Despite concerns with the current economic climate, all signs point to yet another packed and eventful SEMA Show this year, and with some careful planning that includes taking advantage of all Show resources, a few intense days can pave the road to your company's lifelong success.
“The upcoming SEMA Show features a wide range of exhibitors, educational programs, new products, and networking events,” said Peter MacGillivray, SEMA vice president of communication and events. “The Show elements provide an unmatched opportunity to build your business in challenging economic times.”
Show buzz is already being generated as more than 1,900 exhibitors, 450 of which are first-time exhibitors, in 11 business categories have signed up so far. Click here for a complete list of Show exhibitors.
"During this challenging economic time, we are grateful that the industry has chosen the SEMA Show to market their products," said MacGillivray. "Their confidence in the Show will create a valuable business tool for the thousands of attendees who will be visiting this year."
The New Products Showcase is on a record pace with more than 1,700 submissions as of today. To ensure that all exhibitors have the chance to get their new products recognized, SEMA has extended the deadline for submissions to Friday, October 17. The first product entered into the New Product Showcase is free if entered by the deadline using the exhibitor password. All additional entries have a $75 fee per product if received by the deadline. After October 17, exhibitors must submit their product entry at the Show at a fee of $250 per product.
A close look at the new products submitted so far reveals that the market for light-truck accessories is still strong. As of October 13, 2008, 18% of all new-product entries came from exhibitors of the trucks, SUVs and off-road section of the SEMA Show. Nine out of 10 of these products are applicable for pre-2008 model light-trucks, which indicate that manufacturers of pickup and SUV parts are maintaining product focus on a mixture of both old and new models. A breakdown of the new-product distribution is shown in the table below.
To submit a new product entry, visit www.SEMAShow.com/newproducts. For questions, contact SEMA Show Management at msandler@ConvExx.com or 702/450-7662, ext. 119. Click here to see the latest new products from SEMA News.
To optimize your time at the Show, spend a few minutes using the My Show Planner to create and save a personalized itinerary. Set goals for yourself beforehand and use pre-show planning resources to achieve them.
"Creating a plan prior to attending the Show is the best way to ensure success," said MacGillivray.
The Show will be offering more than 60 educational programs that are free to all attendees. Networking events include the Keynote Luncheon, New Products Breakfast, NHRA Breakfast and several council and committee activities. Additional space has been secured for these events due to exceptionally high interest.
For more information on the Show and available resources, visit www.SEMAShow.com.