Girari recently opened its latest showroom and warehouse in Portland, completing its plan to be able to offer local event installation to every major market in the Western States from its warehouses in the U.S. (Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles) and Western Canada(Vancouver).

It took some extraordinary planning to complete this at precisely the worst economic moment in the last 40 years. (this last statement is a bit of "gallows' humor", not to be taken seriously)


Each distribution center has a showroom; to schedule an appointment to see our line, please contact our sales department by Clicking Here, or call 323-857-5600.

Four years ago, we began designing furniture specifically for the event rental industry. Our designs are fabricated from a majority in content recycled, reclaimed and sustainable materials. Click Here to request a description of the sustainable materials we use in the construction of our furniture.

Our event rental catalogue is on the web at: www.girari.com

To request a to the trade rental price sheet, a quote and/or schedule a short presentation at your offices, Click Here.

Darryl Aken
President, Girari Sustainable Event Furniture
310-739-7300

CASE STUDY:
The National Kidney Foundation's Sustainable Event

It is fashionable to talk about "greening" one's events, but there has been more smoke than fire, with sustainable considerations giving way to budgetary ones. But one event producer, Stephanie Twerdahl, Development Director for The National Kidney Foundation of Southern California, balanced these conflicting goals to create a very "green" event.

I had an opportunity to talk with Stephanie recently about her award winning fundraiser, "Great Chefs of Los Angeles". She has a lot to say:

1. Why did you choose a "green theme"? For over two decades "Great Chefs of Los Angeles" has been a successful fundraising event which supports those in the community affected by kidney disease. This year we chose to increase the positive impact of our event by advocating not only healthy diet choices through organic foods, but additionally environmental sustainability throughout all aspects of our event. Recognizing the importance of environmental consciousness is a responsibility that all corporations, non-profits, and households alike must to begin to take seriously.

2. What elements of sustainable design and decor did you find most important to include? It was important not to sacrifice quality or the overall aesthetics of design for the sophisticated look we strove to achieve at this event.

3. Which elements did you find you simply couldn�t fit into your budget? We found that elements such as organic/eco-friendly linens and umbrellas made of eco-friendly materials were out of our budget at this particular time. The use of Girari Furniture drastically reduced our need for eco-friendly linens though because the tables� modern elegance did not call for the use of any linens.

4. How did you find your sustainable resources? We located our sustainable resources utilizing magazines and publications focused on organic & healthy living, event planning magazines, and internet resources dedicated to sustainability and the health of our planet.

5. What were your guests� reactions to your theme? The guests� reaction to the event�s theme �Go Green, Go Organic� was incredibly positive and they liked the idea that a health organization could produce an event that not only raised awareness about a growing health epidemic but also one that positively impacted our planet. This year�s theme also attracted many new attendees who were interested in tasting the delectable organic dishes and taking part in a �green� and �eco-friendly� event. Additionally, there was a great deal of positive feedback about the eco-friendly Sysco flatware we chose to use; made from corn by-products, all of the flatware was biodegradable.

6. What were the guests� reactions to Girari�s furniture? Guests truly enjoyed the chic look of the lounge areas. The clean lines of the modern Girari furniture were complimented with an array of eco-friendly greenery. Many of the guests commented on how the furniture was modern and hip, yet very inviting at the same time. The white vegan leather lounges were a huge hit for many of the guests who were shocked by its realistic texture. Attendees at the event commented numerous times that they enjoyed the low sleek lounge furniture and preferred it to the use of the traditional table rounds with linens and chairs.

7. What will you do for your next green themed event? The next events consist of a �Black-Tie� Dinner Gala and The Second Annual NKF Celebrity Golf Tournament hosted by George Lopez, and the NKFSC is committed to hosting �green� events by utilizing as many sustainable products at the event as possible. Anywhere organic, biodegradable and sustainable products can be used, whether those are floral elements, food or furniture, we will make that substitution to ensure our commitment to a green event. These events are in their beginning planning stages so details are not exact.

You may contact Stephanie with questions or comments at: stwerdahl@kidneysocal.org

Girari's Rental Stimulus Package

We here at Girari wish to present own "private sector" version of an economic stimulus. Yes, it is a crass, self serving offer, but you can look at the offer as simply one of the first of many pitches you will receive this year under the guise of assistance in this difficult economic period.

But you can also think of it as an opportunity. Right now, you can rent Girari's elegant event furniture for nearly the same price as ordinary event furniture. Consider how clever, creative and resourceful your clients will think you are, bringing a new contemporary, uber-cool look to their traditionally decorated events. And within budget. (OK, close to budget)

So give us a call and let us show you how clever and resourceful we can be. Simply click: How Creative Can You Get? and Bonnie Kim, Girari's Regional Sales Director, will show you!

Tiffany Fairbrother wins Bamboo Topped Table Rental

Tiffany Fairbrother, Interior Designer, at Langdon Wilson, a Los Angeles architectural firm, correctly guessed that our Bamboo Topped Tables are 99% sustainable. She was one of 53 people who correctly guessed the percentage, so she was both correct and lucky.

It is not surprising that Tiffany guessed correctly. She is LEED's certified, so that gave her a bit of an edge.

Now, all you have to do to claim your prize is complete our standard 28 page certification form (in triplicate), so we know you are not related to anyone at Girari, a U.S. citizen, voted for Obama, etc. . . .

But seriously, Tiffany, call our offices and schedule your free 10 table rental. Or, you may use this ($1,250) credit for any furniture rental in our Los Angeles inventory.

The 2009 Table Top Decorating Shootout Still Coming Soon

We are pleased to inform you once again that the 2009 Table Top Decorating Shootout will be coming soon. For those who are not familiar with our Industry event for event producers, designers, enthusiasts and interior designers, Girari hosts an annual competition to see which teams can create the most impressive, beautiful and high impact decorated tables.

Each of the 12 glass and acrylic tables is a different shape, size and height, making the judging (done by the winners of last year's competition) even more difficult. Any team can enter; in the certain event that more than a dozen teams enter, we draw from the pool of entrants, and those teams not chosen receive a entrance preference for the following year's competition.

We will be announcing a date for the Shootout early this year, some weeks after the Special Event Show in San Diego. To see a photo recap of last year's Table Top Decorating Shootout, held at the Century Plaza Hotel in Century City, click here.