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Rental software enables informed decisions
January 1st, 1970
By Jamie Swedberg Jim Frechette, treasurer and general manager of Quality Rental of Pawtucket, R.I., says that the reports he is able to pull from his software—Enfinity® from Solutions by Computer—have made a difference in his business decisions. Frechette looks at statistics such as return on investment and recaps of how often certain items are […]
Protect your revenue
January 1st, 1970
Weather conditions, especially in the winter, can alter anyone’s best-laid plans. Tent rental companies need to protect themselves contractually from lost revenue as a result of canceled eventsor the need for extra manpower. Collect a deposit, and be clear in your contract about whether you will refund a deposit due to a weather-related cancellation. Stipulate […]
Pertinent permit questions
January 1st, 1970
Michael Marchialette, event management director for Classic Party Rentals–Chicago, developed a questionnaire for Classic salespeople to help gather information that might be required in the permitting process. The form includes questions such as these: In the event’s jurisdiction, is the rental company required to be licensed, bonded and/or insured? If so, how much will this […]
Scientific decor on a budget
January 1st, 1970
By Meleah Maynard It’s true that creativity is born of necessity. Sometimes the need to do something exceptional on a budget can lead to some over-the-top stuff. Shereé Bochenek, creative director at Aprés Party & Tent Rental , recalls an event she did for Hormel Food Corp., the Minnesota-based manufacturer and marketer of meat products […]
When to talk face-to-face with tent customers
January 1st, 1970
By Jamie Swedberg Technology is a boon to tent renters who want to keep customers in the loop. But there are two situations when an in-person meeting is almost always called for. The first is the initial brainstorming get-together for a once-in-a-lifetime event, especially if the clients are not professional party planners. “Normally, we book […]
A tent renter and client share set-up space
January 1st, 1970
By Jamie Swedberg Some installations are challenging just by virtue of their size. That was the case for the project Torrance, Calif.-based Classic Tents took on for its client SANY Ltd., a Chinese construction crane and heavy machinery manufacturer. The project was a two-story pavilion at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2011. The tent itself was unusual, at least […]
A steep grade and a tree require feats of engineering
January 1st, 1970
By Jamie Swedberg One of the most challenging installations Cincinnati-based All Occasions Event Rental ever did started out sounding perfectly simple. Plenty of people have summer weddings in their backyards, after all—it’s nothing unusual. So when Tommy Wilson, the company’s tent division manager, first spoke to the bride-to-be, he wasn’t concerned, even though the tent […]
A large event succeeds despite limited access and space
January 1st, 1970
By Jamie Swedberg The road to the clients’ property on the Potomac River wasn’t actually a road at all; it was a narrow path with a steep slope on one side, surfaced with garden pavers. It was the sort of road that is perfectly navigable with a truck, but substantially less so for a massive […]
What makes a tent installation challenging?
January 1st, 1970
By Jamie Swedberg Professionals in the tent rental industry often use “tent on the side of a mountain” as a sort of humerous shorthand for a tough installation. But in reality, a difficult job doesn’t always look hard to an untrained observer. “Sometimes it’s not the physical challenges of the site at all,” points out […]
Liner handling tips
January 1st, 1970
By Holly O’Dell Handling liners appropriately will give them a longer shelf life. “It is so important to handle these things that go up and come down carefully to minimize the cleanup,” says Jimmy Parks, vice president of sales for Karl’s Event Services, headquartered in Oak Creek, Wis. “In clearspan tents, when you hang them […]