Rotherham-based Marquee and Gazebo retailer Gala Tent has posted record revenues for May after the country was gripped by planning street parties to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.
After a bumper 2021 in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions imposed on the hospitality industry and combined with the well-documented universal price increases, the board of Gala Tent might be forgiven for thinking the bubble had burst on their good fortunes. However, the demand for marquees, pop-up gazebos and party tents remain as high as ever, thanks to the street party atmosphere that grips the UK, and the company posted turnover of over £1.25 million for May.
Jason Mace, Gala Tent CEO, said, “We’ve intentionally bought more stock than ever before, as last year we were occasionally caught short by massive demand, and as a result we are seeing record revenues for this time of year. On top of the celebrations for the Queens Platinum Jubilee, there are hundreds of thousands of happy couples who have had to postpone their weddings throughout the pandemic who are now able to make real plans to get hitched.”
With the cost-of-living crisis a very real danger for many, couples are turning to low-cost alternatives to ensure their joyful day remains exactly what they want. Marquee weddings are the solution to many people’s wedding cost problems, in that they deliver a unique opportunity to express original and creative ideas whilst never compromising on the quality of the day.
Mace says, “We have been hit by material cost and price increases like everybody else, and we are extremely fortunate that our products remain in high demand. Our workforce has seen wage increases to try to help with their burdens, and hopefully it will ease off sooner than later. For now, we will continue to press on and aim to drive even bigger growth. If we achieve it in the current climate, this could be our biggest achievement yet.”
With over £5m of stock filling their company warehouse and with more in production, there is absolutely no reason this proud Yorkshire institution, the UK’s leading retailer in their field, should not aim for the stars.
