The upcoming year is going to be a busy and exciting one for Black Tie Event Services, Inc. who will be birthing a new company into the
Black Tie family to better serve their customers from coast to coast. The organization already has two companies under its umbrella. The first is
Black Tie Event Services, Inc. which is a national company renting luxury portable restroom trailers and shower facilities. The second is Black
Tie Manufacturing, dedicated to developing and producing mobile restrooms and shower solutions to meet the specific needs of their customers. It
seems a logical and fitting next step to launch Black Tie Sanitation Services, Inc. which will be a national portable restroom operation, renting
commercial-grade units throughout the United States.
Rich Vegter, who is spear-heading the venture, worked in the portable sanitation industry for many years running his own company before
moving to Micro Target Media. Phil Meegan has been President of Black Tie Event Services, Inc. since 2003 and has grown the company by
leaps and bounds into the force within the industry that it is today. Both Vegter and Meegan, based out of Chicago, met together and began
discussing the possibilities of Black Tie breaking into the portable restroom rental segment of the industry. While the luxury trailer market had
been very successful, Meegan and Vegter recognized that it would be advantageous and a smooth transition to service their customers by providing
standard single units as well as special event trailers. Vegter made the move to Black Tie in October of 2008 and the two began to put their plan
into action.
“Phil Meegan and I discussed the idea about a year ago,” shared Rich Vegter. “I thought it would be a good strategy for his business and he
agreed. We found that there was a perfect fit. We had common beliefs and philosophies on how to make it work. I started working on the project
towards the end of October. I am really excited to be back in the portable restroom business after a couple years of being with the other
company.”
This move makes sense for many additional reasons. Black Tie Event Services often works through a re-rental program, renting luxury
trailers out to smaller companies who cannot afford to purchase the units, but have a demand for one. Then, as the demand grows, the company
will oftentimes purchase the trailer. It’s only logical for Black Tie to rent out portable restrooms themselves, and thereby meet all of their
customers’ needs. Thus, Black Tie Sanitation Services, Inc. was conceived.
“Our goal is to be synergistic,” Vegter explained. “Our partners are a high priority for us. We want to continue a good relationship with those we
have worked with in the past and look forward to working with them for many more years to come. We also want to grow and develop new
relationships and partnerships in parts of the country that we have not yet reached.”
Another reason this addition to the Black Tie family is sensible is in regards to their emergency service group. Black Tie Event Services receives
many calls for shower and restroom trailers during emergency situations, such as hurricanes and earthquakes. Now the company will have the
capability of providing standard, plastic portable restroom units necessary as well as shower trailers, making it more convenient and expedient for
those organizing relief efforts.
“Our goal is not to be the biggest,” Vegter said. “We’re not trying to take over the world. We simply want to service our contractors to the
best of our ability from coast to coast. Hopefully we can advance the image of the industry by doing a first class job.
“The company will grow via acquisitions of high-quality companies in quality markets,” Vegter explained. “We have been building a pipeline
of companies who are interested in selling and so we’re working on financial and market evaluations. We are investing due diligence. Many of
these companies need to sell for a variety of reasons—perhaps they have lost interest in the industry or are retiring. A good company for
acquisition is one that has a diversified customer base, strong pricing in the market, does not depend too much on business from one or two
customers only, possesses well-maintained equipment and has earned a quality reputation.”
In fact, the economic turbulence sweeping the United States has also made it necessary for some business owners, particularly small businesses, to
sell or close their doors. Often it is not that the market is bad, but rather that the demand has dropped in concurrence with the typical recession
across the boards. Many believe 2009 is going to be a challenging year for all businesses, and start-up businesses will be few in the making.
“Of course it is a challenging time to start a company and we will certainly proceed with caution,” Vegter noted. “We can expect that this
year customers may be later on their payments and I do believe things will get worse before they get better. You often hear the stories of
businesses that were bought when the economy was booming, and they were worth X amount then, but are only doing half the volume now. It is
not easy to buy companies in this kind of economy and make them work. However, I believe that Black Tie is in the position to do just that. We
are partly owned and supported by a healthy and quite successful conglomerate of family businesses that fully support our growth plans.”
Black Tie Event Services is not in the habit of purchasing and selling companies to turn a quick profit. In fact, throughout the years they
have sold very few companies and have a long history as a family-owned and operated business. The goal at hand is to create a company that
meets the collective needs of customers nationwide. Since the company is currently headquartered in Chicago, they will begin in that area and
then expand to cover regions across the country. Vegter makes it clear that his intention is to make incisive and careful decisions, acquiring top-
notch companies, and offering deals that benefit all involved. Vegter shared that there are no plans to change the names of those companies
acquired.
“We have no intention of building this company to flip it or sell it,” Vegter remarked. “We will be patient and selective. We will only
purchase quality companies, and will make it our priority to take good care of the owners and employees of those companies.”
Meeting the needs already established in the market is very important to Vegter. Each of the companies acquired will have a distinct product
structure established to meet the needs of their customer base. Recognizing that markets vary throughout the United States, Black Tie will
enhance and improve what already exists, meeting those needs first. Black Tie intends to be a strong support network to the companies they
acquire and will provide capital, technology and training when needed to make sure each company meets Black Tie standards.
Although Black Tie Manufacturing produces portable restroom trailers, there are no plans at the present time for the company to
manufacture the standard, plastic portable restroom units that will be rented out by Black Tie Sanitation Services. All stock will be acquired via
acquisition.
An official launch date is not available at this time, but Vegter and his team are meticulously evaluating those companies which may be the
first acquisitions and the starting point for this new venture. There is no doubt that the industry can expect to start hearing the name Black Tie
Sanitation Services, Inc. very soon.
“In five years I hope to have achieved that people nationally know that Black Tie companies have a strong reputation for quality equipment
and service in multiple markets,” Vegter shared. “We don’t want to be known only as a manufacturing company, but also as a solid service
provider.”
Black Tie family to better serve their customers from coast to coast. The organization already has two companies under its umbrella. The first is
Black Tie Event Services, Inc. which is a national company renting luxury portable restroom trailers and shower facilities. The second is Black
Tie Manufacturing, dedicated to developing and producing mobile restrooms and shower solutions to meet the specific needs of their customers. It
seems a logical and fitting next step to launch Black Tie Sanitation Services, Inc. which will be a national portable restroom operation, renting
commercial-grade units throughout the United States.
Rich Vegter, who is spear-heading the venture, worked in the portable sanitation industry for many years running his own company before
moving to Micro Target Media. Phil Meegan has been President of Black Tie Event Services, Inc. since 2003 and has grown the company by
leaps and bounds into the force within the industry that it is today. Both Vegter and Meegan, based out of Chicago, met together and began
discussing the possibilities of Black Tie breaking into the portable restroom rental segment of the industry. While the luxury trailer market had
been very successful, Meegan and Vegter recognized that it would be advantageous and a smooth transition to service their customers by providing
standard single units as well as special event trailers. Vegter made the move to Black Tie in October of 2008 and the two began to put their plan
into action.
“Phil Meegan and I discussed the idea about a year ago,” shared Rich Vegter. “I thought it would be a good strategy for his business and he
agreed. We found that there was a perfect fit. We had common beliefs and philosophies on how to make it work. I started working on the project
towards the end of October. I am really excited to be back in the portable restroom business after a couple years of being with the other
company.”
This move makes sense for many additional reasons. Black Tie Event Services often works through a re-rental program, renting luxury
trailers out to smaller companies who cannot afford to purchase the units, but have a demand for one. Then, as the demand grows, the company
will oftentimes purchase the trailer. It’s only logical for Black Tie to rent out portable restrooms themselves, and thereby meet all of their
customers’ needs. Thus, Black Tie Sanitation Services, Inc. was conceived.
“Our goal is to be synergistic,” Vegter explained. “Our partners are a high priority for us. We want to continue a good relationship with those we
have worked with in the past and look forward to working with them for many more years to come. We also want to grow and develop new
relationships and partnerships in parts of the country that we have not yet reached.”
Another reason this addition to the Black Tie family is sensible is in regards to their emergency service group. Black Tie Event Services receives
many calls for shower and restroom trailers during emergency situations, such as hurricanes and earthquakes. Now the company will have the
capability of providing standard, plastic portable restroom units necessary as well as shower trailers, making it more convenient and expedient for
those organizing relief efforts.
“Our goal is not to be the biggest,” Vegter said. “We’re not trying to take over the world. We simply want to service our contractors to the
best of our ability from coast to coast. Hopefully we can advance the image of the industry by doing a first class job.
“The company will grow via acquisitions of high-quality companies in quality markets,” Vegter explained. “We have been building a pipeline
of companies who are interested in selling and so we’re working on financial and market evaluations. We are investing due diligence. Many of
these companies need to sell for a variety of reasons—perhaps they have lost interest in the industry or are retiring. A good company for
acquisition is one that has a diversified customer base, strong pricing in the market, does not depend too much on business from one or two
customers only, possesses well-maintained equipment and has earned a quality reputation.”
In fact, the economic turbulence sweeping the United States has also made it necessary for some business owners, particularly small businesses, to
sell or close their doors. Often it is not that the market is bad, but rather that the demand has dropped in concurrence with the typical recession
across the boards. Many believe 2009 is going to be a challenging year for all businesses, and start-up businesses will be few in the making.
“Of course it is a challenging time to start a company and we will certainly proceed with caution,” Vegter noted. “We can expect that this
year customers may be later on their payments and I do believe things will get worse before they get better. You often hear the stories of
businesses that were bought when the economy was booming, and they were worth X amount then, but are only doing half the volume now. It is
not easy to buy companies in this kind of economy and make them work. However, I believe that Black Tie is in the position to do just that. We
are partly owned and supported by a healthy and quite successful conglomerate of family businesses that fully support our growth plans.”
Black Tie Event Services is not in the habit of purchasing and selling companies to turn a quick profit. In fact, throughout the years they
have sold very few companies and have a long history as a family-owned and operated business. The goal at hand is to create a company that
meets the collective needs of customers nationwide. Since the company is currently headquartered in Chicago, they will begin in that area and
then expand to cover regions across the country. Vegter makes it clear that his intention is to make incisive and careful decisions, acquiring top-
notch companies, and offering deals that benefit all involved. Vegter shared that there are no plans to change the names of those companies
acquired.
“We have no intention of building this company to flip it or sell it,” Vegter remarked. “We will be patient and selective. We will only
purchase quality companies, and will make it our priority to take good care of the owners and employees of those companies.”
Meeting the needs already established in the market is very important to Vegter. Each of the companies acquired will have a distinct product
structure established to meet the needs of their customer base. Recognizing that markets vary throughout the United States, Black Tie will
enhance and improve what already exists, meeting those needs first. Black Tie intends to be a strong support network to the companies they
acquire and will provide capital, technology and training when needed to make sure each company meets Black Tie standards.
Although Black Tie Manufacturing produces portable restroom trailers, there are no plans at the present time for the company to
manufacture the standard, plastic portable restroom units that will be rented out by Black Tie Sanitation Services. All stock will be acquired via
acquisition.
An official launch date is not available at this time, but Vegter and his team are meticulously evaluating those companies which may be the
first acquisitions and the starting point for this new venture. There is no doubt that the industry can expect to start hearing the name Black Tie
Sanitation Services, Inc. very soon.
“In five years I hope to have achieved that people nationally know that Black Tie companies have a strong reputation for quality equipment
and service in multiple markets,” Vegter shared. “We don’t want to be known only as a manufacturing company, but also as a solid service
provider.”
Black Tie: The Birth Of A New Sanitation Company
FEBRUARY 2009
Chicago, IL
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