Reply to: Marquee hire

[EternalOptimist]

The thing you've got to remember about the marquee hire business, is that it's intense.

that deserves a doublie

[Mich the Tester]

He needs to start canvassing local party organisers.

[SimonMac]

The thing you've got to remember about the marquee hire business, is that it's intense.

[wobbegong]

Got a good friend (I rent a house to him) who has fairly recently started up a marquee hire business with one marquee.

He has not had many bookings, and wondering what he is doing wrong.

He has mailshotted, got nice looking business cards, but still not many rentals.

Any ideas that I could pass on?

I was thinking along the lines of weddings as I have been in a lot of marquees for weddings, so will suggest trying bridal fayres, and wedding caterers. I also suggested when dealing with corporate firms to speak to the people in the contract departments who care only about the bottom line, rather than depend just on letters which may or may not get read.

Any other ideas though?

The thing you've got to remember about the marquee hire business, is that it's intense.

[alreadypacked]

Got a good friend (I rent a house to him) who has fairly recently started up a marquee hire business with one marquee.

He has not had many bookings, and wondering what he is doing wrong.

He has mailshotted, got nice looking business cards, but still not many rentals.

Any ideas that I could pass on?

I was thinking along the lines of weddings as I have been in a lot of marquees for weddings, so will suggest trying bridal fayres, and wedding caterers. I also suggested when dealing with corporate firms to speak to the people in the contract departments who care only about the bottom line, rather than depend just on letters which may or may not get read.

Any other ideas though?

I would have thought wedding and event planners would be his best contact. Most people planning their own would look in the Yellow Pages.
Has he got a website?

[OwlHoot]

Got a good friend (I rent a house to him) who has fairly recently started up a marquee hire business with one marquee.

He has not had many bookings, and wondering what he is doing wrong.

He has mailshotted, got nice looking business cards, but still not many rentals.

Any ideas that I could pass on?

I was thinking along the lines of weddings as I have been in a lot of marquees for weddings, so will suggest trying bridal fayres, and wedding caterers. I also suggested when dealing with corporate firms to speak to the people in the contract departments who care only about the bottom line, rather than depend just on letters which may or may not get read.

Any other ideas though?

Maybe the problem is you typically need more than one marquee for a wedding. I don't know, so that's just a guess

Presumably your friend would have sussed this if people had been contacting him and turning him down for that reason. Come to think of it, have they been contacting him, or doesn't he hear a squeek?

If people haven't been contacting him, I'd suggest he goes round all the local churches and synagogues etc and pays the vicar or rabbi to let him put up big adverts in the porch.

edit: Another possible reason: You said he "fairly recently" started this business. If that was in the last few months, it has been a bit nippy to spend all day hanging around in a marquee even with gas heaters. Maybe most people book wedding receptions in hotels during the winter.

[Mich the Tester]

Got a good friend (I rent a house to him) who has fairly recently started up a marquee hire business with one marquee.

He has not had many bookings, and wondering what he is doing wrong.

He has mailshotted, got nice looking business cards, but still not many rentals.

Any ideas that I could pass on?

I was thinking along the lines of weddings as I have been in a lot of marquees for weddings, so will suggest trying bridal fayres, and wedding caterers. I also suggested when dealing with corporate firms to speak to the people in the contract departments who care only about the bottom line, rather than depend just on letters which may or may not get read.

Any other ideas though?

Try local rugby clubs; lots of sevens tournaments in may and june and they often need marquees as drinks tents.

[SimonMac]

Got a good friend (I rent a house to him) who has fairly recently started up a marquee hire business with one marquee.

He has not had many bookings, and wondering what he is doing wrong.

He has mailshotted, got nice looking business cards, but still not many rentals.

Any ideas that I could pass on?

I was thinking along the lines of weddings as I have been in a lot of marquees for weddings, so will suggest trying bridal fayres, and wedding caterers. I also suggested when dealing with corporate firms to speak to the people in the contract departments who care only about the bottom line, rather than depend just on letters which may or may not get read.

Any other ideas though?

You have friends?!

[MarillionFan]

As it happens I'm in the market for a marquee at some point.

After 11 years, two kids etc I suppose i'd better consider getting married.

I've been holding out for Kylie to ring but I'm beginning to give up hope, and as I already speak English I reckon Jordan is out of the running.

[FiveTimes]

Advertise at wedding fayres, local press, trade press.

Could it be used by the local scout group as a mess hall ?

[TestMangler]

A Marquee? Dat's sad!

See, if I could have repped you for that, I would have

That is a truly awful gag

[shaunbhoy]

A Marquee? Dat's sad!

[Wilmslow]

Isn't the Marquee trade a bit like event catering, ice cream vans and door security, where most work is gained by intimidation?

You need to hook your mate up with your old mafia neighbour - he threatens the client or even the other contractors (sometimes when they arrive with their marquee) and bingo!

Good thinking. He lives opposite an knows him. Mind you, mafia neighbour bungled a getaway from a robbery so think his intimidation levels are a little on the low side just now.....

[Peoplesoft bloke]

Isn't the Marquee trade a bit like event catering, ice cream vans and door security, where most work is gained by intimidation?

You need to hook your mate up with your old mafia neighbour - he threatens the client or even the other contractors (sometimes when they arrive with their marquee) and bingo!

[Wilmslow]

You mean you bought your friend Tim's country house for a pittance and you are now forcing him to live in a tent?

All's fair in business Mind you, there is a plot of land that was sold on my road lately for around the price of a house!