The first sunny days of the year often arrive unexpectedly early.
For a restaurant, hotel, or café, this immediately means that customers want to sit outside. For a residential care facility, residents and visitors want to enjoy the outdoor space again.

You don’t want to still be dealing with quotes, colors, anchoring, or delivery times at that point.

If you order professional parasols before the season starts, you’ll have a patio that’s ready to use.
No more wasted sunny days.

A restaurant parasol isn’t just for decoration—it increases patio seating capacity

A professional patio must be profitable.

If some of your tables aren’t comfortable to use in strong sunlight or during a spring shower, you lose available seating capacity. Good parasols help you make effective use of more space and keep your patio open for longer.

In the hospitality industry, this is directly linked to revenue. In a residential care facility, the main concern is ensuring that the outdoor space can be used comfortably and safely.

That’s why it’s wise not to wait until the nice weather has already started to order new hospitality parasols or professional patio parasols.

1. How long does it take to deliver and install large hospitality parasols?

That depends on the model, dimensions, color, parasol base or anchoring system, and any customization.
A large professional parasol isn’t the kind of product you can always just pull off the shelf.

You’ll need to make decisions about:

• Model and dimensions;
• Frame and canopy color;
• Number of parasols;
• Type of parasol base or permanent anchoring;
• Any printing;
• Delivery and installation.

>>> If you take care of this before the season starts, you’ll give yourself much more peace of mind.

So the most important question isn’t, “How quickly can you deliver?” but rather, “When do I want my patio to be completely ready?”
You can work backward from that date.

2. Can the parasols be set up before the start of the patio season?

That’s exactly the big advantage of ordering early.

Production can be scheduled in advance, and the parasols can be ready before you need them.
The delivery date and any installation will be arranged in consultation with you.

This way, you can avoid having the first sunny days arrive while your patio is still only partially usable.

This is important for the hospitality industry:

>>> Any table that you can actually use—thanks to sufficient shade or shelter—can generate revenue.

Professional parasols are therefore more than just a purchase. They are part of your patio’s capacity. Our own parasol guide also explicitly links the effectiveness of a well-designed patio to sufficient shade and protection from rain.

“We’re letting in more guests and generating extra revenue on rainy days and chilly evenings.”

Joachim Boudens
, Hertog Jan / Bistro LESS / Bar Bulot

3. How long does it take to print a logo on restaurant parasols?

Printing requires extra preparation.

Logos must be submitted and reviewed, the position must be determined, and the canopy must then be manufactured and finished.

That’s why ordering early is especially beneficial when you need parasols that:

• get your own logo;
• need to fit the corporate identity;
• must be designed in a specific color;
• are part of a new terrace identity.

Your parasols are also highly visible. They are often among the first things passersby see when approaching a restaurant or café, and as such, they help define the look and feel of the patio.

>>> The more customization you want, the more important it is to allow plenty of time.

4. Be sure to check your municipality’s patio regulations in a timely manner

Is your patio located on or along a public right-of-way?

If so, local regulations may apply regarding, for example, dimensions, colors, advertising, or the layout of the patio.
It’s best to check this before finalizing your order.

After all, many cities and municipalities impose conditions on patios that are visible from the public road.

>>> If you start early, you’ll still have time to figure that out and make any necessary adjustments.

5. Ordering early allows time for on-site technical consultation

Choosing the right parasol doesn’t start in a catalog.

It starts on the patio.
Where is the sun? How does the shade move? How much wind does the location get? Where are tables, doors, trees, building façades, or other obstacles located? Can the parasols be permanently anchored?

That’s why an on-site visit can prevent many problems.

A parasol expert can, among other things, assess:

• How many parasols are actually needed;
• What sizes work best;
• Where the parasols should be placed;
• What type of base or anchoring is suitable;
• How wind-prone the location is;
• Whether tables and chairs interfere with operating the parasols.

>>> It’s much easier to provide that advice before the peak season than when the patio is already packed with customers every day.

“Good advice is important. […] We would never have thought of this clever solution on our own. An expert thinks along with you.”
Joachim Boudens – Hertog Jan / Bistro LESS / Bar Bulot

6. What kind of parasol do I need for a patio that gets a lot of wind?

This is one of the most important technical questions regarding professional parasols.
A large parasol catches a lot of wind. That’s why the frame, ribs, pole, and anchoring system must all be designed to work together.

So don’t just ask your supplier if a parasol is “strong.”
Question:

• What wind load it can withstand;
• What type of base or anchoring is required;
• Whether a written warranty is provided.

>>> That is essential for professional use. A supplier must be able to explain why a parasol is sturdy and what wind loads it can withstand.

7. Ordering early makes budgeting easier

If you order in the fall or winter, you’ll know in advance how much the investment will be.

That gives you time to:

• Take your time to evaluate quotes;
• Budget for the investment;
• Plan the purchase;
• Consult with the accountant to determine the best time to record the investment.

The agreed-upon price is set at the time of order.

>>> This provides extra peace of mind before the new season begins.

8. If I place an early order, do I have to pay the full amount right away?

No.
With the Symo Pre-Season Plan, a deposit is required when you place your order.
You pay the balance only upon delivery.

This allows you to reserve your professional parasols in advance without having to pay the entire investment months in advance.

>>> This also makes ordering early more beneficial for your cash flow.

9. Where should I store my parasols if they’re ready months early?

You don’t have to store them yourself. After production, the parasols can be stored at Symo until the agreed-upon delivery date.

This way, you get the best of both worlds:

>>> Order early and receive them only when you need them.

The date of any installation will also be determined in consultation.

10. Why Ordering Early Is Also Beneficial for Residential Care Facilities

For a residential care facility, it’s less about patio revenue, but planning is just as important.

As soon as the first nice spring days arrive, residents want to go outside again.
That’s when there need to be plenty of comfortable, shaded spots available.

>>> By ordering parasols in advance:

• The outdoor space will be ready before spring;
• The anchoring and installation can be reviewed in advance;
• The investment can be budgeted in a timely manner;
• There’s no need to look for a solution during the season;
• Residents and visitors can enjoy the outdoor space starting on the first nice days.

The Symo Pre-Season Plan

With the Symo Pre-Season Plan, you can order professional parasols in advance for the upcoming season.

The concept is simple:

>>> You place your order before the season starts, production is scheduled in advance, and your parasols are delivered when you need them.

You’ll receive:

• Price Guarantee: the price is fixed at the time of order;
• Production certainty: your order is scheduled in advance;
• Cash flow flexibility: only a deposit is required upon ordering, with the balance due upon delivery;
• No storage issues: your parasols can be stored until the agreed-upon time;
• Customized planning: delivery and installation take place on a date agreed upon;
• Time for professional advice: dimensions, wind conditions, anchoring, and placement can be thoroughly reviewed in advance.

Need new restaurant parasols or patio parasols for next season?

Do you already know that you want to replace your parasols, provide shade for extra tables, or set up a new outdoor space?

If so, the preseason is the best time to get started.

Not because you’ll need your parasols months in advance, but because you want them ready on the day you need them.

>>> Don’t let any sunny days go to waste.

Ask your Symo Parasol Coach to take a look at your patio or outdoor space and work with you to determine which professional parasols are the best fit.

“Still in use 30 years later”

Philippe Caussin still uses his Symo parasols at his seaside hotel in Costa Rica.