I sat down with Marc Gaskins (https://x.com/OvenPusher) of Event Kitchens to discuss his $337k/year event rental business in Charleston, South Carolina. Marc noticed caterers needed quality equipment and turned that opportunity into a thriving business. We explored how a bar fire led to community support, becoming a turning point. We also discussed the value of patient growth versus rapid scaling. Marc explained the unit economics of renting convection ovens, the benefits of a niche focus on caterers, and his warehouse hacking real estate strategy. He also shared why he's relied on organic growth and his future interests. This episode offers actionable insights for starting an event rental business.Timestamps below. Enjoy!---Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-ytAsk me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-askLearn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjkLearn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cofFollow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-xFree weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nlShare this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-allScrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os---00:00 Highlights 00:34 The Beginning of Squeeze Bar01:18 First Equipment Purchases02:18 The Bar Burns Down02:42 Community Support and Business Growth04:44 Competitor Exits the Market06:17 Slow and Steady Growth08:38 Unit Economics of Rental Items17:31 Equipment Insights and Investment Strategies18:21 Expanding Beyond Charleston19:22 Organic Marketing and Customer Relationships20:47 Catering to Caterers: Business Operations22:03 Scaling and Maintenance Opportunities24:11 Exploring New Business Ideas25:58 Starting Fresh in a New Market29:05 Challenges and Rewards of the Business30:45 Team and Facilities Overview34:24 Financials and Final Thoughts

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

Transcript

Related