Lend & Gather 2017 | Brooklyn, New York

Lend & Gather: A Boutique Rental Conference’s second year did not disappoint. After a fabulous experience for event rental professionals in Austin in 2016, we headed to Wythe Hotel in Brooklyn, New York, in August 2017 to provide education and inspiration for this unique community. Nearly 60 event rental professionals from around North America joined hosts Loot Rentals & RW Elephant to elevate the boutique event rental industry together.

Patina Rentals created the perfect environment for this offbeat conference. Michelle Edgemont adorned the space with her signature pops of color and gorgeous floral arrangements. Patina’s furnishings brought a sense of intimacy in the historic Wythe Hotel. Their couches, lounge furniture, rustic tables, and high cocktail tables and stools made graduated seating that allowed everyone to engage.

Over the two-day conference, attendees learned from experts who also attended the conference alongside them. On Day One, topics included SOPs & Process Management, Getting Real with The Real Weddings Editor of Martha Stewart Weddings, Strategies for B2B Sales, Becoming Profitable, and How to Build A Brand That Can’t be Replicated.

Day Two was also packed with catalytic presentations including insight about Leading Like a Woman, the Law for Event Rental Businesses, Prospecting for DMCs, Improving the Rental Industry, Metrics & Best Practices, and a Panel of Boutique Event Rental Business Owners sharing the Keys to their Success. In addition to gleaning wisdom during their presentations, each attendee had invaluable access to the speakers and panelists throughout the experience.

OUR INCREDIBLE 2017 SPEAKERS INCLUDED:

TODD FISCUS
Todd Events

MORGAN MONTGOMERY
Paisley & Jade

CORRIN ARASA
Patina Rentals

ANNETTE STEPANIAN
Lawyer for Creatives + Entrepreneurs

MICHAEL ANTONIA
YEAH! Rentals

MICHELLE EDGEMONT
Michelle Edgemont Design

SHIRA SAVADA
Martha Stewart Weddings

ANNA CRELIA
Loot Vintage Rentals

ALLISON HOWELL
RW Elephant

MARIA BAYER
Irresistible Selling

RHODA BRIMBERRY
Loot Vintage Rentals

Although Hurricane Harvey prevented one of our speakers from attending in person, we were thrilled to reconvene a couple weeks afterwards for a live webinar. Revisiting these ideas after the conference actually served to cement some of the lessons learned and reminded us of the goals we set.

While our days were filled with everything one needs to take their event rental business to the next level, the evenings were all about taking friendships up a notch. We began with a rooftop cocktail meet-up, enjoyed a neighborhood scavenger hunt sponsored by our friends at United Fabrics and Crypton, and closed our time together with a cocktail reception provided by Sage Wedding Pros.