[[Category:1980 establishments in Minnesota]]
[[Category:1980 establishments in Minnesota]]
[[Category:American companies established in 1980]]
[[Category:American companies established in 1980]]
[[Category:Exhibition designers]]
Skyline Exhibits is a United States-based trade show exhibit designer and manufacturer founded in 1980.[1] Skyline provides exhibit products and services to clients in various industries, with offerings including modular exhibits,[2] rentals, digital engagement tools,[3] and graphic production. The company also offers services such as exhibit design, installation and dismantling, event strategy, measurement, and post-show storage. Skyline operates internationally and works with a network of authorized dealers and partners. The company reports serving over 3,000 brands annually in 35 countries.
Skyline Exhibits was founded in 1980 by Gordon Savoie, who turned a portable tent concept into an early form of a pop-up display. The company got its start with the launch of the Mirage in 1984, which had a fiberglass frame.
In the 1990s, Skyline expanded their product offerings and adopted new technologies:
- 1992: Adopted digital production technology.
- 1995: Began developing island booths and began to use digital manipulation technology, shared only by NASA at the time.
- 1998: Introduced the SkyTruss Foldable truss
- 2002: Introduced the Envoy system.
- 2003: Received the Buyer’s Choice Award for its Tube System at the EXHIBITOR Show.[4]
- 2005: Reported 1,200 employees across 142 locations, producing exhibits for shows in 43 countries.
- 2012: Received the Outstanding Corporate Innovator (OCI) Award from the Product Development and Management Association (PDMA).[5]
- 2013: Introduced WindScape,[6] an air-powered exhibit system.
- 2020: Introduced SkyRise.
- 2023: Added digital activations to product lineup.
- 2024: Expanded services to include strategy and measurement, and launched fast-tracked exhibit kits.
- 2025: Marked its 45th anniversary.[7]
- Large Exhibits: Custom modular designs for spaces 20′ x 20′ and larger.
- Inline Exhibits: Systems for standard linear booth sizes (e.g., 10′ x 10′, 10′ x 20′).
- Portable Exhibits: Pop-up displays, banner stands, and lightweight backwalls.
- Exhibit Rentals: Modular rental systems available in various configurations.
- Exhibit Kits: Pre-configured kits (e.g., ExhibitGO, ExhibitNow).[8]
- Digital Activations: LED walls, gamification, touchscreens, and tracking systems.
- Exhibit Design and Production: Custom design and fabrication services.
- Show Site Services: Support including logistics, installation, and dismantling.
- Asset Management: Warehousing, repairs, and maintenance through service centers.
- Strategy and Measurement: Tools and services for evaluating trade show performance.
Awards and recognition
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- Inc. Magazine Fastest-Growing Companies: 1987, 1988
- Minnesota’s Export Achievement Certificate: 2001, 2003
- Buyer’s Choice Award (EXHIBITOR Show) for Best New Product: 2003 [4]
- Outstanding Corporate Innovator (OCI) Award: 2012[9]
- Gold winner for the Minnesota Manufacturer of the Year, Best in Class: 2014[10]
- EXHIBITOR Magazine FindIt Top 40: 2018-2025 [11]
- Creativity and Key Differentiators EXHIBITOR Magazine: 2025 [11]
- Event Marketer Fab50: 2025[12]
Skyline operates through a network of dealers, resellers, and international partners. As of 2025, the company works with 19 authorized dealers in North America, 8 resellers, and 14 international partners in countries including Australia, Germany, India, Mexico, and the United Kingdom.
Patents and innovation
[edit]
Skyline holds over 100 patents related to exhibit systems.
Educational programs
[edit]
Skyline offers webinars, blogs, and guides focused on exhibitor education, aimed at informing participants about various aspects of trade shows.
Skyline has implemented a sustainability initiative called the R3 approach—Reconfigure, Reuse, Renew—which is intended to reduce material waste. By reconfiguring components, incorporating rental options, and replacing printed collateral with digital alternatives, the approach aims to reduce material waste and promote resource-efficiency. The company also reports recycling efforts at its headquarters:
- 4,215 lbs of soft plastics diverted from landfill in 2024
- 46.1 tons of metal recycled in 2024
