We'll cut to the chase: You should buy a custom pop-up tent for your business if you attend outdoor (or even indoor) events and trade shows.
A custom pop-up tent is a great way to set up your business temporarily and gain exposure. They are easy to set up and take down, versatile enough to be used across various industries, and the amount of customization and branding is endless.
Most importantly, a custom tent can help you stand out at a big event and gain the business you crave.
Custom pop-up tents aren't for all businesses, though. If you don't regularly attend events or have a need to set up a temporary location, you can probably move on from this article.
If you're on the fence, though, use this article not only to determine if a branded pop-up canopy is right for you, but also what size you need, what you should look for in terms of material, and how much you can expect to pay for your tent.
As the only American manufacturer of custom canopy tents in the industry, we're uniquely positioned to answer any questions you may have before investing in a solution.
Benefits of a Custom Canopy Tent
First, it's important to understand the benefits of using custom pop-up tents for your business. Custom canopy tents offer several advantages to businesses and organizations that need to be easily found at events.
A majority of the calls we receive at TentCraft include a plea from the customer that they NEED to stand out and attract customers at a farmers market or a trade show, or a major national event. A custom-printed tent can certainly check that box, but there are plenty of other benefits:
Cost-effective. We'll dive into cost a little bit, but investing in a professional-grade canopy tent is an easy, cost-effective way to help your business promote your brand and products at events, trade shows, and outdoor promotions. That’s mostly because you can use it over and over again — as long as you invest in a heavy-duty, durable solution!
Portable. Canopy tents — even the big ones! — are portable enough to transport from one location to another. TentCraft makes this even easier with our unique wheel kit that makes hauling even our heaviest tents a breeze.
Protection. This is rotects your brand and your people. That's why we engineered and manufactured our heavy-duty pop-up tents to be extremely durable. We back that up with a lifetime warranty and certified wind ratings by an actual engineering firm.
Customize everything. When we say everything, we mean everything. From sizes to walls, to custom printing, and everything in between, your tent doesn't exist today, but you can create
These benefits only scrape the surface of the benefits of investing in a pop-up canopy tent. Learn about more benefits, here.
How Do I Choose the Right Size Event Tent for My Business?
To determine the right size tent for your business, answer these three questions:
What Types of Events Am I Attending?
Some events limit the size of the tent you're allowed to bring. Farmers markets, for example, tend to restrict their vendors to 10x10 pop-up canopy tents (or vendors can pay a higher fee for more space). Craft beer festivals realize brewers need more space, so they're more open to 10x20 tents and even larger.
Before choosing a size, research your main event venues and ensure you'll have enough space for your tent.
What Am I Using My Tent For?
Are you hosting VIP attendees? Handing out free samples? Cooking with a Hibachi grill? Tapping kegs and pouring beer?
Most pop-up tents are 10x10 with a standard peak, but if you have a lot of stuff to pack under your tent, you'll want to go bigger.
How Many People Will Be Under My Tent?
Finally, you need to figure out how many people, on average, are going to be underneath your tent. A 10x10 canopy, for example, can fit about 15 people underneath it. Things would fill in pretty quickly, however, if you also have tables and other accessories underneath the canopy.
If you're a brand that's at a trade show or exhibition and plan to host attendees frequently, we recommend going with something a little larger than a 10x10.
What Is the Best Material for My Tent?
When shopping for a pop-up tent, you're going to see everything from steel to aluminum legs, and vinyl to polyester canopies.
So, which materials are best for your tent setup?
Aluminum is Better Than Steel
In terms of frame material, aluminum is the superior choice over steel for strength and durability.
Steel tents are less expensive, but their build quality is also considerably cheaper.
Steel is heavier than aluminum, which limits how much material a company can actually use. If you built a frame with super-thick steel legs, it could very well weigh more than 300 lbs., which isn't very portable.
Aluminum, on the other hand, is a third of the weight of steel, which allows companies like TentCraft to manufacture tent frames with thicker, sturdier legs — and not worry about the weight. If you compare our MONARCHTENT's aluminum legs to a similar steel-frame pop-up tent, you'll notice that the legs are about twice as thick.
Aluminum is more expensive than steel, which is why professional-grade pop-up tents start at about $1,500.
Vinyl vs Polyester Canopy
Vinyl and polyester canopies are both popular choices for a pop-up tent canopy, but they have some key differences.
Vinyl canopies are made of a thicker material, making them more durable and long-lasting than polyester canopies.
Vinyl is very heavy, though, which doesn't make it a great material for pop-up tents. TentCraft manufactures heavy-duty, semi-permanent frame tents using vinyl canopies.
On the other hand, polyester canopies are lighter in weight, making them easier to set up, take down, and transport. So, if you're shopping for a pop-up canopy, make sure it has a polyester canopy.
TentCraft canopies use a proprietary material called Duranti that's super-durable, UV resistant, and water-resistant.
How Much Does It Cost to Buy a Custom Pop-Up Tent?
You won't like our first answer: It depends.
In general, you can expect to pay a few hundred dollars for a cheaper tent with limited branding and a less-durable frame.
If you want a professional-grade pop-up tent, be prepared to invest at least $1,500 and potentially more depending on size, printing needs, and other factors, like how fast you need it built and shipped to you.
Learn more about how much it costs to work with TentCraft.
What Accessories Do I Need For My Pop-Up Canopy?
You'll likely want to invest in some accessories to complete your pop-up tent. The most common accessories include:
These accessories make custom pop up tents more versatile and can give it a more professional look.
Find the Right Custom Tent to Promote Your Brand
Ultimately, finding the right custom tent for your business comes down to figuring out what size and style best fits your needs.
Consider how much space you need, how many people will be attending events, and any special requirements you may have.
With the right tent in place, you can start attending events with extra confidence.
If you have more questions, reach out to our team of tent experts.
