Traditionally this time of the year is a quiet period for New Zealand's only tentmaker, Baytex.
But at present the established Tauranga manufacturer has never been busier.
The family business, owned by Spencer and Wendy Tankard, has just started a second shift in Newton St, Mount Maunganui, to keep up with the orders from around the world.
It is also hiring four more people to take its staff to 44.
Baytex - Spencer and Wendy became involved in 1976 - has become a leading designer and manufacturer of commercial tents, marquees, alloy-framed structures and sophisticated canopies (seen on The Strand in downtown Tauranga).
The company has been exporting to Australia, United States, Britain, Pacific Island and lately Europe over the past 29 years - and its reputation has grown with its quality and varied product.
Baytex stepped out with its peaked roof marquees, such as the one for the Cats touring show in Australia, and its flame-retardant polyester linings in a range of different weights and colours including white, black and champagne.
Best of all, Baytex has designed its tents, marquees and linings to be easily installed by its customers who don't need to spend extra money bringing in specilaised contractors for the job. The innovative approach is paying off. Baytex has just completed two 18m by 18m base tents for the Emirates Team New Zealand's campaign in the Volvo Ocean yacht race, beginning later this year.
The tents are erected and mounted on transportable 40-foot containers and used for sail lofts, boat maintenance and hospitality. They will be set up at a number of ports-of-call including Auckland.
Baytex will also produce the container-mounted tents for the 2011/12 America's Cup world series involving wing-sailed AC45 catamarans, and then bigger base tents, on double decker containers, at the 2013 America's Cup in San Francisco for the 22-m long AC72 catamarans.
A 40m by 40m PVC covered steel structure, made by Baytex, will soon be installed at the North Harbour centre just off the motorway at Northcote Rd.
"This is a fully enclosed facility (with solid walls) covering two international-sized courts," said Spencer, the managing director of Baytex.
By the end of March, his team will complete all the fabric for a 40m by 40m performance tent seating 700 people in Vancouver's Vanier Park. The marquee will become the new home of the Bard on the Beach theatre group which produces Shakespearean shows.
A design requirement was that the whole back wall behind the stage slides open so theatre-goers can see right across the bay to the mountain range.
Baytex sales manager Trevor Vile and his team exhibited at the Roder HTS trade show in Germany in November and as a result the company is now quoting for $700,000 worth of orders for tent and marquee linings - the inquiries coming from Norway, Sweden, Croatia, Spain, as well as more established markets in France, Holland, Italy and Germany.
Then earlier this month, Mr Vile was in Las Vegas attending the American Rental Association trade show with Baytex USA's partner, Spencer Etzel from Portland, Oregon. Mr Vile returned with more than $300,000 worth of linings orders.
"It's one of the best shows we've had, and people were coming in with order books. That's unusual for a trade show," said Spencer Tankard. "The response was excellent and we still expect a further lift there." Baytex first started exporting to United States in 1992.
Baytex is also making two circus tents for Webers in Australia, and it is getting increased business from Christhurch as a result of the earthquake. Its rental customers there have hired out their tents and are asking for more stock, including a 10m by 40m structure for a school hall.
Baytex has also diverted product for Australia to Christchurch. "Everyone is committed to supplying short-term accommodation in Christchurch," said Spencer, "and we'll continue to suss out where we fit into the long term picture once the reconstruction starts."
He is also looking forward to increased business during the Rugby World Cup in September/October when cities gear up to host and entertain the visiting fans - and need extra marquees.
But the biggest challenge of all is designing a performance tent, 25m by 60m, on the roof of a 10-storey shopping mall in downtown Shanghai.
The Chinese owners want to stage traditional theatre on top of their mall for an audience of up to 700. "It's one of our more interesting and challenging projects," said Spencer.
"We have to make sure the building will support the structure and we have to get the look right - we'll put it to bed within two months.
"We are working with a Taiwanese theatre company, and people come to us for solutions," he said.
"One of the things you appreciate is the fantastic team we've built up over the years - in terms of staff, expertise, equipment and suppliers.
"When the pressure goes on, everyone can step up to the mark. The strength we have is tackling highly sophisticated design challenges and it is all done in-house," said Spencer.
Baytex employs four designers using advanced three dimensional computer-aided design (CAD) technology; and 30 on the factory floor, all experienced in fabric welding, sewing and finishing. They can make a good sized tent, up to 10m by 40m, in two days.
Normally, Baytex is taking a breather at this time of the year before business picks up again in June, spurred on by the National Agricultural Fieldays at Mystery Creek.
"April is usually the death watch," said Spencer.
"We pull every trick in the book to find things for the staff to do. But we've never been busier and hopefully this will carry on right through the year."
After a flat year in 2010, Baytex expects at least 10 per cent growth this year.
"The business could grow with quite a bump, but I prefer to stay on the conservative side," said Spencer. "I've been in business long enough to realise you never what's around the corner. But it's all exciting stuff."
Worldwide demand rockets for Bay tentmaker
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