Design-2-Part Shows
Design-2-Part Shows is a privately held B2B trade show producer, founded in 1975, that runs 11 regional US events connecting OEM engineers and buyers with North American contract manufacturers across 300+ process categories, supported by a magazine and supplier directory ecosystem.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1975
- HeadquartersProspect, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Design-2-Part Shows does
Design-2-Part Shows is a privately held B2B trade show production company founded in 1975 by Ben Edwards in Prospect, Connecticut, that produces regional contract manufacturing trade shows across the United States. The company operates 11 shows in 2026 spanning the Southeast, Texas, Greater New York, Greater Chicago, Greater Denver, Greater Detroit, Southeast (Greenville), New England, Southern California, Greater Ohio, and Mid-Atlantic regions. Its events connect OEM engineers and buyers — including sourcing personnel at enterprises such as General Motors, Ford, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Medtronic, SpaceX, and Siemens — with exclusively North American-based contract manufacturers and job shops. Featured manufacturing service categories span CNC machining, stampings, castings, sheet metal fabrication, injection molding, prototyping, springs, finishing, packaging, CAD/CAM software, and assembly, covering over 300 process categories per event.
The company's product portfolio extends beyond the core trade shows into an integrated media and services ecosystem: Design-2-Part Magazine is a quarterly publication reaching OEM design engineers, manufacturing engineers, and purchasing managers; the Design-2-Part Supplier Directory catalogs nearly 2,000 North American parts and service providers, with an online searchable counterpart at D2Psupplierdirectory.com; Design-2-Part Graphics provides exhibitor marketing services such as booth design, banner stands, brochures, and corporate branding; and Design-2-Part Rep Search links job shops with sales representatives across North America. Supporting technology includes electronic lead retrieval (D2Papp.com) and an interactive floor planning tool (MapYourShow) deployed at each show. The D2P Show Club loyalty program recognizes exhibitor milestones at 50, 100, and 200 shows to drive multi-year booth renewals.
Design-2-Part monetizes primarily through exhibitor booth sales, with all-inclusive pricing covering exhibit space, furnishings, signage, and promotional materials, alongside advertising and promotional listings in show programs and the annual Supplier Directory. Attendance and registration are free for qualified OEM engineers and buyers; multi-year booth contracts are common. The company maintains a headcount in the 11–50 range, operates a small set of named regional sales managers covering the Northeast, Midwest/Central, Pacific/Mountain, and Southeast territories, and reports no external funding, private equity backing, or acquisition activity. Overall, Design-2-Part functions as a founder-owned, mature trade show franchise with a multi-product B2B media ecosystem targeting US-based contract manufacturing sourcing.
Design-2-Part Shows firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Design-2-Part Shows
- Legal name
- Design-2-Part Shows
- Website
- https://d2p.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1975
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Design-2-Part Shows is a privately held B2B trade show producer, founded in 1975, that runs 11 regional US events connecting OEM engineers and buyers with North American contract manufacturers across 300+ process categories, supported by a magazine and supplier directory ecosystem.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Design-2-Part Shows industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Trade Show and Event Services
- NAICS
- Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Industry-Specific B2B Trade Show Organizers (THAHABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Trade Shows & Exhibitions (Booths, Show Management) (BPAFAGAD)
Keywords
Where Design-2-Part Shows is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Prospect
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Design-2-Part Shows business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Exhibitor Booth Sales: Revenue is generated from contract manufacturers and job shops purchasing booth space at regional trade shows. Pricing is customized based on booth size and promotional listing options. The company offers all-inclusive pricing covering exhibit space, booth furnishings, in-hall transportation, carpet, drape, table, chairs, waste basket, signage, cleaning, and promotional materials. Additional advertising opportunities include listings in the Show Program and Supplier Directory.
- Advertising and Promotional Listings: Exhibitors can purchase promotional listings in show programs and the annual Supplier Directory, which features nearly 2,000 providers of custom parts, prototypes, components, and design services in North America.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom Booth Packages |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Design-2-Part Shows product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Design-2-Part Shows produces and operates a portfolio of 11 regional B2B trade shows across the United States that connect OEM engineers and buyers with North American contract manufacturers and job shops. Exhibitors purchase booth space (with all-inclusive pricing including furnishings, signage, and materials) while qualified engineers and buyers attend free of charge. The company also publishes a quarterly magazine, an annual supplier directory of nearly 2,000 manufacturers, marketing services for exhibitors, and a sales rep matching service.
Product overview
Design-2-Part Shows operates a portfolio of trade show and media products centered on connecting OEM engineers and buyers with North American contract manufacturers. The core offering is the Design-2-Part Trade Shows series—America's longest-running regional contract manufacturing trade shows with 11 events across the United States. Supporting products include Design-2-Part Magazine (quarterly publication), the Design-2-Part Supplier Directory (online directory of ~2,000 manufacturers), Design-2-Part Graphics (marketing services), and Design-2-Part Rep Search (sales rep matching service). The Show Club program recognizes exhibitor loyalty across three milestone tiers. Together, these products create a comprehensive ecosystem for sourcing custom parts, components, design, prototypes, and assemblies through face-to-face events, print, and online platforms.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Design-2-Part Trade Shows America's longest-running regional trade show series for contract manufacturing, connecting OEM engineers and buyers with North American-based manufacturing suppliers. Features 11 shows across the United States in 2026 covering over 300 manufacturing processes including CNC machining, stampings, castings, sheet metal fabrication, injection molding, prototypes, springs, finishing, packaging, CAD/CAM software, and assembly.
- Design-2-Part Magazine Quarterly publication read by engineers and buyers at North American OEMs and product manufacturing companies, focusing on discrete parts manufacturers, contract manufacturers, and suppliers using advanced manufacturing processes.
- Design-2-Part Supplier Directory Annual comprehensive resource and online searchable directory featuring nearly 2,000 of the finest providers of custom parts, prototypes, components, and design services in North America. The online version at D2Psupplierdirectory.com is the largest searchable directory of quality North American job shops and contract manufacturers.
- Design-2-Part Graphics Marketing services for manufacturers covering all media platforms including trade show booths, banner stands, brochures, business cards, websites, emails, and corporate branding.
- Design-2-Part Rep Search Service linking job shops and contract manufacturers with qualified sales representatives across North America through a searchable database of thousands of reps.
- D2P Show Club Loyalty program recognizing exhibitors who have achieved significant participation milestones at Design-2-Part trade shows, with three tiers: 50 Show Club, 100 Show Club, and 200 Show Club.
Quantifiable outcome
- 15,000+ OEM engineers and buyers attended D2P Shows in 2025
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Design-2-Part Shows
Customer profileNamed customers20 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Design-2-Part Shows technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Design-2-Part Shows partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.
- D2Pprogram.advanced-pub.comsupportingD2P Program publication partner providing show programs and educational content for attendees
- D2Pmagazine.comcoreDesign-2-Part Magazine, a quarterly publication helping OEMs find manufacturing solutions, covering design engineers, manufacturing engineers, and purchasing managers
- D2Psupplierdirectory.comcoreLargest searchable online directory of quality North American job shops and contract manufacturers, featuring nearly 2,000 providers
- D2Pgraphics.comsupportingDesign-2-Part Graphics provides marketing services for manufacturers including trade show booths, banner stands, brochures, business cards, websites, emails, and corporate branding
- D2Prepsearch.comsupportingService linking job shops and contract manufacturers with qualified sales representatives across North America through a searchable database
- D2Papp.comsupportingElectronic lead retrieval system provider for tracking show leads at Design-2-Part trade shows
- MapYourShow.comsupportingInteractive floor plan and exhibitor list platform used for each regional show to help attendees plan their show experience
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Design-2-Part Shows competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- MD&M (Medical Design & Manufacturing): Major B2B trade show series focused on medical device design and manufacturing suppliers, organized by Informa Markets. Comparable as a vertical-specific contract manufacturing sourcing event, though narrower in industry focus.
- Automate Show: North America's largest automation and robotics trade show, organized by A3. Comparable as a major B2B manufacturing trade show connecting OEMs with suppliers, though focused on automation rather than contract manufacturing services.
- FABTECH: North America's largest metal forming, fabricating, and welding trade show, organized by SME and FMA. Directly comparable as a large-scale B2B manufacturing trade show connecting OEMs with suppliers, though broader in scope and fewer regional editions.
- IMTS (International Manufacturing Technology Show): Premier U.S. manufacturing technology trade show held biennially at McCormick Place, owned by AMT. Comparable as a flagship B2B manufacturing trade show, but focused on machine tools and broader industrial buyers rather than exclusively contract manufacturing.
- Atlantic Design & Manufacturing: Regional design and manufacturing trade show held in New York, organized by Informa Markets. Directly comparable as a regional OEM-to-supplier trade show, though broader in scope beyond contract manufacturing.
- WESTEC: West Coast manufacturing trade show produced by SME. Directly comparable as a regional B2B manufacturing trade show focused on machine tools and contract manufacturing suppliers, serving West Coast OEMs.
- AeroDef Manufacturing: Aerospace and defense manufacturing trade show produced by SME. Comparable as a vertical-specific B2B manufacturing sourcing event, with overlap in aerospace OEM customers like Boeing, Lockheed, and Raytheon.
Broad incumbents
- SME (Society of Manufacturing Engineers): Professional association producing multiple manufacturing events including FABTECH, WESTEC, and AeroDef. Comparable as a major B2B manufacturing event organizer with adjacent publishing and education offerings, but operates at much larger scale.
- Hannover Messe USA: Global industrial trade fair with U.S. presence, covering industrial automation, digital manufacturing, and supply chain. Comparable as a large-scale B2B manufacturing trade show, though global rather than regionally distributed.
Emerging players
- Thomas Publishing / ThomasNet: Online industrial sourcing platform and supplier directory serving OEMs seeking contract manufacturers. Comparable as a competitor in OEM-supplier matchmaking, offering digital alternatives to in-person trade shows for sourcing custom parts.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Design-2-Part Shows social profiles
Digital presenceDesign-2-Part Shows financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Design-2-Part Shows leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Design-2-Part Shows subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
Design-2-Part Shows funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Design-2-Part Shows 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 Design-2-Part Shows
What does Design-2-Part Shows do?
Design-2-Part Shows produces and operates a portfolio of 11 regional B2B trade shows across the United States that connect OEM engineers and buyers with North American contract manufacturers and job shops. Exhibitors purchase booth space (with all-inclusive pricing including furnishings, signage, and materials) while qualified engineers and buyers attend free of charge. The company also publishes a quarterly magazine, an annual supplier directory of nearly 2,000 manufacturers, marketing services for exhibitors, and a sales rep matching service.
Is Design-2-Part Shows a public or private company?
Design-2-Part Shows is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Design-2-Part Shows founded?
Design-2-Part Shows was founded in 1975. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Design-2-Part Shows based?
Design-2-Part Shows is headquartered in Prospect, United States, in the North America region.
How does Design-2-Part Shows make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Exhibitor Booth Sales are the primary driver. The others are advertising and Promotional Listings.
Who are Design-2-Part Shows's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are MD&M (Medical Design & Manufacturing), Automate Show, FABTECH, IMTS (International Manufacturing Technology Show), Atlantic Design & Manufacturing, WESTEC and AeroDef Manufacturing. Broad incumbents are SME (Society of Manufacturing Engineers) and Hannover Messe USA. Thomas Publishing / ThomasNet is listed as an emerging player.
Does Design-2-Part Shows have an API?
No public API is recorded for Design-2-Part Shows.
What industry is Design-2-Part Shows in?
Design-2-Part Shows's product category is Trade Show and Event Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAHABAB, Industry-Specific B2B Trade Show Organizers, with a secondary code of BPAFAGAD, Trade Shows & Exhibitions (Booths, Show Management). Its NAICS code is 56192.