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About Stevens Exhibits
Stevens Exhibits & Displays, Inc., located at 3900 S Union Ave in Chicago, IL, stands as a testament to a family legacy in the exhibit business, now in its fourth generation. The company's founder, Tom McKernin, along with President Julie McKernin, Vice President Lisa McKernin, and Director Chuck Mc
Stevens Exhibits & Displays, Inc., located at 3900 S Union Ave in Chicago, IL, stands as a testament to a family legacy in the exhibit business, now in its fourth generation. The company's founder, Tom McKernin, along with President Julie McKernin, Vice President Lisa McKernin, and Director Chuck McKernin, helm a team dedicated to creating engaging and impactful exhibit experiences.
The company occupies a state-of-the-art facility spanning one city block near McCormick Place in Chicago. This facility is not just a workspace but a creative playground that has seen the construction of intriguing and imaginative exhibits over the years, including a giant working coffee pot and a Willy Wonka Oompa machine. The McKernin family's early days were spent playing hide and seek among these fascinating creations, imbuing them with a deep-seated passion for the industry.
Stevens Exhibits offers a comprehensive range of services, from new exhibit designs and builds to the refurbishment of existing exhibits. Their flexibility in managing tight budgets is evident through their custom rental exhibits and portable display solutions. The team's nationwide installation and dismantling services further exemplify their commitment to delivering exceptional results, regardless of the project's scale or complexity.
The company prides itself on its ability to build lasting relationships with clients, transcending the transactional nature of the business. This approach is reflected in their motto, "building relationships, not one-night stands." Their clients, including McDonald's Corporation, MaybellineNY*Garnier, L'Oreal USA, and Bodine Electric, have commended Stevens Exhibits for their professionalism, hard work, and the success of their display areas.
For over 56 years, Stevens Exhibits & Displays, Inc. has cultivated a reputation as a full-service, family-owned company that views clients not just as numbers, but as members of their extended family. Their dedication to brilliance in exhibit design and execution is evident in every project they undertake, ensuring that each display is not only visually stunning but also effectively communicates the client's message.
Services offered
- Custom exhibit design and build from concept through fabrication
- Pre-fabricated rental exhibit systems with customizable branding and configurations
- Portable and modular display solutions for multi-location or touring installations
- Exhibit refurbishment and renovation of existing displays
- Nationwide installation services for exhibits and displays
- Exhibit dismantling and breakdown coordination
- Budget-conscious exhibit solutions tailored to financial constraints
- Interactive and experiential exhibit elements (based on portfolio of creative builds)
- Temporary pop-up retail and promotional display construction
- Permanent installation exhibits for museums and institutional clients
- Project management coordination from design approval through post-event breakdown
- Trade show booth design, fabrication, and installation services
Planner's guide
Best For: Trade shows and corporate exhibitions, product launch events, museum and permanent installations, retail pop-up experiences and promotional displays
What planners usually like:
- Full-service capability from design through installation means fewer vendor relationships to manage and more streamlined communication
- Willingness to work with tight budgets through custom rental and portable solutions offers flexibility without sacrificing quality
- Nationwide installation and dismantling services eliminate logistics headaches for multi-location or traveling events
- Deep industry experience (56+ years, fourth generation) suggests problem-solving ability and familiarity with common pitfalls
Things to clarify before booking:
- Request detailed timeline parameters—how far in advance do they need briefs for custom builds versus rentals, and what are typical turnaround times?
- Clarify the scope of project management services included; do they handle permitting, venue coordination, or primarily build and install?
- Confirm rental inventory availability and flexibility; ask for photos/specs of existing portable display solutions that might fit your budget
- Understand their process for revisions and change orders, particularly important for budget-conscious projects
Common questions
Does Stevens Exhibits handle the entire project from concept to breakdown, or do I need to coordinate additional vendors?
Stevens Exhibits provides end-to-end services including design, fabrication, installation, and dismantling, which significantly reduces your coordination burden. However, you should clarify whether they handle venue permitting, electrical coordination, and logistics planning, or if those remain your responsibility. Their comprehensive approach means fewer external vendors needed, but confirm scope boundaries upfront.
What's the typical timeline for a custom exhibit build, and what's the minimum lead time required?
While specific timelines aren't published, Stevens Exhibits' experience with major corporate clients (McDonald's, L'Oreal, MaybellineNY) suggests they handle both expedited and planned projects. Contact them directly with your event date to discuss feasibility; their state-of-the-art facility may allow flexibility, but complex custom builds typically require 8-12 weeks minimum.
If budget is my primary constraint, what are my realistic options?
Stevens Exhibits specifically mentions flexibility with tight budgets through custom rental exhibits and portable display solutions. These pre-fabricated or modular options are considerably less expensive than full custom builds. Request their rental catalog and ask about inventory that can be customized with your branding—this often delivers impressive results at 30-50% lower cost than ground-up design.
How do they handle installation at multiple locations or touring events?
Their nationwide installation and dismantling services are explicitly positioned as a core strength, suggesting experience managing logistics across multiple venues. Ask them directly about their preferred geographic regions, whether they have regional teams or contract installers, and what additional costs apply for multi-city deployments.
What happens if my needs change mid-project or I need modifications after installation?
Clarify their revision policy and change order process before signing agreements. With custom builds, late-stage changes can be expensive; with rental exhibits, modifications are often less costly. Ask for examples of how they've handled scope changes for previous clients to understand their flexibility and transparency on additional costs.
Are there services or expertise areas where Stevens Exhibits might not be the best fit?
Stevens Exhibits specializes in physical exhibits and displays rather than full-service event planning (catering, entertainment, registration systems, etc.). If your event requires integrated event management beyond exhibit design and installation, you may need to hire an additional event planner or coordinator for those components.
Contact
- Chicago, USA
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