| Festive
Occasions began as a home based business in 1982, when Diane Garner
began doing holiday decorating in private residences. She soon found
that there were many people who really enjoyed the special ambiance
of a home full of the sights and sounds and smells of Christmas, but
just didn’t have the time or inclination to do their own decorating.
Diane found that she loved being able to create a space and enhance
an atmosphere where families and friends could make such joyful memories,
and soon her customers were asking if she could bring her creative skills
to other events as well. They hired her to help plan and decorate for
weddings, anniversary receptions, birthday parties and other celebrations.
Before long, she began to realize that her small business was growing
into something bigger - and sooner than she had anticipated! It was
time to take Festive Occasions to the next level.
The rental equipment industry was a logical option and familiar idea.
Diane’s parents, C.S. (“Mac”) and Jo McClanahan had
owned and operated McClanahan Rentals, in Coriscana, Texas since the
mid 1960’s. Mac and Jo, along with the Hughston family, who owned
ARA Rentals here in Lubbock for many years, were among the founding
members of The Texas Rental Association. After Mac’s retirement,
Diane’s brother, Chuck McClanahan, who is a past President of
TRA, operated McClanahan Rentals until it was sold to United Rentals
in 2002.
In 1983 when Diane and her husband, Joe, opened the Festive Occasions
showroom in the Mission Plaza shopping center here in Lubbock, they
felt fortunate to have the experienced support of all of the McClanahan
family. The venture was exciting for all of them. It was not only a
continuation of family heritage and tradition, but they were also becoming
a part of one of the newest and fastest growing segments of the rental
industry. For many years, rental stores specializing in heavy equipment
and tools had carried wedding rental items as supplemental products.
But in 1983, Festive Occasions was the first rental company in Lubbock
to specialize exclusively in rental equipment for parties and weddings,
and was one of a small number in the entire state of Texas. Some veteran
rental business owners were skeptical about whether there would ever
be a large enough demand to allow a business renting exclusively for
parties and weddings to stand alone, but the Garner family felt up to
the challenge.
Festive Occasions opened with a total of two employees -Diane and eldest
daughter, Lisa (younger daughter, Shannon, came on board the next year).
We began with a couple of candelabras and tables, chairs, glassware,
flatware, china and linens to accommodate about 200 people. Today our
inventory includes an array of wedding rental items, over 22,000 pieces
of china, 14,000 pieces of flatware, almost 3,000 linens and about 18,000
glasses. Our staff includes eight hard working, experienced Event Specialists
(including two from the third generation of our family). Festive Occasions’
success would not be possible without their loyalty to our family and
dedication to Festive Occasions’ goals.
We are so grateful for the blessings God has poured out on us over all
these years in our business, and truly appreciative of the loyal patronage
of the people of Lubbock and surrounding towns. It is our honor and
privilege to serve your rentals need and share your excitement and happiness
about the celebrations which brighten your families’ lives. We
truly love what we do, and we want to earn your continued confidence
and patronage. Our goal is always to strive to provide for you the excellent
customer service and quality rental equipment that you expect and deserve.
Please don’t hesitate to let us know how we can better serve your
needs!
The Joe Garner Family & Festive Occasion Staff
|
|
Contact Us