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April 2006 issue of
Rental Management
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New products are magic in Orlando
steve kohn
Steve Kohn, president, Miller's Rentals and Sales, Edison, N.J., can be contacted at (732) 985-3050 or by e-mail at steve@millersrentals.com. 04/01/2006
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| Orlando is commonly known as the home of the Magic Kingdom®. In keeping with this theme, the 50th Anniversary celebration of The Rental Show has stirred up some magic of its own. There were 744 exhibitors displaying their wares in 3,300 booths that covered 330,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space. The event and party section contained 838 booths, where you could find everything from accent lighting to zip ties. The party and event section seems to get bigger and more spectacular every year and the variety of products is incredible. Here are some new products I found. A-1 Tablecloth Co. — This year, A-1 showed several new striking patterns including a sports, casino, golf and leopard fabric that are sure to make a statement in your linen inventory. www.a1tablecloth.com. Alloyfold New Zealand — This company introduced a new economical stacking resin chair called the Milano. It is lightweight, durable, stylish and available in three colors. I also give Alloyfold the award for the best pre-show e-mail. www.alloyfold.com. Argo Bag — Have you ever tried to drop a sandbag from a second-story window to see if it will open? Apparently the folks at Argo did and used the knowledge to design a new line of sandbags for the tent industry. The black or white bags are double VELCRO® protected and can accommodate 30 or 60 lbs. of sand. Sand is not included. www.argobag.com. Boss Manufacturing — This company’s line of custom metal cake and display stands has a look that truly stands out. The unique contemporary design caught my attention and the vendor reps were very informative and excited about their product. www.bossmanufacturing.com. California Portable Dance Floor Co. — This is possibly one of the biggest buzzes on the trade-show floor. Now you can offer your clients a custom dance floor. The new Versa Floor allows you to place any graphic, background or custom color under a removable acrylic cover. Imagine a photo of the bride and groom or a corporate logo to complement the dance floor. This is a great upsell for any special event. www.cpdfc.com. The Canvas Nursery — This company offers a unique line of exotic foliage palms and plants to add to your rental line. They are a great way to liven up a special event. www.thecanvasnursery.com. Cintas Corp. — Image is everything. This first-year vendor has an exciting line of custom uniforms to make your delivery personnel look professional. They can use your custom logo or create one for you. Uniforms can be rented or purchased. Also on display were custom mats and OSHA-approved safety kits. www.cintas.com. Crown Verity — How about some surf with your turf? This company introduced a new steamer called the PS-001. It’s constructed of stainless-steel and is on wheels for easy transportation. Whether you’re into lobsters, oysters, shrimp or clams, get ready to rent this product. www.crownverity.com. Dayva International — How about a new concept in outdoor heating — a compact 10,000-Btu gas tiki heater? It’s great for parties, beaches or even camping. Just stick it in the ground and you will be warm within a 10-ft. diameter. The product is fueled by a disposable propane cylinder. The heaters can be rented or sold. www.dayva.com. Ebco Products Corp. — This company has created a clever bar seat that will fit onto your existing base and stem that is used for pedestal tables. They also have manufactured the complementing foot rest that will slide onto the stem of a 42-in.-high cocktail table. They are displaying the seat in black, but it can be made in many colors. www.ebcoproducts.com. Event Products by Design — How about a unique portable bar called a “chameleon?” This bar is modular in design and can be assembled in many variations, including a 20-ft. diameter. The chameleon can support up to 10 bartenders and that’s a lot of Martinis. Fiesta Tents — Someone was thinking out of the box on this one. Fiesta had a curved Marquee that is available in 6-, 8- and 10-ft. widths. Kedar tops and sides make this product new and innovative. It even comes with a 30- or 45-degree turn kit. The product was displayed in black, but also is available in traditional white or clear. The extrusions are lightweight and can be expanded to unlimited lengths. www.fiesta.ca. (FWE) Food Warming Equipment Co. — Imagine a food-holding cabinet that can heat food one day and keep it cold the next. There’s no reason to purchase two units anymore because FWE has come up with a cabinet that can do both. It has a clean look and is very mobile. www.fweco.com. Georgia Expo Manufacturing Corp. — The company’s new pipe and drape cart was designed for easy handling of materials when setting up or breaking down a large event. Not only is it on wheels, it’s also designed to be moved with a forklift, so it’s a great labor saving device. www.georgiaexpo.com. Huffer Amusements — Durable long lasting games finally! If your customers are like mine, you will need games that are built to last. No more wooden designed games that are heavy and fall apart after a rental or two. This line of games is designed to pack-stack-n-play. Made of a lightweight, non-fading material they are easy to transport, set up and play. Having your name or logo printed on the games is not a problem. You can even request your own theme. You’re a winner with these games. www.hufferamusements.com. The Knock Shoppe — One could not help noticing the beautifully lighted display of a unique line of illuminated cake stands. An elegant wedding deserves an elegant cake stand. The product is designed for today’s bride who desires more than the typical wedding. Additional accessories are also available for cake tops and votive candles. A one-time rental per business program is also available. If you like the product, the rental rate is applied towards the purchase. This is a great way to try this product out with minimal investment. Now you can have your cake and light it, too. www.theknockshoppe.com. LDJ Manufacturing — Anyone for a picnic? This 16-ft. portable trailer can pull right up to the party. For those of you that are ready for picnics to go, step right in. A well-manufactured product that can be a big hit at a corporate function or for the next big family get-together. Be sure to check out their Web site. www.ldj-products.com. Longview Advantage — Great way to reduce equipment theft. Longview has come up with a durable water-tight monitor asset tracking device. These GPS devices can pinpoint the location of your asset to within 50 ft. Best of all, you can track your equipment 24/7 on the Internet. They also can be installed on your delivery fleet. Now it’s possible to know where your crews are at any time. www.longviewadvantage.com. Losberger U.S. — When siding a structure we have had two basic choices, vinyl wall or solid wall panels. For most of us, solid wall panels have been too costly. Losberger has introduced a lightweight panel that is sturdier than the standard vinyl wall, but as effective as solid panels. Have a long-term installation that requires walls? This could be the solution you are looking for. www.losbergerus.com. Maywood Furniture Corp. — This year, Maywood introduced a brushed aluminum polished portable bar that is easy to transport, is very functional and has an ultra modern look. This product is hard to resist. It is one of those must-haves for your inventory. www.maywood.com. M-B Texas Enterprises — This company distributes quality heavy-duty containers that stack and are virtually indestructible. These crates load easy, come in a variety of colors and are an excellent way to protect your equipment. They can be loaded on dollies, which also are available from this vendor. If you are into an efficient storage system, here is a good place to start. www.storeyourstuff.com. Modu-Built — You’re not going to believe this — how about a bathroom that cleans itself? Yes, believe it! This portable restroom, called the Meadowhawk, has its own water treatment system built right in. No septic or holding tanks. The unit is equipped with AJT & Associates’ Dragonfly Systems, a product that uses eco-friendly ozone to treat and sterilize the wastewater. As a result, the unit is virtually maintenance-free. Can I get one of these installed at home? To top it off, the unit comes in a variety of colors and sizes and can include fully operational sinks, air conditioning and ceramic floors. www.modu-built.com; www.dragonfly-systems.com. Nufurn — Introduces a new folding bar table called the “Sydney.” It’s stylish, trendy and compact. It is constructed with a polished aluminum base and column. The base has adjustable casters for uneven floors. It can solve storage issues and will load nicely on delivery vehicles. www.nufurn.com. ORS Nasco — Have you ever seen ribbon that lights up? This exhibitor has added lights to a pre-tie balloon ribbon to give a sparkle effect to a balloon. It’s available in six colors. Also featured was a complete line of “space weights” that you can fill with anything, such as candy or marbles. The weight is illuminated and shaped like a spaceship. And, the best part? They are reusable and make great centerpieces. www.orsnasco.com. Patron Products USA — A brand new line on indirect-fired diesel heaters. This is a great alternative to heating where propane is just not an option. These units are very adaptable to your particular usage. The key feature is clean, uncontaminated air, which is done by separating the heated air by means of a burner chamber and heat exchanger. The product comes with optional ducting kits. (800) 361-5451. Q2 Sales Co. — Check out the Hotbox. A new advanced electric heater that is 20 percent lighter, 40 percent smaller and definitely 100 percent hot. A self-contained, compact-designed, industrial-grade blower heater. It can be used for heating tents or for a variety of commercial or industrial applications. The entire unit is about the size of your carry on luggage. Best of all, “No assembly required.” I was impressed with the unit’s extremely low noise and catchy name. www.qsquaredsales.com. Rent it Biz Software Co. — A great back office solution for delivery-based rental companies and for point of sales for walk-up customers. The program has some great features that will allow you to control your inventory and achieve rental revenue maximization. One feature I liked was the built-in GPS vehicle tracking. This product is worth taking a look at. A very sophisticated smart screen design will make it easy for your staff to learn. www.rentbiz.com. Sephra — Just try dipping a pretzel in a chocolate fountain outside on a windy day. Not only will you be eating it, you will be wearing it! This exhibitor has come up with a chocolate-fountain shield that will keep the chocolate on the pretzel and off of you. www.sephra.com. Skyblasters — The dancing fly tube characters definitely got my attention. Skyblasters offers a complete line including product replicas, holiday characters, classic figures and even custom designs. If they caught my attention they certainly will do wonders for your clients. How about using these “fly guys” to attract attention to your store for your own promotions. (866) SkyBlasters. SMT Solutions — How about a labor-saving disposable skirt that will install quickly? Each skirt comes individually rolled in a non-flammable material that attaches with double-strip tape. When you’re done with the skirt, just toss it away. No cleaning required. www.smtsolutions.com. Synergy International — This software will integrate with your existing Web site appearance. Real-time order processing is now a reality. A unique product viewing gallery of the products you rent can be tied in with the inventory control process. A true Web-based interface with easy-to-use sales tools for both your clients and sales team. Data entry is a breeze and it is extremely user-friendly. The program will integrate with existing Microsoft office applications. www.synergy-intl.com. Tape-Rite Co. — Wow, now you can have your own customized tape. A clear or tan polypro tape that can be used plain or custom-printed for quick identification of your product or store name. An easy way to separate orders on your loading docks or on the job site. Sometimes a simple idea is the best. www.taperite.com. TEARepair — This is a great product for patching those accidental rips and tears that mysteriously appear on your tents. There are two types to choose from that virtually cover all types of materials including canvas, plastic, vinyl and fiberglass. It comes in an easy-to-use and carry roll. Just peel and stick and repairs are complete. It won’t yellow or turn gummy and it’s completely watertight. www.tear-aid.com. Tentwares Accessory Catalog — This company is now an exclusive distributor of products from TentTec. They featured a power distribution box called the “Pagoda.” This device is very compact and easy to operate. It is capable of distributing electrical needs from one panel. It will accommodate standard 110-volt connections. www.tentwares.com. Tipsy Gypsy Productions — Ever dream of owning your own self-contained pub? This company distributes themed food and beverage trailers or carts. They can be used indoors or out. They are self-contained and are a real crowd-pleaser. They’re not like your ordinary portable bar for sure. Many themes are available. www.lasvegascarts.com. TopTec — Anyone for a keder feeder? This is a must-have for anyone who now carries keder-style tents in their inventory. This unique device attaches to the extrusions of the eave poles on a keder structure. Used in pairs, they ease the installation of sliding the material through the tracks. They will work on tents from TopTec and a variety of other manufacturers. On a cold day when the material is hard to work with, you will appreciate owning a set of keder feeders. www.eventtec.com. Waterloo Tent and Tarp Co. — Custom graphics available for your tents definitely caught my eye. If you have an idea, they can create it. What a great way to personalize any tent. Also on display was a market umbrella with custom tops. These umbrellas are able to withstand strong wind and come complete with powder-coated poles and a fiberglass-ribbed top. www.waterlootent.com. Yellow Jacket, Div. of Peterson Systems International — Now that we are becoming more detailed-oriented in our tent installations and the fire inspectors are being more concerned for safety, it’s time we all consider properly running our cables. The Yellow Jacket system called AMS (advanced modular system) is designed to grow with your needs. This system gives you the ability to build a cable-protection system on-site. AMS can handle any traffic from foot to heavy vehicles. The system can protect an unlimited number of cables or hoses. www.yjams.com; www.petersonsystems.com. I am very thankful for having the opportunity to review the special event products. This assignment has given me an opportunity to see the trade show in a completely different light. Walking the floor with a shopping list as I have done in years past doesn’t afford one the opportunity to actually observe and feel what the show has to offer. I can only now appreciate the hard work and dedication Keith Klarin put into this column for many years. When I first met Keith at age 12, I never could’ve imagined I’d be writing for this column 35 years later. It’s almost impossible to cover all the great new items at the show. Even though I might not have mentioned you in this article, I will continue to speak highly of your products and give my opinions when asked. This year’s 50th Anniversary celebration of The Rental Show was like a magic carpet ride through Adventureland. |
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