Concession Tents

Hi,
 
My brother and I are planning on trying out the concession business this summer (Roasted Corn).  One of the questions I have is if I should pay the extra money to get a nice concession tent or go with a SAM's Club tent?  I noticed a number of fairs require a picture of your stand with the application.  Could we get away with just a canopy tent and a few tables?
 
Thanks.

I wouldn't cheap out on the tent. I've used EZ-Up's for years. They usually last 2 seasons & keep me out of the nasty weather up here. Also don't forget about side curtains.

Where do I find the side curtains?  I was thinking of setting a table across the front and putting a table skirt on it.
 
Thanks.

Mine came with it. Check the websites foor your best deals.

EZ Up tents from Sams Club have four sides. Cost around $200.00. Go to http://www.squidoo.com/Festival-Tents-And-Canopies#module96012711 to learn more about securing your tent in bad weather. Down here in the badlands of New Mexico, we have to have all four sides screened in. Caravan Canopy out of La Mirada, Calif. carrys 10` Netted Food Walls w/Window Kit for 90 bucks. The E-Z Up tents come with 2 brackets so you may have banners made to advertise what you sell. This is a cheap way to find out if your cut-out for this type of business. Good luck.

most tent rigs i've seen  have just the easy up and the tables around what ever configuration they want with the skirting. they look nice; i know at one car show we did last summer there was some good ole boy's in a tent rig and along with about 20 or so other tents and trailers and them boy's put it on us !!and there tent was FILTHY !!

if your looking for something to really take a beating and last the long haul i would go directly to ez-ups site and order from there....
 
a "commercial grade" ez-up will cost you around 600 bucks or so, been a while since i priced one....
but they are so much more heavy duty then the sams club model, in fact, the pro version weighs about three times more then a sams club version, due to thicker walls on the tubing,larger tubing sizes, and heavier weight canvas/nylon for the top.
plus you will have a lot more choices for colors and accessories ......
 
pricey yes, but so much more heavy duty and a lot less danger of "racking" it from wind damage, or wearing it out from repeated set up/take down
 
 

Hello
Has anyone purchased one of these tents custom printed with logo's and whatnot?  I was wondering how much they cost.
I hate to call any of the companies that sell them as once you call you are on their list and will get calls and emails that will not stop.
 
THank You
 
Al

I have been pricing them out with various companies across the U.S.  With side walls and shipping I am looking at around $800 to $900 dollars.
 
I want to look professional, but I am only in the start up phase and have not even been to 1 festival.  I might go the SAM's club route until I see I am making money.

We started out with a 10’ x 10’ EZ UP Canopy. We built a 2’ x 8’ counter height table for the serving counter. You can purchase side walls / screens from EZ UP. Most of the festivals we attended did not require the side walls / screens.  You can purchase your own screen material and make your own. We used two 10’ long 2” closet dowels for poles and attached our banner across it. We use electric ties to secure the poles to the canopy legs. It worked well for use for two years before we purchased a used food booth.
Best thing to do is to check out festivals around you to see what the other food vendors are doing. We have even checked out the festival web page’s photo gallery (If they have one) to see photos of food booths.
In Georgia most of the festivals are exempt from HD rules unless stated in the application that you must either meet or obtain HD approval.

jmorris1986


I have been pricing them out with various companies across the U.S.  With side walls and shipping I am looking at around $800 to $900 dollars.

I want to look professional, but I am only in the start up phase and have not even been to 1 festival.  I might go the SAM's club route until I see I am making money.

Thanks,
I agree, this seems to be a luxury purchase to be made with profits, not start up money
 
Al

When I lived in San Diego, I saw a cheap canopy break in a wind gust, and one of the poles go through the head of an 11 year old boy.
 
Quality gear is NOT a luxury item.
 
One of my college instructors (300 years ago) had an important concept for us right from the beginning -
Customers want to go with a perceived "winner" so look like you are already successful from Day 1.
They are not stupid - if you aren't fully committed to your business financially (by having good equipment, full shelves, a strong variety of product offerings, etc.) then they are instinctively not going to commit with their wallets either!
 
We have decided that buying the best gear possible is more important than having cable TV, buying new clothes, going out to dinner, or taking vacations, etc. However, we already know this is what we want to be doing, and there are LOTS of people out there who spend a lot of cash first, then find out it wasn't their cup of miso.
Tough call, but like I said, I would suggest going with the good stuff when safety can be an issue.
Cheers, Dave

Dave is right, but the EZ UP canopy is well built. We have used one not only for food vending, but we also have one we use with our camper. The EZ Ups are constructed so that all pieces are connected together. By adding weights to each leg you won't lose it except maybe in some extreme weather. Most of the commercial food booths are constructed the same as the EX UP.
 
PS: the roasted corn vendors seem to do very well down here.

We have two EZ-Ups and use them for vending, as well as remote camping and hunting here in Alaska. Yes, they are stupidly tough! They regularly withstand sustained winds of 50mph and gusts to 70mph - as long as they are anchored well!
 
I don't recommend selling stuff in winds that high, though...  

JodyP and Chocolategypsy, sounds like you and I have a similar set-up. War story: was at an event many years ago and all I was doing was funnel cakes.  Wind starting coming up, had a line of about 20 people. As the event wasn`t to be no more than 4 or 5 hours, I didn`t think I would need any stakes or weights. WRONG! I ended up asking each customer as they came to the counter to hold the 10 foot counter down while I made their funnel cake. Customers were delighted to help me out, and I survived the night.