Customer Spotlight: Patrick Pyne, Magnif-A-Tent

This Customer Spotlight highlights Long Island based Magnif-A-Tent. Magnif-A-Tent is owned and operated by childhood best friends, Justin Baliunas and Patrick Pyne.
 

When and how did you get started in the business?

I got started in the tent business about 12 years ago, right after I completed my undergraduate degree in finance from Hofstra University in Long Island, NY. Justin (co-founder) and I worked for a pool installation and service company at the time, and while under a random 20x30 frame tent (I had no idea what type of tent it was) at a company barbecue, the new business idea came up. We initially started the business with the owner of the pool company, but after a couple of seasons which were in direct conflict with the pool business, we bought him out and went off on our own to keep building what is now Magnif-A-Tent…and we are nowhere near done.

Working with friends and family can have it's challenges.  How have you guys been able to successfully manage that unique dynamic at Magnif-A-Tent?

It can definitely be a challenge at times, but when you know the strengths and weaknesses of your team and don’t have that period of time trying to figure out who the person is and what their capable of, it has many more advantages than you could imagine. I compare it to any other relationship; it takes constant effort, you won’t always agree and see eye to eye on things, but at the end of the day there is a common goal and mutual respect that is the driving force.

Tell us about your first experience purchasing an Aztec Tent (40x Series 1200 in 2020). What originally sparked your interest in Aztec and what caused you to make that purchase?

After several years of doing smaller tents, mostly 20x wide frame and high peaks, we were excited to take the next step into some larger tents. We went down the rabbit hole and searched out every tent manufacturer we could find, did research and narrowed it down to a few. Mike Novosel from Aztec had no idea who we were, probably hated the company name, but was professional and took the time to explain the product he was selling. I remember getting the quote very quickly which was a huge plus, and to this day Mike keeps that unbelievably quick turnaround time. Besides those factors, we loved the look and shape of the Series 1200 and decided to take that first step.  I will also say Mike is available for any questions and is always willing to talk through issues and problem solve. Choosing Aztec has been a proud decision for my business partner and I, and we are excited to see what the future brings as we continue to grow.

Since that first purchase with us in 2020, you have invested in a lot of our product lines; including Can-T Festivals, Jumbotrac Lite, Jumbotrac, Series 2200, Tidewater and Adena.  What product line do you look at as your bread & butter and why?

This is a loaded question! At this point in time, I would say the Tidewater and Jumbotrac are our bread and butter tents. Both styles have really opened a lot of doors for us in our market, with the versatility and capabilities of the Jumbotrac and the style of the Tidewater, we are able to provide a more robust product which is appealing to many clients and venues.

Recently, you brought the Adena into your inventory.  What led to that decision and how have you been able to utilize it this year?

The Adena really caught our eye the first time we saw it. The style and design is a fresh look for the tent world. Although it doesn’t have a huge footprint, we agreed it would bring value to our client base whether it’s for a formal dinner party, used to cover a bar, or as an entrance into a larger tent.

When you look into your crystal ball, what does the tent industry look like in the next 5-10 years?

The tent industry will continue to grow, utilizing technology and machinery to minimize the manual labor aspect and keep an appeal to the younger demographic. The need for tents, whether it's disaster relief, social events such as weddings, or corporate will remain strong and evolve as we continue to push the envelope.