A weblog about theatrical drapery and stage curtains for Production Managers, Set Designers, Custom Drapery Resellers, and local/school/church Productions
We here at Rent What? Inc. try to stay on the forefront of technology in order to provide our clients with the best, most innovative service. In light of that, we have developed a QR Code for our website, which we’ve attached to all of our pipe and drape hardware, hampers, dressing rooms, and other rented goods.
All you have to do is download a free app on your smartphone which is called a “scanner” or “QR reader”, which gives you the ability to literally “take a picture” of these funny looking squares filled with what looks like random dots. However, once you scan it (even on your computer moniter—go ahead and give it a try!), all of our company’s vital information pops up on your phone. You can see our website, address, email, phone number, and even GPS location which can be used in any mapping program your phone has. You can then save us on your master Contact list, which is a great way for our clients to have all of our information at the tip of their fingertips in case they are out on an install and need some assistance from us.
We strive to stay ahead of the game here at Rent What? Inc., and utilizing new technology has proven to be a great way for us to do that.
We are so proud to be selected by DiversityBusiness.com as a 2012 “Top Business.” We were one of just 2,500 companies selected from more than 1.2 million privately held businesses that completed surveys.
This award is granted to businesses that demonstrate dedication, hard work, and stimulation of economic growth in the United States. Pretty exciting to know that we have been recognized alongside such amazing companies as Dell and IBM!
We’re so very excited to be in the midst of our fourth year of business here at Rent What?, and are even MORE excited at how great the company is doing! Getting to provide drape rentals for major tours and concerts, and helping our clients conceive their visions for these events, is something we have always enjoyed. But lately, we are providing a LOT more than “just drapes” for many different types of events. We are able to help create the overall feel of almost any event that crosses our path. We aren’t just all about Rock and Roll anymore!
Rent What? has expanded our inventory to not just include, but to now also specialize in, everything from our wide variety of Flame Retardant Drapery, Kabuki Drops/Solenoid Systems, Traveller Track, Drapery Lift Systems, Pop-Up Portable Dressing Rooms, Pipe and Drape, and Shadowboxes. This incredible diversity has grabbed the attention of those outside the rock and roll touring industry that has been our “bread and butter” so far. With our expanding inventory, our clientele has also expanded, to include churches, schools (high school and universities), conventions, casinos, trade shows, community theatre, major television shows, and everything in between.
What I think sets us apart from our competition is having such a close relationship with our sister company Sew What?, who can help create any custom-made draping that our clients might have envisioned. With the combination of our ever-growing rental inventory, along with the custom-made soft goods that Sew What? can also create, our clients are able to get exactly what they dreamed for their event, at very competitive pricing.
This is an incredibly exciting time to be a part of the Rent What? team, and we know that with our continued “Extreme Service”, we will always continue to expand and grow to fit our growing clientele’s needs, too.
Wow, in reviewing our anniversary list, I discovered that September has been a busy month for hiring over the years. Four staff members had anniversaries in September.
We here at Rent What? Inc. pride ourselves not only on our competitive pricing, our amazing selection, our prompt deliveries and pickups, and our innovative designs, but also on our amazing customer service, or as we like to put it, “Ultimate Rentals, Extreme Service”. But I was thinking recently, what exactly is great customer service?
I did a little internet research on customer service, and I found a lot of good information on the subject. One article, 8 Rules of Good Customer Service, had some great points about listening to your customers, being helpful, and much more. I agree with the article wholeheartedly. But to me, while the eight rules constitute good customer service, you really have to go above and beyond to provide great customer service.
To me, when your goal is not only to give your customers what they expect, but to also go above and beyond to give them more than they ever dreamed they’d even want, then THAT is great customer service. When you can think ahead to any possible issue that might come up, and you are able to stop it before it even begins, then THAT is great customer service. When you go the extra step to make sure your clients get more than they dreamed they could get for a price within their budget, then THAT is great customer service. And when you consider every single detail and make sure that everything that is important to your client is now important to you too, then THAT is great customer service.
In today’s tough economy, there are a lot of companies out there competing for customers, so here at Rent What? we strive to be the easiest, friendliest, most creative, and most organized drapery rental business out there. But above everything else, I think that it is outstanding customer service that makes a good company great, and I am proud to say that, in my opinion, this is truly an area in which Rent What excels.
As you probably already know, the co-owner and president of Sew What? and Rent What? is Megan Duckett, who is a woman of many skills and talents. One of them is her unbelievably-rockin’ band Without Warning. We had a treat last week and were able to go see her band perform live at a wonderful little concert hall in Redondo Beach. Not only was it great for all of us to get together outside of work and help celebrate our boss’s amazing talents as a singer and most of all as a *ROCKER!*, but it was so much fun to be able to hang out with one another outside of the work environment!
Without Warning members Megan Dawn, Doug, DC, David, and Hughes
Even better was bringing several companies that we work so closely with on a day to day basis to come join in the festivities. We here at Sew What? and Rent What? really are a “family”, and a lot of these other companies are like family to us too. One business in particular has been a huge sponsor of Without Warning, and has also been an incredible company for Rent What? to have worked with for years. This company is All Access, who, with the help of Bob Hughes, encouraged Megan to audition for the band earlier this year, and has been indispensable with the band’s swiftly growing popularity ever since.
There’s nothing like “Rock and Roll Camaraderie” to bring everyone together on a Saturday night, and not have to worry about which black poly silk drapes are going where, what solenoid delivery needs to be made that next week, or the huge Austrian drape order that is next on the horizon. By spending some fun quality time with one another, we get to really get to know one another on a more personal level, and that grows into a richer admiration and respect for each other that we might not otherwise have.
This makes us stronger as a company, and that translates into better customer service and quality of product for our clients. Who knew that getting together to enjoy a little rock and roll could have such far reaching benefits for everyone?
Hi there everyone reading this blog! My name is Marianne, and I’m the newest member to join the team at Rent What? They’ve asked me to help give new insight and a fresh perspective to our blog, and I am thrilled to do so!
First, let me tell you a little bit about my background. I’ve been an event planner for over 10 years, with the last three years working primarily as a wedding planner and coordinator in Las Vegas, Nevada. After moving back out to Southern California, I knew I wanted to stay in the field of planning events, but wasn’t sure exactly which angle I would choose. Once I heard about Rent What? Inc., and their amazing products and business model, I knew I had to be a part of this female owned and operated company! Now I get to help plan events, concerts, productions, trade shows, festivals, tours, and other special occasions through an aspect that I truly love—production design! Through creative use of rental stage drapes, pipe and drape systems, kabuki drops, track systems, and all different styles of fabrics and textures, we can create any look and feel that our clients want, and to me that is absolutely amazing.
Being a part of this “family” has been a dream come true for me, and I am honored and grateful to be a part of something so wonderful. I hope to help give you some of my perspective as someone who is both a long-standing member of this industry, as well as a “newbie” to this specific field. I can’t wait to share with you everything I learn about this fascinating and exciting business!
Sometimes you really want to make elements in your backdrop seem huge. At the end of the day, we all have limits to the height we can go to in most venues.
One thing that can help create the illusion of great height is to illustrate the main elements of you backdrop in forced perspective. What this means in the clearest terms is to illustrate in a way that creates an optical illusion that an object is nearer or farther away, larger or smaller than it actually is. This may be most effective with a building, mountain etc. This creates a feeling of great space or confined quarters to help pull off the feeling you’re looking for with your stage.
I’d be happy to talk to you about how forced perspective can help you.
Recently, Rent What? had the honor to be selected by Dell Computers to be featured in an online video on America’s Favorite Small Business. It was a great opportunity for Megan and Marce and all the folks at Rent What? to discuss the committment that the company has to provide high quality, innovative custom stage curtains and hardware for rental.
I think the folks at Dell did a great job in capturing what it is like to run a small business, ensuring that your business is well run and your customers are provided the highest quality product along with the best customer service possible. As the Rent What? motto goes, “Ultimate Rentals. Extreme Service.”
