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Profile
An entrepreneurial mindset
December 1, 2020
For Elite Events and Rentals, downtime during the pandemic creates an opportunity for business planning. by Cathy Broberg In normal times, Brandon Ahlgren, founder and owner of Elite Events and Rentals LLC, would be keeping a hectic pace. “You take every job you can—go, go, go; get it, get it, get it; move more, hire …
Management
Sales fundamentals during a crisis
December 1, 2020
Tips for selling products and services during COVID-19. by Madeleine MacRae Determining the best way to sell and, even more so, how to effectively and appropriately market your products and services at a time of such widespread uncertainty and deep market disruption can be a daunting task. As a leader during this unprecedented time, you …
Inspired!
Inspired! Outdoor gym
December 1, 2020
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, much of California—most notably Los Angeles County—has not been able to break out of the “Tier One” phase of reopening as set forth by the state. Over the past several months, 24/7 Events, a party supply and rental shop based in Castaic Junction, Calif., has worked with a variety of …
Tips and Techniques
Reimagining event space design
December 1, 2020
Guidelines and trends to follow for events and meetingsin a post-pandemic world. by Kevin Dana Over the past few months event professionals have pivoted quickly to support the new landscape of our industry. From virtual trade shows to micro-weddings, we’ve seen a major shift in how we approach meetings and events as a result of …
Installation Spotlight
SoCal Tents & Events provides tenting for the U.S. vice presidential debate
December 1, 2020
SoCal Tents & Events LLC, South El Monte, Calif., is no stranger to large-scale productions and big-name events. Established in 2007, the company was acquired by PRO EM National Event Services in 2017 and does business as URS (Universal Resource Supply) nationally. Along with its California clientele, SoCal Tents & Events’ reach stretches across the …
News
Baytex wins OFPANZ award
December 1, 2020
For its 2020 Awards for Excellence competition, the Outdoor Fabric Products Association of New Zealand (OFPANZ) announced Mount Maunganui, New Zealand-based Baytex as winner in the category of tents, marquees and inflated structures. Baytex’s entry, the Hampton pole tent, is a new product for the company. The tent combines a traditional pole marquee with the …
Editorial
Adios 2020
December 1, 2020
The December 2020–January 2021 issue of InTents covers a lot of industry ground. While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, this issue is packed with insight on how tent and event rental companies are responding. Our feature, “Tenting for the Pandemic,” (page 24) reveals an in-depth look at how tents have been utilized throughout 2020 …
News
Tent CARES Day honors pandemic workers
December 1, 2020
Tent manufacturers and rental businesses around the U.S. celebrated the frontline workers of the COVID-19 pandemic on Aug. 29 with barbeques, food truck fare and lots of sweet treats. Independent Tent CARES Day events were hosted by members of the IFAI’s Tent Rental Division (TRD) and other industry organizations. In addition to honoring health care …
Safety
Winter challenges: heating and air filtration
December 1, 2020
How to keep tents, buildings, warehouses and other structures warm and dry during the COVID-19 pandemic. by Daryl Benz Heating tents and other temporary structures is always a challenge whenever the weather gets colder. But factor in the pressures of combatting COVID-19 and you have a potentially complex situation on your hands. The Centers for …
Feature
Tenting for the pandemic
December 1, 2020
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the tent industry finds new ways to survive. by Jeff Moravec There are all manner of seasonal ebbs and flows in the tent rental industry, but perhaps none as anticipated as the annual ramp-up to spring, summer and fall events. Staff is hired, inventory is refreshed and contracts are checked. Each …
Sponsored Content
Supplier Spotlights
Expo News
Standard for active illumination developed in Europe
November 16, 2020
In a session at IFAI Virtual Expo 2020, “Smart Textiles Standardization, Active Illumination,” Dr. Jan Beringer, senior scientific expert Hohenstein Group, explained the new standard for active illumination that will soon be implemented in European Union countries. Organizations worked together to develop the standards. It is notable, he said that both textile and electronics industries …
Expo News
Rapid prototyping = faster market launch
November 16, 2020
A presentation at IFAI Virtual Expo 2020, titled, “Rapid Prototyping and Textile Product Development” urged attendees to use “sticks and glue … whatever method you have to get your idea out there.” The presenter, Dr. Andre West, director of the Zeis Textiles Extension (ZTE), Wilson College of Textiles, NC State University, may not have meant …
Expo News
Textile industry leaders call for policy changes to support U.S. production of PPE
November 13, 2020
The U.S. textile industry has stepped up to meet the demand for face masks, medical gowns, wipes and other products necessary to combat the coronavirus pandemic, but it needs policy changes from Washington so that the U.S. is not caught off-guard again in a future crisis, according to association leaders speaking at Industrial Fabrics Association …
Expo News
The larger issues in respiratory protection
November 12, 2020
Dr. Bryran Ormond, assistant professor, Wilson College of Textiles, NC State explained respiratory protection in an “Ask an Expert” session with Jing Liang, Medical PPE Consulting LLC. Dr. Ormand has typically worked in the area of chemical and biological protective equipment, but with the onslaught of the pandemic, began to focus on respiratory protection generally, …
Expo News
Rodgers: Textiles are the “T” in STEM
November 11, 2020
How do you create a channel from research to application? How do you create a pathway toward understanding complex human problems across supply chains and market sectors? STEM—a curriculum based on teaching science, technology, engineering and math—has branched out from basic chemistry and biology and physics classes, into collaborative efforts, including textiles, according to Stephanie …
Expo News
Partnerships in smart textile products
November 11, 2020
The second week of IFAI’s Virtual Expo 2020 advanced textiles educational sessions began with a presentation that illustrated the importance of collaboration. “Smart textiles for healthcare and wellbeing: a collaborative approach” had three presenters speaking from different perspectives, but with one, unified message about reaching across geographical distance and areas of expertise to create successful …
Expo News
Welding technology for your business
November 11, 2020
During IFAI Virtual Expo 2020, Jeff Sponseller, executive vice president of sales and marketing at Miller Weldmaster, led a campfire session titled “How to Select the Correct Welding Technology for Your Business.” “Essentially a good weld means that the fabric will tear before the weld does,” says Sponseller. Many types of different materials can be …
Expo News
Guidance offered in commercial insurance market
November 10, 2020
Wildfires, hurricanes, a pandemic and civil unrest have wreaked plenty of chaos on the commercial insurance market in 2020. Steve Christenson, with Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC, offered guidance to business owners Nov. 9 at IFAI Virtual Expo 2020. “The business insurance market has been going through several changes this year,” says Christenson, with U.S. …
Expo News
How to make your business attractive to a buyer
November 6, 2020
Thinking about selling your business—either to an outside party or the next generation? Then it’s time to start considering how your equipment and processes fit into your succession plan. Jonathan Palmer, the second-generation owner and CEO of equipment supplier Autometrix, and Autometrix director of global sales Truy Pham, led an educational session at IFAI Virtual …
Expo News
Research and development partnerships work one-on-one
November 6, 2020
The process of working with a research and development center was discussed in Dr. Thomas Stegmaier’s presentation, “Testing and Standards Integral to Timely Product Development.” Dr. Stegmaier is with DITF [Deutsche Institute Fur Textil Und Faserforschung Denkendorf], a large, textile research center located in Germany. It partners individually with industry participants to develop new technologies …
Sponsored Content
Supplier Spotlights
Feature
Tenting for the pandemic
December 1, 2020
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the tent industry finds new ways to survive. by Jeff Moravec There are all manner of seasonal ebbs and flows in the tent rental industry, but perhaps none as anticipated as the annual ramp-up to spring, summer and fall events. Staff is hired, inventory is refreshed and contracts are checked. Each …
Feature
2020 InTents’ Premier Product Showcase Part 2
December 1, 2020
It’s all about fast installation, more customization, easy handling and style—the qualities that tent and event rental companies demand. For the InTents annual Premier Product Showcase, we asked our contributors to send us information about their latest products and services that help save tent rental companies time and labor, perform safer installations, and turn a …
Feature
InTents “5 under 40”
December 1, 2020
An in-depth look at five young professionals who are helping the tenting industry move toward an innovative and vital future. by Pamela Mills-Senn You can’t discount the contribution of folks who have spent decades in the tenting industry, advancing it through innovation and hard work. At the same time, those at the start of their …
Feature
Members only content
Conduct thorough and proper site evaluations to avoid the unexpected
October 1, 2020
by Pamela Mills-Senn There’s a time and a place for surprises—a tent install isn’t one of them. Encounter the unexpected on one of these projects and you risk losing time, money and potentially a customer, not to mention incurring on-the-job injuries. Site evaluations offer the best protection against such unhappy outcomes. Although the unanticipated can …
Feature
Members only content
Event decor: pandemic style
October 1, 2020
As celebrations and gatherings are forced to take a back seat during COVID-19, event rental companies find revenue through new opportunities. by Jeff Moravec By mid-summer in most years, the tented event industry has a pretty good grasp on what design trends have taken hold for event furniture—some anticipated, some out of the blue. But …
Feature
2020 InTents’ Premier Product Showcase Part 1
October 1, 2020
It’s all about customization, fast installation, easy handling and style—the qualities that tent and event rental companies demand. For the annual InTents Premier Product Showcase, we asked our contributors to send us information about their latest products and services that help save tent rental companies time and labor, perform safer installations and turn a profit. …
Feature
Members only content
How to ease the heavy burden of ballasting
August 1, 2020
Ballasting done right means going heavy, but industry-developed tools help to ease the burden. by Jeff Moravec Ballasting may seem a necessary evil in the world of tented events. All tents need to be anchored in one way or another, of course, with ballast (weight) being a common method. It requires a lot of planning, …
Feature
Members only content
Maintenance practices to extend the life of your tents and equipment
August 1, 2020
by Darcy Maulsby The old saying “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” takes on new meaning in times like the current challenging business environment. When tent rental operators are counting every penny, the need to get the longest possible life out of tents and the equipment used to install them is …
Feature
Members only content
Tackle difficult projects to elevate your company’s portfolio
August 1, 2020
When a complex and difficult install comes along, resist the temptation to decline. by Pamela Mills-Senn A willingness to tackle tough installs requires steely nerves, can-do attitudes, experienced and talented crews and lots of planning. But when it all comes together, challenging projects not only bring a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment, they enhance a …
Feature
Members only content
Disaster shelter design competition tests engineering students
June 1, 2020
John Brown University’s disaster shelter contest challenges students to develop and demonstrate solutions for emergency scenarios. by Holly Eamon Global economic losses from natural disasters topped $232 billion last year, rounding out a decade that cost the world nearly $3 trillion, according to the 2019 Weather, Climate & Catastrophe Insight Annual Report published by global …
Sponsored Content
Supplier Spotlights
Profile
An entrepreneurial mindset
December 1, 2020
For Elite Events and Rentals, downtime during the pandemic creates an opportunity for business planning. by Cathy Broberg In normal times, Brandon Ahlgren, founder and owner of Elite Events and Rentals LLC, would be keeping a hectic pace. “You take every job you can—go, go, go; get it, get it, get it; move more, hire …
Installation Spotlight
SoCal Tents & Events provides tenting for the U.S. vice presidential debate
December 1, 2020
SoCal Tents & Events LLC, South El Monte, Calif., is no stranger to large-scale productions and big-name events. Established in 2007, the company was acquired by PRO EM National Event Services in 2017 and does business as URS (Universal Resource Supply) nationally. Along with its California clientele, SoCal Tents & Events’ reach stretches across the …
News
Baytex wins OFPANZ award
December 1, 2020
For its 2020 Awards for Excellence competition, the Outdoor Fabric Products Association of New Zealand (OFPANZ) announced Mount Maunganui, New Zealand-based Baytex as winner in the category of tents, marquees and inflated structures. Baytex’s entry, the Hampton pole tent, is a new product for the company. The tent combines a traditional pole marquee with the …
News
Tent CARES Day honors pandemic workers
December 1, 2020
Tent manufacturers and rental businesses around the U.S. celebrated the frontline workers of the COVID-19 pandemic on Aug. 29 with barbeques, food truck fare and lots of sweet treats. Independent Tent CARES Day events were hosted by members of the IFAI’s Tent Rental Division (TRD) and other industry organizations. In addition to honoring health care …
Showcase
A seaside boardwalk getaway
December 1, 2020
A corporate event by All Occasions Event Rental provides a seaside boardwalk getaway for winter-weary guests. by Sigrid Tornquist Themed corporate events are all about creating atmosphere, community—and fun. Event planners and tent rental companies work behind the scenes to bring to life a theme and transform a tented space—where attendees are treated to an …
People
Mahaffey recognizes Pretsch and DeVore
November 30, 2020
In a nod to Mahaffey Event & Tent Rentals’ positive impact in support of a wide-ranging customer base, Mahaffey chairman William (Bill) Pretsch has received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Vistage Worldwide, a global CEO group. “The Vistage Lifetime Achievement Award signifies Bill’s inspiring leadership, business wisdom and track record of making bold yet sound …
Awards
2020 Outstanding Volunteer Award Recipients announced
November 12, 2020
Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) is very fortunate to have so many volunteers who give of themselves selflessly, helping every day by serving on different boards, task forces and committees. These volunteers judge competitions, provide education and impassioned leadership to others day-in and day-out. To acknowledge their service, IFAI developed a program in 2012 called …
Awards
2020 Honored Life Member Award Recipient announced
November 12, 2020
Honored Life Member status for Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) is designed for individuals who have shown a commitment to the association. Honored Life Membership is bestowed by special request only, and at the discretion of the IFAI Board of Directors to candidates based on the following criteria: Meritorious or outstanding work accomplished for the …
Awards
Meet the Newly Elected and Re-elected 2021 IFAI Board of Directors
November 12, 2020
Each year, Industrial Fabrics Association International’s (IFAI) Leadership Development Committee follows a detailed process outlined in our bylaws for electing board members. It is IFAI’s pleasure to announce the newly elected and re-elected individuals who were chosen to serve on the 2021 IFAI Board of Directors. Newly Elected Directors Jennifer Fennell, Polo Custom ProductsJennifer Fennell …
Industry News
Get listed in the 2021 InTents Buyer’s Guide
November 9, 2020
The annual call for listings in the 2021 InTents Buyer’s Guide will be open Nov. 9–Dec. 7, 2020. The InTents Buyer’s Guide is your comprehensive guide to products, services, equipment and supplies for the tented events industry. Find the products and services you need for your business, and see contact information to purchase products and find related products from …
Sponsored Content
Supplier Spotlights
COVID-19
Recommendation for cleaning COVID-19 related tents
April 23, 2020
Brought to you by the Tent Rental Division The COVID-19 pandemic has created concerns with how to successfully disinfect and sterilize tent fabrics, framework, fittings, webs, ratchets, poles and anchoring devices including ballasts—basically any item or piece of equipment that may be on the job site. The Tent Rental Division (TRD) of Industrial Fabrics Association International …
Safety & Codes
Opioids and your workplace
December 1, 2019
A new toolkit from the National Safety Council aims to help employers and employees understand how opioid use affects the workplace—and what to do about it. For the first time in U.S. history, a person is more likely to die from an accidental opioid overdose than from a motor vehicle crash. The numbers don’t …
Industry News
Working safely in hot weather
July 18, 2019
A new Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) alert offers information and resources to protect workers from heat-related illness when performing activities in high temperatures and humid conditions. Symptoms of heat-related illness include fainting, dizziness, nausea and muscle spasms. Keep workers safe by following these simple safety practices: Provide water, frequent rest breaks and shade. …
Industry News
Join the National Safety Stand-Down May 6−10
May 1, 2019
Fatalities caused by falls from elevation continue to be a leading cause of death for construction employees, accounting for 366 of the 971 construction fatalities recorded in the U.S. in 2017 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data). The National Safety Stand-Down raises fall hazard awareness across the country to stop fall fatalities and injuries. What …
On the Job
Codes set for adoption
December 1, 2016
Code revision process reaches final voting stage. A proposal to regulate outdoor events regardless of the presence of tents or special event structures was approved at the Public Comment Hearing of the International Code Committee (ICC) in October. This proposal (F310-16), submitted by the Fire Code Action Committee, had been disapproved at the code committee’s …
On the Job
Site survey equals site safety
December 1, 2016
A thorough site survey communicates event needs and flags potential safety issues. Ensuring the safety of tented event participants and the tent installation crew starts at the beginning of the job. Before a single rental item is loaded onto the truck, a site survey should be completed by a qualified professional with set-up experience. A …
On the Job
TopTec training goes on the road
December 1, 2016
TopTec Event Tents, Moore, S.C., is taking its long running tent installation and safety training program on the road in 2017. The first Tent School On The Road session will be held at Rent-E-Quip in Colonial Heights, Va., March 7–8. “Our goal was to make Tent School more accessible to our customers across the United …
On the Job
Tent inspections before events ensure safety
October 1, 2016
Inspections will help avoid disaster and add years to the life of a tent. The tent is up and the event is underway. But there may still be work to be done. Especially for installations that will be up for any length of time, inspection and maintenance are top priorities for keeping the tent as …
On the Job
IFAI’s Tent Rental Division works toward standard
October 1, 2016
IFAI’s Tent Rental Division looks to write an industry standard for tent anchorage. With final voting on tent-related code revisions for the 2018 Model Code set for late October, IFAI’s Tent Rental Division (TRD) is looking ahead to writing an industry standard that could be taken up in the 2021 code cycle. “As the 2018 …
On the Job
Moving on up with multiple locations
August 1, 2016
Expanding to multiple locations offers numerous benefits, if the timing is right and both will and cash flow are strong. Delores Crum didn’t see that she had a choice. Sure, her party, tent and wedding rental store in south Austin, Texas, opened in 2000, was doing well. But up in north Austin, another rental company …
Sponsored Content
Supplier Spotlights
Projects
Fire-retardant clear vinyl
June 1, 2019
The Visilite™ collection of four clear vinyl options includes Visilite FR, a clear vinyl that passes the NFPA-701 Test Method 2 for fire resistance. The collection also includes double polished, extruded and interleaf styles. The vinyl offers lasting visual clarity and durability for a variety of outdoor applications including tents, patio and marine enclosures, car …
Feature
Getting educated on chair and tent rental for graduations
May 17, 2019
College and university campuses present myriad challenges when it comes to setting up chairs and installing tents for commencement ceremonies. By Pamela Mills-Senn The graduation season provides lucrative opportunities for tent and event rental companies, along with headaches that can try the steeliest of nerves. Take college and university graduation ceremonies, which often require massive …
Event Production
Museum of the American Revolution inspires with a clear top tent
June 1, 2017
For the April grand opening gala of the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, Pa., EventQuip of Lansdale, Pa., installed a 12-by-76-meter Losberger P7 profile with a clear top for the gala dinner tent, a 9-by-6-meter Losberger P7 with a white top for the entrance tent, a 9-by-55-foot clear-top Aztec marquee for building access, …
Project Briefs
Long distance sprint
December 1, 2016
O’Neil Tent Co. installs several structures in a short timeframe 250+ feet from the unloading zone. When Ohio State University needed tenting structures for its fundraising campaign, “But for Ohio State,” an event that raises funds for students to study abroad, it called on O’Neil Tent Co., Columbus, Ohio, to make it happen. O’Neil Tent …
Event Production
Decadent masterpiece
December 1, 2016
A clear tent becomes a speakeasy with “The Great Gatsby” in every detail. Daisy Buchanan and Jay Gatsby may have been left off the guest list, but every other detail of a “Great Gatsby”-themed birthday party under a tent recalled the glitter and grandeur of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s masterpiece. Inspired by the client’s home and …
Event Production
Building a city
December 1, 2016
Classic Event and Tent Rentals prepared a scenic, suburban golf course for an invasion of hundreds of thousands of fans. When Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn., was awarded the 2016 Ryder Cup, planners knew a temporary city would be needed to accommodate the anticipated 250,000 spectators who would descend on the picturesque course …
Event Production
Anything’s possible
December 1, 2016
Over the Top Tents and Events makes events happen in the wild and magnificent Alaska terrain. The largest state in the union is home to breathtaking landscapes. The mountains, rivers and glaciers provide stunning backdrops for unforgettable events—but along with the wild, untamed beauty of Alaska comes unpredictable climates and challenging accessibility for companies like …
Event Production
Creating A Distinctive Atmosphere for Multiple Events Using One Tent
October 28, 2016
There is a reason why so many tented events seem to be cookie-cutter productions. There are people to please and placate, funds to be allocated, tent design and layout to be developed, and complex lighting and flooring elements to be installed. It is no wonder that so many people end up with the same event …
Event Production
Installing a structure on a scaffold
October 1, 2016
New York Tent installs a rooftop structure that couldn’t be attached to the roof. When Citnalta Construction Corp. approached Long Island-based New York Tent to cover a roof that it needed to rip off and replace, the construction firm had one big caveat: because of the work that had to be done, the tent couldn’t …
Event Production
Amazon Originals interactive experience at Comic-Con
October 1, 2016
Choura Events creates an Amazon Originals interactive experience for Comic-Con enthusiasts. Comic-Con junkies are the tastemakers of tomorrow,” actress Kristen Bell once said—and she’s not alone in her enthusiasm for the event that celebrates comic books and other aspects of popular arts, such as films and science fiction/fantasy literature. Comic-Con International takes place each year …
