A rental center can add more to your event than you
may realize. The next time you’re planning
something, think twice before purchasing expensive
products that may only be used once. Rental centers
have your common event needs, but they also supply
tools, bubble machines, microphone stands, tents,
tables, cotton candy machines, and dunk tanks – to
name just a few. From graduation parties to garage
sales to weddings, a rental store can give your event
the lift it needs.
Tables and chairs are the foundation for any event.
“From that starting point, we will expand to
whether you need a tent, china, linens, etc.,” said
Zack Ludtke, General Manager of London Road
Party Express. With over 2,500 chairs of different
styles and over 300 tables, you wouldn’t think the
rental center would have much room for anything
else, but that is far from the truth. A rental center can
outfit your party from the ground up, or you could
use rented outdoor tools and equipment to
completely revitalize a raw patch of land into a
highly remarkable party location. With a magnitude
of options, you have freedom to create a customized
plan for your event.
Aside from tables and chairs, bounce houses and
tents are the most popular items rented from
London Road Rental. “We currently own twelve
bounce houses/combo units and one obstacle
course,” said Ludtke. According to Ludtke, they are
constantly adding inventory throughout the year to
fulfil the requests of customers. You may find
yourself weary of renting items, but renting has its
benefits. “By renting an item, you are saving
money by not having to maintain and store the
item,” Ludtke explained.
Planning an outdoor event is especially difficult
since guaranteeing the weather is virtually
impossible, but renting items that help cope with
the weather can reduce massive amounts of stress
and anxiety. Rental centers offer tents of all styles/
sizes. These can be installed by either the
customer or the rental center, but the decision of
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renting a tent shouldn’t be put off until the last minute.
“One of the biggest hurdles to overcome on short
notice is having enough time to have the public
utilities located – that’s assuming we have a tent to
offer” said Ludtke. Utility companies usually need
at least two to three business days to prepare for an
event. Keep in mind, even in the best of weather, tents
provide protection from sun, wind and pests.
The idea of renting can create skeptical feelings in
potential customers. Here are some topics that may be
of concern, giving you an indication of what to expect.
If you are unsure about your specific setup, London
Road Rental can use “Party Cad” to show you a virtual
party layout of your tent or party! Most of the party
items are weekend rentals or three days in length.
Some items can be rented by the day including bounce
houses and audio equipment. Equipment rentals range
in lengths from every 2 hours, daily, weekly and in
some cases, monthly. A 50% deposit to reserve items
is the usual fee and this is typically non-refundable.
“There are some extenuating circumstances though,”
stated Ludtke, “if a family reserves a bounce house
for their child’s birthday party and the weather is not
cooperating, we will gladly work with them to
reschedule.”
In the event that an accident does occur and an item
is lost, the customer can receive a few extra days
to locate the item. If the item isn’t found or an item
becomes damaged, a replacement fee will be charged to
purchase a new item. This is a risk you take, but many
of the incidents can be prevented. Assess in advance
where accidents could occur during your event and
don’t hesitate to set a few reasonable restrictions. For
additional reassurance you should contact your
insurance company about possible options for your
rentals.
If you decide to commit to a rental store, their
services do not necessarily stop at supplying items.
Rental stores want to ensure that the customer’s event
goes smoothly. “We try our best to work out any issues
our customer’s encounter on the day of their event,”