By SEMA Editors

Through the SEMA Show's Priority Space Selection, exhibitors work with their sales representative to determine which booth on the floorpan offers the best opportunities.

On Monday, April 29, Priority Space Selection will begin at SEMA headquarters. Sales representatives from each section of the SEMA Show will begin calling exhibitors in order of seniority to determine which booth on the floorpan offers the company the best opportunity for success. All Showgoers can follow the start of the process on Facebook beginning at 9:55 a.m., as Tom Gattuso conducts a virtual tour of the call center and allow viewers to witness the first call. After the process begins, companies can visit www.SEMAShow.com/floorplan to watch as the layout of the 2019 SEMA Show develops.

For exhibitors participating in Priority Space Selection, you should have received an email with details related to your company’s exhibit. Here are seven tips for exhibitors who will be getting that phone call during the next 13 business days.

1. Be prepared for your call.
If you have not received an email outlining the day and time for your space selection, contact your account rep. If for any reason you will not be available on the date and time of your assigned call, you can designate a proxy. Follow the steps in the email to establish a proxy and contact information.

2. Have a discussion with your rep.
Prior to your assigned call time, bring up the SEMA Show floorpan and look for several potential booth locations. Having the map on screen will allow you and your caller to have a more detailed discussion about the ideal booth for your exhibit. If you have requests or concerns, now is the time to see what can be accommodated. Ask. Talk details. “Is this the best space? Are there pillars near the booth? Are there height restrictions?"

3. Review your confirmation email.
Once you have completed your space selection phone call, the Show staff will then triple check your booth location and create a confirmation email that will arrive in about four hours. When you receive the email, verify that everything is correct.

4. Notify us with any changes to your booth.
If you were not able to negotiate an acceptable outcome during the selection process, you can obtain a refund. The SEMA Show offers a 24-hour cancellation policy. To receive 100% of your deposit, you must contact SEMA within 24 business hours of receiving your confirmation email.

5. Exhibitor Service Manual (ESM).
One of the most powerful online tools, the digital exhibitor service manual was developed by SEMA to highlight links to all of the resources pertinent to a successful exhibit at the Show. To help you navigate efficiently, each section is broken down to the basics. Spend some time getting to know this website because time spent understanding the tools available to you will pay dividends with ease of participation, give you better visibility with our buyers and save you valuable time and money.

6. Register your staff.
At present, buyers and media can apply for the 2019 SEMA Show. For exhibitors, once you have your booth space selected and a confirmation email, you can begin to apply for credentials for your booth personnel.

7. Need a Hotel?
Great rooms are available for the 2019 SEMA Show. In fact, SEMA has a special housing partner that guarantees the lowest rates on rooms for the Show. If you know you need housing for you and your staff, the earlier you make the reservation, the more money you will save.

Remember, join Tom Gattuso and the SEMA Show staff at 9:55 a.m., Monday, April 29, for the first call of the Priority Space Selection.

The 2019 SEMA Show is scheduled for Tuesday–Friday, November 5–8, in Las Vegas. There’s still time to participate in the Priority Space Selection Process. Reserve a booth space for 2019 now by visiting www.SEMAShow.com/buyabooth.

By SEMA Editors

The SEMA 2019 Business Resource Guide features contact information and descriptions of SEMA-member companies offering services specific to the automotive aftermarket industry.

SEMA recently announced the availablity of its newest member-benefit: The 2019 Business Resource Guide.

The guide, which is available electronically at www.SEMA.org/BRG and included in a print version through the May issue of SEMA News magazine, features contact information and descriptions of SEMA member-companies offering services specific to the automotive aftermarket industry.

The guide includes listings for advertising agencies, consultants, export management companies, importers, internet-related services, manufacturers' reps firms, promoters, publishers and media companies, and trade schools, universities and colleges.

The guide also highlights a sample of the cost-saving benefits offered to all SEMA members. The benefits available include unlimited access to the world’s most complete data repository, improved flat-rate pricing through UPS, access insurance with lower costs and better coverage, member exclusives at the annual SEMA Show and more.

To learn more about SEMA membership, visit www.sema.org/membership.

By SEMA Editors

The SEMA 2019 Business Resource Guide features contact information and descriptions of SEMA-member companies offering services specific to the automotive aftermarket industry.

SEMA recently announced the availablity of its newest member-benefit: The 2019 Business Resource Guide.

The guide, which is available electronically at www.SEMA.org/BRG and included in a print version through the May issue of SEMA News magazine, features contact information and descriptions of SEMA member-companies offering services specific to the automotive aftermarket industry.

The guide includes listings for advertising agencies, consultants, export management companies, importers, internet-related services, manufacturers' reps firms, promoters, publishers and media companies, and trade schools, universities and colleges.

The guide also highlights a sample of the cost-saving benefits offered to all SEMA members. The benefits available include unlimited access to the world’s most complete data repository, improved flat-rate pricing through UPS, access insurance with lower costs and better coverage, member exclusives at the annual SEMA Show and more.

To learn more about SEMA membership, visit www.sema.org/membership.

Amy Fitzgerald originally felt that her two-man shop was too small to get involved with SEMA councils and committees. During the 2018 SEMA Show, she took time to explain why she was mistaken and how volunteering for different groups makes a difference.

Amy Fitzgerald originally felt that her two-man shop was too small to get involved with SEMA councils and committees. During the 2018 SEMA Show, she took time to explain why she was mistaken and how volunteering for different groups makes a difference.

These are photos of a Ford Ranger prototype testing around Ford’s headquarters that could foreshadow a diesel version of the midsize truck for the U.S. market.

From the outside, the model looks just like any current T6 Ranger (except for the roof rack), but take notice of a few components, including the strange-looking equipment under the truck, and something in its bed, just behind the cab.

According to sources, the metallic items in the bed are actually the truck’s exhaust fed by catalytic converters that, in this case, are the strange-looking items beneath the vehicle.

So, it’s assumed that this is a powertrain mule for a potential diesel version of the Ranger destined for the U.S. market. The engine under the hood is probably a 2.0L single turbodiesel. This engine is offered in foreign versions of the Ranger, where it’s rated at 158 hp and 284 lb.-ft. of torque. Ford also has a more powerful bi-turbo version of this engine (seen in the overseas Ranger Raptor), but this mule is not likely to have that engine.

A potential diesel-powered Ford Ranger would fight the diesel-powered Chevy Colorado in the United States.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

These are photos of a Ford Ranger prototype testing around Ford’s headquarters that could foreshadow a diesel version of the midsize truck for the U.S. market.

From the outside, the model looks just like any current T6 Ranger (except for the roof rack), but take notice of a few components, including the strange-looking equipment under the truck, and something in its bed, just behind the cab.

According to sources, the metallic items in the bed are actually the truck’s exhaust fed by catalytic converters that, in this case, are the strange-looking items beneath the vehicle.

So, it’s assumed that this is a powertrain mule for a potential diesel version of the Ranger destined for the U.S. market. The engine under the hood is probably a 2.0L single turbodiesel. This engine is offered in foreign versions of the Ranger, where it’s rated at 158 hp and 284 lb.-ft. of torque. Ford also has a more powerful bi-turbo version of this engine (seen in the overseas Ranger Raptor), but this mule is not likely to have that engine.

A potential diesel-powered Ford Ranger would fight the diesel-powered Chevy Colorado in the United States.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

These are photos of a Ford Ranger prototype testing around Ford’s headquarters that could foreshadow a diesel version of the midsize truck for the U.S. market.

From the outside, the model looks just like any current T6 Ranger (except for the roof rack), but take notice of a few components, including the strange-looking equipment under the truck, and something in its bed, just behind the cab.

According to sources, the metallic items in the bed are actually the truck’s exhaust fed by catalytic converters that, in this case, are the strange-looking items beneath the vehicle.

So, it’s assumed that this is a powertrain mule for a potential diesel version of the Ranger destined for the U.S. market. The engine under the hood is probably a 2.0L single turbodiesel. This engine is offered in foreign versions of the Ranger, where it’s rated at 158 hp and 284 lb.-ft. of torque. Ford also has a more powerful bi-turbo version of this engine (seen in the overseas Ranger Raptor), but this mule is not likely to have that engine.

A potential diesel-powered Ford Ranger would fight the diesel-powered Chevy Colorado in the United States.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

These are photos of a Ford Ranger prototype testing around Ford’s headquarters that could foreshadow a diesel version of the midsize truck for the U.S. market.

From the outside, the model looks just like any current T6 Ranger (except for the roof rack), but take notice of a few components, including the strange-looking equipment under the truck, and something in its bed, just behind the cab.

According to sources, the metallic items in the bed are actually the truck’s exhaust fed by catalytic converters that, in this case, are the strange-looking items beneath the vehicle.

So, it’s assumed that this is a powertrain mule for a potential diesel version of the Ranger destined for the U.S. market. The engine under the hood is probably a 2.0L single turbodiesel. This engine is offered in foreign versions of the Ranger, where it’s rated at 158 hp and 284 lb.-ft. of torque. Ford also has a more powerful bi-turbo version of this engine (seen in the overseas Ranger Raptor), but this mule is not likely to have that engine.

A potential diesel-powered Ford Ranger would fight the diesel-powered Chevy Colorado in the United States.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

These are photos of a Ford Ranger prototype testing around Ford’s headquarters that could foreshadow a diesel version of the midsize truck for the U.S. market.

From the outside, the model looks just like any current T6 Ranger (except for the roof rack), but take notice of a few components, including the strange-looking equipment under the truck, and something in its bed, just behind the cab.

According to sources, the metallic items in the bed are actually the truck’s exhaust fed by catalytic converters that, in this case, are the strange-looking items beneath the vehicle.

So, it’s assumed that this is a powertrain mule for a potential diesel version of the Ranger destined for the U.S. market. The engine under the hood is probably a 2.0L single turbodiesel. This engine is offered in foreign versions of the Ranger, where it’s rated at 158 hp and 284 lb.-ft. of torque. Ford also has a more powerful bi-turbo version of this engine (seen in the overseas Ranger Raptor), but this mule is not likely to have that engine.

A potential diesel-powered Ford Ranger would fight the diesel-powered Chevy Colorado in the United States.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde