Expert Q&A: Installing and removing tent stakes

December 1, 2015  |  On the Job

Q: How can I use tools to install and remove tent stakes more easily and safely? A: Tent stakes are an important part of most tent rental businesses, regardless of the type of tent used, from pole tents to engineered structures. Installing and removing tent stakes can be the toughest aspect of the j…
Managing cyber security

December 1, 2015  |  Management, On the Job

Don’t fall asleep at the computer. Today, even with almost every specialty fabrics business involved with some form of Internet connection or data storage (customer lists, employee information, books, records, job estimates, receipts and tax documents, for example), nearly 83 percent of small busi…
Tent codes face scrutiny

November 23, 2015  |  On the Job, Safety & Codes

Group A building code proposal passes Public Comment Hearing with modifications. A proposal to the International Code Council’s International Building Code (IBC) that affects the tent industry passed in the Public Comment Hearing (PCH) in October, with final results in December. The original propo…
Are winter tent installs right for you?

November 19, 2015  |  Event Production, Features, On the Job, Projects

Winter tent installs offer tent rental businesses opportunities to keep inventory and crews active, taking the edge off of what can be a slow time of year for those companies located or working in severe-weather areas. But as attractive as the prospect of staying busy is, winter installs aren’t ri…
Safe worksite advice

October 1, 2015  |  On the Job, Safety & Codes

Free OSHA consultations for small- and medium-sized businesses. The On-site Consultation Program offered by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) provides free and confidential advice to small- and medium-sized businesses, with priority given to high-hazard worksites. This servi…
Expert Q&A: Safety First!

October 1, 2015  |  On the Job

Q: What mistakes lead to fatalities and injuries on the job? A: Safety starts before you show up on the job site. Safety begins before the job is even sold. There are steps along the way that can make the difference between having a long and satisfying career and being injured, permanently disabled …
Expert Q&A: Rental management software

August 1, 2015  |  On the Job

Q: What questions should you ask before investing in rental management software? A: Rental management software is an investment with the potential for a high rate of return. However, a basic, low cost system isn’t likely to yield the greatest returns of lowered operating costs and time savings. Ho…
The tax benefits of attending trade shows

August 1, 2015  |  Management, On the Job

Owners, managers and employees of tent and event rental businesses, even shareholder-employees—have long been allowed to claim an income tax deduction for the expenses of attending trade shows, conferences and meetings. Thanks to federal tax laws, the government will pick up the tab for a sizable …
The big picture

August 1, 2015  |  On the Job

Code discussions loom over a busy tent and event season. By Jill Lafferty, Editor Much of the North American tent rental industry is at the height of its busy season—and it shows on my Facebook news feed. InTents readers are posting photos and descriptions of tent installations and everything unde…
Lyme disease prevention

August 1, 2015  |  On the Job, Safety & Codes

Outdoor workers may be at risk for tick-borne illnesses. Tick-borne diseases are commonly associated with outdoor recreation such as hunting and fishing, but the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recognize that outdoor workers are also at …