August 1, 2020
Expert advice for eliminating a deadly virus while keeping employees and end users safe. by Pamela Mills-Senn Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, manufacturers of textile-based products like event tents, gym mats and pads, soft seating and bounce houses faced the usual questions from their customers about how to clean and disinfect these items. But there …
Follow these practices for positive cash flow. by Mark E. Battersby Cash flow is the lifeblood of every business. In fact, according to a recent U.S. Bank study, poor cash flow management causes 82 percent of U.S. business failures. Although seemingly counterintuitive, many experts advise putting cash flow management before profits. While profits are how …
June 1, 2020
COVID-19 is unprecedented, but the event industry has faced—and overcome—other crises with resilience and persistence. September 11. Hurricane Katrina. The Great Recession. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill. COVID-19. As a hospitality industry veteran based in New Orleans, Jeff O’Hara has become an “accidental expert” in leading businesses through times of catastrophe. The president of destination …
April 1, 2020
Where does all the money go? Let’s examine two job costing methods. by Alexandre Renaud and Barbara Scull In part 1 of this two-part series on job costing, we reviewed accounting basics for tent rental companies, including a basic profit formula, fixed and variable costs, gross profit, contribution margin and break-even point. Understanding these concepts …
Richard Seaman’s book offers a model for multigenerational success. by Rebecca Post An urgency runs through the pages of Richard Seaman’s book A Vibrant Vision: The Entrepreneurship of Multigenerational Family Business. That urgency stems from Seaman’s understanding that few family businesses survive beyond a third generation. Seaman, the chairman and former CEO of Wooster, Ohio-based …
As the 2018 I-codes gain adoption, tent professionals can help advance the code development process. Tent professionals can help shape fire and building codes at the local, state and national levels by building relationships with enforcement officials and professionals who represent related industry groups, according to Paul Armstrong, P.E., C.B.O. Armstrong, IFAI’s Tent Rental Division …
February 18, 2020
Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) has partnered with Alliance Funding Group to provide members of IFAI fast financing at competitive rates. “IFAI is enthusiastic about offering members access to one more resource when considering financing equipment or looking for working capital,” says Andrew Aho, IFAI’s vice president, new business development. “Alliance Funding Group has been …
December 1, 2019
Where does all the money go? Let’s start with some accounting basics. by Alexandre Renaud and Barbara Scull Job costing is the process of assigning costs to a specific job or project to determine if it will generate enough gross profit to cover expenses and contribute to net profit. While managers often engage in job …
Keep your tent rental clients satisfied—and returning—with these six tips for five-star customer service. by Sarah Crews Your company and your employees are the backbone of events from high-end weddings and corporate galas to backyard parties and festivals. And your image is on the line each time, from booking to takedown. Here are six strategies …
October 1, 2019
When submitting a permit application, use industry-developed tools and your manufacturer’s data to explain your plan. By Alex Kouzmanoff The anchoring plan for your tent or structure is the one part of your permit submittal package that will change from job to job. The key to any plan is to present a professional, easy-to-read document …
