#144: Customer Service, The Key to Longevity with Heather Rouffe

Heather Rouffe, Director of Sales and Managing Partner of Atlas Event Rental shares why excellent customer service is essential in any business, how you can under-promise and over-deliver and how to help mitigate customer service issues by going after the right prospects. Read the full article.    

Event Rental Trends for 2020

From garden chic to modern minimalist, we have seen all sorts of trends come and go in the special events industry. Some are mere fads, lasting only a short while, and others are fashions that transform into multiple iterations throughout its time in the spotlight (think metallics). Each year, we welcome a host of new […]

Partnering with Companies Just Like Yours

  When you think about industry collaborations, there are likely some partnerships that naturally make sense. Designers and photographers, venues and caterers, rental companies and florists, and even cake designers and stationers—these are all alliances that complement each other to create a cohesive product or service. Partnerships across specialties are an excellent way to reach […]

Alleviating Wedding Woes: Solutions to 4 Common Conflicts

  There’s no hiding the fact that wedding planning can be stressful, even when you have the best vendors on your side. After all, the process requires a lot of decisions and, when you factor in the opinions coming in all directions, it’s common for conflicts to arise between couples and possibly their families. With […]

Hand-in-Hand: Caterers & Rental Companies

  In a perfect world, caterers and rental companies go together like bread and butter. Both services complement each other in the overall event design, and it is hard to imagine one company without the other. You cannot set a buffet without a table and linens, and there is no use for a place setting […]

How to Combat Wedding Season Fatigue

    The start of the event season is always filled with excitement and anticipation, but there tends to be a point somewhere in the middle where the days start to blur and you feel like you’re barely scraping by. Welcome to the peak fatigue season. Fatigue is something that happens to the best of […]

How Role-Playing Can Help Your Business

  Every day presents new challenges in the workplace, and it is easy to assume that you just have to play it by ear. Sure, there are bound to be some situations that are unexpected and catch you off-guard. However, careful preparation and a team effort can help to navigate the unpredictable nature of business […]

How To Coordinate Your Long-Distance Wedding Party

Part of the excitement in the wedding planning process is getting to spend quality time with your closest friends and family in the months leading up to the big day. Your wedding party becomes your support system, ready to help with DIY projects and talk you through the more stressful tasks along the way. For […]

Consultation Tips & Tricks

Consultations are where the magic happens. They present an opportunity to start creating a vision with your client and getting an idea for the direction they want to take for their celebration. For some, it may even be the first face-to-face meeting, so it also acts as a way to get to know your client, […]

Trend Alert: Autumn Inspiration

The dog days of summer will soon be in our rearview as we welcome the cozy nature of autumn. Fall is a time for new starts and fresh trends, especially in the events industry where our design schemes are heavily influenced by seasonal details. Here are a few autumnal trends we’re anticipating this year, straight […]

Seven Sales Tips For Special Event Products

When you’re selling a service, people typically think that it’s something needed, such as a DJ, a bartender or a planner. Upscale products, on the other hand, are often viewed as “wants”; people don’t always feel that they need upgraded linens or glassware. These items are seen as luxuries, which means they require a bit […]

Pre & Post Event Evaluations

As we all know, an event isn’t merely about day-of production. Instead, it’s a detailed process leading up, as well as the follow-up procedures after an event. Your diligence in preparation and follow-up is what allows your team to develop effective practices and continue to elevate your client experience. Planning your meetings strategically allows streamlined […]

Exceptional Customer Service Tips For Event Professionals

As the market becomes increasingly saturated, it’s critical to set your company apart from the competition — and top-tier customer service is one of the best ways to do so. The special events industry is service-driven and, in that, personalized customer service is truly what keeps a client coming back for more. Events are a […]

Wedding Rentals and Outdoor Planning With Heather Rouffe

On this episode of the Bridechilla podcast, guest Heather Rouffe, a professional wedding and event planner from Atlas Event Rentals, talks about wedding rentals and outdoor planning. If you are in the midst of planning your wedding, it is likely that this is your first time organizing such an elaborate and potentially expensive event. There […]

Is it Time to Expand Your Business?

Opening multiple catering locations is an exciting endeavor and signifies growth and high demand for your services. Having several locations allows you to reach new markets and serve a more extensive customer base, resulting in a stronger brand presence in the industry. As with many business decisions, more business locales opens up both opportunities and […]

Tips For Event Pros: How To Hire After Major Staff Changes

Earlier this month, we tackled the dreaded task of letting someone go when they’re not meeting expectations. Now, we’re looking at the flip side, as we break down tips from event pros on filling those open positions and ensuring that your new hire is the right fit for your company. Read the full article.

Wedding Related Event Trends in Miami

The latest wedding trends are usually splashed across social media and the magazine aisle of the grocery store, but the wedding-related events, such as bridal showers and rehearsal dinners, aren’t discussed as often. These wedding-related events require attention too and typically have a completely different feel, so it’s a shame that they’re not in the […]

Event Style Trends in Miami

Between the fashion-forward looks, tropical vibe, and year-round summer-like weather, event planners in the South Florida area help to set the event trend for the rest of the country! Events outside of the South Florida region, such as the Northeast (think New York and Boston) or the midwest (such as Chicago!) often look to Miami […]

Customer Service Continuity With A Large Team

Customer service is understandably a vital aspect of any business, which is why many Fortune 500 companies are willing to spend a good portion of their budget on training client-facing employees. For small businesses who likely don’t have the same amount of money to work with, it can feel like a significant challenge to ensure […]

25 Young Event Pros To Watch 2019

Meet five more fresh faces who are defining the future of special events. MAD ABOUT MIAMI Danielle Blank, 35, event sales associate, Atlas Event Rental, Miami Blank was handed the big job of building business at the new Miami operation of rental powerhouse Atlas, which has served the South Florida market for more than 30 […]

How To Decide If A Potential Client Is Right For You

Much of the sales process is focused on your company’s value and how you can best serve a new client. While this certainly should be a top priority, you must look beyond the idea of selling yourself to anyone who walks in the door. After all, the relationship between a service provider and a client […]

Balancing Multiple Event Rental Locations

Many brick-and-mortar companies dream about having multiple locations. More storefronts mean the ability to service more clients and, as a result, increase your bottom line and expand your brand recognition. It can be the first step to a transformative chapter, but as with any progress, there can be growing pains associated with this move. There […]

Working Your Way Up In The Business

When you find a company that feels like the right fit, you understandably want to stay there forever. Still, you want to expand your skill set and take on more responsibilities so your career (and your professional acumen) can grow to new heights. As someone who worked my way up the ladder in a family-owned […]

What You Need Yo Know About Designing Event Tabletops

Tabletops serve as one of the main focal points of an event, with limitless opportunities for design and decor. Although tabletops start out as a blank slate, it can be quite fun to adorn an empty table and create an unforgettable layout that will take a client’s breath away. With that said, there is a […]

Favorite Outdoor Event Season Articles

In honor of the unofficial start to summer, we are rounding up some of our favorite outdoor planning posts! How To Create Intimacy In Outdoor Event Seating – How to create intimacy in outdoor event seatingis a common challenge when planning outdoor events. While indoor event spaces provide natural walls and dimensions, outdoor events are often […]

Creative Pros Share How They Keep It Together in Life and Business

Events professionals and creatives are masters of disguise. They are often tasked with making everything appear to be operating smoothly, even when things go seriously wrong. Unfortunately, this sometimes extends to our personal wellbeing, and the toll is much worse than a bad review or a lost customer. The stress and pressure can tax even […]

Designing Tables 101

Scan any event-themed Pinterest board or flip through any wedding magazine and you’ll find tablescapes in abundance. Crisp, bold linens, one-of-a-kind centerpieces, and elaborate place settings come together to form one of the most popular—and impactful—aspects of an event: the table design. Table styling has grown well beyond the white tablecloths and folded napkins of […]

One of A Kind Food Presentation

More than ever, today’s event client is looking for one-of-a-kind design styles with details that truly impress their guests. The tricky part is that clients often don’t know what they want—just that it needs to be fresh and unique. As professionals, it’s up to us to experiment with distinctive looks and find new ways to […]

How Special Event Pros Can Overcome Day-of Obstacles

When you’re planning an event, there’s only so much you can anticipate in advance. Sometimes, day-of challenges can show up, and it’s important for event professionals to be prepared to combat these unpredictable obstacles to preserve a client’s celebration. From incorrect weather forecasts and forgotten decor pieces to last-minute changes to the guest count, there are […]

Designing Tables 101

Scan any event-themed Pinterest board or flip through any wedding magazine and you’ll find tablescapes in abundance. Crisp, bold linens, one-of-a-kind centerpieces and elaborate place settings come together to form one of the most popular—and impactful—aspects of an event: the table design. Table styling has grown well beyond the white tablecloths and folded napkins of […]