A Touch of Southern Hospitality

When Amy and Josh Kohn opened SOHO Event Rentals in March of 2014, the pair were diving headfirst into the world of entrepreneurship – a leap that ultimately paid off.

By Jessica Goolsby

Galas, corporate meetings, business dinners, sporting events, weddings, rehearsal dinners, festivals, birthday parties, company fundraisers, backyard get-togethers – SOHO Event Rentals has worked them all. And after more than five years in business, owners Amy and Josh Kohn say they’ve come a long way since their 2014 start.

 “We bought 50 folding white chairs and sat at the kitchen table and wrote a business plan,” Amy recalls. “We wanted to start an event rental company that provided quality equipment and hospitality (SOuthern HOspitality),” and with Amy’s degree in hospitality from Florida State University and Josh’s accounting degree from the University of South Alabama in tow, the two set out to serve the Gulf Coast in all things event-oriented. Flash forward to 2019, and SOHO Event Rentals has grown exponentially, now serving the entire Southeast from their home base in Fairhope, Ala., often traveling to New Orleans, 30A, Birmingham, and Atlanta for events. The company offers tent, table, chair, furniture, dinnerware, linen, stage, and floor rentals alongside event layout and event branding assistance.

 “Not only do we have the most unique products and top-notch customer service; we also provide event design,” Amy says. “We usually start with a meeting at our showroom so the client can visualize products and we can talk budget. We will do on-site consultations and CAD layouts to help visualize the concept of the event, and we also work very closely with other vendors to ensure everything runs smoothly.”

SOHO Event Rentals also offers event branding services. “We can help you create custom products that allow you to personalize your event,” Amy explains. “From furniture with your logo to custom flooring, we can help you brand your event and communicate your theme. SOHO can help your event stand apart from all the others.”

 Amy says she and her team are often inspired by Hollywood and the Red Carpet. “If it’s popular in apparel, then very soon you will see it on a tabletop,” Amy jokes. “I was watching the Emmy Awards a few weeks ago and Kylie Jenner wore a large print floral dress, and the next day I was seeing large print florals available for table linens. I love seeing fashion coming into the event world.”

 So, what are some of the area’s most popular themes? “I think Mobile and Baldwin County will always have coastal and Southern themes,” Amy says. “We work with a lot of out of town corporate clients, and when they come to our area, they want large oak trees, farm tables, and oysters.” And when it comes to decorating trends, Amy says color is making a comeback. “For a few years, the trend for events has been neutral,” she says. “That is changing, and I love it! I’m ready for more color at events!” But what happens when multiple clients ask for the same overall theme simultaneously? “This comes up with weddings more than corporate or social events, but weddings are easy to find personal touches that make it unique,” Amy explains. “Whether it’s your grandmother’s pound cake recipe, your father’s antique car, or the couple’s favorite cocktail as guests arrive, there are plenty of ways to make a wedding unique.”

 The Kohns say they find most of their inventory at trade shows and conferences they attend, but also often obtain custom products from clients and planners. “We love when a wedding planner comes to us with something new and we have it made for their special client,” Amy says. And when hired for a wedding, Amy says she and her team hit the ground running. “The first thing we like to do is sit down with the clients and get to know them and their vision for the event,” she explains. “We find that we do our best work when we get the opportunity to get to know the clients and what their priorities are in the beginning. After that first meeting, we get in our design room and start pulling linen samples, dinnerware samples, and more and come up with a vision board.” They then put together a preliminary quote and work with the client on the budget. “From there, we will do an onsite meeting with other vendors to talk logistics and timelines,” Amy says. “Once we have a plan in place, we get to work at the warehouse prepping items for the big day.”

 Amy says she and her team are also extremely adaptable when it comes to the varying styles of their clientele. “My favorite events are when the client comes in with a completely different vision from what I was thinking,” Amy says. “It really makes me get creative. Our job would be boring if everyone had the same taste and style.” And with so many events in the works, Amy says that it is never too early to start booking for events. “It depends on the size of the event,” Amy says. “Our larger festivals book two to three years in advance. For a wedding, eight to twelve months is ideal, and most of our social events book two to six months in advance. I tell clients that if they want a specific product or if their event is in our busy season, they’ll want to get on our books as soon as possible.”

 With its mile-long list of services and offerings, SOHO certainly stands a league apart from other rental companies, maintaining the mantra: “We are event people first” – a concept Amy says SOHO has stood by since its inception. “We believe that a smile, eye contact, and a ‘yes ma’am’ is reassuring to our clients and makes them feel welcome,” she says. “We teach this within our company, and we care about you and your event. From the first time we meet until the last table is picked up, we will be there for you.”

SOHO Event Rentals

5906 Sweetwater Circle, Fairhope, AL

(251)517-7322

sohoeventsandrentals.com