5 things you should know before buying your first folding tent! - Expotrade - 5 things you should know before buying your first folding tent!

OK. You have already successfully mastered your social media and digital marketing campaigns. Now is the time to get closer to your customers “personally”. Event marketing is the most effective way to build trust and brand loyalty. But what do you need to know about canopy before investing in event products? Fortunately, many top industry professionals and customers have provided us with helpful insights through joint event planning for over 20 years to ensure that you make the right decision for your company and that we are allowed to accompany you accordingly.

# 1

Get your message across

If your brand is not well known, along with your logo or brand, it may be just as important to state WHAT you do. If you walk through the ranks of a local event and see, for example, a beautiful brown tent roof with a nice wooden graphic on it, you will probably admire the design, but you will not feel drawn to it. However, if you see the same folding tent, for example, with four corner flags that say STREETFOOD burgers, your stomach suddenly growls and you speed towards the street food tent. The message should be short and sweet! Professionals also warn against too much text on your event tent. Don’t write a book or put your phone number in the design. Use a printed back wall for the small print or – brand new in the Expotrade range – a foldable logo banner. Use the canopy like a billboard, but not like an overcrowded sales sheet that scares people off rather than attracts them!

# 2

Notice the mood colors might bring

With all of your branding and design, pay close attention to the colors that you choose. They bring the mood of your company to your audience and your custom pop-up tent may be the first impression of your brand or company. The event professionals recommend black and white for a classic and clean neutral look. Royal blue has been the standard color for folding tent canopies for years. As a result, your royal blue tent could sometimes get lost in a sea of many alike-looking tents unless they have a professional design that sets you apart from the competition. So try to experiment with changing colors or to let the colors “flow” over the pages to achieve a greater visual impact. Most custom canopy manufacturers have an experienced graphics team that can create graphic proposals that allow you to see a pictorial preview of your design on the finished product before you buy it. We will be happy to advise you on this – send us your logos or pictures – we will then competently put them in a design that is suitable and tailored to you.

# 3

Manufacturer or importer/distributor

Event professionals strongly recommend buying directly from the actual manufacturer and not from an importer. As a rule, manufacturers pursue a long-term strategy with their products and the guarantee that they will still be supplied with spare parts for their event tent even years later is much greater than if you buy from an importer or even a dealer. In addition, the procurement of spare parts and delivery processing are usually organized more professionally, as all parts are available in sufficient quantities in the warehouse, since they are the company’s own products and not just purchased items. In most cases, other middlemen are also integrated into the chain, which can sometimes delay or complicate procurement. This should be a priority in your purchasing decision. We hope nothing goes wrong with your personalized pavilion, but a trustworthy company that stands behind their product will make your life easier. You can usually recognize an importer or dealer by the fact that they sell no-name products, i.e. there are no special brand names on these products. This also testifies to the rather short to medium-term tent offers, so that here too you can flexibly change your supplier or manufacturer and not get into “brand trouble”.

# 4

Frame type

It is easy to assume that aluminum tent frames are better because they cost more than steel. However, this is not always the case. Both metals have their advantages. While conventional hexagonal aluminum frames are first class and very durable, the classic steel models also have their place. However, Expotrade has tried to develop a not entirely conventional steel model and so a steel “octagonal profile” was designed, as the usual look of the steel frames by far exceeds. Steel racks are a cheaper option and are perfect for businesses / people who use them 10-12 times a year. If you have the necessary budget, then of course you should consider an anodized aluminum frame. The aluminum folding tents are available in different profile variants (square / hexagon / octagon) and also different designs. The aluminum frames also usually have larger feet for a secure stand of your tent and the weight of the folding construction is lighter than with the steel tents, which can have a little effect on a 3x6m tent, for example. Due to their raw material, aluminum frames are rustproof and therefore more durable than steel frames. Depending on the degree of use of your scissor tent, you should also select the quality or type of the frame. Heavy and regular use also requires a robust and stable construction. At Expotrade you will find all different frame types from cheap to exclusive – from aluminum to steel. You can find more information about the different frame types here:

# 5

Instructions for use, maintenance and repair

Remember that your foldable gazebo is a temporary construction. They are not normally intended to be used as a year-round canopy and should be dismantled in very bad weather or should never be left unattended. If you do this anyway, it is your responsibility and not the manufacturer. If possible, always secure your event tent, party tent, exhibition tent, market tent with the tension belts and pegs supplied as standard with Expotent folding tents against wind and other weather influences. If the tent is on hard ground, you can also use the weights (also called footplates) from Expotrade. These are available in 15kg and 25kg and can be easily and securely attached to the supporting leg with a Velcro fastener. Depending on the tent type and size, more weight is required and the weight plates can be stacked for this purpose. ALWAYS properly secure or add weights to your event canopy to ensure your own safety and the safety of others around you. If you are unsure of what to do, a good rule of thumb is; “If the weather is too bad for you, it’s probably too bad for your tent”. Then dismantle the tent and be safe. Due to the folding construction, this can be done in a few minutes. If you are the proud owner of one or more gazebos, you should also carry out various maintenance work over the years. For example, the ongoing cleaning of the profiles, possibly tightening the screws as well as the use of a silicone spray for the moving parts of the tent. Make sure that you only pack the tent wet in an extreme emergency – however, this should then be opened again at the latest 1 day after packing so that the existing water can evaporate. Otherwise, mold forms, which can hardly be removed from the fabric. Also, repair small holes or tears in the fabric. There is also a repair kit from Expotrade to support you with this. Buying your first folding tent is an important step in taking your brand and business to the next level. With the right design, planning and maintenance of your personalized exhibition tent, it will last for years, making it one of the best investments you can make for your business.