Clayphil on wed 27 aug 97
I recently had my EZ Up destroyed in Chicago's Windy City. Terminated! I
find myself wondering, Should I continue on the cheap route(EZ"s at Sam's
are roughly $200) or should I pop for a Craft Hut/Dome/ Arch? And of those
high end types, what are the anvantages/disadvantages? I have been doing
around 15 Art fairs per year for the past 3 years and will probably
continue at that rate. Craft huts look like the sturdiest, at least they
all seemed to be standing at the end of the monsoon. Any thoughts/
opinions/ experiences pro and con? TIA, Phil
Norman R. Czuchra on thu 28 aug 97
We've had a Craft Hut for about 10 years having used an EZ up type for 15
and have been in our share of strong winds and storms. The first couple of
years we had it, we did about 30 shows a year and are now down to about a
dozen. I can't say enough wonderful things about it and the people who make
this tent. Our only disaster was when we brought it home wet, set it up in
the yard, washed it and lost all signs of intelligent life when we neglected
to tie it down and a freak storm tossed it around the yard bending the
frame. The Craft Hut people didn't even laugh when we explained. Think
we'd know better after 25 years. We opted for the sky light but I found it
gets too hot in the summer and doesn't make that much difference.
Even if you can't afford all the extras, get a top with all of the zippers
so that you can add what you need as you go. The back tent is a very nice
feature, as is the sun awning. You do need weights and tie downs but zipped
up the tent doesn't fill with water and the vents allow the wind to blow
through.
Candace Young
At 01:06 PM 8/27/97 EDT, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>I recently had my EZ Up destroyed in Chicago's Windy City. Terminated! I
>find myself wondering, Should I continue on the cheap route(EZ"s at Sam's
>are roughly $200) or should I pop for a Craft Hut/Dome/ Arch? And of those
>high end types, what are the anvantages/disadvantages? I have been doing
>around 15 Art fairs per year for the past 3 years and will probably
>continue at that rate. Craft huts look like the sturdiest, at least they
>all seemed to be standing at the end of the monsoon. Any thoughts/
>opinions/ experiences pro and con? TIA, Phil
>
>
Carolynn Palmer on fri 29 aug 97
After doing 30 or more shows every year with time-consuming set-ups in our
homemade booth, for 18 years! we decided to purchase a commercially made
booth.
It was the lusting for those zip-on sides for closing up at night that really
drove us to purchase a Craft Hut.
We chose the Craft Hut after doing two VERY windy seasons in Florida. Show
after show, the only booths left standing after the weather cleared was our
homemade and the Craft Huts! That made our decision for us.
We now own two Craft Hut booths and love them! Worth every single penny.
Last weekend in Worthington, Ohio the show suffered severe thunderstorms and
high winds overnight - our Craft Hut never moved an inch, nor did it collect
even a thimble of water; while the E-Z up next to us, was found in the bushes
across the street and the jeweler was forced to pack up and leave because so
much of her display had been ruined by water damage.
Sue Pellegrini on fri 29 aug 97
I have a new Craft Hut....it certainly is sturdy and I love all of the
options you can have with it...doors on each side, windows with roll down
covers for night, awnings, my name on the front, the height (9'3")...you set
it up at half height..frame first, then everything is at chest height for you
to get the top on, the sides on, roll them up, start the zippers down the
corners a couple of inches. open the back vent..it all goes well, though time
consuming..you can stand inside....when you are ready and all is done, you
can raise it up the last three feet yourself one side at a time. It is super
heavy and the top is especially heavy to maneuver when you are alone and old
such as I am. I had extra zippers put on all four sides so I can zipper the
awnings on in any direction. With help, we get it up in 12 to 15
minutes...alone it takes me 40-45 minutes to do.
I have huge tent stakes..sometimes I think we will never get them back out of
the ground...I also put 50 lb pipe weights on each corner and, in a wind, I
add ropes and tent stakes from the top corners. On a hard surface, my
shelves are 5' tall, so I can remove everything or lay it down on the top
shelf and drop the canopy down to half height and then weight it and zipper
it.... this is a pretty tough unit.
The only negative thought I have about this canopy is that I think it is a
bit dark inside when it is up. You can purchase skylights for it, but I have
seen people out in the sun with them and they fried, so it is a
consideration. I have looked at other canopies which are lighter and
brighter, but they tend to go down in the wind, I do feel secure and I love
the every which way I can set it up to accommodate the space I'm given.
I've been in business all my working life and I really believe in the addage
that nothing succeeds like success, so I recommend the best you can get. I
remember an old potter friend telling me that craftmanship is what will sell
my pots and I strive for it constantly, but I've seen some people with pretty
bad stuff and a successful looking booth really clean up at shows. It
happens more often than not..
Pelly in Rochester NY
The Shelfords on fri 29 aug 97
Hi Candace -
What is a "Craft hut" and do they have an address, web address, catalogue,
etc?
I've been thinking about very small dismantle-able huts to be made up for
our local community centre to use for fairs and shows and things, easily
stored between-times. Came up with what looks like a simple and reasonably
cheap design, but would like to compare it to what else is available. TIA
- Veronica
At 08:45 28/08/97 EDT, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>We've had a Craft Hut for about 10 years having used an EZ up type for 15
____________________________________________________________________________
Veronica Shelford
e-mail: shelford@island.net
s-mail: P.O. Box 6-15
Thetis Island, BC V0R 2Y0
Tel: (250) 246-1509
____________________________________________________________________________
Barbara Lewis on fri 29 aug 97
I'm not an expert, but it seems to me that you do enough shows that the cost
of a domed tent would more than pay for itself. Besides arguments of
sturdiness, as someone who attends craft shows more than sells through them,
the domed tents have a different feel -- ambiance, aura, whatever -- which I
as a customer appreciate. Even though the space you gain with a domed tent
may not "useable" in terms of being able to display more work (because you
gain essentially "head room") the booth appears visually larger and the work
has more breathing space. Since you do so many shows a year, seems like an
obvious choice. Barbara
At 01:06 PM 8/27/97 EDT, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>I recently had my EZ Up destroyed in Chicago's Windy City. Terminated! I
>find myself wondering, Should I continue on the cheap route(EZ"s at Sam's
>are roughly $200) or should I pop for a Craft Hut/Dome/ Arch? And of those
>high end types, what are the anvantages/disadvantages? I have been doing
>around 15 Art fairs per year for the past 3 years and will probably
>continue at that rate. Craft huts look like the sturdiest, at least they
>all seemed to be standing at the end of the monsoon. Any thoughts/
>opinions/ experiences pro and con? TIA, Phil
>
Tiggerbus on mon 1 sep 97
Will people ever learn about these tents? The EZ ups are fine and will
stay up, IF...you are not in Chicago, by the beach, showing in an area of
the nation that is prone to high winds, or leaving the tent up overnight or
during a rain storm. Gee it would seem that if they had any sense they
would have read the directions to find that the company plainly states,
"the canopy is not water resistant and should not be exposed to prolonged
rain, nor should the canopy be used in windy situations (moderate winds
above 15mph)....DUH!
So quit giving this company a bad rap and learn how to use the equipment
properly. You wouldn't put an electric kiln out in your driveway plugged
in with no cover would you?
My 2 cents....
amy
Diane S. Zubrick on tue 2 sep 97
The ez ups at Sam's, from what I have heard, are not the professional
ones. Someone next to me at a show had one up in a sustained 20 mile
wind and the poles were bent the next morning.
I have a KD which does have its problems too. My 8 year old KD is still
around because I have been able to take the top off when an impending
storm is coming. I never leave the top on overnight if there is a chance
of a storm or high winds. I have seen too many KD's and EZ ups twisted
after a storm.
I have heard good things about the Craft Hut and the Light Dome. Look
around after a storm, they are the ones usually standing.
Diane Zubrick
Applecreek Pottery
Centerville, Ohio
Barbara Long on wed 3 sep 97
Diane S. Zubrick wrote:
------------------------Original message----------------------------
> The ez ups at Sam's, from what I have heard, are not the professional
> ones. Someone next to me at a show had one up in a sustained 20 mile
> wind and the poles were bent the next morning.
In defense of EZ ups.I bought mine from BJ's which is the local discount
equivalent of Sam's.Last year I was on an open field with wind gusts to
50mph and it held up just fine.My only problem that day was when a
basket makers whole display flew into mine and knocked over my pots
causing breakage.( No offer to compensate either.)I figure that my EZ Up
will not withstand hurricanes, but I don't plan to be out in them
either.There is also something to be said for extra bungees and stakes.
Barbara in Lyme,Ct.
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