Echo Media Group and Skyline Displays Orange County have partnered to create Echo Experiential, enhancing event services across industries, while Endeavor Business Media has acquired a portfolio of events, media, and digital offerings focused on residential construction. Check out our monthly roundup of new business deals. 

Event Marketing and Exhibit Service Leaders Team Up to Launch Echo Experiential 

Echo Media Group and Skyline Displays of Orange County have joined forces to form Echo Experiential, a new full-service event solution and exhibit service provider designed to be a one-stop planning shop for trade shows and business events.  

The new division of Echo Media combines marketing communications expertise with exhibit planning, designing, building, and logistics management capabilities to help bring brands to life via personalized campaigns, attention-grabbing displays, and memorable event experiences that drive traffic and engagement, according to Echo Experiential officials. 

“Echo Experiential leverages the knowledge and capabilities of two powerhouse brands to give clients a bespoke experience every time,” said John Funk, president of Skyline of Orange County. “Custom exhibit design and management paired with carefully structured communications and content allow us to touch, engage with, and capture leads from pre-show to post-show.” 

Backstory: Founded in 1993, Echo Media Group is a full-service marketing communications agency that specializes in branding, messaging, design, digital marketing, social media, public relations, and web design and development. For Echo Experiential, the Orange County, Calif.-based agency manages communications and advertising business events from asset creation to digital advertising, as well as the development of full campaigns designed to help event planners drive attendance and exhibitors to attract and capture leads. 

Context: Established in 1985, Skyline Displays of Orange County is a family-owned and operated trade show exhibits and services provider that designs custom exhibits and experiences from initial concept through asset management. For Echo Media Group, the company will provide customized, modular, and eco-friendly exhibit solutions at lower operating costs, according to Skyline officials. 

What they are saying: “The pandemic changed the thinking of many small business owners, us included,” Funk explained. “There is now a much higher interest in establishing strategic partnerships in order to expand offerings and customer bases. The key is to combine the resources of two companies who do not specialize in overlapping disciplines, and this is what makes the Echo and Skyline OC a potentially successful partnership.” 

How it works: Through creating buzz at all stages along the event timeline by maximizing coverage across all communications channels, Echo Experiential’s creative team can help trade show and event organizers develop unique content and design, create dedicated event websites or landing pages, and leverage professional campaign management tools to help optimize and track event-related KPIs. 

Big picture: “Echo Experiential is more than just an event service provider; we are storytellers and experience creators,” said Kim Sherman-Pixley, president and CEO of Echo Media Group. “Working with Skyline of Orange County, our mission is to create immersive experiences that leave a lasting impact and drive measurable success for our event clients.” 

Endeavor Business Media Acquires Sizeable Portfolio of Events and Media for the Residential Construction Industry 

Nashville-based B2B media, events, and marketing solutions company Endeavor Business Media recently acquired a large array of events and media brands from independent communications company Scranton Gillette Communications. Representing the residential construction industry, the portfolio includes 14 conferences and home events, seven publications, and an array of digital products, including:   

• Women in Residential Construction Conference 
• Women in Design + Construction 
• Extreme Lead Generation 
• Extreme Sales Summit 
• Pro Connect (series of four hosted buyer events) 
• Show Village (at the International Builders Show) 
• The New American Home (at the International Builders Show) 
• The New American Remodeled Home (at the International Builders Show) 
• Model Remodel 
• The House That Blues Built 
• The Sustainable Healthier Home 
• Professional Builder Magazine 
• Custom Builder 
• Pro Remodeler Magazine 
• Building Design + Construction Magazine 
• Multifamily Design + Construction 
• Pro Trade Craft (digital publication) 
• Products (digital publication) 
• Nimble Thinkers (data and social media marketing services) 
• 11 branded websites 
• 7 electronic newsletters 
• Sponsored email campaigns 
• Video promotional services 

More than 30 Scranton Gillette employees will join the Endeavor team, including 12 full-time journalists covering the building and construction industry. 

What they are saying: “This acquisition nearly doubles the size of our [Buildings & Construction] group and strengthens our ability to serve every facet of the building construction and design market,” said Endeavor Business Media CEO Chris Ferrell. “These brands enhance our ability to provide professionals in the buildings, construction, and facilities sectors with the most comprehensive content while offering our marketing partners access to a broader audience of key decision-makers and purchasers.”  

Why it matters: “The acquisition of these leading residential construction brands and events by Endeavor will provide strategic leverage for their continued growth and success,” said Ed Gillette, president and CEO of Scranton Gillette Communications. “I am delighted that these iconic brands and teams will be joining the strong Endeavor Buildings & Construction portfolio to forge a group that is clearly the industry leader.”  

Behind the scenes: Nick Curci, owner of Westport, Conn.-based Corporate Solutions, an investment banking firm specializing in the trade show and trade publishing industries, served as the exclusive advisor to Scranton Gillette Communications in arranging, structuring, and negotiating the transaction. “This is a very strategic acquisition for Endeavor Business Media that further strengthens their current construction portfolio,” Curci said. “The addition of these events, publications, and digital properties, along with a very seasoned and experienced team, will lend itself to even further success under the Endeavor umbrella.” 

Deeper dive: Officially closed on August 22, the acquisition marks the fourth transaction that Corporate Solutions has closed with Scranton Gillette Communications, including the sale of its agriculture group to Great American Media Services; its medical group to Wainscot Media; and its commercial construction and transportation group to Endeavor Business Media. It’s also the third transaction Corporate Solutions has closed with Endeavor Business Media, including the company’s purchase of Gallo Business Media and Scranton Gillette Communications’ commercial construction and transportation group. 

Have a trade show-related new business deal to share? Reach out to lisa.savas@informa.com and danica.tormohlen@informa.com.

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