Now that you have a growing and well-rounded collection of vintage rentals, you may need to come up with more ideas on how to custom-create your vintage rentals inventory. Customization is incremental in building a flawless client experience— but where to start? Below are some helpful tips on how to make your vintage rental company stand out from the herd.

What Makes a Vintage Rental Collection Unique

First, most vintage rental companies differ greatly from standard party rental companies. Make sure you distinguish yourself in all of your marketing materials such as website, socials, copy, and things like business cards, brochures, and pricing lists. Decide the message that you want to come across when consumers interact with your brand. Promote your brand and emphasize what makes you unique— your company offers consumers something that others don’t. Keep them coming back.

Tips for Storing and Cleaning Vintage Rentals

Next, what kind of vintage or specialty rentals speak to you? Is your collection more:

• Country, shabby chic
• Rustic
• French provincial
• Bohemian
• Mid-century modern
• Modern in look and feel
• A little bit of everything!

Answering the above question to define the essence of your brand will help you to:

• Drive the direction of what your collection will look like
• Figure out your ideal client
• Decide where to source things

If you love more of the vintage, French look, you are going to likely find most of your pieces at flea markets, thrift stores, or private sellers. On the other hand, if your collection bows more to the rustic style, you can craft your own farm tables (if you are handy, or know a good builder). An example of how you can offer greater customization of farm tables to your clients is:

• Type of wood
• Size and shape of the table (square, rectangular, low to the ground)
• Style of legs (wood legs are a much different look and price than hairpin legs)
• Color of Wood (dark, blonde, or even white washed, woods)

Is Your Vintage Rental Company Listening to Your Clients?

A great way to know what to add and offer is actually listening to current, prospective, and even failed customers. Feedback is key. They are telling you the needs they currently have or had in the past that they wish you could fulfill. For instance, a lot of customers seek out vintage and specialty rental companies to craft backdrops, or interactive vignettes. These might be things to add to your inventory and are much more unique than standard rental company offerings such as:

• Champagne walls
• Photobooth backdrops
• Architectural backdrops
• Ceremony backdrops

These are perfect for custom creations. Even if you have an existing design for a backdrop in your inventory, you can offer variations for the next client. Everyone wants to feel like their event is special, and sometimes all that is needed is a little tweak. If you can rent it again, it is a bonus! If you cannot, be sure to pass on all costs to the client. Either way, listen to what your customers are telling you!

Crafting a Custom Package

Another great way to custom-create something for your client is by building a package. Part of your sales process could be creating and pitching a package to clients. In Goodshuffle Pro, you can easily bundle inventory, whereby increasing volume you increase sales and cut costs for customers. For instance, create a lounge package for your client. Perhaps you have already designed a mood board with a sofa (or sofas), chairs, coffee and side tables — this might even be popular with more than just this specific client. Building a package is an efficient way to add it to your quote. You can customize this even more by adding additional pieces like pillows, props, and other items that are particular to their colors, theme, and personality.

Services

Think outside the vintage jewelry box and realize that it needn’t be just products, but also your level of service to custom-create the experience for your client. Are you giving each customer a superior level of service? What would make them want to choose you over the competition? A great way to create a custom experience is taking the time to actually get to know your client. Are you listening rather than telling your potential customers what you offer, or what can make their event better? Do you follow up with each qualified lead?

Explain all the unique services you provide such as:

• Building custom items
• Sourcing and acquiring new finds (that will also fit with your collection)
• Design and styling services for pre-event and the day of the event

Finally, you will want to complete the relationship by sending personalized thank you emails, cards, or other messages to let them know their business means something to you. You can always follow up with emails, or messages, even well after the event to wish them happy anniversary, birth of a child, birthday, or congratulate them if their corporate event was published or praised somewhere. Building a solid, seamless client experience is crucial to a business’s success. Wow your customers with awesome services that bring their whole experience together!