Love and Lobster Coastal New England Weddings

Just four short years ago, the tented wedding scene in New England was radically changed by the introduction of Sperry Tents. These sailcloth wonders transform outside wedding reception landscapes into works of art with their stunningly beautiful lines, light and elegance. We recently caught up with owner Bancroft (Banks) Potter, who, true to his company’s Nantucket style, can often be found in a preppy polo or madras shorts himself and always with a big smile across his face. We adore him and his product, and are excited to share with you more about Sperry Tents.

L&L: Tell us a little about you, your background and the history of Sperry Tents.

SPERRY: Sperry’s journey began in 1980 when accomplished sail-maker Steve Sperry was faced with the challenge of hosting a family gathering.  Applying his creative eye and knowledge of fabrics, Steve hatched the plan to design the first ever Sperry Tent for the occasion.  Using hand-sewn panels of waterproof sailcloth and hand-milled spruce pine for center poles and perimeter poles, Sperry Tents was born.

I started working for Sperry Tents in Nantucket during the summers between college semesters. I got to know the Sperry family well and began learning more about what made these tents so unique. The painstaking attention to detail that goes into making each tent is amazing. They draw techniques from a rich history of sail making. Our clients and their guests’ reaction to the tents was overwhelming. At the time, I knew very little about this industry and considered my time with the company merely a summer job. As I witnessed more and more of these enthused reactions to our tents, I realized that the Sperry tent was truly something special. This caught my attention and concluded that I should explored further potential for the product beyond the confines of Nantucket Island.

I met my wife on the island and we got married (under a Sperry tent). My wife got an offer to do her PhD at UNH in Marine Biology. I began doing some market research from Boston north along the coast of the North Shore, New Hampshire, and Maine. A fantastic market exists here with some truly incredible venues. My wife accepted the offer at UNH and we decided that I would, along with my partner Zac Gregg, start a new Sperry Tents company that would serve Northern New England. Zac Gregg, a native of New Hampshire and successful entrepreneur, helped put the local “building blocks” in place. He has opened many crucial doors that have contributed immensely to our success.

We decided on locating the company in Portsmouth at Pease Tradeport due to it’s convenient location just off interstate 95. We are an hour north of Boston and an hour south of Portland. The majority of clientele’s events take place within that one hour radius although, we go as far north as Bar Harbor, Maine, and as far south as Greenwich, Connecticut, on a regular basis.

I believe there are several reasons that we have seen exponential growth in our company. The first is the product and service we provide. The tents are gorgeous but, what truly separates our company is the way we treat our clients with a seldom seen level of individualized, white glove service. The “rental company” model has traditionally taken a fairly industrial approach given the wide range of products offered. We did not want to spend our time flipping between renting bulldozers and wedding tents. Those items draw two very different clientele with very different needs. We decided early on that we would tailor our customer service focus strictly to special events. Our employees are incredibly dedicated. Our sales and management team come from a rich background in both hospitality and business management professions and educations.  Most members of our installation teams are either in college or have recently graduated. All of our installers show up to event sites dressed in khaki shorts and polo shirts and I trust each and every one of them implicitly. They are clean cut, articulate, and respectful. The caliber of events they have experience working on is world class. We provide complimentary on-site attendants for every event that arrive dressed in a coat and tie ready to help with anything. Every weekend we are trusted and responsible for orchestrating “once in a life time events” for the most discerning clientele in the country. Our clients come from many different backgrounds but they all expect a level of perfection that Sperry Tents has become known for.

Our relationships with other vendors in our vertical industry have contributed immensely to our success. Whether it is event planners, florists, photographers, venues, or caterers, their referrals are what we consider to be the ultimate compliment. These are the people who work tirelessly every weekend on special events. In my mind, they are gold standard when it comes to advise on special events. This region is rich with talent and we consider each and every referral from these professionals as the highest praise possible. At 3:00p on a Saturday in June, it is only a team effort of dedicated pros that can pull together and make an event spectacular.

We are now in our 4th year and continuing to grow at a rapid clip. My wife and I now have three boys ages 1, 3 and 5. My wife recently graduated and is now the resident Doctor in the family. We live in Kittery, Maine. Life is busy but great. The seacoast has been a wonderful place to grow roots in. The more I get to know this region, the more I understand why our clients choose Northern New England as a place to host their event. We are thrilled to announce that will be opening up our second location in Greenwich, Connecticut, this winter that will be up and running for Spring 2011. We currently serve that area of Connecticut and New York from our Portsmouth facility, but have decide that opening up a local office will better serve our clients in that area.

We are eagerly looking forward to the future, but as it is mid-season now as this interview gets published, all hands are “on deck” to make sure that this year’s events go flawlessly.

L&L: Describe the range of tents that you offer.

SPERRY: Our authentic sailcloth tents are all manufactured in Rochester, Massachusetts, by the Sperry Tents originator. The same lightweight, waterproof sailcloth canvas has proven strong enough to stand up to the seas for decades.  With sizes ranging from as large as a 66ft x 126ft oval tent to as small as a 16ft round tent, we aim to accommodate any event size.  In addition to sailcloth tents, we offer an array of wedding and event amenities.  Our versatile flooring options offer limitless potential for event ideas and venue locations.  We also offer a wide variety of lighting options providing the signature Sperry glow of aesthetic ambiance and elegant décor.

L&L: What are the majority of your bookings? Weddings, private events, corporate functions, etc.?

SPERRY: About 90% of our bookings are for weddings.  The remaining 10% are made up of corporate events, benefits, and cocktail parties.

L&L: What are the most popular places for your tents? And in what states?

SPERRY: Our tents have brought us to some incredible venues and private residences over the years.  Based in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, we have traveled as far north as Bar Harbor, Maine, and as far south as Washington, DC.  Most of our events take place at oceanside venues, country clubs, inns, and private properties.  Some of our consistent installations include: Harbor Place in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, the Abenaqui Country Club and Wentworth Country Club in Rye, New Hampshire, the Nonantum Inn and Resort in Kennebunkport, Maine, and many other beautiful venues throughout Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, and Connecticut.

L&L: How long does it take to put up a tent? With how many people?

SPERRY: One of Sperry’s core competencies that we pride ourselves on is our customer service.  Our friendly, professional staff is timely and efficient.  The number of people and the amount of time an installation takes can vary with the size of the event.  A common booking for us is a 46ft. x 125ft. tent with brushed nickel onion lanterns, perimeter lighting, side curtains, a bandstand and a dance floor, an event that six installers could complete in under four hours.

L&L: How far in advance do couples typically book with you? What does that process consist of?

SPERRY: Most of our clients book 8-12 months before their event date, while a smaller percentage book 6-8 months in advance. To get in touch with us clients have been using the online contact page on our recently remodeled website, as well as calling our sales office.

The booking process starts with a phone call to discuss event details including: location, number of guests, event space, and potential flooring and lighting options.  We follow up with a complementary site visit to introduce ourselves, measure the event space, and discuss all of the options for the event layout.  After the onsite consultation, we send an estimate and an individualized blueprint of the event.

Our representatives work closely with clients throughout the entire booking and planning process to ensure satisfaction.  Installation and breakdown appointments are fitted to work around your schedule, and an onsite attendant is always available at each event to answer any questions or offer suggestions.

L&L: How do most of your clients find you?

SPERRY: We have had the opportunity to work with a network of amazing clients, vendors, venues, and event specialists that have spread our message throughout the northeast.  In addition to referrals, we have remodeled our website with a blog page, new interactive features, and significantly increased our presence in social media.

L&L: What was the most memorable wedding you have worked and why?

SPERRY: The most memorable wedding we have been involved in was last year (2009) on Cranberry Island, three miles off Maine’s coastline, near Acadia National Park.  The property was absolutely beautiful and boasted stunning ocean views.  The commute to work for that week consisted of a 10-minute drive from the hotel to the dock, and a 15-minute boat ride to the private dock on property.

To get equipment and supplies over to the island, which is 1 mile wide and 2 miles long, we had to ship our fully loaded trucks and trailers on a 40ft. barge.  After 9 trips we had everything we needed onsite.  In the front of the property we installed an elevated level floor on top of a clay tennis court.  The reception tent was set on top of the floor featuring impressive lighting and spectacular interior décor.  In the backyard, amidst the scenic backdrop of Acadia National Park, the ceremony took place under the sailcloth cover of our 46ft. x 105ft. Sperry Tent.

The occasion employed over 10 event-based companies with 40 people usually working onsite at any given time.  After a week of hard work and careful planning, the event was a huge success and an unforgettable milestone.

L&L: What do you love most about living and working in Maine?

SPERRY: There is something about New England that draws people. Many people will leave in pursuit of travel and new experiences, but most will return to the erratic weather and beautiful season change they grew up with.  Much like the dramatic weather swings of our seasons, our events at Sperry change throughout the course of the year.  Well-versed with seasonal New England conditions, we have accommodations for the 95° days of summer, as well as the 32° days of winter.

L&L: What must-see places and eateries do you suggest people ‘from away’ check out while visiting New England’s seacoast?

SPERRY: The seacoast is rich in history, natural beauty, and unique eateries. Brazo, Cava, and the Green Monkey are some great local restaurants in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.  I would also recommend a trip to The Wentworth By The Sea in Newcastle, New Hampshire, to stay in their luxurious suits, or enjoy their day spa and accommodations.

L&L: Thank you for giving us an inside peek into Sperry Tents. If readers want to get in touch with you to inquire about your availability, what is the best way for them to reach you?

SPERRY: Call 1-877-SPERRYT or email us at info@sperrytentsseacoast.com. You can also use our “contact us” link on our website or find us on Facebook and Twitter.

Sperry would like to offer 10% off tent bookings for any dates left in 2010 and 2011 with mention of this feature. Thank you, Banks!