COVER STORY

Inspire Rentals — leading the way in furniture and flooring rentals for events

Inspire Rentals has established itself as a go-to event furniture rental company in Southern Africa over the past 9 years. Their success can be attributed to a combination of factors, including innovative ideas, effective networking, and an unwavering commitment to staying on top of the latest trends and industry needs.

They have placed a strong emphasis on offering the most comprehensive range of furniture options to cater to events of all types and sizes. This has resulted in many satisfied clients who have come to rely on Inspire's ability to deliver their furniture requirements on time and with the utmost professionalism.

With an infrastructure designed to provide support and quality service to every client, Inspire's team of experienced professionals has built a solid reputation in the industry as one of the most dependable providers. Their reliability and attention to detail have earned them a dedicated following among event planners, venue owners, and individuals alike. Remaining flexible, proactive, and responsive to the ever-changing event landscape, Inspire has solidified its position as a trusted and innovative industry leader.

Post-Pandemic Recovery

With the pandemic forcing many events to be postponed or cancelled, the industry is now recovering and Inspire is poised to provide exceptional service as the industry bounces back with a vigorous and renewed excitement for face-to-face gatherings.

Amidst Covid, the company procured stock from multiple companies and joined forces with several others that were impacted by Covid-related losses. An example of this is Prop Stars, whose brand was incorporated into Inspire through a merger. The alliance with Prop Stars goes beyond shared interests, as the company has provided not only prop services to the film industry, but also a diverse range of unique and vintage furniture that was previously absent from Inspire's inventory.

Chad Botha, managing director and co-founder of Inspire Rentals, describes the company’s post-pandemic recovery: “There has been a substantial increase in demand for event rental infrastructure in 2023. Despite the challenges over the past couple of years, Inspire was able to adapt to the new normal and emerged stronger than ever before. The company's innovative approach, responsiveness to the needs of the industry, and strong network have all played a vital role in the company’s quick recovery. With a renewed focus on customer service and continued investment in new and unique offerings, Inspire is well-positioned to thrive in a post-pandemic world.”

Connecta-Floor Acquisition

To achieve this goal, Inspire has recently acquired Connecta-Floor, an established business in the events industry that supplies temporary flooring for events, exhibitions, weddings, marquees, dance floors, staging, displays, and launches. The flooring is available in a range of colours and finishes, such as laminated wood, Astroturf, high gloss ABS, and even monogrammed designs that are ideal for weddings and corporate events.

Connecta-Floor is a Proudly South African product that is quick to install, is flame-resistant, and eco-friendly. The flooring can be tailored to fit any size, as it is designed in strong, modular panels. With the acquisition of Connecta-Floor, Inspire now offers a complete flooring solution and is able to provide even more comprehensive event solutions. “Our goal remains to be the specialist one-stop furniture and prop rental shop in Southern Africa. We are constantly developing our systems and operations, to offer the most efficient service in the industry,” Mr Botha said.

As an extension of the Inspire Group, Connecta-Floor officially relaunched at Homemakers Fair in March. The company laid a 27 square metre, high-gloss white floor with the Inspire logo printed directly onto the substrate. The floor generated plenty of interest from show visitors and exhibitors alike and there has been a significant response for monogrammed and dance floors since the exhibition. Connecta-Floor is currently expanding their range and exploring new and exciting additions to their current offering.

Garden Route Showcase

As the wedding and corporate events industry continues to boom, Inspire has recognised the opportunity to expand its services to the beautiful Garden Route region of South Africa, with a focus on providing furniture packages for weddings and corporate events. The Garden Route offers a diverse range of spectacular venues and destinations, including wine farms and vineyards, breath-taking beaches, garden venues, and extraordinary mountain landscapes, making it the perfect destination for any event.

Inspire has anticipated a population influx to the Garden Route from both international and local visitors. Subsequently, the market for furniture hire has grown. To facilitate this expansion, Inspire is in the process of securing a 1,000 square metre warehouse and adjacent offices just outside Knysna, positioning the company to serve clients along the Garden Route.

Partner, Alastair Laing elaborates, “The company has identified a gap in the rental furniture sector and we are answering the demand for destination weddings and events along the Garden Route. Inspire is expanding with the aim of offering our clients the same service they have enjoyed in Johannesburg and Cape Town for the past nine years.”

Now, with their expansion, they're bringing the same level of service to the Garden Route by offering the widest range of furniture to suit any event and setting, backed up with the infrastructure and dedicated teams with vast experience in the industry. One of Inspire’s unique offerings is their constant updates of new and trending furniture styles. They provide their customers with a diverse and contemporary selection of furniture options. This approach also helps the company stay relevant and competitive in the marketplace, as they are able to meet the changing needs and preferences of their customers over time.

With this extensive range of furniture and props available for hire, Inspire has collaborated with Conféti Events, a leading specialist in destination weddings along the Garden Route. The combination of Inspire Rentals and Prop Stars, the company's creative and film division, and Conféti Events plan to address the growing demand for destination weddings along the Garden Route, particularly in Plettenberg Bay, Knysna, Sedgefield, Mossel Bay, George, and Wilderness.

“Our vision is to provide quality, quantity, and variety to an up-market clientele, with private, up-market events becoming the norm at numerous golf estates and wedding venues in the region,” explained Graham Weakley, Inspire’s Creative Director. He continues, “Showcasing our capabilities, Inspire Rentals has delivered and styled the Conféti showroom in Plettenberg Bay, encouraging brides to visit and consult with Jana Goodman or one of her planners to see what the company can achieve for their special day. The showroom features everything from sofas to scatter cushions, and the company's brochure and furniture catalogue are available on request.”

The new showroom is centrally located at 2 Sewell Street, Plettenberg Bay.

Inspire Rentals plans to roll out numerous styled shoots over the off-season at earmarked venues such as The Grand Lookout Plett, the Plettenberg Hotel, Pezula, the Knysna Elephant Park, and Kurland Villa and Estate, among others. These beautifully styled and photographed packages will ultimately form part of the company’s bespoke brochure, providing clients with a glimpse of what they can expect when they choose Inspire Furniture for their special event needs.

With its extensive range of furniture and props available for hire, the collaborative approach with Conféti Events, and strategic location, Inspire Rentals is equipped to become the top choice for clients seeking quality, quantity, and variety along the Garden Route. Whether an intimate gathering or a large-scale event, Inspire is committed to creating unforgettable experiences for those looking to create a truly memorable experience for their guests.

Embracing a Bright Future

As the event industry continues to evolve and change, Inspire remains committed to staying ahead of the curve, as evidenced by the company’s successful expansion into new areas.

Inspire is delighted to announce its future plans for growth. Chad concludes, “As part of our expansion strategy, we are importing a minimum of ten containers of new furniture, to offer our clients more variety and quality. In addition to this, we have secured an additional 5,000 square metres of storage space in Johannesburg, to accommodate our growing inventory. We have also invested in our operational efficiency by ordering four new 8-ton trucks and a 14-ton truck, along with three 9-metre-long trailers. The addition of trailers to our fleet will have a huge impact on our ability to deliver furniture long distance, and to large jobs more efficiently. We are eagerly anticipating sharing our latest furniture and trucks with you soon.”