CONVENTION & SHOW SERVICES INC

What CONVENTION & SHOW SERVICES INC does

Convention & Show Services, Inc. (CSS) is a family-owned general service contractor headquartered in Lincoln Park, Michigan, founded in 1983 by Fred Tanari. The company provides end-to-end event execution services for expositions, conventions, trade shows, and corporate events, with its largest customer concentration in Metro Detroit and recurring contracts across the United States. CSS maintains a Detroit office directly across from Huntington Place (formerly Cobo Center) and operates three regional warehouses, enabling it to handle the largest freight volume for any single event in the Metro Detroit market.

CSS delivers a vertically integrated service mix covering installation and dismantle (I&D) labor, material handling and drayage, secure warehousing, union payroll administration, floor plan and exhibit design, equipment rental (seating, tables, carpet, pipe and drape, hard wall systems), and graphics production. It holds signatory relationships with Carpenters Local 687, Teamsters Local 299, and Ironworkers Local 25, allowing it to coordinate all required Detroit-area union labor on behalf of clients. The company employs 13 full-time staff, with second-generation family leadership (Mark and Sam Tanari as VPs) and an industry-tenured team averaging 15 years of experience.

CSS earns revenue primarily through professional-services contracts for labor and logistics on a per-show basis, recurring rental agreements for equipment, and project-based graphics production. Its go-to-market is sales-led via direct relationships with show organizers and corporate event planners, supplemented by a website storefront for equipment ordering and proposal requests. Anchor customers include the North American International Auto Show (with contracts for Mercedes, Ford, Porsche, VW, Kia, and Lincoln), the Michigan Dental Association, Detroit Free Press, Detroit Boat Show, and Autorama, with newer 2026 events extending into technical conferences.

Name

CONVENTION & SHOW SERVICES INC

Legal name

Convention & Show Services, Inc.

Website

https://convshow.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Convention & Show Services Inc is a family-owned general service contractor founded in 1983 that provides installation, material handling, warehousing, union labor, equipment rental, and graphics services for trade shows, conventions, and corporate events, primarily serving event organizers and exhibitors in Metro Detroit and across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Show and Event Services

NAICS

Other Building Finishing Contractors (238390)

SIC

Construction - Special Trade Contractors (1700)

akta.pro primary industry

Venue Decor Setup, On-Site Styling & Breakdown (HSACAOAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Construction & General Labor Staffing (BPACAEAA)

Keywords

• Trade show services
• Event general contracting
• Exhibition installation
• Material handling
• Convention equipment rental

Headquarters

HQ city

Lincoln Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. General Service Contracting: Complete planning, setup, and dismantle services for expositions, conventions, exhibits, and corporate events including floor plan design, warehousing, drayage services, and I & D labor.
2. Equipment Rental: Rental of furniture including tables, chairs, carpet, cloth drapes in various sizes and colors, custom furniture, and Octanorm Hardwall System. Also includes custom rental booth packages.
3. Graphics Production: Production of vinyl and fabric signage, foam core signage, light boxes, posters, and custom cut-outs for event displays.
4. Union Payroll Services: Payroll services for contractors in the Detroit Metro area, signatory with Carpenters Local 687, Teamsters Local 299, and Ironworkers Local 25.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

CSS is a general service contractor providing complete planning, setup, and dismantle services for expositions, conventions, exhibits, and corporate events. Offerings include floor plan design, exhibit design, warehousing, material handling and drayage, union payroll services, equipment rental (furniture, carpet, pipe and drape, hard wall systems), and graphics production for signage. The company coordinates union labor across Carpenters Local 687, Teamsters Local 299, and Ironworkers Local 25.

Product overview

Convention & Show Services (CSS) is a general service contractor for expositions, conventions, exhibits, and corporate events. The company operates a services-based model combining core operational services (Installation and Dismantle, Material Handling, Warehousing, Union Payroll, Union Trades) with design services (Floor Plan Design, Exhibit Design) and a comprehensive rental equipment inventory (Seating, Tables, Carpet, Pipe and Drape, Hard Wall, Accessories). Supporting exhibitor services include Drayage, Booth Cleaning, Hanging Sign Labor, Forklift Labor, Crane Operator, and Carpenter Labor. The company also offers Graphics Production for custom signage needs. All services are coordinated through offices near Huntington Place (formerly Cobo Center) in Metro Detroit.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Installation and Dismantle Services

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE)minorOthersProfessional industry membership organization for exhibitions and events. CSS membership provides industry networking, best practices, and professional development resources.
• Michigan Society of Association Executives (MSAE)minorOthersState-level association for association management professionals in Michigan. CSS membership supports regional industry connections and association event opportunities.
• International Special Events Society - Metro Detroit Chapter (ISES)minorOthersProfessional events industry organization with Metro Detroit local chapter. CSS membership provides local industry networking and event professional connections.
• Detroit Metro Convention/Visitors Bureau (DMCVB)minorOthersOfficial destination marketing organization for Detroit Metro area. CSS partnership supports local convention and tourism industry collaboration.
• Exhibition Services & Contractors Association (ESCA)minorOthersTrade association for exhibition service contractors. CSS membership provides industry standards, benchmarking, and professional development resources.
• Cobo Center Green CommitteeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive participation in Cobo Center (now Huntington Place) Green Committee and recycling initiatives. CSS contributes to environmental sustainability programs at the venue.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• GES (Global Experience Specialists): GES is a leading global provider of exhibition and event services including GSC, design, fabrication, and logistics. Directly comparable to CSS's end-to-end event services model, with broader national reach.
• Freeman: Freeman is the largest general service contractor (GSC) for trade shows and expositions in North America, offering installation/dismantle, material handling, exhibit design, and event technology. Direct competitor to CSS for GSC contracts on major events.
• Fern Exposition Services: Fern Exposition is a national GSC providing installation/dismantle, drayage, exhibit design, and rental services to conventions and trade shows. Directly comparable to CSS's core service offering.
• T3 Expo: T3 Expo provides trade show and event services including exhibit installation, material handling, and custom exhibits. Comparable to CSS in serving convention and trade show customers with similar service scope.
• Czarnowski Collective: Czarnowski is a leading exhibit and event marketing company offering custom exhibits, rental properties, and event logistics. Comparable to CSS in targeting enterprise exhibitors and show organizers with full-service delivery.
• Shepard Exposition Services: Shepard is a national GSC offering installation/dismantle, freight handling, exhibit rental, and event management. Closely comparable to CSS in service mix and customer base of trade show organizers and exhibitors.
• Hargrove Inc: Hargrove is an event production and experiential services company providing custom exhibits, event management, and installation services. Comparable to CSS in serving enterprise clients with end-to-end event execution.
• 2020 Exhibits: 2020 Exhibits provides exhibit design, fabrication, and event services for trade shows and corporate events. Directly comparable to CSS's exhibit design and event rental capabilities.

Broad incumbents

• PRG (Production Resource Group): PRG is a global event production and entertainment technology company providing audiovisual, lighting, and staging services. Adjacent competitor — broader scope than CSS but overlapping on equipment rental and event execution for large-scale productions.

Emerging players

• EDE (Exhibit Displays & Events): EDE provides exhibit design, fabrication, and trade show services for corporate clients. Comparable to CSS's exhibit design and rental offering, though typically serving a smaller, more boutique client base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/conventionshowservices

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 CONVENTION & SHOW SERVICES INC