Buying a high quality vendor tent makes sure that your pop-up location stands out at a festival, and it’s a surefire way to protect yourself from the elements. It’s also a great way to show off your brand!
But buying a vendor tent isn’t always a straightforward process. Much like other wares, there are brands to consider, along with plenty of other factors.
Our 8 Tips
We’ve compiled eight tips for buying a high quality vendor tent so you can be prepared when it comes time to make a purchase.
1. Your Budget
Figure out what you can reasonably spend, and consider how many times per year you’re going to use this tent. If you’re only going to use it once or twice, it might be okay to skimp on price. But if you’re going to use this tent frequently, you’ll want to invest in something high quality, like the heavy-duty tents we offer.
2. Your Exhibition Space
Vendor tents come in all sizes, and these sizes are listed at varying prices. While it may be tempting to opt for the larger size, it’s not always wise to do so. If there are strict tent size limits at your festival venue, consider going smaller with your vendor tent. The last thing you want is to be kicked out because your tent is too big!
3. Ease of Setup
If you’re going to be attending the festival alone, think of how easy your tent is to set up. Can just one person make it happen? A smaller tent is possible for one person to set up, but if you’re going to invest in a bigger tent, remember that you’ll need a second pair of hands with you.
Make sure the setup of your tent won’t be a frustration factor at the festivals you attend. Read how easy it is to set up our Speedy pop up tents here.
4. Ease of Transport
Setup isn’t the only physical aspect to consider, you have to think about transport, too. On average, the weight of a vendor tent and its hardware is anywhere between 51-60 pounds.
Most vendor tents also come with carrying cases that you can put hardware and material back into, so they don’t take up much space when they’re not in use.
If you plan on attending festivals alone, you don’t want to have to haul a bulky, heavy tent around. Consider going with something smaller that’s easier to maneuver so you don’t suffer with every event.
5. Aesthetics
The point of your tent is that it should attract the public, so you want one that represents your company positively. Choosing a tent that complements the colors of your branding and logo will help you stand out from other plain tents at the festival, and placing your logo right onto the top, sides, back, and front of the tent allows people to see you from all over. This also allows attendees to recognize your brand amongst the hundreds of other companies at the event who may have chosen plainer tents!
6. Fabric of the Tent
Most vendor tents are made of polyester, but you want one that’s weather and water resistant as well - especially if you’re going to be frequenting a lot of outdoor festivals. This material is also scratch-resistant and can take everyday wear and tear without showing its use in a negative manner.
Tents that show wear after only a few festivals are not tents you should be investing in.
7. Tent Sturdiness
The fabric of the tent isn’t the only component that should be examined. You should also consider the poles when you’re picking out a tent that works for you.
While flexible, plastic poles may work for camping tents, you don’t want to use them for high quality vendor tents because they’re too weak and can become even more fragile in the sun. Instead, you’ll want aluminum or steel - just be aware that if you choose steel, you’ll need to take the proper measures to prevent rust! Because while it’s the sturdiest choice, it is vulnerable to rusting if exposed to the elements.
8. Potential Weights
Festivals take place in all sorts of weather, including rough winds. If you know that you’re going to be outdoors during this type of weather, you’ll want to invest in a tent that can be weighted down. You don’t want your vendor tent flying away - you won’t only lose out on your investment, you could also do some serious damage to property and people.
Choosing a Vendor Tent
As you can see, there are many factors to consider when shopping for a vendor tent. Keep these tips in mind and you’ll surely be able to choose a tent that you feel satisfied with, and one that will last for many festivals to come.
You’ll find that these commercial pop-up tents that we offer check all of these boxes, and are a great investment!