Brookfield Trade Show Exhibit Company Impacted By Pandemic

BROOKFIELD, WI—March 2021 marks a full year since the coronavirus pandemic completely shut down the convention and trade show industry, an industry employing millions of workers.

Convention centers have remained closed across the U.S., surrounded by hotels and businesses suffering the same fate.

A Brookfield company has felt the sting of the pandemic. Captivate Exhibits plans, design, and builds trade show exhibits, displays, branded environments and corporate interiors.

According a news release from Richard Magliocco, president of Captivate Exhibits, the company has not sold one new display since March 2020.

Patch reached out to Magliocco for a request for an interview but haven't heard back as of Thursday afternoon.

The release said the company pivoted into a full line of personal protective equipment (PPE), permanent installations of Corporate interiors and environments and launched Enclave Outdoor Structures, its new line of sturdy outdoor buildings offering separate, high-end backyard living space for home offices, she-sheds, man-caves, art studios, pool houses and much more.

Unfortunately, it still had to furlough or lay off over 60 percent of its personnel.

“COVID-19 literally brought our industry to an immediate halt,” Magliocco said in a news release. “We have never experienced an industry-wide shut down of this magnitude. Our industry needs to reopen so all its businesses, and their employees, can get back to work.”

The release said a multitude of industries depend on conventions and trade shows: hotels, restaurants, expo centers, arenas, theme parks, stadiums and airlines. Conventions bring billions of dollars in revenue to cities, states, and the federal government through taxes and fees.

"Most government bailouts have covered the businesses promoted by conventions and trade shows. Yet, convention and trade show workers are not included," the release said.

The unemployed represent union workers from many unions: trade show installers, Teamsters, trade show electricians and plumbers, stagehands, riggers, and audiovisual technicians.

These workers are facing challenges such as feeding their families, losing medical insurance, threats to pensions, and the possibility of homelessness, the release said.

"Workers in this industry are not minimum wage workers - they are trained skilled labor. The live event industry needs help and support now," the release said.

Once the go-ahead signal is given to convention centers to reopen, the industry will enforce and adhere to safety protocols.

Programs are in place to safely reopen convention centers and other venues, and return life to our economies.

"Until this time, though, the industry needs proper legislation that considers this unique situation and keeps millions of Americans from facing poverty, homelessness or worse," the release said.