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Episode 37: Tarryn Prosper's back in the industry
155 Plays1 month ago
This week we got Tarryn Prosper on the line to talk about her recent transition to Fred's Tents! It was awesome to talk to her about balancing creativity and logistics on complex projects, how this industry can affect you, and what it's like to be a female executive in the industry currently.
This episode is brought to you by Anchor Industries. Learn more about Anchor at www.anchorinc.com.
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Transcript
Introduction and Tent Project Updates
00:00:00
Speaker
This is Under the Vinyl, a rental management media podcast. I'm Nate. And I'm Kyle. And this is what we talk about, tents and everything tent-related. Let's dive in. I'm a tent rental man, I'm working on all day.
00:00:17
Speaker
Getting mistakes in the ground no matter what they say. From sunrise to the night, make sure everything's right. Yeah, I'm tent rental man, I'm working on all day.
00:00:29
Speaker
Welcome to another episode of Under the Vinyl, a rental management media podcast. As always, I got my co-host Kyle. Kyle, are you doing? I'm hanging in there, Nate. I'm on the road in the field this week, so we're doing this on the fly.
Introducing Taryn Prosper and Her Tent Journey
00:00:43
Speaker
Love love it. What got going on? I'm doing a 15-meter by 25-meter garden tent down in North Carolina. So, not that big, but good enough job to travel for. Absolutely, and the white one, I assume?
00:00:56
Speaker
Yeah, we're doing the white one, Holland Park's white one. Awesome. That's fun. that's I got those big doors in before I left for this, so have to worry about that. The guys can put tops in while I'm doing this. I did see a nice picture of those, and I can't wait to see how those turn out. They look excellent.
00:01:13
Speaker
I actually want to hear how the install those was ah how ah the install went on those because those are they look like a whole other beast. I'll give it to Fred. He designed them right. So they go in. They're attached to the gable legs all the time, so it's actually not that bad.
00:01:26
Speaker
You just raise the arch with them already installed. Awesome. We'll have to look for the videos on that, but a perfect transition to, we got a great guest on today. um She's actually a new member of the Fred's tent world.
00:01:40
Speaker
um Taryn Prosper. How are you doing, Taryn? I'm great, guys. Thank you. How are you? Great, great. We're glad to have you on today. um I know we saw you disappear for a minute from the industry and now you're back in full force and love it. So we figured we'd get you on here to tell a little bit about ah what you've been doing and what's going on. But first, just tell us a little bit about how you got into this crazy industry and and what took you to get to Fred's.
00:02:05
Speaker
Sure. um I think we could probably fill a whole hour on that. But um I think I got into the industry the way many people did, which is by accident. um I started off at a national international event planning company about...
00:02:21
Speaker
a little over maybe 16 or 17 years ago, ah they worked in a lot of tented projects. And so a lot of design focused in that organization and design isn't really for me. I don't and don't really care if you have phalaenopsis orchids or dahlia season or what your linen is, but I was always really intrigued by the design opportunity and the capability with inside tenting and temporary structures.
00:02:47
Speaker
So my job was to build the the temporary event spaces. And at the time I worked really closely with a company called Peterson Party Center. Now they're peak event services. um And Bob Trena, the former owner, and I were very close.
00:03:00
Speaker
And he asked me essentially one day, you know, if I would ever consider jumping the fence and um At first, to be honest, it went right over my head and i just had a great chat with him and didn't realize he was asking me to to come work for him.
00:03:14
Speaker
And then finally it clicked and he said, yeah, kiddo, I was asking, you know, this asking if he'd come on.
Career Break and Joining Fred's Tent World
00:03:22
Speaker
um So I did. And entered into the the rental side of things.
00:03:27
Speaker
ah PEAK at the time, or Peterson Party Center at the time, was a ah local provider. And so um for over the past nine or so years, was able to grow them to be a regional and then ultimately a national provider.
00:03:40
Speaker
Earlier this year, i just kind of decided it was time to take a little bit of a break. ah Someone had said to me recently that you only get 80 summers in your life about.
00:03:53
Speaker
And I had this moment of like, I've already burned up a good portion of my summers. So I think it's time that I take one for myself. i was calling it my Rumspringa.
00:04:04
Speaker
oh This episode of Under the Vinyl is brought to you by Anchor Industries, a fifth generation, family-owned company making tents and clear span structures right here in the U.S. of A.
00:04:15
Speaker
Anchor isn't just about selling great products. They bring decades of experience and stand beside you as the business grows. With Anchor's craftsmanship and engineering, you'll have a peace of mind knowing your equipment is built to last season after season.
00:04:28
Speaker
And for the next generation of rental owners and installers, Anchor is more than just your supplier. They're a trusted partner helping guide you to the right products to help grow your business. Give them a call today to connect with your sales rep.
00:04:40
Speaker
1-800-544-4445 or visit anchorinc.com. four four four five or visit anchor i n c dot com um And i so I did. Took the summer off, traveled a ton, had a blast.
00:04:55
Speaker
And um when I decided to leave Peak, I was calling some of my key customers and friends. And Fred Tracy was the maybe second person that I called. And it was just out of consideration, you know, hey, I'm leaving.
00:05:10
Speaker
And he's... you want to work for me? i was like, whoa, this is not the time to have that conversation. I'm emotional. i have a lot going on. um But once I settled down a little bit, i kind of took a look at what I wanted next in my career and what's important to me and determined this
Industry Challenges and Growth
00:05:30
Speaker
was a good fit. So I'm officially going on, ah today's my seventh day, or if you ask anyone around here, I've been saying I work here for seven years because it's been like drinking from a fire hose, but I'm really happy where I landed and looking forward to the next phase in my career.
00:05:47
Speaker
That's awesome. So did you feel did you feel like you just you hit ah a stage where you just need to take a break? Like it had just been a lot for you in this industry? so Yeah.
00:05:59
Speaker
You know, it's like you get it growth is fun, but growth is hard. And when it's wearing on you and and now we all went also survived those COVID years, which that's a multiple.
00:06:13
Speaker
So sure. I worked at peak for nine years, but in like COVID years, it's really like 42 years or something. You know, it really, it wear it on me and I just, I needed a break. It was a good time for a transition.
Role at Peak Event Services and Notable Projects
00:06:25
Speaker
um And i would I would advise anyone who's thinking they need to take some time for themselves, a good old rum spring is worth it.
00:06:35
Speaker
Well, I think we've all been there and thought it in our mind, but you know this industry just doesn't stop. So taking that time is hard. you know I think we are also thankful for some of our areas where we can take a little bit of a break in the off season, but now it's almost become a full year round season.
00:06:51
Speaker
So with everybody traveling and things like that, So talk to us a little bit about at peak. Um, what were your day to day job duties? And, um, you know, were you on every site?
00:07:02
Speaker
Were you in every sale? Were you managing the team? How did that work? Sure, so I was the VP of sales for the tent division. So if ah if you don't know with with Peak, they have what's called the core division, which is their party rentals, tables, chairs, China, crystal silver, then they have the tent division. And so there's two totally separate but parallel verticals.
00:07:22
Speaker
um So I was responsible for that tent vertical. um So I had a team of project managers underneath me. We didn't refer to the sales team as sales people. We refer to them as project managers. So about 13, I think at its peak, um project managers underneath me, and we had permitting inventory, um really, you know, every facet of the tent side of the business.
00:07:44
Speaker
So was I on every job site? No, my team was really the ones out front and center. Certainly certain projects I would be, on site for and would try to support my team as much as possible popping in when when appropriate. But really, I was that, you know, it's that revolving door in front of my office, the line of ticket takers like at the deli. So I was there to just guide them, keep everyone going.
00:08:08
Speaker
Rowing in the same direction at the same pace and you know making sure that strategically we're all aligned. We acquired, as many of you know, many different businesses along the way. So integrating those businesses, those teams, those inventory culture clients,
00:08:25
Speaker
All of that. And then, of course, working regularly on the growth strategy. um While I was there, we we opened locations in other parts of the Northeast, as well as expanding to Florida.
00:08:38
Speaker
So, um you know, every day, and I'm sure you guys say this as well, and many of the listeners do too, um you you kind of go to work and say, or if people ask you, what are going to do today? I'm like, I don't know.
00:08:50
Speaker
Whatever. yeah sure Whatever walks through the door first. Yeah. I have a plan. I know what I want to do. I know what I need to accomplish. But we all know that that's not happening. so um But it's the and joy of what we do, right? It's like it's moving so fast. Things are changing.
00:09:07
Speaker
There's so many different ah dynamic projects and people that you encounter. So it was ah it was a fun, very fun and and educational time at at Peak.
Creative Tent Planning and Mentorship
00:09:18
Speaker
I really, really enjoyed it.
00:09:20
Speaker
What was one of your favorite projects there at Peak? um Oh gosh, so there are a few. um the They usually include like tales of woe, right? When you overcome something, it makes it that much better.
00:09:35
Speaker
um But I think I'm just gonna go with one of the last large projects that we did while I was at Peake and it was a um a structure on the south lawn of the White House. I've had a great career of working at the White House a lot. I met my husband at the White House.
00:09:50
Speaker
um So, South Lawn of the White House, we tented over the fountain, which had never been done before. So the fountain was inside of the structure. We did multiple step-down gables to work within the tree line and different lake heights, 5.4 down to 4 to make sure the eaves and the view of the White House and the different monuments made sense. on And I think that project from its design, the speed of the project, the design of it, and ultimately,
00:10:18
Speaker
the The implementation, I'm super proud of, super proud of the team. And it was a fun a fun thing to be a part of and a great way to end 2024. And how did you how did you kind of balance the creativity and logistics when planning complex events like that?
00:10:34
Speaker
Oh boy, that's another hour. um and So, you know, I, it's always about starting with what the customer thinks they want versus what they need.
00:10:47
Speaker
And so we kind of distilled down the product that we all work with tents, right? And to just a pile of parts and how can I take this pile of parts and be creative in my output to give the client what they and and Give them something that nobody else has that is satisfying you know their end user, because sometimes we're working with a planner who's working with an end user client, satisfy that end user end user's needs. So sort of start with the creativity piece. How can we build what we want to with the pile of parts that we have?
00:11:25
Speaker
and configure them in a way that is fun, creative, and makes sense. And then identify the gaps. If we have any gaps, who can we bring in? People like Fred's, which I did on many occasions, um to support filling those gaps, those little missing parts, so that we can take something next level And then logistically, continually aligning with we had a great ops team that we were in constant communication with and making sure that everyone was on the same page of what what are we doing? How are we doing it? When are we doing it?
00:11:55
Speaker
We had um a great project planning tool web-based at um that was also an app that we would put real-time data in so that everyone had the information at the same time.
00:12:06
Speaker
um both in pre-production, during production, and then post-production. So definitely relied on our IT systems and some technology to make sure that we were logistically balancing that um those creative elements in a way that made sense for everyone. Because I like to live in this idea or this space of disrupting the white rectangle. So I'm Love me a good old tent, but if we can make it anything but a white rectangle, we'll do that.
00:12:36
Speaker
And that comes with a lot of layers and a lot of communication. That's why I kind of asked that question. I know just from looking at your Instagram and everything and seeing what you've done in the industry, you have a very creative mind. So that's why I was wondering where you go with the logistics and the creativity part, because I know that you're a very creative person, it seems like.
00:12:55
Speaker
appreciate that. think I'm going to... origins of my career, that's the fun stuff for me. I think we have the challenge of creating these environments that feel right.
00:13:10
Speaker
And how do you convey that to someone? How do you convey that to a planner, to an end user, to a rental house that the tent's going to feel great? What does that even mean? Right. But that's the challenge that I like. and And you know, it's when the flow makes sense, when the entrance looks good, when the stage has a backdrop that the planner can make a wow moment, like all those little things make a lot of sense.
00:13:36
Speaker
I had a customer, I had a job about 15 years ago when I was at that planning company when we had this awkward path entrance to the tent. Tent was on an eave, we had a door.
00:13:50
Speaker
All I did was put a 22 and a half degree like eyebrow over the front of the door, changed everything. made the It just made it make sense. And the owner of the company at the time, he he commented on that, how this one little piece changed everything about the feel. It dyed your eyes.
00:14:07
Speaker
Yeah. dyed your eyes right in. Yeah. Exactly. So that's always what I'm thinking about. What's that one little thing or big thing that will really make it all come together and have the tent feel great?
00:14:22
Speaker
And you're very rare in that part where you can understand what goes into it compared to a normal planner where you know some of these planners, they they look at their Pinterest, they look at things like that, but they just don't understand the logistical aspect of it.
00:14:33
Speaker
And with you, you've got that creative part,
Gender Dynamics in the Tent Industry
00:14:35
Speaker
but you know what it takes to be able to build that how you can do that. So think with me and Kyle or anybody like us – we know the logistics part but then you know we'll figure it out a year later we're like oh god we talked about this a year and now we got to get it done and how we going to do this and now we're calling on people like you know manufacturers to help us really dig in and get this stuff done so yeah it's uh like those created those creativity things are a tenor's nightmare but also what draws those customers back and to keep coming back and in those special moments for sure
00:15:04
Speaker
and I think that's what I like about where I'm at now and sort of the next level of my career is that I can take that practical application of the product and apply it in this light. So I know that, you know, ah um but an installer is going to need to be pushing this up by hand or they're going to need a crane or they're going to need this, you know, this type of forklift. And does this really make sense?
00:15:28
Speaker
Does what we're doing here make sense for the guys in the field? to do what they need to do. I mean, the giant doors that Kyle's working on right now are just installed. you know What does that installation really look like so that we can provide a product that makes sense for you, isn't a burden for you, and then ultimately achieves the client's goals? So that's what I'm really looking forward to, kind of marrying all of that together. Well, you're at the perfect place for that because Fred loves that. So that between the two of you, I can see a lot of great innovation coming out of there in the next few years.
00:16:01
Speaker
watch out well the creativity in general now you can help guide those people and now you're not just now you're not on site doing it or you're not at a company where you're you're trying to figure out you're calling on somebody else now you can almost mentor people on how to do that and be creative with that said who were some of your mentors that have kind of guided you up through this this moment to get here and be that person So there are there are many, but a few.
00:16:27
Speaker
um so Bob Trana is a big one for me. um He definitely saw in me what I didn't see in myself at the time. And I really owe this um the success of my career, the launch to him, and giving me the latitude and the support to grow the business the way that I did. Yeah.
00:16:49
Speaker
There's some folks in the industry like Liz Wilson and Mel Kadekian. I mean, they're just powerhouses that have really paved the way for me. Being a a female executive, it's, you know, it's a ah new place to be. At least 10 years ago, it was a little bit like, I don't know where I fit in all this, but, um you know, really leaned on them a lot and really appreciate what they've done.
00:17:16
Speaker
Um, and then of course, you know, many of the executive folks that I've worked with over at peak, our former CEO, Jen, um, really appreciate her leadership style in that I could walk in and say, Hey, don't, I don't disagree. with i don't agree with you about this and would work through it.
00:17:33
Speaker
Um, Not many people provide that opportunity for you to to push, pull and find the best solution. And I think that's a leadership style that, um you know, I and look for in um leaders that I'm hiring or pet places where i want to be a part of, where you can have that open dialogue and um come to a collaboration.
00:17:57
Speaker
resolution or an answer because I don't have the answer. You don't have the answer. It's somewhere in between. We're in this room at this table because we need to collaborate and figure out the best approach.
00:18:07
Speaker
And when people can really do that, that's that's very important to me. And so I greatly appreciate all all the work that she did and kind of guiding me to. Well, that was another question is just being a female in this industry that has been predominantly dominated by males.
00:18:25
Speaker
And we have so many young females that are finally coming into this industry and making a ah strong push to to really make a difference in this industry. And you touched on Liz, and I think Liz is one of those great ones that I noticed first in the industry that is really that made an impact on it.
00:18:40
Speaker
and then followed by you and just seeing the things that you've done. And so touch on that, on how it's been as for you being a female in this industry and and how you have felt received by that.
00:18:52
Speaker
that That's a loaded question. We've got to dig into the deep stuff here. Yeah, you want to? You really want to? so it's and it's been a journey, right? I mean, you don't come into this industry without some type of thick skin, right? You you don't even walk through the door because we're built different. Tenters are built different, period, the end.
00:19:15
Speaker
That just is what it is. So I think I sort of had a lot of those skills inside of me that helped me navigate what the past 15 plus years looked like.
00:19:27
Speaker
um But yeah, I mean, the journey was was tough at times. In the beginning, um when I had first started at peak and or Peterson Party Center, and I'm kind of, um you know, Bob's starting to exit from his role, and I'm sort of coming in, and it was a little bit like, who, what, what's happening? You know, I got a lot of, ah you you're in charge of those guys? Like, what, were you?
00:19:50
Speaker
Yeah, me. so um But I used to just tell people I was like the younger, cuter Bob, and that sort of just made it work. um But everyone, you know, people were really helpful, receptive. I'm a big personality.
00:20:05
Speaker
i don't take no for an answer. i break down doors. um I kind of cut through the BS. So i never let anything hold me back. I never let anyone stop me.
00:20:17
Speaker
um And if someone doesn't understand who I am, where I come from and where I fit, I want to help them figure that out. I'm not gonna shut it down, I'm not gonna end the conversation, I'm not going to to you know put them on the the cancel list. like Let's figure out a way for,
00:20:34
Speaker
this all to make sense. And I mean, fast forward 2025, I'm thrilled, like you said, there's a number of young women that are owners, they're leaders, they're tenters. And I think that's the outcome that I wanna see. I don't want it to be like, you're a female in tenting. It's like, no, you are in tenting.
00:20:52
Speaker
You are a leader in tenting. There's no, we don't have to distinguish between the two. This is just your place where you live and you excel at it, period the end.
New Role at Fred's: Sales and Marketing
00:21:03
Speaker
Well, I just think that there's a lot of women in this industry that have maybe been very timid to have a bigger voice in it.
00:21:08
Speaker
And it's good to see them make this push forward now and, you know, just say we're here and we we're making a difference. And it's cool. It's awesome. I love it. So yeah that's, that's great. Um, so now being over at Fred's, what is your going to be your current role? Um, and what are you, what's kind of your areas? What are you doing?
00:21:30
Speaker
Again, day seven, so or year seven, as I'm calling it. but i So I don't know. um But my role is the vice president of sales and marketing. um I am taking on the sales team and the marketing engine here at Fred's. So that is high level what what I'm working what my purview is, um what that ultimately looks like on the day-to- day to day still being flushed out. But, um you know, it's customer experience, it's um efficiencies, it's growing the team, supporting the team, brand story, you know, all those, all those basics.
00:22:07
Speaker
um So we'll see lots to unpack and lots, lot to do. So not as much as a full on sales role in the territory, more of like a business development role over the salespeople.
00:22:21
Speaker
Yeah, exactly. Growing and leading the team. And i I want to actually make a punctuate that a little bit. yeah That's where I thrive. That's what I love to do. And i sales is fun.
00:22:32
Speaker
I love sales. There's nothing. Don't get me wrong. But there is nothing that brings me more joy. than coaching someone to be successful in an environment and watching them succeed, watching them struggle, watching them iterate, watching them improve, and then watching them succeed. That is that is what I love to do.
00:22:52
Speaker
And so... I'm hopeful that here I can just continue to to build. There's a fantastic team at Fred's, by the way, like absolutely fantastic. So I want to continue to support them, and empower them, and just help them be the best version of themselves in their role.
00:23:10
Speaker
And that that's what brings me joy. Well, you always want somebody to want your job and you want to make have that next successor and to be hiring and to motivate them and things like that. So I think that's that's fantastic in the way that you're leading.
00:23:26
Speaker
So what's kind of your process for the leading the team under, you know, tight time timelines and the pressure for – you know, all this stuff that you guys are going to probably be getting coming up with this, this new season in 2026. I know as we go into the wintertime here, that's kind of where all the ramp manufacturers ramp up ah for sales and everything like that. So what's that looking like for you in day seven so far?
00:23:47
Speaker
So trying to get my arms around all of it. um Unfortunately, but fortunately for Fred's, they lost one of their, um i guess, worst offenders for those tight timelines, turnarounds.
00:23:59
Speaker
It was Was that yourself? Yeah. It was me. I was always the one like, ah, I need this. um yeah And I actually will tell you just a quick sidebar. I think on when you guys talked to Fred, um he mentioned like a last minute job for a customer that had ah a weather related event. Yeah, he did. That was me. Yeah.
00:24:19
Speaker
ah Yeah. All right. Called him on a Saturday. Will you please help me? The tent was torn apart by a hailstorm and Swiss cheesed.
00:24:30
Speaker
And, you know, he's like, yeah, I'll help you. was like, okay. And I cried. the whole thing. That was me. And that's why we all love prayer. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, and they turned that around within like 36 hours. it was It was remarkable. And the amount of work that I needed done was
Industry Trends and Innovation
00:24:45
Speaker
was remarkable. so um So I know what it's like to be the the bad guy, I guess. um And, you know, there's a lot that I need to peel, lot of layers I need to peel back, a lot that a lot of things I need to understand. And ultimately the goal is how do we best support the customers in your projects? Because as we know, in our industry, there is no tomorrow.
00:25:05
Speaker
It is only today. How do we keep that philosophy while supporting the members of the team internally? So um once I like figure that all out, I'll probably write a book and retire, but I'll work on it um every day and and do the best I can to make sure that you guys all look like rock stars.
00:25:26
Speaker
That's the goal. Well, having somebody on the inside like yourself that has been on the outside like us, you know you understand it in the timelines that we go through and the pressure that we have on us.
00:25:38
Speaker
So when we call you for the last minute stuff or we need this or we need that, you're going to be like, okay, I get it. I know. And you're going to make it happen. And so I think that's huge to have an asset like that on the team.
00:25:49
Speaker
I'm sure whatever we're asking for is less than something she's ever had to ask for last minute. So yeah, that's probably true. Probably true. She's like, Oh, that's it. That's all you need. I've put them through some, some serious shit.
00:26:03
Speaker
So I know can swear on this, but yeah. So, uh, what, what trends or, um, innovations are you guys most excited about? Or what do you see coming down the pipeline, um, over there at Fred's for this next season?
00:26:16
Speaker
I... What do you want to see? What is something you want to see? Oh my gosh, there's so many things. I want to say all the things, but I can't because we have match run two weeks from today and you're going to see it all in real life.
00:26:29
Speaker
Can't give you a sneak peek, Nate. That's not how this you back the curtain just a hair? No, I think, um you know, one of the things we're targeting or highlighting this year is it's the 20th anniversary of our Stillwater Sailcloth Series. So, um you know, where're we're appreciating the legacy of the product and also looking at what does the future of that look like.
00:26:50
Speaker
um So, you know, there's some some opportunity there. But I think in general it's, you know, we're seeing – across the board, I'm sure all manufacturers and rental houses are seeing people continually transition to more frame and structure product, clear span product.
00:27:10
Speaker
um So, you know, it's how do we best service those markets? How do we best provide the the the organizations with what they need for, um you know, color is a big one. Kyle, you're on site doing that white white structure right now, which is an industry-leading product. And so what does that look like? I mean, it's ultimately the creativity. It's the idea, the monster that we've created is the disruption of the white rectangle, which was the goal, right? But now we're living in the goal, and we're like, oh, shoot, there's pink rectangles and blue ones, and how do we navigate all this? And they're not even rectangles anymore. so so um
00:27:51
Speaker
I want to touch Taryn, why do you think the industry is changing so much away from the, we're moving all towards structure and frame time like you just talked about. What's your opinion on that whole shift? I think it comes down to the customization and the ability to to have that vanilla box.
00:28:08
Speaker
So when you're designing out an interior on a ah frame tent or clear span, you have a little bit more opportunity for design, whereas the opportunity is just different for design with ah with a tension style product. So um but that doesn't mean that I don't think that those products are going to go away or anything. I mean, they have their their place and people love them and they will continue to love them and people will love the Stillwater hopefully for another 20 years.
00:28:37
Speaker
um But it's I think it all comes down to design. It's that Instagram worthy shot that says mine is just like yours, but different. um And there's more opportunity to do that in those products.
00:28:51
Speaker
I feel like everybody's doing that. They love the garden tent, but everybody's like, how can we do it a little bit different because everybody wants it, but everybody wants just a little bit of a twist to it. Well, that's yeah yeah. We got to figure out what the next color is. Cause someone needs to be ordering that rapidly. Cause white will be out within six months.
00:29:06
Speaker
It'll be something new. Right. And at what point do we temper it and just say like, okay, you know, let's, let's collectively stop the madness and yeah not have every Pantone color available.
00:29:19
Speaker
or we i mean, we've had the white P3 frame for probably three years now that we had Fred do. And it's just now in the past year and a half or so really making a push, I feel like.
00:29:31
Speaker
um Nor where it's coming out because people understand they don't have to drape it more, things like that. Exactly. But colors are a little bit tougher. The one that's really stuck out for us has been the wood grain tent, the P3. We did the wood grain in the P3.
00:29:43
Speaker
um And that that sticks out a ton. But I think, like, yeah, I don't want to be getting a dang pink tent or, you know, I don't want to be doing blue tents and different things like that. I mean – it's cool. Don't get me wrong, but how can we create different looks of tents without having to change the colors? Maybe, maybe do different styles like the garden tent.
00:30:04
Speaker
Now our guys are just going to continue to hate us because, you know, putting all those pieces together, they just love it. But, um, yeah, I think that, i think that we go with different variations and not just the box style tent is what you're saying, but maybe not so much the colors.
00:30:19
Speaker
Yeah. Who knows? I think, um, The, uh, the, the, the social media world will tell us what they want and we will listen and we will iterate. We'll be on this a year from now being like, did you do the burgundy? I did the taupe. Did you do the, like, you know, it's what planner is going to call tomorrow and her group of planners, friends, and what conversations did they have that they can be the first one to do.
00:30:42
Speaker
that's it That's exactly how it's going to be.
Balancing Career and Personal Life
00:30:45
Speaker
hu And we'll be like, okay. Yeah. I mean, and that's what we do. Cause that we ought yeah never say no, unfortunately. That's With that, let's talk about just personal stuff. when When you're not producing events, how do you unwind and find inspiration just to come back to the industry and feel like you're motivated?
00:31:04
Speaker
So have the worst answer for this and it's probably why I needed my Rumspringa. um i I didn't. Like I just truly am like and and was a 24-7 person um working across the country in different time zones with a big team. There was always something happening and always something actioning. And so I was just going and going and going and going.
00:31:30
Speaker
um I've learned or am learning. to to to take a step back. um I'm ah a big yoga person. I'm getting back into that. That's a big fun thing for me. i live on the coast in Massachusetts.
00:31:44
Speaker
Yeah. um I live on the coast in Massachusetts, so I'm ah i'm an ocean person. um You know, just kind of taking that that time with... with um You know, on the beach is is always a ah good thing to kind of clear the mind.
00:31:59
Speaker
um But, you know, I'm not that exciting when it comes to outside of work. I'm kind of lame. So I have no problem admitting that because it's who I am.
00:32:10
Speaker
Yep. Well, I feel like that's so many people in this industry. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Yeah. You're like, just turn off the brain. I don't want, like, anything happening in my brain for at least an hour.
00:32:24
Speaker
There's many weekends that I wish that I ah would have taken a company cell phone versus a company slash personal cell phone. because But I'm also that person that doesn't want to miss the call, but I want to miss the call. You know what i mean?
00:32:37
Speaker
You can't say no You You've got to answer it at 9 o'clock at night on a Saturday. who last weekend I had it at 10 o'clock on a Sunday. so it's just like trying to find that time to even just put the phone down for a little while and and be – Very intentional about the time that you're spending or what you're doing and relaxing. It doesn't matter if you're relaxing just Set it down Nate. I remember when I actively decided to take the ping off of my email notifications on my phone but It wasn't like a real decision like am I gonna am I gonna be okay?
00:33:12
Speaker
if I don't if it doesn't ping every time I get an email and And I was okay, but it took a long time. It's funny you say that because about eight, nine months ago, i just, it it felt, it was the beginning of this year, right when this year took off. I think I have always had my notifications on on my emails. I'm an inbox zero person. So if my inbox is full. for Yeah. If my inbox is full, I stress out and I can't, I can't stop my day until the inbox is gone. So, and or it's got to go to a folder. It's got to have a home. It's just got to be cleared out.
00:33:42
Speaker
So I was constantly pinging and every time it was pinging, I was constantly finishing it off. And same thing with Instagram. If, Now that now if you message me, you might not get a message for a longer period of time versus what it was because I was so in it all the time. But I have turned off all my notifications on all my apps on my entire phone, except for my messages and phone calls. Everything everything is else is off. And to your point, it feel it felt like a weight off my shoulders, as weird as that is. But i think we live in such a world where our phone is ringing off the hook all the dang time that an email will set us off, too.
00:34:17
Speaker
I'm not saying I'm ignoring your email at all. huh I just know it's sure may not answer it right there in that second, but I'm to get to you before the the And at the end of the day, we collectively. Yeah.
00:34:29
Speaker
Yeah. We live in. Well, everyone lives in instant gratification and we know we have to give everyone that gratification. So there for us to say no. Right. We've created the monster. Like, we have no one to blame but ourselves, but we're also not going to stop feeding the monster, so it is what it is. How do you retrain that monster then?
00:34:48
Speaker
Yeah. you know You can't. No, you can't. And so, and I feel bad because, like... For myself, with my kids, you know, in certain moments of the day on the weekends, and I'm trying to spend time with them and do the activities with them, but I know there's a big wedding that's going on, and I know I have people in place, but at the end of the day, you know that somebody's going to call you, and when they call you, you better have the answer.
00:35:07
Speaker
And if you don't have the answer right away, then then that's where it all goes downhill. Mm-hmm. Yeah, but we choose this industry and, you know, I wouldn't, I wouldn't want it any other way. i absolutely love my personal journey.
00:35:22
Speaker
i look back on things I've done with a lot of gratitude and pride and, uh, I, I'm okay with it. So what's been the most rewarding part of this journey so far then?
00:35:36
Speaker
ah For me, it's the growth, um and it's it's the the personal growth and the growth of the team. I mean, I have people on my team throughout the years that I've seen not even know what a tent is to go on to have remarkable careers and do remarkable projects.
00:35:52
Speaker
um they are They are my tribe. I'm so proud of them. many Many of those folks are at other providers right now, mostly in the rental space still. And they're killing it. They're doing fantastic.
00:36:05
Speaker
And i really look forward to seeing them continue to grow. um and I hope that in my current role, I have the opportunity to help other members of the rental community across the country grow as well.
Advice for Young Professionals
00:36:17
Speaker
It's a, um again, like I said before, that brings me the most joy. Absolutely. And if you could go back and kind of give your younger self one piece of advice, what do you think it would be?
00:36:31
Speaker
Advocate for yourself. um And it's it's okay to stand up for yourself. It's okay to push back. It's okay to ask for clarity.
00:36:45
Speaker
um and it's okay to take a minute and say, hey, do I really want this? Is this the direction I really want to go in? um And i would I would say for anyone that is, especially you mentioned the younger folks, younger women entering this industry, I would i would say the same to them.
00:37:01
Speaker
Absolutely.
State of the Tent Industry and Future Outlook
00:37:02
Speaker
Yeah. So you were involved in some purchases when you were with Peak and you were also there when they were acquired. Talk to me about like the state of the industry. How do you see these mergers and acquisitions going across the board? Because it seems like we're seeing it a lot more and more.
00:37:19
Speaker
Yeah, there's a ah really. yeah it's It's an interesting time, right? And if I'm going to, if I can, you can edit this out if you want. um But if I can, go ahead and plug. We're doing a great succession um session at MATRA in two weeks. Some of you guys know I'm on the board and run the education for MATRA. So a great succession planning session.
00:37:40
Speaker
But the tent industry in general, this evolution, right? It started with a lot of folks that, like your dad, you know, started, you 40, 50, 60 years ago and said, hey, this looks interesting. I think I'm going to add this to my inventory, to my my offerings. And they they sort of built the plane while they were flying it, right? They weren't buying the business from someone else. They were developing the industry, building it from the ground up.
00:38:10
Speaker
And now you have this time where succession doesn't look like the familial succession that you often see in many businesses. And so what does that exit look like?
00:38:20
Speaker
They all started together 40 years ago, and now everyone's on that same timeframe of planning what their exit looks like. So you're seeing a lot of folks riding that post-COVID growth wave too,
00:38:34
Speaker
um taking advantage of the timing so that they can exit with a fantastic multiple. um I think we're going to continue to see more of that, continue to see more consolidation, ah both with private equity and with owner operators that are scooping up smaller regional or local providers to to help expand their footprint geographically. So, um,
00:39:01
Speaker
a lot A lot of movement, in in my opinion, in the coming um in the coming years as we look at this generational hump that we have in front of us.
00:39:13
Speaker
you You brought up the post-COVID growth curve. Do you think we're over the hump now and coming back down, or do you still think we're on an upward trajectory?
00:39:22
Speaker
I think that's a different answer based on geography and and market segment. Some market segments are going to continue to see that that growth. Some are going to see things normalize. We started, I think, started seeing things normalize in maybe the end of 2024. kind tailed.
00:39:40
Speaker
things kind of tailed And maybe 25 was the year of normalization, but we're still seeing and don't quote me on this, but I'm pretty sure the CAGR for which is the annual growth rate for this industry is like 9.2% or something, which is a pretty high number. So um If you're positioned well within your market with the right people, the right product and the right process, I think we're going to still see that that significant growth. I mean, nine points annually is is not bad.
00:40:13
Speaker
Best piece of advice for someone. Best piece of advice for someone. um It can be somebody in the industry, somebody as a whole. Okay, I'm gonna give you two answers if that's okay.
00:40:26
Speaker
The first one is um kind of like a a macro, um collaboration over competition. Going back to that this generational hump that we just talked about, um you know folks like the Hollands and Kyle, your dad, like it was all collaborative. so They built this industry together. They picked up the phone and said, i got this, do you need that? This job just called, they're in your market, not mine.
00:40:54
Speaker
That type of collaboration, i think we're losing it a little bit. on And i i tell the folks that have worked with me over the years, like you, as they go off into other markets and new organizations, like you have the opportunity to be a part of this next generation of collaborators.
00:41:12
Speaker
Do that. Don't don't do the competition thing in that doggy dog cutthroat way. You know, there's enough for everyone if we all work together. So um collaboration over competition is is a big thing for me.
00:41:27
Speaker
And um I think the the second thing is when you're building your business, if you're just starting out, make sure you're data driven um and data Doesn't mean looking at spreadsheets every day. It's finding a way to communicate in a consumable way for you or other stakeholders in your organization, the key metrics that they need and let those metrics drive your business. um Again, I'll keep going back to the the generational, you know, a lot of folks build these businesses with their gut.
00:42:01
Speaker
their gut instincts and like kudos to that. I do not discount that at all. Times have changed, things have changed. We have to be data driven and you have to know your numbers. And um I think there's a little bit of this idea that that means you're just sitting in and looking at a spreadsheet all day long. And that's not the case. There's such um great technology out there that can help everyone. So I would say don't discount the data, let it let you work on your business, not in your business.
00:42:30
Speaker
so that you can see the growth that you want and create either the business, the brand, or the lifestyle that you're hoping for. Yeah. it but that's That's solid. And I love the yeah the generational hump comment that is that's stuck with me because it it does feel like we got to a good place with a lot of people running businesses on kind of their gut and how they got here.
00:42:50
Speaker
And they did great. And now it's kind of that next transition of everybody working on the data piece to kind of keep it going and keep it moving forward, it feels like. Yeah. I mean, we would acquire businesses when I was at at peak, we would acquire our businesses and like a truck would show up to deliver the file cabinets.
00:43:08
Speaker
Like I'm not even kidding. You know, this is like dot matrix printers, triplex paper. This is what it looked like. And that that's great. It's just we're not there anymore. So sure it's tough transition, but it's important.
00:43:23
Speaker
It'll get, we'll get through it. We'll get through it together, but yeah well, we're all in this together. Yeah. It's been great having you on today. yeah thats up Another episode today and I'm looking forward to continuing to watch your journey. Glad that you made your way back to the industry. I think ah ah everybody was a little worried to see what was happening. If you just disappeared.
00:43:42
Speaker
but now you're back in and full force. so it'll be cool to see what you do with the creativity over there at Fred's and we'll all be watching and as well as everything else that you do in the industry as a whole. and So thank you for coming on today.
00:43:54
Speaker
I appreciate it. And you guys might be watching me, but I'll be listening to you. I appreciate all the work that you guys have done and um really looking forward to see where you guys take take this because it's a great tool for folks to have in their toolkit.
00:44:08
Speaker
So thank you. We really appreciate that. And as always, ah like and subscribe to anywhere where you find your podcasts. See us on YouTube. um And yeah, this has been another episode of Under the Vinyl.