Compete or collaborate?

April 1, 2013  |  Features, Management

Partnering with a competitor is a little like getting married—choose your partner carefully, and you both may reap rewards. By Brant McWilliams The question of competition vs. collaboration is a complex and challenging issue for any business or industry. The nature of the tent and event rental…
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Creating emergency evacuation plans

April 1, 2013  |  Management, Safety & Codes

By James R. Waite, Esq. Q: Whose responsibility is it to create emergency evacuation plans for tents? A: In the past, this responsibility has typically fallen on the event planner or equipment lessee (customer). Fortunately for rental operators, these parties continue to shoulder much of the respons…
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Assessing injury and illness prevention programs

April 1, 2013  |  Management

Are injury and illness prevention programs too complicated and expensive for small businesses? An internal OSHA study of nine SHARP (OSHA’s Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program) firms, ranging in size from 15 to 160 employees, found that the firms achieved the following as a resul…
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Updated rental software

April 1, 2013  |  Management, Products

Currently being installed on a rolling schedule to users on software support, Enterprise 2013 is the most monumental update in Point-of-Rental’s 30-year history. The entire rental management software program has been converted to the Microsoft .NET Framework. Among many benefits, the move to t…
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From CAD to reality

December 1, 2012  |  Features, Management, Products

Computer-aided design helps clients visualize their events, while offering practical applications. By Holly O’Dell When it comes to planning tented events, computer-aided design (CAD) software is a useful tool on many levels. It can help sell a job, help customers visualize the layout and assi…
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Trade show strategies

December 1, 2012  |  Management

Get the most out of a trade show by strategizing before you leave home. By Sarah Lapping Industry manufacturers, suppliers and sponsors spend many hours preparing for trade shows. But if you are an attendee, do you prepare for a trade show or do you just show up? If you are planning to just show &he…
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Ensuring forklift stability

December 1, 2012  |  Management, Safety & Codes

Follow this checklist to ensure forklift safety. One of the most dangerous operations involving forklifts is the loading and unloading of trucks and trailers. The reason is the change from the stable floor of the loading dock to the unstable deck of the truck or trailer. Not only may the vehicle bei…
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Successful succession planning

October 1, 2012  |  Features, Management

An effective succession plan encourages a smooth management transition while minimizing transfer taxes. By Mark E. Battersby Sooner or later, everyone contemplates retirement. For those who own a closely-held or family tent and party rental or fabric structure business, retirement is more than just …
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Strategies for safe job sites

August 1, 2012  |  Features, Management, Safety & Codes

Avoid on-the-job injuries by preparing your staff. By Michael Tharpe Safety issues often go unnoticed when staff is under pressure to get the job done. While everyone is responsible for making safe decisions, it falls on owners and crew leaders to give installers the training they need, adequate bre…
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Encourage positive engagement with a social media policy

August 1, 2012  |  Management

Want engagement? Think policy. By Barry Hurd Social media…What is it? Who controls it? What is right or wrong? How does it affect my business? If you can’t spell out 30-second answers to each of these basic questions, how can you expect employees, vendors and business partners to unders…
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