By Amelia Zwecher

The user-friendly SEMA HR Hub offers material analyzed by experts focused on HR-related common matters.

The newly launched SEMA HR Hub is live and accessible today! SEMA urges members to regularly take advantage of this new benefit offered to all automotive aftermarket employers. This invaluable tool can help guide human resources practices in the following areas:

• Benefits and compensation
• Best practices in HR
• Discrimination and retaliation
• Employee development
• Employee relations
• Federal employment laws
• HR management and strategy
• Retention
• Risk management and compliance
• State employment laws
• Succession planning
• Talent acquisition and staffing
• Unions
• Workplace safety and security

Small businesses with or without a dedicated HR team can find great benefit in this new Career Center feature. A business that cares about its employees builds a strong foundation for a successful company and resilient industry. This user-friendly hub offers material analyzed by experts focused on HR-related common matters. Download sample policies and forms that are both dependable and relevant, which can help expedite and organize business processes.

As an optional added bonus, users can create bookmarks and receive automatic email alerts based on the parameters they set in their preferences. This feature will help users to stay up-to-date on new trends and best practices.

The SEMA Career Center is a one-stop shop for expert advice and talent acquisition. Look out for upcoming articles in SEMA eNews highlighting additional useful HR Hub features soon.

Visit the SEMA HR Hub and check out the HR Hub User Guide. For more information, contact manager of career services, Amelia F. Zwecher, PhD, PHR, at ameliaz@sema.org.

By Amelia Zwecher

The user-friendly SEMA HR Hub offers material analyzed by experts focused on HR-related common matters.

The newly launched SEMA HR Hub is live and accessible today! SEMA urges members to regularly take advantage of this new benefit offered to all automotive aftermarket employers. This invaluable tool can help guide human resources practices in the following areas:

• Benefits and compensation
• Best practices in HR
• Discrimination and retaliation
• Employee development
• Employee relations
• Federal employment laws
• HR management and strategy
• Retention
• Risk management and compliance
• State employment laws
• Succession planning
• Talent acquisition and staffing
• Unions
• Workplace safety and security

Small businesses with or without a dedicated HR team can find great benefit in this new Career Center feature. A business that cares about its employees builds a strong foundation for a successful company and resilient industry. This user-friendly hub offers material analyzed by experts focused on HR-related common matters. Download sample policies and forms that are both dependable and relevant, which can help expedite and organize business processes.

As an optional added bonus, users can create bookmarks and receive automatic email alerts based on the parameters they set in their preferences. This feature will help users to stay up-to-date on new trends and best practices.

The SEMA Career Center is a one-stop shop for expert advice and talent acquisition. Look out for upcoming articles in SEMA eNews highlighting additional useful HR Hub features soon.

Visit the SEMA HR Hub and check out the HR Hub User Guide. For more information, contact manager of career services, Amelia F. Zwecher, PhD, PHR, at ameliaz@sema.org.

By Amelia Zwecher

The user-friendly SEMA HR Hub offers material analyzed by experts focused on HR-related common matters.

The newly launched SEMA HR Hub is live and accessible today! SEMA urges members to regularly take advantage of this new benefit offered to all automotive aftermarket employers. This invaluable tool can help guide human resources practices in the following areas:

• Benefits and compensation
• Best practices in HR
• Discrimination and retaliation
• Employee development
• Employee relations
• Federal employment laws
• HR management and strategy
• Retention
• Risk management and compliance
• State employment laws
• Succession planning
• Talent acquisition and staffing
• Unions
• Workplace safety and security

Small businesses with or without a dedicated HR team can find great benefit in this new Career Center feature. A business that cares about its employees builds a strong foundation for a successful company and resilient industry. This user-friendly hub offers material analyzed by experts focused on HR-related common matters. Download sample policies and forms that are both dependable and relevant, which can help expedite and organize business processes.

As an optional added bonus, users can create bookmarks and receive automatic email alerts based on the parameters they set in their preferences. This feature will help users to stay up-to-date on new trends and best practices.

The SEMA Career Center is a one-stop shop for expert advice and talent acquisition. Look out for upcoming articles in SEMA eNews highlighting additional useful HR Hub features soon.

Visit the SEMA HR Hub and check out the HR Hub User Guide. For more information, contact manager of career services, Amelia F. Zwecher, PhD, PHR, at ameliaz@sema.org.

By Linda Spencer

Trip participants spend a day touring specialty-equipment retailers, wholesalers and installers on each overseas trade mission. Here, Wade Kawasaki, president and chief operating officer of the Coker Group and SEMA Board of Directors chair-elect, tours an off-road shop in Melbourne, Australia.

Edelbrock LLC participated in the first SEMA Australia trip and will be back again in 2017.

At each show, exhibitors are provided a turnkey booth as part of the trip package. Here, Baja Designs promotes their products to Middle East buyers at the 2016 show.

Two SEMA overseas business development programs taking place this spring in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), March 28–April 1, and Australia, May 23–28, are rapidly filling up.

These two markets were chosen due to their top rankings as good prospects for SEMA members based on the following:

• Sizable population interested in customizing.
• Discretionary income to afford U.S. specialty-equipment products.
• Vehicle parc (total number of vehicles in the country/region that fit a manufacturer’s product line or one for which they are willing to make product).
• Legal/regulatory environment allowing customization, or in the case of emerging markets, a willingness by the local government to engage in discussions about developing laws governing modification.

The 2017 SEMA Middle East Business Development Program, to be held March 28–April 1, in Abu Dhabi, UAE, will provide participating SEMA members the opportunity to get their products in front of buyers from the UAE and other countries in the region.

Event schedule:

• March 28: Briefing with U.S. government officials, buyer panel.
• March 29: Visit accessory, performance and off-road retailers and wholesalers. Evening networking event with buyers.
• March 30: SEMA section at the Custom Show Emirates, open only to pre-vetted trade buyers.
• March 31: SEMA measuring session demonstration. SEMA section open to all.
• April 1: Trip officially over.

Federal and state grants are available to defray the costs, which include a turnkey booth at the Custom Show Emirates, four nights’ hotel and meals, for qualified attendees.

Five reasons to consider the Middle East markets:

• Deep pockets. The UAE has one of the world’s highest per capita (ranking sixth worldwide) disposable incomes, and thus the funds to pursue their hobbies.
• Important market for U.S.-built vehicles. The Saudi Arabian market is the fifth top market for U.S. vehicle sales, and the UAE market ranks eighth. All six of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE) are in the top 20 destinations for U.S.-made vehicles.
• Positive perception of U.S. products and culture. In a nod to the popularity of U.S. culture in the region and the recognition that the UAE has a strong enthusiast base, the Furious 7 was filmed in the UAE. TV car customizing shows, such as “Pimp My Ride” and “Overhaulin’,” attracted big audiences.
• Strong car culture and also a multi-car-per-family culture. The UAE has the most motorsports facilities per capita in the world. Off-roading (primarily on sand) is a national pastime, and the UAE’s national day would not be complete without an all-out classic-car display and parade including customized vehicles.
• Light trucks are extremely popular in the Middle East. In fact, half of the passenger vehicles on Middle East roads are light trucks, with the Toyota Land Cruiser, Nissan Patrol, Toyota FJ Cruiser, Ford Explorer and Jeep among the top-selling SUVs. Top pickups include the Toyota HiLux, Chevrolet Silverado and Ford F-Series, among others.

For more information, contact Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org or visit www.sema.org/middleeast.

View a copy of the 2016 SEMA Middle East post-show report.

Watch a video of the 2016 trip.

Read the flyer for the 2017 trip.

Register now for the 2017 SEMA Middle East Business Development Program.

The second trip is to Melbourne, Australia, May 23–27, 2017, for the “GearHeads Down Under” program, which includes a table-top display attended by pre-vetted buyers; visiting retailers, distributors and installers of performance, styling and off-road products; attending a briefing with the U.S. Department of Commerce; and a session with New Zealander and Australian print and TV enthusiast media. Federal and state grants are available to defray the costs, which include a turnkey booth, four nights’ hotel and meals, for qualified attendees.

Five reasons to consider Australia:

• A well-established, passionate car culture. Australians and New Zealanders are diehard enthusiasts. It is not farfetched to estimate that consumers in these two markets spend more per capita than Americans do.
• On a per-capita basis, it is one of the world’s 20 richest countries. Unemployment remains low, and Australia hasn’t had a recession in more than 24 years.
• The Australian and New Zealand specialty market covers all of the niches found in the United States. This includes off-roading, street performance, racing, styling, classic/vintage and car care.
• Positive perception of U.S. products. The United States enjoys a strong reputation as a manufacturer of high-quality, well-engineered automotive aftermarket and specialty products. Thanks to a free-trade agreement betweeen the United States and Australia, U.S. products enter the market duty free. Australia is also an important market for U.S.-built vehicles; Australia imported 42,000 vehicles from the United States in the first eight months of last year, making it the sixth highest destination for U.S.-built vehicles.
• Half of the vehicles sold annually in Australia are SUVs and pickups (or "utes" as they call them).

For more information contact Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org or visit www.sema.org/australia.

View a copy of the 2016 SEMA Australia post-show report.

Watch a video of the 2016 trip.

Read a flyer for the 2017 trip.

Register now for the 2017 SEMA Australia Regional Business Development Program.

By Linda Spencer

Trip participants spend a day touring specialty-equipment retailers, wholesalers and installers on each overseas trade mission. Here, Wade Kawasaki, president and chief operating officer of the Coker Group and SEMA Board of Directors chair-elect, tours an off-road shop in Melbourne, Australia.

Edelbrock LLC participated in the first SEMA Australia trip and will be back again in 2017.

At each show, exhibitors are provided a turnkey booth as part of the trip package. Here, Baja Designs promotes their products to Middle East buyers at the 2016 show.

Two SEMA overseas business development programs taking place this spring in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), March 28–April 1, and Australia, May 23–28, are rapidly filling up.

These two markets were chosen due to their top rankings as good prospects for SEMA members based on the following:

• Sizable population interested in customizing.
• Discretionary income to afford U.S. specialty-equipment products.
• Vehicle parc (total number of vehicles in the country/region that fit a manufacturer’s product line or one for which they are willing to make product).
• Legal/regulatory environment allowing customization, or in the case of emerging markets, a willingness by the local government to engage in discussions about developing laws governing modification.

The 2017 SEMA Middle East Business Development Program, to be held March 28–April 1, in Abu Dhabi, UAE, will provide participating SEMA members the opportunity to get their products in front of buyers from the UAE and other countries in the region.

Event schedule:

• March 28: Briefing with U.S. government officials, buyer panel.
• March 29: Visit accessory, performance and off-road retailers and wholesalers. Evening networking event with buyers.
• March 30: SEMA section at the Custom Show Emirates, open only to pre-vetted trade buyers.
• March 31: SEMA measuring session demonstration. SEMA section open to all.
• April 1: Trip officially over.

Federal and state grants are available to defray the costs, which include a turnkey booth at the Custom Show Emirates, four nights’ hotel and meals, for qualified attendees.

Five reasons to consider the Middle East markets:

• Deep pockets. The UAE has one of the world’s highest per capita (ranking sixth worldwide) disposable incomes, and thus the funds to pursue their hobbies.
• Important market for U.S.-built vehicles. The Saudi Arabian market is the fifth top market for U.S. vehicle sales, and the UAE market ranks eighth. All six of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE) are in the top 20 destinations for U.S.-made vehicles.
• Positive perception of U.S. products and culture. In a nod to the popularity of U.S. culture in the region and the recognition that the UAE has a strong enthusiast base, the Furious 7 was filmed in the UAE. TV car customizing shows, such as “Pimp My Ride” and “Overhaulin’,” attracted big audiences.
• Strong car culture and also a multi-car-per-family culture. The UAE has the most motorsports facilities per capita in the world. Off-roading (primarily on sand) is a national pastime, and the UAE’s national day would not be complete without an all-out classic-car display and parade including customized vehicles.
• Light trucks are extremely popular in the Middle East. In fact, half of the passenger vehicles on Middle East roads are light trucks, with the Toyota Land Cruiser, Nissan Patrol, Toyota FJ Cruiser, Ford Explorer and Jeep among the top-selling SUVs. Top pickups include the Toyota HiLux, Chevrolet Silverado and Ford F-Series, among others.

For more information, contact Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org or visit www.sema.org/middleeast.

View a copy of the 2016 SEMA Middle East post-show report.

Watch a video of the 2016 trip.

Read the flyer for the 2017 trip.

Register now for the 2017 SEMA Middle East Business Development Program.

The second trip is to Melbourne, Australia, May 23–27, 2017, for the “GearHeads Down Under” program, which includes a table-top display attended by pre-vetted buyers; visiting retailers, distributors and installers of performance, styling and off-road products; attending a briefing with the U.S. Department of Commerce; and a session with New Zealander and Australian print and TV enthusiast media. Federal and state grants are available to defray the costs, which include a turnkey booth, four nights’ hotel and meals, for qualified attendees.

Five reasons to consider Australia:

• A well-established, passionate car culture. Australians and New Zealanders are diehard enthusiasts. It is not farfetched to estimate that consumers in these two markets spend more per capita than Americans do.
• On a per-capita basis, it is one of the world’s 20 richest countries. Unemployment remains low, and Australia hasn’t had a recession in more than 24 years.
• The Australian and New Zealand specialty market covers all of the niches found in the United States. This includes off-roading, street performance, racing, styling, classic/vintage and car care.
• Positive perception of U.S. products. The United States enjoys a strong reputation as a manufacturer of high-quality, well-engineered automotive aftermarket and specialty products. Thanks to a free-trade agreement betweeen the United States and Australia, U.S. products enter the market duty free. Australia is also an important market for U.S.-built vehicles; Australia imported 42,000 vehicles from the United States in the first eight months of last year, making it the sixth highest destination for U.S.-built vehicles.
• Half of the vehicles sold annually in Australia are SUVs and pickups (or "utes" as they call them).

For more information contact Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org or visit www.sema.org/australia.

View a copy of the 2016 SEMA Australia post-show report.

Watch a video of the 2016 trip.

Read a flyer for the 2017 trip.

Register now for the 2017 SEMA Australia Regional Business Development Program.

By Linda Spencer

Trip participants spend a day touring specialty-equipment retailers, wholesalers and installers on each overseas trade mission. Here, Wade Kawasaki, president and chief operating officer of the Coker Group and SEMA Board of Directors chair-elect, tours an off-road shop in Melbourne, Australia.

Edelbrock LLC participated in the first SEMA Australia trip and will be back again in 2017.

At each show, exhibitors are provided a turnkey booth as part of the trip package. Here, Baja Designs promotes their products to Middle East buyers at the 2016 show.

Two SEMA overseas business development programs taking place this spring in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), March 28–April 1, and Australia, May 23–28, are rapidly filling up.

These two markets were chosen due to their top rankings as good prospects for SEMA members based on the following:

• Sizable population interested in customizing.
• Discretionary income to afford U.S. specialty-equipment products.
• Vehicle parc (total number of vehicles in the country/region that fit a manufacturer’s product line or one for which they are willing to make product).
• Legal/regulatory environment allowing customization, or in the case of emerging markets, a willingness by the local government to engage in discussions about developing laws governing modification.

The 2017 SEMA Middle East Business Development Program, to be held March 28–April 1, in Abu Dhabi, UAE, will provide participating SEMA members the opportunity to get their products in front of buyers from the UAE and other countries in the region.

Event schedule:

• March 28: Briefing with U.S. government officials, buyer panel.
• March 29: Visit accessory, performance and off-road retailers and wholesalers. Evening networking event with buyers.
• March 30: SEMA section at the Custom Show Emirates, open only to pre-vetted trade buyers.
• March 31: SEMA measuring session demonstration. SEMA section open to all.
• April 1: Trip officially over.

Federal and state grants are available to defray the costs, which include a turnkey booth at the Custom Show Emirates, four nights’ hotel and meals, for qualified attendees.

Five reasons to consider the Middle East markets:

• Deep pockets. The UAE has one of the world’s highest per capita (ranking sixth worldwide) disposable incomes, and thus the funds to pursue their hobbies.
• Important market for U.S.-built vehicles. The Saudi Arabian market is the fifth top market for U.S. vehicle sales, and the UAE market ranks eighth. All six of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE) are in the top 20 destinations for U.S.-made vehicles.
• Positive perception of U.S. products and culture. In a nod to the popularity of U.S. culture in the region and the recognition that the UAE has a strong enthusiast base, the Furious 7 was filmed in the UAE. TV car customizing shows, such as “Pimp My Ride” and “Overhaulin’,” attracted big audiences.
• Strong car culture and also a multi-car-per-family culture. The UAE has the most motorsports facilities per capita in the world. Off-roading (primarily on sand) is a national pastime, and the UAE’s national day would not be complete without an all-out classic-car display and parade including customized vehicles.
• Light trucks are extremely popular in the Middle East. In fact, half of the passenger vehicles on Middle East roads are light trucks, with the Toyota Land Cruiser, Nissan Patrol, Toyota FJ Cruiser, Ford Explorer and Jeep among the top-selling SUVs. Top pickups include the Toyota HiLux, Chevrolet Silverado and Ford F-Series, among others.

For more information, contact Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org or visit www.sema.org/middleeast.

View a copy of the 2016 SEMA Middle East post-show report.

Watch a video of the 2016 trip.

Read the flyer for the 2017 trip.

Register now for the 2017 SEMA Middle East Business Development Program.

The second trip is to Melbourne, Australia, May 23–27, 2017, for the “GearHeads Down Under” program, which includes a table-top display attended by pre-vetted buyers; visiting retailers, distributors and installers of performance, styling and off-road products; attending a briefing with the U.S. Department of Commerce; and a session with New Zealander and Australian print and TV enthusiast media. Federal and state grants are available to defray the costs, which include a turnkey booth, four nights’ hotel and meals, for qualified attendees.

Five reasons to consider Australia:

• A well-established, passionate car culture. Australians and New Zealanders are diehard enthusiasts. It is not farfetched to estimate that consumers in these two markets spend more per capita than Americans do.
• On a per-capita basis, it is one of the world’s 20 richest countries. Unemployment remains low, and Australia hasn’t had a recession in more than 24 years.
• The Australian and New Zealand specialty market covers all of the niches found in the United States. This includes off-roading, street performance, racing, styling, classic/vintage and car care.
• Positive perception of U.S. products. The United States enjoys a strong reputation as a manufacturer of high-quality, well-engineered automotive aftermarket and specialty products. Thanks to a free-trade agreement betweeen the United States and Australia, U.S. products enter the market duty free. Australia is also an important market for U.S.-built vehicles; Australia imported 42,000 vehicles from the United States in the first eight months of last year, making it the sixth highest destination for U.S.-built vehicles.
• Half of the vehicles sold annually in Australia are SUVs and pickups (or "utes" as they call them).

For more information contact Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org or visit www.sema.org/australia.

View a copy of the 2016 SEMA Australia post-show report.

Watch a video of the 2016 trip.

Read a flyer for the 2017 trip.

Register now for the 2017 SEMA Australia Regional Business Development Program.

By SEMA Editors

The SEMA Garage recently partnered with the Midway Group to host a joint measuring session featuring the ’17 Ferrari 488 and the ’17 Mercedes AMG GT. SEMA members headed to Midway’s MG Studio in Los Angeles with tools and cameras in hand ready to gather specs, research model additions and develop plans for new products.

The association created measuring sessions to provide a single location for members to schedule time with vehicles to gather specs, research model additions and changes, and develop plans for new products.

In addition to member access, the two elite European sport coupes shared time under the FARO arm to generate accurate 3D scans of the exteriors, as well as detailed scans of the exhausts, brakes, wheels and more. The scan data helps engineers develop products that are guaranteed to fit, eliminating the need for reverse engineering. Access to the vehicle data collected from the FARO arm, along with the real-world measurements and photos taken by session participants, can drastically reduce the time needed to take a product idea from concept to showroom.

“One of the most vital components of product development is the Measuring Session; it’s really where that process starts,” said Jim Moore, SEMA director of OEM relations. “Traditionally, we host sessions at the SEMA Garage, or at OEM establishments. When were looking for non-traditional vehicles that don’t necessarily fit in to the norm, we look for outside partners, like the Midway Group.”

In addition to the Ferrari-Mercedes session at Midway Group, this year the SEMA Garage has already conducted measuring sessions for the ’18 Toyota C-HR and ’16 Australian-spec Ford Ranger, with a ’18 Audi Q5 Measuring Session scheduled for Tuesday, February 7.

“Midway Group specializes in vehicle procurement for partners like SEMA to provide vehicles for OEMs, manufacturers, marketing agencies and press agencies,” said Bryan Fitzgibbon, Midway Group’s director of client services. “While not necessarily in the garage right now, we typically have about 20 to 25 vehicles that are ours, and the goal is to use the vehicles for more than one program of this type.”

Upcoming Measuring Sessions are announced in SEMA eNews when details are made available. To learn more about SEMA Measuring Sessions and the SEMA Garage, visit www.semagarage.com.

By SEMA Editors

The SEMA Garage recently partnered with the Midway Group to host a joint measuring session featuring the ’17 Ferrari 488 and the ’17 Mercedes AMG GT. SEMA members headed to Midway’s MG Studio in Los Angeles with tools and cameras in hand ready to gather specs, research model additions and develop plans for new products.

The association created measuring sessions to provide a single location for members to schedule time with vehicles to gather specs, research model additions and changes, and develop plans for new products.

In addition to member access, the two elite European sport coupes shared time under the FARO arm to generate accurate 3D scans of the exteriors, as well as detailed scans of the exhausts, brakes, wheels and more. The scan data helps engineers develop products that are guaranteed to fit, eliminating the need for reverse engineering. Access to the vehicle data collected from the FARO arm, along with the real-world measurements and photos taken by session participants, can drastically reduce the time needed to take a product idea from concept to showroom.

“One of the most vital components of product development is the Measuring Session; it’s really where that process starts,” said Jim Moore, SEMA director of OEM relations. “Traditionally, we host sessions at the SEMA Garage, or at OEM establishments. When were looking for non-traditional vehicles that don’t necessarily fit in to the norm, we look for outside partners, like the Midway Group.”

In addition to the Ferrari-Mercedes session at Midway Group, this year the SEMA Garage has already conducted measuring sessions for the ’18 Toyota C-HR and ’16 Australian-spec Ford Ranger, with a ’18 Audi Q5 Measuring Session scheduled for Tuesday, February 7.

“Midway Group specializes in vehicle procurement for partners like SEMA to provide vehicles for OEMs, manufacturers, marketing agencies and press agencies,” said Bryan Fitzgibbon, Midway Group’s director of client services. “While not necessarily in the garage right now, we typically have about 20 to 25 vehicles that are ours, and the goal is to use the vehicles for more than one program of this type.”

Upcoming Measuring Sessions are announced in SEMA eNews when details are made available. To learn more about SEMA Measuring Sessions and the SEMA Garage, visit www.semagarage.com.

By SEMA Editors

Troy Ladd’s ’36 Packard roadster, the Mullholland Speedster, prevailed in a field of 12 finalists to win the coveted 10-ft. America’s Most Beautiful Roadster trophy.

Troy Ladd, legendary customizer and owner of Hollywood Hot Rods, was honored with the top award at the 68th Annual Grand National Roadster Show held in Pomona, California, January 27–29, 2017. Ladd’s ’36 Packard roadster, the Mullholland Speedster, prevailed in a field of 12 finalists to win the coveted 10-ft. trophy.

Ladd follows his Grand National achievement with his first television series, “Botched Ride Rescue.” Teaming with car expert and TV personality Courtney Hansen, the duo will rescue and customize poorly modified cars and trucks in the spirit of fun for deserving owners. The 10-episode series will premiere on Velocity on primetime in the third quarter of 2017.

Follow “Botched Ride Rescue” on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

By Matt Kennedy

SEMA Market Research’s latest report, “Shopping Habits: In-Store & Online,” examines data collected from 5,000 consumers on what parts they buy, where they buy them and how they research ideas for new parts for their vehicles.

It’s no secret that a sizeable number of specialty-equipment parts are now bought online, while just a decade ago the thought of buying a performance upgrade on the web might have seemed unthinkable for most automotive consumers. But what’s the reality of the situation? And what does that mean for your business?

SEMA Market Research’s latest report, “Shopping Habits: In-Store & Online,” answers this by examining data collected from 5,000 consumers about the parts they buy, where they buy them and how they research ideas for new parts for their vehicles. While the internet is definitely a big slice of the industry’s sales, most products are actually still bought in-store and almost all consumers still buy at least some of their parts from physical locations. This report offers valuable information about these buying habits.

To download the report, “Shopping Habits: In-Store & Online,” go to www.sema.org/shopping-habits-report.

Additional information on what and where consumers buy can be found in the most recent Annual Market Study, available at www.sema.org/2016marketreport.

Meanwhile, as 2017 gets underway, many SEMA members are planning updates to their product offerings to meet their customers’ demands. But do you have the information you need to make an informed decision about what vehicles you should be covering? The SEMA Member VIO Program allows United States-based manufacturer, distributor and retailer/installer members to get hard data about how many specific vehicle makes and models of interest are on the road today.

For more information, check out www.sema.org/vio.