Friday, May 26, 2006
Party Rental LTD not your rental friend
Haven't blogged in a while here but I am glad to be back! Have been working so hard putting a conference together (on blogging and other social media goodies, www.BusinessSmartTools.com) that I have neglected my entertaining counterpart, Entertaining News!Well let me tell you my story. WLE, www.WhiteLinen-Events.com, is putting a nice party together for a lovely friend/neighbor. 40 high profile, older, eclectic and elegant guests is not a short order to cater to when it comes to the demands for planning the party but White Linen Events is doing it despite the short notice and despite this time of year (June).
I call my regular caterer, Aux Delices Foods from Greenwich, and boo hoo they are busy. I love them and depend on them to provide a high quality product both in food and service. They make my life easier cause I can count on them and don't have to micro manage. Anyway, as I said, they are busy.
I call another caterer, Cantering Caterer http://http://www.canteringcaterer.com/, out of Westport, CT. I have seen their ads, I have seen their website, and I have talked to Chris on the phone who goes on and on about how great they are and he seems to be right...well, guess what, they promised a proposal and they never even delievered that. I always say that if a person or company cannot deliver a small detail, what about the big ones??? Can I count on them to be at the party on time, to get the rental order right, to make the food just so??? I don't think so...they are out for sure!!
Then I call my holiday buddy/caterer Tim LaBant, www.timlabant.com, who I have written about before. His food is to die for...he is an artist for sure but can he deliver for a party of 40? For a caterer or any business owner, it always requires more than your special skill in order to be a success. You need to call back in a timely manner, you need to be proactive vs. reactive with your clients, you need to please, you need to understand a budget. Anyway, Tim says yes and even puts his vacation on hold to do this party (thank you Tim). Working with Tim requires more work on my part which is fine in this case. We will all band together and put on a party that everyone will chatter about for quite some time.
OK, keeping in mind that Tim doesn't oversee the rentals and I have to manage the situation, I need to have a rental advocate cause it can be hard some times to think of every rental detail (Aux Delices is great at this..thanks Ellen for all you do)! I call the rental company that says they are the best, Party Rental LTD http://http://www.partyrentalltd.com/. They have offices all over the place including Greenwich. I know of others who use them so I go for it. I call a salesperson there, I won't mention her name but it begins with J. I call her because she is friends with a collegue but despite that connection, she always sounds cranky ( I have dealt with her before when consulting on a party for Kathy Hilton in NYC) and she sounds like I am keeping her from much bigger and much more important work. Not a good sign. I asked for her help and she is unsure that she can take me on...they are too busy and too important for a party of 40 in CT is what I hear as an undertone. She does check with someone and comes back to me and says for me to send her the order (thanks, that's a good sign). I finally get the order and send it. Yahoo, maybe now she will talk to me and give me the advice on round plates vs. square and other questions I have (I needed to have this talk before I put the order in but oh well, I am flexible and always hope for the best). I call, she isn't in, she's in their showroom and they tell me she has access to her email so not to worry. OK, I say. So, I don't hear from her, so I call the next day and guess what? She is out for the day, the weekend, and the following Monday (Memorial Day) and won't be back until Tuesday (the party is the following Sunday)(did I say that she never mentioned this?)...oh my gosh, it is time to sweat...these people are not helping me at all. I call again (should a customer have to call 3 times and beg for business?) and ask for someone else's help and you know what they tell me? They can't help me...I have not been approved and J. is out of the office (she has no claim to my business by the way...she won't even call me back)....I will have to go to another rental company because they are just too busy to help me. Wow, so bold. Can a rental company be that busy and that arrogant that they never have to worry about their next new client? I guess these guys can...good luck to them. I know that if one client can be treated this way, many can, so good luck again!
Now here is the positive side of my story...I went to another rental client, Stamford Tent and Party Rental, www.StamfordTent.com, and spoke with Suzy who has saved my life. She sat on the phone with me, talked out the list, made her suggestions, and will do a proposal. They are busy too but they took the time to talk with the customer. Thanks Party Rental LTD. for pointing me in the right direction towards a positive, customer focused and helpful rental company...that is the only thing you were capable of!
Stay tuned for more details about the fabulous party!
For party planning help, please call White Linen Events, 203 254 4490 or email info@whitelinen-events.com
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Monday, May 01, 2006
Entertainment at its best: Carolines!
Went to NYC over the weekend. I had won a night out at Carolines Comedy Club from a silent auction a year ago..time was running out on the gift certificate and I had to make the date. So, the time has come, we go to the city. We are told that we can eat while listening to the comic...Ok that sounds convenient, right?Well let me tell you, it was great!!! We had a perfect little seat (and I mean little but who cares when you are having fun). We had great drinks (golden margherita's were had by all), and the food was pretty good. They filled up the place, they had a three warm up comics...one got better than the last..then our star came out...Lisa Lampenelli.
Can I tell you that I laughed until I cried and then I just started screaming cause she was so funny. The sublock I had on my face from being at the soccer games (yes in addition to making fun of everyone, she picked on the soccer moms) came got in my eyes but who cares when you are having fun right? Right!
Carolines made our night fun and enjoyable between the food, drinks, service and entertainment..I could not have asked for anything more!! Even booking the reservation was easy.
That is what it is about...exceptional entertainment made easy! Check it out!!
For more tips or advice on entertaining check out White Linen Events, www.whitelinen-events.com
Have fun!
