White ratchet straps for marquees

September 12th, 2011

Isn’t it annoying when you buy something only to see a newer improved version available soon after?

Well we’re just introducing white ratchet straps to go in our tie down kits, the standard for the whole industry is to use orange (which we still have available) but we are repeatedly asked for white to blend in with the marquee so we have now produced them.

Not only that but if you’ve purchased orange ratchet straps from us in the last month then we’re happy to exchange them (free of charge) for white ones even if the orange ones are used. Just send them back to our factory (obviously including a copy of the invoice).

We do try to look after our customers even after they’ve purchased a DIY Marquee :)

Thanks for reading

Spencer

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How much space is needed for a place setting?

September 5th, 2011

Unusual seating plans can call for some head-scratching calculations. 95% of the time people will want standard seating arrangements that you’ll have done many times before but just occasionally you get a someone who wants something a bit different. This generally involves unusual shapes or combinations of tables – you may hire them or make them yourself (bolting a custom made top to an existing table is the most common option). Here are some rules to help you plan:

Ideally you want a 2ft (60cm) wide space per person around the table. It can be a bit less if it’s a curved table (as people end up with more space further away from the table)

You also need to allow 2ft (60cm) for chairs around the table but that doesn’t allow space to walk between tables.

As an example take a 20ft/6m wide marquee that you would typically fit two round tables across in any layout. So 5ft round tables would then have an extra 2ft for the chairs, positioning them against the walls leaves a 2ft path down the middle.

Thanks for reading

Spencer

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Different types of top table

August 22nd, 2011

As a marquee hire company you need to offer your customers choice. One particular decision is what type of top table to use. Not only do you need to offer different options but you also need to be able to discuss the pros and cons of each:

Traditional long table:

Usually made up of 3 6ft trestles with seating on one side and positioned on one side of the marquee.

  • Gives a traditional/formal feel to the seating layout
  • Easy for speeches
  • Easy for you to set up
  • Good for photographs with a marquee wall behind
  • Can be difficult to talk to best man/bridesmaid on the ends
  • Difficult to change the seating arrangements from gridge, groom, parents, best man and bridesmaid(s)
  • People on the table are facing guests backs if the remaining seating is round tables
  • Space required in marquee: 3x6m

Round table:

Usually a 5ft, 5ft6in or 6ft round table in the middle of all the other round tables

  • Gives a very informal feel to the layout
  • Very social with other guests in all directions
  • Easy to change seating arrangements if circumstances require it (for eg no need to have parents/in-laws on the same table)
  • Not ideal for photographs
  • Not ideal for speeches (often having to walk to one side to make them)
  • Space required in marquee: 3x3m

Oval Table

Usually constructed of several trestle tables with a ‘D’ shape table at each end and positioned at one side of the marquee. Seating is usually in a horse-shoe on 3 sides leaving the front clear

  • more sociable option than a traditional top table (people at the ends are now facing towards the bride & groom)
  • can be formal or informal
  • leaving the front clear makes for good photographs
  • Surface can be uneven with so many tables next to each other on uneven ground
  • Space required in marquee: 3x6m

Remember a popular option is to have the top table on the dance floor. This means that all guests are positioned around the top table and when it is lifted away after the meal everyone is then automatically positioned around the dance floor. It’s best to use the top table for this as the idea is that everyone on it will spend the rest of the evening socialising.

Thanks for reading

Spencer

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Space required in a marquee

August 15th, 2011

When you plan a marquee event you need to know how much space to allow for furniture and other features. As a rough guide use 3x3m boxes:

  • For a 5ft round table seating 8-10 or a 5ft6in round table seating 9-11 guests allow one 3x3m square box
  • For a set of buffet tables (usually three 6ft trestles) allow 3x6m (ie two 3x3m boxes)
  • For a top table (tradition long table or an oval) allow 3x6m
  • DJ’s: 3x3m
  • Band: At least 3x6m depending on how many people are involved
  • Bar: 3x3m (often with another 3x3m for a sofa or spare seats)

Dance floors can vary in size depending on the type of event and number of guests so they’re a bit tricky.

Also consider leaving some space clear when people first walk in and in front of any catering entrance if you have the space to do so.

Of course you can just use our marquee planner or email us and one of us will put something together for you.

Thanks for reading

Spencer

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The Showmans Show 2011

August 8th, 2011

Most readers will have heard of the Showmans Show, some will not – it’s the one show of the year to visit as a marquee hire company.  Every supplier you could possibly need will have a stand there including the wonderful DIY Marquees :)

We’re always in the same spot every year:

Register for free at The Showmans Directory. It’s on the 19th & 20th October at The Newbury Showground.

Everyone on our stand has had first hand experience of running a marquee hire company so we’d love to sit down with you and talk through any plans or ideas you may have.

As always I’m working on some new products that we hope to show there.

Thanks for reading

Spencer

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Marquee repairs, change of policy

August 1st, 2011

Not advice this week, just an announcement of a change in policy for us regarding the repair of marquees.

1. We will now only repair our own marquees. If it’s not a DIY Marquee then I’m afraid we’re not going to be able to repair it. Our marquees are pretty tough to damage but it appears some others are not. Frankly we’ve had enough of making up for other manufacturers poor workmanship.

2. If you send something back you would like us to repair then it must be clean. Clean as in suitable for a marquee to be used by the fussiest mother-of-the bride around. If I pass on any more dirty panels to be repaired we’re likely to have a mutiny on our hands! Bear in mind most of these ladies have watched me grow up for the last 25+ years and you’ll realise who’s actually in charge round here :)

We will still offer our usual high quality service with a fast turnaround, after all we’ve been there and know what disruption a damaged panel can cause.

So if something sharp cuts one of your DIY marquee panels (the main cause of damage seemingly) then please make sure it’s clean before sending it back to us.

Thanks for your understanding.

Spencer

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First impressions count

July 25th, 2011

Your job as a marquee hirer isn’t just to supply and erect the marquee but often to help with the planning involved, especially planning the layout. But just organising the internal layout isn’t enough, you need to advise on:

  • where in the garden to position the marquee. There’s not always a choice but the most popular answer is close to the house if the weather forecast is bad and set back to allow for a drinks/greeting area if the forecast is good
  • what the first impression of the marquee/setting will be for the guests. This I would say is very very important. It also give you an opportunity to ‘upsell’ as I believe marketers currently call it.

Eddie Izzard makes a good case for first impressions.

Windows will always make a marquee more inviting than just plain walls but often that isn’t enough on it’s own. This is when pagodas can be used as entrance tents along with paths of carpet and various decorations. They are also very easy in that they basically sell themselves, show a customer a photo of the side of a marquee compared to a photo of one with an entrance tent and 9 times out of 10 you’ve got a booking for another marquee at the same site.

Thanks for reading

Spencer

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Business plans

July 18th, 2011

When you’re starting a new business venture a business plan is a useful tool to have.  Despite what some might say it’s not essential and watching Dragons Den or The Apprentice you could be forgiven for thinking it’s a case of picking random numbers and adding a zero or 6 to give your 3-year plan.

But a good business plan can save you a lot of work or stop you making an expensive mistake. In my opinion a good business plan should make a sound and compelling argument for why you should start it.

A good article on business plans. Business link are always a good source.

My only slight reservation is don’t get carried away. If you spend too long putting the plan together you’ll use up all that new-venture energy and never get round to actually doing it!

Thanks for reading

Spencer

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Marquee partitions

July 11th, 2011

I’ve posted a few times about partitioning off a marquee for use as a catering area or other purpose.

Well this year we’ve made it a bit easier by supplying a full height partition panel. You can see details of them at the bottom of any marquee page (6x12m for eg). They have zips in to create a large middle entrance or discrete side access.

Being able to so easily make a catering area (or storage area etc) should make a hirer’s life easier which at the end of the day we’re all after :)

Thanks for reading – I was on holiday last week hence no post.

Spencer

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Different marquee customers look for different things

June 27th, 2011

In the main if you do a good job in erecting the marquee with a nice finish the customer is very happy, however occasionally you get a customer who picks out something that you’ve never even thought about. Some examples of unusual issues we came across are:

  • Having opened the side up and removed the ground bars to allow side access we were criticised for leaving 2″ of grass on show (what was formerly under the ground bars)
  • Curtain linings not touching the floor (they are generally about an inch off)
  • The roof lining looking different shades of ivory (we had to politely point out that this was because one half of the marquee was in the shade of an oak tree)
  • My favourite – the silver heads of the nails were ‘an eye-sore’ amongst the honeybeige carpet

These sort of things happen very rarely and there’s not much you or I can do to pre-empt them. Obviously if a customer has got it in their head that it’s a fault then you’ve got to resolve it politely otherwise it might ruin the enjoyment of the event for them.

Whether it’s carpeting an extra 2″ of a marquee, re-cable tying all of the curtains a bit lower or going to Halfords and buying some cream car paint to spray each nail head you’ve just got to do whatever it takes for a happy customer and move on. We did just point out the oak tree in the garden by the way, we didn’t just attack it with a chain-saw!

I hope the bad weather hasn’t caused too many problems for all you hirers.

Thanks for reading

Spencer

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