A Candid Discussion

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE CREATIVE TEAM AT STRETCH IN 2015/ 2016

The designers at Stretch Structures have always been in the forefront of designing structures that are contemporary, different and eye popping.  Here is a insight into their ideas and thoughts:

1. What new shapes/configurations do you offer, and what shapes/configurations do you have on the drawing board?

Stretch tents are available in a range of sizes and shapes from 4.5m x 6m up to 20m x 30m. And of course we have the option to custom make tents to fit your individual needs and requirements. The shapes and configurations are truly up to the imagination of the customer ordering! We are constantly developing new solutions to provide easier installation and more flexibility to our customers.  Along with ensuring we can continue to offer our customers more innovative and attractive solutions for covering there outdoor events. New product offerings planned for the stretch tent range for 2015/16 are:

Integrated flooring system for the stretch tents for easy deployment on hard surfaces

Retrofit stretch tent skins for clearspan pavilions and pagodas.  Aimed at allowing rental companies to maximise the return on there existing stock whilst offering a new attractive and innovative style of marquee

clear fabric and glazed wall options for the stretch tents

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Festival Fascinations

Music to our ears… Music festivals are at an all time high. If it’s bespoke entertainment that makes your music festival experience unique and memorable, then these guys are playing your tune! It’s at these events that you really see how the event organisers and coordinators have applied themselves.

They’ve got you covered and have considered all your wants and needs… even those things that you didn’t know you needed or wanted! Perhaps one of the first questions those brains behind the scenes ask is: how can we help you make the most of your day? Is it a raincoat you need, perhaps a poncho or a pair of wellies? Or the other extreme - an umbrella or parasol for some sun protection?

Read more here.....

A Ballast Guide

Definition: `Heavy material, such as gravel, sand, iron or lead, placed low on a structure to improve its stability. Something that gives stability or substance’.

For safe use, any environmentally susceptible structure should be anchored to the surface on which it has been installed. Variables such as environmental aggressors (wind and rain), engineering criteria (mainstay horizontal and vertical position, angle and ballast type) and surface types (dry or wet tar-surface, dry or wet concrete, smooth or rough surfaces, grass, dirt or gravel) are all taken into consideration. Written specifications for anchoring are conveyed via installation instructions from on-site engineers. Elements taken into consideration: * site wind exposure * Terrain category * Wind Region * 5 day forecast * duration of tent on site * soil density for staking (holding power) * soil water saturation (drought or muddy) * nearby structures (buildings, trees) * size of the tent (surface area) Ballasts should be placed on all four corners of a marquee (for example) however, if requested, additional smaller-sized anchor points can also be used, giving extra support for side walls. Every leg should have a ballast point, or the leg becomes a ‘floating’ leg and if exposed to high winds, becomes a danger. There are several anchoring options available for all surface types.

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Events with Attitude in 2016

Happy New Year!

Yes, we know we’re a little late, but happy 2016! Now, we won’t start asking the usual questions: Set any goals for the year? Turning over a new leaf? And you don’t even want to know what we think of New Years Resolutions! Suffice to say that we are more the esoteric-type when it comes to our goals for a new year (we keep our cards close to our chest), that, and the fact that we like helping others achieve their annual aim, a little magnanimity goes a long way in this day and age. So - What To Do In 2016? Here’s a few fresh ideas and some novel approaches to all of our busy lives! ‘Fill Your Boots’ as they say, and don’t be shy to give us a shout - we’re a very handy bunch and we’re here to help.

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Summer events filled with colour and inspiration

Photo credit image: Cliff Brunk

Those lucky enough to find themselves in the southern hemisphere right about now are being treated to a whole lot of warmth and sunshine. Find inspiration in the season and think ‘outside the box’ to please your guests and make a lasting impression, whether it be a summer wedding or a sun-drenched corporate event.

 Read more here......

How to survive planning an event.

We have 4 easy ways to help you survive planning even the biggest of events: 

1. Organise and have a clear plan

“Failing to plan is planning to fail.” -Alan Lakein

Planning, checklists, and great organising is the holy grail for event planners. And with good reason! It’s well worth spending your time organising and planning to prepare for your event before you begin implementing. This allows you to have a clear timeline for when things need to be completed, gives you a list of tasks you can delegate to others, and provides a great overall blueprint for the event that can be handed over to someone else in case of emergency.

Having a clear plan also ensures you’re driving the event, rather than setting yourself up to be constantly reacting to things that come your way. Being in constant reaction mode is exhausting and a quick way to lose precious mental energy.

The type of event will dictate your timeline and to-dos, but you can start with this generic checklist and these scheduling tips.

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Our 4 Tips to Generate Creative Ideas for Events.

                                                                          

Here at Stretch Structures, we always say that your imagination is your only limitation. We love providing our customers with exciting products that are a result of their creativity and vision. It’s always fun to deliver a product that simply started as a seed of an idea!

Of course we know that creativity can be a funny thing. We’ve all been victims to creative block from time to time where we are searching for something new, but it seems to elude us. We like to work with our customers to create products that are cutting edge and leading the way in fabric architecture.

So let’s have some fun with different ways to brainstorm creative ideas for your next event!

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10 Reasons to use our Axion Tents

Special offer- Free Flags with every Branded tent purchased

Events in Communities

 

Feeling like you keep putting on the same event, over and over again?

Have the urge to create something bigger and better?
 
Want to keep up with the latest marketing movements?
 
Leveraging the community aspect of events is your answer!
 
There’s a growing desire of consumers to feel a part of something beyond one or two-day events. It’s human nature to love being part of a movement, connecting with others, and getting involved. 

Why not serve your audience and your brand better by leveraging your event and expanding it out into a true community?
 
Event planners are beginning to see how events extend beyond the actual event, starting before the event begins and continuing long after the event has passed.
 
The event lifecycle has extended as social media, new marketing strategies, and more conscious consumers have flooded the marketplace and encouraged companies to step up their game.
 
The new marketing landscape is all about storytelling, connection, and relationship building! “Events as communities” is a great way to put these ideas into practice and increase the impact of your event.
 
You have the ability to capture audience attention on a much deeper level than ever before, encouraging consumer engagement outside of the limited time you have available to host an event.
 
There are three main things to consider when utilizing this strategy:

   1. Management
Who will manage the community? This strategy requires other marketing experts past the event planner in charge of the event. It takes brand ambassadors to truly nurture a community and ensure the community stays focused. Be prepared to invest the personnel to make this strategy effective. 

  2. Vision
What is truly the point of the community? What is the bigger movement that your audience relates to and can get behind? It could be environmental issues, conscious consumerism, buying local, or other big vision causes that your brand supports and believes in. Ensure the vision is aligned with your brand and is related to your event. 

   3. Goals
What is really the goal with creating the community outside of the event? Perhaps it’s increasing attendance at the event, fostering connections between attendees, building customers for life, continuing the community yearly, or changing perceptions. There are a lot of reasons communities exist, but if you aren’t clear on the purpose of your community, then your lack of true connection will show and it will be confusing why it exists in the first place. 
 
Consumers are intelligent and picky about how they spend their time and where they spend their money. If you want your event to truly stand out, link it to a larger community that serves a true purpose for your audience and your brand.
 
Connection is currency and your event community can prove to be well worth the effort.