By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff 

SEMA-supported legislation to prohibit the sale and distribution of corn-based ethanol in Maine was signed into law by Governor Paul LePage. Under the new law, 10 other states or a number of states with a collective population of 30,000,000 would have to enact a similar prohibition before the Maine law could go into effect.

Earlier this year, a bill to prohibit the sale of gasoline that contains corn-based ethanol as an additive at a level greater than 10% by volume was also signed into law. This law would not take effect until at least two other New England states have enacted laws that prohibit the sale of gasoline that contains corn-based ethanol at a level greater than 10% by volume. 

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

	The Annual Market Report is conducted yearly to help SEMA-member companies understand the industry and make informed business decisions. Like all of SEMA's research reports, the annual study is available to SEMA members at no cost.

The 2013 SEMA Annual Market Report has just been released.  

This study is conducted yearly to help SEMA-member companies understand the industry and make informed business decisions. It has long been one of SEMA’s most popular and useful reports. Whether you are new to the industry and working on a business plan, or a veteran interested in the latest data, this report is a great resource.  

In 2012, the specialty-equipment market grew to $31 billion, marking the third year of consecutive growth. The current report includes:

• The overall size of the specialty-equipment market
• Sales within specialty-equipment segments and niches
• Consumer purchase patterns
• Industry and economic trends
• Vehicle sales trends

	The Annual Market Report is conducted yearly to help SEMA-member companies understand the industry and make informed business decisions. Like all of SEMA's research reports, the annual study is available to SEMA members at no cost.

The 2013 SEMA Annual Market Report has just been released.  

This study is conducted yearly to help SEMA-member companies understand the industry and make informed business decisions. It has long been one of SEMA’s most popular and useful reports. Whether you are new to the industry and working on a business plan, or a veteran interested in the latest data, this report is a great resource.  

In 2012, the specialty-equipment market grew to $31 billion, marking the third year of consecutive growth. The current report includes:

• The overall size of the specialty-equipment market
• Sales within specialty-equipment segments and niches
• Consumer purchase patterns
• Industry and economic trends
• Vehicle sales trends

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff 

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected petitions to reconsider a lower court ruling allowing the sale of gasoline blended with 15% ethanol (E15). The lower court did not rule on whether the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) decision to permit E15 to be sold in the marketplace was valid. Rather, the court ruled that the parties challenging the decision—groups representing car, boat and power equipment manufacturers, along with the oil and food industries—did not have “standing” because they had failed to demonstrate a direct injury from E15 sales. 

The Supreme Court ruling ends any chance that the courts will overturn the E15 regulation. The focus of attention now shifts to Congress, where SEMA-supported legislation (H.R. 875; S. 344) has been introduced to effectively ban E15. The House bill has been approved by the House Science Committee and is pending before the Energy and Commerce Committee. There has been no action on the Senate bill. Lawmakers are also considering legislation to revise the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) approved by Congress in 2005. It was expanded in 2007 to dramatically increase the amount of ethanol blended into gasoline each year. The EPA approved E15 in anticipation of insufficient ethanol use through the sale of E10 to meet the increasing RFS ethanol mandates.

SEMA opposes E15 based on scientific evidence that it causes corrosion when used with incompatible parts. The chemical can also dissolve plastics and rubber. SEMA represents thousands of companies that market products for these vehicles and, through its SEMA Action Network (SAN), millions of enthusiasts who buy and operate automobiles incompatible with E15. 

For details, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff 

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected petitions to reconsider a lower court ruling allowing the sale of gasoline blended with 15% ethanol (E15). The lower court did not rule on whether the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) decision to permit E15 to be sold in the marketplace was valid. Rather, the court ruled that the parties challenging the decision—groups representing car, boat and power equipment manufacturers, along with the oil and food industries—did not have “standing” because they had failed to demonstrate a direct injury from E15 sales. 

The Supreme Court ruling ends any chance that the courts will overturn the E15 regulation. The focus of attention now shifts to Congress, where SEMA-supported legislation (H.R. 875; S. 344) has been introduced to effectively ban E15. The House bill has been approved by the House Science Committee and is pending before the Energy and Commerce Committee. There has been no action on the Senate bill. Lawmakers are also considering legislation to revise the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) approved by Congress in 2005. It was expanded in 2007 to dramatically increase the amount of ethanol blended into gasoline each year. The EPA approved E15 in anticipation of insufficient ethanol use through the sale of E10 to meet the increasing RFS ethanol mandates.

SEMA opposes E15 based on scientific evidence that it causes corrosion when used with incompatible parts. The chemical can also dissolve plastics and rubber. SEMA represents thousands of companies that market products for these vehicles and, through its SEMA Action Network (SAN), millions of enthusiasts who buy and operate automobiles incompatible with E15. 

For details, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff 

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected petitions to reconsider a lower court ruling allowing the sale of gasoline blended with 15% ethanol (E15). The lower court did not rule on whether the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) decision to permit E15 to be sold in the marketplace was valid. Rather, the court ruled that the parties challenging the decision—groups representing car, boat and power equipment manufacturers, along with the oil and food industries—did not have “standing” because they had failed to demonstrate a direct injury from E15 sales. 

The Supreme Court ruling ends any chance that the courts will overturn the E15 regulation. The focus of attention now shifts to Congress, where SEMA-supported legislation (H.R. 875; S. 344) has been introduced to effectively ban E15. The House bill has been approved by the House Science Committee and is pending before the Energy and Commerce Committee. There has been no action on the Senate bill. Lawmakers are also considering legislation to revise the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) approved by Congress in 2005. It was expanded in 2007 to dramatically increase the amount of ethanol blended into gasoline each year. The EPA approved E15 in anticipation of insufficient ethanol use through the sale of E10 to meet the increasing RFS ethanol mandates.

SEMA opposes E15 based on scientific evidence that it causes corrosion when used with incompatible parts. The chemical can also dissolve plastics and rubber. SEMA represents thousands of companies that market products for these vehicles and, through its SEMA Action Network (SAN), millions of enthusiasts who buy and operate automobiles incompatible with E15. 

For details, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By Della Domingo

	SEMA Show press conferences can be effective in reaching a large number of media. A booth press conference allows you to showcase a vehicle or product, and it can also attract potential buyers.

The SEMA Show provides exhibitors with the opportunity to generate media coverage for their products and to develop long-term relationships with reporters.

One strategy that exhibitors may want to consider for communicating with the media is to hold a press conference. Although not ideal for all exhibitors, a press conference can be effective under the right circumstances.

Here are some factors to keep in mind when considering a press conference at the SEMA Show:

Important and Relevant News: Key words being "important" and "relevant." A new product announcement may be news, but because it will be among the thousands of new products debuting at the SEMA Show, it may not be important or relevant to a large number of reporters.

“I’ll usually only attend press conferences if they apply to my readers,” says John DiBartolomeo, editor of Drag Racing Action magazine. “It’s useless for me to attend a conference for a street product or something that doesn’t apply to drag racing.”

Another reporter noted that he prefers one-on-one meetings with exhibitors over press conferences.

Visuals and Spokepersons: Having great visuals and spokespeople who may not be easily accessible for the media will entice reporters to attend your event. By holding a press conference, you are forcing the media to choose a single day and time to hear your announcement. The more reasons you can give them to attend, the more successful you will be.

Location: Exhibitors can choose to host their press conference in their booths or in the media center. Depending on the booth location, it may be difficult for media to locate or get to, and it may have space limitations. Exhibitors may also need to arrange for audio visual, sound and/or signage if they are hosting a press conference in their booth. The benefit, however, is that a booth press conference allows you to showcase a vehicle or product, and it can also attract potential buyers.

In the media center, there is a stage with AV equipment and seating already provided. It is also conveniently located between Center and South Halls and all media know exactly where it is.

Day and Time: The press conference application allows exhibitors to request specific days and times, but ultimately the day and time will be assigned to exhibitors. The final schedule is created so that there are no competing press conferences taking place at the same time, and so that media are able to go from one press conference to the next as easily as possible. (For example, the schedule will not have reporters going from South Hall over to North Hall and back to South Hall throughout the day.)

If your press conference has important and relevant news, and it offers media great visuals and spokespersons, then you’ll be much more likely to be successful regardless of the day and time you hold it.

Targeted Invitation: Only invite the media who may be interested in your announcement. Media at the SEMA Show often voice frustration because exhibitors send them information that is not relevant to them.

E-mailing the media directly is effective, but follow standard e-mail etiquette: Do no list everyone in the “to” line of the e-mail. Instead, use an e-mail distribution service or list the recipients in the bcc (blind carbon copy) field.

On occasion, sending an attachment is okay. However, attachments may increase the likelihood of getting caught in spam filters and they may be difficult for those using mobile devices. Consider including everything in the body of the e-mail.

Keep the e-mail simple. Avoid excessive graphics or formatting, and focus on the information you want to get across.

As for when to send the invitation, consider who you are sending it to. In a recent survey about when they begin their SEMA Show planning, reporters’ responses varied from “as early as June” to “two weeks before the Show” to everything in between. Much will depend on the reporter and the individual publication, so it’s best to follow up with reporters directly and get to know the outlet’s individual requirements.

Under the right circumstances, SEMA Show press conferences can be effective in reaching a large number of media. They are, however, a great deal of work and require considerable time and effort from exhibitors.

Exhibitors may want to consider other strategies for working with media at the SEMA Show, including utilizing the SEMA Show online media center, placing press materials in the Media Center on-site and individual, one-on-one meetings with targeted media.

Learn more about hosting a successful press conference.

Submit a press conference application.

Learn more about public relations opportunities for SEMA Show exhibitors.

By Della Domingo

	SEMA Show press conferences can be effective in reaching a large number of media. A booth press conference allows you to showcase a vehicle or product, and it can also attract potential buyers.

The SEMA Show provides exhibitors with the opportunity to generate media coverage for their products and to develop long-term relationships with reporters.

One strategy that exhibitors may want to consider for communicating with the media is to hold a press conference. Although not ideal for all exhibitors, a press conference can be effective under the right circumstances.

Here are some factors to keep in mind when considering a press conference at the SEMA Show:

Important and Relevant News: Key words being "important" and "relevant." A new product announcement may be news, but because it will be among the thousands of new products debuting at the SEMA Show, it may not be important or relevant to a large number of reporters.

“I’ll usually only attend press conferences if they apply to my readers,” says John DiBartolomeo, editor of Drag Racing Action magazine. “It’s useless for me to attend a conference for a street product or something that doesn’t apply to drag racing.”

Another reporter noted that he prefers one-on-one meetings with exhibitors over press conferences.

Visuals and Spokepersons: Having great visuals and spokespeople who may not be easily accessible for the media will entice reporters to attend your event. By holding a press conference, you are forcing the media to choose a single day and time to hear your announcement. The more reasons you can give them to attend, the more successful you will be.

Location: Exhibitors can choose to host their press conference in their booths or in the media center. Depending on the booth location, it may be difficult for media to locate or get to, and it may have space limitations. Exhibitors may also need to arrange for audio visual, sound and/or signage if they are hosting a press conference in their booth. The benefit, however, is that a booth press conference allows you to showcase a vehicle or product, and it can also attract potential buyers.

In the media center, there is a stage with AV equipment and seating already provided. It is also conveniently located between Center and South Halls and all media know exactly where it is.

Day and Time: The press conference application allows exhibitors to request specific days and times, but ultimately the day and time will be assigned to exhibitors. The final schedule is created so that there are no competing press conferences taking place at the same time, and so that media are able to go from one press conference to the next as easily as possible. (For example, the schedule will not have reporters going from South Hall over to North Hall and back to South Hall throughout the day.)

If your press conference has important and relevant news, and it offers media great visuals and spokespersons, then you’ll be much more likely to be successful regardless of the day and time you hold it.

Targeted Invitation: Only invite the media who may be interested in your announcement. Media at the SEMA Show often voice frustration because exhibitors send them information that is not relevant to them.

E-mailing the media directly is effective, but follow standard e-mail etiquette: Do no list everyone in the “to” line of the e-mail. Instead, use an e-mail distribution service or list the recipients in the bcc (blind carbon copy) field.

On occasion, sending an attachment is okay. However, attachments may increase the likelihood of getting caught in spam filters and they may be difficult for those using mobile devices. Consider including everything in the body of the e-mail.

Keep the e-mail simple. Avoid excessive graphics or formatting, and focus on the information you want to get across.

As for when to send the invitation, consider who you are sending it to. In a recent survey about when they begin their SEMA Show planning, reporters’ responses varied from “as early as June” to “two weeks before the Show” to everything in between. Much will depend on the reporter and the individual publication, so it’s best to follow up with reporters directly and get to know the outlet’s individual requirements.

Under the right circumstances, SEMA Show press conferences can be effective in reaching a large number of media. They are, however, a great deal of work and require considerable time and effort from exhibitors.

Exhibitors may want to consider other strategies for working with media at the SEMA Show, including utilizing the SEMA Show online media center, placing press materials in the Media Center on-site and individual, one-on-one meetings with targeted media.

Learn more about hosting a successful press conference.

Submit a press conference application.

Learn more about public relations opportunities for SEMA Show exhibitors.

By Della Domingo

	Central Hall houses Hot Rod Alley, Racing & Performance, and Restoration Marketplace.

The 2013 SEMA Show, held in the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), November 5–8, will include more than one million square feet of exhibit space. The SEMA Show is made up of three halls. The more familiar you are with the three halls, the easier it will be to navigate the event.

North Hall

• Booths begin with the number “1” (e.g. 13049, 11639, 10816).
• Features five market segments: Business Services, Collision Repair & Refinish, Mobile Electronics & Technology, Restyling & Car Care Accessories, and Tools & Equipment.
• Includes Registration.
• Includes a “First Time & Featured Exhibitors” section. This is one of two such areas and includes more than 100 exhibitors, most of whom are first-time exhibitors showcasing products never seen before at the SEMA Show.
• Some North Hall exhibitors, features and attractions will actually be located in portions of the LVH, which is located north of North Hall.

Central Hall

• Booths begin with the number “2” (e.g. 20645, 23057, 25155, 25061).
• Features three market segments: Hot Rod Alley, Racing & Performance, and Restoration Marketplace.
• It’s helpful to note the shape of Central Hall. For the most part, it is a rectangle. However, there is a square that protrudes out in the southwest corner of the rectangle. Some people get a bit disoriented when passing through this square-shaped area.
• It’s also helpful to note the layout of the main rectangle-shaped area. There is a wall about a quarter of the way in that separates the west side from the east side. The wall actually lines up with the square mentioned in the bullet point above. Just to the east of the wall is the Ford Motor Co. booth, and there are steps leading down from there so that the east side of the hall is actually a bit lower than the rest of the hall.

South Hall is the only two-story hall. It is also the longest hall going from west to east, and includes an escalator in the middle:

Upper South Hall

• Booths begin with the number “3” (e.g. 30124, 34017, 34239).
• Features two market segments: Powersports & Utility Vehicles; and Trucks, SUVs & Off-Road.
• Includes a “First Time & Featured Exhibitors” section. This is one of two such areas that includes more than 100 exhibitors, most of whom are first-time exhibitors that are showcasing new products never before showcased at the SEMA Show.
• Also includes the New Products Showcase. In addition to being in a convenient location to view all the new products in a defined area, buyers are able to receive personalized lists (including exhibitor’s name, booth number and product details) based on products they identify. To obtain a personalize list, be sure to check out a scanning device when visiting the New Products Showcase.
• There are also meeting rooms in the southeast corner of Upper South Hall.

Lower South Hall

• Booths begin with the number “4” (e.g. 41013, 47163, 40285).
• Features two market segments: Global Tire Expo – Powered by TIA; and Wheels & Accessories.

More tips and suggestions on how buyers get the most from the 2013 SEMA Show will be available in upcoming issues of SEMA eNews. In addition, all of the information will also be presented during an upcoming SEMA webinar. The date and time of the webinar will be announced in an upcoming issue of SEMA eNews.

By Della Domingo

	Central Hall houses Hot Rod Alley, Racing & Performance, and Restoration Marketplace.

The 2013 SEMA Show, held in the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), November 5–8, will include more than one million square feet of exhibit space. The SEMA Show is made up of three halls. The more familiar you are with the three halls, the easier it will be to navigate the event.

North Hall

• Booths begin with the number “1” (e.g. 13049, 11639, 10816).
• Features five market segments: Business Services, Collision Repair & Refinish, Mobile Electronics & Technology, Restyling & Car Care Accessories, and Tools & Equipment.
• Includes Registration.
• Includes a “First Time & Featured Exhibitors” section. This is one of two such areas and includes more than 100 exhibitors, most of whom are first-time exhibitors showcasing products never seen before at the SEMA Show.
• Some North Hall exhibitors, features and attractions will actually be located in portions of the LVH, which is located north of North Hall.

Central Hall

• Booths begin with the number “2” (e.g. 20645, 23057, 25155, 25061).
• Features three market segments: Hot Rod Alley, Racing & Performance, and Restoration Marketplace.
• It’s helpful to note the shape of Central Hall. For the most part, it is a rectangle. However, there is a square that protrudes out in the southwest corner of the rectangle. Some people get a bit disoriented when passing through this square-shaped area.
• It’s also helpful to note the layout of the main rectangle-shaped area. There is a wall about a quarter of the way in that separates the west side from the east side. The wall actually lines up with the square mentioned in the bullet point above. Just to the east of the wall is the Ford Motor Co. booth, and there are steps leading down from there so that the east side of the hall is actually a bit lower than the rest of the hall.

South Hall is the only two-story hall. It is also the longest hall going from west to east, and includes an escalator in the middle:

Upper South Hall

• Booths begin with the number “3” (e.g. 30124, 34017, 34239).
• Features two market segments: Powersports & Utility Vehicles; and Trucks, SUVs & Off-Road.
• Includes a “First Time & Featured Exhibitors” section. This is one of two such areas that includes more than 100 exhibitors, most of whom are first-time exhibitors that are showcasing new products never before showcased at the SEMA Show.
• Also includes the New Products Showcase. In addition to being in a convenient location to view all the new products in a defined area, buyers are able to receive personalized lists (including exhibitor’s name, booth number and product details) based on products they identify. To obtain a personalize list, be sure to check out a scanning device when visiting the New Products Showcase.
• There are also meeting rooms in the southeast corner of Upper South Hall.

Lower South Hall

• Booths begin with the number “4” (e.g. 41013, 47163, 40285).
• Features two market segments: Global Tire Expo – Powered by TIA; and Wheels & Accessories.

More tips and suggestions on how buyers get the most from the 2013 SEMA Show will be available in upcoming issues of SEMA eNews. In addition, all of the information will also be presented during an upcoming SEMA webinar. The date and time of the webinar will be announced in an upcoming issue of SEMA eNews.