Today we’d like to introduce you to Leslie and Jody Tinsley.
Leslie and Jody, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Event Services of GA, also now known in the film industry as Production Services of GA, got its start in January of 2011. Founder, and co-owner, Jody Tinsley, had worked in the portable restroom industry for several years and wanted to get away from the corporate world. We started out as a ‘one man show’, with one truck and very little equipment.
Jody wanted to focus mainly on event work and production work, providing an unheard-of level of customer service. Having previously worked with ‘Vampire Diaries’, Jody immediately reached out to their Locations Manager and asked if they would be willing to give the ‘little guy’ a shot. They took a chance, and we provided their on-location restrooms right up until their very last episode was filmed earlier this year.
Over the years, Jody would receive phone calls at 2:00 am, jump out of the bed immediately to go handle an issue on a movie set. From that point, we gradually made connections with other Locations Managers, Assistant Locations Managers, Locations Coordinators, and Locations Scouts. These are some of the coolest, most down to earth, and loyal people you will ever do business with. I joined forces with Jody behind the scenes from day one, handling the accounting and business end of things. As the business grew, I had to cut back on my hours at my ‘real job’ and eventually began working full-time + for the business. We made a name for ourselves in the production industry by always doing what we said we were going to do. We pride ourselves on not letting things ‘fall through the cracks’. If they tell us they need a restroom trailer by 5:00 am, they get a restroom trailer by 5:00 am, no ‘ifs, ands, or buts’. We have provided restroom trailers and portable restrooms for around 150 different productions at this point. We always make it happen, and they know they can always count on us. On the event side of the business, our salesperson brought to the table several key customers, and again we have made a name for ourselves by providing a top-quality restroom for events & weddings, along with top notch customer service. We have grown exponentially since 2011, with much of that growth being a direct result of the ‘production boom’ in Georgia. Jody is a very hands-on owner, and you may very well see him cleaning a restroom trailer on an event or on a filming location, just like any other ‘employee’.
We’ve had several customers over the years tell us they would rather spend money with the small, privately and locally owned businesses over a large, corporate company any day.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Gracious no, it has certainly not been a smooth road. Initially, we had to make a lot of personal sacrifices in order to put all of time, efforts, and financial resources into the business; understanding profit would not be immediate. We have struggled along the way to manage our time, manage priorities within the business, with making financial decisions; when to grow, when to slow. Being a small business owner is usually not as glamorous as some might think, and requires the carrying of a lot of weight around on your shoulders. There is a level of responsibility, to the business itself, to your customers, to your employees, and to your family that really has no comparison.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
We provide portable restrooms for production/filming locations, events, and construction sites. The majority of our year-round business lies in the production/filming side of things. Along with that we specialize in special events, which is somewhat year-round, but picks up tremendously in the Spring and the Fall. We do very little construction work, because it is not as profitable for a small business like ourselves, focusing mainly on doing business with small construction outfits. I think we would have to say that we are most proud that we have built this business from the ground up with our own two hands, with our own ‘blood, sweat, and tears’ so to speak.
We have made it a point to grow slowly, therefore creating a solid infrastructure for the business. I think what sets us apart most from other companies in this industry is simply the fact that we are a small, locally and privately-owned business, coupled with the level of care that we have for our customers. It is just not in us to hang a customer ‘out to dry’.
What were you like growing up?
Leslie was very headstrong, independent and outspoken.
Jody was quiet, hardworking, and kind.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.eventservicesofga.com
- Phone: 678-333-4155
- Email: info@eventservicesofga.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/eventservicesofga/
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/eventservicesofgallc/
Image Credit:
Amy Jo Photography
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