Finance & Commerce | July 27th 2017
By: Todd Nelson | Read the full article HERE
Star, which makes trade show and retail displays that highlight customer brands, has created such an environment for itself at its new Brooklyn Park headquarters.
“From a marketing perspective we’ve done a really good job of selling our brand and creating the experience that we want our customers to experience when they meet with their clients,” said CEO Mark Johnson, who founded Star in 1993.
The lobby in Star’s new 200,000-square-foot build-to-suit project features a gallery of client projects. That leads to modern, collaborative office space, a 50,000-square-foot fabrication area, a large warehouse, and shipping and receiving.
From inside a conference room, a large glass panel offers clients the “big reveal” of their new project from Star, which designs and builds displays for trade shows and conventions, corporate interiors and retail environments. Star also produces events.
“We can open up the big theater curtains and go ‘Ta-da!’ and show them the structure. There’s a door access and they can just pop out and interact with it,” Johnson said.
Amenities at Star’s headquarters include an outdoor fireplace and patio and the Hoku Cafe, serving family-grown Kona coffee amid reclaimed-wood walls. Nearby a new Hy-Vee grocery store anchors Ryan Cos. US Inc.’s 610 Zane Business Park at Highway 610 and Zane Avenue.
As hoped for, the new space is already helping business development, Johnson said. A growing medical device company that did a small project last year with Star likely will top $1 million in business this year. An out-of-state agency had recommended another exhibits company but changed its mind after visiting Star’s new home.
“It’s already making a difference for our clients,” Johnson said.
