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by Patrick Flannery
warehouse for tables and chairs doesn’t cut it any more and they are scrambling to update their offerings with ever-more sophisticated event planning services. Designing centrepieces and room decor is just the beginning. Event rental stores are being called on to come up with exotic lighting, custom-built tents, exciting video displays and unusual cooking options. Everyone seems to be experimenting with different ways to serve event sites better, from careful logistics in deliveries to 101 ways to put a portable toilet on a trailer. And the operations are getting bigger, especially in the West. It is a great time to be doing corporate events in Alberta, and the party rental houses there are buying each other and jumping into vacant niches seemingly daily. There are so many new products for event rental entering the market at all times, frankly, I wonder how store owners ever decide what to stock.
The Canadian Rental Mart has seen a nice uptick in event product exhibitors for the 2014 edition, which is a trend we hope continues and strengthens. Party store owners are disproportionately involved with the Canadian Rental Association and seem eager to come together to work as an industry. They are very social and love events – go figure. But participation by event product suppliers at trade shows has sometimes been disappointing. I see no reason why, someday, the Rental Mart would not boast a large section set aside exclusively for party rentals the way the ARA’s Rental Show does.
Speaking of the Rental Mart, CRA Ontario has come up with a terrific way for event rental stores to participate in its banquet. The CRA Ontario banquet will feature a table decorating contest, with each entrant challenged to come up with the most creative design for a table at the evening dinner. Banquet attendees will vote for the winner. What a great way for party stores to show off what they can do, have some fun doing it and help make the CRA Ontario banquet a feast for the eyes as well as the palate. Kudos to the board for this fresh idea. CRS
INDUSTRY NEWS
cra o ntario launche S table decorating conte S t
Party and event rental operators will compete to win votes for most creative tabletop design at the CRA Ontario’s banquet, March 18 at the Canadian Rental Mart. Party rental stores are invited to sign up for the competition now by contacting CRA Ontario chairman Mike Maltby at 519-4514231 or mike@ingersollrentall.ca. The theme for decorations is “Spring is in the air.” Entrants are responsible for all table linen, chair covers, napkins and decorations for on five-foot-round table. The banquet host hotel, the International Plaza, will provide the table and chairs. Banquet attendees will receive ballots to vote on the most creative design. Maltby said,”Sign up for this fantastic opportunity and show the tool and equipment operators what a banquet can really look like!”
CeRF’s uP
Wayne Wadley, president of CERF Incorporated has announced a significant increase to CERF’s capital budget for 2014. Capital spending is forecast to be $11,300,000 compared to the $7,700,000 that was spent in 2013 (representing a 47 per cent increase year over year). Maintenance capital, which is defined as the amount of capital expenditures required to keep operating assets functioning at the same level of efficiency and to maintain the average age of the rental fleet, is forecasted to be $4,000,000 for 2014 vs. $3,700,000 in 2013. The balance of $7,300,000 of the capital budget will be used for growth within the various CERF businesses. “Based on strong demand for our construction and oilfield related equipment, the board of directors believed that it was important to increase our 2014 capital budget to take advantage of this activity,” said Wadley. “Construction activity in the Edmonton and surrounding northern Alberta areas is forecasted to be robust for the next several years as both major and smaller projects are kicking off or are on the books for development.”
Strongco open S in Quebec c ity area
DeVine now CoVeRing onTARio
Multiquip, a diverse manufacturer and supplier of world-class quality industrial products and solutions, has recently added Liam Devine to its sales staff for Ontario. Devine brings more than 20 years experience to this position calling on equipment rental stores. He will be selling the full line of construction equipment, power generation, lighting and parts in Ontario from Toronto to Windsor up to the Muskoka area and through the Golden Horseshoe.
Denis RePlACes BAMAs AT MAniTou
Strongco Corporation threw a grand opening celebration for its newest location in Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, a suburb of Quebec City. The company has invested $8.6 million in the new facility to replace its old branch in Sainte-Foy, better positioning the company as a leader in the Quebec region. On eight acres, the new 40,500 square foot facility, with 10 service bays, will significantly increase the company’s capacity to service the market. The new facility will employ approximately 40 people, including 15 highly trained technicians. “We have an outstanding team in this region that has achieved excellent customer satisfaction in new equipment sales and, importantly, in the product support business, from a facility that dates back to the 1960s,” stated Bob Dryburgh, president and CEO of Strongco. “I am confident that this group will achieve a new, even higher, level of performance now that they have a much larger, better located, state-of-the-art facility to service our valued customers in Quebec.”
The Manitou Group’s board of directors has announced that Dominique Bamas, president and CEO, has resigned. Bamas was appointed on an interim basis on March 6, 2013, and resigned in accordance with the agreements made with the board in order to permit the appointment of Michel Denis as the new president and CEO. Denis assumed the role Jan. 13 for a four-year term expiring at the Shareholders’ Meeting for the approval of 2017 financial statements. The board members unanimously expressed their appreciation to Bamas for having managed this interim period in the group’s best interests. In a context that required re-defining priorities, it was essential to facilitate the return to increased operating performance, while reaffirming close human relationships with co-workers, dealers and customers. Denis is 48 years old and a graduate of ESSEC, a French business school, and the Ecole Centrale de Lyon, a French engineering school. He began his career as a strategy consultant. He joined Dalkia in 1994 to develop co-generation. He then managed the French businesses of MC International, which later became Johnson Controls, a specialist in industrial and commercial refrigeration. In 2003 he joined the Fraikin Group, the European leader in truck rentals, for which he was CEO until August 2013. Over the past 10 years, he accompanied the strong international development of the Fraikin group.
INDUSTRY NEWS
JCB’s PATTeRson ReTiRes
AFTeR 43 yeARs
JCB’s John Patterson, who rose through the ranks from field service engineer to group chief executive, has retired after 43 years’ service. His retirement sees Arjun Mirdha take up the position of president and CEO of JCB in North America, where Patterson led operations since 2008 as chairman and CEO. Patterson joined JCB in 1971 and went on to work in Canada and America before returning to the U.K. in 1988 as managing director of JCB Service. In 1993, Patterson was appointed managing director of JCB sales before becoming group CEO – only the third person in JCB’s history to hold the position. He went on to become the company’s second longest serving CEO and, in his 10 years in the role, sales broke the billion-pound ($1.81 billion CDN) mark for the first time, eventually reaching more than two billion poundsby the time he stood down in 2008. He then became chairman and CEO of JCB Inc. based in North America. JCB chairman Lord Bamford said, “During John’s time as chief executive, JCB achieved unprecedented sales growth and led the company’s transformation into a truly global company. I thank John for his contribution over the past 43 years and am delighted he will remain a director of the JCB group and chairman of the board of the JCB USA companies.” Under Patterson’s leadership as group CEO, JCB opened facilities in Savannah, Ga., Sao Paulo, Brazil, Pune, India, and Shanghai, China. In 2010 he oversaw a $40 million investment in a new range of skid steer and compact track loaders which went into production at JCB’s North American headquarters in Savannah. Patterson said: “I am proof that that are no boundaries to career development at JCB and I have had an incredible time over the past 43 years. I am proud to have been part of a team which has seen JCB become the world’s third largest construction equipment manufacturer and achieve market leadership for many of its products. JCB has made excellent progress in North America in recent years but there are many more opportunities to be seized and I wish Arjun Mirdha well as he leads the team as president and CEO.” Mirdha took up his new role at the start of January 2014, reporting directly to Graeme Macdonald, JCB group chief executive.
sAles shuFFle AT TeRex
Terex Construction has announced the promotion of Ernie Ferguson to division sales manager and the addition of Todd DeWindt and Craig Goodfellow as regional sales managers for Terex compact construction equipment products in North America. In these roles, Ferguson, DeWindt and Goodfellow will focus on developing compact equipment sales and strengthening the company’s distributor network. Ferguson joined Terex Construction Americas in 2005 and most recently held the role of regional sales manager, preparing him for his new position. As division sales manager for the compact product line, Ferguson is responsible for ensuring the continued sales growth in his assigned territory by enhancing existing dealer and customer base as well as identifying and obtaining new customers for compact equipment. Todd DeWindt joins Terex from Kent Equipment where he served as the general manager for more than 12 years. As a Terex regional sales manager, DeWindt’s territory covers the Great Lakes Region and Midwest. His responsibilities include helping the company’s distributor network and rental channel partners grow, as well as identifying new markets and opportunities. Craig Goodfellow has over 16 years of experience with mini excavators, skid steer loaders, track loaders and other compact equipment. He gained his knowledge and experience of compact equipment while working at Arnold Machinery and Scott Machinery. As a Terex regional sales manager, Goodfellow’s territory covers the west and northwest U.S. and British Columbia. His responsibilities in this role include working with the company’s existing compact equipment distributors, as well as finding opportunities to work with new rental partners and full-line distributors in his territory.
online auctioneerS join forceS
IronPlanet has announced a strategic alliance including a small minority investment with Mascus, an online marketplace for construction equipment, transportation vehicles, trucks and material handling equipment headquartered in the Netherlands. The agreement includes the integration of the two web sites with new re-marketing services to aid the ease of use and speed and availability of equipment. Advertisers on Mascus will now be able to quickly and efficiently push items listed on Mascus to IronPlanet for auction, further enhancing equipment disposition and speed to liquidity. In addition, buyers on IronPlanet will have greater access to the entire inventory of listings on Mascus.
INDUSTRY NEWS
uniquiP ChAnges nAMe
Uniquip Canada has reached another milestone in its 40-year history. Effective March 1, Uniquip has become an official division of John Brooks Company Limited. For the last two years, the company has been in the process of integrating Uniquip, step-bystep, with John Brooks. Uniquip marks the completion of this transition by becoming Brooks Construction Equipment. The benefits to customers of tighter integration with the John Brooks organization will be significant. The key advantages will include access to a broader inventory, more diversified product and a wider distribution network with locations in Laval, Que., Mississauga, Ont., and Edmonton. Recently added products include the Kaeser towable compressor, the Luminite inflatable tower lite and the Kodiak sod cutter, just to name a few. The new Brooks Construction Equipment website is scheduled to go live in the upcoming month.
CRA D own To B usiness
The CRA’s Annual General Meeting eclipsed the Hospitality event in importance, if not in attendance. Members were introduced to new CRA managing director, Nathalie McGregor, who did yeoman’s work in translating the proceedings into French where possible. National president Jeff Campbell gave an update of activities over the past year, describing recruiting a new managing director as “quite a task,” and announcing the move of Quebexpo from St. Hyacinthe, Que., to Laval. The CRA will extend its rental awareness promotion to turn May into Rental Awareness Month. Campbell also announced that CRA membership across the
country stood at 1,136 rental stores. CRA insurance director, Justin Friesen, announced that the CRA self-protected insurance plan would not be issuing rebate cheques to policyholders. This is the first time in many years that CRA insurance has not issued a rebate. Friesen said the hiatus was necessary to help the fund build its reserves.
Ed Dwyer received his commemorative gavel from incoming CRA chairman, Campbell, with many thanks for his years of service on the board. Ed said he would use his increased free time to play more golf, though some wondered how this could be possible.
A sweeT esCAPe
Canadians visiting the American Rental Association’s Rental Show in Orlando got a welcome respite from the deadly cold that has gripped the country since Christmas. Sunny Florida offered attendees plenty of chances to swim in the pool, visit the local attractions with family and generally enjoy walking around outside without five layers of clothing. Even when things got slightly chilly at the outdoor Canadian Rental Association Hospitality event, no one dared complain.
The Canadian Hospitality evening was again a smashing success, held at the CRA’s luxurious official show hotel, the Renaissance Orlando SeaWorld. Over 300 refugees from the frozen north enjoyed some beverages with seldom-seen rental friends from across the country on the Sunday night. They got a chance to gather together again the following night at the Region 10 Reception, where Ed Dwyer accepted the President’s Image Award for C&T Rentals in Winnipeg.
The keynote session featuring Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane was a big draw, completely filling the cavernous Orlando Convention Centre theatre. Beane’s talk was a little heavy on the baseball anecdotes and light on the business message for some, but overall he gave a humorous and interesting presentation.The ARA put on a very slick show, with huge screens displaying the speakers and novel elements such as ARA CEO Chris Wehrman doing a sit-down Q & A with chairman Mike Flesher.
The show boasted a healthy 636 exhibitors and an estimated 5,000 attendees. Exhibitors reported good traffic overall and steady sales on the show floor. Some Canadians reported that they were using the Rental Show as an opportunity to survey the various manufacturers’ offerings with the intention of returning to Canada to place orders with their local distributors at their local shows.
Your 2014 CRA board. From left, Jeff Campbell, Angie Venekamp, Dave Mintenko, Julie Holtsman, Paul Kenyon, Louise Serpa, Tim Ranson, Nathalie McGregor, James Morden, Paul Ravary, Hank McInnis, Dean Nasato, Justin Friesen and Marc Mandin.
Primed for productivity and protected from back to front, M-Series loaders from Bobcat handle difficult jobs and stand up to tough renters. For starters, the rear bumper protects the tailgate from obstacles on the jobsite. Recessed rear lighting minimizes damage to tail lights. Protected quick couplers, mounted directly into the front plate of the lift arm, have no exposed hoses to damage. A guard that extends beyond the couplers offers even more protection. The removable hose guide makes it simple to correctly route hydraulic hoses, minimizing attachment wear and tear. Plus, easy-to-find and easy-to-use machine tie-downs make trailering quick and easy. You’d expect nothing less from such an easy-to-rent machine. F ind out more at Bobcat.com/value2
by MARC MANDIN
Planning Fo R bette R bu S ine SS
The CRA has charted a way ahead and welcomes your input.
With trade show season now in full swing I hope that many of you will have had the opportunity to meet our new managing director, Nathalie McGregor, in person by now. Nathalie brings many new ideas to the table and these fresh insights, combined with those of our hard working ladies in the Winnipeg head office, should help steer our association toward a very active future. As a fully bilingual Quebecois, Nathalie should also prove to be a great adjunct in fostering closer relations with our many Quebec members. Please make her feel welcome to the industry.
By the time you read this I will already have experienced another round of great B.C. hospitality at the first trade show of the season. I know it will be great because the B.C. local always starts our show season on a high note and makes association members proud to be part of the CRA. Thanks to all of the B.C. local members who made this event so informative and welcoming to all who attended.
In my new role I will have the privilege of attending all of our regional trade shows in rather quick succession to represent the CRA national board of directors and gather your feedback on our shows from both our exhibitors’ and our member stores points of view. As an association we are always seeking ways to improve these shows to ensure the best possible outcome for all involved. There are many hundreds of hours of work by CRA staff and local volunteers that go into the preparation and execution of each of these shows in order to bring the latest industry developments to your doorstep. I would appreciate you sharing any recommendations and/or suggestions that you may have to assist us in improving the value of future events to your business. If you have not attended your local trade show recently I would encourage you to do so and use the opportunity to reward one of your employees by having them attend with you so they can get some idea of what is out there in Rental Land. It is not guaranteed, but it is a rare employee that does not get sparked to get more involved in improving your business after being exposed to new products and ideas at one of these shows.
Your business as a member store or as one of our supplier members is our raison d’etre at the CRA and we work hard to not forget this. Much like you created a business plan to keep your business on course, we too have a plan. Newly minted by your board of directors, the CRA’s new five-year strategic plan is designed to keep everyone focused on our vision, our mission, our capabilities and, our limitations. Focused on the areas of growth, governance, communication, branding, and training and education, the plan lays out goals in each of these key areas along with action plans and timelines to achieve these goals. To measure our success at reaching each of these goals, each action has a target so we can measure the ROI we achieve for each action plan.
Our mission is to be committed to improving personal and business development through the promotion and support of and advocacy for the rental industry within Canada. Having a set plan should prove a great tool going forward that we can use to qualify future initiatives and keep us on target in growing your association for your benefit. Unfortunately, there are too many details for this column but if you are interested in those details your CRA Strategic Plan is available through your local director.
In closing I wish everyone a profitable rental year in 2014. For many the economy is supposed to hold strong so we should all see some growth in our businesses. CRS
Marc Mandin is COO of 4-Way Equipment Rentals in Edmonton and national president for the Canadian Rental Association.
by J IM C HLI b OYKO
b ig d R eam S
The Winnipeg festival scene spells success for Bel-Ayre Rentals.
It must be quite a promising business that brings a Brazilian man to live in Winnipeg, you might be thinking while heading to an interview in the midst of a January polar vortex. Or, as they call it in Winnipeg, Wednesday. Instead, it was an unlikely union between a Winnipeg man and a Brazilian woman, a fantasy of Hollywood fame and a solid footing in the growing Winnipeg event scene that made Bel-Ayre Rentals a major event and party rental centre today.
Bel-Ayre Rentals, currently run by said Brazilian, Carlos Serpa, has been around since 1967. Bel-Ayre was started by Serpa’s stepfather, Harry Willms, a Canadian man who had married Serpa’s widowed mother, a woman he met on his travels through South America decades ago. Seasonal party rentals appealed to Willms because the harsh, long prairie winters allowed him time off to travel. Serpa hails from Curitiba, the impressive capital city of Brazil’s southern state of Paraná.
Bel-Ayre has grown from a business Serpa describes as being born in the bay of a car wash. Willms dabbled in several types of rental along the way, including a U-Haul dealership for a time. “In the late ’60s, the economy wasn’t that great here, but that started to change in the ’70s,” said Serpa. “The opening of the Winnipeg
Convention Centre was a big boost.”
When Serpa came up to Canada in 1986, BelAyre had gotten a bit bigger, and had about four employees. These days, the business employs about 25 people during the busy summer season, about half of that during the winter. Serpa had bought his stepfather’s shares in the company in 1991, allowing Willms to retire to the west coast where he and his wife live, now in their 80s. So, five years after immigrating to Canada, Serpa was a business owner, and the timing seemed to work out. When asked whether or not South America is still in the picture, Serpa says, “We always toyed with the idea of opening a branch in Brazil. That didn’t happen. The economy in the ’80s wasn’t that great, though it would be a different concept down there.”
Owning Bel-Ayre started pretty well for Serpa.
In addition to working at the store, Louise Serpa is on the board of the Canadian Rental Association Manitoba Local. Carlos was also active in the association for many years.
“The 1990s were pretty good. There were lots of big events, concerts and festivals,” said Serpa. “Then my brother came in 1993.” Serpa now employs his brother as a supervisor.
As for the Bel-Ayre name, Willms had evidently liked the status of the name Bel-Ayre, or Bel-Air, and associated it with ideas of class and success. The name had several connotations to Willms and his business, says Serpa. “The story I got was that in my stepfather’s younger days, him and a buddy went to California with big dreams of being an actor. They asked around Hollywood for the rich and famous and they were directed to Bel Air. They saw a truck bringing tables and chairs into a big building. A guy said, ‘Don’t just look, start helping out.’ My stepfather said, ‘Is this a movie?’ The guy said, “No, we’re setting up for a party.” That got Willms’ wheels turning. Another Bel-Air connection was the Chevrolet Bel Air car Willms bought to come back to Canada from L.A.
One of the more recent changes to the business was in March 2013, with a move from their old facilities, a smaller series of disconnected locations along Wellington Avenue, to Roseberry Street: a single location, complete with a 15,000-squarefoot warehouse. Both areas are in the light industrial northwest corner of the city, north of St. James, and close to Winnipeg’s James Armstrong Richardson International Airport. “There were three different locations, all within walking distance,” said Louise Serpa, Serpa’s daughter, who has worked at Bel-Ayre
since 2005. She describes having to tell clients to pick up their plates in one place and their tables in chairs in another. With the new location the Serpas have a larger showroom, about double the size of what they had on Wellington. When Canadian Rental Service visited, they had just been cleaning it up from the Christmas season following Ukrainian Christmas, which is still a bit of a thing in Winnipeg.
“There’s a lot of tweaking going on still,” said Louise of the showroom, something they hope will help their clients. “We always allow for clients to play with
things, mix and match things, have some mock set-ups.”
The Serpas don’t just cater to weddings. There’s grad in the spring and family parties near Christmas time. One consistent source of income is the exceptionally busy summer festival season in the Winnipeg area. They rent out things such as tables, chairs and cooking equipment to the Winnipeg International Children’s Festival (June), the Winnipeg International Jazz Fest (June), the Winnipeg International Folk Festival (July), the Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival (July) and Folklorama (August), a two-week celebration of the various ethnicities that makes up Winnipeg, not to mention other seasonal festivals, like February’s great winter bash, the Festival du Voyageur.
Having done business in the community for 47 years, Bel-Ayre doesn’t spend a lot of money advertising. “It’s mostly word of mouth,” says Louise, of the way their clients hear about them. But the company has taken several virtual steps into cyberspace. They do have a webpage and they did finally decide to recently start up a Facebook presence, as well. “It gets a lot of traction. People call in.” While Louise admits their webpage could have more information, she also finds the lack of detail can sometimes work for them. “Another company mentioned that when they don’t have certain information, their clients have to call back to get
Some slick branding on the truck helps bel-Ayre keep its profile up in the community. The Serpas do not do much advertising or other promotion.
some more,” she said, something which may increase interaction between the company and more passive clients.
Bel-Ayre is also trying a few different things this year, with a larger presence at Winnipeg’s Wonderful Show at the Convention Centre. “It’s been several years since we exhibited. They called us to rent the futons and I worked out a deal with them,” said Louise.
In terms of other trends, another thing that they’ve endured is the rise of, for lack of a better term, the party supply dollar store, specializing in disposable party gear. “When I saw that trend coming, people decorating with disposable goods, I looked at the list for sales versus rentals,” said Serpa. “At the same time, we had many other stores that had disposable party goods, three or four of them up from the States. And we’ve seen many disposable party goods stores come and go.”
Other challenges in the Winnipeg party rental business include dealing
with the seasons and keeping employees. But there’s always something to keep one’s eye on. “The do-it-yourself market is up and coming with all the (wedding preparation) reality shows, and Pinterest is really blowing things up,” said Louise. “I did my own wedding myself. I couldn’t resist. I got married at (the historical, now-demolished) Canad-Inns Stadium. It was a blue and gold theme, not just for the Bombers, but it worked out well. There were fireworks at the end.” In fact, Louise was able to incorporate elements from her wedding back into the family business. “I saw these white futons (on which we were conducting the interview) on Facebook, bought them for my wedding, and now we rent them out,” she said. “The more we can use it, the cheaper we can provide it to the customer.” CRS
For more profiles, visit www.canadianrentalservice.com > Past issues
C OMING Ev ENTS
Feb. 28 - March 1, 2014
Atlantic Regional Trade Show Moncton, N.B. 8 crarental.org
March 4 - 8, 2014
ConExpo-Con/Agg and IFPE Las Vegas, Nev. 8 conexpoconagg.com
March 14 - 15, 2014
Prairie Regional Banquet and Trade Show Saskatoon, Sask. 8 crarental.org
March 18 - 19, 2014
Canadian Rental Mart Toronto, Ont. 8 canadianrentalmart.com
March 25 - 26, 2014 Quebexpo
March 25 - 26 Laval, Que. 8 crarental.org
April 16, 2014
MSA/CWEDA webinar: Fall Protection and Fall Arrest 8 cweda.ca
June 18 - 20, 2014
Canada’s Farm Progress Show Regina, Sask. 8 myfarmshow.com
Jan. 6 - 8, 2014
CWEDA AGM and Convention Regina, Sask. 8 cweda.ca
Feb. 22 - 25, 2015
The Rental Show New Orleans, La. 8 www.therentalshow.com
For more events, visit www.canadianrentalservice.com
govern, lest ye be governed
by Erik Gerlof
We cannot wait for a tragic incident before getting involved.
The good part of having a seasonal business is the time you will find during your down season. Time to evaluate your business, and even the industry you are operating in. During my time as president of the Canadian Rental Association B.C. Local, we discussed different ways to improve the rental industry as a whole. I did notice that the rental associations’ main focus is on the equipment rental industry. The golf tournament, CRA regional trade show and even our local board is occupied by individuals with a strong equipment rental background. Even though we do rent some tools and equipment, our focus at Rogers Rental is on the event rentals.
I have been wondering for the last two years why the event rental side is so poorly represented in the B.C. Local. Is it because we are less organized? Less governed? Are we too busy during our crazy summer season? As a result I have been looking a bit closer into the event rental industry. After consulting various event rental businesses, I started to notice a common denominator. In many event rental markets in B.C., there are different levels of professionalism. Some event rental businesses take their business seriously, treat customers fairly and display professionalism. These businesses, mostly CRA members, don’t roll the dice when setting up a tent in a difficult situation, they honour safety and obey the rules and regulations put on by authorities and manufacturers. Then there are the fly-bynighters, the backyard/garage box businesses and wedding decorators who try to make a buck for a year or two and leave a mark on the event rental industry. I think we can all agree that in the last few years the landscape of the event rental industry has changed dramatically. I have witnessed many examples of incorrect tent setups and dangerous staging constructions. Most reputable businesses spend
lots of resources, time and effort in attending seminars at our annual ARA trade shows. They spend significantly more on products that meet or exceed safety standards concerning, for example, fire safety. My question to you, fellow event rental stores, is are we going to wait until something tragic happens? There are numerous examples around of whole events going into flames because something simple like the ceiling drapery was not fire retardant. People have gone to hospital as a result. Are we going to wait until an improperly secured tent flies and hurts somebody in its path?
Remember that in today’s electronic environment accidents will go viral fast. If the culprit has “rental” or “event” in its name, it will reflect on your business, even though you may have had nothing to do with the incident. It is time we take the initiative ourselves and make sure we all operate on an equal playing field with our less professional counterparts. We need to be ready to work together with the authorities to get a safety system in place. For example, canopies and structures should only be erected by trained and/or licensed professionals. Some will feel it is not a smart idea to wake the sleeping bear of government regulation. Maybe not, but we all know, with the many untrained and unprofessional garage box event planners around, it will be only a matter of time before the bear will be awoken by a nasty accident. Then matters will be out of our hands. Event rental industry, are you ready to govern yourself, or are you going to wait to be governed? Are you interested in a standardized industry? Would you like to see governed mandatory staking and security practices? Talk to us. Join your local CRA board and have your voice heard. CRS
Erik Gerlof owns Rogers Rental in Kamloops, b.C. and is president of the Canadian Rental Association b.C. Local.
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LEGALESE different ways to pay
by Deryk Coward
There is more than one way to cover your lawyer’s bill.
hiring lawyers to pursue a claim through the court system can be daunting.
Everyone is aware that choosing to pursue a claim through the court system comes at a cost and questions usually arise as to lawyer fees, disbursements and costs associated with court proceedings.
The traditional manner in which lawyers charge clients is based on time spent. In this scenario, the lawyer will work on your case for you and keep track of the time he or she spends on it. The system is really not that different from how your mechanic would charge you to fix your vehicle. Disbursements (expenses incurred by your lawyer in the provision of legal services, such as courier fees for example) and taxes are additional to the hourly fees.
Hourly fees for lawyers in Canada vary greatly depending on where you are located, the type of legal matter and the expertise of the lawyer. Generally, more senior counsel have higher hourly rates. In Manitoba, articling student hourly rates are in the range of $150 while senior counsel on complex matters may charge more than $500 per hour.
Depending on the nature of your case, you may not like the hourly rate scenario but for many legal files it is the best way to charge.
For example, if you were wanting to consult an attorney in order to draft a new employment agreement for your company, the best way to engage counsel is probably by the hour. Your lawyer will be able to give you a rough estimate of the amount of time it will take, and the engagement is not open ended.
Pursuing a claim through the court system, however, is trickier. It is impossible to give a good estimate of how long it will take, mainly due to the fact that you will have an adversary and you don’t know how your adversary will behave. Moreover, don’t forget that you could lose your case entirely. In that scenario, not only have you paid your lawyer for all of the time spent, but you get nothing from your opponent.
When pursuing monies through the court system you are better off in most cases agreeing with your lawyer on an alternative system of compensation. In Manitoba, lawyers are permitted to charge the clients a percentage of the amount recovered (a “contingency” fee). In other jurisdictions, this is not permitted. A contingency fee arrangement with your legal counsel is simply this: your lawyer agrees not to charge you fees by the hour. Instead, the lawyer agrees to accept a fixed percentage of the amount recovered through his or her involvement. There are other terms and conditions which must be addressed, but that is the essence of the contingency arrangement. Contingency agreements must always be in writing. The benefit is that the client knows with certainty the amount which he or she will pay to their lawyer in the event of success. If you lose the case, then no fee is payable. In jurisdictions where contingency files are not permitted, there may be other options open to you, such as flat fee arrangements. These still give certainty of cost to you, as a client, and your lawyer may be willing to perform certain legal matters for a fixed fee.
One of the main advantages of contingency files is that cases which normally would not be pursued have the potential to proceed. For example, if you have a case worth $5,000 you are probably not going to want to pay a lawyer $5,000 in time, just for the chance to maybe win your case. In that scenario, you would need to win your case and recover the judgment from your opponent, just to break even (not to mention all of your time, effort and aggravation). If you had an arrangement with your legal counsel, however, whereby the lawyer took a fixed percentage of your winnings, but you only paid your lawyer if you won, then you would be more likely to pursue that claim. What would you have to lose? If the lawyer doesn’t get you your money, you don’t pay your lawyer. Seems fair to me. CRS
Simply Reliable
By keeping design simple and using proven technology, Skyjack products offer the rental industry’s best life cycle value through low cost of ownership, ease of service and maintenance while retaining high residual values.
Skyjack products feature:
• Standard color coded and hard wired relay based control systems which are easy to trouble shoot and repair using commonly available components
• Common components across model groups making replacing or repairing components easy and cost effective
• Replaceable modular platform railings and repairable fiberglass cowlings.
• No complicated and expensive computers or can-bus systems
• Robust steel construction
For information call 1-800-265-2738 or visit us online at www.skyjack.com
Chad Struthers, vice-president of Warner Shelter Systems, has been in the tent business for 17 years. He started out as an installer, but was quickly promoted to supervisor then head of Warner’s rental and construction business. He started spending more time on operations in 2002, but moved into sales a year later. It is safe to say he has seen most of what the tent business has to offer, and he has formed some clear ideas on how to put up and take down tents safely.
by PATRICK F LANNERY
A lot of Struthers’ safety thinking comes from his experiences in the Alberta oil patch. Contractors working there have to meet standards of training, documentation and procedure that are probably higher than anywhere else in the country. One thing Struthers has learned is that safety is not free. “You get some fly-by-night companies with the guys still running around in t-shirts, shorts and sneakers quoting a job for some very low price,” he says. “But we are coming out fully engineered, site inspected, following all the laws of health and safety and using the proper equipment. I want more money for that.” Grabbing business with low rates might seem like smart strategy in the short term, but you need only ask an event rental owner who has lost an employee in an accident to find out whether safety risks are ultimately worth it.
“Safety should start at the phone call,” Struthers says. He stresses that rental operators should never just focus on providing a tent. The conversation should start with what kind of event the customer is planning and follow from there. This is a familiar principle to most rental operators – good customer service always starts with asking about what the customer is going to do with the equipment. But Struthers says many of the safety risks associated with tents start when people try to use the wrong tent for a particular situation. For instance, vehicle access to a site can be a concern that doesn’t become evident until the crew shows up.
Struthers points out that this can mean the difference between dropping the material out of a truck or hand bombing it into an area, with the associated risks to staff that come from lugging heavy gear by hand. Many municipalities have
rules governing occupancy allowed in a given square footage when serving alcohol. Violating these rules can be dangerous, and can land the customer in hot water. If you do not ask the questions up front, the crew could show up and find out the tent is going on paving stone but they did not bring any ballast. Maybe the customer will accept a delay in this situation, or maybe someone will be asked to jury-rig a solution that is not safe. Planning and being prepared is one of the most effective ways to avoid putting anyone in an unsafe situation.
Standing at a counter and asking all the right questions and getting all the right answers is rare. Struthers believes strongly in site visits prior to renting anything. The major advantage to a site visit is it creates an opportunity to check for overhead power lines and locate underground services such as gas and electrical lines. Asking a customer about these aspects of a site without standing right there is a recipe for trouble. Many customers and rental operators are too focused on whether the tent will fit in the space available, Struthers says. Just as important is whether it can be moved into place and put together without running into any hazards. Most people are poor at visualizing whether a certain geometric shape will fit into a certain three-dimensional area. Depending on the customer to accurately describe at a rental counter (or worse, via e-mail) what your tent crew will face at the site is fraught with risk. That is why Struthers recommends having trained and experienced sales staff who do not mind taking a drive before taking an order.
Another skill sales staff need to have is the ability to say “No,” and the empowerment from management to do so. Some of the accidents
he has seen involved tents going into areas where they never should have been in the first place. Very few residential yards with overhead power lines will accommodate a tent of any significant size because there is not room for the 20-foot clearance everything should have. Sometimes the only way to prevent tragedy is to refuse to take the work if the plan is wrong.
Aside from touching overhead lines, grounding electrical equipment in water can pose another electrocution hazard for tent installers and customers. The distribution panel and any extension cords need to be properly grounded and cables bundled and protected against people tripping over them. Again, the site visit becomes critical to identify whether the site is graded and drains well, or whether standing water is going to be a problem if it rains.
Be aware of your local jurisdiction’s fire regulations. Struthers says Calgary requires anything over 600 square feet to get a building and development
10 questions to ask before renting out a tent
1. What kind of an event is it?
2. What surface will the tent be set up on?
3. How will the tent actually be used?
4. Will there be alcohol served?
5. What is the available area?
6. Is the site accessible by vehicles?
7. Does my tent meet standards for fire resistance?
8. Does my jurisdiction require an inspection from the fire marshal and/or an engineer for this size tent?
9. What is around the tent that will affect the wind load?
10. Does my crew have proper training?
permit, complete with a sign-off from the fire marshal. That means egress routes with fire doors with panic bars, fire extinguishers and emergency exit signs. As far as strictness of regulations goes, Struthers says Ontario is the strictest with Alberta and B.C. following. Saskatchewan and Manitoba “essentially have almost nothing,” he says.
Tents sold in North America are supposed to be fire resistant, but Struthers
Your work, your word – even you. So much of what you do relies on being dependable. Shouldn’t your equipment be held to the same standard? Subaru offers a full line of generators and pumps, all powered by Subaru’s technology-leading overhead cam engines – so there are no questions, no worries, just dependable equipment.
says to check the label on imported products. There are two standards that most Canadian authorities recognize: the U.S. National Fire Prevention Act standard NFPA-701 and the Canadian Underwriters Laboratories standard CAN/ULC-S109-M. Products not stamped with one of those certifications could expose you to liability should the tent catch fire due to inadequate fireproofing treatment.
Struthers is impatient with tent rental operators who send staff out without the proper equipment. Steel toes, coveralls, hard hats, hearing protection, safety glasses and gloves are all part of the kit for Warner’s people. He also says proper tickets and certification for forklift operators is a must. When it comes to training employees to erect tents safely, “Common sense is the biggest thing, but you can’t teach that,” Struthers says. New hires and summer employees should always be accompanied by at least one experienced installer.
When it comes to the safety and durability of the tent after it is put up, Struthers cautions that an engineered product is not the same as an engineer-approved installation. “Everybody says ‘Our tent is engineered and our tent has a stamped drawing,’ ” he says. “If the tent is not put up properly, that stamp means nothing.” Struthers says large
installations should be properly inspected and signed off because site conditions can alter how a tent should be anchored. An exposed site on top of a parking garage, for instance, has much different requirements than one on a ground floor lot with tall buildings all around.
The good news is there is help available. “I don’t know of one reputable tent company that won’t go out when a customer gets a new product and show them how to use it the first time,” Struthers says. He himself teaches classes in major areas where event rental operators can come and learn about aspects of tenting and planning events.
Finally, Struthers stresses the importance of knowing your tent product and choosing one that is going to withstand the rigours of rental. “Just because it is cheap on the internet doesn’t mean it is the best to have in your inventory,” Struthers says. “Know your product. The
name of this game is wear and tear. Tents go up, tents go down. They get moved from one site to the next and then, in your summer months, they get used a lot. So just because it is cheap out of the gate doesn’t mean it’s going to last.” Tents with worn down parts and fabric can have hidden weaknesses that do not reveal themselves until they fail, possibly with catastrophic consequences.
Tent safety goes beyond putting the shelter up correctly. Knowing the application, being willing to walk away from dangerous situations, choosing a rental-ready product, conducting a site visit and understanding your local regulations are all part of keeping your staff and customers safe. CRS
Putting up tents can be a risky business. Proper training and safety gear is not optional.
l aughing in the R ain
The B.C. regional show delivers the fun.
Asteady rain couldn’t dampen spirits at the 2014 B.C. Regional Trade Show, with around 200 B.C. rental operators and suppliers whooping it up with musical impersonator Tracey Bell at the lively Saturday night banquet on Jan. 11.
by PATRICK F LANNERY
The “boy toys” of rental. See the video at canadianrentalservice.com.
Bell’s lightning-fast costume changes and uncanny ability to mimic the expressions, voices and dance moves of such pop music stars as Janice Joplin, Madonna, Tina Turner, Cher and Celine Dion had the audience in stitches and up on stage taking part. For a sample of the hilarious action, check out the Canadian Rental Service video section on the home page. Here’s to a speedy recovery to L.B. White’s Gary Webb, who may have seriously overexerted himself as one of Madonna’s backup dancers.
Aside from the entertainment, which many commented was the best they had seen at the show for some time, the usual combination of networking, value shopping and industry camaraderie was on offer. About 150 attendees toured approximately 50 exhibitors at the Cloverdale Rodeo and Exhibition barn. New
Canadian Rental Association managing director Nathalie McGregor was on hand to greet attendees. One piece of news that came out of the show was that McGregor will be working from home in Grimsby, Ont., rather than out of the Winnipeg CRA offices.
Many familiar faces were on hand as exhibitors, with Rentquip and Cavalier taking the largest booths. A notable first-time exhibitor was Montolit, a manufacturer of robust tile-cutting equipment from Italy that has new representation in Canada and is looking to make inroads to the rental industry. Montolit was showing off a tabletop tile cutter with a mosaic attachment that looked to be just the thing for making backsplashes. There was also a larger unit on wheels that a contractor might like, and a misting device that attaches to a hand grinder/cutter for dust-free cutting.
– Jeff Campbell, St. Thomas Rent-All
l ea S e o R buy?
There is no one-size-fits-all solution for financing your store building.
In most businesses, the question of whether it is better to own or lease your store space frequently arises. With start-ups, as capital is usually limited, renting is the only option. For the established concern, particularly one that wishes to expand the shop’s size, relocate, or add another outlet, it becomes a matter of weighing the options and selecting the best. Many business owners say owning is the only way to go.
by LLOYD MANNING
Yet the big box stores and many industrial concerns lease. Since there are pros and cons to both, it comes down to determining whether the benefits of ownership outweigh the disadvantages.
The decision to own or lease should not be about occupancy, but rather the best use of available capital. You can always buy, build or rent the required shop space. Money is not made by owning an asset but by the use of it. I spoke recently to a business owner who leased a larger building than he previously occupied. As a subcontractor for some larger construction developments, there is increased demand for his limited capital. He is uncertain if buying at this time would be wise. He thinks, later, maybe, but not now.
If we are to assume that the average rental store has in the range of 5,000 square feet of floor space and requires about 7,500 square feet of land, an average-quality building in most of the country suggests an investment in the $400,000 range. If mortgaging, say $300,000 at 5.5 per cent for 15 years, the annual debt service would be approximately $29,000. Add to this the return on your equity investment of $100,000 at say nine per cent or $9,000 yearly, your property cost would be approximately $38,000 per year. However, were you to borrow the $100,000 from Aunt Jane at, say, six per cent for 10 years, the annual debt service would be approximately $13,000 for a total of $42,000. If leasing at $7 per square foot per year, 5,000 square feet would cost $35,000 per year. Property taxes, insurance, utilities and maintenance are additional in both cases. So,
depending on your cost of financing, buying could cost you $38,000 or $42,000, whereas leasing would cost only $35,000 per year. This suggests that for the shorter term, leasing is the better way to go.
But depending on other considerations, it may not be. When buying using the demonstrated interest percentages you will have retired the $100,000 loan in 10 years and the $300,000 mortgage in 15. Assuming that the equity capital to buy is available, or if you borrow it all from Aunt Jane, in the short term it works to your disadvantage. With buying, over the longer haul, you will be money ahead. This suggests that owing the real estate is the better way to go if you plan to stay in the facility for a long time. These figures are for demonstration purposes only. Do not accept them as gospel. You must work out your own cost of buying and financing or leasing. You might get a better deal on interest than what was shown. Interest rates are at an all-time low. It could be that the equity capital is not there or Aunt Jane says “no.” And, you might not be able to buy what you want for $400,000 or rent a good quality building for $7 per square foot. It is important that you undertake a complete cost analysis comparison, which would include all equipment, trucks, shelving, office furniture and equipment, leasehold improvements if renting, prepaid rent, and working capital.
Leasing can create the nagging feeling you are making the landlord rich. But if you wish to avoid leasing, you have to ask yourself whether you are prepared to assume so much debt. Other forms of property financing carry requirements
Your business plan will play a large part in determining your best approach for financing. How long do you plan to be in the location? What is your growth potential?
for personal guarantees and other financial commitments. If you are mortgaging the real estate and also leasing or financing equipment, how will your balance sheet, credit lines and borrowing ability be affected? Although leasing has some distinct disadvantages, it does provide 100 per cent leverage on your dollar and 100 per cent of the rent is tax deductible.
R EAL ESTATE AS AN INVESTMENT
Few investments provide a better long-term return on your capital than real estate. Your equity increases through mortgage pay-down and value appreciation. However, there are downsides. Real estate is land locked. It can’t be moved. If you pay too much, buy too big or finance too much it could be a loser. Leverage works both ways.
Consider setting up a separate company to own the property. Owning real estate should never be considered part of your
store’s business. It often makes sense to keep your property a separate investment owned by a separate company and leased back to the rental operation. Although this could incur some income tax consequences, it protects your investment against any business-oriented liability. Rent to yourself at market rate, the same as if you were leasing to a third party. On paper, consider yourself a tenant. Separate property and store expenses. Compare the returns with other investments, and then determine if this is the best way to go.
THREE CONSIDERATIONS
When you buy, envisage not only your own requirements but the longer-term potential of the property. There are three important considerations. First, the functional design of your store where the most important criteria will be how the property fits in with your needs and your potential growth. Second,
C OMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE CHECk LIST
Before buying, ensure the building:
• complies with all zoning and other municipal bylaws
• meets all building, electrical and fire codes
• is structurally sound
• is not obsolete
• is in good repair
• meets your storage and retail requirements
• has a sufficient site area for outside storage
Is the neighbourhood:
• easy to find and accessible?
• improving, with high resale demand and lease potential?
• mostly made up of owner-occupied buildings?
• boasting a low vacancy rate?
Avoid:
• declining or stable property values
• more tenants moving out than in
• low rents
• a poor overall atmosphere
someday you may wish to resell the property. For this purpose you need to consider it from the perspective of a future buyer. The more adaptable it is for other uses, the better price you will receive. Only select a property that will be in demand. Third, you may wish to rent out the property in the future. It could be that you will sell the business and retain the real estate as an investment. So you will want to ensure the property is adaptable, and can provide a return comparable with other investments now and in the future. Avoid the temptation to build inflation into your calculations. Use constant dollars.
CLARIF y yOu R OBJECTIVES
Only buy real estate after you have considered all factors and decided owning your shop’s property is preferable to leasing. Good real estate is one of the world’s better long-term investments, yet is not without its shortcomings. Develop a strategy that will enable you to achieve your objectives and overcome your constraints. Should you own your own real estate? Yes, no, maybe, sometimes, and all with qualifications. CRS
ABOuT THE AuTHOR
Lloyd Manning is a semi-retired business and commercial real estate appraiser and broker who now writes business books and articles for trade magazines and professional journals. His latest book, “Winning With Commercial Real Estate,” is available online from booklocker Inc., Chapters-Indigo and Amazon.
MINI-MIGHT.
The new Ditch Witch® SK750 and SK755 are built to outperform on any jobsite. Both models feature a high-drive track system along with an enhanced operator station, delivering superior performance through increased ground clearance, more lift capacity, faster ground speed, longer track life, and more operator comfort. And these new SK mini skid steers send more horsepower to the attachment than any competitor. That’s a lot of might from a small machine! Count on Brandt for quality products and the support to help keep you productive and profitable, job after job. That’s Powerful Value. Delivered.
Pa Rty S ho
GAME-
CHANGING TENT TECH
8 anchorinc.com
Anchor’s new F3 frame tent promises to make a big difference for tent rental operators. The F3 is designed to deliver simplicity, strength, elegance and value as key benefits. The F3 has 65 per cent fewer parts than comparable frames and has unique push-stop button connections. The absence of interior braces or cabling makes for a modern, clean attractive look. The system is engineered for winds 50 miles per hour and currently comes in 20- and 30-foot lengths and 10- and 15-foot mid-sections. Standard eave height is eight feet with ground levelling adjustability. Catenary tensioning provides a smooth, tight fit. The F3 features durable, field-proven fluted framing for increased strength. The track system allows for speedy installation, easily built on the ground and raised. Walking and relocating the frame is easy.
CREATES A MODERN LOOk
8 nationaleventsupply.com
National Event Supply has introduced a new line of spandex linens offering a modern, contemporary esthetic for any event. Each cover is 100 per cent wrinkle-resistant and designed with leg boots to ensure table covers are protected from damage and dirt. These table covers are available at competitive wholesale prices and ideal for party rental companies, hotels, weddings, and more. Available sizes and colours include six-foot and eight-foot rectangle spandex table covers in ivory, black, and white; or spandex cocktail table covers in ivory, black, white, burgundy, royal blue, orange, champagne and red.
ADDS VALu E TO EACH RENTAL
8 twisterdisplay.com
Twister Display helps rental companies ask “Would you like fries with that?” with games and toys perfect for upselling. A typical, small party rental company which rents bouncy
ur customers’ events innovative products.
ho WC a S e
houses for $150 and books 100 rentals a summer can add six games to its inventory at a cost of $600 each. If it still books 100 events but includes 65 game upsells, that is an extra $100 each, or $6,500 in additional revenue from a one-time investment of $3,600. An extra $6,500 in revenue with no additional bookings – that is the power of the upsell. For 25 years, Twister Display has been a leading source of dunk tanks and games for all ages. Twister Display’s games are low-liability, compact, and easy to set up and use. Twister Display is introducing seven exciting and fun new games this year.
S HOu LD HAVE BEEN INVENTED yEARS AGO 8 line-safety.com
The Tank-Away safety gizmo from Line-Safety is designed to save rental operators and customers time and money. “Our Tank Away propane hose-tidy is cheap and simple, and should have been invented years ago,’’ says Karen Swift, owner. ‘’We took the outlet of a propane tank and we simply patterned it as a hose-tidy in impact-resistant nylon. It fixes to where the propane tank normally sits, and when the tank’s away it shields the hose coupling from contamination and saves the hose from drag, snag, and strain damage. Besides the obvious extra life on fittings, it aids a perfect reconnect, every time.” The new Tank-Away can improve on the drop-and-forget attitude that some customers have towards fittings, helping to ensure that the connector is good when they reach for it. The low cost for the OEM Tank-Away makes it an economical way to add security and safety to your propane tank fleet. For stores with retail opportunities, Line-Safety offers versions with enhanced safety features in attractive POS blister packs.
P ORTABLE HAND S IN k 8 crownverity.com
Crown Verity has introduced a new line of economy hand sinks. The new sink provides more than 300 hand washes. It offers an extra large washbasin, soap and paper towel dispenser and
PARTY SHOWCASE
hands-free foot pump operation. The sink is simple to service thanks to easy-flow drainage, roll-and-go wheels and a slim storage profile. It is also available with warm water wash. The Crown Verity hand sink achieves nearly 300 uses on a single, 17-gallon fill up. A drain hose is included for a hassle-free quick cleanout. The extra large basin allows for full forearm immersion, compliant with occupational health and safety regulations.
FAMILy GOLF F u N
8 startingtimegolf.com
My Mini Golf from Starting Time is designed to be entertaining and rewarding for people of any age. It is available in a full 19-piece set, a Front Nine set and a Back Nine set, with other configurations available. My Mini Golf delivers family fun both indoors or outdoors and on any smooth surface. Manufactured in Germany, the product is durable, lightweight and portable. Since it can be played on any smooth surface, ranging from natural grass to carpet to wood flooring, customers can just open the game up and users will find a fun, interactive game that livens up any party or corporate event.
yOu’LL SHOOT yOu R EyE OuT
8 xyzbot.com
For all those adults in arrested development, finally a rapid-fire rubber band machine gun kit is available. Established engineering and manufacturing team XYZbot has developed the fully automatic, battery-powered RBMG that fires 64 rubber bands continuously. The RBMG kit can be assembled in about 30 minutes and contains laser-cut wood parts. Requiring only a screwdriver and pliers, the kit provides an opportunity to learn about electric motors and simple machines cleverly disguised as a fun toy. The RBMG offers rapid-fire technology for less than $100. As a tiny startup company, XYZbot runs on small-scale garage manufacturing, having fun making quality products. “We maintain high product quality and low prices by keeping a lean company of talented, creative people,” said owner Kerwin Lumpkins.
I NNOVATION IN STAGING
8 wengercorp.com
New StageTek staging from Wenger delivers improved handling, flexibility and strength. After more than 50 years of stage design, Wenger has improved handling with fast,
intuitive and instruction-free setup that maximizes labour efficiency. StageTek staging assembles quickly without tools, folding frames or other cumbersome understructure. The innovative decks are 20 per cent lighter than comparably sized Wenger Versalite decks and feature integrated hand grips that require 40 per cent less grip strength to handle. Standard deck sizes range from three feet by three feet to four feet by eight feet. Custom deck sizes are also available. Because StageTek legs store compactly inside the decks, the storage footprint is up to 50 per cent less than conventional staging and carts. Enhanced flexibility comes from StageTek staging’s round plug-and-play legs – both fixed-height and adjustable – that reduce assembly time by 20 per cent compared to Z-frame systems. For creative options, StageTek staging provides versatility for all events, from complex multi-level stages for concerts to simple platforms for ceremonies and other activities. A variety of deck surface options are available. Wenger’s engineering advances ensure that StageTek staging can safely support heavier loads while satisfying three critical load requirements: uniform, point and dynamic. The leg-and-deck design of StageTek staging provides 70 per cent more open storage space underneath than with typical Z-frame systems. StageTek staging features field-reparable components and a 10-year warranty (patents are pending).
CLASSy AND AFFORDABLE
8 nationaleventsupply.com
National Event Supply’s line of Serenity crystal stemware will add a sparkle to any table. Serenity is an attractively priced line of stemware designed for the hospitality sector. It is lead-free and dishwasher safe for easy use and cleaning in a high-volume commercial environment.
With wine glasses available in four sizes, rental operators can pick a glass that suits the market. NES also has champagne flutes and martini glasses for those events where a nice Bordeaux or Chardonnay is not the only thing on the drinks menu. Available in multiples of six, Serenity crystal stemware is a great value and available to purchase at a fraction of the price of many leading brand names. With crystal this affordable, operators can provide a high-end look to customers while keeping costs reasonable and helping improve return on investment.
Hilti. Outperform. Outlast.
PARTY SHOWCASE
THREE-IN- ONE SySTEM
8 schaeferfan.com
Schaefer Ventilation Equipment, manufacturer of ventilation and thermal comfort products, offers a three-in-one Tripod Package with interchangeable heater head, fan head and misting system. Designed for efficient transportation and storage, this multi-function product can be used all year long. Use the fan and misters for summer rentals, and the heater for fall/winter rentals as an electric patio heater. After initial assembly, no tools are required to set up and take down. Made in the U.S.A., the package includes one tripod, one heater head, one fan head and one mist kit.
10,000 DISHES PER HOu R
8 www.meiko.us
Meiko’s revolutionary M-iQ improves on virtually every facet of dishwasher engineering and construction, for improved washing results and economical operation. The M-iQ series of rack conveyors are among the most efficient dishwashers in the world, with a water consumption as low as 0.15 gallons per rack. That low water consumption also dramatically reduces heating energy, detergent, and rinse aid consumption. Advanced engineering features take these advantages even further. A standard, integrated blower dryer works with the airflow management system and improves drying results. The M-Filter system actively and continuously removes food soil from the wash water to improve soil removal from the ware, and further reduce detergent consumption by up to 50 per cent. An innovative airflow management system re-directs heat inside the machine to a single ventilation connection. The warm waste air is then used to preheat the incoming rinse water, reducing energy costs and cooling the exhaust air. Exhaust emissions are also reduced in volume, by as much as 90 per cent. An active tank management system continually monitors and adjusts water levels in the machine automatically for optimum level control and soil distribution. The higher-pressure wash system has modeled water flow using computational fluid dynamics for optimum washing results. Even cleaning is simplified; M-iQ includes an automatic self-cleaning mode, and colour-coded areas indicate components that need manual cleaning to save time at the end of the shift. M-iQ rack conveyors are available in a variety of models and sizes to suit most applications. CRS
LITERATURE REVIEW
Pearl Abrasive is pleased to introduce our 2014 Specialty Abrasive Brochure. Pearl is dedicated to developing a special line of Visionary Products and Targeted Solutions. Our differentiated or special products are designed to meet specific needs and applications of manufacturers, fabricators, installers and contractors. These unique products are manufactured to provide optimal performance, quality and value. The Specialty Abrasive Brochure is also available in French.
Pearl Abrasive is pleased to introduce our 2014 Catalog. Pearl supplies bonded & coated abrasives, wire brushes, diamond blades, wheel cups, core bits and polishing pads. We also offer a complete line of tile saws, masonry saws and surface preparation equipment as well as our new Gas Powered Concrete Saws, Floor Grinders, Scrapers, Scarifiers and Core Drill Rigs. Pearl also carries dust containment products, the Tuscan Leveling System, Roto-Wedge and the Smart Spacers and the New Tuscan SeamClip.
InSPECtIOn SyStEm
The lightweight, Gen-Eye POD™ and MINI-POD™ combine camera, reel, and monitor in an all-in-one package. The large 7” LCD color monitor is protected by a padded case, and is mounted on a flexible gooseneck that swivels for the best viewing angle.
The Gen-Eye POD trouble-shoots 3” to 10” drain lines up to 200 ft long and the MINI-POD™ is for 2” to 4” lines up to 175 ft. long. A video out connection lets you record on an external device. For more information, contact the Drain Brains® at General Pipe Cleaners at 800-245-6200, or visit www.drainbrain.com.
