This event decorating company was founded in 1992 when Colin Upright decided to take the plunge, leaving his steady full time employer and venture out into the world of freelance design. He started with doing a wide range of project work, under the name “Upright Designs” such as store design & display, product design & merchandising, interior & event design. However, what he ended up falling in love with was creating and designing events, everything from the intimate small parties to over the top gala evenings. Many of these lavish events were requiring upscale décor, and after discovering that there was a need for “fine décor items to rent” he started exploring the rental side of the business in 1997. After a few years of gathering a growing inventory he realized it was time to move out of a small warehouse, and into something geared for customers. In 1999, he opened his first small 1200 sq. ft. studio space off of Terminal Ave in Vancouver. “This space was great!” he said, “Finally, I’ve got a mini showroom to spread things out and show them off! I’m able to gain my customers trust, and can physically show them what we have to offer”. This new space brought a flood of business, and a need for more help. Colin asked his partner Jay Dunlop to join the business and within one short year they were looking to expand.

In the fall of 2000 we selected a 2500sq ft space, doubling our size to a location on West 2ndAve. “The designer in me was excited about the potential of the clean new space,” Colin said, “but the practical side gave me nightmares, as to how we were going to pay the lease.” This was a turning point in our business, it was “make it or break it” time! Fortunately business went through the roof. In this year the growth was tremendous. We hired a small full time staff of five people and numerous part time help, and after 2 years in this studio, we were once again forced to move due to space limitations.

Our next step was to analyze the company, reflect on the whirlwind where we had come from and focus on the direction of our future. In 2003 we decided along with the upcoming move, we would change the company name from “Upright Designs” to “Upright Décor Rentals and Event Design”. Although we were still an event decorating company, we felt that the new name would reflect the “décor rental” aspects and the direction we were heading.

February of 2004 we moved just a couple of blocks to our present 10,000 sq. ft. Studio and Showroom on West 5th Ave. It took 2 months of restructuring and renovating the building to suit our needs, including our expanded sewing and manufacturing facility. In 2005 we installed a specialty linen and laundry facility to gain higher quality control of the cleaning needs of our fine linens. Ingrid Upright came on board as our Operations Manager, along with an increase of staff to facilitate a smooth running ship.

Now with 2010 Winter Olympics approaching, we are preparing and gearing up to the excitement and all that comes with our great city hosting such a spectacular event. We look forward to creating innovative and memorable events both leading up to and after 2010. Working together with our network of fellow suppliers and vendors, we hope it will be a great venture for all.