SEMA-supported legislation to provide for an expanded-use antique-vehicle registration class that would allow antique vehicles and replicas to be driven without limitation during the warmer part of the year (April 1 through October 31) was approved unanimously by the full Illinois Senate. The bill already has been passed by the full Illinois House of Representatives and will now be sent to the governor for his signature and enactment into law. Under the bill, expanded-use antiques are limited to traveling to and from car shows, exhibitions, servicing or demonstration during the colder months (November 1 through March 31). Regular antique-vehicle registration would still be available for a lower fee to hobbyists who would prefer only operating their vehicle on a limited-use basis throughout the year.

For more information, click here. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.     

 

While in Beijing, SEMA members will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with buyers from throughout China.

SEMA members are heading to Beijing, China, September 7–10, 2011, for the SEMA CIAPE China Business Development Conference to learn about the potential for their products in the vast Chinese market. Focus groups with local media, one-on-one meetings with buyers from all regions of China and other networking events are planned for those participating in this low-cost program, which also includes hotels, meals and interpreters.

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

 

While in Beijing, SEMA members will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with buyers from throughout China.

SEMA members are heading to Beijing, China, September 7–10, 2011, for the SEMA CIAPE China Business Development Conference to learn about the potential for their products in the vast Chinese market. Focus groups with local media, one-on-one meetings with buyers from all regions of China and other networking events are planned for those participating in this low-cost program, which also includes hotels, meals and interpreters.

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

The Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program, which provides duty-free treatment to several thousand products imported into the United States from more than two-thirds of the world's countries expired at the end of last year. The Coalition for GSP is leading the effort to reinstate the program affecting imports from more than 130 developing countries. This will be the first time Congress has allowed the GSP program to expire in nearly 10 years.

For more information or to add your firm to the 200 companies that have already joined the coalition, contact Daniel Anthony at anthony@tradepartnership.com.

The Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program, which provides duty-free treatment to several thousand products imported into the United States from more than two-thirds of the world's countries expired at the end of last year. The Coalition for GSP is leading the effort to reinstate the program affecting imports from more than 130 developing countries. This will be the first time Congress has allowed the GSP program to expire in nearly 10 years.

For more information or to add your firm to the 200 companies that have already joined the coalition, contact Daniel Anthony at anthony@tradepartnership.com.

	If you have less than 1,000 lbs. of total drayage, Freeman will help you unload your equipment and transport it to your booth space.

Depending on your budget, there are many options when it comes to booth design at the 2011 SEMA Show, said Jeff Pressman, CEM, ConvExx president, in his “Best Practices in Booth Design” seminar at the recent SEMA Exhibitor Summit in Las Vegas.

Choose a Design: There are different types of booths. An island booth is surrounded on all four sides by aisles. The space can be utilized however you want, but exhibits can only be up to 16 ft. tall. If you park a vehicle in the booth, make sure it is located 10 in. from the aisle. Peninsula booths are similar to split-island booths, only split islands are two peninsulas back-to-back. There are no line-of-sight rules for peninsula booths this year so exhibitors can utilize the entire space, meaning the entire back wall can now be used up to 16-ft. high. Make note that linear booths directly behind peninsula booths can now possibly have a full side wall and may not be visible from the nearby cross aisle. This may change some exhibitors’ opinions on which spaces to reserve and how to design their space. The rule for linear booths remains the same, where the maximum height at the back of the booth is 8.3 ft.

Grab the Buyers’ Attention: First, take into consideration the cost of building the booth and shipping it to Las Vegas. Freeman is available to consult with you and help you save money. When planning your booth design, ask yourself the following questions: How will you communicate your message? What is your objective? Who are you trying to attract to your booth? What is your message? With 2,000 exhibitors over 2 million sq. ft., keep in mind each potential buyer has just seconds to spend with each exhibitor, so you must grab their attention fast.

Do it Yourself or Outsource?: After you have decided on your booth design, make the decision of whether to build it yourself or outsource. If you have less than 1,000 lbs. of total drayage, Freeman will help you unload your equipment and transport it to your booth space if you bring it yourself.

Display in the Right Section: There are 12 Show sections. Make sure you display in the right section so buyers can find you. “It’s oftentimes found to be a myth that being by the front door is the best location because attendees aren’t in the right mind frame as soon as they walk through the door,” Pressman said. “They aren’t ready to do business until they’ve walked through the aisles. If you do the right branding so that everyone knows you’re in the back, you’ll have a great Show. Booth swipes have proven that exhibitors in the back of the hall oftentimes get more traffic than those in the front.”

Generate Visibility: Hanging signs must be hung at least 10 ft. away from your neighbor. Size limitations of signs are 8 ft. tall, but they can be hung at any height. Hanging signs generate great visibility but beware of the costs involved. Signs must be hung before booths are built. Linear booths are not permitted hanging signs unless you are on the perimeter of the building. Be sure to send in your Exhibit Space Design Notification and Hanging Sign forms so ConvExx knows exactly what you plan to put in your booth and everything meets the guidelines. Avoid last-minute changes or required alterations onsite, which can be costly.

Know Your Objective: Will a model or celebrity appearance draw buyers to your booth? Just because they drive traffic doesn’t make it right for everyone. Lines can actually impede traffic to your booth as well as your neighbor’s. Booth vehicles are a great way to showcase products, but make sure they represent what you’re trying to show.

Show Up Early, Stay Late: Exhibitors can show up at 7:00 a.m., which is two hours before the Show opens. Many people are walking through the exhibit hall beginning at 7:00 a.m. Protect your booth and belongings by arriving early. The Show closes at 5:00 p.m., with many people taking up to 30 minutes to leave the hall. Once again, protect your booth and belongings by staying in your booth after closing, even using the time to have staff meetings to wrap up the day. 


For more information, contact Jeff Pressman at 702/450-7662 ext. 105 or jpressman@convexx.com. To register for the Show, click here.

To view the Exhibitor Summit video in its entirety, click here.

	If you have less than 1,000 lbs. of total drayage, Freeman will help you unload your equipment and transport it to your booth space.

Depending on your budget, there are many options when it comes to booth design at the 2011 SEMA Show, said Jeff Pressman, CEM, ConvExx president, in his “Best Practices in Booth Design” seminar at the recent SEMA Exhibitor Summit in Las Vegas.

Choose a Design: There are different types of booths. An island booth is surrounded on all four sides by aisles. The space can be utilized however you want, but exhibits can only be up to 16 ft. tall. If you park a vehicle in the booth, make sure it is located 10 in. from the aisle. Peninsula booths are similar to split-island booths, only split islands are two peninsulas back-to-back. There are no line-of-sight rules for peninsula booths this year so exhibitors can utilize the entire space, meaning the entire back wall can now be used up to 16-ft. high. Make note that linear booths directly behind peninsula booths can now possibly have a full side wall and may not be visible from the nearby cross aisle. This may change some exhibitors’ opinions on which spaces to reserve and how to design their space. The rule for linear booths remains the same, where the maximum height at the back of the booth is 8.3 ft.

Grab the Buyers’ Attention: First, take into consideration the cost of building the booth and shipping it to Las Vegas. Freeman is available to consult with you and help you save money. When planning your booth design, ask yourself the following questions: How will you communicate your message? What is your objective? Who are you trying to attract to your booth? What is your message? With 2,000 exhibitors over 2 million sq. ft., keep in mind each potential buyer has just seconds to spend with each exhibitor, so you must grab their attention fast.

Do it Yourself or Outsource?: After you have decided on your booth design, make the decision of whether to build it yourself or outsource. If you have less than 1,000 lbs. of total drayage, Freeman will help you unload your equipment and transport it to your booth space if you bring it yourself.

Display in the Right Section: There are 12 Show sections. Make sure you display in the right section so buyers can find you. “It’s oftentimes found to be a myth that being by the front door is the best location because attendees aren’t in the right mind frame as soon as they walk through the door,” Pressman said. “They aren’t ready to do business until they’ve walked through the aisles. If you do the right branding so that everyone knows you’re in the back, you’ll have a great Show. Booth swipes have proven that exhibitors in the back of the hall oftentimes get more traffic than those in the front.”

Generate Visibility: Hanging signs must be hung at least 10 ft. away from your neighbor. Size limitations of signs are 8 ft. tall, but they can be hung at any height. Hanging signs generate great visibility but beware of the costs involved. Signs must be hung before booths are built. Linear booths are not permitted hanging signs unless you are on the perimeter of the building. Be sure to send in your Exhibit Space Design Notification and Hanging Sign forms so ConvExx knows exactly what you plan to put in your booth and everything meets the guidelines. Avoid last-minute changes or required alterations onsite, which can be costly.

Know Your Objective: Will a model or celebrity appearance draw buyers to your booth? Just because they drive traffic doesn’t make it right for everyone. Lines can actually impede traffic to your booth as well as your neighbor’s. Booth vehicles are a great way to showcase products, but make sure they represent what you’re trying to show.

Show Up Early, Stay Late: Exhibitors can show up at 7:00 a.m., which is two hours before the Show opens. Many people are walking through the exhibit hall beginning at 7:00 a.m. Protect your booth and belongings by arriving early. The Show closes at 5:00 p.m., with many people taking up to 30 minutes to leave the hall. Once again, protect your booth and belongings by staying in your booth after closing, even using the time to have staff meetings to wrap up the day. 


For more information, contact Jeff Pressman at 702/450-7662 ext. 105 or jpressman@convexx.com. To register for the Show, click here.

To view the Exhibitor Summit video in its entirety, click here.

	If you have less than 1,000 lbs. of total drayage, Freeman will help you unload your equipment and transport it to your booth space.

Depending on your budget, there are many options when it comes to booth design at the 2011 SEMA Show, said Jeff Pressman, CEM, ConvExx president, in his “Best Practices in Booth Design” seminar at the recent SEMA Exhibitor Summit in Las Vegas.

Choose a Design: There are different types of booths. An island booth is surrounded on all four sides by aisles. The space can be utilized however you want, but exhibits can only be up to 16 ft. tall. If you park a vehicle in the booth, make sure it is located 10 in. from the aisle. Peninsula booths are similar to split-island booths, only split islands are two peninsulas back-to-back. There are no line-of-sight rules for peninsula booths this year so exhibitors can utilize the entire space, meaning the entire back wall can now be used up to 16-ft. high. Make note that linear booths directly behind peninsula booths can now possibly have a full side wall and may not be visible from the nearby cross aisle. This may change some exhibitors’ opinions on which spaces to reserve and how to design their space. The rule for linear booths remains the same, where the maximum height at the back of the booth is 8.3 ft.

Grab the Buyers’ Attention: First, take into consideration the cost of building the booth and shipping it to Las Vegas. Freeman is available to consult with you and help you save money. When planning your booth design, ask yourself the following questions: How will you communicate your message? What is your objective? Who are you trying to attract to your booth? What is your message? With 2,000 exhibitors over 2 million sq. ft., keep in mind each potential buyer has just seconds to spend with each exhibitor, so you must grab their attention fast.

Do it Yourself or Outsource?: After you have decided on your booth design, make the decision of whether to build it yourself or outsource. If you have less than 1,000 lbs. of total drayage, Freeman will help you unload your equipment and transport it to your booth space if you bring it yourself.

Display in the Right Section: There are 12 Show sections. Make sure you display in the right section so buyers can find you. “It’s oftentimes found to be a myth that being by the front door is the best location because attendees aren’t in the right mind frame as soon as they walk through the door,” Pressman said. “They aren’t ready to do business until they’ve walked through the aisles. If you do the right branding so that everyone knows you’re in the back, you’ll have a great Show. Booth swipes have proven that exhibitors in the back of the hall oftentimes get more traffic than those in the front.”

Generate Visibility: Hanging signs must be hung at least 10 ft. away from your neighbor. Size limitations of signs are 8 ft. tall, but they can be hung at any height. Hanging signs generate great visibility but beware of the costs involved. Signs must be hung before booths are built. Linear booths are not permitted hanging signs unless you are on the perimeter of the building. Be sure to send in your Exhibit Space Design Notification and Hanging Sign forms so ConvExx knows exactly what you plan to put in your booth and everything meets the guidelines. Avoid last-minute changes or required alterations onsite, which can be costly.

Know Your Objective: Will a model or celebrity appearance draw buyers to your booth? Just because they drive traffic doesn’t make it right for everyone. Lines can actually impede traffic to your booth as well as your neighbor’s. Booth vehicles are a great way to showcase products, but make sure they represent what you’re trying to show.

Show Up Early, Stay Late: Exhibitors can show up at 7:00 a.m., which is two hours before the Show opens. Many people are walking through the exhibit hall beginning at 7:00 a.m. Protect your booth and belongings by arriving early. The Show closes at 5:00 p.m., with many people taking up to 30 minutes to leave the hall. Once again, protect your booth and belongings by staying in your booth after closing, even using the time to have staff meetings to wrap up the day. 


For more information, contact Jeff Pressman at 702/450-7662 ext. 105 or jpressman@convexx.com. To register for the Show, click here.

To view the Exhibitor Summit video in its entirety, click here.

 

	So far, 190 exhibitors have registered for a booth at the 2011 SEMA Show’s Global Tire Expo—Powered by TIA, which was the total number of exhibitors registered for this section last year.

With just over five months to go until Show time, already 190 exhibitors have registered for a booth at the 2011 SEMA Show’s Global Tire Expo—Powered by the Tire Industry Association (TIA), which was the total number of exhibitors registered for this section last year. The Expo serves as a focal point for buyers searching for the hottest tire-related trends and products. Last year, 16,390 buyers designated their intention to explore this category, noting an interest in tires and accessories, including both passenger and light-truck applications.

Making its debut at the 2010 SEMA Show, the Global Tire Expo—Powered by TIA, is a tire industry-focused part of the SEMA Show, which will take place November 1–4, 2011, at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC). The Expo is open to all segments of the tire industry, including automotive, commercial, retreading, recycling and more.


“By working with TIA, we created the Global Tire Expo to meet the needs of the tire industry,” said Chris Kersting, SEMA president and CEO. Kersting further points out that many buyers at the SEMA Show are looking to expand their product lines to include tire-related products. The 2010 Global Tire Expo more than delivered, even when just examining initial statistics. Show management indicates that tire- and wheel-related new-product submissions for the New Products Showcase were up more than 45%. In addition to product premieres, the number of Global Tire Expo exhibitors was up 11.5% representing a total of 194 companies, including 47 first-time exhibitors.


In addition to the number of exhibitors and new products, last year’s Global Tire Expo also included expanded educational session tracks targeting the tire market. The tracks included “TPMS at 10,” “Tires at 2,” “Truck Tires at 10” and “Management at 4.”

“The educational sessions offered at the Expo provide tire industry attendees with the best of both worlds; they can get up-to-the-minute, relevant and entertaining information from some of the world’s leading experts in the tire industry and still have enough time to make important business contacts and meet plenty of potential suppliers,” said TIA Executive Vice President Roy Littlefield.

Taking advantage of the record participation at the 2010 Global Tire Expo, TIA made several announcements during the Show concerning new and expanded programs and services for its membership. Topics included: a new health insurance option for employees of TIA-member organizations, the addition of a workers' compensation insurance member benefit and the launch of TIA's new Certifiedtireservice.com website.


The 2010 SEMA Show/Global Tire Expo raised the bar far beyond expectations. The event is clearly North America's only conference and trade show dedicated to the tire industry.

Click here to view a listing of exhibitors registered for the Global Tire Expo—Powered by TIA. For more information on exhibiting at the 2011 SEMA Show/Global Tire Expo, visit www.SEMAShow.com/buyabooth.

 

	So far, 190 exhibitors have registered for a booth at the 2011 SEMA Show’s Global Tire Expo—Powered by TIA, which was the total number of exhibitors registered for this section last year.

With just over five months to go until Show time, already 190 exhibitors have registered for a booth at the 2011 SEMA Show’s Global Tire Expo—Powered by the Tire Industry Association (TIA), which was the total number of exhibitors registered for this section last year. The Expo serves as a focal point for buyers searching for the hottest tire-related trends and products. Last year, 16,390 buyers designated their intention to explore this category, noting an interest in tires and accessories, including both passenger and light-truck applications.

Making its debut at the 2010 SEMA Show, the Global Tire Expo—Powered by TIA, is a tire industry-focused part of the SEMA Show, which will take place November 1–4, 2011, at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC). The Expo is open to all segments of the tire industry, including automotive, commercial, retreading, recycling and more.


“By working with TIA, we created the Global Tire Expo to meet the needs of the tire industry,” said Chris Kersting, SEMA president and CEO. Kersting further points out that many buyers at the SEMA Show are looking to expand their product lines to include tire-related products. The 2010 Global Tire Expo more than delivered, even when just examining initial statistics. Show management indicates that tire- and wheel-related new-product submissions for the New Products Showcase were up more than 45%. In addition to product premieres, the number of Global Tire Expo exhibitors was up 11.5% representing a total of 194 companies, including 47 first-time exhibitors.


In addition to the number of exhibitors and new products, last year’s Global Tire Expo also included expanded educational session tracks targeting the tire market. The tracks included “TPMS at 10,” “Tires at 2,” “Truck Tires at 10” and “Management at 4.”

“The educational sessions offered at the Expo provide tire industry attendees with the best of both worlds; they can get up-to-the-minute, relevant and entertaining information from some of the world’s leading experts in the tire industry and still have enough time to make important business contacts and meet plenty of potential suppliers,” said TIA Executive Vice President Roy Littlefield.

Taking advantage of the record participation at the 2010 Global Tire Expo, TIA made several announcements during the Show concerning new and expanded programs and services for its membership. Topics included: a new health insurance option for employees of TIA-member organizations, the addition of a workers' compensation insurance member benefit and the launch of TIA's new Certifiedtireservice.com website.


The 2010 SEMA Show/Global Tire Expo raised the bar far beyond expectations. The event is clearly North America's only conference and trade show dedicated to the tire industry.

Click here to view a listing of exhibitors registered for the Global Tire Expo—Powered by TIA. For more information on exhibiting at the 2011 SEMA Show/Global Tire Expo, visit www.SEMAShow.com/buyabooth.