SEMA eNews Vol. 13, No. 11, March 18, 2010

	The SEMA CIAPE China Business Development Conference is a low-cost way for SEMA members to explore the business potential in China and establish a strong, lasting presence in the country.

U.S. auto parts manufacturers can grow their businesses and connect with Chinese buyers by participating in the SEMA CIAPE China Business Development Conference. Utilizing a one-on-one appointment-based approach, the new event is a low-cost way for SEMA members to explore the business potential in China and establish a strong, lasting presence in the country. This matchmaking event takes place September 23–26, 2010, in Beijing, China, and is being held in conjunction with the China International Auto Parts Expo (CIAPE).

Unlike traditional trade shows, the SEMA CIAPE China Business Development Conference will pair auto parts manufacturers with relevant Chinese buyers in up to a dozen private, pre-scheduled meetings.

Registration, available at www.sema.org/china, provides each exhibitor with a private meeting space, meeting furniture and equipment, a professional interpreter, meals and hotel accommodations for the duration of the event, all for a single low fee. The program includes exclusive networking events and a VIP tour of the CIAPE trade show.

Organizers intend the conference to be a do-it-yourself event, designed for exhibitors to carry all they need in one suitcase.

"The Chinese vehicle customization market is in its infancy, but it’s quickly growing and presents the single biggest potential opportunity for members looking to expand overseas," said SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting. Given that the market is still early in development, we have built a low-cost program that is high in potential return."

CIAPE chairman Mr. Rengui Li added: "SEMA manufacturers will discover that there is a high demand for vehicle accessorization and tuning in China. Participants will hear directly from Chinese buyers and learn how they can succeed in the country."

SEMA Director of International Relations Linda Spencer noted that the event is straightforward and simple. "All an exhibitor needs to do is show up with a stack of brochures and product samples. It’s that simple."

Additional details about the event are available at www.sema.org/china or by contacting Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org.

	Secure the best visibility and traffic for your company—submit your booth application for the 2010 SEMA Show now and ensure priority space selection.

The 2010 SEMA Show season is officially open! With the online availability of the Exhibit Space Rental Agreement, now is the perfect time to secure prime booth space to highlight your company’s products and services.

With more than 50,000 buyers, thousands of new products and hundreds of feature vehicles showcasing the latest automotive tastes and trends, the SEMA Show is the single best investment of your annual marketing resources. Since 1967, the Show has helped automotive entrepreneurs reach the broadest section of industry buyers possible.

Nowhere else can you forge relationships with new buyers, strengthen existing connections and learn what’s ahead for the specialty automotive market. Exclusive exhibitor programs, such as Matchmaking, a powerful online tool that connects buyers and sellers before the Show, and the New Products Showcase, which offers professional product photography to the more than 2,000 domestic and international media outlets, also help maximize your ROI.

More reasons to secure a booth space today? Free drayage to exhibitors with 1,000 lbs. or less of freight transported to the Show in personal vehicles, discounted booth packages through Freeman and rock-bottom hotel rates negotiated by SEMA.

But most importantly, the SEMA Show gets you in front of the industry’s most qualified decision-makers. At the 2009 SEMA Show, 87% of buyers made or influenced buying decisions within their businesses, and 73% said that they purchase more products from SEMA Show exhibitors than from non-exhibiting companies.

Additionally, 91% attend the SEMA Show to seek new products and 72% hope to meet new vendors.

Don’t wait to sign up. Get the best space possible by submitting your agreement and deposit by May 7, 2010, the deadline to participate in priority space selection. Scheduled June 2–23, the three-week priority space selection process allows exhibitors to select their actual booth location.

To get started, simply access the Exhibit Space Rental Agreement online here.

The SEMA Financial Benchmarking Report is used by companies to benchmark key sales-performance indicators against industry averages. The report is available for manufacturers, WDs and retailers. The most recent editions available to the industry are the November 2009 reports. In these you will find data on sales projections, quick ratio, inventory turns, sales per employee, research and development, factory overhead, selling and administrative expense and more. Participants of the Financial Benchmarking Program receive the reports immediately. After a month or so they are made available to the industry for a fee of $99.99 for non-members, $50 for SEMA members.

In November, 44.3% of manufacturers indicated that they experienced a growth in sales compared to the same month in 2008. Nearly 35% of distributors saw growth compared to November 2008 and 33% of retailers indicated the same.

The following charts indicate the sales predictions by all three groups. Manufacturers were asked to predict sales for December 2009, and January and February of 2010. Distributors and retailers were asked to predict their sales for January, February and March 2010.

Each group was asked to indicate the segments that they sell to. For the month of November, all three groups primarily sold products related to the truck and SUV market. Table 1 includes the top-five segments for each of the three groups.

Download copies of the November Financial Benchmarking reports here.

	Watch for green technologies pioneered on the track, such as in American Le Mans Series, to gradually integrate into passenger cars (photo courtesy American Le Mans Series).

Vehicle technologies are accelerating as rapidly as an American Le Mans Series (ALMS) racer exiting a hairpin onto a straightaway. The new watchwords for automotive racing and performance include vehicle electrification, hybrids, gas direct injection (GDI), clean diesels and next-generation green performance.

For SEMA and Motorsports Industry Association (MIA) member companies, the landscape is erupting with innovation and opportunity. But where is it all going? Where are we now? And where are we headed?

The Race Has Gone Green Conference at the Long Beach Grand Prix, April 16, in Long Beach, California, will connect SEMA and MIA members to the next generation of green performance products, consumer perspectives and profit-making business opportunities, as well as many of the world's leading innovators in the next generation of racing and performance.

The conference will provide SEMA and MIA members with a timely and exclusive opportunity to gain valuable information and insights from some of the world's leading automakers, teams, drivers and organizations participating in the race, events and activities at the track.

The term "green" means different things to different people. To some, it's a fad or movement that may or may not impact them, their businesses or their lifestyles. To some it's a threat, to others it's an opportunity.

Regardless of whether you call it green, eco-friendly, sustainability, clean-tech or whatever, it's here to stay and will be part of the foreseeable future for the automotive industry, SEMA members and anyone involved with the performance and specialty-equipment industry.

The conference will include keynote presentations and panel sessions in which attendees will interact with the speakers. The outstanding grid of confirmed guest speakers includes the following as well as others added weekly:

• David Brabham, 2009 American Le Mans Series Champion, will discuss what it takes to race energy-efficient vehicles and how racing will play an important role in the growing demand for energy-efficient vehicles and products.

• Scott Atherton, CEO American Le Mans Series, will share his vision for the green future of motorsports.

• Les McTaggart, Senior Technical Director, IZOD IndyCar Series, will reveal the new engines, chassis and look of the 2011 IndyCar Series and the resulting new-product opportunities.

• Lord Drayson, UK Minister of Science, team owner and ALMS driver, will explain the global energy, science and economic policies that will shape the future of green motorsports and its commercialization.

• Peter Digby, Managing Director, Xtrac, a leading transmission supplier, will share what has made his company's venture into green racing so successful.

• Forrest Patterson, Technical Director, Michelin Green-X Challenge, a leading racing industry supplier, will explain how he's translated green racing success into consumer product sales.

• Jamie Allison, Director, Ford North America Motorsports, will tell us all about the automaker’s '34 Ford Hot Rod with a replacement displacement 400hp 3.5L twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 that easily rivals a typical hot rod's 302ci V8 or even similar-sized modern V8s. Talk about a crate engine!

• Robert Davis, Senior Vice President, Product Development and Quality for Mazda North American Operations, responsible for the company's North American motorsport programs under the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development banner, including involvement in the American Le Mans Series; Grand Am GT; Continental Tire Challenge; Star Mazda Championship; USF2000 Championship; and Playboy MX-5 Cup and partnerships with BP; Skip Barber; Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca; and Patrick Dempsey. Robert will discuss how Mazda utilizes motorsports from an R&D perspective and integrates it into their ongoing Sustainable Zoom-Zoom initiative.

• Mike Stewart, Leader, Motorsports Engineering Group, Honeywell Turbo Technologies, Garrett, will focus on how Garrett's Aftermarket Group is developing specialty-equipment applications to increase fuel efficiency as well as performance and effectively demonstrating that green power and horsepower can coexist.

• Steve Pruitt, Owner, Corsa Motorsports Ginetta-Zytek hybrid ALMS racer, who owns what The Wall Street Journal called "The World's Baddest Hybrid," will tell you all about his vehicle and performance program and how he's commercializing and selling his innovative kinetic energy recovery system (KERS).

• Eric Cahill, Senior Director, Progressive Automotive X Prize, will provide attendees an insider's view and update on one of the most innovative competitions designed to showcase and inspire a new generation of viable, safe, affordable and super fuel-efficient vehicles that people want to buy.

• Mike Cooperman, Senior Director of Marketing, J.D. Power Web Intelligence, will discuss the latest market research and major behavioral differences between green consumers and the average consumer and how those differences impact the auto industry. This groundbreaking research will focus on the intersection of green consumers and auto enthusiasts and define the size of this market and the messages that resonate with green consumers.

"Truly great competitions are aligned with the best motor-racing venues in the world, and the benefits of competing extend well beyond the checkered flag," said John Waraniak, SEMA vice president of vehicle technology. “In fact, the most important race is not on the track. Once the finish line is crossed, you are left with innovations and proven technologies that impact what you and I drive today and tomorrow. The ALMS championship is an excellent example of relevant racing and represents the future of racing.

“Commercialization and consumer acceptance of green performance technologies are the multipliers to achieving industry growth, increased sales and market share,” Waraniak added. “Innovation doesn't come from the discovery of technology but from being the first to use technology to meet consumer needs and wants.

"Next-generation performance isn't just about powertrains—it's about making vehicles lighter and more aerodynamic,” Waraniak concluded. “It's about better brakes, performance wheels and tires, replacing mechanical systems with electronics, better lubrication, increased cooling and so on—many of the same things that gave birth to the hot-rod industry and were on display at the first SEMA Shows under the bleachers in Dodger Stadium and at Anaheim back in the '60s."

To sign up for the conference, visit www.SEMA.org/racegonegreen. The $275 fee for SEMA members ($375 for non-members) includes not only admission to the conference and its wealth of information and business networking opportunities, but also a luncheon and paddock tour where attendees will meet and talk with team owners, drivers, crew chiefs and engineers on pit row.

Sign up today and accelerate your company to profitability, or be left at the starting line.

Why not make it a weekend in Long Beach? Click here for SEMA-member discount Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach tickets.

	Restylers and installers can add to their skill sets by attending PRO's Technical Skills & Training Conference at the University of Northwestern Ohio.

The Professional Restylers Organization (PRO) is launching the Technical Skills & Training Conference (TSTC), a new technical training program designed specifically for restylers and installers. Scheduled for Friday, April 30, at the University of Northwestern Ohio (Lima, Ohio), this one-day program not only offers a valuable opportunity to network with industry peers, but is also packed with installation training and product knowledge direct from the product manufacturers.

Twelve, one-hour seminars/workshops (with two classes running concurrently throughout the day) are offered by companies such as Webasto, Katzkin, Audiovox, Restyler’s Choice, Eagle Enterprises and more, with sessions offered in the following tracks:

-Leather
-Sunroofs
-12-Volt
-Truck Accessories
-Towing and Suspension
-Diesel Performance
-Self-Adhesive
-ASE/A6 Electrical

The event will also feature a “bullpen,” an area offering hands-on experience in addition to classroom training. Cost to attend is $25 for the first attendee from each company, $15 for each additional person. The price includes a catered breakfast, lunch and evening reception; admission to the PRO council General Membership Meeting (learn about PRO, what it's doing for the industry and how to get involved); and entrance to the PRO Long Range Planning meeting (for PRO members, Saturday, May 1).

Don’t wait until the event is full—click here to sign up!

For more information, visit www.sema.org/TSTC.

For discounted hotel rates in the area, contact the following (you must mention UNOH when making reservations):

• Comfort Inn: $62.99
  Elizabeth at 419/228-4251
• Wingate Inn: $72
  419/228-7000
• Fairfield Inn: $70
  Mike at 419/224-8496
• Country Inn & Suites: $85
  419/999-9992
• Holiday Inn & Suites: $89
  Allysia at 419/879-4000

 

	Several students who attended a 2008 SEMA Show welcome reception received association scholarships, including Clemson University's Reza Saeidpourazar (far left), a $2,000 graduate award winner.

It’s not too late to apply for the SEMA Scholarship or Loan Forgiveness Program! But don’t wait; the deadline to apply is April 2, 2010. If you're a student preparing for a career in the automotive industry, SEMA can lend a hand.

The SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund is dedicated to fostering the next generation of industry leaders and innovators, offering scholarships to today’s brightest students at universities, colleges and/or vocational schools in the United States and Canada. Awards range from $1,000–$2,000, with $4,000 going to the top student.

And if you're a recent graduate with outstanding student loans, we can help, too. The SEMA Loan Forgiveness Program is dedicated to helping recent graduates off to successful starts in their automotive aftermarket careers, offering a minimum of $1,000 toward outstanding student loans for individuals employed by SEMA-member companies.

Apply Online Today

If you know someone who can benefit from these programs, point them to www.sema.org/scholarships for details on applying for the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund or SEMA Loan Forgiveness Program.

New for 2010: the opportunity to showcase your products and services within our popular weekly electronic newsletter. Limited online advertising programs are currently available and began with the March 11 edition (Volume 13/Issue 10) of SEMA eNews. Begin expanding your brand messaging this week!

To place your classified order now, or to inquire about opportunities in eNews, contact Motor Media Inc. at sales@motormediainc.com or 818/248-4449.

	The all-new SEMA-member Pay Per Buyer (PPB) benefit program is designed to help SEMA reseller members sell more product by reaching the consumer at the point of sale.

The all-new SEMA-member Pay Per Buyer (PPB) benefit program is an online auto parts consumer comparison shopping network of more than 60 different websites and forums that draws more than four million visitors monthly. Example sites include EnjoyTheDrive.com, StreetPerformance.com, AutoWeek.com and more.

"Resellers represent one of the largest and most important membership groups within SEMA, and we’re always looking to provide new programs and services that will help them grow their businesses," said Nathan Ridnouer, SEMA’s vice president of membership and councils. "The PPB program offered through our affiliate partner, Digital Performance Inc., will provide our members with the ability save money on a great marketing platform that will give them greater control and the ability to track their online ad campaigns.”

Gigi Ho, founder of Digital Performance Inc., added: "By participating in this program, SEMA reseller members have the opportunity to sell more product by reaching the consumer at the point of sale. This partnership with SEMA adds so much value to our already successful program by providing another effective way to connect the buyer with the seller."

The PPB program offers many benefits that you simple don’t get with conventional pay-per-click (PPC) programs:

• Consumers can search for products by year, make, model, manufacturer, category or part number.
• Product listings only appear to a site visitor specifically shopping for a brand of a product. That means they are "hot leads."
• Resellers pay only for buyers who click on the "shop now" button and land in their eCommerce store product landing page. Buyers with no interest don’t click, and resellers don’t pay.
• SEMA members receive a 50% discount on the initial deposit and a 15% discount on the Pay Per Buyer program rate.

For more information and enrollment, visit www.SEMA.org/PPB, contact Monica Terlouw, SEMA member outreach director, at MonicaT@sema.org or call 909/978-6695.

For questions regarding all SEMA-member benefit programs, e-mail Member@sema.org.

	If gas prices hit $4 or above, nearly three-quarters of enthusiasts will cut spending on parts and consider switching to a more fuel-efficient car, according to SEMA research.

Four, it turns out, is the magic number.

That’s the amount, in dollars, that 72% of auto enthusiasts will have to start paying for a gallon of gas before seriously considering the purchase of an alternative-fuel vehicle.

Unfortunately for the industry, it’s also the price threshold where 35% said they would cut spending on specialty parts and equipment, according to findings from a SEMA report using data gathered at the 2009 SEMA Show. In an effort to better analyze the tastes and preferences of today's auto enthusiasts, SEMA, in coordination with Ford, launched the Enthusiast Opinion Leader Research Program at the 2009 SEMA Show.

The program invited 527 enthusiasts, selected through a rigorous application process, to the second day of the Show and tasked them with using social media to broadcast their personal product and trend highlights of the Show. They also participated in SEMA's survey to better discern their buying habits.

Of those who said they would decrease spending on parts and accessories, the majority (15%) figured they would cut by 5% or less. Combined, however, 55% said they would cut by 15% or less. Racing enthusiasts were among the most immune to rising gas prices; 37% of them said they would only cut spending by 5% or less.

SUV/truck owners and off-roaders, on the other hand, said they’d feel higher gas the most. Half said they would reduce spending by 21% or more.

Still, there’s heartening news, as it seems what’s good for national fuel consumption is good for the specialty-equipment industry. An equal amount of enthusiasts (23%) who had already switched to, or added, a fuel-efficient vehicle to their personal fleet said the new addition either had no impact on their parts spending, or allowed them room to spend more.

Finally, bless 'em, the holdouts, those for whom price at the pump is of minor consequence: 15% said they would never own an alternative-fuel vehicle, while 23% never plan to buy even a fuel-efficient vehicle.

 

	J.D. Powers' Mike Cooperman will examine why Gen Y is not as car crazy as previous generations during the 2010 Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium in May.

Surrounded by a world of social media and mobile technology, members of Generation Y apparently don't have the same motivation toward all things automotive. That's according to new research from J.D. Power and Associates that will be presented by Mike Cooperman, senior director of marketing for the company's Web Intelligence division at the 2010 Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS). GAAS 2010 will be held at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare near Chicago, May 18–19.

Cooperman's presentation, "Gen Y Shifting Away From Cars," will look at whether Gen Y cares about their cars in the same way that Gen Xers and Boomers do. In addition, he will also look at how the evolution of "green" consumers will impact their opinions on automotive brands. Cooperman directs all aspects of the division’s marketing and promotion efforts from strategic development to tactical implementation. He recently guided the design and development of the J.D. Power Business Center, a centralized web portal for clients.

Nearly 30 speakers and panelists are set for GAAS 2010, and a brochure detailing each of their presentations is available for download at www.globalsymposium.org. Members of the associations that sponsor GAAS are eligible for discounted registration fees of $200 off regular rates when they register by April 1, 2010. GAAS 2010 room rates at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare are $168 (single or double) and are guaranteed at this rate through April 16. Reservations can be made by phone at 800/233-1234, or 847/696-1234. Be sure to mention GAAS 2010 to obtain the discounted group rate.

The annual two-day GAAS brings together industry leaders and experts to examine the issues and trends affecting the automotive aftermarket and influencing its future. For more information on GAAS 2010, visit www.globalsymposium.org or call 301/654-6664. You can connect with GAAS 2010 through Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn and Twitter.

	SEMA Vice President of Technology John Waraniak will moderate a panel discussion addressing how simulation technologies can speed products to market.

Leading automakers and suppliers use simulations to accelerate the new-product development process, and now so can your company! Learn how through a new SEMA webinar set for Thursday, March 25, at 10:00 a.m. (PDT).

"Simulation Technologies to Speed the Aftermarket Product Development Process" will teach you the tools, rapid controls prototyping techniques (not to be confused with rapid parts prototyping techniques) and systems engineering methods that the automakers use to develop new products and integrate mechanical and electronic vehicle systems. These proven methods can improve performance and time-to-profit for a huge variety of products.

John Waraniak, SEMA vice president of technology, moderates the panel discussion, which includes Ed Browalski, president of Advanced Controls Engineering Consultants; Kevin Kott, president of dSPACE; Santhosh Jogi, engineering director of dSPACE; and Tom Gillespie, founder of Mechanical Simulation (CarSim).

As with all SEMA webinars, the information provided in the simulation technologies presentation is free to SEMA members and only $29 for non-members. Participate in the live presentation or download the webinar at your convenience.

Visit www.SEMA.org/events/webinars to register.

The deadline to register for the SEMA Installer Certification Exams is Wednesday, April 7. For more information, contact Beverly Rosen at beverlyr@sema.org.

All six of the SEMA exams will be administered on Thursday, May 6, at more than 700 test centers in the United States and Canada. The exams include: Electric Sunroofs (Z1); Truck Accessories/Body Exterior Components (Z2); Leather Interiors (Z3); Roof Treatments (Z4); Custom Wheel and Tire (Z5); and Self-Adhesive Products (Z6).

Certification is more than third-party validation of an installer's skills and expertise. Certification demonstrates a commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction, and delivers a quality advantage essential to making your business stronger and more competitive.

Test materials and registration forms are available online at www.sema.org/certification.

	Titan Motorsports' blog is one way the company is attracting enthusiasts to its site and staying connected with its customer base.

While you may not find yourself posting about what you had for breakfast this morning on Facebook or Twitter, your customers are likely using these services to express theirselves, receive news, review products and conduct personal research. The days when your customers would simply go to your website for the latest news and product information are long gone.

Instead, social media networks, such as blogs, Twitter and Facebook, are channeling this information out to the world at a blazing rate. From a business standpoint, social media is important—it allows you to personalize your interaction with consumers while differentiating yourself from the thousands of other businesses competing on the web.

With information being published through so many sources, it can become difficult to track content without having multiple windows scattered around your computer's desktop. Rather than devoting a full-time employee to monitor this content, there are now companies developing specialized products and services to help streamline your social media interactions and help make this sea of information manageable.

An easy and effective way to keep your customers up-to-date on new releases and company news is a blog or a web blog. One of the tools available is Word Press, which offers many great free themes and plug-ins for the ultimate customization to power your blog. WordPress can be downloaded from www.wordpress.org; installation instructions are available on the site as well. Once you’ve got your blog setup and customized to fit your brand, two simple automation techniques will allow you to broadcast your blog postings directly to your Twitter and Facebook followers.

The first service, Twitterfeed.com, exports your blog postings directly to your Twitter account simply by inputting your RSS feed and providing access to your account. A similar task can be performed on your Facebook page by entering your RSS feed in the Notes tab, which publishes a brief synopsis and thumbnail on your wall with each new blog posting.

While blog and forum postings help get news and information out, using social media to the fullest allows you to see what current and future customers are saying about your company and products. Companies are now developing products that harvest this information to allow for easy display and interaction with your social media accounts in one convenient window. One product available that can help collect and organize this information is a program called Seesmic Desktop.

After merging a similar competing product Thwirl in 2008, Seesmic was developed and improved into an easy-to-use “one-stop” console. Seesmic Desktop is a free program that coincides with Adobe Air framework allowing you to monitor and interact with multiple Facebook and Twitter accounts in one convenient window.

Accessible through both Macs and PCs, the console features various views and customizable columns to help organize your workflows. The console displays individual accounts in separate columns while offering capabilities of condensing and hiding duplicate postings. This becomes a real benefit when managing multiple accounts with the same followers.

Seesmic does more than just display your social feeds in one convenient window. Features such as integrated interest groups, trend watching, searches and notifications allow you to track topics and make for easy interaction. Interest lists and groupings allow you to easily locate your potential followers. This helps you generate a more specific group of followers to reach out to. Finding keywords in users’ postings can be saved and refreshed for instantaneous discussion updates. Users’ postings can be searched via keywords and then saved and refreshed for instantaneous discussion updates.

Scouting Twitter for user feedback on a new product, event or topic can easily be viewed in the same window. These search queries can also be saved for access and review at a later date. Alert notifications can be set to notify you of new postings and/or messages using visual or audio notifications, all of which can be customized to various levels. Postings can include automatically hosted photos and videos, as well as shortened text and integrated URL addresses. These are all useful and key features for frequent social media users.

As new platforms and technologies come to market, the need to adapt becomes an increasing challenge and a necessity to stay relative. As experiences with products and companies get reviewed by people all over the world on public forums and social media platforms, the need to quantify this data and address issues will become increasingly more difficult to manage.

The programs we use to manage these feeds will work to adapt with the changing of social environments, all while trying to remain easy to use. Keeping customers up-to-date, tracking the response to our products and services and even making sure we’re one step ahead of our competition at any given point is what ultimately makes the most of our social network. Social media is here to stay. —Baadal Deliwala, Nikki Contenti and Wes Bourne, Titan Motorsports

Updated pickup-bed dimension reference sheets and updated keyless entry wiring sheets are now available as downloadable PDFs on the Light-Truck Accessory Alliance (LTAA) website. Go to www.sema.org/ltaa to download the latest versions. Both sheets are excellent reference tools for salespeople and installers. If your particular application is not listed, contact Jim Skelly at jimsk@sema.org with a request, and LTAA will try and add it.

In a move that’s raising eyebrows in the online marketing world, Google is intimating that companies with websites that download faster than those of competitors could soon be given preference in Google search-engine returns. The statement, made by Matt Cutts, a high-profile software architect at the web-search titan, reflects a larger initiative underway at Google in which the company is searching for ways to make web browsing even faster and easier. [Read More]

	Scott O'Toole of Motor State Distributing can help business owners learn the ropes of the new PIES data standards template.

The latest PIES Data Standards Training Template (Revision 4) is now available for download from the SEMA Business Technology Committee (BTC).

The Product Information Exchange Standard (PIES) is a standard developed by the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) to define the attributes of automotive products, including (but not limited to) brand ID, description, price, dimensions and weights, NAFTA, UPC and HAZMAT. PIES is a living standard and continues to evolve based on the business practices and marketplace needs.

Revision 4 of this training tool debuted during the 2009 SEMA Show Education Days. The SEMA BTC has increased template size and layout for 2010 to include 20 additional data fields (expanded pricing, descriptions, digital assets, etc.) at the request of vendors and the receivers of their product data. Many other additional tools and resources reside within the training template and are just a point-and-click away for template users.

SEMA, working with Scott O’Toole at Motor State Distributing, has developed this step-by-step product information training template to meet the needs of most companies in the industry. If you have questions about using the template, the content that needs to be input or why this type of product information is important, contact Scott O’Toole at Motor State Distributing at 269/463-4113 or Staci Bostock at SEMA at 909/396-0289, ext. 104.

SEMA and the members of the BTC are dedicated to helping all companies work smarter using technology!

Earlier this year, GM debuted the CTS-V Coupe at the Detrtoit Auto Show. Now Brenda Priddy's photo network bagged this latest piece of Cadillac's puzzle, the 2011 CTS-V wagon. Like other V-series cars, the CTS-V wagon will wear a wire mesh grille, a power dome hood, wider wheels and tires, larger brake calipers and sportier body work.

Under that power dome hood sits the now familiar LSA, a 6.2L, supercharged V8 good for 556hp and 551 ft lbs in the CTS-V sedan. Expect the wagon specs to be similar. Look for it in showrooms by late summer or fall.

Photos copyright Brenda Priddy & Company. Reuse or reproduction without copyright holder's consent is prohibited.

The U.S. Senate passed a SEMA-supported bill to extend various expiring tax credits and deductions, including the Research and Development (R&D) Tax Credit. The House of Representatives passed a different version of the $140 billion bill last December. The legislation must now be reconciled into a single bill. It is unclear how long that process will take since the House and Senate took different approaches on some of the issues.

The R&D Tax Credit lapsed on December 31, 2009, marking the 14th time it had expired since being enacted into law in 1981. SEMA joined more than 100 associations and companies within the R&D Credit Coalition urging Congress to make the credit permanent (or for as long as possible given current budget constraints). The credit offsets costs for companies investing time and money in new technologies and is applicable to both in-house and outside research within the United States.

Both the House and Senate bills would renew the credit for one year, retroactive to January 1, 2010. For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein.

SEMA-opposed legislation to provide that the noise from a motor-vehicle exhaust system that has been deemed “disturbing or unreasonably loud” constitutes the crime of disturbing the peace is dead for the year. Under the bill, violators could have been fined up to $1,000 per occurrence, jailed for six months or both.

Among other things, the bill did not supply law enforcement with an enforcement standard, allowing them to make subjective judgments on whether an exhaust system is “disturbing or unreasonably loud”; failed to recognize that a better way to address this issue is by establishing a fair and reasonable exhaust noise decibel limit; ignored the fact that aftermarket exhaust systems are designed to make vehicles run more efficiently without increasing emissions; and would make it difficult for hobbyists to replace factory exhaust systems with more durable, better-performing options.

For details, contact Steve McDonald.

The House Resources Committee held a hearing on the Colorado Wilderness Act, a bill to designate 850,000 acres in 34 separate areas as wilderness. No motorized activity is permitted in such designated lands. The areas include lands around Redcloud Peak, Dolores River Canyons, the Palisade, Bull Gulch and Browns Canyon.

Most of the land is managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service. Representatives for both federal agencies testified that the legislation is too sweeping and should exclude certain areas where motorized recreation, mining, timber harvest and other activities currently exist.

SEMA supports land-use decisions that are reasonable and enjoy local community support. SEMA opposes legislation, such as the current bill, however, which threatens to prohibit recreation without sufficient public consensus. To learn more about off-road issues, visit SEMA’s “Land Use Policies and Off-Road Recreation” guide. For questions, contact Ethan Landesman at ethanl@sema.org.

California Assemblymember Tony Mendoza, born in South Central Los Angeles, is the second youngest of nine children. As a young man living in a single-parent home, he witnessed firsthand the struggles of working families and the opportunities that a good education provides. [Read More]

Don Garlits’ accomplishments in drag racing are literally the stuff of legends. He won his first NHRA race in 1955, turned pro three years later and amassed a career total of 144 national event wins and 17 championships.

Check out this photo, taken by longtime drag-race photographer Bob McClurg, showing Don Garlits and Swamp Rat XII, a rail he first drove at the winternationals in 1968.

ROAD WORK: Will Power overtook Ryan Hunter-Reay in the final minutes of Sunday’s São Paulo Indy 300 on the Streets of São Paulo, Brazil, to earn his second IZOD IndyCar Series victory. Track officials worked throughout the night to prepare the front stretch, which was so slick that it was causing cars to spin out while going straight during practice.

BREAK UP: The Badger Midget Auto Racing Association (BMARA) and Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, have ended their 63-year relationship. Angell Park will sanction its own midget series this year while the BMARA plans to race regularly at Beaver Dam (Wisconsin) Raceway Park.

CRASH ADVERTISING: Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage has launched an ad campaign for his upcoming NASCAR Sprint Cup event April 18 featuring images from the Edwards/Keselowski incident at Atlanta Motor Speedway earlier this month, including the keyword—approved—which refers to NASCAR’s punishment (or lack there of) of Edwards for the incident.

NEXT GEN: Ben Kennedy, son of International Speedway Corp. Chairman Lesa France Kennedy, will race full time at Florida’s New Smyrna Speedway in the late-model division with sponsorship from iRacing.com.

FORD NATION: The Pro All Stars Series has become the latest asphalt-late-model racing organization to finalize a contingency program with Ford Racing, joining the American-Canadian Tour and the Champion Racing Association.

NEW GIG: Talladega Superspeedway President Rick Humphrey has been named the managing director of business operations for International Speedway Corp.

GATOR CHOMP: John Medlen, an employee with John Force Racing for 15 years, left the team during the Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville (Florida) Raceway to join Don Schumacher Racing as co-crew chief for Funny Car driver Matt Hagan.

GOLDEN GRAHAM: Graham Rahal will drive the No. 67 Dollar General Sarah Fisher Racing entry during the IZOD IndyCar Series events at St. Petersburg, Florida, March 28 and Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds, Alabama, April 11.

PERFECT DEBUT: Fernando Alonso made his Ferrari debut memorable by winning the Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit Sunday.

AGREEMENT: Fans of the IZOD IndyCar Series will again be able to watch the series on DirecTV. An agreement was reached Monday to resolve a six-month dispute between the network and the satellite television provider.

SUBSCRIBE: National Speed Sport News has been published weekly since 1934. Subscribe to National Speed Sport News for a special industry rate.

	Defending Top Fuel world champion Tony Schumacher took the points lead with his win this past week at Gainesville Raceway in Florida.

NEWS NUGGETS

THE CHAMP IS BACK!; SCHUMACHER GRABS FIRST WIN OF THE SEASON AND POINTS LEAD IN GAINESVILLE: It only took three races, one No. 1 qualifier, seven round wins and a Wally at the third race of the season, but seven-time and defending Top Fuel world champion Tony Schumacher took the points lead with his win at the Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals this past week at Gainesville Raceway in Florida. It was Schumacher’s fourth win at the historic track and 62nd of his career, the most all-time in the Top Fuel category.

Even more impressive than his final-round win over teammate Antron Brown was Schumacher’s semifinal win over longtime rival, Larry Dixon, when Schumacher set a national record for speed, driving his U.S. Army dragster to a blistering 324.98-mph run.

"This is absolutely special," said Schumacher. "First of all, this is the Gatornationals; it’s Gainesville. I’ve won it four times now. But my lights have been bad at the first two races. We’ve had a car that could win, and I’ve been doing everything I can. We finally started working on it hard, and we needed that confidence; I needed that confidence again. That was perfect. It was exactly what we had to go out and do at the exact right time."

Schumacher was joined in the winner’s circle by Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car), Jason Line (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

For Wilkerson, it was also the first win of the season and boosted the driver back into the Top 10 point standings in Funny Car. Wilkerson was able to hold off teammate and defending Gatornationals winner Bob Tasca in the final round to collect his 14th career win.

Line was able to hold off the hot-handed Mike Edwards to successfully defend his 2009 Gatornationals win and earn his third win at the track. The win also gave Line the boost he needed, pushing him all the way up to fourth place and into the Top 10 point standings.

Former world champion Krawiec held off Shawn Gann in the final round en route to his first win of the season at the first race of the season for the Pro Stock Motorcycle category. For more results from the Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals, visit www.NHRA.com.

Mike Edwards earned his second-straight win of the season and 22nd of his career.

EDWARDS WINS DELAYED ARIZONA NATIONALS PRO STOCK TITLE IN GAINESVILLE: Reigning NHRA Full Throttle Pro Stock world champion Mike Edwards defeated Bob Yonke in the final round of the resumption of eliminations for the NHRA Arizona Nationals, which were contested during qualifying at the Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals. It was Edwards’ second-straight win of the season and 22nd of his career.

Eliminations were held during the third and fourth qualifying rounds of the Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals.

"I didn’t like waiting three weeks, but a win is a win," said Edwards. "I’m just really thankful to do it. We ran well. There were some changes in the rules, but we adapted to those, and it seems like we’ve managed to keep up."

To see more results from the re-scheduled eliminations, visit www.NHRA.com.

DRISCOLL NAMED NHRA VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT: After a national search, NHRA has hired motorsports executive Tony Driscoll as vice president of sales and business development. Driscoll will be based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and will report to Gary Darcy, NHRA senior vice president of sales and marketing.

Driscoll has spent more than 10 years working in motorsports, most recently as senior director of partnership and integrated media sales for International Speedway Corp (ISC). ISC, whose primary business is the ownership and management of 13 NASCAR racetracks, is a leading promoter of motorsports activities. In his role as senior director, Driscoll was responsible for developing integrated partnership for Corporate America.

NHRA will maintain its strategic alliance with IMG, which began in 2008, as its exclusive outside sponsorship marketing agent at the league level. Driscoll will split time between NHRA’s corporate headquarters in Glendora, California, and his permanent location in Charlotte.

Coupled with IMG’s strong presences in New York, NHRA now boasts a strong sales effort presence in New York, Charlotte and Southern California.

"I’m excited to join NHRA and am anxious to get started on meeting the current partners and immediately make an impact on developing new partnerships," said Driscoll. "This is an incredible opportunity, and I believe my experience will allow me to contribute to the continued success of NHRA."

For more information, visit www.NHRA.com.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS, zMAX DRAGWAY, March 25–28: For the first time in NHRA Nationals history, qualifying and eliminations for Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle at an NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event will be conducted four-wide instead of two.

O’REILLY AUTO PARTS NHRA SPRING NATIONALS, HOUSTON RACEWAY PARK, April 9–11: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes its first of two stops in the Lone Star State. Defending event winners include Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel); Ashley Force Hood (Funny Car); Ron Krisher (Pro Stock); and Craig Treble (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

SUMMITRACING.COM NHRA NATIONALS, THE STRIP AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY, April 16–18: The NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series makes the first of two stops in Sin City. Defending event winners include Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel); Ron Capps (Funny Car); and Jeg Coughlin (Pro Stock).

	Matt Hagan set the national record for speed in Funny Car this past week at the Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals.

HE SAID, SHE SAID

"I WANNA GO FAST!": Funny Car driver Matt Hagan on setting the national record for speed in Funny Car this past week at the Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals:

"There’s no doubt in my mind on any given day we have one of the fastest race cars out here. We just have to put a couple of laps together and make that all come together. When that happens, watch out, because we’re going to be somebody to really reckon with out here."

Eddie Krawiec

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

4: That’s the number of Pro Stock Motorcycle riders that have won the first race of the season, the NHRA Gatornationals, and have gone on and won the world championship that same year, since the race was made the first race of the season for the class in 1996. Former world champion will look to get his name on that list as he battles for his second world championship this season.

(NOTE: In 2001, the Houston race was run before the Gatornationals, and Angelle Sampey won that event, the official first race of that season for the class, then went on to win the world championship that year.)

DID YOU KNOW…

…that the upcoming NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway will be the first national event in NHRA history where qualifying and eliminations for all four professional classes will be run four-wide instead of two.

Tyler Tanaka was appointed to the newly created position of account director for PostRelease. Tanaka has been an active participant in the automotive aftermarket for 20 years. Prior to joining PostRelease, he spent 12 years as the marketing manager for Turbonetics Inc.

Toyo Tire Holdings of Americas Inc. announced that company president Masaharu Yoshimoto will retire at the end of March and that Takashi Shimizu was appointed president, effective April 1. Yoshimoto served in numerous capacities during a 38-year career with the Toyo group of companies in the United States, Japan and in Australia, where he was managing director and CEO of Toyo Tyre & Rubber Australia Limited. New president, Shimizu, joined the company in Osaka, Japan, in 1985 and has served in the accounting and finance and planning departments. Shimizu began his tenure in the United States in April 2007 as vice president and CFO of Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp.

The NHRA hired motorsports executive Tony Driscoll as vice president of sales and business development. Driscoll spent more than 10 years working in motorsports, most recently serving as senior director of partnership and integrated media sales for International Speedway Corp. He worked in International Speedway Corp.’s corporate office since 2003 and spent the past six years working in various capacities, including director of licensing business development.

TireRack.com implemented a new enhancement to its website that will make tire buying for customers easier and more efficient. Customers can now navigate through TireRack.com’s unbiased tire performance comparisons and more than 150,000 consumer surveys and results in one place under the Tire Research tab. Previously, all three research sections were separate.

Coverking has signed a subscription agreement with Illumaware to use its Evokat 2.5 web-based data-authoring tool to manage its aftermarket data. The use of Evokat will eliminate the company’s previous practice of using a third party to manage Coverking data. According to Geoff Thompson, a consultant to Coverking’s CEO, some of the reasons why they chose Illumaware include: increased speed to market, better identification of application holes, increased sales and fewer non-damaged returns.

Deeza Chassis Parts broke ground on a new 280,000-sq.-ft. production plant in Turkey. At an estimated cost of $6 million, the new facility is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2012 and will nearly double the company's production capacity. Gokhan Kuru, president, Deeza Chassis Parts, announced that the company will also invest in new tooling for the facility. The company currently produces four million parts per year. Once the new facility is operational, the company expects capacity to initially increase to six million parts per year.

	The Pine Wood Jeep CJ8 Scramble built by the team at Rugged Ridge.

The team at Rugged Ridge, a division of OMIX-ADA Inc., recently helped a local boy scout build a Pine Wood vehicle in the form of a Jeep CJ8 Scramble to compete in the Pine Wood Derby Challenge. With hopes to at least score a trophy in the Pine Wood Derby Car Show, the team was pleasantly surprised when its wooden Jeep performed better than expected in the actual races, capturing third place.

TTXGP has launched a new program, known as the TEO (Trust.eGrandPrix.Org) partnership, that is open to to all who compete in the TTXGP. The program rewards teams and owners participating in the TTXGP by providing them with a stake in the TTXGP's future. The more that teams race, the more of the ownership and rewards they can earn. Read the complete announcement regarding the new program.

Snow Performance signed an official product-sponsorship agreement with the National Association of Diesel Motorsports (NADM) and is the water-ethanol injection system of the sanctioning organization. NADM holds diesel drag racing, sled pulling, dyno competitions and other diesel events around the country while also building a membership that offers useful benefits for business members and fans.

	Strong Select Committees set council direction and ensure that councils and committees work for the needs of the membership.

All SEMA and council and committee members:

SEMA council Select Committee elections are now open to all members. Historically, nominations for Select Committee seats were only accepted from members of an individual council or committee. This year, however, all SEMA-member company representatives, regardless of council or committee affiliation, are eligible to participate in the nomination process.

Any SEMA member may nominate an individual for one or multiple SEMA council or committee Select Committee seat(s). A nominee must, however, be a member of the council or committee to which he/she is nominated. Dues payment in advance may be required.

Also new this year is a electronic nomination form that is quick and easy to complete, and requires no printing or faxing. All nominations must be received by Monday, March 22, 5:00 p.m. Follow this link to the nomination form.

Strong Select Committees ensure that SEMA councils and committees continue their work on behalf of the membership. For members unfamiliar with SEMA councils and committees, please visit www.sema.org/councils-committees for an overview.

---

Visit ARMO's website.

ARMO New Products Showcase Registration Is Now Online

ARMO-member companies may now submit product registrations for the 2010 ARMO New Products Showcase. Registration is now available online.

The 13th annual ARMO New Products Showcase will once again be held at Spring Carlisle in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Wednesday–Sunday, April 21–25. The showcase continues to grow every year, with a record number of product entries in 2009. More than 100,000 automotive hobbyists attend Spring Carlisle each year, and the ARMO Showcase Tent is located at the very center of the show in a prime position, guaranteeing your products will be seen. This is a fantastic opportunity for ARMO-member companies to put their new products in front of one of the largest annual gatherings of restoration enthusiasts in the country. Participation is open to all ARMO-member companies, and it’s FREE!

There is no judging of entries in the showcase. The focus of the event is to showcase the products to generate publicity, inquires and sales leads. All entries will be photographed at Spring Carlisle, and the photos, product descriptions and company names will be displayed in the ARMO booth at the 2010 SEMA Show.

ARMO New Products Showcase Criteria

All products submitted must meet the following criteria:

• Must be the product of an ARMO member-company.
• Must be a new product or improved design since March 2009.
• Product must be available for sale (market-ready) by the opening of the showcase, April 21.
• Must demonstrate unique/innovative technology and/or be a benefit to the restoration industry.

Process

• Complete one entry form per product.

• Product entry forms must be completely filled out and submitted to SEMA by Wednesday, April 14, 2010. Some of the information will be used to create signage for the product at the Spring Carlisle Showcase and to accompany the photos in the ARMO booth at the 2010 SEMA Show. ARMO will guarantee acceptance of FOUR product entries per company. Any additional entries will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis.

• Companies are urged to include marketing materials (sales literature, flyers or brochures) with the product. These materials will be made available to hobbyists who ask for more information and/or want to contact the manufacturer to find out where they can buy the product.

Delivery of product(s)

• Product(s) may be pre-shipped for arrival no later than Friday, April 16, 2010 to:
  
  Carlisle Events
  Attention: ARMO New Products Showcase – Jim Vinarski
  1000 Bryn Mawr Rd., Carlisle, PA 17013

-or-

Product(s) may be hand-delivered to the Showcase, Wednesday April 21.

Product(s) may be removed after 1:00 p.m., Sunday April 25.

-or-

Company can pre-arrange for return shipping by completing the “return shipment information” on the entry form.

ARMO Select Committee Elects Alex Tainsh as Chair-Elect

Alex Tainsh is a founding member of ARMO and has been an active member for 12 years. His accomplishments begin with a combined 16-year stint at P.U.I and Soffseal, and he is currently the sales and marketing manager for TrimParts.

Throughout his many years with ARMO, he has worked passionately to promote the "Take a Kid to a Car Show" program and, most notably, headed up the Colton Camaro project. When asked about future projects, Tainsh reiterated the importance of young enthusiasts and the preservation of the restoration market.

As Tainsh begins his two-year term as chair-elect, Laura Bergan will assume chairwoman duties July 1.

ARMO Column in SEMA Member News

Read ARMO's column featured in the March/April issue of SEMA Member News.

For more information about ARMO, contact Jim Skelly.

---

Visit HRIA's website

HRIA Column in SEMA Member News

Read HRIA's column featured in the March/April issue of SEMA Member News.

For more information about HRIA, contact Zane Clark.

 

 

---

Visit LTAA's website.

LTAA Column in SEMA Member News

Read LTAA's column featured in the March/April issue of SEMA Member News.

For more information about LTAA, contact Jim Skelly.

 

 

---

Visit MPMC's website.

	The MPMC Select Committee voted Vic Wood of Hedman Performance Group as its new Chair-Elect of the council.

MPMC Select Committee Chooses Vic Wood as New Chair-Elect

The MPMC Select Committee voted Vic Wood of Hedman Performance Group the newest chair-elect of the council. Vic has spent the majority of his career in or around the specialty-parts industry, including appointments to the board of directors of the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association and the Australian National Drag Racing Association.

He started drag racing at 16, and drove all types of vehicles through 2004, when he clocked 234 mph in a modified roadster at Bonneville.

When not working, Vic is busy with his '64 Chevrolet pickup, and crew chiefs a nostalgia funny car that competes in the NHRA Heritage Series.

“It is a great honor to be elected Chair Elect of MPMC,” said Wood. “SEMA has been a part of my life in some form or another for nearly 30 years. I am thrilled to have this opportunity to serve the members of this historic SEMA Council, and I look forward to supporting our current Chairman over the next two years as we address challenges of our market sector.”

Take a Friend to a Race Fan Page

The MPMC Motorsports Awareness campaign, highlighted by the Take a Friend to a Race program, now has its very own Fan Page on Facebook

. If you’re not a fan yet, you should be!

MPMC Column in SEMA Member News

Read MPMC's column featured in the March/April issue of SEMA Member News.

For information about MPMC, contact Jim Skelly.

---

Visit MRC's website.

MRC Names Chris Fairless New Chair-Elect

The MRC Select Committee has named Chris Fairless of Fairless Sales & Marketing to the position of chair-elect. Fairless is a current MRC Select Committee member and will take over duties as chair-elect on July 1. Fairless stated, “I’m honored to be selected as MRC’s chair-elect. I’m looking forward to the future challenges and the opportunities. I’m excited to be involved with SEMA and MRC and hope to inspire more people in our industry to get involved. There are great opportunities ahead!” When Fairless assumes chair-elect duties on July 1, current chair-clect Wade Cobb of HAPCO will become chairman of MRC, when Joel Rosenthal’s two-year term as MRC chairman ends. At that time, Rosenthal will assume his new role as the MRC immediate past chairman/advisor.

2010 MRC Long-Range Planning Meeting at PWA

MRC will be conducting its annual Long-Range Planning meeting in conjunction with the Performance Warehouse Association (PWA) Conference. All reps are welcome and encouraged to participate in this open forum and address issues faced daily by reps in all segments of the automotive industry. Bring your ideas and suggestions to raise the bar for all manufacturers' reps.

For us to be able to accommodate attendees with food and beverage, we ask that you take a moment and contact Staci Bostock at 909/396-0289 ext. 104 or e-mail stacib@sema.org.

MRC Column in SEMA Member News

Read MRC's column featured in the March/April issue of SEMA Member News.

For information about MRC, contact Staci Bostock.

---

Visit PRO's website.

Technical Skills & Training Conference: Training and Product Knowledge You Need; an Event You Can’t Afford to Miss

PRO is launching a new technical training program designed specifically for restylers and installers. This one-day program is packed with installation training and product knowledge brought directly to you by the product manufacturers.

Attendees will also enjoy the opportunity to network with peers and industry professionals.

Attendees: Register here.

Technical Skills & Training Conference Details

Where: University of Northwestern Ohio, Lima, Ohio

When: Friday, April 30, 2010, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The program: There will be 12 seminar/workshops each consisting of one hour of classroom training, with two classes running concurrently throughout the day conducted by manufacturers such as Webasto, Katzkin, Audiovox, Restylers Choice, Eagle Enterprises and more.

Attendees may choose sessions in the following tracks:

• Leather
• Sunroofs
• 12 volt
• Truck Accessories: Towing & Suspension; Diesel Performance
• Self Adhesive
• ASE/A6 Electrical
• “Bullpen” with hands‐on installation training in addition to the classes
• Catered Lunch
• PRO Council General Membership Meeting: Learn about PRO and what we’re doing for the industry, and how you can participate.
• Evening cocktail reception: Drinks, food, fun and networking
• PRO Long‐Range Planning Meeting for PRO Members, Saturday, May 1

Cost: $25 for first attendee from each company, $15 for each additional person. Includes breakfast and lunch, PRO open membership meeting and cocktail mixer reception.

For more information, go to www.sema.org/tstc.

Hotel Information: You MUST Mention UNOH when making reservations to get discounted rate.

Comfort Inn - $62.99
(Elizabeth) 419/228‐4251
20 minutes away
1210 Neubrect Rd.
Lima, OH 45801

Fairfield Inn - $70
(Mike) 419/224-8496
2 minutes away
2179 Elida St.
Lima, OH 45801

Wingate Inn ‐ $72
(New Manager) 419/228‐7000
15 minutes away
175 W. Market St.
Lima, OH 45801

Country Inn & Suites - $85
419/999-9992
20 minutes away
804 S. Leonard Ave.
Lima, OH 45801

Holiday Inn & Suites ‐ $89
(Allysia) 419/879‐4000
20 minutes away
803 S Leonard Ave
Lima, OH 45805

PRO Column in SEMA Member News

Read PRO's column featured in the March/April issue of SEMA Member News.

For information about PRO, contact Zane Clark.

---

Visit SBN's website.

Discover the SEMA Mentoring Program—Powered by the SBN

“I’ll get by with a little help from my friends…” - Joe Cocker

Everyone needs help or expert advice from time to time, and SEMA’s Mentoring Program is an excellent resource to get answers to all your questions. Whether you need to know more about SEMA, market information for a start-up company or advice on how to approach your boss about a new position, the SEMA Mentoring Program can help.

“Ask A Mentor” is perfect for one-time questions. You can expect multiple SEMA mentors to provide online guidance and answers to your industry-related questions.

Short-term Assistance/Guidance is for help with a specific project or task. A SEMA council/committee mentor with the expertise you seek will be paired up with you to provide guidance with your project.

Long-term Relationship is helpful for developing your professional career. In this program segment you will be paired with a SEMA council/committee mentor who will provide guidance and assistance for ongoing career development or a long-term project.

So whether you just need an answer to a question or you want to cultivate a mentoring friendship, the SEMA Mentoring Program—Powered by the SBN is available to help. After all, we can all use a little help from our friends.

Visit the SEMA Mentoring Program now.

SBN Column in SEMA Member News

Read SBN's column featured in the March/April issue of SEMA Member News.

For information about SBN, contact Kim Desai.

---

Visit SPC's website.

	Titan Motorsports' blog is one way the company is attracting enthusiasts to its site and staying connected with its customer base.

Easy Ways to Keep Up With Your Customers Online

While you may not find yourself posting about what you had for breakfast this morning on Facebook or Twitter, your customers are likely using these services to express theirselves, receive news, review products and conduct personal research. The days when your customers would simply go to your website for the latest news and product information are long gone.

Instead, social media networks, such as blogs, Twitter and Facebook, are channeling this information out to the world at a blazing rate. From a business standpoint, social media is important—it allows you to personalize your interaction with consumers while differentiating yourself from the thousands of other businesses competing on the web.

With information being published through so many sources, it can become difficult to track content without having multiple windows scattered around your computer's desktop. Rather than devoting a full-time employee to monitor this content, there are now companies developing specialized products and services to help streamline your social media interactions and help make this sea of information manageable.

An easy and effective way to keep your customers up-to-date on new releases and company news is a blog or a web blog. One of the tools available is Word Press, which offers many great free themes and plug-ins for the ultimate customization to power your blog. WordPress can be downloaded from www.wordpress.org; installation instructions are available on the site as well. Once you’ve got your blog setup and customized to fit your brand, two simple automation techniques will allow you to broadcast your blog postings directly to your Twitter and Facebook followers.

The first service, Twitterfeed.com, exports your blog postings directly to your Twitter account simply by inputting your RSS feed and providing access to your account. A similar task can be performed on your Facebook page by entering your RSS feed in the Notes tab, which publishes a brief synopsis and thumbnail on your wall with each new blog posting.

While blog and forum postings help get news and information out, using social media to the fullest allows you to see what current and future customers are saying about your company and products. Companies are now developing products that harvest this information to allow for easy display and interaction with your social media accounts in one convenient window. One product available that can help collect and organize this information is a program called Seesmic Desktop.

After merging a similar competing product Thwirl in 2008, Seesmic was developed and improved into an easy-to-use “one-stop” console. Seesmic Desktop is a free program that coincides with Adobe Air framework allowing you to monitor and interact with multiple Facebook and Twitter accounts in one convenient window.

Accessible through both Macs and PCs, the console features various views and customizable columns to help organize your workflows. The console displays individual accounts in separate columns while offering capabilities of condensing and hiding duplicate postings. This becomes a real benefit when managing multiple accounts with the same followers.

Seesmic does more than just display your social feeds in one convenient window. Features such as integrated interest groups, trend watching, searches and notifications allow you to track topics and make for easy interaction. Interest lists and groupings allow you to easily locate your potential followers. This helps you generate a more specific group of followers to reach out to. Finding keywords in users’ postings can be saved and refreshed for instantaneous discussion updates. Users’ postings can be searched via keywords and then saved and refreshed for instantaneous discussion updates.

Scouting Twitter for user feedback on a new product, event or topic can easily be viewed in the same window. These search queries can also be saved for access and review at a later date. Alert notifications can be set to notify you of new postings and/or messages using visual or audio notifications, all of which can be customized to various levels. Postings can include automatically hosted photos and videos, as well as shortened text and integrated URL addresses. These are all useful and key features for frequent social media users.

As new platforms and technologies come to market, the need to adapt becomes an increasing challenge and a necessity to stay relative. As experiences with products and companies get reviewed by people all over the world on public forums and social media platforms, the need to quantify this data and address issues will become increasingly more difficult to manage.

The programs we use to manage these feeds will work to adapt with the changing of social environments, all while trying to remain easy to use. Keeping customers up-to-date, tracking the response to our products and services and even making sure we’re one step ahead of our competition at any given point is what ultimately makes the most of our social network. Social media is here to stay. —Baadal Deliwala, Nikki Contenti and Wes Bourne, Titan Motorsports

SPC Column in SEMA Member News

Read SPC's column featured in the March/April issue of SEMA Member News.

For information about SPC, contact Kim Desai. 

---

Visit WTC's website.

WTC Column in SEMA Member News

Read WTC's column featured in the March/April issue of SEMA Member News.

For information about WTC, contact Zane Clark.

 

 

---

Visit YEN's website.

Join YEN

Did you know that the SEMA Young Executives Network has more than 500 members networking in the industry and is the largest SEMA committee? If you are employed by a SEMA-member company and are under the age of 39, then you can join the SEMA Young Executives Network for FREE. If you are interested in becoming part of the team, please visit our website at www.sema.org/yen.

YEN Member of the Month Spotlight

Did you know that YEN has a Member of the Month Spotlight on the SEMA website and that anyone can be nominated? To view previous selections or to make a nomination, visit www.sema.org/yen.

YEN Column in SEMA Member News

Read YEN's column featured in the March/April issue of SEMA Member News.

For information about YEN, contact Kim Desai.

A photo collection of more than 60 Toyotas on display at the 2009 SEMA Show.

Following are dates and locations for several upcoming SEMA-sponsored shows, webinars and activities. Click on an item for more details.

SEMA eNews highlights the websites of SEMA-member companies through the Hot Links to Cool Sites section each week. SEMA members: To be included in Hot Links to Cool Sites, e-mail your company name and website to enews@sema.org. Note: Make sure to include “Hot Links” in the subject line of the e-mail.

• Tokyo Rods
• Phoenix USA
• Tow Rax
• JC Whitney
• Stylin Trucks
• CarParts.com
• All Bike Super Shop
• My Classic Car

SEMA-member companies have posted several new listings for job opportunities (view all here). Working for a SEMA-member company has many advantages. In addition to working for a company that supports and contributes to the success of the overall industry, being employed by a SEMA-member company enables employees to participate in webinars, access free market research, join SEMA committees and more.