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Project showcase: Houston Tents & Events
December 1, 2023
Looking at the photographs from the wedding and reception, no one would ever guess just how difficult the installation was for Houston Tents & Events in Houston, Texas. “This couple had the dream of hosting their wedding behind the original ranch home on their 110,000-acre property in South Texas,” recalls Darren Randle, the company’s founder …
Installation Spotlight
TenTen Crew tents the Goodwood Festival of Speed
December 1, 2023
Billed as “the world’s greatest celebration of motorsport and car culture,” the Goodwood Festival of Speed takes place each summer on the famous grounds of Goodwood House in West Sussex, England. A 17th-century estate seems an unlikely place to stage a motorsport festival, but it is one of the most prestigious racing events in the …
Features
Themed events: transforming venues, transporting guests
December 1, 2023
Every event offers opportunities and challenges, but this is especially true for those designed around a specific theme. On the one hand, having this kind of “outline” can be handy for kicking off the creative process. But on the other hand, themed events typically come with lots of moving parts, relying on details large and …
Features
Going high tech with RFID
December 1, 2023
From cattle to casinos to rental cars, radio frequency identification or RFID technology is making inroads across a myriad of industries, including the tent industry, as manufacturers and event rental companies turn to RFID tags to streamline production and help manage inventory. According to Mathieu De Backer, vice president of innovation and sustainability with Avery …
Features
Multigenerational workplaces: Challenges and opportunities
December 1, 2023
In today’s workforce it’s difficult to bring in new, younger workers and make them feel engaged and productive. And with older workers delaying retirement, companies now must grapple with adapting to multigenerational workforces. Steve Belliveau, sales manager at Anchor Industries Inc., which produces tents, frames and awnings, says the industry cannot survive without what he …
Business
Insurance adviser auditions
December 1, 2023
Organizations are navigating one of the toughest insurance markets that has been experienced in decades. Many companies are facing increased rates, retentions, restrictions in coverages and terms and reluctance from carriers to write their business with limited competition. Add on top of that the pressure of managing evolving risks and emerging trends, and you get …
Business
Safety inspections
December 1, 2023
This article provides guidance on conducting workplace safety inspections for safety officers and other workers who are assigned responsibility for safety but do so in addition to their regular assignments. Workplace inspections are an important tool for identifying hazards and resolving them. Set up a schedule to inspect the workplace on a regular basis— perhaps …
Business
Multigenerational struggles
December 1, 2023
Hello and welcome to the second column of the Covered Conversations series brought to you by the Tent Rental Division (TRD) and TRD board. As the youngest member of the current board, it is only fitting that I get to write about multigeneration workplaces. Let me introduce myself: My name is Kyle Richardson, Operations Manager …
Industry News
EventWorks, Quest Events merge
November 30, 2023
EventWorks, a Southeast event rental provider, and Quest Events, a drape and scenic elements provider, unveiled their strategic combination, marking a significant milestone in the event industry. The merger brings together two esteemed organizations to fortify strengths, broaden reach and deliver an unparalleled full-service experience to event professionals. EventWorks and Quest Events will seamlessly integrate …
Industry News
U.S. to double the number of H-2B visas for 2024
November 20, 2023
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in consultation with the Department of Labor (DOL), said that it expects to make an additional 64,716 H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas available for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024. The additional H-2B visas are on top of the congressionally-mandated 66,000 that are available each fiscal year, and represent the maximum …
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Expo News
IFAI Expo 2022 call for presentations
December 20, 2021
The Industrial Fabrics Association International is now accepting proposals for presentations at IFAI Expo 2022. IFAI Expo will take place Oct. 12-14, 2022, at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, N.C., with education Oct. 11-14. IFAI is accepting proposals for 50-minute classroom sessions in several categories: Advanced Textiles Shade & Weather Protection Specialty Fabrics Marine …
Expo News
IFAI Expo: Leveraging rental tents during and after the pandemic
November 4, 2021
Jim Reyen, business director at Johnson Outdoors Inc./Eureka! Big Tents Division, presented the campfire session “Leveraging Rental Tents During and After the COVID Pandemic” at IFAI Expo in Nashville, Tenn. During the session, Reyen explained the changing demands for tents throughout various stages of the pandemic. “The first wave of tent demand ran from March …
Expo News
IFAI Expo: How to outsell your competition
November 3, 2021
During the education session “Outselling Your Competition: Four Activities Your Sales Team Must Be Doing Post-COVID” at IFAI Expo 2021 in Nashville, Tenn., James Auerbach, vice president—event segment for the American Rental Association, shared four measurable and respectable pillars that all salespeople must excel at in order to outsell their competition. Referred to as the …
Expo News
IFAI Expo: Shade sail engineering software
November 2, 2021
On Nov. 2, 2021, at IFAI Expo in Nashville, Tenn., Timothy Akes, representative for the Americas, MPanel Software Solutions, and Andrew Askwith, senior software developer, MPanel Software Solutions, presented the education session “Shade Sail Engineering—It’s Not Just a Bunch of Numbers.” According to Akes, there is a tendency for shade sail engineering to be relegated …
ATA News
Messe Stuttgart’s Sun Shading Expo North America moves co-location debut with IFAI Expo to 2022
July 7, 2021
Messe Stuttgart announced that its new U.S.-based show Sun Shading Expo North America will not be held in 2021 as a separate trade show but will instead contribute its expertise in internal and external sun shading systems at IFAI Expo 2021 in the form of expert talks, open discussions and more. IFAI Expo 2021 will still take place …
Expo News
Registration is open for IFAI Expo 2021
May 10, 2021
Registration is open for IFAI Expo 2021. IFAI Expo celebrates the 100th anniversary of the show this November, and you won’t want to miss it! After a long hiatus of in-person events, this year’s show is the perfect place to reconnect with your industry. Register now to get the Early Bird rate! Early Bird rates end …
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, …
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Supplier Spotlights
Features
Themed events: transforming venues, transporting guests
December 1, 2023
Every event offers opportunities and challenges, but this is especially true for those designed around a specific theme. On the one hand, having this kind of “outline” can be handy for kicking off the creative process. But on the other hand, themed events typically come with lots of moving parts, relying on details large and …
Features
Going high tech with RFID
December 1, 2023
From cattle to casinos to rental cars, radio frequency identification or RFID technology is making inroads across a myriad of industries, including the tent industry, as manufacturers and event rental companies turn to RFID tags to streamline production and help manage inventory. According to Mathieu De Backer, vice president of innovation and sustainability with Avery …
Features
Multigenerational workplaces: Challenges and opportunities
December 1, 2023
In today’s workforce it’s difficult to bring in new, younger workers and make them feel engaged and productive. And with older workers delaying retirement, companies now must grapple with adapting to multigenerational workforces. Steve Belliveau, sales manager at Anchor Industries Inc., which produces tents, frames and awnings, says the industry cannot survive without what he …
Features
Finding (and keeping) good employees
October 1, 2023
As the world adjusted to life during COVID restrictions, tents were in greater demand; however, finding people willing and able to take on the work during those early months of the pandemic was particularly difficult, says David Darby, wedding and event rental specialist at Colonial Heights, Virginia-based Rent-E-Quip. Eli Tirado, tenting manager at South Jersey …
Features
Tent cleaning & repair tips
October 1, 2023
During the busy season, when parties, events, weddings, festivals and so on have kicked into relatively high gear, tents are going out, coming back in and then going out again. While all of this activity is welcomed by tent rental companies, it does pressure them to ensure their inventories are up to the task, and …
Features
2023 Premier Product Showcase
October 1, 2023
Customization, fast installation, easy handling and style—these are 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. This …
Features
Members only content
Industry veterans
August 1, 2023
In 2022, we spoke with several of our “Leaders under 40” to find out how they viewed the industry and what attracted them to get involved with it. This year, we wanted to talk to some of our industry veterans and we asked readers to nominate individuals they felt should be recognized for their decades …
Features
Members only content
Retirement planning: The long road to letting go
August 1, 2023
Owners of smaller, independent tent and event rental companies face plenty of decisions when contemplating their retirement. One of these is how, or even if, the company will continue after the owner’s exit. There are several possible options. For example, a family-owned business may continue on as such if other family members are interested in …
Features
Members only content
Multistory tents
August 1, 2023
Shawn Smith is sitting in a tent on the 17th green at TPC Sawgrass, a celebrated golf course in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. It’s a typical sunny morning in the middle of February, and Smith, who is responsible for product development and quality control for Shaffer Sports & Events, one of the leading sports event …
Awards
Readers’ Choice Awards 2023
June 1, 2023
We asked InTents readers to vote for the best of the best in 15 categories. Which companies, products and services do InTents readers depend on to run their businesses? What tent rental industry supplier always comes through when you need them? Which piece of equipment saves time and labor? And what services do you depend …
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Supplier Spotlights
Industry News
EventWorks, Quest Events merge
November 30, 2023
EventWorks, a Southeast event rental provider, and Quest Events, a drape and scenic elements provider, unveiled their strategic combination, marking a significant milestone in the event industry. The merger brings together two esteemed organizations to fortify strengths, broaden reach and deliver an unparalleled full-service experience to event professionals. EventWorks and Quest Events will seamlessly integrate …
Industry News
U.S. to double the number of H-2B visas for 2024
November 20, 2023
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in consultation with the Department of Labor (DOL), said that it expects to make an additional 64,716 H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas available for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024. The additional H-2B visas are on top of the congressionally-mandated 66,000 that are available each fiscal year, and represent the maximum …
News
Advanced Textiles Expo attracts thousands to Orlando
November 14, 2023
Advanced Textiles Association (ATA) completed its debut of Advanced Textiles Expo, formerly known as IFAI Expo, Nov. 1–3, in Orlando, Fla., USA. This year’s event was again collocated with Sun Shading Expo North America, which is organized by Messe Stuttgart, the founders of R + T, the world’s leading trade fair for roller shutters, doors/gates and …
Industry News
ARA quarterly forecast shows slower growth, resilient markets
November 13, 2023
The ARA (American Rental Association) updated forecast indicates that the U.S. equipment rental industry’s growth will soften but still grow. Last quarter, the year-over-year growth was expected to be 7.6% in 2023 and 3.1% in 2024. The most current projections indicate 11.8% growth in 2023 totaling $71.5 billion in construction and general tool rental revenue. …
Industry News
In memoriam: Grace Velazco
November 13, 2023
Grace Velazco, 53, Ventura, Calif., died Oct. 24, 2023. Velazco was employed by Phoenix-based PRO EM National Event Services and during her career as an event planner contributed to events including the Rose Bowl, the Oscars and PGA Championships. Velazco was born in Santa Paula, CA to Daniel and Mary Medrano on July 27th 1970. …
Industry News
Glamping tents fabric market to reach $1.9 billion
November 8, 2023
Allied Market Research published a report, titled, “Glamping Tents Fabric Market by Fabric (Cotton, Polycotton, PVC, Polyester, Others), and Application (1 Person Glamping Tents, 2 Person Glamping Tents, Family Sized Glamping Tents, Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032.” According to the report, the tents fabric market was valued at $0.6 billion in 2022 and …
Company News
MacFarlands Events opens new facility in Halifax, Nova Scotia
October 18, 2023
MacFarlands Events, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, has opened a new facility at 461 Higney Ave. in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, to serve the Atlantic Canadian event community. Situated on a 5.8-acre lot, the 21,000-sq.-ft. facility features a showroom, offices and warehouse area. MacFarlands Events has serviced Atlantic Canada’s event industry for more than six decades with …
Industry News
Import cargo, spending growth slowing
October 11, 2023
Import cargo volume at the nation’s major container ports has already hit its expected peak for the year and should gradually slow headed into the holiday season, according to the Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates. “Cargo volumes will still be strong the rest of the year, …
Company News
Herculite Products named one of best places to work
October 10, 2023
Herculite Products Inc., an innovator and manufacturer of high-performance and custom fabrics, announced that it has been selected by the Central Penn Business Journal and Lehigh Valley Business as one of the Best Places to Work in PA for 2023. Best Places to Work in PA identifies, recognizes, and honors the best places of employment …
News
ATA announces VISTA online sourcing directory
October 9, 2023
Advanced Textiles Association (ATA) announces an exciting new platform specifically designed to provide information on sourcing products in the textile industry year-round. VISTA by ATA is a groundbreaking online sourcing directory platform that promises to revolutionize how professionals in the textile sector source products, services and suppliers. “Sourcing is an important benefit for our membership …
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Supplier Spotlights
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 …
On the Job
OSHA fines increase
August 1, 2016
New law directs U.S. Department of Labor to “catch up” penalties to inflation. Fines assessed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) increased by 78 percent as of Aug. 1. OSHA’s top penalty for serious violations rises from $7,000 to $12,471, and its top penalty for willful or repeated violations rises from $70,000 to …
On the Job
Collaboration yields successful code revisions
August 1, 2016
F-CAC work group is a key factor in the code revision process for tents, membrane structures and outdoor assembly events. The International Code Council (ICC) Committee Action Hearings were held in Louisville, Ky., in April. During the International Fire Code (IFC) hearings, stakeholders representing IFAI’s Tent Rental Division (TRD), the ICC Fire Code Action Committee …
On the Job
Ballasting for safety and safety when ballasting
June 1, 2016
Learning to ballast with concrete? Follow these steps to ensure safe and efficient jobsite practices. My crew has forgotten how to use a sledgehammer. Well, not really, but it could happen. In my local tent rental market, ballasting is common. So common that the top priority for my management team has been to figure out …
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Supplier Spotlights
Design Spotlight
Project showcase: Houston Tents & Events
December 1, 2023
Looking at the photographs from the wedding and reception, no one would ever guess just how difficult the installation was for Houston Tents & Events in Houston, Texas. “This couple had the dream of hosting their wedding behind the original ranch home on their 110,000-acre property in South Texas,” recalls Darren Randle, the company’s founder …
Installation Spotlight
TenTen Crew tents the Goodwood Festival of Speed
December 1, 2023
Billed as “the world’s greatest celebration of motorsport and car culture,” the Goodwood Festival of Speed takes place each summer on the famous grounds of Goodwood House in West Sussex, England. A 17th-century estate seems an unlikely place to stage a motorsport festival, but it is one of the most prestigious racing events in the …
Projects
Project showcase: Premier Event Rentals
October 1, 2023
When clients wanted to create a dazzling—yet challenging—wedding ceremony and reception for their daughter in the lake-filled Canadian region of Muskoka in Ontario, Canada, known as the “Hamptons of the North,” they turned to Brampton, Ont.-based Premier Event Tent Rentals Inc. to pull it off. The lakeside cottage was the perfect venue in terms of …
Installation Spotlight
Installation spotlight: Milestone Event Rental
October 1, 2023
Every event planner knows that trying to book a tent just four months before a wedding is going to be very difficult. Trying to book a tent four months before a June wedding is almost impossible. Fortunately for this particular bride, Marty Haas with Milestone Event Rental in Farmington, Minn., was determined to find a …
Projects
Project showcase: Stamford Tent & Event
August 1, 2023
Tent and event rental companies are used to making people’s dreams come true. It’s what they do—making it look easy when anyone inside the industry knows it’s anything but. So when clients request an over-the-top, spectacular, weatherproof environment to house their daughter’s wedding, it’s go-time for seasoned tent and event rental companies. The bottom line? …
Installation Spotlight
Installation spotlight: Traube Tent
August 1, 2023
DoubleTree Hotel in Chesterfield, Mo., announced the grand opening of its new tented event center in April 2023. The tent structure is a permanent building addition to the DoubleTree property that is fully climate-controlled to comfortably host special events and functions year-round for up to 400 people. The tent structure was designed and installed by …
Installation Spotlight
Project showcase: Meyerhoff Symphony Hall
June 1, 2023
With a large hospital fundraiser coming up, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra wanted to temporarily expand its home at Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. Loane Bros. Inc. was tasked with the project, which aimed to provide a climate-controlled space for cocktails, dinner and dessert for the fundraiser. The Towson, Md., company tented outside the iconic rounded building over …
Design Spotlight
Design spotlight: Beachside winter wonderland
April 1, 2023
Staging an outdoor event in January can present a number of challenges, from blizzards to ice storms. But at this reception, held at the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club in Dana Point, Calif., the only white to be seen was on the inside of the tent. From chairs and linens to drapes and …
Installation Spotlight
Project Showcase: Formula One Grand Prix
April 1, 2023
Each year since 1978, the Formula One Grand Prix of Canada has taken place at the Parc Jean-Drapeau, a public park in the heart of Montreal, Que.—and for more than 40 of those years Montreal-based Fiesta Tents Ltd. has provided its tenting and flooring. The international event that takes place on the Saint Lawrence River …
Projects
Igloo marquees in Edinburgh
December 1, 2022
When the 2021 Edinburgh International Festival asked Worcestershire, U.K.-based Fews Marquees to provide structures for three of its performance areas, the company had no hesitation in recommending its Igloo marquees for the event. And while the job may have been more than Fews bargained for, it was a challenge worth accepting. “Back in August last …
