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Let me tell you, The Rental Show rocked!
By KEITH KLARIN
Keith Klarin, CERP, a member of the ARA Hall of Fame and retired from All-Purpose Rentals, Shrewsbury, N.J., operates Perfect Party Consulting Services. He encourages you to contact him by e-mail: kklarin@adelphia.net. |
First, the bad news. To this Florida guy (transplanted from New Jersey), Atlanta was bitter cold. It even snowed! All events were held at the convention center, so there was no choice but to take the shuttle bus, and the shuttle service left a lot to be desired.
I was also disappointed with the Rental Product Premiere. Last year, it was wonderful. This year, there were only two party products. The trade show floor was loaded with so many new and innovative things that surely the party equipment sector could have been better represented. When I asked why such a poor representation, I was informed that our vendors submitted only a few products, and only two of them qualified. This is a serious mistake on their part. The two vendors who were selected had their best show ever.
Please, party suppliers, submit your new or innovative products to the committee for consideration. You have nothing to lose, and lots to gain. The items boldfaced below would have been my candidates for this event.
Now, the good news. There were more vendors than ever and buyer attendance was excellent. Many of the new offerings were superb. With the economy on the rebound and tax incentives in place, rental operators were in the mood to buy. I’ve never seen the trade show floor so crowded.
Furthermore, the very cold and snow that I complain about were a vendor’s dream. It forced everybody inside! Many vendors reported that it was their best ARA show ever.
Here are some of the great things I saw.
All Star Carts & Vehicles has a very large assortment of carts, but there are a couple built especially for rental needs that are small in size and small in price. The model 515 ice cream cart is plugged in at night and will stay cold the entire next day, even if unplugged. The model 32HC hot dog cart is designed for Sterno, but can be converted to propane or electricity. (800) 831-3166; www. allstarcarts.com.
Alloyfold NZ is the originator of the aluminum-frame folding chair that I’ve been touting for years. They have licensed McCourt Manufacturing to make the chair in the United States. That has brought the price down to $14. Those four extra bucks more than a steel-framed chair are well worth the savings in time, labor and maintenance. This is the mass-seating chair of the future. 64-29-223012; www.alloyfold.com.
Anchor Industries displayed the Navitrack Keder-top frame tent. It looks like this child of the free-span structure is making inroads in the traditional frame tent market. I also liked the innovative curved and stair-step Marquees. (800) 544-4445; www.anchorinc.com.
ARI-Antique Reproductions showed a very attractive bamboo folding chair. They’d be great for tropical themed parties, but I’m not sure of their practicality or stamina. If any of you have used them, please let me know, and I’ll spread the word in a future column. (877) 508-2897; www.antiquereproductionsinc.com.
Big John Grills & Rotisseries, a name synonymous with rental grills, is representing a line of the extremely well-built Comstock-
Castle ovens and ranges. This is a category where you can’t look for bargains or you’ll pay for it with maintenance headaches. I was also impressed with their towable grills, stainless-steel professional line and that great big wok. (800) 326-9575; www.bigjohngrills.com.
Bravo Mat System has your solution to a muddy yard. These heavy-duty, interlocking, thermoplastic mats are light enough to be
easily handled by your crew, yet they’re strong enough to drive over. They make an excellent flooring for tents, especially since they’ll span uneven ground. (877) 692-7286; www.bravomat.com.
Buffet Enhancements International has a wide assortment of useful buffet-table items, but the star of their show was the auger-
driven chocolate fountain. It is available in three sizes. This is an ideal solution to the problems incurred with the pump-driven fountain introduced last year. (800) 990-0990; www.buffetenhancements.com.
Chillin’ Products introduced the portable, collapsible, stackable Fill ’N Chill party table. It looks like a 6-ft. vinyl banquet table with a raised edge and a drain so that it can hold lots of ice for keeping buffet items cool. This is one of those products where you say, “Duh, why didn’t I think of that?” (866) 932-4455; www.chillinproducts.com.
Cover-deck Systems has an extremely versatile flooring system. It consists of 12-by-12-in. interlocking tiles made of polypropylene. It can be finished with carpeting, vinyl, wood and a host of other options. The beauty of it is that if the surface of the tile becomes damaged, it can easily be peeled off and replaced. It is not recommended over grass unless there is a substrate, but it does hold up well outside. (800) 550-3325; www. coverdeck.com.
Dayva International showed its line of sturdy garden umbrellas with lights, but what caught my eye were the propane-operated garden torches. They are made of extruded aluminum in a contemporary style that really catches the eye. The price is an amazingly affordable $35 for the show special. If you’re tired of dealing with messy oil-fired lanterns, this is your answer. (714) 842-9697; www. dayva.com.
Event Lighting Distributors carries a full line of special-effect lighting and audio products. The huge crystal-like chandelier and the equally huge mirror ball caught my eye. One suggestion — the chandelier looks like it belongs in a haunted house. Paint the frame white. (504) 887-2852; www. eventlighting.com.
Evento makes the Go-Racer, a battery-powered go-cart made to look like toilets, football helmets or soda cans. The toilet version was displayed, and it was an absolute riot.
It is also available with an inflatable S-shaped racing track. If you do company picnics or fairs, this fun item is a must. It’s the kind of thing that guarantees repeat business. (866) 325-0265; www.go-racer.com.
Eucalyptus Stoneware brought a lot of comments on the woven stoneware baskets and the gorgeous glassware. The stoneware is made in-house. You can find the same stuff at major kitchen and department stores at three times the price. (800) 536-5656; www.eucalyptus-stoneware.com.
Fox Paper is one of the few remaining disposables firms that exhibit at our show. The big-box stores have seriously eroded our disposables business. However, I urge you to hang in there to pick up the “convenience” business that accompanies rentals. Fox has a nice line of plastic plates that almost look like china. Their plastic fluted champagne glasses are also classy. (800) 369-3263.
Galasource claims to have 35,000 products and is adding 1,000 per month! You don’t believe it? Check out their Web site. The large selection of chargers from $2 and up, the colorful stemware and the beer-dispensing bar impressed me. You could spend an hour in that booth and not see it all. (303) 716-1319; www.galasource.com.
Griddle King, a firm owned by a rental operator, manufactures a lightweight (22 lbs.) ultra-portable griddle that seems perfect for fund-raising events such as pancake breakfasts. It is powered by one-lb. disposable propane cylinders. At a price of $438, it should easily pay for itself in a year. (866) 896-4196; www.griddleking.com.
International Mercantile Agencies showed a huge selection of table lamps, candelabra, cake platters and wine buckets. Unfortunately, you can’t access the Web site unless you have an account, but their catalogue is one you should have on file. (800) 272-7748; www.brass4u.com.
Iowa Rotocast Plastics is familiar to us all for their large coolers and beer dispensers. This year, they brought the Grizzly ice chest that has a 420-qt. capacity, and will keep ice for one week in 80-degree temperatures. They even have a cart for towing it behind a tractor, and a carrier that mounts on a tow-bar ball. These are great for tailgate parties. They are also offering the Roll & Serve stainless-steel buffet cart that can easily be collapsed and transported anywhere. (800) 553-0050; www.irpinc.com.
Jack’s Games has a large selection of small carnival games, spin-art machines and game supplies. They are well-built and reasonable in cost. Jack’s famous quote: “When I was a child, I said that I wanted to be a carnie when I grew up, but now I realize, you can’t do both!” (877) 304-4338; www.jacksgames.com.
Leisure Activities Unlimited has done it again! They come out with great new stuff every year. This year, I liked the Big Top Bounce designed for pre-school kids. There are four sections with an inflated cushion between each and handles for hanging on. Therefore, four kids at a time can bounce, and there is no fear of injury. They also introduced a Reach-In Money Machine. Because of insurer concerns that people can be injured by standing in a wind tunnel with bills flying around, the bills in this machine are accessed by two to four people standing around the outside of an inflated container and putting their arms through access points, like an infant’s incubator. (800) 265-0829; www.leisureact.com.
Martha Sturdy has resin serving pieces, such as platters, vases, bowls and lanterns, in 37 colors. These are very attractive, different and just the thing your caterers and party planners will want for those extra-special events. (604) 872-5205; www. marthasturdy.com.
On Site Sanitation introduced the SaniSink, a portable sink that also supplies drinking water. It provides hot and cold water, a sealed paper-towel dispenser and a soap dispenser. It is compact and maneuverable. Applications include catered events, fairs or special events and food
vendors. (800) 210-8407; www.onsitesanitation.com.
Point-of-Rental Systems had the most crowded booth at the show. The reason for the crowd is its very innovative computer software system. Ellen Bradley, arguably the best software support person in the industry, stepped me through the features. I can’t do justice to them, but I sure was impressed by its wireless abilities. As you take your client through the showroom, you can have a hand-held terminal with you that will allow you to check availability and take the order. The same feature is available if you’re at the client’s home or other party venue. Neat! (800) 944-7368; www.point-of-rental.com.
PPI Manufacturing is known for inflatables and amusement rides, but I was impressed by their crowd-control stanchions. They are compact and light, but sturdy. The powder-coated white finish is attractive. (800) 998-7388; www.ppimfg.com.
Progressive Pro Enterprises has the solution if you’re concerned about the cost of chocolate fountains but would like to test the market. They have a mini fountain for only $695. Keep in mind that it is pump-driven rather than auger-driven, and will not melt chocolate, but will keep it warm. Therefore, you have to melt the chocolate before you place it in the fountain. (800) 858-4255; www.progressivepro.com.
Sellner Manufacturing Co. offers the Mobile Stage. It is trailer-mounted, folds out to 16 by 24 ft., has a full fiberglass hydraulic roof
system and a maintenance-free aluminum floor with a rubber surface.
It can be setup in about a half-an-hour and can be pulled by a 3/4-ton or larger truck. (877) 783-7373; www. quikstage.com.
Sephra Fountains manufactures the Sephra Chocolate Fountain, and it is their only product. It is auger driven, using an injection-molded, NSF-approved material, bonded to a stainless-steel core. This makes it easier to clean than an all-metal auger. They can be leased, purchased or obtained through a usage plan; i.e., you are charged by the use, with a minimum of two uses per month. After 24 uses, it’s yours. The usage plan is a unique concept, and although it is more expensive than other purchasing methods, there are certain advantages too involved to explain here. Call the company or check the Web site. (800) 288-8031; www.sephrafountains.com.
Shipp Cleaning Systems is an example of my contention that you have to work the entire trade show floor, not just the party section. Although located in small tools because they offer floor polishers and carpet cleaning systems, they also have a safe tent-cleaning product, a citrus-based solution that will remove grease from tents and a mildew-proofing treatment that will protect your tents for a year. (800) 962-1723; www.cleananything.com.
S.T.I. Entertainment demonstrated the Digital Easel, a photo booth system that produces a digital image that can be enhanced to look like it is either sketched in charcoal or painted in oils or pastels. It has the ability to add customized logos. Many attendees sat for samples, and all were delighted. This is another hot item for corporate events or fairs. (866) 266-3082; www.easelfun.com.
Ten Strawberry Street showed its usual selection of elegant tableware. What caught my eye was the China Cater Plate, an hors d’oeuvres plate with a slot to hold stemware. Also interesting were the unusual shapes and colors of much of their china. (800) 428-9397; www.tenstrawberrystreet.com.
Tool King has a large assortment of blowers for every inflatable need. The Eagle 1GH, a gasoline-powered blower, is a boon for those remote areas where electric power isn’t available. They also displayed the Baby Walker. This is a cute little cart for young children that is powered by the child twisting the handlebars. It is safe and fun for the tikes. (909) 593-8865.
Vabs Stages manufactures flooring made of Densolete, a marine flooring suitable for dance floors, riser or staging. The height is adjusted by inserting rails. The framing is aluminum. A unique feature is that it can be power washed. (519) 335-6801.
Wells Cargo exhibited a restroom trailer that is compact, easily delivered and contains all necessary facilities. These are much more suitable
for parties than the construction-type units. (800) 348-7553; www. wellscargo.com.
H. Wittur & Co. has a China Cater Plate that’s available in round or square shapes. They also introduced a line of 18/0 flatware that only costs $4.86 per four-piece place setting. At that price, you’ll no longer be aggravated by the shortages. (800) 622-6234; www.wittur.net.
Workmans Cycles & Carts offers compact, rolling ice cream and hot dog carts designed for rental. They also have a tabletop hot dog mini-cart, which is reasonably priced, and an ideal solution where space is at a premium. (718) 322-2003; www.800buycart.com.
Whirlwhims exhibited the Pitchburst, an alternative to the dunk tank. It looks something like a basketball hoop with a target and backdrop. A water balloon is placed in the basket. The “victim” sits under it. When a player hits the target with a ball, a paddle breaks the balloon, and the victim gets soaked. It can also be played with flour, pudding, confetti or beer filled balloons. I’ll take the beer! (973) 402-5531; www.pitchburst.com.
I count 20 boldfaced items. Surely, our vendors could have submitted a few of them for inclusion in the Product Premiere.
Next year, The Rental Show is at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas on Feb. 14-17, 2005. This is an ideal location — no cold, no snow, no buses and the city is exciting.
Despite all my griping about Atlanta, this year’s was one of the most successful shows ever. If the economy holds up, Las Vegas will be even better! |
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