Customer Spotlight: Matt DiPasquale, Mad Tents LLC.
This Customer Spotlight highlights Connecticut based Mad Tents LLC. Mad Tents is owned and operated by brother and sister team Matt DiPasquale and Dee Ferry and their friend (who might as well be a brother) Sean Laverty.
How long has Mad Tents been in business and how did you get started in the tenting world?
Mad Tents LLC has been serving Connecticut for 24 years. We are a family run business that started with 2 used tents, 1 inflatable, and some tables & chairs. In the beginning it was just a part-time job, something to do on the weekends. We are very fortunate to have a tight knit family and great work ethic (Thanks Dad).
In 2005 we took it to the next level, investing in more inventory and beginning to grow it to where we are today. In an era where companies are struggling with staffing issues, we have been very fortunate to be fully staffed. Currently there are dozens of our (and other) family members working and involved in our day-to-day operations.
If you are willing to share, what has been the secret to your success in the event rental industry?
I think the secret to our success is our work ethic, determination, and great customer service. In a world where so much has been automized, we feel that human connection is still very important, and the rental process is still done best by speaking with someone in the office. We share our cell phone numbers so our customers can reach us with any issues. There have been many late-night calls regarding mother nature and her undying wrath. But no matter how ugly it may look now, with our team, we can work miracles.
As you look back over those 24 years, what is a major challenge that you have overcome and how did you solve it?
Growth and all of its challenges have been difficult to navigate, whether it's financial, logistical, equipment, or human resources.
We all complement each other and bring our unique strengths to the business. Sean is a pro at big tent installs, I [Matt] am the logistics guy, and Dee keeps the office running smoothly. In addition, we have a great install crew this year.
With our team, we know we can tackle anything that arises.
Looking to the future, how are you feeling about the remainder of the 2024 rental season and beyond?
Over the past few years, we have experienced 15-20% growth from the previous season. Our customer base has broadened and so has our capability & capacity. We feel we can take on larger events and we’re excited to see what the future holds for Mad Tents LLC.
On the lighter side, if you could magically make your customers understand one thing about Mad Tents or the tent rental business, what would that be?
The sheer magnitude of what it takes for us to plan, coordinate, and execute a 2-hour delivery window for all our jobs with 99% accuracy. When we start talking with a client they really have no way to grasp what we are about to do for them.
Jumbotrac and Jumbotrac Lite are a few of the products you get from Aztec Tents, what makes these tents a good fit for your business?
Several years ago, we needed a 30' wide frame tent for a semi long term installation. We knew that a traditional west coast frame tent would not be the right fit for this scenario.
So, we reached Eric, our sales rep, and he said that a Jumbotrac Lite would be a good option for this. We were very apprehensive to take on a new completely different tent line. Eric stressed the ease of use and that we would love it. He was absolutely correct, and in only a couple of years we have added many Jumbotrac 30’ wides and 40’ wides with plans on adding many more in the near future.
