The Do's and Don'ts of Winter Tent Installation

by Kellie L. Brielmaier

Winter weather present challenges for the tent rental industry and requires special considerations when it comes to managing clients, physical installation and service during events. 

The key to renting tents in the winter months is clear communication with your clients and a comprehensive approach to pricing and inventory maintenance.

When a client requests a tent to be installed in cold weather, you should first make sure they understand the challenges it presents. Schedule a site visit at the event location to check conditions. This will tell you what equipment is necessary for setup. For example, if the event is at a ski resort, the snow may have been driven over, but if the snow has not been packed down, you may need to bring weights.

“Know what you’re getting yourself into and charge accordingly,” says John Crabbe of Vermont Tent Company in South Burlington, Vermont.   He also urges rental companies to asses the situation realistically. “Don’t be scared to say no if it’s not going to work.” 

Even with heating, still more potential for damage than any other time of year.  You should always consider the potential cost in the event if...   Read More 

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What Happens to Past Presidents?
A Tribute to Brian Richardson and Rick Seymour

by Sue Werb, CSEP
Editor

Ever wonder where MATRA send its past Presidents and Board members when they are put out to pasture? As we roll along the I-95 corridor of the mid-Atlantic region, we should glance out the window to see where they may be frolicking. Currently, we would be looking for either Brian Richardson or Rick Seymour, both having just left the MATRA Board after many years of service.

Rick has been in the rental industry for over 16 years. He began with a tool/party rental company in the Washington, DC metro area and in 2008 opened his own business, Event Site Services, LLC. Rick’s company provides many services over and above tent rentals and sales including: permit pulling, mobile kitchen trailer rentals, and auction services. Rick also offers a variety of seminars to other rental companies that include enhancing sales through product knowledge, warehouse management and pitfalls, and CAD design, to name a few. These are based on his years of knowledge and experience in the industry. Brian Richardson, with L & A Tent Rentals, of Princeton, New Jersey,  a division of Lewiston-Auburn Tent Company which was founded in 1899 (although we are pretty certain Brian isn’t a founding member…), started his company in 1985. Known for the quality of their tents and equipment, L & A Tent Rentals is also recognized for the unparalled service it provides its clients. Brian certainly contributes to that reputation with his quick wit, sense of humor, passion and dedication to the tent rental industry.

Is it difficult to pay tribute to two icons in the tent rental industry? Hardly. Many of their colleagues offered great stories and memories of their years of association with both Brian and Rick. Here are just a few comments from our membership. Read More because it get's good... 

Meet your New Board Member

Scott Pickel, Everything Tented, Cuyahoga Heights, OH

Scott Pickel, from Everything Tented, joins the MATRA Board for a term of two years. We welcome him and look forward to his contributions to the Association.

Scott has been in the industry for approximately 16 years. He found his passion for the tenting industry during his eight year employment with another rental company. Scott has spent the last eight years as owner of Everything Tented. Starting with a purchase of a 20’x20’ pole tent, Scott provided some free rentals as an advertising mechanism and partnered with colleagues who own catering businesses. Currently, Scott has grown into a 60’ x 120’ pole tent and 10’ through 40’ widths in frame tents. Although owning your own business is rewarding, Scott feels it’s a challenge to learn all of the financial and administrative aspects that come with a tent rental business, learning valuable lessons along the way. Scott has a good relationship with his client which is the most valued lesson of all. He is happy to say that the business is thriving.

According to Scott, a significant change occurring in the tent rental business, since he’s been involved, is the usage of webbed straps for guying tents instead of ropes. He feels that utilizing these straps has improved the strength and safety as well as making all sizes of pole tents easier to install.

Our new board member has attended many MATRA conferences. Scott enjoys the ability to physically assist with the installation of a tent product which, in turn, allows him to make an informed decision when it comes to purchasing. “It is quite beneficial to work along the designers, sales reps and other individuals who already own the product you are interested in,” Scott states. Education is also quite important to Scott. He feels that attendance at the educational seminars provide updated and valuable information about all aspects of the tent rental industry. He is also rejuvenated after a MATRA conference because of the networking opportunities with his peers in the industry. Scott also feels that it is important, as a member of MATRA, to have the ability to contact another industry peer seeking advice should you have a challenging situation. It’s a great comfort zone.

Scott looks forward to his service on the Board. He has a vision for the Association that involves a mentorship program for MATRA that would partner members with varying degrees of expertise which translates into a stronger, well educated and safety conscious organization. You can reach Scott or send him a Welcome email at Scott@everythingtented.com

Member Spotlight

Interview with Wayne Gregg, L.B. White Co. 

L.B. White enters 2010 having produced heating appliances for tents for close to thirty years. What a milestone! The business began when rental participants familiar with L.B. White products requested that a product be developed specifically to address the needs of heating tents for events.

Although L.B. White has remained on the cutting edge of the tent rental industry by responding to their clients’ needs, Wayne Gregg feels that there have been significant changes in their product line over the years. Specifically, the company responded to requests for safety, reliability, quiet operation and ease of product use by marketing its first tent heater utilizing spark ignition. Wayne states, “Other heaters were using hot surface ignition. Spark ignition offered greater reliability.” Additional product developments occurred including adding wheels to larger units to increase mobility as well as ducting and diffusers being offered to allow installation outside of the tent. Wayne points out that, “the diffusers were designed to spread heat evenly, to present minimal interference with the tent sidewall, and to provide a neat finished appearance.”

Attempting to brand L.B. White products that were originally painted a cream color, as well as improve aesthetics with tents, L.B. White changed their color to white. Ultimately, L.B. White.... Read More 

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"The Association for the Tenting Professional"

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