Exhibit Systems
Address: 12600 W. Burleigh Road, Brookfield
Year founded: 1992
Product or service offered: Custom tailored displays, tradeshow environments and related exhibition services that enable businesses to connect with their customers at tradeshows and other face-to-face marketing events. We have the ability to create custom modular exhibits as well as an extensive selection of standard displays to provide exactly the right solution for every customer.
Projected 2014 revenue: $5.2 million
President and CEO: Richard Magliocco
Target clientele: Businesses and organizations seeking an improved face-to-face tradeshow marketing presence. Companies who seek to connect with their clients and generate new leads.
Business organization memberships: MMAC, COSBE, BMA –Milwaukee, Accounting and Financial Women’s Alliance, Center for Exhibition, Industry Research Exhibit Designers and Producers Association
What has fueled your company’s growth? “Our industry is very unique. As face-to-face marketing experts, we assist in helping our customers stand out. Our customers know their respective industries, but they aren’t always completely successful in getting their brand and their message out in the tradeshow or other face-to-face marketing venues. That is where we fill the gap and provide the guidance they need. As a result, our customers complete each interaction with a feeling of confidence, and are more than willing to refer us to others, which fuels our growth each year. Our design expertise is also very strong, and we currently have exhibits in use that are our own best marketing tools.”
What is the biggest obstacle to your company’s growth? “Our biggest challenge really has been navigating the route that all growing companies face: standard growing pains. It’s important to us to always provide the best service possible. We refuse to compromise that for the sake of uncontrolled growth. We are careful and conscientious about how we are growing. We want to maintain our values and integrity. We also want to maintain an environment where we never commoditize our services or our displays.”
Do you plan to make any changes in your company in the coming months? “We are planning a push on reaching out to specific, identified industries where we see opportunities for growth. Our focus for 2014 has been on strategic sales and marketing efforts, including upcoming events to educate and partner with marketing/advertising decision makers in the greater Milwaukee area.”
Who are the business people, locally or nationally, whom you admire? And what traits do those people exhibit that make you admire them? “We admire those companies that are striving to go from “good to great” as we are, without losing their integrity and culture in the process.”
What is the outlook for the business conditions of your industry over the next several months? “The tradeshow industry continues to show slow growth and is projected to grow between 1.5 and 3 percent during the upcoming two years. Among our own customers, we’re seeing more interest in modular exhibits that can be reconfigured into different sizes and configurations as well as custom exhibits that set them apart from competitors, particularly in the food industry.”
What is your company’s most important growth strategy right now? “We have put careful thought in the strategy and culture we now have in place, and that will not change. Instead, we are looking to expand into specific industries and new geographic areas, while maintaining controlled growth.”
