SEMA News -- April 2009
INDUSTRY NEWS
SEMA’s Show department has released these deadlines to assist exhibitors and attendees in successful SEMA Show planning:
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The 2009 SEMA Show will be held November 3–6, in Las Vegas. For more details, visit www.SEMAShow.com. |
Exhibit Space Rental Agreement (ESRA) forms were posted online starting February 20 at www.SEMAShow.com.
Attendee registration for the 2009 Show began March 9, and sign-ups are available at www.SEMAShow.com.
Exclusive SEMA room rates for more than 20 Las Vegas hotels were also available as of March 9. Room rates start as low as $59.
Exhibitors who submit their rental agreement deposits by May 8 will be included in the priority space selection process, which will be held June 16–30.
Industry Raises More Than $134,000 for Children’s Charities
Through its auction and fundraising activities, the 2008 SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser raised more than $134,000 for two important charities—the Victory Junction Gang Camp for kids and the Childhelp organization.
| On behalf of the automotive specialty-equipment industry, SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting (left) and SEMA Cares Committee Chairman Joel Ayres (right) presented (second from left) and with more than $67,000 that was raised through an industry-wide fundraising effort. The SEMA Cares Committee was created about a year ago to unite the industry’s fundraising efforts and provide professionals with an easy way to give to those in need. |
NASCAR champion Kyle Petty (center) thanked SEMA Chairman of the Board Jim Cozzie (left) and former SEMA Board member Matt Agosta of Steele Rubber Products as he accepted the donation made to the Victory Junction Gang Camp. The camp helps children suffering from chronic illnesses. |  |
Top 10 Best Engineered New Products
Barcode scanningtechnology was introduced at the SEMA Show for the first time in 2008, providing WDs, installers and retailers easy access to new-product specs and key details. More than 2,000 products were entered in the Show’s New Products Showcase, and about 26% of those were placed in the Best New Engineered category. Here are the products that grabbed the most scans.
 | Autonet Mobile, Autonet Mobile, |
 | TricPlate, Switchable License Plate Film, |
 | Bully Dog Technologies, GT (Gauge Tuner), |
 | Professional Products, Powerjection III, http://www.professional-products.com/, 323-779-2020 |
 | PlasmaGlow, Illuminators LED Modules. |
 | Undercover, Swing Case, |
 | Drew Technologies, DashDAQ, |
 | Engineering Inc., Titanium Turbo Heat Shield, http://www.designengineering.com/, 800/264-9472 |
 | Pypes Performance Exhaust, |
 | Xtreme, http://www.sctflash.com/, 407/774-2447 |
See all of the products entered in the New Products Showcase at www.semadigital.com.
www.SEMA.org Gets a Tune-Up
Coming soon...the new www.SEMA.org, an interactive experience focused on creating relevant experiences for members of the specialty-equipment industry while offering the searching and browsing tools to find what you want—fast!
SEMA members will have access to a new member-only benefit called MySEMA. The powerful MySEMA portal will allow members to browse company and user directories, send and receive messages, and receive personalized industry content through a variety of media channels. Additionally, you will be able to connect with other members with similar interests and have a team of designated staff there to help maximize your membership value.
With the vision and leadership of SEMA, powered by website development partner NFi Studios, MySEMA and www.SEMA.org will continually evolve and adapt to your needs.
MySEMA and www.SEMA.org and will be in public beta starting March 27, 2009.
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As new-vehicle technology challenges the aftermarket to plan for the future, business technology helps to streamline processes and expose errors so companies can conduct business more efficiently and gain lost sales margins. |
Just as new-vehicle technology changes the way cars operate, business technology is changing the way parts are being presented and cataloged to make processes more efficient. Industry-standard electronic product cataloging formats, such as Product Information Exchange Standards (PIES) and the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) Catalog Enhanced Standard (ACES) are becoming widely accepted throughout the aftermarket, collecting product information, such as units of measure, marketing descriptions, dimensions, jobber pricing, vehicle applications and myriad other data.
Many of the industry’s leading distributors have embraced these standards and adherence to them has allowed companies to discover discrepancies between the products that their distributors advertise versus what the manufacturer actually makes.
In fact, results of a recently published SEMA study that matched 19 manufacturers (or “suppliers”) with five distributors (or “receivers”) showed that more than 24% of the current, active parts in the supplier systems were not found in their distributors’ systems. Around 29% of the parts in the distributors’ systems were not in the corresponding supplier systems. For the 71% that matched on part numbers, 9% of the jobber prices were in error, and a huge number of vital data fields were missing in both the suppliers’ and distributors’ systems.
As new-vehicle technology challenges the aftermarket to plan for the future, business technology helps to streamline processes and expose errors so companies can conduct business more efficiently and gain lost sales margins.
For more information about these standards or the results of the study, visit www.sema.org/btc.
FAST FACTS
 | Karen Evans St. John was named president of Kee Auto Top Manufacturing Co. Evans St. John has worked for Kee Auto Top for 25 years in several capacities, including manufacturing, research, human resources and sales and marketing. |
 | Dave Butts was promoted to vice president of information technology for Recaptured Energy Technologies. Butts is responsible for the company’s vehicle systems development and technology solutions functions. Previously, Butts developed, built and expanded decision-support and business-process integration hardware, software and network platforms for Fortune 500 companies. |
 | The Goodguys Rod & Custom Association announced that builder Roy Brizio will round up the hot rods and customs he’s built over the past 32 years and display them together as a group for the first time in history at this year’s Goodguys 23rd Eagle One West Coast Nationals, August 21–23, at the Pleasanton Fairgrounds in California. Goodguys, Pleasanton, CA; 925/838-9876. |
 | SPAL USA promoted former inside sales representative Ryan Siedel to regional sales assistant for the company’s automotive aftermarket high-performance fan, blower and electronic accessory products. He will assist the sales team in the growth and development of the company’s product line and help support its sales and marketing initiatives. The company also named Tim W. McGee regional sales manager for its commercial fan, blower and electronic product lines. McGee will work to develop and expand the OEM market share for SPAL USA’s premium electric cooling fans and blowers in the southeastern United States. SPAL, Ankeny, IA; 515/289-7000. |
 | Beck/Arnley hired Tony Reeves as a catalog specialist to assist with all catalog and database responsibilities and help manage the image database and customer files. Reeves previously spent 20 years with Beck/Arnley working in catalog research. The company also hired Chad Horton as IT liaison. He will work with sales and operations, handle requests from management and work on special projects. |
 | “Speedy” Bill Smith, founder and owner of Speedway Motors, was the eighth recipient of the Robert E. Petersen Lifetime Achievement Award. The annual award recognizes significant contributions to the business and hobby of hot rodding and restoration. The award was presented during the grand opening breakfast at the 11th Annual Hotrod & Restoration Trade Show. |
 | Scott Davis was hired by Lunati as a new account representative to support the company’s more aggressive direction upon being restored to private ownership. “With the previous ownership, engine builders were unable to deal directly with Lunati,” said Derek Scott, Lunati’s director of operations. “We are actively seeking relationships with qualified engine builders, and we are adding the necessary resources to handle their needs.” |
Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels will not participate as a major sponsor of the NHRA in 2009. “The tough decision to suspend our relationship with NHRA after more than 26 years is due to several concerns, including a recent mandate by the NHRA that Pro Stock racers will be required to compete exclusively on Goodyear tires,” said Ken Warner, vice president of sales and marketing for Mickey Thompson. Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels, Corona, CA; 951/817-0101.
Speedway Motors Inc. acquired the street-rod-related assets of Total Performance Inc. All Total Performance operations will be consolidated into the Speedway Motors’ facilities in Lincoln, Nebraska. “Speedy” Bill Smith, founder and president of Speedway Motors, said that a smooth, seamless transition is expected. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Speedway Motors Inc., Lincoln, NE; 800/979-0122. Total Performance, Wallingford, CT; 203/265-5667.
The American International Automotive Dealers Association (AIADA)
honored longtime member and past director John H. (Jack) Thompson of Doylestown, Pennsylvania, with the David F. Mungenast Sr. Lifetime Achievement Award. The award is presented annually to an individual whose deep commitment and contributions to the international auto industry and his or her community sets them apart. AIADA, Alexandria, VA; 800/GO-AIADA .
Infineon Raceway Media Relations Department Manager John Cardinale was named the NASCAR Track PR Representative of the Year at the annual NASCAR PR Summit. Voted on by members of the motorsports media, previous winners of the award and NASCAR PR, the NASCAR Track PR Representative of the Year award recognizes the outstanding efforts of a track representative. Infineon, Sonoma, CA; 707/938-8448.
