Posts Tagged ‘Event Rentals MA’

The following article is spot on and can make all the difference in the world in getting what you need without experiencing unnecessary pain, disappointment and unexpected expense at can ruin that perfect day. Exeter Events and Tents works closely with our clients, assigning qualified planners who truly work for you. Why? A good amount of our new business is with old clients and their referrals. That’s just the way we like it! We appreciate the trust they have in our abilities and never take it lightly. We are always ready to help and waiting for your call but before you do feel free to check out what our clients have to say about our award winning service. As always, enjoy the article.

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Dear Ashley, 

Two weeks ago, over 100 riders took to the roads of southern New Hampshire to participate in the 8th annual Granite State Quest – A ride to conquer cancer.  I am pleased to report that it was a wonder and successful day.  You may recall that July 10th was during one of those hot spells, not to be confused with the hot weather of the past few days.  In addition to the heat, there were some pretty good rain storms throughout the day.  Thanks to Exeter Rent – All with its generous donation of 3 tents the riders were able to find shade or get out of the rain when they circled back to Timberland after each of the 3 loops they rode throughout the seacoast.  Without the tents, our post ride barbeque for riders, volunteers, friends and family would not have been as enjoyable, as the rain returned on a few occasions during the celebration. 

Exeter Rent- All has been a wonderful supporter every year and thanks to your in kind donation and that of other local business, we are thankful and proud that 100% of the funds raised by the riders go directly to pediatric cancer research and patient care at The Massachusetts General Hospital.  Our fund raising efforts thus far have totaled $75,137 and we are hopeful to reach $100,000 which will result in an eight year total of over three quarters of a million dollars.

Thanks again and please extend our appreciation to the entire Exeter Rent-All team. 

Bruce Taylor
Co-Founder – The Granite State Quest

In May 2010, I made the largest career change since I started Exeter Rent-All in 1986. I have always been on the marketing side of our company.   “Sell, create, close the deal, and create a new product or new market”  

I loved what I was doing, I love to sell! 

I was CEO of the company and spent 90% of my time selling and a minimal amount of time on operations.  Selling to me was  where the action is.

Well heaven became hell.   We were hitting the wall and I had to make a change in my career.  We were heading down a negative production spiral to failure.   Our production department was not developing in an acceptable fashion.   We were servicing a more discriminating buyer.  We were turning more transactions.  We were running into cost overruns, slow turnaround times and bloated labor costs.  Our product was not being maintained, cleaned, stored or shipped the way I wanted.

What is crazy is that new sales still were growing even in a recession.  

I knew for years what I should do but either did not have the guts or I wanted to do what I liked best rather than what the business needed most.

I did the about face in my career on May 4 2010.   I did not plan to do it that day but was forced to.  An emergency forced my hand. I took my computer, moved two miles down the street to my warehouse facility.  My daughter Ashley took over running the Party Sales department and all other operations at the main office. 

It is now three month since the move.  The transition has not been seamless.  Sparing detail I have bullet pointed the early results

1. Most Warehouse personnel welcomed the change
2.  The situation was worse than I thought
3. There was a production surprise  every corner  and every day
4. We were six months  behind in prep for the season
5. It’s a lot of work to instill core values of quality, process, procedure and personal responsibility  for your action
6. It won’t happen overnight     
7. The owner(me) can make faster, crisper decisions than a salaried manager

The real reason I did not do this earlier is I did not want to get out of my comfort zone.  A lack of guts on my part?

The major regret I have is that I didn’t do it sooner.    

Feel free to email me with any advice, support or questions

Living on the New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts seacoasts offer many brides the opportunity to have their wedding on one of the beautiful beaches of New England’s seashore. Exeter Events and Tents is the leading authority when it comes to outfitting your perfect beach or seashore park wedding. We offer you the ability to contract with one supplier for all your event needs. Tents, tables, chairs, flooring, along with many choices of lighting, table settings and fabric selections allows you to coordinate exactly what you want and save money at the same time. We can also assist with finding that special seacoast location from Down East Maine through New Hampshire or along Massachusetts’s North shore, our over twenty years of working knowledge with the best venues in this area guaranty the perfect setting for your special day. Give us a call today to discuss the possibilities. We hope the following article inspires you to choose an outdoor wedding event and leave a comment or question, we would be happy to reply. Read the rest of this entry »

Photo courtesy of NICO designs

So far this year the Northeast has experienced very early, warm and relatively dry weather patterns. Also, this beautiful spring seems to be transitioning into a sunny and pleasant summer. Keeping that in mind, the following story confirms that outside events by themselves have become a more popular trend this year. I am sure after reading this article you will have developed some creative ideas yourself, moving your next event outdoors.

Summertime brings many wonderful clients to Exeter Events and Tents. They rent tents, tables, chairs, stages, dance floors and more . . .  so call us today and see how we can help!

Planners and suppliers alike are saying that clients are looking for beautiful, organic, natural, fun and affordable. All of these things are leading to the estimated 11% increase in outdoor events this year. Read the rest of this entry »

Let’s take a look at the most forgotten group at a wedding, the groomsmen. Oh yea the true work horse of any wedding and  dedicated organizers of the pre-wedding festivities. If not for these band of merry men, led by the best man, who would make sure the bachelor party had plenty of food, spirit, and  entertainment. Not to mention making sure the ring and groom made it thru the bail hearing on time to get to the church? But I digress….

So I submit for your approval an article I found on bride.com full of wonderful advice on how the groom can keep these merry men on track and looking sharpe while they perform their thankless duties of being good groomsmen.

Check out the great links in this article they lead to other fine articles from brides.com. Just more Tales from the web see you again on the web. Read the rest of this entry »

The best  part, for me, of being a guest at a wedding? Other than celebrating the big day with the happy couple of course is, the food. I can never seem to get enough. A good caterer can make or break the wedding reception so here are a few great tips offered up by Bride Magazine that are tried and true. There are three important sections to this post along with a valuable work sheet at the end that you can down load and take with you on your quest for the perfect caterer. Oh one last thing… did I mention I am a great wedding guest? Bon Appetite!!!

 

Research first

Book your reception site before hiring a caterer. Keep in mind that many banquet halls have exclusive (or “preferred”) relationships with in-house caterers, which may limit your ability to work with an outside company. Check before you interview outsiders.

Menu matters

Plan to set up your menu at least six months in advance. If you’re marrying during peak wedding season (June-October) you may have to order it even sooner, especially if you want a big-name caterer.

Seek out referrals

Ask friends and family for recommendations, and talk to brides in your area. Once you find a caterer you like, speak to satisfied brides and ask for references before you sign a contract.

Set priorities

If having a large number of people at your reception is important to you, scale back on the refreshments. On the other hand, if gourmet food is a priority, then keep your guest list to a manageable size or restrict your bar offerings to wine and beer.

Buffet or banquet

Do you want a five-course dinner menu with individual wine pairings? Or is a barbeque buffet more in keeping with your wedding theme? Consider your personal style to determine what will work best for you.

Special requests

Are there dietary needs (vegetarian, kosher) to consider? Make sure your caterer has experience preparing these types of dishes.

Set the scene

Bring in photos of your dress, reception site, and flowers—anything that will give your prospective caterer a better sense of the type of reception you have in mind.

Tasting time

If the caterer is offering a complimentary sampling, be sure to clear the number of people you can bring beforehand.

How to save money

Daytime affair

Opt for a wedding brunch or luncheon reception instead of dinner, which is typically much more expensive.

Cocktail hour

Skip the full meal and celebrate with tasty refreshments instead—an option that works best for a celebration after a 2 p.m. ceremony (not dinnertime). Or host an afternoon tea or a late afternoon/early-evening cocktail reception.

Course cutting

If you have your heart set on a seated meal, cut back the number of courses from five to three.

Smaller selection

Ask guests to select their meal preferences on the RSVP cards so caterers can plan ahead, or choose a pasta or protein dish that you think has the broadest appeal.

Top quality

Keep the menu simple and focus on quality ingredients. Ask your caterer to use in-season produce from local farms.

Kid friendly

Order an inexpensive kids’ menu for the children’s table at your reception. Chances are they’d much rather have a cheeseburger and fries than foie gras, anyway.

BYOB

See if your caterer will let you bring your own liquor. (Be sure to ask about corkage fees.)

The basics

Limit your bar offerings to wine and beer. Liquor (especially premium bands) can add a wallop to your bar tab.

Size matters

Keep your guest list to a manageable number.

What to include in your contract

• The date, time, length and location (include specific room or hall) of the reception.
• The date by which you need to supply the caterer with a final headcount.
• Type of food service (buffet, cocktail reception, seated meal).
• Your approved menu and courses.
• Alcohol arrangements: Does your caterer have a liquor license? Can you supply your own wine? Will there be a corkage fee? What brands and vintages will they be serving? Can you return unopened bottles? Will there be an open bar? (If so, specify the hours.)
• Server specifics, including staff-to-guest ratio and dress code.
• The cost of renting equipment, silverware, glassware and linens.
• Arrangements for feeding other wedding vendors (photographer, band, planner).
• The name of the banquet manager who will be overseeing the reception.
• Price quotes for food and maximums on unforeseen menu expenditures; cancellation and overtime fees; deposit and refund policies; payment schedule; extra fees including gratuities and sales tax; and the total estimated cost.

What to Ask…

Choosing the right vendor comes down to asking the right questions.

Click for a printable worksheet to take to your appointments.

I was a boy scout as a young man in the state of Rhode Island. I have never forgotten how important being a scout was to my community and own personal development. Memories of scouting events never fail to make me smile. I can identify as I conduct my actions in life today is in some ways reflective of what I learned as a boy scout. The Boy Scouts of America are one of those associations that that help to build character, and good life habits at a young age. So I am always happy when I can contribute and give something back to the organization and support my community at the same time. Read the rest of this entry »

In the coming months I will be guest blogging on subjects that I find of interest from the web. These articles will cover all aspects of the corporate, wedding and outdoor event business. I will try to post timely, relevant and most importantly, interesting topics. My first is a story that was written by Joanna Baymiller appearing in intentsmag.com back in December. Joanna is a fine writer and is a tents magazine go to source for industry information. Read the rest of this entry »

Spring is in the air and that means tradeshow season. Here at Exeter Events and Tents we are always seeking new ways to bring the best products and customer service to our clients. Last week I attended my 25th buying show at the American Rental Association.  The show floor was alive with tent companies purchasing the latest in special events equipment.   The consensus was this is going to be a very busy bridal year.  Weddings are booking very early and dates are filling up!

I spent a lot of time looking at all the new silverware and glassware pattern .  The glassware by Riedel was stunning.  It is lighter and more elegant than conventional rental glassware and is a well known brand in the wine industry.  Many of you folks who cruise have probably already been introduced to it in the wine tasting events held on the major cruise lines. Stay tuned I hope to purchase it for this summer season!

Here is a summary of other exciting new items at the show: Read the rest of this entry »