If you’ve attended a wedding, festival or other event with tents in the Lower Mainland recently, chances are Phoenix Tent and Event Rentals was a supplier. Supporting an average of two to four weddings and two to three festivals and concerts each weekend, it stands out as one of the longest-running and most trusted event rental companies in the area.
The company’s reputation is no surprise, given its Owner and President Lori Potts’ long history in the event industry. She owns and operates the Aldergrove-based business along with her husband and son, who purchased it back in 2008. “I was doing the books for somebody who owned the company, and I had been working for somebody in the event world for quite a while … It sort of landed in our lap,” she says.
Some of Phoenix Tent and Event Rentals most notable and memorable events include the 2020 Vancouver Olympics, where they provided a double decker tent with an elevator in it for the Canada tents. “We had tents on many, many sites. Our warehouse was basically empty,” Potts says of the winter games. The company has also provided tents for every City of Surrey event since 2008.
Potts says one of the things that keeps clients coming back to Phoenix Tent and Event Rentals over the years is the company’s commitment to training and quality control, and their adherence to engineering standards. “A lot of people will get into setting up tents, and they'll run it out of their garage. But the problem is they don't have any training,” Potts explains. In the case of an incident, tents that don’t meet engineering standards may not be covered by insurance.
Phoenix Tent and Event Rentals is also the only rental company with a tent washing machine in Western Canada and tents are kept in a commercial heated space meaning they’re clean and free of mold. The company also uses special machinery to install the tents. “We have all this specialized equipment that makes the jobs a lot easier and less stressful for our staff, and the client including a tent ox, which is a special machine for moving product on sites,” Potts explains.
Potts is especially proud of Phoenix Tent and Event Rentals’ unique corporate program that allows companies to support nonprofits while enhancing their visibility. For instance, a corporation can purchase a branded tent for community events, which Phoenix installs and maintains. “We have about 40 corporate tents that we do this for on a regular basis. All they have to do is put the order in and pay for it. Nonprofits can then use these tents for various fundraisers, such as cancer runs and social justice events, without incurring costs,” Potts explains.
The entrepreneur aims to expand the corporate program into Vancouver, enabling Phoenix Tent and Event Rentals to help more companies support meaningful community efforts while promoting their brand.
Interested in working with Phoenix Tent and Event Rentals for your next event? Visit phoenixtentrentals.ca to learn more.
