Downing Displays
Downing Displays is a privately held, full-service trade show exhibit designer and producer founded in 1962, serving enterprise clients with custom exhibits, rentals, portable displays, branded environments, and program management across coast-to-coast US infrastructure.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1962
- HeadquartersCincinnati, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Downing Displays does
Downing Displays, Inc. is a privately held, full-service trade show exhibit design and fabrication company founded in 1962 in Milford, Ohio by Jack Downing, who pioneered lightweight, portable display technology that could be transported in a car and set up by one person. The company designs and produces custom exhibits, custom rental exhibits, portable displays, branded environments, and experiential design solutions for enterprise clients across manufacturing, financial services, healthcare, retail, consumer electronics, media, automotive, hospitality, and government sectors. Core technical capabilities include lightweight reconfigurable building techniques, Allure Software for digital engagement (welcome kiosks, e-documents, interactive presentations), and a coast-to-coast infrastructure of nearly 130,000 square feet of fabrication and warehouse space across six US cities.
The business operates on a multi-revenue-stream model: one-time custom exhibit purchases (multi-year contracts), per-show custom rental subscriptions, recurring program management services (storage, logistics, installation/dismantle, refurbishment), and one-time portable display sales. Go-to-market is consultative direct sales targeting enterprise clients, with named customers including ADM, Mazak, JVCKENWOOD, Fifth Third Bank, HBO, Procter & Gamble, Kodak, Analog Devices, J.D. Power, and Wright Patterson Air Force Base. The company serves global markets through local partnerships in Canada, Europe, the Middle East, and the Pacific Rim, and has expanded into virtual show solutions to address the digital event shift.
Downing Displays firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Downing Displays
- Legal name
- Downing Displays, Inc.
- Website
- https://downingdisplays.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1962
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Downing Displays is a privately held, full-service trade show exhibit designer and producer founded in 1962, serving enterprise clients with custom exhibits, rentals, portable displays, branded environments, and program management across coast-to-coast US infrastructure.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Downing Displays industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Trade Show Exhibit Design & Fabrication
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Large-Format & Spectaculars (Building Wraps, 3D, Landmarks) (BPAFALAH)
Keywords
Where Downing Displays is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cincinnati
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
Downing Displays business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Custom Exhibit Design and Fabrication: Design and build custom trade show exhibits including islands, inlines, peninsulas, and double-deck structures. Pricing varies by size, complexity, and specifications. Custom exhibits represent a capital investment with long-term ownership.
- Custom Rental Exhibits: Flexible rental program allowing clients to refresh exhibit presence or reconfigure footprint from show to show without long-term capital investment. Eliminates cap-ex, refurb and storage costs for clients.
- Program Management Services: Comprehensive services including storage and asset management, show service coordination, installation and dismantle, logistics and freight, literature and promotional material management, and exhibit repair and refurbishment. Nearly 130,000 square feet of warehouse space coast-to-coast supports this service.
- Portable Displays: Backwall displays, banner stands, table tops, table covers and tents for smaller events and budget-conscious clients.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Custom Exhibits - Full ownership investment |
| Subscription | Per show | Custom Rental - Flexible access without ownership |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Program Management - Comprehensive service packages |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Portable Displays - Entry-level options |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Downing Displays product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Downing Displays is a full-service custom trade show exhibit designer and producer that designs, fabricates, and manages physical exhibit structures for trade shows, conferences, and events. The company offers custom exhibits, rental exhibits, portable displays, branded environments, and complementary program management services including storage, installation, logistics, and refurbishment across nearly 130,000 square feet of fabrication and warehouse space coast-to-coast.
Product overview
Downing Displays is a trade show exhibit design and fabrication company offering a comprehensive portfolio of products and services. The core offerings include Custom Exhibits (inline, island, and international configurations) and Custom Rental Exhibits for flexible, budget-conscious exhibit programs. Supporting services include Experiential Design with Allure Software for interactive multimedia experiences, Trade Show Strategy consulting, and Program Management covering logistics, storage, installation, and refurbishment. The company also provides Branded Environments including Corporate Environments, Retail Environments, and Museum and Mobile Marketing installations. A full line of Portable Displays rounds out the offering, including backwall displays, banner stands, tabletop displays, table throws, and backlit displays. Additionally, Virtual Shows extend the company's capabilities into digital exhibition experiences. The company operates nearly 130,000 square feet of fabrication and warehouse space across Atlanta, Boston, Cincinnati, Chicago, New York, and Philadelphia, with coast-to-coast support for domestic and international exhibits.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Custom Exhibits Bespoke trade show exhibit design and fabrication services offering inline, island, and international configurations, featuring high-end finishes, architectural elements, and customizable layouts tailored to specific brand requirements for enterprise exhibitors.
- Custom Rental Exhibits Flexible rental-based trade show exhibits available in inline or island configurations, allowing clients to update exhibit designs across shows without long-term capital investment or multi-year depreciation costs.
- Branded Environments Permanent branded installations including corporate environments, executive briefing centers, retail interiors, and museum exhibits that create immersive three-dimensional spaces to showcase brand identity.
- Experiential Design Interactive engagement activities including booth staff training, multimedia interactives using Allure Software, speed-briefs, theater presentations, and custom demo experiences designed to attract audiences, increase dwell time, and connect attendees with booth staff.
- Trade Show Strategy Strategic consulting services using a proprietary Event Marketing Brief to understand brand process, target audience, show demographics, and desired results, developing overall strategic plans for trade show program success.
- Program Management Comprehensive trade show logistics including storage and asset management, show service coordination, exhibit installation and dismantle, freight and logistics, literature management, and exhibit repair and refurbishment services.
- Portable Displays Lightweight, portable trade show displays that can be set up by one person and transported in a car, including backwall displays, banner stands, table tops, table covers, and tents for smaller events and budget-conscious clients.
- Allure Software Customizable digital applications for trade show environments including welcome screens with company logos and visitor names, e-documents for brochure viewing with email delivery, and interactive multimedia presentations, eliminating need for shipping pallets of paper.
- Virtual Shows Virtual trade show solutions enabling brands to participate in online exhibition experiences, extending trade show presence to digital environments.
- International Exhibits Trade show exhibit services supporting international shows across Canada, Europe, Middle East, and Pacific Rim, including cultural nuance understanding and local partnerships to reduce shipping costs.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 50% increase in leads compared to previous years for Lakeside Equipment Corporation
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Downing Displays
Customer profileNamed customers18 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Downing Displays technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Downing Displays partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Local International PartnerscoreDowning Displays works with local companies in international markets including Canada, Europe, Middle East, and Pacific Rim to cut shipping costs and ensure culturally appropriate exhibit solutions. These partnerships enable global reach while maintaining cost efficiency for international trade show exhibits.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Downing Displays competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Freeman: Largest global trade show services and exhibit company, offering custom exhibits, event logistics, and audiovisual production. Comparable in service breadth but operates at substantially greater scale than Downing.
- GES (Global Experience Specialists): Global provider of custom exhibits, exhibit services, and event experiences for trade shows. Overlaps directly with Downing's custom design, fabrication, and program management offerings across enterprise clients.
Direct peers
- The Trade Group: Mid-sized custom exhibit house providing design, fabrication, rental, and program management services to enterprise exhibitors. Closest comparable in scale and full-service positioning to Downing Displays.
- Czarnowski Display Services: Custom exhibit design and fabrication company serving enterprise clients with branded environments and trade show exhibits. Direct competitor in custom and rental exhibit space with similar long-tenured, full-service approach.
- Derse: Full-service exhibit and event marketing company offering custom exhibits, fabrication, and program management. Directly comparable in B2B enterprise exhibit design and execution services.
- 3D Exhibits: Custom trade show exhibit design and fabrication house serving enterprise clients across the US. Overlaps in custom design, rental, and experiential capabilities targeted at the same enterprise exhibitor segment.
- Apple Rock: Custom exhibit and display company providing design, fabrication, rental, and program management. Direct peer in the mid-market custom exhibit space targeting enterprise trade show clients.
- Sparks: Experiential marketing and exhibit design agency (Freeman-owned) creating brand experiences, custom exhibits, and live events. Comparable in custom fabrication and experiential design offerings to Downing.
- Hamilton Exhibits: Custom exhibit design and fabrication company with US-wide service, producing custom and rental exhibits for enterprise clients. Comparable in service mix and target customer profile to Downing.
- Exhibit People: Custom trade show exhibit designer and fabricator offering full-service design, build, and on-site services. Comparable mid-sized US exhibit house competing in the same enterprise market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Downing Displays social profiles
Digital presenceDowning Displays financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Downing Displays leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Downing Displays funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Downing Displays M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Downing Displays
What does Downing Displays do?
Downing Displays is a full-service custom trade show exhibit designer and producer that designs, fabricates, and manages physical exhibit structures for trade shows, conferences, and events. The company offers custom exhibits, rental exhibits, portable displays, branded environments, and complementary program management services including storage, installation, logistics, and refurbishment across nearly 130,000 square feet of fabrication and warehouse space coast-to-coast.
Is Downing Displays a public or private company?
Downing Displays is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Downing Displays founded?
Downing Displays was founded in 1962. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Downing Displays based?
Downing Displays is headquartered in Cincinnati, United States, in the North America region.
How does Downing Displays make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Custom Exhibit Design and Fabrication is the primary driver. The others are custom Rental Exhibits, program Management Services and portable Displays.
Who are Downing Displays's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Freeman and GES (Global Experience Specialists). Direct peers are The Trade Group, Czarnowski Display Services, Derse, 3D Exhibits, Apple Rock, Sparks, Hamilton Exhibits and Exhibit People.
Does Downing Displays have an API?
No public API is recorded for Downing Displays.
What industry is Downing Displays in?
Downing Displays's product category is Trade Show Exhibit Design & Fabrication. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAFALAH, Large-Format & Spectaculars (Building Wraps, 3D, Landmarks). Its SIC code is 7990.