February 26, 2017

Meet Thomas Hill of Intent Productions in Santa Monica

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Thomas Hill.

Thomas, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Intent Productions actually began in London where it continues to thrive. I myself joined that company in 2008. I was quickly appointed as a director and very early on expressed an interest in introducing our services to the United States.

In 2010 we began researching the market over here and quickly realized that our Stretch Tents would be a perfect fit. By 2011 we had set up our LA branch with myself running it and began taking bookings.

Oddly enough I think our first gig was in Kentucky at Churchill Downs but our first big gig was the Napa Valley Wine Auction which really helped put us on the map.

I’d be lying if I said the early days weren’t a struggle but it’s always a lot of fun working in a new market and learning the nuances and protocols. It’s also so great revealing the Stretch Tents to clients for the first time. Most people here haven’t seen anything like it before. Now we’re more established with a very loyal customer base. Once people work with us it’s rare for them not to start using us for everything outdoors.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The biggest struggle was getting the ball rolling. Setting up the company, organizing work permits, certification etc.

That aside I feel we were up against a rather prosaic culture in regards to tenting here. Tents were seen as big white boxes that sheltered you against the elements. More often than not they are draped to hide the fact you’re outside as much as possible. I always wonder why you wouldn’t just hire a ballroom. In our own small way, I think we’ve been able to show our clients that our Stretch Tents help add to the event and can accentuate the venue and surroundings rather than shut them out. It creates a very unique buzz and excitement for the event.

In this industry your reputation is crucial. People need to know that you’re not only reliable but the best at what you do. In London, we had become well known and trusted and enjoyed a great reputation. We actually did very little marketing because of it. Getting started here in LA you’re back to square one. An unknown quantity with a brand new product. It’s been very satisfying building our US reputation from scratch and seeing the repeat bookings and referrals start growing. Those two are always a good indicator that you’re doing something right.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Intent Productions – what should we know?
We are essentially a tent rental company but with a very important difference. We work solely with Stretch Tents. Our tents are a beautiful alternative to what is currently available on the market. The flexibility of the Stretch Tent allows us to tailor the design of each installation to specifically meet the needs of our clients. This flexibility also has very practical benefits. We can cover difficult, unusual, uneven spaces, rooftops and even multi-level venues with relative ease.

As a company, I am most proud of our commitment to the success of our client’s event. It’s why a lot of our clients think of us as partners rather than just a vendor. We are a company that always offers our clients solutions rather than problems.

I’m also very proud that we work at the cutting edge of tent technology. We are always pushing the boundaries and trying new things. Our double-decker installations are a great example of this.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Carl Louw began this company in London. He is a fantastic example of how to manage people and grow a business. He’s achieved a great balance between support and a hands-off approach and has put together a fantastic team that has achieved a lot. Carl put a lot of trust in myself allowing me to get the LA branch up and running and I’m always aware how indebted to him I am.

Pricing: