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Excitement fills the Women in Rental Breakfast and the trade show floor

By Ashleigh Petersen

February 15, 2023

Women in Rental Breakfast

Women in Rental Breakfast

Tuesday at The ARA Show™ started with a fun, humor-filled Women in Rental Breakfast. The event gave the more than 450 attendees the opportunity to network and build connections. The event also featured keynote speaker Connie Podesta, who is known worldwide for her innovative and out-of-the-box creativity. As a therapist and stand-up comedian, Podesta filled the room with laughter as she talked about different personality types and how they like to communicate.

She shared the good and not-so-good traits about each personality type all while keeping the audience captivated. Podesta also discussed how communicating with people based on their personality can not only make your relationships with family, friends and coworkers stronger but it also can help when working with clients and lead to closing more deals.

Those interested in the American Rental Association’s (ARA) Women in Rental group can learn more at ARArental.org/women-in-rental and by visiting the ARA Women In Rental Facebook Group.

The breakfast was sponsored by Alert Rental Software, Barreto Manufacturing, Ditch Witch, Fame Rental, John Deere and Toro.

Following the Women in Rental Breakfast, attendees once again flooded the trade show floor to meet with exhibitors.

Throughout the show floor, both attendees and exhibitors expressed their excitement to meet in person, build connections, make deals and learn more about the newest products.

“I’m looking at small hammers for machines, forks, post diggers, stuff like that,” says Kevin Doherty, Dot Rental, Dorchester Center, Mass. “Most of the companies have all of the attachments that I need. And exhibitors are willing to talk to you and tell you what products are coming in the future, which is good.”

One attendee ended up finding some must-need equipment and making purchases he had not planned on making.

“We were just looking for crossback chairs that we don’t have. We were by no means planning on buying, but we just spent money we weren’t expecting on spending. It’s great,” says Brendon Blood, Blood’s Party Rental, White River Junction, Vt.

“The nice part is the show gets you to buy things you don’t even know you need or want sometimes. We bought some patio heaters. We’ve never owned any. The vendors are really friendly and eager to write orders as usual. It seems like people are buying a lot and the inventories are there. They’re telling us they have the products. It’s nice to see the inventories coming back,” Blood adds.

Several first-time exhibitors were excited to meet make connections in the equipment and event rental industry.

“It’s been an excellent first show for us. We’ve had tons of interest. We’ve had people requesting quotes. The floor traffic has been awesome. Even the people who aren’t purchasing the product directly from us, they’ve been phenomenal to talk to and better understand the industry needs. It’s just been an excellent learning show for us,” says Daniel VanFleteren, Zippity Outdoor Products, Charlotte, N.C.

“It’s been a great show, very nice audience and very collaborative group of people,” says David McEldowney, DMC Strategic IT Co., Gold Canyon, Ariz. “Our genesis includes rentals and heavy construction, so this industry is just a natural fit. The scissor lifts and all the other heavy machinery — those fit right into our sweet spot.”

Greg Chambers, Stalker Street Dynamics, Richardson, Texas, adds, “The show has gone very well. It’s been a super show and I’ve been very impressed. I come from a rental background that included scissor lifts and boom lifts and just looking at the new equipment here, I’m just astonished by the improvement and the technology.”  

Today the show floor will be open from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.