Walk into most big conventions, trade shows, or even sporting events and you’ll likely see the Freeman name somewhere—on shipments, supplies, and staff. But lately, you might’ve heard some chatter floating around: Is Freeman actually going out of business? Are these just rumors, or is there something going on with one of the event industry’s major players?
Let’s look at what’s actually happening with Freeman right now—because, as it turns out, the full story looks a lot more stable than the rumor mill would have you believe.
Freeman’s Current Status: Still Open, Still Working
Some rumors have cropped up online, maybe because of industry gossip or changes during the pandemic. But as far as actual, on-the-ground business activity goes? Freeman is still operating in August 2025.
Their locations across the U.S. and Canada—places like Avon, OH; Downey, CA; Tucker, GA; and Elmhurst, IL—are all open for business. If you check their updates from spring 2025, you’ll see notices that these sites remain active. Customers and vendors are still walking through their doors, picking up shipments, or receiving event support as usual.
There haven’t been any official press releases about shutting down. No bankruptcy filings. No big “farewell” emails to clients or partners. So, if you’ve been hearing otherwise, that’s not matching up with what’s really happening.
Day-to-Day Business: Normal Operations, Events, and Inventory
A really easy way to spot a company in trouble is to look at its day-to-day activities. Are they winding down their operations, holding fire sales, or skipping major industry events? Freeman isn’t doing any of that.
They’re out there promoting their participation in things like CAMX 2025—one of the event industry’s key expositions. That’s not something a company does if it’s walking toward the exit. On top of that, Freeman keeps putting out newsletters. They’re sending updates to vendors and exhibitors. They’re managing inventory and even advertising regular closeout lists—basically, keeping the usual supply chain in motion.
If you’ve ever worked an event, you know these are classic moves for a company that’s fully functioning. No dramatic changes, no panic moves. Just, well, business as usual.
Routine Closures, Not Shutdowns
If you’ve noticed Freeman mentioning closures, check the details—it’s probably just a standard holiday notice. For example, in July 2025, they posted that certain warehouses would be closing for Independence Day (July 4). This kind of update happens every year, everywhere.
This is normal. Banks, shops, and even Amazon warehouses do the same thing. These holiday closures aren’t a sign of liquidation or a company in distress; they’re just part of the standard rhythm of business.
So, if you see a message that a Freeman warehouse is “closed this Friday,” it usually means it’s a recognized public holiday, not the start of a long goodbye.
What About the Pandemic? Freeman’s Recovery Story
It’s not a wild guess to say that the event industry got hammered during the pandemic. If you work in trade shows, exhibitions, or even hospitality, you probably saw friends and colleagues out of work. Freeman was very much part of that wave.
Revenue plummeted for them—reports peg it at about a 90% drop in 2021. That’s not just a bump in the road; at the time, it looked like a cliff. The company had to furlough a lot of their staff. There was plenty of anxiety among employees and clients.
But here’s what happened next: Freeman pulled a classic comeback. They made some tough decisions, reorganized how they ran things day-to-day, held onto key connections, and waited things out. As events started returning in late 2022 and 2023, Freeman’s business picked up pace.
By 2024, their revenue had climbed back to where it was before the pandemic started. Most of the workers who had been furloughed when things were tough returned to the job. In the event world, that’s pretty quick for a turnaround.
No Signs of Company-Wide Shutdowns
People sometimes think silence means trouble. But for Freeman, the “no news” is basically good news. There have been zero credible reports of bankruptcy. No widespread layoffs, no sudden office closures. No secret “insider email” has surfaced warning of doom.
You can call or email their customer service and get a response. Event organizers and vendors are still getting their questions answered and their shipments delivered. In the event business, companies that are about to shutter generally don’t keep up this level of service.
Industry insiders—people who’ve dealt with Freeman for years—will tell you that the usual stuff is all still happening. If there was a major upheaval happening, word would be out by now.
Why Do These Rumors Start Anyway?
Whenever a company goes through a rough period, especially something as public as the pandemic layoffs, folks start guessing how long it’ll last. Add in the fact that people love a “fall of a giant” story, and it’s easy to see how speculation can take off online.
Some rumors might have started because someone mistook a normal holiday closure for a permanent shutdown. Or maybe they heard about a friend laid off during COVID and assumed it was still ongoing in 2025. The reality is much duller but also much more reassuring—Freeman readjusted, rehired, and moved on.
There are also lots of smaller, less well-known companies in the event sector that did close their doors for good after 2021. Sometimes the stories get mixed up, especially in big industry forums where not everyone is double-checking the facts.
Checking the Facts: What the Available Data Shows
Let’s step back and look at some actual data points. Freeman’s warehouse locations remain listed as open on their operational updates. Their public announcements include invitations to industry events, like their participation in CAMX 2025. Their social media and email newsletters? Still rolling out regularly.
If you’re tracking the health of a business, these are all positive signs. There’s no court document showing bankruptcy filings for the company in 2025. Financial journalists who track the sector have not reported any major shakeup or asset sale. Competitors and partners are still working alongside Freeman just like before.
When you put all of this together, Freeman looks like a company in recovery, not decline. That’s what most observers—and customers—are seeing in 2025.
What About Future Stability?
No one in the exhibition and event management industry pretends there’s a crystal ball. Even now, a weird supply chain hiccup or global emergency could mess things up for anyone. But on a company health scorecard—ongoing locations, advertised events, a steady stream of communications—Freeman’s looking solid right now.
If you’d like broader insights into how businesses handle major disruptions, check out resources at Serabusiness.com for deeper dives on business continuity.
Freeman’s leadership has made a point of prepping for ups and downs in the market. They’re not taking their post-pandemic rebound for granted. There’s more focus on digital offerings and new event formats now, as well as backup plans just in case the industry hits another unexpected challenge.
Why Freeman Still Matters in 2025
The biggest reason Freeman’s ongoing operations matter is simply the scale of what they do. Hundreds of major events in North America lean on them for logistics, displays, booth setups, and general support. For event planners, knowing Freeman is still running makes putting together a trade show a lot less stressful.
Their experience, staff, and resources give them a flexibility that’s hard for smaller companies to match. Freeman knows the circuits. They have relationships with venues and industry partners and a system that can handle last-minute changes—something that’s pretty much required in the event world.
Most people close to Freeman will tell you they’re seeing more events, new projects, and even some targeted hiring. They’re investing in training and new technology. No one’s rolling out red alert warnings behind the scenes.
So, Is Freeman Going Out of Business?
The short answer: No, Freeman is not going out of business. They’re still out there, setting up exhibits, shipping equipment, sending out newsletters, posting about holiday closures, and answering customer service calls in August 2025.
The rough patch during the pandemic was real. Recovery wasn’t instant, but it did happen. By 2024, they were back to pre-pandemic revenues. Locations across the U.S. and Canada are open, and there’s no official news anywhere suggesting a shutdown or bankruptcy.
Rumors pop up any time a big player hits turbulence, but when you look at the data—open sites, active staff, continuing industry roles—the picture is clear. For now, Freeman is steady and staying put.
If you’re planning an event or working in the field, you can count on seeing the Freeman name a while longer. If anything changes, you’ll hear about it through official channels, not just word of mouth. For now, Freeman’s sticking around—continuing to do what they’ve always done: keeping the show running.