By Ashley Reyes

Discover new research findings on the state of specialty-automotive retail during a live webinar, Wednesday, October 13, at 11:00 a.m. (PDT).

Presented by experts from the SEMA Market Research team, the webinar will reveal how consumers buy specialty-automotive parts for their vehicles and new findings related to the retail side of the specialty-automotive aftermarket. Participants will leave with a better understanding on where and how consumers shop for parts, what trends are currently shaping the retail landscape and what businesses may want to keep an eye on.

Key discussion topics will include:

• Retail in the U.S. Economy: Get government data on in-person and online retail sales, the importance of the automotive sector within retail and how recent events have affected retail sales in the economy overall.
• Specialty-Equipment Retail Overview: Get data for sales by products, vehicles, consumers and purchasing channels specific to the automotive specialty-equipment market.
• Trends to Watch: Current and emerging trends in retail that may affect the specialty-equipment parts market.
• Implications for businesses and what businesses need to know.

Participants will also get an in-depth preview of the “SEMA eCommerce Report” from SEMA Market Research, which will be released October 7.

Register here for “The State of Specialty-Automotive Retail.”

By SEMA Editors

The 2021 SEMA Show is about five weeks away. Here’s a rundown of key deadlines, including early-bird and advance rates available for several booth services, as well as checklists to keep you on track and on budget.

Complete Deadlines Checklist - Take advantage of Early-bird rates—order before the deadlines!

The Deadlines Checklist provides a breakdown of all of the deadlines for booth orders, rentals, booth vehicle applications, celebrity appearance notifications and much more.

Budget Checklist – Double check your Show prep.

The budget checklist form allows you to keep track of all your costs and ensures that you are adequately prepared for your experience at the SEMA Show. 

Upcoming Exhibitor Deadlines – Take advantage of discounts by acting before the deadlines.

• October 1 – Target Move-in Date Change Request-Freeman
• October 1 – Internet/Telephone Order (Advance Rate)–Cox Business (LVCC)
• October 1 – Products for Project Vehicle Builders
• October 1 – International Air Freight Arriving at Los Angeles International (LAX) Airport
• October 1 – International Sea Freight Arriving at Long Beach Terminal
• October 8 – EAC – (Exhibitor-Appointed Contractor) Application Form
• October 8 – New Products Entry (Advance Rate)
• October 15 – Meeting/Function Space Reservation
• October 18 – Booth Catering Order Service (Centerplate)
• October 19 – Tents/Canopies—Full Circle Events
• October 21 – Hanging Sign/Banner Shipments to Advance Freeman Warehouse
• October 22 – Photography Order – Expo Ease
• October 22 – Plant and Floral Order – Expo Ease
• October 22 – Vehicle Detailing (Advance Rate) – Professional Detailers
• November 5 – Members Lounge Conference Room Reservation by 3:00 p.m.

Click here for a complete listing of 2021 SEMA Show deadlines.

More information on the 2021 SEMA Show is available at www.SEMAShow.com.

 By SEMA Editors

Exhibitors of the 2021 SEMA Show are invited to expand their reach, product exposure and Show-floor presence by offering products to builders through the Products for Project-Vehicle Builders list. The list connects manufacturers with builders looking to create or complete a vehicle project.

The list, which will be updated in SEMA eNews, features product offers and contact information provided by confirmed SEMA Show exhibitors. Builders interested in obtaining a product use the information to contact exhibitors directly. With each project vehicle required to be supported by a current 2021 SEMA Show exhibitor, all product-placement decisions, negotiations and agreements are the responsibility of the exhibiting manufacturer and the builder.

The list is open to exhibitors of the 2021 SEMA Show only. To be included in the list, complete the form.

Exhibitors: Each submission will appear on a first-come, first-served basis. As participation increases, all submissions will also be archived on www.SEMAShow.com.

Note: For verification purposes, the Project-Vehicle Builders form must be used to participate in the program; email submissions will not be included in the list. Participation in the list does not guarantee product or vehicle placement at the 2021 SEMA Show.

View the Products for Project-Vehicle Builders list.

By SEMA Editors

Latest Jobs Added to SEMA Career Center

Are you hunting for a new job? The SEMA Career Center has a comprehensive listing of automotive-related job openings around the country. Here are some of the latest jobs posted to the website.

Automotive Editor
Power Automedia is hiring an editor responsible for writing and managing editorial content, assigning freelance articles, event coverage and managing in-house project vehicles. Candidates must have at least three years of relevant experience.

Automotive Product Specialist
Speedmaster is hiring an automotive product specialist to source new items, record technical specs and develop new products for the automotive aftermarket industry; recommend product informational material for new and existing product developments and collaborate with the marketing team for flyers, brochures, automotive industry publications, trade shows and social media; and provide tech and support during the SEMA Show and PRI Trade Show. Candidates must have previous experience in product research and data entry, familiarity with automotive terminology, and mechanical knowledge is preferred.

Auto Parts Merchandiser
Kincer Chassis is hiring a shipping and receiving agent to ensure all outbound shipments receive appropriate labeling, postage and packaging based on contents and destination; verify all incoming shipments are accurate by comparing purchase orders, invoices, packing slips, and shipment contents to ensure accurate inventory and acceptable condition of goods; organize, assemble and package sub assemblies and ready-to-ship products within the warehouse; and report incoming shipment and inventory discrepancies to management immediately. Automotive mechanical skills and background in the automotive industry is preferred.

By SEMA Editors

Dates and locations have been scheduled for several upcoming SEMA-sponsored shows, measuring sessions and activities.

By Jason  Catullo

The halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center are nearly full of exhibits, but booth space is still being reserved, and more exhibitors are expected to secure space until the Show opens on November 2.

Attendees planning on joining the industry at the 2021 SEMA Show can see who's exhibiting and where through the updated floorplan. If you have not yet registered for the SEMA Show, taking place Tuesday-Friday, November 2-5, visit www.SEMAShow.com/attendee to register.

For 2021, the Show will include exhibit space in the Las Vegas Convention Center’s newly constructed West Hall, a 1.4-million-sq.-ft. facility completed in January. The new facility includes exhibitors from the Restyling & Car Care Accessories, Powersports & Utility Vehicles, and Truck, SUV & Off-Road sections.

Earlier in June, the visitors of the World of Concrete convention were the first to use the new hall, and the event marked the first large-scale convention and tradeshow to be held in Las Vegas in 15 months.

In addition to the new hall, the newly constructed Loop—a high-speed, people-mover system that runs 40 feet under the LVCC—will transport visitors between South, Central and West Halls. The World of Concrete successfully used the system to shuttle visitors through the 200-acre convention center.

For more information on the 2021 SEMA Show, visit www.SEMAShow.com.

By SEMA Editors

I-CAR is offering several opportunities to increase collision-repair industry knowledge and skills for attendees of the 2021 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, November 2–5.

• Register online for a variety of I-CAR classes before arriving at the Show (note that SEMA offers a reduced registration fee prior to October 9). Attendees can also register for I-CAR classes outside of Skybridge classrooms S224 and S225 from 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
• Stop by the stage to participate in free I-CAR live demonstrations on topics including ADAS, Calibration/Aiming, EV, Welding and more. Catch discussions and presentations by leading OE manufacturers and panel discussions on the hottest technical topics in the industry. Visit the SEMA Collision Repair & Refinish Stage (Booth #32145).
• Visit I-CAR Booth #33139, where attendees can learn about the many exciting changes I-CAR is delivering.

Keep Pace With ADAS and EV

As vehicle technologies progress, shops look for ongoing training to keep safe and up-to-speed with the continuous changes to complex vehicle systems. Visit https://info.i-car.com/electric-vehicles or https://info.i-car.com/adas for more information and resources.

Individuals who take I-CAR training gain knowledge and credits valid toward:

• I-CAR Gold Class recognition
• I-CAR Platinum designation

Register for classes.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Support for the bipartisan Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act (RPM Act), H.R. 3281 and S. 2736, continues to expand each day as members of Congress receive an outpouring of support for the bill from racers and the motorsports’ parts industry. It’s clear the letters that enthusiasts and businesses have sent are being noticed on Capitol Hill and continue to make a difference, but there’s more that you can do to pass the RPM Act (details on other ways to help are below).

Over the past week, eight U.S. Senators and seven U.S. House members have agreed to co-sponsor the bill, including Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Gary Peters (D-MI), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Ted Cruz (R-TX) and John Barrasso (R-WY) and Representatives Kelly Armstrong (R-ND), Mike Johnson (R-LA), Mike Bost (R-IL), Tim Walberg (R-MI), Clay Higgins (R-LA), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Billy Long (R-MO).

If you’ve already sent a letter to Congress about the RPM Act, please follow-up by making a short call to their office to voice your support for the bill. SEMA has made it easy to call your elected officials by clicking here. Below is a list of things you can do right now to help the cause:

• Send a personal letter to your lawmakers at: saveourracecars.com. A letter has already been drafted. It takes less than a minute.
• Sign a letter to your lawmakers on company letterhead. Email erics@sema.org for a template and for more information.
• Post about the RPM Act on your company’s social-media accounts using the toolkit of digital assets.
• Become a member of SEMA and learn more about SEMA’s Political Action Committee (SEMA PAC) at www.semapac.com. SEMA PAC allows SEMA members to support the lawmakers that stand up for our industry in Washington.

The RPM Act must be enacted into law to guarantee your right to modify street cars, trucks and motorcycles into dedicated race vehicles, and ensure that industry can offer parts that enable racers to compete. It is imperative that lawmakers continue to be reminded of the importance of passing the RPM Act. Currently, 108 members of the House and 13 Senators have cosponsored the bill.

The specialty automotive aftermarket and the racing community must continue to unite and do everything we can to Save Our Race Cars!

For details, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.

By Ashley Reyes

The SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) named Jessieleigh Freeman, mechanic at #SavingSaturn, as the newest #SheIsSEMA spotlight member. Freeman has a passion for Saturn vehicles, which ceased production in 2010, and has taken on the task of restoring and collecting Saturn vehicles—17 of them at the moment. Learn more about Freeman in her interview with SEMA below.

SEMA: What is most challenging part of running your business or job?

Jessieleigh Freeman: The most challenging part is finding the parts and keeping up with all the Saturns.

SEMA: How many years have you been in the industry, and what was your first industry job?

JF: I have been in the automotive industry for about six years now. My first job was office manager and service writer for a speed shop.

SEMA: What are three qualities that got you to where you are today?

JF: The three qualities that got me where I am today are organization, perseverance and determination.

SEMA: Being a woman in the industry, what have been your biggest challenges and accomplishments?

JF: Being taken seriously is a big thing for me in what I do. Many people have not taken me or what I do seriously and think that it is a joke. I worked very hard to get where I am and do what I do. People ask me all the time if I am just the face of #SavingSaturn and some man does everything behind the scenes.

SEMA: Who are your role models or mentors in the industry? How have they helped you along the way?

JF: It has been difficult to find a female in the industry who does what I do to be a role model. My family has been part of drag racing for years though, and I always looked up to Team Force. The girls have such confidence, and their father never held them back.

SEMA: What is the best career advice you have received? How has this advice helped you either professionally or personally?

JF: The best advice I’ve received is “If they judge you by your cover, show them why they should read.” I have no idea who said that to me; I wish I did, but it has been a great reminder that I should try to educate rather than walk away.

SEMA: Have you always wanted to work in the automotive industry? What keeps you here?

JF: Yes, I have loved cars for as long as I can remember. The passion to get my cars restored has been my driving force.

SEMA: Who was the most influential person on your career/goals?

JF: My Uncle Frank; he pushed me to be who I am today.

Do you know, or are you, a woman with a career in the automotive industry? Fill out a #SheIsSEMA spotlight form to submit a self-nomination or nominate a colleague and highlight how you or she is contributing to the specialty-equipment industry. Selected candidates are automatically eligible to be considered for SBN’s #SheIsSEMA Woman of the Year award, featured on SBN’s social media, SEMA eNews and recognized on the www.sema.org/she-is-sema website.

By Ashley Reyes

SEMA members are invited to join Tom Gattuso, SEMA vice president of events, for a Facebook live chat and Q&A on the 2021 SEMA Show on Wednesday, October 6, at 12:00 p.m. (PDT).  

Taking place on the SBN Facebook page, the discussion will help members understand how to make the most out of their experience at the week-long trade-only event taking place November 2–5 in Las Vegas. Gattuso will share updates about this year’s Show, as well as tips for navigating the event with ease.

Get your questions ready and tune into SBN Facebook page on Wednesday, October 6, at 12:00 p.m. (PDT).