Central Display

What Central Display does

Central Display Ltd. is a privately held, family-operated trade show and special event services company headquartered at #7-850 Marion Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba. It supplies trade show exhibitors, event organizers, and venues in Manitoba with a single-vendor stack spanning display rentals (Octanorm modular booth systems, fabric-wrapped 3M and 6M displays, pop-ups, registration desks), equipment rentals (chairs, tables, carpets, drape, lighting, televisions, easels, accessories), and on-site services including inbound/outbound material handling, installation and dismantle (I&D), janitorial, and graphics/signage. The core technology is a modular physical display inventory combined with a logistics platform centered on warehouse receipt, booth delivery, empty-container storage, and post-event removal, coordinated on-site at major Manitoba venues such as the RBC Convention Centre, Red River Exhibition Place, Victoria Inn, the Keystone Centre, and university campuses.

The business model is quote-based and event-driven: pricing is not publicly disclosed but is set per event through exhibitor kits and order forms published on the company website. Revenue is generated from short-cycle rental and labor engagements tied to the Manitoba trade show and convention calendar, with anchor relationships such as Manitoba Ag Days (17+ years) and recurring work with associations like PPMA Manitoba and the PGA of Manitoba. Distribution is fully direct — phone, email, web — with delivery executed from the single Winnipeg facility to venues across the province.

The firm is privately held by the founding family with key personnel (Terri, Darlene, Phil, Kevin, Nathan, Tony) working hands-on both in the office and on-site; partners have 100+ years of combined industry experience and many staff have grown up inside the company since teenage years. Operating geographies are limited to Manitoba with no disclosed expansion outside Canada, no outside institutional investors, and no M&A activity.

Name

Central Display

Legal name

Central Display Ltd.

Website

https://centraldisplay.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Central Display Ltd. is a privately held Winnipeg-based trade show and special event services company that rents display booths, furniture, and AV equipment and provides material handling, installation/dismantle, janitorial, and graphics services to exhibitors, event organizers, and venues across Manitoba.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Show and Exhibition Services

NAICS

All Other Consumer Goods Rental (532289), Indoor and Outdoor Display Advertising (541850)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Equipment Rental & Leasing (7350), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Exhibitions, Trade Shows & Booth Management (HSACADAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Trade Show & Exhibition Marketing (Booth Design/Build) (MPAAAGAC), Corporate Event Rentals (Furniture, Staging, Tents) (HSACADAI), Temporary Flooring & Ground Protection Rentals (HSACAFAI)

Keywords

• Trade show rentals
• Exhibition services
• Material handling
• Booth installation
• Event production

Headquarters

HQ city

Winnipeg

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Trade Show Display Rentals: Rental of trade show displays, booths, furniture, tables, chairs, lighting, televisions, and accessories for trade shows, conventions, and special events. Rentals are typically per event with advance booking through exhibitor packages.
2. Material Handling Services: Inbound and outbound material handling including receiving shipments at warehouse, delivery to booth, empty container storage, and outbound removal and storage for up to 5 days after events.
3. Installation and Dismantle Services: Labor services for exhibit installation and supervised dismantling of client-owned exhibits at events. Includes on-site coordination with convention show facility personnel.
4. Janitorial Services: Preshow and nightly vacuuming, trash removal, and hourly special janitorial requests for booth spaces.
5. Staging, Graphics and Signage: Staging requirements and graphics/signage services for events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Central Display rents trade show and special event equipment — including Octanorm modular booth systems, fabric-wrapped displays, pop-up displays, furniture, lighting, televisions, carpets, and accessories — and provides professional event services including inbound/outbound material handling with warehouse storage, supervised exhibit installation and dismantle labor, and booth janitorial services. All offerings are delivered on-site at venues across Manitoba.

Product overview

Central Display is a trade show and special event service provider offering a comprehensive portfolio of rental equipment and professional services. The core offering consists of display booth systems (including Octanorm modular panels, fabric wrapped displays, and pop-up displays) complemented by extensive furniture and equipment rentals (chairs, tables, carpets, lighting, televisions, drape, easels, and accessories). Services include material handling (inbound/outbound freight and storage), installation and dismantle (I&D) labor, and janitorial services. The company serves events ranging from small trade shows to large conventions at venues including the RBC Convention Centre, Red River Exhibition Place, and hotels throughout Winnipeg.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Trade Show Equipment Rentals Comprehensive rental service providing accessories, carpets, chairs, displays, drape, easels, lighting, lounge furniture, poster boards, tables, and televisions for trade shows, conventions, and special events in Manitoba. Targeted at trade show exhibitors and event organizers needing turnkey equipment.
• Display Booth Systems Trade show booth displays including fabric-wrapped displays (3M and 6M with TV options), Octanorm modular booth systems with custom graphics in 3M (10' x 10') and 6M (10' x 20') sizes, 8' pop-up displays, jewelry cases, registration desks, storage cabinets, and custom display configurations. Customers retain fabric graphics for future use.
• Material Handling Services Inbound and outbound freight handling including receiving shipments at Central Display's Winnipeg warehouse, delivery to event booth, empty container storage, and outbound removal with up to 5 days of post-event storage. Serves exhibitors and event organizers needing shipment logistics managed.
• Installation and Dismantle (I&D) Services Professional supervised labor for setup and takedown of client-owned exhibits at events, including on-site coordination with convention show facility personnel. Targeted at trade show exhibitors needing installation support for their own booth materials.
• Janitorial Services Pre-show and nightly vacuuming, trash removal, and hourly special janitorial requests for booth spaces to maintain a professional appearance during events. Serves exhibitors and event organizers needing booth cleanliness.

Quantifiable outcome

• 35 years of successful operation building reputation for attention to detail, communication, extensive inventory, and error-free service
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers13 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

Feature3 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• PRG (Production Resource Group): Global provider of event production services including lighting, AV, and staging for trade shows, concerts, and corporate events. Broader incumbent with adjacent AV and lighting capabilities overlapping Central Display's booth lighting services.
• Opus Event Marketing: Brand experience and trade show marketing agency offering exhibit design, event production, and experiential marketing. Comparable in booth/exhibit design and event production but operates as a strategic agency rather than rental-focused.

Direct peers

• Freeman: Largest global provider of exhibition and event services, offering display rentals, I&D labor, material handling, and AV for trade shows. Comparable to Central Display across all core service lines but at vastly greater scale and geographic reach.
• GES (Global Experience Specialists): Major trade show services company providing exhibit design, rental, material handling, and I&D services globally. Closest functional analog to Central Display's one-stop service model across rentals, freight, and labor.
• Nimlok: Designer and manufacturer of modular and custom trade show exhibits with an extensive distributor network. Comparable to Central Display's modular booth (Octanorm-style) and exhibit rental offerings.
• Fern Exposition Services: Trade show and event services company providing booth rentals, custom exhibits, material handling, and on-site labor. Direct competitor in the exhibition services category with similar regional chapter model.
• Orbus Exhibit & Display Group: Manufacturer and renter of trade show displays, modular exhibit systems, and event signage. Directly comparable in modular display rental and accessories (lighting, counters, fabric graphics).
• Vista Convention Services: Regional trade show services contractor offering material handling, I&D, furniture rentals, and booth services. Operates a similar regional contractor model to Central Display across multiple US markets.
• Skyline Exhibits: Designer and provider of modular trade show exhibits and portable display systems, including rental programs. Comparable to Central Display's Octanorm and modular booth offerings, with a broader dealer network.
• Shepard Exposition Services: Full-service trade show contractor offering material handling, I&D, booth rentals, and event logistics. Directly comparable service mix to Central Display, particularly in material handling and exhibit installation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Central Display