May 30, 2017

Meet Steve Levin of IDEC Displays (International Display & Exhibit Corp.) in Canton

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Steve Levin.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Steve. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
IDEC Displays has been in business since 1967. The company was founded by my father, Herb Levin, who also owned Win Deco Display Company which set up all the conventions at the then newly built Hynes Convention Center, which was built in 1966. IDEC Displays was founded to fulfill the need of people looking for display items that they didn’t know where to find elsewhere.

In 1982 I joined my father working at IDEC Displays. We had an idea for a ‘portable display showroom.’ Previously exhibits for tradeshows were larger and bulky, constructed from primarily wood. There were also metal extrusion systems, but these were just starting to be used in Europe. We had a showroom in Woburn, at the then called Northeast Trade Center on route 128 where people could come and see different types of various displays. These ranged from an “All Fabric Exhibit”, which was custom drape with corporate identity, the new popup portable exhibits, Nimlok pole and clip exhibits, Featherlite Velcro panel systems and others. The concept was for people to come to one place and see all different types of exhibits and to save money at shows by doing their own setup and inexpensive shipping.

We also continued the core business that started IDEC Displays which included offering our world class Hercul-eas easel which is used at all hotels, convention centers and conference centers. Our customers include the Marriott International, Hilton, Hyatt, Sheraton, and most other hotel chains. We also provide stanchions, sign stands.

Today we are not only providing the latest in portable and modular exhibits and following the trend of large format graphics for displays, but we also are offering larger custom built exhibits and the services related to those exhibits for our customers. We store exhibits at our facility in Canton, MA and if one of our customers has an upcoming event, we will set the exhibit up, pack and ship it to the event and arrange for the installation and dismantle of the exhibit and for it to be packed and returned to IDEC or shipped to their next event. Our customers go to events in the United States and all over the world, for which we can provide our services.

We also are continuing to grow our ‘display equipment’ easel and hospitality / conference equipment business. We just launched a new website that shows to better serve our customers.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
As with most businesses, it is not always a smooth road. Our business can be affected by the general economy. When the economy is down, companies may decide to tighten their belts and not attend trade shows or hold off on spending some of their marketing dollars.

Also, the internet has changed how we do business. The original concept of providing display equipment that was difficult for people to find was changed by the internet because it allowed people to find anything they wanted from anywhere. Also, the portable exhibits showroom idea changed because customers and prospects can look online and see the variety of exhibits out there.

However, we can compete with the internet and competitors because we work hard to provide the best quality products at the fairest prices and we offer the personalized exhibit services – along with the quality exhibits and competitive prices and combined with our more than 60 years of experience in the industry.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with IDEC Displays (International Display & Exhibit Corp.) – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
IDEC Displays provides trade show exhibits and services and displays equipment for the hospitality industry, including our Hercul-eas easels, stanchions, sign stands.

We are known for our personalized service and for our attention to details and quality and integrity of the products and services that we provide.

I’m especially proud that we have many customers who have been with us for over 25 years and even customers who will call and say that they are using the same exhibit that they purchased 20 years previously, and remember us when they decide to upgrade. The saying that “they don’t make things like they used to” doesn’t apply to IDEC Displays. Our products still last a long time and some of them are even less expensive than they used to be.

I think that IDEC Displays is different from many of our competitors because of experience, personalized service and our relationships with our customers.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
We just launched our new website, https://idec-displays.com, and blog, and are continually looking to add new products and see new trends in our industry.

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