RENTAL Resource
G & K Event Rentals’ Beginnings And Growth Through the Years G & K Event Rentals first started by renting out farming equipment. In 1989, I was working as a farmer to help my family’s business, a beet and seed company. We had a lot of equipment for our business, and sometimes our neighbors would contact us about renting our equipment to use. Once we started getting into renting, my focus turned from farming to ensuring the rental business was running smoothly. Even though it was relatively new to me, I had a lot of help from one of my uncles. He owned a rental business down in Texas and was always willing to chat with me and give me pointers. It wasn’t long before my team and I started getting ideas for tents and other items people could use for parties or celebrations. In 1991, we began getting into party products. We started out with only a few items like tables and chairs. Today, our party line is 95 percent of our whole business, and we provide full service for our customers. The transition from farming equipment into party material wasn’t too jarring for us. Everything seemed to fall right into place. Even though it took some slight adjusting on our part, it went smoothly. Our rental business first started in a small town with a population of about 700, and we stayed there for 17 years before moving toMankato. With the move, we brought our focus to providing the community with everything they might need for the celebrations in their lives. G & K Event Rentals has been a big part of my life and my family’s. Over the 30 years we’ve been in business, I’ve had about 12 grandchildren work for me, and some of them still do. My son runs my shop along with Eric. They are about the same age and have known each other for quite some time. We’re all connected in one way or another, so we know how to work as a team. Most of our teammembers have been with us for years. Our people have the experience and knowledge needed, and they know how to act with professionalism. There’s really
no greater joy than to work with dedicated people who give their all to ensure our customers get the experience of a lifetime. As a rental company, we have a closer relationship with the people who come to us for business than a retail store might have with their customers. We might not see a great number of people on a daily basis, but that allows us to be more personal. My team can really be there for our customers and go above and beyond for them to make these occasions memorable. I see G & K Event Rentals’ growth as the nature of things. When you’re working in a business and start out with four semis, you eventually might need eight — it’s almost like a game you play. I’m always making sure we have top-of-the- line equipment and products available for our customers to use, and that, as a company, we continue to provide outstanding customer service. With every advancement we’ve made as a business, I feel proud to accomplish so much with such a dedicated team.
1 G & K Rentals | www.gkrental.com | 507-625-3238
Meet Kathy Dauk The “K” in G & K Event Rentals
or employees or whoever that makes the event feel more personable, but maybe I’m just biased.”
The most interesting part of the job for Kathy is the multitude of hues we see every day. “When we first started the business, I didn’t realize there were so many colors,” Kathy says with a laugh. “And now it’s gone crazy. Even if it’s the same color, there are so many shades of that one color — you can have 57 different whites! You never know what new color is going to be coming in or how the customer will decide to pair that color with another. It’s fascinating to see!” When Kathy isn’t making sure that our napkins, skirts, and tablecloths are in perfect shape for our customers, she is watching her grandkids at their sporting events. “I will always go to their games,” she promises. “I don’t care what it is they’re in; I love to watch them. I’ve gone to ten basketball games in a week before, and I’d do it again.” Kathy’s dedication to both her family and her work are just one part of what makes G & K Event Rentals such a great company. Without the care our team and family members put into our company, we couldn’t provide such outstanding service for every person who walks through our doors or calls our office. Engage internet users where they are. The marketing strategy that used to be known as “word-of- mouth,” “network marketing,” or “creating a buzz,” is now known as “viral marketing” on the internet. This is not a new concept in and of itself, but it can be made even more effective with some creativity. Major fast-food chainWendy’s utilizes this strategy with their Twitter account. Their account takes on a personality, as opposed to just being a place to make announcements, which works well in their quest to get away from the cynical idea of the soulless, profit-mongering corporation. Having an online presence that engages people where they are, instead of making posts and waiting for potential customers to happen upon them, can help your business stand out online. Form real relationships with customers. This tactic, sometimes known as a grassroots movement, has many different facets. However, the goal is to ultimately win a customer’s business by engaging with them on a more personal level. This approach often involves using the internet to ask supporters of your business to repost or retweet material from your social media pages. You can also encourage your employees to engage with real people in places where your target demographic likes to spend their time. The goal is to foster genuine relationships with customers that make them feel cared for by your company and eager to keep coming back.
Our purpose at G & K Event Rentals is to provide each customer with the products they need to make their event the most memorable it can be. Kathy Dauk has been with G & K since day one, working side by side with her husband, Gary. Her hard work, dedication, and determination show how our teamworks to ensure the best experience for our clients.
Kathy works strictly with the linens our company provides. “My granddaughters and I wash them, dry them, iron them, and package them for every one of our customers.” Linens can be one of the most important details of your event, something Kathy feels very strongly about. “I believe that having linens really sets the tone for whatever event you’re setting up,” Kathy says firmly. “You don’t want to put a beautiful centerpiece on a piece of plastic. There’s something about providing linen to your guests
Guerrilla marketing strategies, with their low-cost methods and innovative approaches to advertising, can be the key to growing both large and small businesses. Here are three examples of guerrilla advertising that, with enough creativity and boldness, you can use to maximize business growth. Leave no surface untouched and nomediumunused. Ambient marketing is one of the more common guerrilla marketing strategies, and it is a great way to raise local awareness for your brand. It involves advertising in unusual spaces with unusual methods. A recent example of this is how Taco Bell announced their presence in London in 2018. They created the illusion that Big Ben was ringing by mixing its sound with Taco Bell’s signature bell sound. They played it on speakers attached to rickshaws, which were driven around the city. While this is certainly a more elaborate example, ambient marketing can be as easy as using more unconventional surfaces, like sidewalks and drinking glasses, to market your product — so long as it is creative enough to make a potential customer take notice. Meeting Your Customers Where They Are
2 G & K Rentals | www.gkrental.com | 507-625-3238
Planning Your Special Event
It’s this time of year when winter really starts to let loose — the trees are turning green, flowers are blooming, and celebrations are being planned. Whether you’re planning a graduation, wedding, or other festivity, you’ll want to start getting the details of your special event smoothed out. SET GOALS It’s important to know what the end goal for your party is and why you’re planning it to begin with. Are you hoping to raise money for a charitable cause or celebrate a new beginning? Once you give yourself a solid target to aim for, it will be easy to make your event a success.
Inspired by Saveur Magazine
Opening Day Hamburgers
DECIDE WHO AND WHEN The number of people attending your event is vital. For example, when choosing your venue, you want to ensure you’ll have enough space for people to be comfortable. You probably won’t want to have an outdoor wedding in the middle of February. Planning for the perfect space and providing the right amount of food, silverware, seats, plates, and even napkins are essential for your guests to have a wonderful time. PICK YOUR TEAM There’s no shame in realizing you can’t do it alone. Planning a celebration can take a lot out of you and be extremely stressful. Create a team of people you trust to help lessen the burden. Giving them specific jobs, such as selecting the venue or making sure there will be enough seats, can allow you to focus on other aspects of your event. Luckily, G & K Event Rentals offers it all. If this is your first time hosting a party, throwing a graduation, or organizing a wedding, don’t worry; G & K Event Rentals is here to help! With over 30 years of experience, we’ve seen just about everything and know a thing or two about what a party should have. Call us up at the number below and learn how we can help you!
Ingredients
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1 pound ground chuck, 80 percent lean 4 soft, white hamburger buns, split
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4 1/4-inch thick yellow onion slices
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1 teaspoon vegetable oil
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4 1/4-inch thick tomato slices
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Salt and pepper, to taste
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12–16 pickle rounds
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Condiments of your choice
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4 small leaves iceberg lettuce
Directions
1. Lightly grease a small nonstick skillet with oil. Heat over medium-high. 2. While heating, gently shape meat into four patties 3 1/2 inches in diameter. Be careful to handle the meat as little as possible to prevent tough burgers. Season liberally with salt and pepper. 3. Sear patties on each side, about 1 minute per side. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue cooking until desired doneness, about 1 more minute per side for medium-rare, 2 more per side for medium-well. 5. To assemble, place patty on bottom bun and top with tomato, pickles, lettuce, and onion (in that order). Spread condiments on top half of bun and place on top of onion. Serve. 3 G & K Rentals | www.gkrental.com | 507-625-3238 4. Let meat rest for a minimum of 3 minutes.
Rainbow Easter Prank Passover Fool Showers Taurus Hoax Spring Butterfly Dandelion Mischief
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
P.O. Box 4092 Mankato, MN 56002-4092 (507) 625-3238 www.gkrental.com
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Our Growth as a Company
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Team Member Spotlight
Maximizing Creativity and Cost-Effectiveness in Your Business
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Get Ready to Party!
Opening Day Hamburgers
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3 Great Opening Days in Baseball
Peanuts & Cracker Jacks
The Best Opening Days in Baseball History
Lou, Combs, and Babe—OhMy! Considered one of the best teams in baseball history, the 1927 New York Yankees started their historic run and 25th season by dismantling the Philadelphia Athletics with a score of 8-3. The slugfest was true to form for the 1927 Yankees, whose players would go on to make up baseball’s famous “Murderers’ Row.” With sluggers like Lou Gehrig, Earle Combs, Babe Ruth, Mark Koenig, Bob Meusel, and Tony Lazzeri, it’s no wonder this teamwent on to win its fifth championship that year. The Hammer Ties Bambino For decades, no one could match George Herman Ruth. The Great Bambino’s all-time home run record seemed like an impossible feat of strength— that is, until Henry “Hammerin’ Hank” Aaron came along. On opening day, April 4, 1974, Aaron smashed his 714th homer, tying Babe Ruth for the most home runs ever hit and extending the Atlanta Braves’ shutout lead over the Cincinnati Reds. A few weeks later, Aaron surpassed Ruth’s record, prompting a standing ovation from the crowd.
Baseball’s opening day has been an American holiday of sorts since the Cincinnati Red Stockings threw out the first major league pitch in 1869. To celebrate the start of the 150th season of professional baseball, here are three of the best opening days in baseball history. ANewBeginning On April 15, 1947, an opening-day game changed the course of Major League Baseball. On this day, Jackie Robinson started for the Brooklyn Dodgers, becoming the first African-American player to start for a major league baseball team. Robinson’s historic showing was lackluster, going 0-for-3 at the plate and making a solid showing on the infield at first base, but his mere presence in a Dodgers uniform had already broken history. Despite his nationally- recognized skills —Robinson was named MVP of the MLB farm team league in 1946 — the backlash that followed his rise to the pros, both from fans and teammates, was palpable. Still, as well-known sportscaster Howard Cosell said, “Suddenly, it was a new beginning.”
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G & K Rentals | www.gkrental.com | 507-625-3238
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