Buyers Looking Ahead to the Opportunities at the 2010 SEMA Show

The value of the SEMA Show goes beyond industry trends and product intros. It's a hotspot for education and ideas that can be incorporated into businesses at all levels, helping to uncover ways to increase profits outside of new products to push at the shop.

Buyers, installers, retailers and dealers from all over the world attend the SEMA Show to discover new products, trends and profit opportunities. While many will succeed in finding the new accessories and equipment their customers have been clamoring for, the true quality of the SEMA Show is also measured by its overall value as an industry hotspot for ideas, business and education.
 
The annual event has evolved over its 40-plus-year history and today offers a number of services to help attendees stay abreast of the latest in technology and business education while honing in on the product introductions, people and information that are most relevant to their businesses.
 
“Ideas are as important to us as products are,” explained Jon Titman of Automotive Essentials Inc. “Automobile dealers always ask what’s new that will help them sell more vehicles and make more profit, and we expect to return from the Show several ideas to answer that question for our customers.”
 
Like many attendees of the SEMA Show, Ron DiVincenzo of truck accessories retailer Cap World, will scan the halls to find new products that can be added to the company’s current line. However, he feels that the Show offers other ways to increase a company’s profits beyond finding products to push at the shop.
 
“We’re always looking for ways to increase profit dollars through reducing costs,” explained DiVincenzo. “For us, the SEMA Show is also about education, and we will spend time in the great educational seminars.”
 
Over the Show’s four days, attendees will see the latest product innovations and trends not just from the companies involved in their specific market segments, but from the industry as a whole, adding another layer of value and opportunity for industry buyers.
 
“New products and trends can be seen throughout the Show, and they are the lifeblood of our restyling and accessories business,” said Titman. “Many times we may see a product that isn’t directly related to our industry, but will get us thinking about how we could incorporate it into our business.”
 
While the economy has shown indications of recovery, organizers of the 2010 SEMA Show have maintained an aggressive approach to developing a value-driven experience for attendees, a similar approach that was used for the 2009 Show, when the economy's uncertainty was a key concern for the industry.
 
And for some buyers, more of the same from last year would be a good thing. “Last year’s Show was a real winner for us,” said DiVincenzo. “We picked up a few new lines that have really boosted our sales and gross profit dollars.”
 
The 2010 SEMA Show is set for November 2–5, in Las Vegas. Attendee registration and complete Show information is available online at www.SEMAShow.com.