Published: October 10, 2009 12:00 am      

Shop Talk

Shop Talk is a weekly column featuring locally owned and operated businesses. This week, we talk to Royce and Marguerite Webster of Morris Tent Rentals.

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How long have you lived in the area?

Royce Webster: All my life, 63 years. My family is among the original settlers of this valley.

Marguerite Webster: Forty years. I moved here right out of college.

Tell me about your business:

Marguerite: We do three main things. We rent tents for affairs and graduations. We rent tents for special events such as weddings, fundraisers and upscale events. We provide event coordinators for clients. We have all the equipment for any event including dishware, glassware, lighting, dance floors, tent heaters, linens, generators and refrigerators. We have two girls here who are excellent event coordinators. We also manufacture tents to sell.

Royce: We've expanded the last three years to include events. Anything a customer needs, we have. We manufacture our own tents right on the premise and have begun selling these.

Describe a typical day in your business:

Royce: I run two businesses. For the first business, Webster Paving, I get the jobs out by 6:30 a.m., and then I go to the tent shop at around 7:30 a.m. to schedule all the work and dispatch all the guys. I try to be out of the tent shop by 9:30 a.m. to work on site review for the paving company. Then it's back to the tent shop by 4:30 p.m. Throughout the day, I check in at the tent shop. On Saturday and Sundays, there's maintenance at the tent shop and events. On the weekends, I don't get done sometimes until 8 p.m.

Marguerite: I get into the shop around 8:30 a.m. shortly after the guys leave, I get orders for the day ready, answer phones, order supplies and check all the orders that are going out to ensure they are okay. I help the event coordinators with the bridal shows and put together promotional advertising and postcards. Right now we are working on Christmas promotional. We have a showroom and on the weekends, I meet with clients.

How did you get started in this line of work?

Royce: In 1970, a friend of mine who was involved with an auction house asked me if I wanted to buy some party tents. So I began the business and then sold it in 1976. (Editor's note: the Websters bought the business back in 2006.)

Marguerite: After 20 years as a teacher, I retired. Royce thought this would be a good retirement job for me. I'm busier than ever. During our busiest times, summer, spring and fall, I work sometimes until after 7 p.m.

Where do you see this business in five years?

Royce: With more manufacturing and more storage. Right now our entire basement is filled with equipment and we have storage in several locations in Morris. The business is growing fast. We've always done Otsego, Delaware and Chenango county fairs. This year we picked up Fonda and Herkimer fairs, as well as an art show in Norwich and the Bouckville Antique Show.

Describe a memorable moment in your workplace:

Marguerite: The first year we were going big, we did the Springbrook gala fundraiser on the lawn of the Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown. We put down an entire floor with carpet and had a chandelier. It was a huge event and we were just getting started in the event side of the business. It went really well.

What have you learned from your work?

Marguerite: I've learned to be diplomatic and how to work with people to get the job done. It can be challenging working with different personalities including those of my employees.

What is the most challenging part of what you do?

Royce: Trying to think ahead and build the business and reduce costs. It's like playing chess.

The most enjoyable?

Marguerite: We usually are working with people for happy affairs. We get to meet people from all walks of life and make their affairs really special.

Royce: Providing employment for more people in the area. With the two businesses, we provide employment for 60 to 70 people, and in this economy, that's a really good thing.

What are some advantages/drawbacks of doing business in this area?

Royce: The advantages are there is a good labor pool to pick from. The disadvantages are that, to do any of the really big jobs in any numbers, we have to do some traveling.

Marguerite: We're willing to do that traveling.

What sets you apart from your competitors?

Royce: Service, quality and cleanliness of our products.

What advice would you give to someone trying to enter your field of work?

Royce: Study and have some finances behind you. It takes a lot of money to get started. Also, be willing to work a lot of hours.

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Shop Talk interviews are conducted by M.K. Moynahan. To reach Moynahan, e-mail mkmoynahan@gmail.com. For more information about Shop Talk, call Emily F. Popek at 432-1000, ext. 217.