Keith Snyder and Snyder Event Rentals: 15 Years in the Making

If you’ve been to a fundraiser for one of Charleston’s numerous nonprofit organizations, such as the Hollings Cancer Center or Lowcountry Food Bank, or you’ve attended a fabulous wedding, or if you’ve ever had a drink in a tent, chances are you’ve experienced the expertise of Snyder Event Rentals.

The friendly bartenders who know the right glass for every drink, the dance floor where many a bridesmaid has danced the night away, and the tents that transport guests to Bryant Park catwalks, Hollywood lounges, and beyond have all contributed to Snyder Event Rental’s reputation for facilitating stellar events and the kind of customer service that gives planners and hosts the confidence that all is taken care of.

But Snyder is hardly a well-worn establishment resting on its laurels. With only a few coolers and a couple of gigs on the books to start, Keith Snyder has built the business in only fifteen years to include over a hundred employees and a 50,000-square-foot warehouse full everything from table linens to outdoor heaters to swanky seating. It’s been a good old-fashioned success story that keeps on getting better.

Humble Roots

The son of a single mother working to raise four children on a waitress’ pay in Elkins, West Virginia, Keith never let his modest upbringing get in the way of his aspirations. That being said, his road to success has been paved with plenty of character-building experiences.

When his mother remarried, the family moved in to an 800-square-foot house where all six of them fit snugly. Keith realized early on he gained more satisfaction from work than school. By the time he was fourteen he was working nights in a restaurant kitchen and spending summers on road construction crews. Even then Keith experienced the drive to do his best no matter what the job, an attitude he says comes from “being given responsibility and not wanting to disappoint.” With that in mind, Keith excelled and earned the trust of his employers.

Opportunity

Keith’s first days in Charleston, however, felt far from promising. He and a roommate split the rent on a shared room in a trailer park off Montague Avenue—walking distance to Keith’s job in a local restaurant. It wasn’t until he was given a chance in a sales office where his sister worked that Keith began to reap financial reward from his labors. He worked his way to top salesman in the company but while golfing in Portugal with the company president, he realized he did not want to die a salesman, even one at the top of his game making good money. Between the anxiety of having to speak before large groups of people and the extensive travel required, sales was not the way he wanted to make his living. He quit the next day.

A fledgling bartending service hardly seemed the path to career nirvana, but Keith sensed an opportunity in the venture. Charleston was on the cusp of becoming the destination for business conferences, festivals, and weddings. It needed good bartenders for the throngs of thirsty guests that he hoped would come. And the $1,500 his friend was asking for the business—well, the price was right.

Taking Off

Keith fell back in love with the food and beverage business where he’d gotten his start years before. The lifestyle fit his personality. “I’m not a nine-to-five white picket fence kinda guy,” he says. Good thing, because growing the business was more than a full-time job: “I had tunnel vision. Sleep was not an option in the first five years.” He worked day and night without drawing a paycheck for himself, but as he became more ensconced in the food and beverage world he felt more and more at home.

Charleston continued to attract more visitors as well as events, and as event planners came to rely on Snyder for its services and products, the business developed a steady workload and a reputation as the best guys in the business. Keith’s cooperative approach with planners not only made for good parties and events, but also good relationships. “It’s all related,” says Keith. “The more we do for our clients to help them be more successful, the better we do in the end as well.”

As Snyder Event Rentals has established itself as the go-to source for events, Keith and his business partner Jason Robbins continue to stay on the cutting edge of trends and provide better products and services. “We’ve learned the benefits of listening to our clients,” Keith says. “When they see a need we act on it.” For example, Snyder Lounge is a service providing high-end furniture rentals that take weddings and parties to the next level. Snyder works with planners to make their imagination come alive from chair to bar to dining.

The Drive

Two things keep Keith and Jason and their team moving forward: taking care of their employees and taking care of local nonprofits. “If business goes down, our employees’ livelihoods are at stake,” Keith says. “Growing up the way I did, I understand. If we don’t stay with the trends and continue to prosper the employees are the ones who are hurt.” Snyder employees enjoy health, vision, dental, and life insurance benefits as well as a 100 percent matching IRA program.

Taking care of their employees like family is all part of a greater sense at Snyder of giving back to the community that has helped Keith go from dishwasher to well-known and well-loved Charleston businessman. Snyder has donated millions of dollars to local nonprofits in the form of drastically reduced prices for services at countless fundraisers.

Since 2001 Snyder has also thrown its own bash to raise money to benefit such causes as Charleston Area Therapeutic Riding and The Charitable Society of Charleston. The Grand Ball attracts more revelers than any other in event in Charleston on New Years Eve. No one pairs a fantastic event with a worthy cause like Snyder, and it’s that combination that makes Snyder such an integral part of life in Charleston where the citizens and visitors are as much fun as they are generous.

As Keith and Jason continue to grow the business and help clients and employees achieve success as well, Charleston maintains its reputation as an ideal location for conferences, weddings, festivals, and fundraising galas. Snyder Event Rentals is part of that reputation and its future. In a way, Keith and Charleston have grown up together in the world of food and beverage and event hosting. They’ve gone from small-scale hopefuls to industry leaders with the kind of renown and success that enables them to share their good fortune and have a good time doing it.

What Charleston Movers and Shakers Are Saying about Snyder:

Tara Guérard, Soirée Owner/Event Designer:

“Part of what makes my business so successful is having a team behind me just as good, and Snyder Event Rentals helps me look great.”

Darcy Shankland, Charleston Magazine Editor in Chief
Misty Lister Johnson Charleston Magazine Marketing Director:

“Snyder Event Rentals has been a partner to Charleston Fashion Week since its inception in 2007. Every year Keith, Jason, and their team surpass our expectations not only in outfitting the tents but in bringing creative vision and solutions to the planning of this extensive five-day event. Additionally, the bar staff is exceptional. They are extremely professional and well-prepared for the CFW crowds, covering all bases, including those that we hadn’t anticipated.”

Anne Lee, Darkness to Light President and CEO:

“We wouldn’t even think about doing an event without Keith Snyder. That would be like a day without sunshine! Jason and the crew have that can-do attitude that makes everything seem to go a little smoother and things fall in place. Icing on the cake is Keith’s generous communuty spirit. He is a giving and generous soul. We’re proud to partner with him and call him our friend.”

Natalie Baker, Drayton Hall Projects Coordinator:

“For over ten years Drayton Hall has relied on Snyder for all of our event rental and bar service needs. Their incredible selection of products means whether we are planning a lowcountry oyster roast or an extravagant reception Snyder can accommodate our needs. Their commitment to providing excellent customer service along with their attention to detail and professional staff allow for an effortless event planning experience.”

Kevin Mills, South Carolina Aquarium President and CEO:

“The South Carolina Aquarium is well known for its events and Keith Snyder has been a wonderfully generous partner from almost the beginning. Thanks to Keith, the Aquarium is the place to be on New Years Eve!”

Accolades

• Charleston Regional Business Journal’s 40 Under 40
• Board Member of the Greater Charleston Restaurant Association
• Former President of the National Association of Catering Executives
• Top Ten Emerging Companies from the Chamber of Commerce

Memberships

• Better Business Bureau
• Charleston Area Convention and Visitor Bureau Travel Council
• American Rental Association
• Tent Renters Association
• TIPS