Loane Bros

The company primarily serves the Baltimore region, but occasionally provides tents to parties as far as New York. Its sales are increasing by about 15 percent a year, so when the decision was made to leave its former Union Avenue location in Hampden in March, the company opted for more space in Baltimore County and moved to the Pulaski Business Park in Middle River. Still, many things about the company have not changed over the years. "There are lots of traditions here, different mind-sets about the way we've always done things," Bryan Loane said. Although the company seldom manufactures its own tents anymore, and the tents it rents are made of vinyl instead of canvas, canvas awnings are custom-designed and hand-made. Tricks of the trade, such as how many square feet of a tent should be allotted per person, have been passed down from father to son. And true to its name, there are Loane brothers involved in the company: Bryan Loane's older brother Scott works in the company's manufacturing department. Loane Bros. is still taking part in historical events, too. It provided the green tents used at Camden Yards for Pope John Paul II's October 1995 visit to the city. And, when the Pride of Baltimore was built, it used Baltimore clipper sail plans originally drawn up by Joseph Loane. But, the company's willingness to change is perhaps the most important thing that has stayed the same. "The industry is changing on a yearly basis and they are changing with it," said J. D. Howell, chairman of the tent division of the Industrial Fabric Association International. "It is really change that either puts you out of business or keeps you successful." Over the years, the company has seen competitors that have "come and gone," Bryan Loane said. "It apparently seems like easy money to people on the outside but to do it well takes a lot of time and effort." Loane said his company is always looking for new products and new markets. "We do things now we wouldn't have dreamed of doing five or seven years ago," he said. "For example, we never thought of putting a tent over a pool. Now we can put a clear dance floor over a pool.