Beyond supplying materials, our mission is to help our customers excel in their craft by equipping them with knowledge and resources. We’ve doubled down on that effort by launching several new educational experiences, including Shades of Innovation: a seminar exploring all things shade sail..
Our inaugural seminar in Los Angeles was a major success. Nearly 75 fabricators gathered to hear from the creators of Shade Sail University on topics like design, 3D rendering, theory, post and bracket installation, measuring, plus tips and tricks.
Patrick Howe, founder and CEO of Shade Sail University, gave a practical example by using a force gauge to highlight the strength of turnbuckle support and the effects of wind.
“You’re not designing for a sunny day—you’re designing for a day like today,” Howe said, as gusts of wind whipped through the area.
Catch a glimpse as he stands on top of a sail to demonstrate. Though he tightened the turnbuckle by hand for the purposes of demonstration, two wrenches are needed for tightening on an install.
More than just education, attendees walked away with a stronger sense of community. Oscar Guadarrama from SombraTeck particularly enjoyed being able to relate to others in the industry on common challenges.
“Pretty much everybody here has the same problems that we encounter,” Guadarrama said. He noted that contacts he made at the seminar will be useful when issues arise in the future, “so we can solve them quickly and more easily.”
Jerry Margrave, owner of Specialty Trim and Awning in Bakersfield, California, said he was able to make valuable business connections and share resources with peers.
“The more people I meet, the better it is for my business,” Margrave said.
Lori Plata, a Trivantage customer care representative, recommends that anyone in the shade industry or looking to enter should attend future Shades of Innovation seminars for the collaborative atmosphere.
“It’s a lot of shade shops learning from each other,” Plata said. “This seminar is a huge resource for learning tips and tricks—anything from upselling to thread usage to profitability…you name it.”
This event is the latest in a series by Trivantage. In 2025, we introduced The Makers Meet for workroom and upholstery professionals, which returns on May 8, 2026. We also continue to host Performance on Deck marine fabrication seminars across the country.
Stay tuned for seminars happening near you soon!
Written By
Keith Purves
