What Fern Expo does

Fern Expo, legally Fern Exposition Services, is a national general service contractor for trade shows, expositions, and corporate events. Founded with a 1909 heritage (its Nth Degree parent was founded in 1978), Fern operates as a division of Nth Degree following a June 2023 merger and is headquartered in Duluth, Georgia, with additional corporate presence in Cincinnati, Ohio. The company serves trade show organizers, exhibitors, and corporate event planners across more than 200 cities from 30+ offices, executing 1,400+ events annually and ranking among the top three U.S. trade show service providers. Customers include associations such as AmericanHort, Water Quality Association, and Equip Exposition alongside enterprise clients such as 7-Eleven, Samsung, T-Mobile, and the College Football Playoff Fan Fest; the average customer relationship exceeds 16 years.

Fern's service portfolio spans the full event lifecycle: creative & design, exhibitor services (rental exhibits, flooring, utilities, booth property), organizer services (housing, registration, exhibit and sponsorship sales, speaker management), material handling (drayage) under the proprietary 1RATE transparent per-pound pricing program, transportation and logistics, and labor management. The technology layer centers on the OneView Exhibitor Portal for service ordering and task tracking, FXExchange for graphics file management, SponsorView for sponsorship sales enablement, and FlexFrame, a modular booth system. Pricing is largely quote-based and RFP-driven, with material handling on a published per-pound rate and organizer services on multi-year contracts. Revenue is generated through professional services fees, transaction-based material handling and freight charges, and event-by-event service contracts.

The September 2024 strategic investment from Shamrock Capital (~$6.6B AUM) into Nth Degree provides growth capital and signals an explicit roll-up posture in a still-fragmented general service contracting market. Fern's growth in 2024-2026 has been visible through 4 million NSF of new contract wins, the addition of multiple senior vice presidents and VPs across business development, creative, and operations, and geographic broadening into Asia and the Middle East via the combined Nth Degree platform. Industry recognition includes partnership roles with PCMA's Event Strategy Center, EXHIBITOR*LIVE*, Tarsus, and a March 2026 sustainability partnership with Brumark on recyclable carpeting.

Name

Fern Expo

Legal name

Fern Exposition Services

Website

https://fernexpo.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Fern Expo is a national trade show and exposition general service contractor executing 1,400+ events annually across 200+ cities from 30+ offices. It delivers creative, exhibitor, organizer, material handling, transportation, and labor services to associations and enterprise clients through proprietary platforms including OneView and 1RATE.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Show and Exhibition Services

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events without Facilities (71132), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

General & Multi-Industry Trade Show Organizers (THAHABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Exhibition & Trade Show Management (Conference-Adjacent) (THAHACAF), Booth Maintenance, Refurbishment & Reuse Programs (THAHAHAM), Trade Show & Exhibition Marketing (Booth Design/Build) (MPAAAGAC)

Keywords

• Trade show services
• Exhibitor services
• Event logistics
• Material handling
• General contracting

Headquarters

HQ city

Cincinnati

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. General Contracting Services: Fern serves as the general service contractor (GSC) for trade shows and expositions, providing a comprehensive suite of services including exhibitor services, material handling, transportation, labor management, and creative & design. Revenue is generated through service fees charged to event organizers and exhibitors for the full lifecycle of event support.
2. Exhibitor Services: Fern provides rental exhibits, floor coverings, utility distribution, booth property rentals, and event technology tools to exhibitors. Revenue is generated through rental fees, service charges, and technology platform usage fees for the OneView Exhibitor Portal and related tools.
3. Organizer Services: Fern provides organizer-facing services including housing management, registration support, exhibit space sales, sponsorship sales, and speaker/abstract management. These revenue-generating services help organizers maximize event revenue through expanded sales reach and sponsor relationship management.
4. Material Handling (Drayage): Material handling services including receiving, storage, movement, delivery, and return of exhibit freight. Revenue is based on weight-based pricing (per hundredweight) using the proprietary 1RATE program.
5. Transportation & Logistics: Transportation solutions including LTL, truckload, dedicated trucks, expedited ground/air, and white glove services. Revenue is generated through shipping fees, coordination charges, and consultative logistics planning services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Fern Expo operates as a national trade show and exposition general services contractor, providing integrated end-to-end event support including creative & design, exhibitor services, organizer services, material handling (drayage), transportation & logistics, and labor management to trade show organizers, exhibitors, and corporate event sponsors across 200+ cities coast-to-coast. The service platform is augmented by proprietary technology including the OneView Exhibitor Portal, FXExchange graphics management, SponsorView sponsorship sales, the 1RATE transparent material handling pricing program, and the FlexFrame modular booth system.

Product overview

Fern Expo operates as a national trade show and expo general contracting company offering an integrated platform of event services. The core product portfolio centers on the OneView Exhibitor Portal (unified event logistics and task management), FXExchange (graphics file management and ordering), SponsorView (sponsorship sales enablement), and 1RATE (transparent material handling pricing). These digital tools are complemented by professional service offerings including Creative & Design Services, Exhibitor Services, Organizer Services, Material Handling, Transportation & Logistics, and Labor Management. The company also offers FlexFrame, a modular booth system. Services span from creative design through logistics execution, installation, and dismantle across more than 200 cities coast-to-coast.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• OneView Exhibitor Portal Cloud-based proprietary exhibitor portal providing unified event logistics management including collaborative task management, service ordering, deadline tracking, confirmations, invoicing, and real-time updates for exhibitors and show organizers across trade shows served by Fern.
• FXExchange Graphics management platform enabling exhibitors to share files, place graphics orders, manage graphic assets, track orders, and coordinate shipments, designed to reduce errors and rework in trade show graphics production.
• SponsorView Online tool for event organizers to showcase and manage sponsorship opportunities directly with exhibitors, supporting sponsorship sales and management workflows to help grow event revenue.
• FlexFrame Modular booth solution that eliminates traditional pipe and drape, enabling exhibitors to create near-custom booth experiences without high transportation and storage costs typically associated with custom builds.
• 1RATE Material Handling Program Simplified material handling pricing program offering a single per-pound rate with no hidden fees, minimum charges, overtime, warehouse, special handling, or marshaling yard charges, providing transparent and predictable drayage pricing for exhibitors.
• Creative & Design Services Comprehensive event design services for trade show organizers and exhibitors including concept development, 3D rendering, graphic design, signage production, event branding, environmental design, floor planning, and meeting room layouts.
• Exhibitor Services Core exhibitor support services including rental exhibits, floor coverings, utility distribution, booth property rentals, and exhibitor service attendant support before, during, and after trade show events.
• Organizer Services Strategic and operational services for trade show event organizers including housing management, registration support, exhibit space sales, sponsorship sales, and speaker/abstract management to help maximize event revenue.
• Material Handling (Drayage) Drayage and freight management services for trade shows including receiving, storage, movement, delivery, and return of exhibit freight, along with warehousing, forklift services, rigging, and packing under the proprietary 1RATE pricing program.
• Transportation & Logistics Transportation solutions for trade show exhibitors including LTL and truckload shipping, dedicated trucks, expedited ground and air services, and white glove services for time-critical event freight.
• Labor Management Skilled labor services for trade shows including installation and dismantle crews, on-site supervision, project management, and access to a nationwide labor force through the Nth Degree partnership.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15% overall show cost savings for 7-Eleven Experience event
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BrumarkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 March 2026Fern partnered with Brumark and EXHIBITOR*LIVE* to introduce a fully recyclable carpet solution at EXHIBITOR*LIVE* 2026. The initiative expands a carpet recovery program designed to reduce flooring waste from large-scale events. Fern supports the initiative through on-site execution and implementation of the recycling program, demonstrating Fern's commitment to sustainability in event operations.
• EXHIBITOR*LIVE*coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 March 2026Fern serves as the general service contractor for EXHIBITOR*LIVE*, the industry's leading conference and exhibition for trade show and corporate event marketers. Fern partnered with Brumark on a sustainable flooring initiative at the event, providing on-site execution and implementation of the recycling program.
• PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 December 2023Nth Degree Events and Fern serve as the lead agency for PCMA's Event Strategy Center at Convening Leaders, offering free 30-minute strategic consulting sessions to event organizers. Fern and Nth Degree contribute industry expertise and thought leadership to help organizers improve events and overall event portfolios.
• TarsuscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 November 2022Tarsus and Fern agreed to a multi-year partnership covering the OFFPRICE and A4M event portfolios. This partnership enables Fern to serve as the general service contractor for Tarsus-organized trade shows, providing comprehensive exhibitor and organizer services.
• Eli MarketingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEli Marketing led the College Football Playoff Fan Fest and partnered with Fern for full-spectrum production and event logistics. While Eli Marketing led floor planning and sponsorship strategy, Fern focused on technical feasibility, union requirements, and onsite execution for the 300,000+ square foot event.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• T3 Expo: T3 Expo is a trade show services company providing exhibit design, installation, dismantling, freight, and labor services. A smaller direct GSC peer to Fern with similar booth-build and show-site execution capabilities.
• Shepard Exposition Services: Shepard is one of the largest general service contractors in North America, providing exhibitor services, material handling, transportation, and booth design/build for trade shows and conventions. A direct GSC competitor to Fern.
• Freeman: Freeman is the largest general service contractor and brand experience company in North America. It directly competes with Fern across trade show services, exhibit design, material handling, and event logistics for the same organizer and exhibitor customers.
• GES (Global Experience Specialists): GES is a major global provider of exhibition and event services offering general contracting, custom exhibit design, material handling, and event logistics. Closely comparable to Fern in scale, service breadth, and customer base across trade shows and corporate events.
• Hargrove: Hargrove is a full-service event and exhibit company providing creative design, custom exhibits, general contracting, and event production. Comparable to Fern across the integrated event lifecycle, with overlap in design leadership alumni.
• SPARGO Inc. SPARGO provides full-service trade show and exposition management, association management, and event services. Comparable to Fern in serving associations and trade show organizers with operational and sales-support services.
• Hamilton Exhibits: Hamilton Exhibits is a custom exhibit design and fabrication company with full-service capabilities spanning creative, fabrication, and event logistics. Comparable to Fern's creative & design and exhibit services offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Encore Global: Encore Global (formerly PSAV) is a major event technology and venue services provider offering audiovisual, production, and event technology at scale. A broader incumbent in live event services with overlapping corporate-event customer base.
• Nth Degree: Nth Degree is Fern's parent company, delivering 13,000+ event and trade show projects annually across North America, Europe, and Asia. It is the broader incumbent platform in which Fern operates as a division, with overlapping services and global reach.

Others

• Brumark: Brumark is a trade show flooring and signage solutions provider and a Fern partner on sustainability initiatives such as the recyclable carpet program at EXHIBITOR*LIVE*. Comparable as an adjacent specialist supplier to the trade show ecosystem Fern serves.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fern Expo