Alternatively, if you want to manufacture beach umbrellas, here’s all you need to know about them.
Customizing Beach Umbrellas – A Step-by-Step Guide
Custom beach umbrellas may be the perfect solution if you’re looking for a unique way to stand out from the competition. From eye-catching logos and bold designs to bright colors and fun patterns, custom beach umbrellas can help your brand make a statement. But how do you go about creating them? Read on for a step-by-step guide to customizing beach umbrellas.
Step 1: Choose Your Base Umbrella
The first step in customizing beach umbrellas is to choose the base umbrella that will serve as the foundation for your design. There are numerous options when selecting an umbrella, such as wood, aluminum, plastic, or fiberglass frames; different sizes; various fabric choices; and multiple levels of protection from sun and wind. Consider your target audience and environment when selecting your base umbrella to fit their needs.
Step 2: Design Your Logo/Graphics
Next up is designing the logo or graphic that will adorn your umbrella. Again, remember that this should be something eye-catching but still professionally represent your brand. Once you have created a logo or design that you are happy with, the next step is printing it onto vinyl or polyester fabric to be applied to the umbrella itself.
Step 3: Apply Your Logo/Graphics
Once you have decided on an umbrella and designed your logo/graphic, it’s time to apply it to the umbrella’s fabric. This can be done by hand or with specific machinery designed for this purpose (i.e., sublimation printing). Hand applique is usually more cost-effective but requires more labor than machine applique; conversely, it requires fewer labor hours but is usually more expensive than hand applicating because of its sophistication.
Customizing beach umbrellas are an excellent way to set yourself apart from other outdoor brands while also providing customers with an eye-catching product they’ll love using at the beach or poolside. By following these three steps—choosing a base umbrella, designing a logo/graphic, and applying the pictures—you can create unique beach umbrellas that will help promote your brand in no time! If you need help taking these steps, contact Hfumbrella—we would love to assist you!
Parts of a Beach Umbrella
Beach umbrellas ensure you stay protected while you enjoy a relaxing day at the beach. Beach umbrellas have several parts that work together to shield you from the weather. Knowing the various essential elements of a beach umbrella will help you make the right choice during purchase. Familiarizing yourself with each part of the beach umbrella and how it works will help you use and maintain the umbrella well.
1. Canopy
The canopy is one of the essential parts of a beach umbrella. The canopy is what shades you from the sun or rain while at the beach. It is a fabric used to cover the umbrella’s ribs. The fabric is typically divided into individual panels that are later joined together to form the beach umbrella’s canopy.
Beach umbrella manufacturers use fabrics such as polyester, nylon, pongee, etc., for the umbrella’s canopy. Some manufacturers add a Teflon coating on the canopy to make it even more waterproof.
The canopy of a beach umbrella could come in a solid color or a mixture of various colors and designs.
2. Ribs
The ribs are the skeleton of the beach umbrella. The ribs give the umbrella’s canopy its shape and structure. The ribs are attached to the pole of the umbrella. They can be found directly under the canopy of the umbrella. All the panels of the canopy are securely attached to the ribs.
Fiberglass is the most common material for making beach umbrella ribs because they can withstand heavy winds. Knowing how strong the winds can be at the beach, fiberglass ribs are often the ideal choice.
Apart from fiberglass, some manufacturers make use of steel for their beach umbrellas’ ribs. Regardless, whichever material the manufacturer chooses has to be sturdy and long-lasting.
3. Stretcher
The job of the stretcher is to stretch out the umbrella’s canopy while it is open. The stretcher extends from the runner and is connected to the canopy. Stretchers extend the ribs and keep them in place while the beach umbrella is in use.
A beach umbrella’s stretcher is typically made from fiberglass or steel because this part of the umbrella needs to be durable.
A jointed hinge called the joiner connects the stretchers and ribs.
4. Runner
The runner is that part of the umbrella that slides up and down the umbrella’s shaft. The runner allows you to expand and collapse the umbrella’s canopy. The runner is a T-shaped joint.
We mentioned earlier that the joiner connects the stretchers and ribs. The runner, on the other hand, combines the stretchers with the shaft of the umbrella. For beach umbrellas with telescopic poles, the manufacturers add extra runners to give the umbrella more stability.
Note that the ribs, stretchers, and runner are collectively called the umbrella’s frame. They are the inner workings of the umbrella.
5. Pole or Shaft
People used to make the pole or shaft of umbrellas from whalebone, but now, it is made from wood, steel, aluminum, fiberglass, etc. Each material has its benefits and properties that make your beach umbrella durable and sturdy.
The pole or shaft of a beach umbrella should be strong enough to support the umbrella’s canopy. A beach umbrella’s pole could be telescopic. A telescopic pole allows for effective folding action.
6. Anchor
You can find the beach umbrella’s anchor at the bottom of the pole. The anchor has a threaded design that makes it easier for you to bury the beach umbrella into the sand.
Once you have secured the anchor firmly in the sand, the beach umbrella will remain in its place while in use. This will prevent wind or other elements of weather from uprooting the umbrella.
Features of a Good Beach Umbrella
Purchasing an umbrella of superior quality is very important. Here are some features to look out for that hint at the quality of an umbrella.
1. Canopy’s Fabric
The material used to make the beach umbrella’s canopy could determine the quality of the umbrella. Some of the fabrics used in the manufacturing of beach umbrellas include polyester, cotton, etc.
Polyester is durable, mold-resistant, easy to clean, and wrinkle-resistant. Cotton blocks heat and creates shade when used for the umbrella’s canopy. Other quality fabrics used in a beach umbrella’s canopy include pongee, Sunbrella®, olefin, etc.
Also, a good beach umbrella’s canopy is thick. The thicker the material of the canopy, the more protection it offers to its users. Overall, the canopy’s fabric should be durable and easy to maintain.
2. Lightweight
A good beach umbrella should be lightweight and easy to carry. When you go to the beach, you have other belongings to take along with you, aside from your umbrella. Because of this, your beach umbrella should not be heavy or difficult to carry around the beach.
Some beach umbrellas come with cases that have shoulder straps to make transporting the umbrella even easier.
3. Vented Canopy
A vented canopy is one of the most effective wind-proof systems in the umbrella industry. A beach umbrella with wind vents can endure powerful winds. When the canopy of your umbrella is vented, it will not flip inside out when confronted with harsh winds.
Apart from allowing wind to pass through the beach umbrella without inverting the canopy, wind vents also allow heat to escape from the top of the umbrella. As the sun gets hotter on the beach, a beach umbrella without a wind vent traps that heat in the umbrella.
If you want to enjoy your beach umbrella and day at the beach, get an umbrella with wind vents.
4. Wide Coverage
The size of the beach umbrella is a significant factor in determining if the umbrella will be effective. If you get a beach umbrella with a canopy that is too small, you won’t have enough protection from the sun. In the end, this will defeat the purpose of taking your umbrella to the beach.
The suggested canopy size for your beach umbrella should be between 7 and 10 feet. You can choose your beach umbrella size by considering how many people you hope it will shade. If it is a large group of people, you need a more expansive canopy, but you do not need a huge canopy if it is just you.
5. Tilting Option
Most quality beach umbrellas come with the ability to tilt. Depending on the time of the day, the sun changes position in the sky. A tilting beach umbrella allows you to bend the umbrella’s canopy to whichever angle you wish to shade.
A beach umbrella without the tilting mechanism would have to be uprooted several times as the sun shifts positions. For more comfort, you need a beach umbrella that can tilt or bend to your desired position.
6. UV Protection
Spending time at the beach can both be relaxing and dangerous. If you go to the beach without the proper protection of a beach umbrella, you will be exposing your skin to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays.
Thanks to technology, beach umbrella manufacturers now create umbrellas that come with UV protection. They use a unique UV-resistant fabric that absorbs the sun’s harmful rays.
For ample protection from the sun’s UV rays, a beach umbrella should have an Ultraviolet Protection Factor of 50, at the least, which is usually written as UPF 5o on the beach umbrella.
Customizing Your Beach Umbrella
Custom beach umbrellas add personal touches to the ordinary umbrella. Some brands or companies use beach umbrellas as their promotional items. In situations like this, the companies ask the beach umbrella manufacturers to add their company logo or name to the umbrella.
But, before you get your custom beach umbrella, there are some steps to take, decisions to make, and things to note.
1. Type and Size of the Beach Umbrella
Umbrella manufacturers have come a long way from the classic beach umbrella. These days, there are multiple variations of the beach umbrella. Before you customize a beach umbrella, you must decide on the shape, size, and type of beach umbrella you want.
Regarding size, it is ideal for getting a beach umbrella with a canopy diameter of between 7 and 10 feet. Rest assured that this canopy size will give you the desired amount of shade.
Beach umbrellas come in different types, such as the UV-Proof Beach Umbrella, Clamp-On Beach Umbrella, and Commercial Grade Beach Umbrella.
- UV-Proof Beach Umbrella: The UV-proof beach umbrella has properties that protect its users from the harmful rays of the sun. Most people prefer this type of beach umbrella to the standard ones.
- Clamp-On Beach Umbrella: This type of umbrella is usually small in size, but it offers enough protection. It is generally clamped on to a table or a chair, making it perfect for a beach day.
- Commercial-Grade Beach Umbrella: The commercial-grade beach umbrella is a heavy-duty umbrella built with weather-resistant materials. This type of umbrella is always very durable.
2. Design and Colors of the Umbrella
The design, colors, and graphics for your custom beach umbrella also have to be chosen. And if you are hoping to use it as a promotional item, you need to choose colors that will make your company’s logo stand out beautifully.
You have the freedom to choose whatever designs or colors you want on your custom beach umbrella. You could decide to go for a solid color like black, grey, red, etc. You could also have a mixture of various colors.
You could also choose to include pictures and animations on your umbrella. Whatever you choose as the design of your umbrella, remember that it should portray the purpose for which you customized the umbrella.
3. Printing Technique
There are various printing methods in the manufacturing world today. Each of these methods has its respective properties that make the finished product pleasing to the eye.
- Silkscreen Printing: In this printing method, your desired graphics are transferred to a stenciled silkscreen. It is from this stenciled silkscreen that your design is printed on the custom beach umbrella. Silkscreen printing allows for excellent color reproduction; it is as well long-lasting and cost-effective.
- UV Printing: UV Printing is a relatively recent printing technique. In this method, UV lights, such as mercury or LED lights, are used to dry the ink almost as soon as it touches the umbrella’s canopy. It is an environmentally friendly method of printing.
- Heat Transfer Printing: This printing technique involves using heat and pressure to transfer your desired design to the beach umbrella’s canopy. This printing method is less time-consuming, great for multi-colored printing, and mess-free.
- Digital Printing: Digital printing uses a specialized inkjet printer to transfer the design to the umbrella. Digital printing allows for full-panel printing on the umbrella’s canopy. This method allows you to use vibrant colors, patterns, and photos in your design.
- Dye-Sublimation Printing: Dye-sublimation is similar to heat transfer printing. Sublimation inks are applied to the custom beach umbrella with a combination of heat, time, and pressure. The result of this is a colorful and long-lasting canopy.
Best Beach Umbrellas for 2023
Considering the features of a good beach umbrella, we have listed some of the best beach umbrellas that you can use for your 2021 beach trip.
1. Tommy Bahama Sand Anchor Beach Umbrella
The Tommy Bahama Beach Umbrella has a canopy diameter of 7 feet and an inbuilt screw stake. The screw stake implies that you need not dig a base hole for the umbrella. Also, because of the stake, the umbrella is held down, irrespective of the strength of the winds.
The Tommy Bahama beach umbrella lets you adjust the pole’s height with no trouble, which allows for better coverage. Furthermore, the pole has a tilting mechanism, which makes sure the umbrella’s canopy covers you at any time of the day.
2. Huifeng Umbrella 8ft Fiberglass Beach Umbrella
This umbrella from Huifeng Umbrella is a heavy-duty beach umbrella with an 8-foot canopy. Compared to the others, this umbrella has an ultraviolet protection factor of 100, giving you total protection from the sun.
This umbrella has a wind-resistant double canopy design. So, when strong winds blow by, your umbrella remains sturdy. As an extra measure against strong gusts of wind, this umbrella has non-corroding fiberglass ribs. These ribs allow for more flexibility and stability.
Also, the Huifeng beach umbrella weighs only 5.5 pounds, making it lightweight. It includes a carry bag with shoulder straps.
3. EasyGo Cabana
The EasyGo Cabana is shaped differently from the other umbrellas in this list. Although it is a cabana, it has the portability of an umbrella. While other cabanas weigh about 40 to 60 pounds, the EasyGo cabana weighs only 12 pounds. Its single center pole makes it light and stress-free to set up.
This umbrella’s canopy is larger than your standard beach umbrella, giving extra protection while at the beach. Also, the cabana has sand pockets on each corner to give it more stability.
4. BeachBUB All-In-One Beach Umbrella System
This BeachBUB beach umbrella is made from some of the strongest materials. These materials make the umbrella very durable and sturdy. With the BeachBUB umbrella, you won’t experience damage to your beach umbrella due to harsh winds.
The BeachBUB beach umbrella does not require you to dig holes before using it; its setup is straightforward. Additionally, this umbrella has been wind-tested and found to withstand winds of up to 35 mph.
Regarding prices, this beach umbrella is a bit on the higher side. However, with how long-lasting this umbrella is, you will understand how worth it the price is.
5. Frankford Umbrellas Commercial-Grade Beach Umbrella
From the name of this beach umbrella, you can tell that the umbrella is a solid one. It was built from very sturdy materials, making the umbrella last almost a lifetime.
The umbrella’s canopy is mildew and mold resistant, while its pole is made of ash wood (a strong type of wood). Its zinc-plated ribs and its wind-resistant properties make this umbrella perfect for your day at the beach.
The umbrella has UPF protection of more than 50, protecting you from dangerous rays. Lastly, the Frankford beach umbrella comes with a 10-year fading guarantee.
6. Impact Canopy Beach Umbrella
The Impact Canopy Beach Umbrella is 8 feet in diameter, and it comes with a beautiful rainbow color that helps you stand out. It also has a screw stake like the Tommy Bahama beach umbrella, making it easy to set up.
The umbrella’s pole is made of rust-resistant aluminum. With this, you don’t have to worry about saltwater ruining your umbrella’s pole. In addition to this, the umbrella’s ribs are made from fiberglass. Fiberglass ribs endure strong winds better than other types like steel or metal.
This beach umbrella has all these fantastic features, all for an affordable and reasonable price.
Top Beach Umbrella Manufacturers
These outstanding beach umbrella manufacturers not only produce the best beach umbrellas in the world; they also have the option of customizing them. They have several years of experience in the umbrella industry, and you can be assured of quality products from them.
1. FiberBuilt Umbrellas
Company Profile:
FiberBuilt Umbrellas, Inc. was established in 2000, and for 20 years, they have been producing the most innovative and durable umbrellas in the market.
They saw that hoteliers, restaurateurs, and other commercial businesses needed umbrellas that could match the harsh weather that frequently destroyed umbrellas. And so, FiberBuilt came into existence to address this issue; they made umbrellas that can bend with the wind but still maintain their shape after.
You can find this feature in their patio, market, cabanas, and beach umbrellas.
2. Huifeng Umbrellas
Company Profile:
Huifeng Umbrellas is one of the best umbrella manufacturing companies in China. For over 30 years, HF Umbrellas has been a custom umbrella manufacturer trusted by more than ten thousand brands worldwide.
At Huifeng Umbrellas, we build our umbrellas at our state-of-the-art factory. And our custom umbrellas embody our clients’ identities, from the tip to the handle. Additionally, we put integrity and honesty first; we never sacrifice quality in our products because quality is our watchword.
Apart from making quality beach umbrellas, Huifeng Umbrellas also manufactures golf umbrellas, men umbrellas, kids, umbrellas, parasols, etc.
3. beachBUB Umbrellas
Company Profile:
After an incident with a poorly constructed beach umbrella, Bill Schermerhorn (founder of beachBUB Umbrellas) thought about how he can create a beach umbrella that can survive strong winds. Thus, beachBUB Umbrellas was born in 2009.
After a comparative analysis of patio and beach umbrellas, Bill discovered that patio umbrellas stay in place because they have a heavy base attached to them. He then decided to manufacture beach umbrellas that came with bases.
You can fold these bases into the size of a paperback book. When the base is not in use, it weighs less than ½ pound. But, when filled with sand, it weighs up to 125 pounds and does not take much space.
With the help of a base, this umbrella can resist winds of up to 35mph, allowing you to have a fun-filled and accident-free day at the beach.
4. Frankford Umbrella
Company Profile:
Frankford Umbrellas has been in service for over 120 years. They have been providing their clients with exceptional umbrellas and at reasonable prices, too. Frankford Umbrellas are a thriving company in the outdoor living industry; they focus on outdoor umbrellas like beach umbrellas, patio umbrellas, and the like.
Their products bring enhanced experiences to their clients through their beauty, design, and superior elements. They make use of marine-grade fabrics that won’t fade, stretch, or sag. You will enjoy your Frankford Beach Umbrellas!
5. East Coast Umbrella, Inc.
Company Profile:
Since its inception in 1988, East Coast Umbrella, Inc. has built a solid reputation in the umbrella market. They always aim to expand their portfolio and add more styles, services, and merchandising options.
Their products feature exceptional designs and construction. As a company, they focus primarily on patio umbrellas and beach umbrellas. However, they also have their hands on custom outdoor furniture cushions.
If you want a reliable beach umbrella manufacturer, no order is too big or small for East Coast Umbrella to handle. They have many beach umbrella sizes and styles to meet your needs.
Conclusion
Our umbrellas come in different styles and colors. They can be custom-made to your requirements, so we have an extra umbrella for every individual need. Everyone will want to maximize their fun time and minimize the setup time. In those cases, the best choice is the “easy to plant in the sand” and “easy to take down at the end of the day” beach umbrellas. We are obsessed with inventing innovative umbrellas to make your day at the beach as comfortable and relaxing as much as it can be. Call us today to learn more about Beach Umbrellas or for further inquiries.
Please let us know if you are from the UK, USA, Australia, or any European country and are looking for beach umbrellas. We will respond as soon as possible.
