In the world of commercial tent renting, a few truisms exist: Tents go up in rain. They go up in cold. They go up at night. And typically, they go up by men.
But in the male-dominated business of pounding stakes and pitching tents, executive Ria Bruns stands out.
As owner of Classic Tents & Events in Atlanta, Bruns is a bit of a trailblazer. Her company is one of a few certified woman-owned tent rental businesses nationwide.
"The tent business is more a macho kind of environment. You're using a lot of muscle to get those tents up," she says. "But I do believe the nurturing spirit of women is appropriate in this business because so often we're dealing with the women, especially with brides."
Classic Tents & Events operates out of a 12,000-square-foot warehouse off Peachtree Industrial Boulevard. Bruns employs three full-timers and, at times, a bunch of contract workers. Crews set up tents — some close to the size of a football field — for weddings, corporate events and festivals. Especially festivals.
Dogwood. Yellow Daisy. Taste of Atlanta. Taste of Marietta. Gay Pride. East Atlanta Beer Festival. Decatur Book Festival. Her company handles the majors across metro Atlanta, pitching up to 300 tents for one event. Rental prices can vary from a few thousand to $60,000.
The tent business is unique in that it tends to be specialized, Bruns says. Although some rental companies offer party-type services such as silverware, china or linens, her company focuses primarily on tents.
"The guys that handle the tents and sling the sledgehammers, they're really not interested in handling the linens," she says with a laugh, "and you don't want them to."
Before Bruns became a self-described "tent lady," she was one of three investors who had bought the company in 2000. When her partners declined to run the business, Bruns stepped up to the plate.
The then-retiree had a background in business, but she had never managed her own — particularly one she knew little about. So she took classes from the American Rental Association and then hired someone to teach her how to stake and maintain tents.
"People think it's so simple to rent a tent. It's not," says Bruns, who has directed work crews.
Tents are erector sets, with many parts and pieces. Those pieces, including the heavy vinyl, have to be cleaned and handled carefully to prevent stains, mildew and rips, she says.
"I'm a tent lady," Bruns says. "I'm very critical. A guy that drives stakes is not going to notice a little dirt on the top."
Bruns has had some unusual requests. Once, she was asked to erect a tent on the fifth terrace of a hotel, about 80 feet up, which would have required a crane. The client called it off, but "we were prepared to do it," she says.
Business is holding steady amid the slumping economy. Bruns doesn't advertise, so she counts on referrals. Her secret? "We just care ... about our clients," she says. "We turn ourselves into pretzels."
About the tents
Tent makeup: Heavy vinyl held up with aluminum frames or tall center poles
Stakes: Up to 30-42 inches long
Largest tent: 60 feet by 300 feet (18,000 square feet), which could take up to 10 hours to set up.
Standard commercial-grade tent cost: The cost depends on the size, style and how much metal is required. Generally, the price per square foot starts at a low of $8 and goes up from there.
Largest event budget: $60,000
About Classic Tents & Events
Owner: Ria Bruns, 65
Previous occupation: She had been a real estate investor for years.
Busy season: March through mid-November
Biggest corporate client: Home Depot
More information: http://www.classic-tents.com/
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