CEI
CEI is a third-generation, family-owned design-build firm that designs and fabricates custom trade show exhibits, branded environments, and live events for enterprise clients, with in-house woodworking, metal fabrication, graphics, and proprietary sales-enablement software.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1977
- HeadquartersCanal Fulton, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What CEI does
CEI (Communication Exhibits, Inc.) is a third-generation, privately owned design-build firm founded in 1977 that operates as both an experience studio and a fabrication shop under one roof in Canal Fulton, Ohio. The company designs and fabricates custom trade show exhibits (compact 10x10 to multi-level modular builds), branded environments (museums, corporate interiors, universities, houses of worship), and live event spaces (customer events, sales meetings, roadshows, hospitality) for enterprise clients. In-house capabilities span design, engineering, woodworking, metal fabrication, large-format graphics production (Oce 5'x10' UV flatbed), interactive production, AV, logistics, and warehouse-based program management. Customer logos span Goodyear, J.M. Smucker, TimkenSteel, Diebold Nixdorf, American Greetings, Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes, Spangler Candy, Pro Football Hall of Fame, and Hawken School, among others.
Revenue is generated primarily through project-based professional-services fees for design, fabrication, and installation, supplemented by managed-services revenue from multi-show program management and warehousing. Multi-year contracts and a direct enterprise field-sales motion, with RFP intake, dominate the go-to-market. Pricing is custom and not publicly disclosed, varying by exhibit size, complexity, materials, and integrated interactive technology. The company has added a proprietary software layer — BizBOOK (cloud-based ECM with content analytics and lead management), a Virtual 3D Event Platform built on 3D WebGL, Interactive Virtual Navigation (IVN), and an AR-driven Sales Enablement Tools Suite — positioning it to capture recurring software-adjacent revenue beyond traditional fabrication.
CEI operates from its Ohio headquarters with additional warehouse/distribution capacity in Las Vegas and a sales office in Nashville, serving a North America-only customer base. The company employs 101-250 people, has no outside institutional ownership, has not raised funding, and has no disclosed M&A history. The 2020 COVID-19 disruption catalyzed the build-out of the virtual-event and software-enablement offerings, which now complement the core physical-fabrication business under a unified studio-shop model.
CEI firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CEI
- Legal name
- Communication Exhibits, Inc.
- Website
- https://ceilink.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1977
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- CEI is a third-generation, family-owned design-build firm that designs and fabricates custom trade show exhibits, branded environments, and live events for enterprise clients, with in-house woodworking, metal fabrication, graphics, and proprietary sales-enablement software.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CEI industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Trade Show & Exhibit Design Services
- NAICS
- Industrial Design Services (541420)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Furniture & Fixtures (2590)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Trade Show & Exhibition Marketing (Booth Design/Build) (MPAAAGAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Exhibitions, Trade Shows & Booth Management (HSACADAH), Modular & Portable Display Systems (Pop-Ups, Tension Fabric, Kits) (THAHAHAC), Booth Maintenance, Refurbishment & Reuse Programs (THAHAHAM), Virtual Trade Shows & Expos (Digital Booths, Lead Capture) (MPAGAOAB)
Keywords
Where CEI is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Canal Fulton
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
CEI business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Custom Exhibit Design and Fabrication: Design and build custom trade show exhibits, museum exhibits, corporate interiors, and event environments. Revenue is generated through project-based fees for design, engineering, fabrication, and installation services.
- Interactive and Digital Production: Production of interactive experiences including touchscreen, VR, AR, LED wall, and interactive game experiences. Includes software development and content creation services.
- Program Management and Warehousing: Ongoing program management for multi-show exhibit programs and secure exhibit storage across climate-controlled and ambient spaces with inventory tracking.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom project-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
CEI product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CEI designs and fabricates custom trade show exhibits, branded environments (museums, corporate interiors, universities, houses of worship), and live event environments for enterprise B2B clients. The company operates an integrated studio and fabrication shop with in-house woodworking, metal fabrication, large-format graphics, interactive production (touchscreen, VR, AR, LED walls), and proprietary software including BizBOOK, a Virtual 3D Event Platform, Interactive Virtual Navigation (IVN), and a Sales Enablement Tools Suite.
Product overview
CEI (Communication Exhibits, Inc.) is a third-generation, privately owned exhibition company founded in 1977 that operates as both a studio and fabrication shop under one roof. The company offers a comprehensive suite of services centered on trade show exhibits (custom, modular, and portable), branded environments (museums, corporate interiors, universities, houses of worship), and live events (customer events, sales meetings, roadshows, hospitality). Their in-house capabilities span strategic planning, design, engineering, creative development, carpentry, metal fabrication, graphics production, interactive production, video production, logistics, warehousing, and program/project management. CEI also offers proprietary technology products including BizBOOK (a cloud-based ECM platform for content management and lead capture available on Apple and Android), a Virtual 3D Event Platform (3D WebGL-based virtual events), Interactive Virtual Navigation (IVN), and a broader Sales Enablement Tools Suite combining AR, VR, video, and virtual exhibit solutions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Trade Show Exhibits Custom, modular, and portable trade show exhibit design and fabrication serving compact 10x10 spaces to large multi-level exhibits, incorporating architecture, materials, lighting, graphics, and digital engagement elements for enterprise B2B clients.
- Branded Environments
- Live Events Branded event environments including customer events, sales meetings, roadshows, and hospitality spaces designed to connect people and leave lasting impressions.
- BizBOOK Cloud-Based Enterprise Content Management (ECM) software platform that provides full control of content organization, sharing, team activity tracking, and key analytics, available on Apple and Android devices.
- Virtual 3D Event Platform Web-based internet platform using 3D WebGL technology and custom content management system for virtual event experiences, designed to build brand awareness, engage attendees with 3D exhibits, and drive lead generation.
- Sales Enablement Tools Suite Suite of interactive sales tools including Interactive Virtual Navigation (IVN), Augmented Reality (AR), Video, Matterport, Virtual Event, Virtual Exhibit, and BizBOOK solutions designed to advance buyers in the sales process and improve close rates.
Quantifiable outcome
- VR increases dwell time on trade show floor by over 100% compared to average 7-minute dwell time
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use CEI
Customer profileNamed customers20 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
CEI technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
CEI partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
CEI competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Freeman: Freeman is the largest full-service brand experience company in North America, providing trade show exhibits, events, and digital experiences. Directly comparable to CEI across core booth design-build, event production, and integrated experiential services, but at significantly greater scale.
- GES (Global Experience Specialists): GES designs and builds custom trade show exhibits, manages event logistics, and provides exhibitor services worldwide. Closely matches CEI's core trade show exhibit business and program management capabilities, operating at a larger scale across global event venues.
- MC2: MC2 is an award-winning exhibit and event agency that designs, fabricates, and manages custom exhibits and brand experiences. Directly comparable to CEI in custom trade show exhibit design, fabrication, and integrated experiential marketing for enterprise clients.
- Moss: Moss is a brand experience company specializing in custom trade show exhibits, environments, and event solutions. Comparable to CEI in custom fabrication, modular exhibits, and integrated program management for B2B marketers.
- Czarnowski: Czarnowski is a full-service exhibit and event marketing company providing design, fabrication, and program management. Directly comparable to CEI's end-to-end trade show exhibit business and long-term program management offerings.
- Sparks: Sparks is a global brand experience agency designing exhibits, events, and digital experiences for enterprise clients. Comparable to CEI in the integration of physical fabrication and interactive/digital technologies for trade shows and corporate events.
- 3D Exhibits: 3D Exhibits is a trade show exhibit design and fabrication house serving enterprise clients across industries. Closely matches CEI's core business of custom exhibit design-build, interactive elements, and program management.
- Hill & Partners: Hill & Partners is a custom exhibit house providing design, fabrication, and exhibit management services. Directly comparable to CEI in custom trade show exhibit production and rental/refurbishment programs.
- The Trade Group: The Trade Group designs and fabricates custom trade show exhibits, branded environments, and corporate events. Comparable to CEI in mid-sized custom exhibit design-build and integrated event environments.
Broad incumbents
- Skyline Exhibits: Skyline Exhibits is a large global network providing modular, portable, and custom trade show exhibits through a franchise dealer model. Overlaps with CEI's modular and portable exhibit offerings but is broader and more standardized, with a dealer-driven distribution model rather than CEI's direct enterprise sales approach.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CEI social profiles
Digital presenceCEI financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CEI leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
CEI funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CEI M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CEI
What does CEI do?
CEI designs and fabricates custom trade show exhibits, branded environments (museums, corporate interiors, universities, houses of worship), and live event environments for enterprise B2B clients. The company operates an integrated studio and fabrication shop with in-house woodworking, metal fabrication, large-format graphics, interactive production (touchscreen, VR, AR, LED walls), and proprietary software including BizBOOK, a Virtual 3D Event Platform, Interactive Virtual Navigation (IVN), and a Sales Enablement Tools Suite.
Is CEI a public or private company?
CEI is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was CEI founded?
CEI was founded in 1977. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is CEI based?
CEI is headquartered in Canal Fulton, United States, in the North America region.
How does CEI make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Custom Exhibit Design and Fabrication is the primary driver. The others are interactive and Digital Production and program Management and Warehousing.
Who are CEI's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Freeman, GES (Global Experience Specialists), MC2, Moss, Czarnowski, Sparks, 3D Exhibits, Hill & Partners and The Trade Group. Skyline Exhibits is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does CEI have an API?
No public API is recorded for CEI.
What industry is CEI in?
CEI's product category is Trade Show & Exhibit Design Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAAAGAC, Trade Show & Exhibition Marketing (Booth Design/Build), with a secondary code of HSACADAH, Exhibitions, Trade Shows & Booth Management. Its NAICS code is 541420 and its SIC code is 2590.