RM Online - A tool guy stops to take a close look at party

Here's a tool guy writing about the event and party rental business. Well, why not? Let's just look back to how the tool rental business got started, back to the rental people who were the first members of the A.R.A.

More than 40 years ago, people started renting tools and trucks. Rent-al stores opened with a few different tools and grew from there. Today rental people are buying bigger generators, bigger tractors, bigger trucks - and the equipment rental business has matured to the point that companies are now consolidating on a wide scale.

The party rental side of this industry is still in a young, maturing stage. People are still developing original knowledge about it; there is still a pioneer spirit in the party business.

This segment is now splitting into party and special events, something like the construction and homeowner business did years ago. The party people are buying bigger tents, more chairs and tables and different styles.

And yes, some tool rental operators are buying party inventory now and some rental veterans have moved into the party business to generate additional income. It's an attractive segment of the industry, and there is still a lot of growth potential in it - and that goes for the A.R.A., as well.

The A.R.A. is looking at expansion, too. Where will future growth come from? What will be the most active growth markets? Will it be party and event? Will the party portion of the annual A.R.A. show grow to the point where it needs to have a show of its own?

The A.R.A.'s official magazine, Rental Management, has made a point of representing all segments of the rental industry, party and event included. As the party industry grows, will it outgrow the space Rental Management can allot to it? Will the A.R.A. need to launch a separate magazine to serve this important segment?

I could see things like that in the future. I think the A.R.A. will have to continue the educational tents and events seminars and continue to improve on the material. Things like lighting, tents and themes are always changing and continuing to grow, and people need to learn as much as they can to keep current. The A.R.A. will continue to try to have current information on the party industry available for the benefit of members.

The tool industry is into the second and, in some cases, the third generation of family in the business. I think most in the party business are still first generation. What's the future hold? What's in store 10 to 15 years from now? Those party and event rental people may well ask, and our association should ponder such questions in their behalf.

My crystal ball is probably only as clear as yours, but given the growth of this business segment, I can imagine a time when the A.R.A. would add staff on the party side, launch a separate show and magazine and develop more educational seminars, along with advertising and marketing techniques, aimed specifically at the party and event rental industry.

For those of us in tools and party rental, maybe we should take a good look at separating the two. I've heard many good comments from people who have done that. If you have any comments on that, or on future party and event rental needs, please call me at (602) 278-3515 or e-mail me at KHES44A@prodigy.com.