Two Canadian events rental companies come together

Events rental business Infinite Event Services has acquired Allstar Show Industries, combining two of the longest operating events rental businesses in Edmonton, Canada. Terms of the transaction have not been released.

Both companies specialise in live-event production for festivals, concerts and corporate events across the region.

Infinite was founded 20 years ago by Sheldon Fingler, who recently completed a two-year term as president of the Canadian Rental Association. Allstar began trading in 1979 and has been sold by its owners, Gary Urlacher and Rodger Boyce, who are retiring.

An outdoor event with staging from Allstar Show Industries.

The acquisition combines Infinite’s event rental and staging business with Allstar’s live-event production and audiovisual work. The business will now offer staging, sound, lighting, tents, tables, power and the crews.

Infinite said Allstar’s owners chose to sell to a local operator they had known and worked alongside for years.

“Allstar is a name I’ve respected my whole career, and I didn’t want to see it disappear into a global company,” said Sheldon Fingler, owner of Infinite Event Services.

“The people who deal with us are still going to be able to pick up the phone and talk to the owner. I was raised in a small town where a handshake meant something, and that’s still how I like to do business.”

Gary Urlacher, co-owner of Allstar Show Industries, said; “Sheldon is a very hands-on people person. He gets his hands dirty and will not ask someone to do something he is not prepared to do himself. I was once like that.

“I started in this business when I was 15 and never stopped. It was time to retire, but we really wanted to see the company grow back to its glory and keep our people, because we have some exceptional people.”

Infinite said the combination made sense not just in terms of the complementary services they provide, but in the annual calendar, with Allstar busiest during the summer outdoor events season and Infinite focused more on corporate work in the autumn and winter.

“Bringing these two companies together means we can say yes to more,” Fingler said. “Between us we’ve got the equipment, the crews and the experience to handle events we’d each have had to pass on. For customers, that’s one call instead of five.”

Both companies will continue operating under their existing names for now.