Marquees for sale: Starting a marquee hire company

Garden Marquees

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:31:04 +0100

We supply a range of garden marquees, one of the most popular is our 6m x 8m model, ideal for 40 seated plus buffet area. Often people will buy or hire this out for parties where people are hoping for good weather with furniture outside but there's enough space inside to house everyone if it starts raining:
Garden Marquees

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Marquees for sale in a new size!

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 15:11:52 +0100

We've now got 6m x 14m DIY Marquees which have a seating capacity of 100!
Details and photographs can be found here:

6m x 14m Commercial Marquees for sale

Need advice?

DIY Marquees for advice on starting your own marquee hire business

Marquees for sale for advice on setting up your own marquee event

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Need a marquee hire website?

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 10:54:16 +0100

My latest post over on our Marquee Hire advice blog is about marquee hire websites -we're offering websites to start up businesses including webmail etc for £180.

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Marquee Hire Advice

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 11:06:13 +0200

Okay, I'm back (and there was much rejoicing)

But I'm moving. We're incorporating a blog into our (shiny) new website so it makes sense for me to write more hire advice there (and I'll reuse the few articles from here too).

New blog is here: www.diymarquees.co.uk/marquee-hire-blog/index.php

Hope you'll visit, if you want to discuss your needs exactly just drop me an email.

Thanks

Spencer

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Sorry!

Sat, 22 Sep 2007 09:20:36 +0200

Sorry for the lack of updates recently. I've been asked to write some articles on marquee hire for some websites so I've been busy doing that. As I'm writing them anyway I've started putting some ideas down on another marquee hire blog.
I was actually (pleasantly) surprised by the number of people out there who wanted to read this
I will come back and update when I can (with our first baby due imminently updates might be a little irregular)

Hopefully anyone interested in starting their own marquee hire business will be coming along to the Showmans Show in October, we'll be there (new baby's arrival allowing). I'm not sure what stand number yet, just look for the DIY Marquees sign. I'll be happy to sit down with you for a drink and point outthe essential stands etc -Grumpy Joes are doing free burgers again, that's got to be a good place to start

Thanks for reading

Spencer

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Tips on starting a marquee hire business part 3

Sun, 02 Sep 2007 12:14:13 +0200

Advertising & Getting yourself known
Advertising

Word of Mouth: the best source of leads. Do a good job and valuable leads will come from recommendations.

Unfortunately word of mouth alone isn’t sufficient and if you’re just starting out you won’t have the customers to initially pass on the recommendation!

So where to begin?

Again you have to have your target market in mind. Where are they likely to look?

Parish magazines – Good cheap way of targeting a local area.

Yellow Pages – while this used to be the main source of advertising for marquee hire companies it’s been overtaken by online advertising. A free one-line entry in your local copy is essential. Some companies still spend a lot on large adverts but an increasing number are diverting that money online.

Thomson Local – again good to have a one-line entry but anything more is better spent elsewhere.

Online:

A website is essential. Whether you make it yourself or have it made for you it’s better to have a small website that looks good rather than a large website that looks thrown together and is difficult to navigate.
There are THOUSANDS of places to advertise online. All I can recommend is search on google for what you think people will type in to get a marquee company near you (“marquee hire Bristol” for example) and check the results.
Google pay per click is very good as long as you target the right phrases.

Tip: Unless you want to be a large nationwide company I’d suggest that getting to the top of google for “marquee” or “marquees” is an expensive and pointless exercise.

Getting yourself known

This is the bread & butter of marquee hire companies.

When organising an event some people won’t go to the marquee company first. They might go to the caterer, the florist, the DJ. Everyone’s different. Getting in with these people is a MUST.

Fill your pockets with business cards and leaflets, put your best charm hat on and if possible go and meet people face to face.
You should have a list of local caterers etc from inviting other marquee hire companies over for site visits (see Part 1 below) but also visit as many other local caterers and florists you can find in yellow pages/online.

You need to explain:

How easy to work with you are (you want to work with these people)
How reliable you are (you want them to recommend you)
How new and well maintained your equipment is

Some people work on commission for recommendations. Personally I always avoided paying any commission and relied on a ‘you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours’ approach, however I think I’m in the minority and if you get regular business from such arrangements losing 10% of it is manageable.

It’s worth visiting any local national trust properties or anywhere you’ve seen marquees up as they can be a good reliable source of leads.

As a final note some people will actually contact other local marquee hire companies to get on good terms with them. That way if you or they need to cross-hire anything you have communications in place. Try to make sure they don’t recognise you from the site visit though

Next time I’ll write about site visits.

Spencer

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Having had to retire after 10 years of running a marquee hire company due to a serious back injury I now supply commercial marquees and linings for marquee hire companies at Marquees for Sale from DIY Marquees.
In the future I will be writing on what to expect from your marquee hire company which will be expanding on the articles I wrote for confetti.

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Tips on starting a marquee hire business part 2

Mon, 06 Aug 2007 18:38:04 +0200

Choosing your target market
There are basically four target markets available to a marquee hire company. Most will specialise in one but actually cover several.

i) Private parties.
- The most common and easiest place to start as a small selection of marquees is sufficient.
- Customers are generally more flexible about erection/dismantling timings and equipment offered (accepting what is on offer rather than demanding certain things that aren’t)
- Standards can be lower than weddings (though not too low!)
- Not as lucrative as other options as people are often cost cutting by not having lining/lighting/flooring.
ii) Corporate hospitality/entertainment.
- Difficult market to establish yourself in though it can be very lucrative if you get there
- Contacts contacts contacts: As well as building up good relationships with local party planners and targeting in-house event organisers, when people come up with suggestions you need to know where to look and who to speak to. Getting to know some good theming companies is essential.
- You need to have variety and flexibility in your marquee range. You will be on the receiving end of all sorts of weird and wonderful ideas– you need to have the marquees (and imagination) to cope.
- There’s no need to hold large stocks of accessories: Linings, lighting, flooring & furniture will probably all have to be hired in for each occasion. Buying equipment is pointless until you know what is in use regularly.
- You will generally be called in to a meeting as the marquee specialist. You need to be decisive in your recommendations for layout. Unlike weddings where you should give lots of options, here people are after the best marquee solution so they can then concentrate on the details.
iii) Weddings
- Arguably the most lucrative market as nearly all marquees require lining, lighting, flooring etc
- As weddings are planned 6-12 months in advance you know your peak season well in advance (useful for planning labour, buying extra equipment etc)
- Standards need to be very high
- Give the clients options. Unless the bride and groom know exactly what they are after you should supply them with two or three options for layouts etc together with pros and cons of each
- Marquee equipment is surprisingly predictable. White marquees, ivory or white linings, chandeliers or spotlights & uplighters for lighting.
iv) Country fairs, fetes etc
- A volume game. No lining, lighting, flooring or furniture required. It’s all about getting as many marquees up and down as quickly as possible

If you’re very brave (and have a burning sensation in your pocket) you can try to buy enough equipment to go straight in to corporate entertainment or weddings.
However, most people start off doing small private parties and local fairs/fetes and see where the market takes them, expanding whenever possible.

What to look for when buying marquees
When you research marquees or look around the Showman’s show you’ll realise the marquees can be put into 3 categories:

Lightweight: Consisting of easy-up/pop-up marquees and party tents.

The easy-up/pop-up design is very impressive. The frame folds together, you leave the roof on, you can put the marquee up in 60 seconds.
Thin framed ones should be avoided as they won’t last very long in the hire trade but the thick framed ones last quite well.
The material used in party tents generally make them too lightweight for the hire trade. Whilst the steel pipe used is okay the roofs and walls are made from 120g/m2-240g/m2 PE which doesn’t last very long.
Suitable for small parties, BBQ’s and small stands at fairs
Aren’t adaptable or elegant enough for corporate or wedding marquees

Midweight: Consisting of DIY Marquees and other steel pole style marquees

Aim to have the same finish as their heavier duty counterparts.
Components aren’t quite as strong as heavyweight marquees – typical midweight cover is 500g/m2
Usually a fraction of the cost of heavyweight marquees.
Midweight marquees are good for parties, fairs and (if lined) weddings.
Can be limited for corporate hospitality as hired themed linings are generally made only for heavyweight marquees.

Heavyweight: Consisting of Tectonics UK, Roder, Hoeker

Most expensive but also the best quality marquees - covers are usually 600-700 g/m2.
Same style is used over all widths – 3m up to 30m wide.
All marquee lining hire companies will stock additional linings if required.
Suitable for any event but can be uncompetitive for private parties due to the large initial outlay.

It depends on how much you want to spend starting your marquee hire business up which marquees to go for. Personally I would recommend having a mixture of each type. This means you can cope with a wide variety of events and you can see in which direction is best to expand rather than committing down one path before you start.

I’m not sure what the topics will be next time. Probably advertising/getting yourself known, or site visits.

Thanks for reading

Spencer
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Having had to retire after 10 years of running a marquee hire company due to a serious back injury I now supply commercial marquees and linings for marquee hire companies at Marquees for Sale from DIY Marquees.
In the future I will be writing on what to expect from your marquee hire company which will be expanding on the articles I wrote for confetti.

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Tips on starting a marquee hire business Part 1

Mon, 30 Jul 2007 18:15:14 +0200

Tips on starting a marquee hire business Part1

Like any new business starting your own marquee hire company can be tricky. It’s easier if you’ve already run your own business or worked in the industry but it’s not essential and anyone can learn what to do.

Visit the Showman’s Show

The Showman’s Show is a two day show in the middle of October for all things marquees and outdoor events related. This is where you will meet all your contacts to buy or hire marquees or pretty much anything to do with marquees.

Essential visiting:

Custom Covers – to see the latest lining technology and ideas. Also good for nibbles.
Covers & Linings – as Custom Covers
Essential Supplies – Suppliers of all marquee accessories, lighting, power leads etc. Their catalogue will become your bible for ‘bits you didn’t realise you needed when you started up’
Techtonics UK – the latest marquee ideas and technology
DIY Marquees – that’s us, (don’t worry, I won’t go into a big sales pitch) we supply economic commercial marquees and linings for start up hire companies.
Portable floormakers – for dance floors, furniture and budget carpet
Grumpy Joes – the original owner or portable floormakers. Normally good for a burger.

You’ll also have to evade various jugglers and acrobats as it’s for anyone organising an outdoor event.

Ask several local companies round for a site visit

This sounds a little dishonest (and well, it is) but rest assured in a few years time when you’re successful you will be called out to do a site visit to someone thinking of setting up in competition to you. You probably won’t find out until a long time afterwards if at all, but take it as a compliment.

At the site visit:

Make it convincing, otherwise they’ll think it’s a waste of their time and you won’t get enough out of it.
Choose an event of similar size to your target market. So if you’re planning on providing informal marquees for 50-100 guests, don’t ask them round to quote for a 300 guest formal wedding!
Ask them what makes them stand out from their (and your future) competition, if you can stretch this into what they think of their competitors then so much the better
Take note of all the small details they mention and how they come across. If they’ve been successful for a long time then they’re doing something right. Try to take the best bits from their pitch/approach and improve it.
Ask for recommendations: local caterers are essential information but also local DJ's, bands and florists. More on this another time.
See how each company operates and how you can improve on it– how long does the quote take to send? How long did the initial brochure take to send? What’s their presentation like? Yours has to be better than this. Future customers are going to have their quotes next to your one, your quotation must stand out either through reliability, promptness of service, knowledge of their needs, presentation, price, or preferably all five.
Make it convincing

In Part 2 I’ll be writing about choosing your target market and what to look for when buying marquees

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