As the large majority of our customers are party rental companies, we are not unaware of the fact that January – March can be a slower time for the sector. With less major holidays, no major exams for universities and graduations still a far off dream – I can understand how planning event equipment purchases now can seem both premature and/or farfetched. But hear me out. I may even be so bold to state you’re going about buying event equipment wrong – or at least the equipment you know you need for the upcoming season. You’re not a fortune teller after all.

Allow me to list 4 reasons why you shouldn’t wait until April to buy your event equipment.

1. You’ll be first to the market with new products:

We’ve recently brought in a number of new products including new line of spandex table covers, polyester linens, commercial outdoor patio heaters, 13.125" flat pizza plate, an 11" square plate & a 4.75" straight sloped bowl. If you are concerned about being first to the market with new products we offer, buying them sooner rather than later ensures you can be the first to offer your customers new products.

2. No Risk in Stock Delays:

We try our absolute best to ensure we have ample stock of all our products but we can’t always forecast when there’s an outlier order that comes in that needs 700 gold chiavari chairs or 2500 pieces of Nova Table Forks and suddenly we’re in a bind. Buying before April helps ensure you don’t get stuck sourcing additional ways to get what you need. We’d also suggest if you have an idea that you’re going to need something, to let us know as soon as possible so that if we don’t have stock we can get stock in before you require it. Not always possible I know, but we want to work with all our customers (or partners is a better way of looking at our clients) to ensure we can meet and exceed their needs.

3. Less stress:

It’s funny how stress-free buying early can be. You aren’t being held to a deadline and worried about when you need something, if it’s in stock and can you get it delivered tomorrow and so everyone can just relax and enjoy the process for what it is. But as soon as spring rolls around and you have events coming out of the woodwork asking "Are you booked for 100 Tall Folding Cocktail Tables on April 1st?", you’ll wish you had acted sooner on your purchase.

4. You’re not so rushed:

Who wants to be rushed when it comes to spending 20-50k on event staples such as linens, folding tables and chiavari chairs? I don’t know about you, but I like to feel like I’ve got a solid head on my shoulders when I’m making such a serious decision. By shopping for new or replacement event equipment ahead of the event high season, you can make a relaxed and informed decision, and not base your thoughts on silly stipulations like ‘which company is cheapest’ (because let’s be honest – cheaper doesn’t always equate to a good quality product that will get you at least 10 turns of rentals, because in the race to the bottom, it’s usually quality that takes the hit first). We strive to provide high quality products that will allow you to maximize your return on investment while offering good prices.

We had a nice little break after exhibiting at The Rental Show, but now we're approaching our the busiest part of our trade show season. This weekend, the National Event Supply trade show team will be splitting up with our President heading to Moncton, NB and the rest of the team heading to downtown Toronto, ON.

In Moncton, NB we will be exhibiting at the Canadian Rental Association's Atlantic Small Tool & Equipment Show on Saturday March 1st, 2014 from 10AM – 4PM at Casino New Brunswick. Party rental companies in the Maritimes can expect to see the following items at the show:

• Plastic Folding Tables
• Wood Folding Tables
• Plastic Folding Chairs
• Bar Height Plastic Folding Chairs
• White Resin Folding Chairs
• Gold Chiavari Chairs, Mahogany Chiavari Chairs, Crystal Chiavari Chairs
• A Subset of our Porcelain Dinnerware collections
• Glass Stemware & Crystal Stemware
• Porcelain platters & bowls
• Melamine platters & bowls

New in our inventory, and at the show for your viewing pleasure, is our new line of polyester and spandex linens. We sent a postcard to all party rental companies around Moncton in our database. Make sure you bring that postcard to the booth with you to receive a free tall plastic folding cocktail table just for stopping by! As for our show special, we are pleased to inform show attendees that we will be extending our special American Rental Association Rental Show pricing to them if they order and receive delivery by end of March.

In Toronto, we will be exhibiting at the Canadian Restaurant & Foodservice Association Show from Sunday March 2nd until Tuesday March 4th at the Direct Energy Centre – Exhibition Place. Restaurants and caterers attending the show can expect to see the following items:

• All of our Porcelain Dinnerware Collections
• Glassware
• Crystal Stemware
• Flatware
• Amuse-bouche Spoons
• Porcelain Wonton Spoons
• Porcelain Tasting Spoons
• Porcelain Platters
• Porcelain Bowls
• Melamine Platters
• Melamine Bowls

New in our inventory and at the show for the viewing pleasure of all restaurants in attendance is our new line of NES Reliable Commercial Patio Heaters. Available in bronze or charcoal gray, these heaters are on show special with $100 off the list price. Our additional show special includes 10% off our entire lineup of tabletop items.

We look forward to seeing the Party Rental Companies of the Maritimes and the Restaurants/Caterers across Canada at both shows!

Where to find the Best Restaurant Supplies in Toronto:

Each year, we at National Event Supply work with restaurants around the Greater Toronto area with respect to their restaurant supplies such as porcelain platters, bowls, porcelain dinnerware, flatware and glass stemware. And because so many folks know our thoughts (from this website) on quality products and great service, they often ask us who are some of the other restaurant equipment & supplies stores and competitors we have in the area.

We like to be as transparent as possible with our customers and because of this, here is a list of some of the companies that have a solid restaurant supply history in the Toronto area:

1. Hamilton Store Fixtures

Having been around for over 70 years, Hamilton Store Fixtures is located in west of Toronto in the Hamilton area, and specialize in restaurant supplies including glassware, cutlery, china and smallware accessories also getting into restaurant equipment and small appliances. The company also offers contract services and consulting services as well as full service distribution.

2. Nella Cutlery

Located in North York, Ontario, Nella Cutlery (also known as Nella Food Equipment & Nella Cucina) has also been around the Toronto area for many years, and service supermarkets, delicatessens, convenience stores, restaurants and casinos. They focus on food equipment, refrigeration, bar equipment, material handling & storage, espresso machines and smallwares.

3. S.t.o.p Restaurant Supply

s.t.o.p. Restaurant Supply is located in Kitchener, Ontario and Sudbury, Ontario and caters to both commercial and retail customers. While Nella Cutlery and Hamilton Store Fixtures sell larger food equipment, s.t.o.p. restaurant supply focuses on smallwares, apparel & household items.

4. European Hotel & Restaurant Imports

Another staple of the Toronto restaurant supply market over the years, European Hotel & Restaurant Imports specializes in cooking utensils, serving pieces, food equipment, glassware and storage containers but also has a very large service division as well.

So there are 4 companies to consider if you're getting quotes or pricing for your restaurant. The key to a great experience with purchasing from a restaurant supply store is:

• The durability of the product
• The value of the product
• The quality of the product

Hopefully, in your case, your experience with restaurant equipment and supplies stores will be an exceptional one.

While our primary target market has traditionally been selling wholesale event equipment such as dinnerware, flatware, folding tables & folding chairs to the party rental industry, more and more restaurants are seeing the value in extending their budgets with accessory porcelain pieces such as serveware from us.

Restaurant critiquing can be thought of as a profession of duality: the dream profession for everyday diners in love with food and a profession that incites anxiety, boasting, tears of joy and tears of happiness for restaurateurs. Part of being a notable restaurant critic means remaining anonymous to ensure their readers get the same dining experience. With so much cloak-and-dagger antics, the world of restaurant critics is riddled with more questions than answers. What is ideal service? How does a restaurant critic choose the restaurants to review? How does one go about assigning stars or ratings to the restaurant? It’s enough to make any restaurateur overwhelmed.

New York Times released a fascinating video series interviewing 5 of their past and present restaurant critics to get a behind the scenes look at what goes into creating a review, what a restaurant can expect when being reviewed and the tactics used to produce said review.

Check out the full video series here.

It goes without saying that the makings of a good restaurant is one that is consistent, has kind, hospitable and prompt service, and produces great food. Behind the scenes, an efficient restaurant is one that is able to partner with a restaurant supplier of dishes, cutlery, and stemware able to quickly and effectively meet your equipment needs while providing you great value – so you can focus on creating culinary masterpieces to make revenue. National Event Supply would like to be that restaurant supplier partner for you. Check out our Tabletop Catalogue for more details on our porcelain dinnerware lines, platters and bowls and cutlery.

I hate to break it to you – but social media is alive and thriving – and won’t be going away. Here at National Event Supply, we use social media to share industry articles of interest to our followers, announce new products such as our new line of linens, and connect with our followers to understand more about them and their businesses.

With shifting demographics happening across the country, restaurants are being forced to re-look at their business and marketing strategy. Canadian Foodservice & Hospitality Magazine noted in their 2013 Hospitality report that “while baby boomers represent a significant portion of restaurant sales at 26 per cent, millennials, in fact, represent 28 per cent of all restaurant meals consumed, NPD [Group]’s [Robert] Carter says. ‘A lot more operators are targeting that [group], because it’s the largest cohort next to boomers.’” With social media playing right into the wheelhouse of those millennials, as a restaurant, including your establishment on strategic social media platforms that consumers are using right now – ensures that you’re putting your best foot forward and getting found where consumers are looking for you.

We found an infographic on Visual.ly by digitaldining.com that summarizes 10 ways restaurants are using social media. The helpful infographic indicates which tactic is being used on which social media platform. Check it out below!

Explore more infographics like this one on the web's largest information design community - Visually.