Custom-Built, Fully Fabricated
Custom trade show exhibits are the ultimate expression of our craft. With every graphic concept, every texture and sensory element, and every method of fabrication at our disposal, this is where we take creativity to new heights. Designed and fabricated in Chicago, installed wherever your show floor happens to be.
Custom Exhibits
Some of our featured custom work.
The Custom Advantage
Six reasons growing brands invest in a fully custom exhibit, from first flagship build to ongoing show program.
Unlimited Creativity
Every custom exhibit starts with a blank canvas. We tailor materials, textures, and finishes to your brand's aesthetic so you command attention. Customization lets you control the mood, whether sleek, industrial, natural, or futuristic, with the perfect blend of graphics and architecture.
Success Story
Kamstrup
Command the floor at the water industry’s premier event.
Kamstrup needed a 40′ × 50′ island exhibit for ACE that could showcase their smart water metering solutions while establishing them as a forward-thinking technology leader among water utility professionals.
FAQs
Everything you wanted to know about designing, building and shipping a custom exhibit, answered by our team.
Most custom projects run 10 to 14 weeks from kickoff to crate-out. Discovery and concepts take about 3 weeks, engineering and approvals another 2 to 3, and fabrication plus graphics wrap up in 4 to 6. We always do a pre-show build in our warehouse so you can walk through your booth before it ships. On a tight deadline? Reach out early, we’ve pulled off some minor miracles.
The big drivers are size, materials, tech, and complexity. A 10′×10′ inline booth with printed graphics is very different from a 20′×40′ island with LED walls, interactive demos, and custom lighting. Shipping, installation, and storage also factor in. We give transparent, itemized quotes so you always know what you’re paying for and where to dial things up or down.
It depends on your show calendar. Exhibiting three or more times a year? Purchasing usually wins on ROI. Only doing one flagship show, testing a new market, or want zero storage hassle? Renting keeps things flexible. We offer both, and we’re happy to run the numbers with you based on your specific plans.
Yes, but nothing that should surprise you. Plan for storage between shows (we offer climate-controlled warehousing), occasional graphics refreshes every couple of years to keep the booth looking sharp, and transportation to and from each event. We build everything to be easy to maintain so your booth ages gracefully.
Absolutely, that’s the whole point of going custom. Share your brand guidelines, logos, Pantone values, fonts, and any existing assets and our design team matches every detail down to the millimeter. And if you’re open to it, we can also push your brand into new creative territory that still feels unmistakably you.
Yes, and we design with that in mind from day one. Your booth can flex from a 10′×20′ inline to a 20′×40′ island and back without a full redesign. Swap out graphics, rearrange structural pieces, add or remove features, all the flexibility you need without rebuilding from scratch.
We do. Nimlok Chicago offers full turnkey service: shipping, installation and dismantle, rigging, electrical, graphics refresh, the works. You show up, your booth is ready, and you focus on talking to attendees instead of stressing over logistics. We’ve been doing this for decades, so we know every show and every union floor.
Definitely. Custom booths are built to evolve with your brand. Swap old graphics for new campaigns, upgrade to larger LED screens as tech improves, add interactive elements, or refresh the finishes. Your investment grows with you, so the booth you launch with today isn’t necessarily the booth you’ll have in three years, and that’s a good thing.