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10 Major IT Security Trends
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While the Internet’s white hats have done a great job of keeping the medium’s darker forces at bay, security experts predict that the web will still remain a dangerous place for businesses in the coming year—especially those without digital smarts.
“The web will undoubtedly continue to be the most prominent vector of attack,” said Gerhard Eschelbeck, chief technology officer for Sophos, a web-security firm.
2011 Opinion Leader Report
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The opinion leader program continued each succeeding year, including at the 2011 SEMA Show, where some of the nation’s most active and influential automotive enthusiasts provided additional firsthand feedback through participation in onsite focus groups that provided deeper insight into enthusiasts’ perspectives and attitudes about the automotive specialty-equipment industry. The information gathered during these focus groups, and a separate online session with another group recruited at random from the general population, has now been compiled in a new SEMA publication entitled 2011 Opinion Leader Report. It is available free to SEMA members. Non-members may also download the report for $200.
A Fresh Coat
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Paint has long been a necessary product in the automotive world. Customizers and aftermarket manufacturers are among those who require paint products to conduct business. Perhaps the most prolific painters in the automotive sector, other than OEMs, would be shops operating in the repair and refinish segment. These are auto-body shops that make a living on being able to paint fast, match colors perfectly and be economical in the process.
Big Year
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Gene Winfield was having a big year in 1963 when Petersen Publishing
Company photographer Eric Rickman took this photo at Winfield’s car
customizing shop in Modesto, California. Rickman was chronicling the
progress of several cars being prepped for land speed record attempts at
the Bonneville Salt Flats, and he captured Winfield as he was laying
out “a super streamlined street roadster over an early Ford frame and
running gear.”
Brazil, Part 2
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Brazil, China and India are outpacing the growth in many mature automotive markets—a trend that is likely to continue over the next few years. The Brazilian trade association Associação Nacional dos Fabricantes de Veículos Automotores (National Association of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers, or ANFAVEA) has estimated that vehicle sales in Brazil will rise 5% during 2012. In fact, the country has already overtaken Germany to become the fourth-largest vehicle market in the world, with sales of 3.6 million cars and light trucks in 2011.
Going Global?
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If your aftermarket business ranks among the growing list of SEMA-member manufacturers considering overseas exportation, you’re likely weighing shipping logistics as part of the equation. To be sure, the prospect can seem daunting. After all, once you’ve attracted foreign buyers, you have to deliver the goods in the face of numerous hurdles. With the right assistance, however, you can successfully navigate those obstacles and achieve a safe landing for your aftermarket parts.
SEMA Indicators
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No one can foretell the future, at least not with any degree of certainty. But a prudent look at marketplace indicators can often provide insights that savvy businesspeople might interpret for a strategic advantage. What follows is a look at some of the signposts along the current business roadway.
Truck, SUV & Off-Road New Products
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America is reviving its traditional love affair with the light-truck, SUV and off-roading segments. With experts predicting a third consecutive year of rising auto sales in 2012, the light-truck category seems to be leading the way. The Ford F-Series and the Chevrolet Silverado again ranked first and second, respectively, among the top ten vehicles sold last year. Meanwhile, Jeep continued its strong comeback for Chrysler. Many experts credit pent-up consumer demand, while others read from the figures tentative signs of economic recovery. Either way, the growth is welcome.
