Colortone Staging & Rentals Inc.

Privately held Colortone Staging & Rentals Inc. (CSR) has roots that go back to 1947 in White Plains, N. Y. Today it’s a leader in the audiovisual staging industry, headquartered in Cleveland, with offices in Salt Lake City and Pittsburgh. CSR provides a range of services from straightforward equipment rentals (sound systems, projection screens, video displays and lighting packages) to comprehensive meeting set up, scenic design and staging special events.

“The services we provide are on two levels,” says John Martin, General Manager of CSR's Cleveland office. “We rent audiovisual equipment but we also provide an intangible, the peace of mind for our client that their event will run smoothly. We take a great deal of pride in truly understanding our client's objective, knowing the meeting venue inside and out, and, where we can, adding something unique each and every time.”

CSR stays ahead of the competition by offering clients the latest technology in audiovisual equipment and inspired set designs for corporate meetings, awards banquets, trade shows, management conferences and special events.

“Repeatedly, I hear from our clients that it's not about the equipment. It's not about having more lights, louder sound systems or bigger screens. It’s about our people,” Martin says. “Our clients come back to us year after year because of our staff. I’m extremely proud of our team. We have the best people in the business.”

The CSR team has worked on several high-profile events such as the Winter Olympics held in Salt Lake City and the Sundance Film Festival. Closer to home, CSR’s portfolio includes the annual Inside Business Hall of Fame Awards, the Weatherhead 100, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards and numerous corporate events for The Cleveland Clinic, Sherwin-Williams, Parker Hannifin and National City Bank.

Recently, CSR has joined a national network to expand their business. The AV Rental & Staging Network (AVSN) links CSR with peer companies coast to coast. The network allows CSR to better serve its growing client base.

“Being part of a national network gives our Cleveland-based clients the comfort and support knowing we can be on-site wherever their event takes them,” says Martin. "We can continue to provide our clients with the stability and consistency of service they expect from us.”
And what lies ahead for CSR?

“Our goals for the future are to continue to grow by making the necessary investments in technology, evaluating new markets for development and training our people,” Martin concludes. “It's equally important that we make sure each event is memorable for every client.

If we can do that, we’ll maintain our position as the premier audiovisual services company in the marketplace.”