If your business brings your customers outdoors, market umbrellas help keep your clientele happy and comfortable on hot or rainy days. Whether you run an outdoor kiosk, a cafe or restaurant, or are planning a sidewalk sale, market umbrellas protect your customers from the elements. This is not only important for comfort, but helps protect employees and customers from heat exhaustion and other ailments caused by prolonged sun exposure. Of course, giving customers a dry, shady place to relax can only help your business.

If you're planning an outdoor event in the summer—whether that event is a banquet, trade show or retail event—you need umbrellas for many of the same reasons. Umbrellas keep your employees and products safe, cool and dry while they promote your business. In many cases, an umbrella can also be part of an eye-catching decor that draws customers to your booth or table. If you are looking for market umbrellas information or are ready to buy, consider:

1. Finding manufacturers who sell heavy-duty market umbrellas that stand the test of time.

2. Contacting a retailer who can fill large market umbrella orders to suit your needs.

3. Renting market umbrellas and associated accessories for occasional events.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Contact manufacturers who make heavy-duty market umbrellas specifically for business customers

Manufacturers of market umbrellas are often a great option if you want to buy heavy-duty umbrellas that will not fade in the hot sun and can withstand heavy rain. Contacting manufacturers directly is also a good idea if you want your umbrellas customized or have other special requirements.

I recommend: Greencorner manufactures durable, oversized market umbrellas. Their impressive client list includes companies in the high-tech, hospitality and financial industries. Umbrellatime.com, part of the AGI Group, makes heavy-duty market umbrellas for commercial use. All of their products are made in the USA.

Find market umbrellas providers or retailers that can fill large orders

Retailers are a great option if you need to place a large market umbrella order and want to select from a wide variety of products. Most retailers work with a number of manufacturers, so you can browse through many online market umbrellas list options and catalogs to find just the right umbrellas. Retailers are also often eager for your business and work to make ordering and delivery hassle-free.

I recommend: Umbrella StoreOnline sells a variety of market umbrellas and can fill large commercial orders. Just Umbrellas, a market umbrellas provider that sells primarily to businesses, conveniently accepts orders online, by mail or via fax. This environmentally conscious company offers replacement umbrella canvas and frames to reduce unnecessary disposal of its products.

Rent market umbrellas to save money and hassle on occasional events

If you only need umbrellas once in a while, renting makes a lot of sense, since cleaning and storing bulky umbrellas often costs considerable time and money. Not only is renting budget-friendly, but it allows you to get the right stands, tables and other market umbrella accessories you need for your event.

I recommend: Fiesta Rentals rents nine-foot and 16-foot market umbrellas as well as the tables, stands, and other accessories you need. Barclay Event Rentals rents out seven-foot and nine-foot market umbrellas as well as umbrella stands and other accessories.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When browsing a market umbrellas list, catalog or site, keep in mind that market umbrella frames are made from different materials. Fiberglass offers a long life and often includes a tilt mechanism. Wooden umbrella poles and frames are more expensive, but are usually very high-quality and very attractive, especially if your event requires a beach look. Aluminum market umbrella frames are often the least expensive and offer the same tilt as fiberglass models, but do not stand the test of time compared to the other alternatives.