require a Mack truck’s worth of expensive props.

Tented ice rink

Industrial Fabrics Association International — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0600

Temporary tented ice skating rink sparks the holiday spirit in the city of Memphis.

InTents | December 2011

Outdoor ice skating is a beloved winter tradition in cold climates—think about the quintessential holiday scene of skaters spinning and gliding around The Ice Rink at Rockefeller Center in New York City.

Mahaffey Fabric Structures, Memphis, Tenn., and the Memphis Zoo are proving that, with the help of a tent, a mild climate isn’t a barrier to such a cherished holiday activity. In the fall of 2010, Mahaffey installed a temporary structure to house the first outdoor ice skating rink in the city of Memphis in decades, helping zoo patrons get into the holiday spirit, even if the weather outside was less than frightful.

“The zoo hopes to keep growing and enhancing the holiday experience and bringing in crowds in what is traditionally a down time,” says Mahaffey marketing manager Beth Wilson.

Mahaffey installed a 25-by-35-meter clearspan structure to cover a rink of 5,400 square feet of ice. The flooring system consisted of scaffolding and plywood, with extra layers of plywood to support the weight of the ice. Mahaffey also installed red carpet, built a counter and cabinets inside the structure and provided barricade fencing around the perimeter. The actual rink system is owned by the zoo, and lighting was provided by a separate lighting vendor.

The installation required about three weeks due to square footage being added and the sensitive nature of the grounds.

“Because of our extensive experience with these types of projects, our crews fully understand how to install a temporary facility in a sensitive location without disturbing guests or disrupting daily business operations,” Wilson says. “We had to hand carry all tent and flooring pieces in, which took extra time and labor, so as not to disturb the grounds or visitors with heavy machinery.”

Open for skating from mid-November through the end of January, the rink is poised to become a family holiday tradition in Memphis for years to come.

“We learned a lot about the flooring and other logistics,” Wilson says of the initial installation. “This year, we’re anticipating another smooth install and record-breaking crowds during the holiday season.”

Custom tent brings thrill of the circus to Chicago

Industrial Fabrics Association International — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0600

InTents | December 2011

Armbruster Mfg. Co.’s history with circus tents dates back to the 1890s, when a traveling circus came to Springfield, Ill., and asked the awning and wagon cover manufacturer to fabricate a new canvas tent.

“This was the beginning of Armbruster making large canvas tents,” says president Hellar Armbruster. “Throughout our history we have custom manufactured circus tents for many of the major circus companies.”

Even so, requests for circus tents don’t come along too often: circuses use the same tent for decades and in recent years, many circuses have moved indoors. In 2009, The Midnight Circus, which partners with the city of Chicago for a circus-in-the-parks program, contacted Armbruster for a new tent, but the project was on hold until the circus secured financial backing. Once funding was secured, the time from production to delivery in September 2011 was less than 60 days.

“Using some of the existing hardware in our TensionTent® series helped, but our factory worked overtime to meet their deadline,” Armbruster says.

Because the tent will be installed in parks all over Chicago, the circus wanted a structure that could be set up and taken down in hours. And, to be expected, the structure needed to meet Chicago’s strict permitting rules.

“The Midnight Circus tent uses the same hardware and technology found in our TensionTent and EuroTent,” Armbruster says. “This includes heavy-duty stainless steel plates and rigging, Ferrari fabrics, reinforced webbing, structural grade aluminum poles, ratchets, stakes and plates.”

One unique design feature is the custom fabricated hoods designed to hold flagpoles, Armbruster says. “To meet the original conceptual drawing, we custom designed hoods that could be easily installed before the tent was raised, yet withstand heavy wind loads,” he says. “We designed the hoods to attach to the center pole rings, which also support the acrobats and rigging. Another feature is custom entrances that matched the features of the tent as well as two dressing tents made from the same fabric as the circus tent.”

The circus plans to put on shows in about 12 different parks in Chicago per season. With an expected lifespan of 25-30 years, the tent will help Chicago kids enjoy a circus experience for at least a generation.

“The client was amazed at the quality of the hardware used in the construction as well as how well the patterning and colors turned out compared to the circus tents they had used in the past,” Armbruster says. “The tent far surpassed their original concept.”

Event-Tex owner

Industrial Fabrics Association International — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0600

InTents | December 2011

Bobby Braun is owner of Event-Tex, a special event rental company based in Bartlett, Ill.

Atlas Sales & Rentals Inc. opens expanded headquarters

Industrial Fabrics Association International — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0600

InTents | December 2011

Atlas Sales & Rentals Inc., a national distributor of portable air conditioning, heating and dehumidification products for nonresidential markets, has opened an expanded corporate headquarters at 47233 Fremont Blvd., Fremont, Calif. The 15,000-square-foot facility houses the company’s corporate offices, warehouse and personnel to serve Bay Area customers.

SEC Group adds Flagro product

Industrial Fabrics Association International — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0600

InTents | December 2011

The SEC Group, Wilsonville, Ore., and Flagro USA Inc. announce the addition of Flagro’s heating and air handling products to the SEC Group’s family of products. SEC Group will represent and provide additional distribution of Flagro box heaters for party and special event customers in the western United States.

Classic Tents hires new employees

Industrial Fabrics Association International — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0600

InTents | December 2011

Classic Tents announces the addition of two employees in its Torrance, Calif., office:

Janis Davis has been hired as marketing manager. Davis joins the company from California State University, Dominguez Hills, where she was a part of the event and marketing division.
Stacy Larios has been named sales account manager, focusing on hotel event venues and industrial storage markets.

MarChem CFI names sales representative

Industrial Fabrics Association International — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0600

InTents | December 2011

MarChem CFI, New Haven, Mo., has named Laurie Moers as northeast regional sales representative. Based in West Milford, N.J., Moers’ territory encompasses Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Connecticut, Maryland and Rhode Island.

Rental industry veteran forms new company

Industrial Fabrics Association International — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0600

InTents | December 2011

Rental industry veteran Gary Stansberry has formed The Stansberry Firm, Granbury, Texas, to assist rental business owners with the strategic direction of their companies. The firm’s primary services are business sales, fair market business valuations and operational consulting. Prior to the formation of The Stansberry Firm, Gary Stansberry ended his affiliation with Fred Hageman and Hageman, Stansberry & Associates.

Classic Party Rentals New York hires senior account manager

Industrial Fabrics Association International — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0600

InTents | December 2011

David Tannenbaum has joined Classic Party Rentals New York as senior account manager, sales. With 13 years of special event experience, Tannenbaum is responsible for expanding the Los Angeles, Calif.-based company’s New York area location. Classic Party Rentals recently opened a 100,000-square-foot facility in Secaucus, N.J.

Cummins Inc. selects Orion Software Inc. as distributor

Industrial Fabrics Association International — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0600

InTents | December 2011

Orion Software Inc., Montreal, QC, Canada, was selected by Cummins Inc., Columbus, Ind., as a software provider for its North American distributors. Orion Software will complete the implementation by the end of 2011. Cummins provides design, manufacture, sale and service of diesel engines, power generation equipment and related components.

Signature Systems Group LLC wins business award

Industrial Fabrics Association International — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0600

InTents | December 2011

The Manhattan Chamber of Commerce awarded the Global Business of the Year Award to Signature Systems Group LLC of New York (formerly Signature Fencing & Flooring Systems) for impressive growth and success in exporting.

Temporary structures triumph over Mother Nature

Industrial Fabrics Association International — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0600

Temporary structures withstand rain, an earthquake, a hurricane and more rain at The Barclays.

InTents | December 2011

The top 125 golfers in the FedExCup standings teed up at the Plainfield Country Club in Edison, N.J., for The Barclays Championship on Aug. 25, 2011, with Dustin Johnson claiming the trophy three days later.

For Proteus On-Demand Facilities, Austell, Ga., the event may have seemed more like a boxing match, with Proteus structures and installers standing in triumph after a four-round pummeling of extreme weather and natural disasters.

Round 1: Rainy installation

In a preview of what was to come, the Proteus team and scaffolding provider T&B Equipment Co. Inc. endured 13 inches of rain during the 13-day installation of a “city in the sky”: a VIP hospitality suite and six other temporary structures and walkways built on 30-plus feet of scaffolding.

The hospitality suite, a 30-by-50-meter Delta Vista temporary structure on the course’s 18th hole, provided both climate-controlled space and open-air canopy seating. Installation of the elevated interlocking plate floor system required extreme precision. A 500-ton crane and a 200-ton crane simultaneously raised the tensioned roof system, engineered to minimize wind disturbance, on top of the scaffolding and the 20-foot sidewalls. An entire day was spent raising the roof system using vertical tandem lifting at 10-inch intervals.

The facade of the hospitality suite featured horizontal panoramic glass panels so that VIP guests could follow the excitement on the final hole, and flat screens throughout the pavilion provided live action from the rest of the course. Additional structures were installed for The Golf Academy, The Golf Channel, VIP registration, The Barclays executive office, kitchen holding and a kitchen prep tent.

Round 2: Earthquake

Two days before the start of the tournament, a 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck the U.S. East Coast. With the earthquake’s epicenter about 300 miles from the event, the structure withstood moderate tremors and aftershocks.

“The earthquake was quite a surprise to us,” Proteus site manager Dale Boyes says. “Fortunately, the movements of the structures were within normal tolerances of their flexibility and no additional steps had to be taken following the earthquake.”

Round 3: Hurricane Irene

Now it was time for Mother Nature to throw off the gloves. With wind speeds between 74 and 95 mph, Category 1 Hurricane Irene hit New Jersey in the middle of the tournament.

“When we knew Hurricane Irene was imminent, we doubled the amount of anchors, additionally strapped roof covers down, secured foot plates under the scaffolding and removed all loose objects such as plants, pallets, catering supplies, etc., so that nothing blew into the structure,” Boyes says. “To reduce wind pressure, the skirting around the scaffolding was removed so that the wind could blow through.”

The PGA TOUR moved up tee times and ultimately shortened the tournament from 72 to 54 holes.

“Our team worked hard throughout the storm to secure the integrity of the Proteus structures,” Boyes says. “Keeping all structures enclosed and assuring no doors blew open or wall panels blew out was very important so that the high winds did not get into the tent and push it upward.”

Round 4: Tropical Storm Lee

With the tournament over, and the hurricane passed, the structure team deserved an easy takedown. Tropical Storm Lee had other ideas, sending another 8 inches of rain during the nine-day dismantle.

Theo den Bieman, Proteus CEO, says that while it was unfortunate that the tournament had to be cut short, the company was pleased that, when play was going on, fans were able to take shelter and enjoy the event in Proteus structures.

“We hope for better weather next year as we are excited to start preliminary planning for the VIP Hospitality structure for The Barclays in 2012 at Bethpage Black,” den Bieman says.

Reflecting on the tenting season

Industrial Fabrics Association International — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0600

A challenging season evokes reflections on tent rental past and future.

InTents | December 2011

By Kathy Schaefer

The year 2011 is almost over and, like most rental business owners, I am planning for winter and the ensuing slow cash flow. It is also time to think ahead to next year’s tenting season, evaluate equipment and assess future needs. Many of the supplier tent companies are offering purchasing programs and have had fall exhibit shows and training that have helped with this planning. In previous years we would keep our core installers throughout the winter to wash and repair tents; however, due to the economy of the last several years, they have gone on unemployment from Christmas until early March. Our awning business is year round, so we have a limited number of employees available to handle off-season rental business.

In the April issue of InTents I wrote of the upcoming season, “I can only hope for high sales volume, low gas prices, conscientious and efficient employees and good tent weather.” As the season progressed I am happy to report that the sales volume was more than prior years, and the employees have done a great job. Gas prices have remained high and the weather this season has been more difficult than most years. I spoke with colleagues at a recent tent trade show and most if not all of them have had similar situations. We have noticed that the economy has forced smaller companies out of business, and that client loyalty is not as much of a factor as price point. Having repeat jobs can no longer be taken for granted; pricing is more competitive, yet project results and customer service are expected to be flawless.

An event I had worked with for nearly 10 years received competitive pricing this year and asked me to match the prices of a company I was not familiar with. I had not raised my prices to this client in years and I was already below my regular pricing. I would not reduce what I thought was fair pricing and consequently lost the job. When I attended the event, I observed older canvas tents with pinholes and inadequate staking. I spoke with my client who advised me that they could no longer worry about appearances or details—they needed to save money. Other renters have experienced this as well, and we all believe this attitude will be prevalent as long as the economy is struggling.

My father, Vern, has been involved with our family business since he was 17. With the wisdom of an 80-year-old, he tells me that the key to longevity in the tent rental industry is to be adaptable and progressive and never sacrifice quality and service.

Glawe has weathered many storms in our 135 years, both literally and figuratively. The financial challenges of the Great Depression and the various recessions led us to develop new product lines, time-saving techniques and lean management. Our challenge will be to continue to be diligent with safe and efficient operations while seeking new avenues for growth and financial stability.

The fifth of five installments by Kathy Schaefer, owner of Glawe Awnings and Tents, Fairborn, Ohio, reflecting on the 2011 rental season.
Vernon Schaefer began working at Glawe as a teenager after school and during summers. With the exception of serving in the army in the Korean conflict, Vernon has been with Glawe since that time, now at the helm of the company along with a new generation of family members.

RC Special Events keeps Really Cool

Industrial Fabrics Association International — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0600

From Frozen Dead Guy Days to destination weddings, RC Special Events brings the ‘Really Cool’ to Northern Colorado.

InTents | December 2011

RC Special Events (RC stands for “Really Cool”) was created in 2008 from two existing businesses: A-Z Party Rentals in Fort Collins, Colo., and Rental City in Boulder. Ian Menzies, RC’s CEO, acquired A-Z in 2005, Rental City in 2007, and quickly rebranded the companies, creating a single website, inventory listing and business software system, while maintaining both locations.

More than half the company’s work is providing tent and event rental for corporate events and festivals—such as the annual Frozen Dead Guy Days, a late-winter celebration in Nederland, Colo., featuring coffin races, parade of hearses, the crowing of an Ice Queen and a frozen salmon toss. The event is built around local lore involving a deceased Norwegian immigrant and cryogenic body storage, though beer drinking and celebrating winter factor into the fun. For RC Events the festival means installation and take-down challenges due to the 7,000-foot elevation, below-freezing temperatures and high winds. “Despite the challenges, our crews love doing work for that event,” Menzies says. “And we do many corporate events and festivals—our repeat business is extremely high.”

The remainder of the company’s work is for weddings, many of which are destination events that take full advantage of the alternating verdant and snowy Colorado scenery and views of the Rocky Mountains. No matter what the season, the unpredictable nature of the winds provides for sometimes difficult installations. “Microbursts can happen, especially in early summer, which requires great care by our tenting crews during installation,” Menzies says.

To build staff skills and rapport, Menzies hosts a retreat each year, during which the employees attend training sessions, participate in discussions, play team building games and eat lunch and dinner together. The highlight of the day is always the annual stake driving competition, in which contestants pound a 36-inch stake into a pre-set mark. The winner with the fastest time earns bragging rights for the year.

RC Special Events doesn’t exclusively serve Colorado; the company recently provided tent and event rental for a 130-guest wedding at a ranch outside of Laramie, Wyo. The ranch, homesteaded by the client’s mother’s family in the 1800s, still had the original home and schoolhouse around which the cocktail reception and ceremony took place. The event took six months to plan and required an onsite technician to be present during the event.

“RC Special Events is the largest event company in Northern Colorado, and is growing, with a third location planned,” Menzies says, “thanks to great work by many people.”

Tough tent installations

Industrial Fabrics Association International — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0600

Three experienced tent renters work with clients to arrive at creative solutions for challenging locations.

InTents | December 2011

By Jamie Swedberg

Click the links below to read about the three tough tent installations.

A tent renter and client share set-up space
Classic Tents, Torrance, Calif.
A steep grade and a tree require feats of engineering
All Occasions Event Rental, Cincinnati, Ohio
A large event succeeds despite limited access and space
HDO Productions, Rockville, Md.

Based in Georgia, Jamie Swedberg is a freelance writer specializing in the specialty fabrics industry since 1997.

Event fabrics bring on the glamour

Industrial Fabrics Association International — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0600

Fabric elements such as linens, swags and liners transform tents into events.

InTents | December 2011

By Holly O’Dell

When it comes to creating the right look for a tented event, interior fabrics play an important role. Fabric liners, for instance, continue to be a popular choice for clients who want a refined look. “When people use a liner, they generally do so in frame-style tents to cosmetically clean up the interior of the tent,” says Glen Hansen, vice president of sales for Classic Party Rentals–Chicago, McCook, Ill. “But we don’t get a whole lot of requests for liners in tension or pole tents because there isn’t a lot of aluminum or infrastructure that needs to be disguised by fabric.”

Although clients still seek the more traditional gathered or pleated liners, many event rental companies report an increased interest in smooth or flat ceiling liners over the last several years. “They give the tents a more contemporary look,” Hansen notes. “We’ve had people come in and say, ‘We do not like the gathered liners because they look like the interior of a coffin.’”

Hansen also cites cost as a determining factor. “The smooth liners are cheaper than the gathered ones. They take a lot less material to make and therefore rent for less.”

Spencer Etzel of the SEC Group/BaytexUSA, Wilsonville, Ore., says that smooth liners are appearing in corporate environments. “The smooth liner hides all the mechanisms in the tent structure and becomes a perfect palette to project pictures or corporate logos onto. We’ve created a number of high-end display liners for national brand clients such as BMW and Cadillac who want the event interior to be smooth and sleek like their corporate image.”

The fabric composition of liners has remained relatively unchanged, but some event firms are switching up the looks. “We’ve recently used Mystique Satin fabric because there are 180 color options,” notes Barbara Friesen of the SEC Group/BaytexUSA. “We’ve built liners with the satin side for higher reflection and brighter color and the matte side so that it becomes muted and softer. The texture of the fabric is very sophisticated.”

Color palette

Tent liners are no longer static elements of interior design. Ceiling liners come in a palette of colors, while white, creams and champagne remain the most popular. However, a client who selects a white or off-white liner doesn’t have to settle for design mediocrity. “People can add a lot of color onto them with color gels or LEDs,” Etzel says.

Black also has emerged as a popular color. Clients like using a black liner “because it makes the surrounding space disappear,” Friesen says. “Lighting effects on decor and props make the event very dramatic.” Like smooth white liners, black liners are particularly popular with corporate events.

Occasionally tent rental companies receive requests for a patterned ceiling liner, but don’t expect to see any increase in their availability or use. “Patterns tend to be a more specific design and because of their design limitations can only be sold a few times, so most companies do not even carry them,” notes David Merrell, creative director and president of AOO Events in Los Angeles, Calif.

Superior swags

Fabric swags serve as an easy way to either complement or replace ceiling liners altogether. Plus, they add an element of customization. “Swags are great because they are unique to each event,” says Brian Richardson, president of L&A Tent Rentals in Hamilton, N.J. “The green you might like is not the green I’m going to use at the next event.”

The client will bring in a swatch, which L&A matches with fabric from a local store or wholesale provider. The company fabricates the swags in-house, then disposes of them after the event.

Karl’s Event Services, headquartered in Oak Creek, Wis., finds that its clients like to use various-colored swags to accompany liners and complement tablecloths and runners. Indeed, swags can punch up a tent’s interior. “One color we’ve been using quite a bit is steel gray,” says Jimmy Parks, vice president of sales. “It is a subtle color that blends well with a lot of different themes. It is a very clean look.”

Linen appeal

Like liners and swags, linens make a strong decor statement. Merrell indicates that linen trends vary by location and category of client. “On the whole, corporate clients tend to be more on the conservative side, choosing traditional patterns and textures such as pintucks, bengalines and crushed silks or velvets,” he says. “When you get into the social aspect, like weddings or bar and bat mitzvahs, those clients are more daring and go with bold patterns and damasks.”

On the color side, Merrell says that color palettes emerge every year, then disappear. However, some hues never go out of fashion. “Orange always seems to stick around, or at least different versions of it,” he says. Merrell also has seen a transition from neutrals to brighter colors such as vibrant blues, fuchsias and oranges. “When you are in a recession, neutrals, which are more conservative, generally are more prevalent, and when there is an upswing in the economy, bright colors come back out.”

In addition, Merrell suggests ways to make linens more enticing. “Use a more basic cloth and spend a little extra effort and time on a runner. A runner is a lot less fabric and yet it has a custom feel to it. Fun additions include adding tassels at the end of the runners or tying up the corners of linens. These are simple ways to make a basic linen seem more expensive.”

In tough economic times, customers are looking for creative options for their tent interiors without breaking the bank. “We are finding many clients are willing to cut back on the type of chair they are renting and are going with a less expensive carpet, but they are still willing to have fabric treatments as part of their event budget,” says Richardson. “They know that when most guests leave the event, they won’t be talking about how wonderful the chairs were or how plush the carpet was. They will, however, probably notice and be talking about the overall decor of the tent, which includes the fabric.”

Based in Georgia, Jamie Swedberg is a freelance writer specializing in the specialty fabrics industry since 1997.

Finding and keeping top-notch employees

Industrial Fabrics Association International — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0600

Author and people-skills expert Arnold Sanow answers questions about hiring—and keeping—top-notch employees.

InTents | December 2011

By Arnold Sanow

The unemployment rate in the United States has hovered in the range of 9-10 percent for more than two years, and many experts estimate that the true rate is even higher due to long-term unemployed people dropping out of the job market in frustration. Yet, a good employee is hard to find—and keep. Why the dilemma? At IFAI Tent Conference 2012, speaker and author Arnold Sanow will cover common mistakes made in the interview process, traits to look for in applicants specific to the tent rental industry and how to keep great employees motivated and loyal. Here, Sanow answers a few questions about why hiring the right people is so important to a company’s profitability.

Given the high unemployment rate over the last several years, why is it still challenging to hire and keep good employees?

The fact is anyone can get a “body” to fill a position. The problem is getting the right person who has a combination of good technical and people skills. Hiring the wrong person can create numerous problems, from poor performance to havoc in the workplace. The reality is that it is difficult to hire the right people. Last-minute orders, high stress, rushed work environments and the physical nature of the work—along with the long hours—make us more reactive in hiring than proactive.

What is an industry profile, and how is it used in the hiring process?

Industry profiles are thoroughly researched and in-depth documents that provide insight about a specific industry in regard to how it started, where it has been and where it is going. A profile includes the attributes and characteristics necessary for a business to be in a specific industry. Included in industry profiles are current technology, trends, industry products and profiles of the companies and people who make up the industry. The most important part of an industry profile is the numbers and data that provide projections and an outlook to the industry’s future.

An industry profile provides an owner or manager with the key attributes and guidelines for hiring. For example, if the outlook in the profile states that tent rental will become more computerized, knowledge of computers would be one factor to look for when hiring staff. Or if projections show a growth in a particular market segment, the owner or manager needs to look for people who fit that profile.

Is the profile only valuable when hiring a new employee? How can it be applied to current employees?

The profile should be reviewed when hiring any employee and serve as a basis for all hiring decisions. Regarding current employees, the profile will provide up-to-date information of what you need to do to keep all employees current and ready to adapt to changing situations. In other words, what training, expertise, personality traits, physical requirements, education, competence and technical skills are required now and in the future?

Why do companies keep less-than-stellar employees—ones who don’t fit the profile?

What is the true cost of doing this? I would rather have fewer employees than a few bad apples that spoil the whole bunch. The problem is we hire people because we need to fill orders; however, having the wrong people can destroy everything from morale and quality to customer satisfaction and loyalty. Bill Sullivan of Agilent Technologies Inc. says, “Fifty percent of all our obstacles to success center around team dynamics. Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” In other words, if some people are not getting along, it will affect work efficiency and effectiveness. Barbara Smith of ROI Communication says that there is no room for bullies, those with bad attitudes, poor communication skills, rudeness or disrespect. “Even if I have someone with top talent, and they don’t work collaboratively, I don’t want them,” she says. “I would rather have a solid B team player than an A+ distraction.” The bottom line is bad word of mouth travels fast, and it can put a big dent in your bottom line.

Once the right employee has been hired, what kinds of things does an owner or manager need to do to retain him or her? Is it all about money?

If you still think money is the number one motivator, you’re wrong! Money is important; however, if someone does not like her job or the way she is treated, I don’t care how much you pay, the employee still won’t like it. The person may still work for you because you are paying him or her; however, there will be no motivation to perform at top levels. To retain employees, it’s good to look at studies of what motivates employees. Based on a U.S. Chamber of Commerce study, the number one motivating factor that gets employees to perform at their best and stay with companies is appreciation and recognition. This can be a simple thank you or pat on the back for doing something well. The best way to provide recognition and appreciation is through the use of rewards. To make rewards work, follow basic guidelines:

Design rewards based on the individual’s personal preferences. For example, the reward of a day off to a workaholic could be seen by the employee as, “What did I do wrong?”
Reward for achievement. Rewards should be based on what is actually done. For example, if someone has given you an idea that saved time and money, there should be some reward for the amount of time or money that she or he saved.
Time your rewards. Rewards and recognition should be given as soon as possible after the desired behavior. Rewards and recognition that come long after the achievement do little to motivate an employee.

The ideal way to motivate employees to stay and to be top performers is to ask them what motivates them. It’s nice to look at surveys; however, everyone is different. Surveys are good in that they provide guidelines of what is important. One of the best questions you can ask employees is, “What do I need to do to keep you here?” By asking the question this way, it shows that you value and care about them.

Arnold Sanow, MBA, CSP, is a customer and workplace relationship expert who speaks and consults. The author of six books including “Get Along with Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere,” Sanow is the keynote speaker at IFAI Tent Conference 2012.

Arnold Sanow’s IFAI Tent Conference 2012 session, “Attracting and Keeping Good Employees,” will cover in-depth answers to the questions here and include tips, tools and solutions such as:

14 surefire ways to motivate employees
4 mistakes interviewers make in the hiring process
Top 10 motivating factors
17 key personality traits to keep in mind when hiring good employees
5 key traits all good leaders must have to keep loyal employees

Glamping sparks luxury tent market

Industrial Fabrics Association International — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0600

Fabric structure manufacturers find a global market in the ‘glamping’ trend.

InTents | December 2011

By Janice Kleinschmidt

Have you heard about the s’more sommelier? That sounds like the setup to a joke. It is a setup—but it’s no joke. The Happy Glamper package at Lakedale Resort Campground on San Juan Island, Wash., includes sleeping on pillow-top queen beds and a sommelier bringing you gourmet s’more makings with a bottle of sparkling wine, in accommodations that have more in common with high-end temporary structures than a camping tent.

“[Glamping] originated in the safari experiences in Africa,” says David Troya, CEO of GlampingHub.com. “Now a lot of people that own luxury tents and yurts are starting to call their sites glamping. It’s in nature, and it’s comfortable—even posh.”

Troya built a website for glamping information about a year ago. Now he’s turning it into a reservation site as well. “We are doing business with manufacturers and glamping-site owners,” he says. “It’s a field that is really shaping up.”

The growth of glamour

Paul Zway, owner of Exclusive Tents Ltd. (which is relocating its headquarters from Arizona to Belize), has been planning a media campaign to push glamping further in the United States. “It’s still in its infancy [in the States]; I believe it’s got a lot of potential,” he says. “In other places [around the world], it’s already growing rapidly.” Exclusive Tents’ deluxe digs can be found in all types of environments—such as Belize, Costa Rica, Turks and Caicos, Mexico, Seychelles, Maldives and the United States.

Zway’s clients include Virgin Group magnate Richard Branson’s Kasbah Tamadot resort in Morocco, where accommodations include six Berber Tented Suites; Tippi Hedren at Shambala Preserve in Acton, Calif.; and wealthy resort owners around the world (most recently in Israel, Italy and Turkey). With the growth in glamping, his “families” of tents have grown. “About 2005, when glamour camping started, the largest was 500 square feet. We have taken it to about 3,000 to 4,000 square feet these days,” says Zway, noting a demand for additional rooms. “We have developed new designs that lend themselves to separating rooms, split levels, linking tents. Space also equals luxury.”

Although Alan Bair founded Pacific Yurts in Cottage Grove, Ore., 33 years ago, it was after his state fair exhibition in the mid-’90s that Oregon State Parks purchased two of his yurts for coastal campgrounds. “They wondered if they would survive the winter storms we have,” Bair says. (They did.) “Then they bought 50, and now almost 200. Most are booked six to nine months in advance.”

Glamping amenities and rates vary widely. Oregon State Parks charges as little as $56 a night for yurts with beds, restrooms, kitchenettes and TV/VCRs at Umpqua Lighthouse State Park in Reedsport. Treebones Resort in Big Sur, Calif. (also a Pacific Yurts client) rents them for $170 to $300 (depending on the view and number of guests). On the high end, Banyan Tree Madivaru in the Maldives (a client of Exclusive Tents) fetches $3,000 a night and up (meals included) for ‘villas’ that are sets of living, sleeping and bath tents.

“State and national parks are starting to have a high interest [in yurts],” says Scott Powell, director of marketing for Rainier Industries Ltd. in Seattle, Wash. “With the economy, they have to earn their own keep, so they’re interested in the rental market, and a lot of them have recently gone to or are going to yurts.” Rainier also supplies glamping resorts and customized 15 canvas cottages for Lakedale Resort. “The upper end of the market is starting to become more aware of these structures and glamping. The trend toward a more upscale statement of a previously mundane structure is increasing at the upper income brackets,” Powell says.

Fielding appeal

“Our structures have always been more accepted in the West,” says Ivy Fife, marketing director for Colorado Yurt Co. in Montrose. “We’re strong in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and California. The Rocky Mountain region is our strongest market. We’ve also had a great year internationally: Australia, New Zealand, Europe.”

Garg Dyeing and Tent Works has found a strong market for glamorous tents in Kenya, South Africa, France, Thailand, the Maldives, Middle East and the United States, as well as in its home country of India. “We are expanding pretty fast in the resort market,” says owner Rajeev Garg. Based in Ambala City, Haryana, the company will customize tent designs, but clients also can create a custom look themselves by mixing and matching elements from a vast range of colors and print patterns for interior walls, pole sleeves, valances, borders and drapes (a natural/cream finish is recommended for the exterior, as colors will fade after prolonged sun exposure).

“We started to make tents for resort purposes in 2005, and since then there have been a lot of changes in the market,” Garg says. “At the start, we got orders from small resorts; but the last three years, there has been a huge response from large resorts that provide accommodations under canvas.”

“We just shipped seven domes to the Island Lodge off Copenhagen, where they’re building an eco-resort,” says Asha Deliverance, founder and president of Pacific Domes Inc. of Ashland, Ore. Fifteen of her company’s geodesic fabric structures on the ski slopes at Whitepod in the Swiss Alps are equipped with wood-burning stoves, organic luxury bedding and full-service bathrooms.

The soft side (and top)

Tents that are going to stay up for more than a couple of days at a time, that feature doors and windows and that create a luxurious surrounding need more support than a traditional camping tent. Steel, wood and other hard materials provide a firm foundation and structural integrity. What goes on the frame, however, is the essence of what glamping is all about.

Colorado Yurts makes yurts, tents and tipis, with yurts offering more fabric options. Yurt walls may be made with:

a 15-ounce 45/55 polyester/cotton army duck that is flame retardant, has an acrylic coating that resists water, soil, mildew and UV rays, and carries a five-year warranty;
12.5-ounce acrylic-coated, 100 percent polyester; or
a 15-ounce three-layer vinyl laminate.

The roof may be an 18.5-ounce, PVC-coated polyester with an acrylic topcoat to provide mildew resistance, flame retardance and UV protection, or a 37-ounce thermoplastic alloy over high-thread-count polyester with a 15-year warranty. Tents offer two fabric choices: the same army duck as used for yurts and 13-ounce, preshrunk, 100 percent cotton army duck with a marine finish to make it water repellent, mildew resistant and UV protected. Tipis are typically painted with designs; tents and yurts are not.

Most of Exclusive Tents’ designs have four roof layers: a bull denim cotton lining, 15-ounce ripstop cotton/polyester canvas (also used for walls), 21-ounce PVC-coated polyester rain fly, and spun HDPE 80 percent shade fly. Air space between each provides natural cooling. Depending on the environment, the outermost roof layers will last five to 10 or more years. The canvas is treated with a water-based paint that provides UV, water and mold protection. “You paint every three to seven years and that restores the protection and original color,” owner Paul Zway says. His company will incorporate graphics to order.

For tent exteriors, Garg Dyeing and Tent Works uses 15-ounce cotton canvas treated to ensure water, rot and flame resistance. Linings and pole sleeves are made of fine cotton and can be hand-block printed, or customers can purchase linings and pole sleeves made of 100 percent polyester in hand-blocked prints. Drapes can be ordered in cotton voile or polyester. With good care, tent fabrics should last at least 10 years.

Pacific Domes offers three fabric options, all flame, water, mildew and UV resistant: 15-ounce polyester with a five- to seven-year life span; 16-ounce vinyl-coated polyester with a life span of eight to 12 years; and 19-ounce polyester with an additional protective film (recommended for humid climates) with a 12- to 20-year life span. “You can put Thermashield™ on any fabric you want,” says Asha Deliverance, owner. “We recommend that for high-desert climates where there’s a massive amount of sun. It keeps the building cooler and adds UV protection.” Pacific Domes sells but does not apply Thermashield. The company will customize domes with graphic printing.

Rainier Industries Ltd. makes cottage tents from 10-ounce, tightly woven cotton duck canvas treated to be water repellent, mildew resistant and flame retardant. The rain fly is 14-ounce reinforced vinyl with an acrylic topcoat. Yurts are made with 17-ounce vinyl-laminated polyester. According to Michael Fuhrman, sales and design, the fabrics could last seven to 15 years or even longer, depending on the environment, though a rain fly may have to be replaced after five or six years if a tent is left up year-round. “The cottage tent is often used as a three-season camping tent. They can be used four seasons as long as there is no snow-load requirement,” Fuhrman says. Rainier will apply graphics upon request.

Mountainsides, deserts, woodlands, coastlines, tropical islands, even on water (such as 12 linked “villas” by Exclusive Tents at 4 Rivers Floating Lodge in Cambodia’s Koh Kong Province)—it seems luxury tent makers have a market that knows no bounds. As Bair says, noting that Pacific Yurts’ international sales doubled last year, “Eco-tourism is the fastest-growing part of the tourism industry: Do no harm, but offer a high level of comfort.”

Janice Kleinschmidt is a freelance writer based in Palm Springs, Calif.

Smart warehouse spaces

Industrial Fabrics Association International — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0600

Use your current warehouse space creatively and efficiently and avoid the cost of expansion.

InTents | December 2011

By Steve Arendt

Your warehouse is overflowing with tools and inventory, so you’ve obviously outgrown your current space. Are you sure? Buying a new building or adding on to an existing structure are expensive and complex propositions. Changing the way you approach your inventory space may reveal solutions and efficiencies that offer benefits beyond avoiding the expensive hassles of moving or expanding your square footage.

The first step is to define your motives for an expansion. If your existing building simply feels congested, and normal growth is in your future, consider reorganizing your current space. You can solve your space issues and use the opportunity to become a more efficient organization. On the other hand, if you are confident that guaranteed, substantial growth is in your immediate future, then move into a larger space as quickly as you can.

If you opt for sticking with your current space, start your reorganization by segregating your inventory. Make a list of those items that are rented most often. Next, ask yourself what items are requested occasionally. Finally, identify those pieces that rarely make it off the shelf. The items that almost never leave your building are dead stock.

Once you’ve triaged your inventory, consider either selling the dead stock or storing it in a much less expensive off-site location. This will free up space to properly store the items that make the most money.

Time to scheme

Before you do any rearranging, take time to properly plan your new organizational scheme. The most rented items in your inventory need to be in the most accessible space, and the least rented items in the least accessible space. The insight of a material handling specialist will be well worth the cost if it helps you to avoid a physical expansion and allows your employees to work more efficiently. This person will be able to design shelving, create efficient aisles and take advantage of interior ceiling height to maximize your space. Be sure to discuss how inventory will move into and out of your building on a daily basis.

High quality material handling tools are wise investments. The correct hand trucks and forklifts for your situation are a must. Palletizing as much inventory as possible is always a good idea. Custom, stackable stillages maximize floor space for table and chair storage.

Once you have your new design, take time to outline the day-to-day processes of using the reorganized space wisely. Develop clear plans and systems on how material will move through the building on a daily basis. One thing is certain: space is at a premium. Rental inventory entering your building must be unloaded, repaired, cleaned and returned to the shelf as quickly as possible. Consider these strategies for using your space wisely:

Ask your industry peers what they have done to develop their warehouse systems, attend a trade show, post a question on a LinkedIn® group, ask a vendor or call an IFAI member in another city.
Consider subcontracting some of your cleaning and repair.
Make sure your employees understand how this new system will operate and what their part is in it. Explaining why the system exists can go a long way in motivating employees to follow established processes, especially in your busy times when inventory is coming and going at a quick pace.
Consider how you might use your outdoor space for repairs and cleaning during busy times.
Leverage the time your building does not normally get used. During your busy months, could evening hours be used for a second shift to unload, clean, repair and reshelve the inventory?
Consider changing how you maintain and clean equipment, or purchase new machines to speed up your cleaning, save space and ensure consistent quality.

Reap the rewards

Be aware: reorganizing for maximum efficiency is difficult and time-consuming. If you are willing to accept this challenge, treasures will await you. You will avoid the expense of a new building or addition. Making your most rented inventory easier to load and reshelf will reduce labor cost. Being able to quickly and efficiently get your inventory ready to rent again will have a positive effect on your profit, reducing the need to purchase new inventory and improving cash flow. Mistakes during busy times will be reduced.

If you are feeling a bit cramped and hoping for some growth, this may be the perfect time to simply leverage your existing resources. The cost will be a fraction of the expense of a new building or addition. Taking the time to be creative and systematic with your current space has the potential to make your company more efficient and profitable.

Steve Arendt is president of Teeco Solutions, Webster Groves, Mo., manufacturer of tent washing machines and dryers, cleaning solutions and other tools for the event tent industry.