By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

As a result of its 2015 Out-of-Cycle Review of Notorious Markets, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) issued a warning to Alibaba requiring the global e-commerce company take steps to address counterfeiting or face relisting on the Notorious Markets List. The agency indicated that complaints from industry stakeholders prompted a detailed discussion on how Alibaba has fallen short in its measures to address the issues plaguing its online shopping platform, Taobao. Specifically, the USTR recommended Taobao’s takedown processes and procedures be simplified, quicker and made generally available. 

Elsewhere in the report, the USTR highlights the dangers associated with the sale of counterfeit consumer products, including car parts, which could “endanger consumer health and safety as many counterfeits are made inexpensively with substandard or hazardous materials.” 

The full report on the 2015 Out-of-Cycle Review of Notorious Markets is available on the USTR website. 

For more information, please contact Ashley Ailsworth at ashleya@sema.org. 

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

As a result of its 2015 Out-of-Cycle Review of Notorious Markets, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) issued a warning to Alibaba requiring the global e-commerce company take steps to address counterfeiting or face relisting on the Notorious Markets List. The agency indicated that complaints from industry stakeholders prompted a detailed discussion on how Alibaba has fallen short in its measures to address the issues plaguing its online shopping platform, Taobao. Specifically, the USTR recommended Taobao’s takedown processes and procedures be simplified, quicker and made generally available. 

Elsewhere in the report, the USTR highlights the dangers associated with the sale of counterfeit consumer products, including car parts, which could “endanger consumer health and safety as many counterfeits are made inexpensively with substandard or hazardous materials.” 

The full report on the 2015 Out-of-Cycle Review of Notorious Markets is available on the USTR website. 

For more information, please contact Ashley Ailsworth at ashleya@sema.org. 

Marketers looking to manage all of their social-media campaigns from a single dashboard have some good news from Forrester (www.forrester.com): The market-research firm did all the legwork for you. Essentially, Forrester kicked the tires on all of the major social-media dashboards currently on the market and came up with a short list of those worth looking at.

Marketers looking to manage all of their social-media campaigns from a single dashboard have some good news from Forrester (www.forrester.com): The market-research firm did all the legwork for you. Essentially, Forrester kicked the tires on all of the major social-media dashboards currently on the market and came up with a short list of those worth looking at.

Marketers looking for a reliable, state-of-the-art e-mail marketing solution have a ready resource: Capterra’s (www.capterra.com) 2015 list of the top five solutions on the market. Capterra specializes in advising businesses on the best software to buy. Heading the pack for e-mail marketing solutions is MailChimp, one of the pioneers in the industry, followed by Constant Contact, Vertical Response, Campaign Monitor and Get Response.

Marketers looking for a reliable, state-of-the-art e-mail marketing solution have a ready resource: Capterra’s (www.capterra.com) 2015 list of the top five solutions on the market. Capterra specializes in advising businesses on the best software to buy. Heading the pack for e-mail marketing solutions is MailChimp, one of the pioneers in the industry, followed by Constant Contact, Vertical Response, Campaign Monitor and Get Response.

This year the SEMA Board of Directors election has two seats open in the manufacturer category and one seat open in the manufacturer's representative category.

The following is a message from SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting:

As a member of the association, we need your recommendation of industry leaders to serve on the SEMA Board of Directors. Our industry has many individuals who would be an asset to the SEMA Board, but oftentimes those individuals aren’t immediately apparent to the Nominating Committee when selecting the final candidates.

Please take a moment to tell us whom you would recommend as a potential nominee for a board position. We also ask that you include information to help the Nominating Committee know more about the nominee’s qualifications, such as background, experience and achievements from a leadership standpoint.

For this year’s election, the following seats are open:

• Two seats in the Manufacturer category
• One seat in the Manufacturer's Representative category

Nominations for the 2016 SEMA Board of Directors are due Tuesday, January 5, 2016. Please complete and submit the nomination form, and be sure to include the qualification information noted above.

A strong board means wise leadership and an association that serves its members well. We urge you to take part in the nominations process.

Thank you for your attention to this important request.

Chris Kersting, CAE
SEMA President and CEO

This year the SEMA Board of Directors election has two seats open in the manufacturer category and one seat open in the manufacturer's representative category.

The following is a message from SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting:

As a member of the association, we need your recommendation of industry leaders to serve on the SEMA Board of Directors. Our industry has many individuals who would be an asset to the SEMA Board, but oftentimes those individuals aren’t immediately apparent to the Nominating Committee when selecting the final candidates.

Please take a moment to tell us whom you would recommend as a potential nominee for a board position. We also ask that you include information to help the Nominating Committee know more about the nominee’s qualifications, such as background, experience and achievements from a leadership standpoint.

For this year’s election, the following seats are open:

• Two seats in the Manufacturer category
• One seat in the Manufacturer's Representative category

Nominations for the 2016 SEMA Board of Directors are due Tuesday, January 5, 2016. Please complete and submit the nomination form, and be sure to include the qualification information noted above.

A strong board means wise leadership and an association that serves its members well. We urge you to take part in the nominations process.

Thank you for your attention to this important request.

Chris Kersting, CAE
SEMA President and CEO

By SEMA Editors

Are you hunting for a new job? The “Positions Available” section in the SEMA Member Classifieds lists more than 50 job openings around the country. Here are some of the latest classifieds posted to the website.

Tech Support Agent
Edelbrock LLC is hiring a tech support agent with experience in aftermarket EFI systems and superchargers installed on late-model vehicles. This position will require fielding technically related phone calls. The successful candidate should have an understanding of forced induction and late-model domestic engine and electronics platforms.

Sales Manager
Wheel Vintiques is hiring a sales manager with excellent customer service and communication skills and the initiative to plan and problem solve. The successful candidate must have management and sales experience, a four-year degree and experience with automotive parts and products.

Sales and Show Representative
Coker Tire is hiring a sales and show representative with prior sales or customer service experience, knowledge of tire and wheel technical information, excellent communication skills and the ability to lift 35–50 lbs. frequently.

Events and Sports Marketing Coordinator
Mr. Mustang is hiring a procurement/inventory specialist to effectively brand procurement processes, including vendor, inventory, purchasing and product data points, plan inventory layout and stock levels and collect part-specific data to maximize brand efficiency. This person will also work closely with the purchasing manager to ensure proper inventory levels and analyze business trends.

Strengthen Your Company Through Community

No matter what niche you're in—rods, restoration, racing, restyling, reps, trucks or wheels and tires—there's a SEMA council or professional network that's right for your company. SEMA councils and networks offer members a variety of market-specific programs and activities designed to provide educational and networking opportunities while promoting their particular industry segment.

Visit ETTN's website

Advance Your Product Design

Interested in advancing your automotive product design? The SEMA Emerging Trends & Technology Network (ETTN) will host their inaugural Motorsports Tech Roundtable featuring six roundtables that take a deep dive into this topic and many more.

Table Topic: Advancements in Product Design, From Idea to Prototype
Expert: Robert Simons, vice president of engineering, Edelbrock LLC, and Mike Spagnola, vice president, SEMA OEM and product development
Discussion: Leveraging new technologies at the SEMA Garage to bring motorsports products to market faster and with confidence.

The event will take place in collaboration with the Media Trade Conference, January 25, from 2:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m. at the Embassy Suites Orange County Airport, North.

RSVP today! Find out more event details, including a full list of table topics and subject matter experts.

Questions? Contact Director of Networks Bryan Harrison at bryanh@sema.org or 909-978-6691.

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