1. Photos of friends and family. Place photos of your kids, your spouse, your friends, or your favorite vacation spot around your cubical. If you are able to see the people you care about on a daily basis, even if it’s only through photos, your cubical becomes “yours”.
2. Use color. Add splashes of color to your workstation to break up neutral tones. Colors affect moods in different ways. For example, use blue for a calming workstation or a mint green to energize and uplift.
3. Get a red Swingline stapler. If you remember Milton from “Office Space”, you may just get a laugh every time you look at it, which will boost your mood and help you get through that pile of TPS reports.
4. Theme your space. Do you love art? Are you the biggest Star Wars fan on the planet? Create a theme in your workspace that showcases what you love to do outside of the office. Not only will you feel for comfortable in your cubical, but you may also start a trend among other co-workers. Cubical competition, anyone?  Don’t over do the decorating though; a little personalization goes a long way and you want the space to remain neat and tidy and not fussy looking.

At AFR, we provide office furniture that helps you and your employees get the most out of your workspace. For more information on the HMU-A02 workstation as well as other cubical and workstation products, visit us at www.rentfurniture.com or call your representative at 888-AFR-RENT.

*Photos were used from a variety of different free public sourced materials for the purpose of “demonstration examples only” and are not meant to infringe on any copyrights if applicable.

We are excited to head back to NOLA with EPTA, and the SBP team is already busy at work preparing and finishing all that needs to be done before we arrive on site to finish up the interior design, furnish Carmelita’s home and throw a little ‘welcome home’ party.

Meet Ms. Carmelita. After eight long years, her dream of returning home is finally coming true.  You can see the emotional moment she found out we were coming here. Ms. Carmelita

None of this would be possible without EPTA, our valued partners and our Design Angel, David Price who is working with Carmelita to pick colors, fabrics, textures and integrate the old with the new to create a stylish and comfortable home.  David has worked in the hospitality industry since 1985 in several different disciplines including Creative and Floral Design, Private Chef, Caterer, and currently as Vice President of Product Development for Rentals Unlimited.  He honed his design skills as a Design Associate with Alose Interior Design.  He is an award winning creative director of a coveted GALA Award in 2011 for Best Wedding, Budget $1,000 and Above and he has personally helped design and create hundreds of events in his twenty five year career in the hospitality industry.

On July 20^th – 23^rd, EPTA, David and The “AFR Gives Back” Team will head to New Orleans to finish up the décor and design work and furnish it with living, dining and bedroom sets, televisions, household items and more.

Each year the stories are touching, and being a part of such a worthwhile cause is a life changing experience.  There’s still time to add your support by donating goods, or even better yet join us with some elbow grease.  The experience alone is worth every drop of sweat, but the sweetest part is the knowledge that you have been a part of dramatically changing someone’s life for the better.  For more information or to join in, please contact tschmitt@rentfurniture.com or visit www.eventprostakeaction.org.  We hope to see you there!

1. They finish the look of the stage. With all the different styles available today, you can easily make the chairs a part of the set decor.

2. They provide a comfortable place for panelists to sit and converse more naturally. When panelists aren’t worried about balancing on stools or a lightweight folding chair scooting away from them, they can engage in the conversation more effectively.

3. Chairs immediately create a conversational tone for the session. It lets your audience know that they can expect two-way communication, rather than a lecture style session.

There are many options to choose from.  AFR offers several different styles. From a sumptuous black or white leather Empire Chair, our new Jumangi Chair or perhaps our Chamois or Buckskin Stage Chair, we have a style that will enhance the look of your stage.

Don’t see what you like in our stage chairs? You should also consider chairs from any of our Special Event Collections to create that perfect look.  How about our gray leather Metro chair or a white Sophistication chair? For a more decorative styling consider a Dijon, Elan or Marteen Chair.  You could even mix in a Chateau Sofa and Harmony accent tables to create a residential feel on stage. It’s all up to you. There are no rules (except not using a cardboard brown government issue folding chair).  It’s your vision, we help you bring it to life with just the right furnishings to enhance and complete the look of your stage.

For more ideas on how to create just the right setting for your next onstage session, please visit www.afrevents.com or call your AFR representative at 888.AFR.RENT.

Lighting is one of the most effective elements that you can add to an event to dramatically transform a room from drab to fab.  While some rooms are beautiful on their own, adding lighting still makes a dramatic difference. The best part is that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to make a striking difference.

There are many ways that elements of light can be used to create the ambiance or environment that you desire. From highlighting horizontal and vertical architectural lines to hiding an ugly patterned carpet, lighting is the perfect way to call attention to or hide what you want guests to see.  It also creates the mood and ambience for the experience.

Highlighting vertical and horizontal architectural aspects within a space can provide beautiful dimension to any room. To add even greater texture, add in break up patterns or a client or sponsor logo or themed gobos on the walls.

For a lovely lighting (and décor) element think about hanging a focal point such as a huge chandelier in the room.  This not only adds a unique touch, but the reflections cast from it can create a lovely look.  Colored lighting and mirrored disco balls are also a very easy way to create a feel within a room and are simple yet effective.

Don’t think that lighting has to be a stand-a-lone element. Bring light off the walls, floors and ceilings and bring it into other elements within a space. Pin spots are not the only answer to creating a lighting pop on tables. Infusing light into centerpieces to create a point of focus on a table can have a stunning effect.

Furnishings are another element that can be used innovatively to bring light and color into an event.  From bars, ottomans, tables and more, furniture can serve a dual purpose in creating a great look while stretching your décor budget.

Lastly, let us not forget about candles. They add ambience and bring a tablescape to life in a simple yet very effective manner.

Whether you are looking for an extravagant look or simple highlights, through the creative use of light you can bring an environment to life in a theatrical and affordable way.

To view our entire collection of illuminated furnishings, please visit www.afrevents.com or call 888.AFR.RENT.

January kicked off with the BCS Championship and ESPN parties. We furnished both hospitality tents in the ‘sponsor village’ at the Sun Life Stadium in Miami. Branding was a priority objective for both of our clients. We worked with each of them to develop a look for their event and provided them with custom branding opportunities to create an integrated space, which showcased their brand.

Right afterwards, South Beach Wine & Food Festival rolled into the city in all of its “deliciousness.” Our client, Target, hosted an event in the Main tent called “Red Hot Night.” We made custom covers for our Essentials banquettes and accented them with branded pillows. Our approach provided the perfect solution for a creatively branded space. Additionally, we debuted our new Marcus stools as part of Target’s Domino Lounge!  It was definitely a HOT night to remember.

We quickly moved on to the Sony Open Tennis tournament in beautiful Key Biscayne which hosts a world-class tournament with top players from all over the globe. We are very proud to be one of the tournaments furniture partners. This year, we furnished the VIP lounges for suite holders, as well as all of the different hospitality pavilions including the Bombay Sapphire and Bacardi Lounges, we also furnished the official Sony Players Party.

Switching gears from the sports world to entertainment, we didn’t have time to blink before starting the massive set up for Ultra Music Festival. Our Function collection was the preferred line for this very cool music event! We  added another option to AFR’s repetoire of customizable furnishings  – this time using our Glow Bars. We fitted them with unique branded metal barfronts with logo cut outs. Colored LED lights shone through the outlines for a contemporary and sleek design. The event took place on two weekends and was a huge success! We are already looking forward to next year!

We are headed for a record-breaking year in Sunny Florida; so stay tuned for many more exciting events that we will share with you in the coming months. Cheers to all of you and a big thank you to our clients who continue to trust in us to make their events a huge success!

~Mandy

As construction on the Felix family’s home began, it became clear that the home was substantially more damaged than anyone suspected. New estimates revealed that the home will require significant more funds and time to complete. Whereas SBP is still committed to bringing the Felix family home soon, unfortunately, the total rebuild costs will be over $100,000, and SBP cannot begin construction on a home until a house is fully funded. While this situation is certainly disappointing, it is, sadly, not uncommon – when severely damaged homes sit, untouched, for this long – often homeowners find exponentially larger issues that those that may have existed earlier.

With over 100 families on its waiting list, it didn’t take SBP long to help us find a new family’s home to rebuild – one that we hope you’ll help us celebrate in July.

Meet Carmelita W.

Carmelita wants to be able to feed all of the people that have been helping her throughout her struggles in getting back to her home — “I know I’m going to be cooking in my little house and everyone had better come over and eat . . . keep my number in your phone . .. you’re always welcome on a Sunday. I want to thank SBP from the bottom of my heart. Y’all really trying to make it possible for me to live on my property one more time and that’s all that I ask.”

Watch video of Carmelita

First, we were excited to announce that AGILE Trade Show & Event Furnishings is now an AFR company.  That amped our energy up since this would be the first time that we’d get to see some clients face to face since the acquisition. We were able to fill them in on the change, show them some of our new products, and let them know that operations would remain business as usual.

If you weren’t aware of the changes, here are couple things you should know about AGILE Trade Show & Event Furnishings moving forward:

1. We will operate as a separate division under the AFR Company umbrella.
2. Our “customer-centric” culture will remain the same.
3. More options and furnishings.
4. We are now located in 17 cities to help serve our customers better.

The talk and energy was on the floor and in the air. We found the reactions from our customers to be positive and enthusiastic.  We loved it.

Secondly to add to that big news, we previewed some new products that customers are really excited about.  Check them out.

Essentials Locking Storage Bench

Colored Cube Ottomans

Elio Chairs, Winston Sofa & Civic Table

Essentials Banquette

Congratulations to the winner of our drawing for the iPAD  –  Todd Schwartz of Steelhead.

The attendance was great, and the show seemed busier than ever.  Jose Lopez, Manager of AGILE Trade Show Furnishing summed it up best when he said, “The excitement we felt was beyond my expectations.  We are looking forward to working with all those that passed through our booth and creating new partnerships with them.”

Visit the New AGILE website at http://www.agiletradeshow.com.

A couple hundred Idea Factory fans gathered to watch the Design Challenge as it unfolded.  With clear favorites, the crowd cheered for their hopeful with chants of Team Lenny & Team Jessica.  The energy was ramped up!

With professional MC, Andrew Larris of NYX Entertainment & Events guiding the way, the contestants were each given teams of two volunteers in addition to a free agent choice of their own.  Both contestants stuck close to home with choices from their “home” teams.

When the clock started ticking, the Challengers had thirty minutes to share their vision with their team, collect the necessary elements and construct their design, consisting of a dining and lounge environment.

Contestants had a selection of different styled furnishings from AFR’s latest collections to choose from on the design stage, and additionally had to visit Classic Party Rentals and Mayesh Floral on the tradeshow floor to pick out floral choices, linen, china and glassware for their tabletops.

The pressure was on as Lenny and Jessica worked feverishly with their teams to get their designs installed when both challengers were pulled from the floor without notice for a five-minute time out to see how well they had communicated with their teams.  While they had itchy fingers to get back onto the floor, both of them took the time out with grace and watched anxiously from the sideline as their teams continued working.

The designs and designers…

For his design, Lenny mixed and matched from the Crystal and Sophistication Collections and paired them with new cubed ottomans in fuchsia and an udder madness print.  He used the Zanzibar and Mon accent tables and topped them with Black candlesticks topped with white candles and oversized crystal and silver etched goblets.  Accents were pink and purple pillows for the final touch. He chose a Club Dining Table and surrounded it with a Ghost Chairs and dressed the table with patterned glass cylinders and filled them with floral in red, fuchsia, and lime green.  White china with black trim, crystal glassware and purple napkins completed his edgy and modern club look.

For her design, Jessica mixed texture and style with pieces from the Chateau and Winston Collections to create her lounge area.  Adding a zebra print rug and apple green pillows for accents she finished her design with Novel accent tables topped with glass and metal candle cages and white floral in glass containers.   For her tabletop, she used a distressed wooden Vermont Table and surrounded it with metal Elio guest chairs and Midnight Stage chairs.  She dressed the table with three apple green vases filled with creamy blooms and added low-lying silver miniature bowls filled with pops of purple and lime green.  Her tabletop was finished with chargers topped with white china, crystal stemware and silverware.  The resulting look was the homey living room trend that is becoming so popular.

A Personal Touch:

It is interesting to note that neither contestant had any qualms about using their personal accessories to finish their environments to perfection.  Both stripped their belts off; Lenny using his for a pillow accent and Jessica using hers to create a color pop on the middle vase of her tabletop.  It just goes to show that designers really do put a personal touch into their designs.

When the bell sounded at the end of the 30 minutes, both teams had to stop where they were and voting commenced.  Both designs really showed the creativity these two top talents put into their work. Fans came up on stage to get a close up look and have pictures taken with Lenny and Jessica.

And the winner is…

Several hundred people voted for the designs and Jessica was announced the winner by David Tutera at the Closing General Session at the Mirage where she won a $1000 Gift Certificate as well as a Full Conference Package for the 2014 Event Solutions Idea Factory.

The best part of the whole event was seeing both Lenny and Jessica show the true hearts of competitors yet walk away having built a friendship out of the competition.  Thank you BOTH for being such outstanding competitors!  You made the competition SIZZLE.

And, last but not least…

We are sending out a very special thanks to our sponsors, as without them, there would not be a Design Challenge:

Las Vegas Floral & Plant Wholesale:  Accent and Décor
Mayesh Wholesale Florist Inc.:  Floral
Rentals Unlimited:  Linens
Floral Couture by 2000:  Accent and Décor
NYX Entertainment & Events:  MC, Andrew Larris
Atomic Rentals:  Stage Backdrop
Classic Party Rentals:  China, Glass, and Silverware Provider

Truly, THANK YOU!

Now, it’s time to get back to the drawing board and figure out what we are going to do for next year’s Design Challenge.  We hope to see you there.

Industrial Glam – After the past two years, we need this look.  Opposite of mason jars and overly cute, this is a balanced design approach, where feminine meets masculine.  It  is about metal and aluminum paired with crystals, or masculine heavy leather sofas positioned with delicate French Provincial side chairs.  We are seeing  words like “steam punk” or the “Soho lounge” as a part of our daily lingo, all with feels that are more masculine, but still very chic.  This masculinity can find itself even in the weddings market, where we  are hearing that the groom’s lounge will be a popular request – man-cave décor (with a bride’s touch of course) will be a retreat area for cigars, craft beer or bourbon tastings.

Matchy-matchy looks are out and the eclectic “retail” or “residential” looks are in.  I’m talking about a West Elm/Restoration Hardware-inspired look, so grab a catalog and steal some inspiration from the pages. Don’t be afraid to mix different colors, fabrics, and styles.  Work to incorporate timeless furniture while using stylized accents to pull the look together in a cohesive way.  People are looking for interesting items to combine to create eclectic looks, for example our Vermont Table which has a very natural, earthy feel and our aluminum Elio Dining Chair is a requested look.

Art Deco will be very HOT, especially as the new Gatsby movie hits the big screen.  Art Deco refers to a bold, decorative style that is characterized by geometric patterns which finds its roots in furniture and architecture.  Black and white are the basis for this look, accented with hues of gold and other rich colors.  Today’s art deco combines these features with clean lines for a modern twist.  For a softer version, think pearls, gold, and lace just as the women attending Gatsby’s parties would.  We are seeing this all over in fashion – just look at the Oscars dresses worn by Halle Berry and others!

Neutrals - People are going back to the basics with their colors – shades of white, taupe, and grey can be seen everywhere.  White will always be hot!  It provides a clean pallet, it is versatile and it also picks up lighting and effects when applied.  Looking at this year’s Oscar’s fashion you can see how many big stars chose a glamorous neutral toned dress for the big night!

Branding opportunities have been a staple option for our company for several years.  This concept is rooted in the same approach we have of furniture in general, which is that our selections should be both beautiful and functional, serving a purpose at the event.  Many times events are about brand building and delivering a message, so logoed pillows or branded bars are an available option.  It goes further than that; recently we participated in a conference in which the furniture in the general session room was positioned into a fast forward symbol, accentuating the concept of the conference of moving forward!  This is something that will have a huge impact on all attendees!

Functional Décor- Remember, the most important thing is that furniture serves a purpose.  To achieve this, clients must ask themselves, “What is the purpose of the event?  What do I hope my attendees gain?”  Once we are clear on this, we can begin to design the best furniture selection and placement to maximize the ROI of these items.  For example, many times corporate events are about idea sharing and networking.  When this is the case, designing events should be about creating areas that are comfortable and casual so that they promote this attitude in the attendees and encourage and facilitate extended conversations.  Of course we want the furniture to work with a theme and look beautiful, but we also want it to prove to be a worthwhile asset to the overall event experience.

Jose Lopez
General Manager of Trade Shows

Jose Lopez has serviced the Trade Show and Events industry since 1995 with a dedicated passion for his clients and team. He has forged long-standing relationships with some of the Nation’s largest Exhibit Houses, Trade Show and Event companies.

As an Operations Manager for Brook Furniture Rental he managed the Northeast region until 1997 when he shifted focus into sales as a Regional Account Sales Executive. He left Brook for a short time returning in 1999 as their National Director of Sales.

In 2002, with the backing of a regional office furniture rental organization, Jose founded AGILE Trade Show and Events Furnishings. Flourishing in the Northeast region, AGILE quickly expanded operations into the Midwest and opened a facility in Chicago in 2004. In 2005, Jose grew AGILE’S national footprint again opening a distribution center in Las Vegas. With great gains in national market share, AGILE rapidly became recognized as a national leader in custom furniture rentals.

Jose is active in the tradeshow industry and has been a long-standing member of the Exhibition Service Contractors Association (ESCA) and has served two terms on the Board of Directors. He has also been a long time member of the International Association of Exhibition & Events (IAEE).

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Jose currently resides in Staten Island with his wife, Leslie and their three children Christian, Jonathon and Kayla. Jose enjoys running and has used his passion to help raise funds for charity by running marathons for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital and the Ryan Kendall Iverson Foundation/John F. Miller School.  He also supports the Madison’s Wish Foundation, which raises awareness and funds for SMA and the RP Autism Charity.

Pat Sherman
National Sales Manager

Pat started her career in Sales and Marketing in 1986 as a Field Services Director for the Fritkin-Jones Design Group.  After seeing a niche to be filled in the area of custom rental furniture she was recruited as National Sales Director to build and develop a tradeshow rental and sales division for the parent company S. Stein & Company. After developing a solid base of exhibit houses, hotels and special event clients in the Midwest, the company opened a second location in Las Vegas, Nevada and Pat oversaw the development and operation of the new facility.

In 1995, when her company was acquisitioned by CORT Furniture Rental, she joined their team as a National Account Executive and Sales Coordinator. It was her responsibility to focus on and build a national client base, secure and maintain national contracts with exhibit designers, producers and major hotel chains.  She also worked with the design and production of the company’s tradeshow booth and oversaw the company’s participation in industry leading tradeshows.

In 2000, she joined the Angles on Design team as National Director of Sales/Marketing handling the development of national sales and marketing to small contractors, exhibit houses and special event companies, as well as assisting in the brand’s website and marketing collateral.

Joining AGILE in 2004 as VP of National Sales and Marketing, Pat has been integral in refining the corporate concept, expanding the product offerings for the company, developing new marketing collateral and website as well as mentoring and training sales staff.

She is a past board member of the Exhibitor Designer & Producer Association (EDPA Mid Atlantic Chapter).

She brings expert sales experience, a proven track record and a deep knowledge of the tradeshow industry to the AFR Family.

Diana Warren
National Sales Manager

A graduate of Eastern Illinois University with a Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality and a minor in Business Administration, Diana began her career in 1997 with Brook Furniture Rental in their Convention Division as a Tradeshow Coordinator.  The position allowed her to learn the ins and outs of the industry by assisting as a Show Site Representative and handling Inside Customer Support. She was promoted to Midwest Account Executive in 1999 and was responsible for business development in the Midwest Territory with a focus on general contractors, exhibit builders and hotels.

In 2003, Diana joined AGILE Tradeshow & Event Furnishings who was a new player in the marketplace. She has enjoyed a sense of accomplishment as a part of a team that has built a successful company from the ground up. When AGILE was acquired by AFR in early 2013, she made the transition and brings her experience and enthusiasm to the AFR Event Furnishings Team as a National Sales Manager.

Anne Scales
National Sales Manager

Anne Scales joins the AFR Tradeshow and Special Event team as a sales and customer service leader in the rental furniture market.  With over 25 years of experience in the Tradeshow and Special Event Industry, she has a diverse background of experience ranging from Tradeshow General Service Contractors and Exhibit Houses to Fortune 500 Companies and Special Event Production firms.

Anne began her career in 1987 with Champion Exposition Services and later joined Freeman honing her skills in Exhibitor Sales.  In 1998, Anne changed the focus and direction of her career to the Event and Tradeshow industry. Discovering a specialty market for furniture rentals, she is recognized as a pioneer in the development and growth of event rental furnishings to what they are today.  Anne brings a successful record, industry experience and creativity with her to the AFR Event Furnishings team.

Julie Jones
Account Executive

Julie has over twelve years of experience in the furniture rental and manufacturing industry for conventions, events and private residential.  Before joining AGILE, she worked with a small, but reputable furniture company for eleven years in her native Las Vegas as a Convention Division Manager.  She also assisted with all aspects of company operations.

As the mother of two active children, Talia and Dmitri, in her “spare” time she can often be found at the soccer field.

She brings well-rounded experience and enthusiasm for sales to the AFR Event Furnishings team.

Lauren Kohler
Account Executive

Lauren began her career in sales just out of high school working in the real estate and retail industries.  After graduating from Bloomfield College with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Biology, Lauren continued on her career path in sales in the tradeshow industry working for Modern Line Furniture.   As a Commercial Sales Rep for the company she excelled in her position and six months later was promoted to Commercial Business Director.  As Director, she managed a team of eight commercial sales reps, planned, designed the company’s tradeshow booths and attended all tradeshows as a brand representative. She also worked side by side with the Marketing team to help promote the company on a national level.

In May of 2011, she joined the Agile Tradeshow and Event Furnishings team as National Account Executive to develop sales and increase revenue in the New York City region with exhibit houses, contractors and special events.

She is a member of the IAEE NY local chapter, ESCA and Meeting Planners International New Jersey Chapter.  She also actively maintains her real estate license in New Jersey.

Lauren brings her enthusiasm for sales and marketing to the AFR Family.