Barb at Petes Tent and Awning

used victoria ads -- specials on repairs

2012-01-24T14:05:00.000-08:00

It seems I can find the time to write a blog, once I have lost my voice to the flu/cold that I contacted. Posted a new ad on Used Victoria under the boat sections and hope to do more each day

As it is we are still lounging through January and hoping that we can motivate customers to think ahead of the game!!!! Time now to see about getting all your canvas repairs done, great prices on fabrics and Labour!!! we love to be busy.

You may also consider doing your awning work at this time of year the suppliers are about to increase their fabrics in late February so if you order now the price will be better.

Thanks for all you business, we are grateful for our many loyal customers.

2012-01-17T12:38:00.000-08:00

Well, I think that it is more than about time for Pete's to jump on the social media band wagon. Today I spent about 1 hours doing ads for Craiglist- still need to post them all, but our Facebook page has our Log Carriers on the page, and they are also linked to our website.

Got a great complement from a company in Vancouver that I am working on a project with. The contact stated that he had looked us up on our website, and for a home made site it is pretty good.

He encouraged me to use more and more videos, which is what I plan to do. I will apolgize in advance that the quality isn't the best, but it has been great that individuals have been commenting on the website this year.

If you are in Victoria, have a great snow day!!! I am spending time writing and brainstorming new ventures that can ensure Pete's survives the economic state of 2012.

Two clear lanes of traffic. Great summer prices updated

2011-08-04T15:34:00.001-07:00

Two clear lanes of traffic. Great summer prices

As usual with Victoria weather the summer has been a changing weather pattern all of June and July... August however looks to be a scorcher!!! and in the awning business that is the best news. To all of you looking to put off your shade comfort until next year (since this summer is short) we encourage you to check out prices this year, since we have kept the same prices since 2009!!! and I doubt that 2012 will remain the same...So give us a call and we will get you best deal possible.

Traffic and beautiful View Royal. It has been great to not be interrupted with Blasting, feeling dirty from the construction and having 2 way traffic....it's amazing how quickly you seem to recover. Hopefully the upcoming months will see increased vehicle, bike and pedestrian traffic to all of the businesses along our road. Thank you so very much to the many, many customers that weathered the inconvenience and took time to place their order drop off and pick up items.. We really appreciate it.

As for life at Pete's Tent and Awning, as usual our great staff carry us along, caring about customers and each other. As my position of manager this was really put to the test when I took the first July vacation in my 20 plus years at Pete's, since July is really the best sales month it took lots of prep and everyone taking on extra responsibilities to let me out of the country off to Europe and then to the World Gymnaestrada in Lausanne, Switzerland....and it was amazing... you can check it out on the website http://www.wg-2011.com/en/about-us/presentation.html.

And yet again like so many manufacturing and custom making operations we diversifed our product lines and opportunities for more industrial work and lots of repairs and services to our customer. Do check out our online store, that you can email and phone about products and which we can ship to you. We plan to have pay pal set up soon and look forward to helping you keep your products for years and years with the repair, cleaners, and protective products available... soon too we will be posting lots about trailer awnings, especially for the boler and trillum trailers out there.

Keep posted on the website specials.

CHOICES, CHOICES, CHOICES

2011-06-24T14:29:00.001-07:00

Here are a few hints when you are looking at purchasing an awning:

Style
What purpose does the awning have? To catch your eye? Protect from sun and rain? Increase your privacy? Do you want it to be able to retract? Will you be sitting under it?

Fabrics
First consider whether you want canvas or vinyl; the appearance is different and both are great quality. Homes typically use canvas, commercial uses both. Maintenance is often a factor in the choice. Smooth finish vinyl is easiest to clean. Flat finish vinyl and canvas (acrylic) require a bit more time. All have excellent warranties.

Colors
Are you planning to use existing colors from your business? Do they complement the area and enhance the look of the building? Remember that light vinyl colors (white, cream, yellow, grey) will allow light to transmit through while they shade, making it less dark underneath than darker colors (blue, green, purple, dark grey). All colors allow shade but many make it bright underneath. The majority of vinyl fabrics have an underside of white. The acrylic canvases have the same color on both sides. In the case of acrylic, stripes with light and dark colors allow light to transmit through.

Framework
Awning frames are typically welded aluminum or extruded aluminum. The framework is ground and painted at the welds to hide the blackness of welding. An option for the framework is to be powder coated and it is included on any awning that the ends are open. This keeps the frames looking better over time.

Warranty
Fabric manufacturers have fabric warranties from 3 – 10 years. Awning suppliers vary from 3 to 10 years… always check your warranty and inquire as to who will pay for the labour if the fabric must be replaced under warranty.

Two clear lanes of traffic. Great summer prices

2011-06-23T10:09:00.000-07:00

Remember we do in home estimates, so you don't have to be frustrated by the road construction

2011-06-03T11:52:00.000-07:00

Wow, it has been way to long since I wrote a blog post... My apologies, unfortunately I have added a few extra hats to my daily activities due to the Island Highway Improvement Construction. As well as business owner, I am now organizing parking, traffic control, weekly meetings to discuss the construction and so on. As the construction is looking to end soon, and we have some summer staff, I intend to write more often, and plan to give info and ideas for awnings, and other products for your home and business.

Courtney has been working full time for a month now, and she is really pushing me and all of us to get more organized with systems and efficency around the shop. Our price books have been update, no real increases, just ensuring that information is available for your questions. As well she has upleveled her own abilities by improving our website, which I find very exciting.

Check out the video, of my voice and photos of a welded frame awning on the home page...and we plan to put together alot of those this summer.. As well we have added more photos, and info to help you with your questions and inquiries, and please do call, because its been quiet and we love to hear the customers voice.

As well Courtney has organized many more photos of different work, as well you can look at our retail stock photos and prices at the online ordering page.... its not yet perfect but definitely a start. Let us know if there is something we can help you with, and we will do our best to price it, or get you in touch with someone who can help

Enjoy the Spring, and Summer....and I will blogger sooner than last time.

snow, snow, snow

2010-11-24T05:51:00.000-08:00

The snow shut Victoria down, and due to the closure of some main roads traffic was up on our section of Island Highway. The construction shut down for the day and then traffic continued as the weather got a bit better.

New in the shop this week are Green, camouflage and white tarps of various sizes, give us a call and let us know what you are looking for and if we have the size they are on for 10% off.

We are also staying open as many Saturdays as possible. And as always free estimates at your site are possible, as long as the snow stays away.

Enjoy the week, and starting in December we have fresh holly at the store as well.

2010-11-04T16:38:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone, thanks so much to so many of you that have patiently waited, 10, 20 and even 40 minutes to get through the construction zone. The status will remain the same for the months to come, one lane of traffic from 6:30 to 3 pm Monday to Friday.... but let us come to you if you need something give us a call 250-479-9124

And we are having a huge, inventory closeout sale this month, where we will be open on Saturday november 13, and 20 from noon until 4 pm.

Look forward to seeing you out for the great deals on all inventory and some of the Sunbrellas will be 20, 30 and even 40% off retail price.

time to catch up !!!

2010-06-02T15:05:00.000-07:00

Blogging is such a far reaching and yet somewhat frustrating process.. I enjoy reading and looking through other blogs, and have connected with new people and ideas through other blogs. However is is worth the time it takes to sit here and write...Really how many of you need to read about awnings. I have found in my 20 plus years of selling, and manufacturing awnings that there really are just three things about awnings and other canvas goods.

1. You really need more shade, or your less rain or something in canvas
2. Few of us realize we need it until we are uncomfortable.
3. Once we want it we just can't get it fast enough.

So Omar the Canvas Maker, as do we try our best to manage the changes in orders each season and month. For me as the CEO of a small company I am always busy, because while you are thinking about buying, I am busy being the marketing department, then change hats to lead and organize production and when we get near the finish my accounting hat comes on...so I tend to laugh when someone asks if we are busy.... yes we are and that is why you may not have heard back from me quickly.

I hope to hear from you soon, and see how we can improve your living space, give a better image to your company, or just fix that tear the cat put in your tent when the kids were in the yard camping out.

Talk with you soon

Barb

Holiday Sale and Cheer

2009-12-02T13:17:00.000-08:00

At Pete’s Tent & Awning, we’re celebrating the holidays with a fabric clearance sale! Come in and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate or apple cider and get a free bag of holly if you bring a donation to the food bank.

SALE and Hot Chocolate and Cider start on Monday December 7, 2009 until December 31,2009 (store closed for holidays Dec 24, 25,26,27....and January 1

Great supply of Sunbrella reduced 25 -60% off.... and lots of other instock specials

Happy Holidays from Pete’s Tent & Awning!

End of summer ideas

2009-08-26T16:27:00.000-07:00

Wow, what a summer this has been...due to the lovely sunny weather we have been rocked off our feet with orders, more and more each day. It is always rewarding to hear how a client is enjoying the additional space that an awning provides, and the shade that goes along with it. We installed our retractable deck awnings 3 years ago. I was amazed at the comfort it provides inside the home, and the coolness of the deck on my feet. As a busy family of six, I really enjoy that we all try to get home in time for that bbq dinner on the deck. Great memories for all of us.

There continues to be some great summer weather, and delivery of awnings is quite quick at 3 weeks. As well we are gearing up for the rains with a new order of 14 x 14 green polyweave tarps arriving around the 15th, and we are streamlining repairs as of October 1, 2009 turn around time will be 3 days or less. Best to winterize your boat over the next month, check out the fasteners and zippers , ensure they are all lubricated with one of the clear / stainfree solutions. The shelves are full of cleaners and of protectants and sealants. Two new items this year are the 303 Cleaner for patio furniture and new Clear Boat Window polish.

Enjoy the sun and the colors September will bring.

2009-04-25T14:54:00.000-07:00

Winnipeg in April, I have been here often this time of year for sporting events, the people are very friendly and interesting and always talkative. The lady who made my noodle box yesterday asked me how I felt about the city and of course the weather. It is interesting here this year, because not only has it been a wet cold winter, but the river has risen immensely, and hotel rooms are almost unavailable (somehow we only had one for 8 instead of 2 rooms on arrival). Many, many people are out of their homes due to flooding and as well the ice pieces that have hit and destroyed some homes. There are signs of it on the streets and in the parks, as the grass has become unsettled mud, and the drains are overflowing in many parts of the city. Due to these conditions the city seems very bland compared to other years where the plants and the trees are just starting to bloom. But I could also see the big opportunity that I am also seeing at home and that is maintenance of the awnings, shades and canopies all over the city. We are in the process of adding maintenance and cleaning to our services, and Winnipeg has even more possible customers that Victoria. But back to Victoria, over the next couple months we will be out giving possible customers ideas on how to rejuvenate, change, and maintain their canopies...I am looking forward to getting out in the community and seeing old and new customers and creating more relationships... well I am off to the airport in a few hours, until next time.

Here comes the SUn

2009-04-03T17:14:00.000-07:00

Wow, the sun shone for at least half of the day, here in Victoria. It is a hopeful site, that weather across the globe will improve with each day. When your business is weather related it is always good to see the sun, so that we need the shade. Awnings, for your home, really do add an extra room to the house. Great for sitting, entertaining and dining in the great outdoors. Our house, like many has been one project after another, we did major renos in 91 and then again in 97. With each reno we really have improved the living space for all 6 of us. Our deck grew from 10 - 12 feet last year, and I have to admit that my husband Jamie was so very accurate in that decision. Two feet made a big difference, with the addition of two lateral arm awnings for shade and for some whether protection we have see kids sleeping on the deck, and many a great meal out there. Recently we have been redoing an awning over the sliding glass door on below the deck. Without it the rain of the season has made entering that part of the house very wet and soggy.

People often ask about the 5 year warranty on our products, and if they need to be replace within 5 years. As I have said over and over again, 5 years is a minimum for any of the colors, and based on history of our business, many, many products last up to 15 years. A variety of factors will effect the life of the product, amount of sun and or rain, as well as fuel emmissions and tree debrie can shorten the life of the product. There are specific cleaning solutions that can be used, as well as waterproofing solutions, but be very careful to use correct ones as not to comprise your warranty.

Well I am off to sit on the deck and enjoy the view, with our eldest on the very last day of her term at UVIC, relax...

2009-01-27T06:39:00.000-08:00

Well almost the first month of January done, and as I look outside at the dusting of snow, it really seems like we are in the middle of winter. Great time to purge the house, and the excess of many things we have, list things on ebay or used Victoria and really enjoy that morning mug of coffee.

We have been busy at work with quite a few projects, some related to snow damage and many commercial buildings, new and upgrading. Great way to start the year, by making your home or your business improved by the new awning.

February is a good time to think of spring and order those new house awnings that increase the value of your home and beautify your street presence. Lots of products and styles for all.

2008-12-31T06:08:00.000-08:00

Wow, what a year 2008 has been full of change, change and more change. For us we started the year by saying happy retirement to both our founders Sharon and Pete Bishop. It was an adjustment not to see them daily for tea time, and appreciate their great craftmanship. Unable to replace them we have all stepped up to the bar and improved our own skills and the quality of our projects. 2008 was a year full of new commercial construction and ship yard work. Great challenges and lots of rewards.

We are looking forward to more change in 2009, in adding some more internet involvement and online availability of products. As always we will maintain a high level of quality service.

To all of you and your friends and family- abundance and bliss in 2009

Barb