Alex Esteban

Picture it: It’s Wednesday, February 20, 2019. The final day of The ARA Show 2019. You are walking away with amazing savings on some new tents, tables, and chairs guaranteed to make you money for years to come. The only problem? Logistics. How do you get all these new purchases home if they aren’t shipping from the vendor headquarters?

Some vendors will bring inventory to sell at the show or offer discounts if you purchase their display items or booth components. If you take advantage of these savings, you are could run into logistical challenges to get your purchases home. Large items like tents, tables, or large equipment can present a logistical nightmare, especially if you flew in for the show.

Avoid Logistics Nightmares

Luckily, Allstate Tent is here to help! We have some tips and advice for making your rental show buying experience as trouble free as possible.

The best way to have a smooth experience is by planning ahead. Most show specials are advertised ahead of the show. If you know you will be buying large items like heavy equipment, display tents or demo products which will need to be transported from the show, you can save yourself some trouble by planning ahead.

Plans are of little importance, but planning is essential.
-Winston Churchill

If you are driving to the show, the easiest way to get your purchases home is in your own truck. Most attendees are not within driving distance of Anaheim, CA. However, there are other options.

• If you have a preferred shipping provider you should call ahead to find out if they ship from Anaheim CA and the rates you’ll be looking at.
• UPS and FedEx are also options depending on shipment size. With a large shipment, you will need to look at LTL shipping.
• Most major LTL freight operators have service centers in Anaheim CA.

Picking up Purchases

Once you’ve made your purchase you will want to take possession of your purchases when you buy, if possible. If your purchases aren’t available until after the show ends you will need to find out from the vendor where and when to go for pickup and loading as the convention center staff and ARA have set schedules for an efficient takedown after the show ends. Come with patience and kindness–the process will be smoother for all.

I don’t know what the hell this ‘logistics’ is that Marshall is always talking about, but I want some of it.
-Admiral E. J. King

If you plan to purchase from Allstate Tent, go ahead and let us know so we can put together the best solution for your individual situation. Most vendors will be happy to aid in logistics. The Rental Show 2018 is an amazing resource for purchasing new equipment.

Follow these tips to ensure a relaxed worry-free buying experience. Feel free to reach out to our experienced staff with any questions!

Being one of the biggest shows in the event rental industry, the 2019 ARA Show can be a handful. With over 700 exhibitors and hundreds of show specials, one can easily lose track of their main goals. Luckily, we at Allstate Tent know this and have made a guide of our own, just for you!

Attending a trade show can be an exciting and fun experience. Most attendees aren’t going simply for the fun experience though. Trade shows are a necessary part of doing business. Doing them right can yield big results for your business! Allstate Tent has put together a two-part
survival guide to help you make the most of The Rental Show 2019. Part one is a list of best tips for attending The Rental Show.

Rental Show Tips

1. Research: Research the products you want to check out and have a list of questions to ask.
2. Set Appointments with Exhibitors in Advance: To maximize your time and to avoid fighting a crowd to speak to the staff of an exhibitor. Call before the show to ask if you can set up a dedicated time to speak with someone who can answer all your questions and take your order. Allstate Tent will be happy to do this, so we will be waiting for you at Booth #2525!
3. Have a Budget: With hundreds of show only specials, it is easy to get carried away. Don’t blow last year’s profits on the first day of the show.
4. Business Cards: Have plenty of business cards. You will get hundreds of cards at The Rental Show. It helps to have some of your own to hand out.
5. Dress Comfortably: The Rental Show is one of the biggest trade shows in the world.
   Make sure you have comfortable shoes and clothes.
6. Download The Rental Show App: The ARA has an app called “ARA Show”, available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. This is a great resource to help you get the most out of the show.
7. Bring Power: Be sure to bring a portable charger or power bank, because with the short life of most cell phone batteries today, one of these will be a lifesaver for long trade show days.
8. Plan Ahead: Plan purchases and logistics prior to the show if possible. Part 2 of this guide will go into further detail on this topic.
9. Enjoy Yourself: While this is a work event and you will surely have goals to accomplish, don’t forget to take time to enjoy yourself. Go to the evening events, explore the city, and get to know the other attendees.

Being one of the biggest Tent Expo in the tent rental and supply industry, the IFAI Tent Expo never fails to impress. This year’s show did not disappoint, displaying new amazing tents and innovations. For 2019’s Tent Expo, we continue to be a member and we are proud to say that we were a contributing sponsor. Thank you to all everyone that stopped by our tent display, we had a great experience meeting new and current customer.

This year, we set up a 20×40 Keder Tent displaying our keder fittings and poles, our single and double doors, our sidewall varieties, our stationary and mobile canopy jacks, and a 10×10 Pop-up using our flag graphic top! Thank you to Event Tents for helping us set up our tent. During our time their, we had special sales and handed out our new possibility poster which shows almost all possible ways to use our products like fittings, poles, baseplates, and more!

IFAI Tent Expo was a great way to start off 2019 and look forward to the next one. In the meanwhile, we look forward to seeing everyone at the 2019 ARA Show, the 2019 EPA Show, and what both shows hold for all of us!

If you’re really interested in what we did at IFAI than head over to Allstate Tent’s Youtube channel and check out our new video of our time at the 2019 IFAI Tent Expo! Make sure to follow us on social to never miss any deals or sales!