Compiled by SEMA Editors
 Steve Turner |
Steve Turner Announced as New Editor of Fastest Street Car Magazine, Steve Baur Promoted to Digital Content Manager
ProMedia Events and Publishing has announced veteran journalist, book writer and photographer Steve Turner is joining the staff as editor of Fastest Street Car magazine, in addition to the promotion of Steve Baur to digital content editor. Turner becomes the fourth editor in Fastest Street Car’s 18-year history. Baur’s position is a new title to enhance the digital division that ProMedia formed last year. Turner is a veteran in the automotive enthusiast editorial segment for more than 25 years, rising to be the editor of 5.0 Mustang & Super Fords magazine, a title he presided over from 1999–2014. Following that position, Turner helped launch digital content products at two prominent web-based magazines. His first exposure to street-legal drag racing was in 1994 when he was on assignment to cover a Hot Rod magazine event in Memphis. Turner is also the recipient of the NMRA Decade Award in 2008 for outstanding contributions and commitment to the all-Ford motorsport event series. Baur most recently served as the editor of Fastest Street Car magazine, a position he held for four years. He’s celebrating 20 years in the editorial business as a journalist and photographer. Prior to joining the ProMedia team he was the editor of Modified Mustangs & Fords and held senior editorial positions at Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords, GM High-Tech Performance and High Performance Pontiac.
SEMA Data Co-op to Host Live Webinar for Brands and Manufacturers at the SEMA Show
Join the SEMA Data Co-op (SDC), eBay and SEMA members SureDone and E-Motiven, October 16, at 2:00 p.m. (EDT), for a live webinar designed for specialty-equipment brands and manufacturers focusing on e-commerce marketplaces. Topics will include “How to Overcome Channel Conflict When Selling Direct to Consumer,” “Preparing Your Data for Use on e-commerce Marketplaces,” “Knowledge Gained by Brands and Manufacturers When Using SEMA Data Co-op for e-commerce Data,” “The eBay Motors Opportunity for Brands and Manufacturers,” and “What Brands and Manufacturers Should Think About When Going Direct to Consumers.” At the completion of the webinar there will be a live Q&A with all of the presenters. For more information and to sign up for the webinar visit https://try.suredone.com/sdc-webinar.
Directed Introduces Directed Rewards
Directed has announced the launch of Directed Rewards—a new dealer incentive program—in advance of the upcoming remote start season. The Directed Rewards program was designed to motivate and reward Directed’s dealers and installers. At launch, the Directed Rewards program will be available for all Viper SmartStart, Directed SmartStart and Viper Powersports GPS products. From now until December 31, salespeople and installers can earn up to $20 for each eligible unit sold. Participants can log in to Directed Rewards, claim the reward by entering the eligible Air ID and then he or she will receive a cash gift card at the end of the month. The program is open to all Directed dealers in the United States and Canada. To register their sales and install personnel, retail storeowners or managers can opt-in to Directed Rewards by filling out a brief authorization form to receive a unique dealer registration code. Visit www.directedrewards.com to learn more. Directed will exhibit at the 2018 SEMA Show in the South Hall Upper, booth #37007.
 Hypertherm’s Barbara Couch (right) with New Hampshire Governor John Sununu, and representatives from Lebanon High School and Hypertherm. |
New Hampshire Honors Hypertherm for Excellence in Work-Based Learning
Hypertherm received an award for excellence in work-based learning in the Overall Champion category. New Hampshire Governor John Sununu presented Hypertherm, and specifically Barbara Couch, president of the Hypertherm Owners’ Philanthropic Endeavors (HOPE) Foundation, the award during a ceremony in Concord, New Hampshire. The company was selected during an evaluation process that followed its nomination by Lebanon High School. Judges recognized Couch for her leadership in promoting work-based learning across New Hampshire, encouraging Hypertherm associates to volunteer, participating on numerous boards and sponsoring events through the HOPE foundation. Judges also called out Hypertherm’s STEM internship program for high school seniors and its SHAPE for STEM initiative, which includes the sponsorship of STEM camps for middle school students, and the sponsorship of STEM clubs for students beginning in elementary school.
imre Agency Acquires JMPR
imre, an independently owned, integrated marketing agency, has acquired JMPR, a Los Angeles-based public-relations agency specializing in the luxury, lifestyle and transportation industries. With this acquisition, imre adds JMPR’s full staff of public-relations professionals to its West Coast operation, doubling the size of imre’s Los Angeles office. Beyond this addition to its Los Angeles location, imre maintains offices in Baltimore and New York City and has also formally established the imre Health brand alongside its long-standing consumer practice.
VP Racing Fuels Launches New Mobile App
VP Racing Fuels Inc. has announced the launch of its new, fast-paced “FIND VP” mobile app, allowing consumers to find VP products available nearby. Consumers will now be able to locate and select from the products that VP offers, including race and performance fuels, lubricants, Madditives and branded gas stations. The new FIND VP app includes push notifications to stay up on the latest that VP offers, as well as brand and product updates. If the app user has a technical question or a special request, they can locate the local VP regional contact as well for help. VP will add more features and benefits to the new release over the year, including social login and sharing, user profiles and consumer feedback.
 Lumileds’ new warehouse and distribution center in Tepotzotlán, Mexico. |
Lumileds Opens New Distribution Center in Tepotzotlán, Mexico; Names Chris McPhedran National Sales Manager for Canada
Lumileds has announced the opening of a new warehouse and distribution center in Tepotzotlán, Mexico. The new facility is designed to better accommodate Lumileds’ growing customer base in Mexico and meet the demand for Philips Automotive Lighting products. The new Tepotzotlán warehouse is located at Calle Libramiento Norte De Tepotzotlán S/N Edificio 1, Colonia Barrio Tlacateco Tepotzotlán, Edo. De Mexico. C.P 54605. The facility currently inventories a portfolio of popular SKUs focused on the Mexican market.
In addition, Lumileds has appointed Chris McPhedran its national sales manager for Canada responsible for overseeing all aspects of sales for the Lumileds automotive aftermarket channel in Canada. McPhedran came to Lumileds with a decade of sales management experience in the Canadian market. He spent the last seven years with Horizon Global. From 2017–2018, he served as the director of sales and marketing for the North American RV and Marine channel. From 2011–2017, McPhedran was Horizon Global’s director of sales for Canada and the Northeastern United States.
TMG Performance Unveils a New Volant Performance
Volant Performance—a TMG Performance Products brand—has unveiled a new look, new marketing campaign and stronger brand promises. The company has invested in air-intake design language, improved lid designs, better packaging, improved instruction sheets, lifetime warranty protection, enhanced minimum advertised pricing (MAP) program and the “Volant for Life” air filtration program. Volant Performance’s new program and air-intake designs will be on display at the 2018 SEMA Show in booth #24929 and available November 1 in the marketplace.
National Auto Parts Warehouse Makes Seventh Acquisition for 2018
National Performance Warehouse Companies (NPW), has announced that it will acquire Performance Warehouse in the Pacific Northwest, again expanding the company’s presence on the West Coast. The transaction is expected to close October 15. NPW will add two warehouses to make the company’s warehouse total now 19 across the United States and Canada. The package includes the Hillsboro, Oregon, and Tacoma Washington, warehouses and four stores—three in California and one in Idaho. Performance Warehouse will continue to operate with JR Moore at the helm, and industry veteran Mark Noble will oversee the two warehouse operations and the four stores, while Bonnie Delaney will join the NPW marketing team. The Baxter Stores will continue to operate with Ken Moore, Jim Moore and Kim Cham.
AutoMeter Chrono Instruments Awarded Best New Performance Product at Custom Automotive Network Connect Conferences
AutoMeter Products Inc. has announced that its Chrono series gauges were recognized by industry peers as winner of the 2018 Best New Performance Product Award at the Custom Automotive Network (CAN) Connect Conferences held in Frisco, Texas. Judging and final selection for the award were conducted by conference attendees from amidst a hotly contested field of entries in the CAN Connect New Product Showcase.
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