The Rental Show 2014 Exceeds Expectations

Buyers, buoyed by more confidence in the equipment rental economy, helped many exhibitors at The Rental Show 2014 in Orlando, FL exceed expectations, building on last year’s positive experience in Las Vegas.

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Buyers, buoyed by more confidence in the equipment rental economy, helped many exhibitors at The Rental Show 2014 in Orlando, FL exceed expectations, building on last year’s positive experience in Las Vegas.

“It’s been a tremendous event for the industry in every facet,” said Christine Wehrman, CEO, American Rental Association (ARA), organizer of The Rental Show.

“The attitude, the outlook and the optimism only can mean a solid year of growth for the equipment rental industry. The ARA is very pleased to see a resurgence of the positive outlook for tomorrow,” Wehrman said.

“On Wednesday, with only a few hours left on the show floor, rental store owners were too busy to chat because they had too much stuff to buy and too little time,” said Josh Nickell, Nickell Rental, Newman, GA.

“It was great to thank vendors for working with us through the tough times and then talk about how both our businesses were seeing great increases. The people at companies like Vermeer, IHI and Skyjack were smiling ear to ear because many of them doubled their expected sales at the show,” Nickell said.

“I promised this show would exceed expectations and I think it really has,” said Mike Blaisdell, vice president, Bunce Rental, Tacoma, WA, who became ARA's chairman of the board at the conclusion of the show after serving a year as ARA president.

“Everybody in Orlando was in a positive mood. Every exhibitor I talked to was so tickled with the amount of traffic and sales. Everybody is very happy and people are spending money. Even our company came to the show with a list of things to buy and we blew it out. We bought all kinds of things we weren’t planning to buy and I think a lot of people were the same way this year,” Blaisdell said.

Many exhibitors agreed with Blaisell’s assessment of the trade show. “This was a very good show with very good attendance,” said Johannes Schulze Vohren, vice president, Wacker Neuson Sales America, Menomonee Falls, WI.

“There is more confidence in the economy and that is the key thing this year. When independent business owners are buying, it’s important. That’s a good barometer for a growing confidence in the economy,” Schultze Vohren said.

“I knew this was going to be a great show. It started before we even got here. People were calling me at the office asking for a quote before the show because they knew they were coming to the show and wanted it to be ready. We are really looking forward to next year in New Orleans,” said Sue DiGennaro, California Portable Dance Floor Co., Camarillo, CA.

“It was a really great show. The people who come to this show are all decision-makers. We had a customer who said it took three years for her to buy, but she bought this year,” said Roz Douglas, Campus Products, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

“The attitude, the buzz and the feeling this year was very, very good,” said Rick Rodier, general manager, Sitework Systems Business, The Toro Co., Bloomington, MN.

“The entire trade show floor was abuzz with enthusiasm and not just our customers,” said Jason Stanczyk, sales and marketing manager, EDCO — Equipment Development Co., Frederick, MD.

“Everyone walking the floor was chatting and happy. EDCO had strong sales each day. Overall, it was a great show,” Stanczyk said.

The Rental Show 2015 heads back to New Orleans, Feb. 22-25, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.

Housing for The Rental Show 2015 also opened last week at the 2014 show in Orlando. Seventeen hotels will be part of the official hotel block through Travel Planners. For more information, call Travel Planners at 800-221-3531 or 212-532-1660 weekdays between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Eastern Time. For more information on The Rental Show 2015, keep an eye on TheRentalShow.com.

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