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| Malcolm Johnson (left), CEO of Pennsylvania-based BrynDana International—a participant in the 2011 SEMA China Business Development program—shows buyers his company’s spray-on coating products. |
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| Simon Atik (far right), president of Evosport, based in Huntington Beach, California, participated in the SEMA China Business Development program to assess the market for the firm’s aftermarket accessories for BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Ferrari. |
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| Participants will visit off-road and street-performance shops in Beijing and Shanghai.
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Get in on the ground level at what is likely to be one of the largest consumer specialty product markets. The SEMA tour, from September 2–7, 2012, to two of the most important cities in regards to customization—Shanghai and Beijing—allows participants to gain insight into the growing specialty market for the 1.3 billion Chinese consumers. Participants will learn what products sell, what products are in demand, and for which applications, through networking opportunities with retailers and wholesalers.
Benefits for participating SEMA members include:
- A first-hand look at the developing specialty-equipment market. The delegation will visit off-road and street-performance shops in Beijing and Shanghai.
- Meetings with pre-vetted distributors and retailers from throughout China during the stops in Shanghai and in Beijing.
- Qualified exhibitors will receive a U.S. grant of up to $1,500 to defray the costs of participation.
- Promote your brand to Chinese buyers now through China eNews—a periodic Chinese-language electronic newsletter sent to buyers throughout China.
- Program costs include hotel, meals, interpreters, access to buyers from throughout China and flight from Shanghai to Beijing (flights to and from the United States are not included).
Here's what past participants have said about the Chinese specialty-equipment market and the SEMA overseas one-on-one programs:
“The SEMA China program has been fantastic for us. At the 2011 event, we met many Chinese companies and, before even leaving the country, we had very firm plans to open accounts with two or three of these companies.”
–Ed Rossi, vice president of sales, Injen Technology
“We believe the market in China is largely untapped and, for those who are willing to invest the time and resources, there is significant growth potential. Through consistent participation in the SEMA program, as well as our own efforts, which grew out of the contacts we met through SEMA, we have had the unique opportunity to work closely with our Chinese customers through the very early stages of development of their performance market.”
–Rick Trudo, president and CEO, SCT Performance
“The notion that U.S. manufacturers cannot export to China has been debunked. The Chinese buyers with whom I met in Beijing are young entrepreneurs, and they are asking for high-quality U.S.-manufactured automotive products.”
–Malcolm Johnson, CEO, BrynDana International
“While the emergence of the aftermarket industry is still in its infancy stages, the obvious potentials are astonishing.”
–Simon Atik, president, Evosport
“Chinese consumers rave over Western-style products and trends, which are increasingly being reflected in their cars. Trips, such as the SEMA China Business Development Program, are a critical component in our company’s activities to develop a growing range of products to fit vehicles found on Chinese roads.”
–Scooter Brothers, CEO, COMP Performance Group
Register for the 2012 China Business Development Tour, or visit sema.org/china.
Questions? Contact Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org.