How Taylor Creative Took Their Chic Aesthetics and Adapted Furniture Rentals to Meet New Demands
It’s hard to fathom how a furniture rental company could reinvent itself when there are little to no live events to be had, but our friends at Taylor Creative Inc. came up with nothing short of brilliant ideas. KE Creative Director Marianne fell in love with Taylor Creative’s furnishings when she produced her first NYC show back in 2018. Since then she’s used gorgeous pieces from their Los Angeles warehouse to furnish some of the biggest shows she’s produced in San Francisco for Kennedy Events. Marianne recently sat down with Taylor Creative founders Bobby and Mary Taylor to get more details about this powerhouse furnishings company, learn about the amazing team (an integral part of their continued success!), and indulge in a fangirl moment with one of our favorite rental companies.
Marianne: Can you give me a Cliffs Notes version on how you built your company and what your business looked like going into 2020?
Taylor Creative: We got started in 1997 and were mostly working in the fashion industry and associated trade shows. We found that there was a void in contemporary furniture available to rent in volume so we began a slow organic growth to buy and custom design a line of furnishings available for rental. It started with the two of us and we’ve grown into a team of 160 between our N.Y.C. and L.A. offices. California was the first to shut down and from there it was a very fast domino effect. We had trucks loaded and on the road going to Austin for SXSW, then hours before they were to arrive, we got the call to turn them around.
Would you talk about some creative solutions you've implemented recently?
The first initiative we had was helping people create better work from home environments. We launched a contest where we asked for images of their current situation and chose a winner and tricked out their home office. We posted before-and-after photos on social media. We started offering long term rentals and will even go as simple as just renting one chair.
How are event furnishing rental needs changing to meet new safety precautions?
We have already begun in-person events on the East Coast which are prominently small outdoor gatherings, but we are seeing an increased demand for outdoor furniture and expect that trend to continue. Before—and after—any piece of our furniture goes on-site it goes through a steaming sterilization process for cleaning so that there are no chemicals involved but this is something we have always done. We are also adapting our delivery and pick up schedules to limit on-site interactions between our staff, other vendors, and the client. It’s important to keep our staff safe so they are all wearing masks and gloves and checking their temperatures before work begins.
From an event industry perspective, what has been surprising to you in the past few months?
Our staff and their tenacity. From an internal operational perspective when the PPP money came in, we were able to bring staff back into the warehouse and they were the ones who really helped us develop a line of table and bar top Plexi safety dividers. The fabrication team spent about a month creating prototypes and they were really passionate about selling them in addition to offering them as rentals. Because of this, we already have a caterer who is purchasing 50 from us.
We’ve seen these and love them! They don’t have a medical vibe but are actually chic and stylish with brass accents. When we’re able to start working on live events, KE will absolutely be sourcing these from Taylor Creative.
Who else in the industry is inspiring you right now?
We are loving what some florists are doing, like Belle Fleur NYC. They are offering Box of Blooms where you can order a weekly delivery of gorgeous flowers which includes an accompanying video tutorial on how to arrange them. We are humbled by the work we’ve seen some caterers doing such as Great Performances who’ve served over 40,000 meals to elderly people who couldn’t leave their homes and to healthcare workers.
I can say nothing but praise about my experiences working with your team and the cherry on top is that you also have stunning furnishings. I eagerly await our next collaboration!
We’ve seen images of the work you’ve produced with our pieces and it’s impressive. The feeling is mutual.
Are You Eager to Plan an Outdoor Event With Panache and Safety in Mind?
If you’re considering an in-person gathering, Kennedy Events is here to guide you. We have the knowledge and resources to help keep guests and staff safe by working with the right vendors for the job. Give us a call today and schedule a free 30-minute consultation with an event expert.
MARIANNE JACKSON
Marianne Jackson is a senior producer and the creative director at Kennedy Events. She specializes in making our client’s biggest design and decor dreams tangible while also ensuring that the event day menu is worthy of a Zagat mention. (Seriously, her taste and culinary connections are that good!) Her fervor for adventure, cuisine, and aesthetics is visibly apparent in every event—whether in-person or virtual—she produces.
About Kennedy Events
Kennedy Events began with one goal in mind—to produce high-level corporate events with just as much strategy as style. Maggie founded the company in 2000, found her match in Paige, and in 2011 the two became official partners. Since then, these two resourceful and brilliant creatives have pooled their strengths to build one one of the most the most sought after corporate event companies in San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles.
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