White Lake Couple Starts Party Rental Business
As the event industry continues to evolve, White Lake-based Ratliff Rental saw an opportunity to bring easy and affordable party rentals to the Metro Detroit area.
Established in August 2015, Ratliff Rental provides goods and services for one-of-a-kind events at competitive prices, according to co-owner Renee Ratliff, who owns the business with her husband, Greg. Specifically the business rents out supplies such as tents, tables, chairs, linens and other specialty event items ranging from coffee and popcorn makers to chafing dishes and beverage coolers.
The Ratliffs wanted to start a family business in the community where they grew up and currently manage the business from their home. Friends and family members have invested time and funds into the business and help pitch in with the manual labor to offset other fixed costs. Renee serves as the back office and marketing expert while Greg handles operations in between his current full-time job in the information technology field.
“Greg had worked in this industry for about 10 years starting in high school so he has a lot of experience,” Renee said. “We had talked for a few years about wanting to start a local business and given that expertise, this seemed like the right fit.”
The couple decided to embark on the business even while raising their now 2-year-old son, with another on the way, Renee said. Much of the profits for the company now go back into adding to its inventory so that Ratliff Rental can continue to grow. And the volume is already quite heavy. During the busy season, from May through August, Renee expects that the company will average servicing 30-50 events per month throughout the entire southeastern Michigan region.
“For us the key is to be competitively priced and to focus on being a company that gives back,” Renee said.
In fact, Ratliff Rental will give back 10 percent of its proceeds from parties to a charity, high school or nonprofit of the client’s choice.
In the future, Ratliff Rental hopes to add different products to its offering, such as inflatables, games, a larger variety of linens and decorations and more. Renee also hopes to add more formal party planning services with the goal of Ratliff Rental becoming a “one-stop shop solution.” In time, the couple plans to move into an office outside of their home.
“We also hope that it grows enough so that Greg can work full-time just on our business,” Renee said. “We have been really pleased with our growth to this point, so now it’s about taking the next step.”
Free on site assessments are available. Call 248-535-4630 or visit www.ratliffrental.com to learn more.