By Linda Spencer

The SEMA International Happy Hour provides attendees the opportunity to network with international buyers, distributors and international media.

Registration for the 2018 International Happy Hour (IHH)—the SEMA Show’s largest annual international specialty-equipment trade gathering—is now open. Network with international buyers, distributors and international media, Wednesday, October 31, from 5:00 p.m.–6:30 p.m., in room N255 of the Las Vegas Convention Center. More than 1,000 companies are expected to attend the 15th annual event, which is open to all 2018 SEMA Show exhibitors.

The IHH will also feature a panel of distinguished international journalists who serve as SEMA Global Media Award judges.

Wednesday, October 31, 2018
5:00 p.m.–6:30 p.m.
Las Vegas Convention Center, Room N255

Buyer registration is complimentary, but required. For more information, contact Linda Spencer, SEMA’s senior director, international and government affairs.

Exhibitors: Register now for the International Happy Hour.

By Matt Kennedy

Check out SEMA’s new “Industry Perspectives Report” to learn more about the state of the automotive specialty-equipment industry and view current and projected product trends.

Most specialty-equipment businesses agree that continuing to innovate and adapt is key to the industry’s success. Seventy-five-percent of manufacturers and retailers feel that keeping up with new technologies is a key concern for their businesses over the next few years. In fact, it may be even more important than controlling costs and attracting more young customers.

However, the industry remains optimistic. The majority of companies surveyed, including 85% of specialty-equipment manufacturers, reported they expected their sales to grow over the coming year.

When it comes to marketing their products, specialty-equipment businesses use a variety of channels. Social media is definitely growing in importance; it’s the single largest channel for retailers, and 70% of distributors, along with almost 90% of manufacturers, use it to promote their businesses. However, exhibiting at trade and auto events remain important parts of their marketing strategies.

Want to learn more about the state of the automotive specialty-equipment industry? Interested in seeing current and projected product trends? Check out SEMA’s new “Industry Perspectives Report” at www.sema.org/market-research.

For more information on the trends affecting the specialty automotive aftermarket, check out SEMA’s latest “Industry Indicators Report” to learn how movements in the broader economy may impact your business strategy. The monthly indicators reports are available for free at www.sema.org/market-research.

By Matt Kennedy

Check out SEMA’s new “Industry Perspectives Report” to learn more about the state of the automotive specialty-equipment industry and view current and projected product trends.

Most specialty-equipment businesses agree that continuing to innovate and adapt is key to the industry’s success. Seventy-five-percent of manufacturers and retailers feel that keeping up with new technologies is a key concern for their businesses over the next few years. In fact, it may be even more important than controlling costs and attracting more young customers.

However, the industry remains optimistic. The majority of companies surveyed, including 85% of specialty-equipment manufacturers, reported they expected their sales to grow over the coming year.

When it comes to marketing their products, specialty-equipment businesses use a variety of channels. Social media is definitely growing in importance; it’s the single largest channel for retailers, and 70% of distributors, along with almost 90% of manufacturers, use it to promote their businesses. However, exhibiting at trade and auto events remain important parts of their marketing strategies.

Want to learn more about the state of the automotive specialty-equipment industry? Interested in seeing current and projected product trends? Check out SEMA’s new “Industry Perspectives Report” at www.sema.org/market-research.

For more information on the trends affecting the specialty automotive aftermarket, check out SEMA’s latest “Industry Indicators Report” to learn how movements in the broader economy may impact your business strategy. The monthly indicators reports are available for free at www.sema.org/market-research.

By Zane Clark

The 2018 SEMA Show will feature nine must-see speakers hosting free educational seminars, providing attendees with professional development and training resources designed to help their businesses grow.

The 2018 SEMA Show, to be held October 30–November 2, in Las Vegas, will feature more than 100 free educational seminars, providing attendees with professional development and training resources designed to help their businesses grow. The following are nine must-see speakers and the seminars they will host:

Megan Alexander
Success in Careers

Alexander is a national news correspondent, author, speaker and actress. She can be seen every evening on the longest-running, top-rated syndicated national news magazine television show “Inside Edition.” She is known for her sense of humor and knack for putting people at ease while entertaining and informing the public.

Mike Michalowicz
Success in Business

By his 35th birthday, Michalowicz had founded and sold two multi-million-dollar companies and is now running his third million-dollar venture. He is a regular contributor to Entrepreneur magazine and American Express’ “Open Forum.” Michalowicz is the author of Profit First, Surge, The Pumpkin Plan and The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur.

Jessica Pettitt
Success in Diversity

Audiences are inspired to stand up and take action as Pettitt leads them down the path to understanding they are good enough to make the changes they seek. She will provide you a roadmap to roll up your sleeves, make space for real talk and develop reality-based plans for actual change.

Ramon Ray
Success in Technology

Ray is an entrepreneur, global speaker and bestselling author. There are a few core fundamentals that every business owner needs to implement in order to leverage technology as an asset to grow their business. Ray outlines 11 of the CORE fundamentals that business owners should understand and properly implement technology in their businesses.

Patti Wood
Success in Nonverbal Communications

Wood is an internationally known expert in nonverbal communication and creator of high-energy interactive programs filled with humor, cutting-edge information and valuable take-aways. The author of seven books, she speaks to Fortune 500 companies, associations and national TV shows.

Gene Marks
Success in Profit

Marks is president and CEO of The Marks Group and writes a daily column for the Washington Post on business and public policy. He also writes weekly for Forbes, Entrepreneur and Inc. Marks will help attendees better understand the trends affecting their businesses, and most importantly, the actions they should take to continue to grow and profit.

Robert Siciliano
Success in Security & Identity Theft

Siciliano works with both private and public businesses as the president and CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com, and he teaches clients how to keep their money, privacy and data secure against acts of fraud, identity theft, corporate espionage and purposeful or accidental exposure of private information—all acts that cost companies billions nationwide.

Erin P. Bemis
Success in Digital Marketing

Bemis is an engagement marketing and strategic partnership expert. Her business focus is to educate and inspire small-business success in all things related to digital marketing. She promises that attendees will leave her session with simple, easy tips to immediately make their marketing better.

Dawn Brolin
Success in Accounting

Brolin is a certified fraud examiner, certified public accountant and managing member of Powerful Accounting LLC—a nationally recognized accounting, tax and consulting firm. She brings her entertaining style and rock-star energy to audiences. Brolin has been featured on MSNBC’s “Your Business” and shared her experience at national conferences, including Scaling New Heights, QBConnect, Profitcon and more.

Sign Up. Show Up. Preview all sessions and register.

Contact SEMA’s Senior Director of Education Zane Clark for additional information.

By Zane Clark

The 2018 SEMA Show will feature nine must-see speakers hosting free educational seminars, providing attendees with professional development and training resources designed to help their businesses grow.

The 2018 SEMA Show, to be held October 30–November 2, in Las Vegas, will feature more than 100 free educational seminars, providing attendees with professional development and training resources designed to help their businesses grow. The following are nine must-see speakers and the seminars they will host:

Megan Alexander
Success in Careers

Alexander is a national news correspondent, author, speaker and actress. She can be seen every evening on the longest-running, top-rated syndicated national news magazine television show “Inside Edition.” She is known for her sense of humor and knack for putting people at ease while entertaining and informing the public.

Mike Michalowicz
Success in Business

By his 35th birthday, Michalowicz had founded and sold two multi-million-dollar companies and is now running his third million-dollar venture. He is a regular contributor to Entrepreneur magazine and American Express’ “Open Forum.” Michalowicz is the author of Profit First, Surge, The Pumpkin Plan and The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur.

Jessica Pettitt
Success in Diversity

Audiences are inspired to stand up and take action as Pettitt leads them down the path to understanding they are good enough to make the changes they seek. She will provide you a roadmap to roll up your sleeves, make space for real talk and develop reality-based plans for actual change.

Ramon Ray
Success in Technology

Ray is an entrepreneur, global speaker and bestselling author. There are a few core fundamentals that every business owner needs to implement in order to leverage technology as an asset to grow their business. Ray outlines 11 of the CORE fundamentals that business owners should understand and properly implement technology in their businesses.

Patti Wood
Success in Nonverbal Communications

Wood is an internationally known expert in nonverbal communication and creator of high-energy interactive programs filled with humor, cutting-edge information and valuable take-aways. The author of seven books, she speaks to Fortune 500 companies, associations and national TV shows.

Gene Marks
Success in Profit

Marks is president and CEO of The Marks Group and writes a daily column for the Washington Post on business and public policy. He also writes weekly for Forbes, Entrepreneur and Inc. Marks will help attendees better understand the trends affecting their businesses, and most importantly, the actions they should take to continue to grow and profit.

Robert Siciliano
Success in Security & Identity Theft

Siciliano works with both private and public businesses as the president and CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com, and he teaches clients how to keep their money, privacy and data secure against acts of fraud, identity theft, corporate espionage and purposeful or accidental exposure of private information—all acts that cost companies billions nationwide.

Erin P. Bemis
Success in Digital Marketing

Bemis is an engagement marketing and strategic partnership expert. Her business focus is to educate and inspire small-business success in all things related to digital marketing. She promises that attendees will leave her session with simple, easy tips to immediately make their marketing better.

Dawn Brolin
Success in Accounting

Brolin is a certified fraud examiner, certified public accountant and managing member of Powerful Accounting LLC—a nationally recognized accounting, tax and consulting firm. She brings her entertaining style and rock-star energy to audiences. Brolin has been featured on MSNBC’s “Your Business” and shared her experience at national conferences, including Scaling New Heights, QBConnect, Profitcon and more.

Sign Up. Show Up. Preview all sessions and register.

Contact SEMA’s Senior Director of Education Zane Clark for additional information.

By Zane Clark

The 2018 SEMA Show will feature nine must-see speakers hosting free educational seminars, providing attendees with professional development and training resources designed to help their businesses grow.

The 2018 SEMA Show, to be held October 30–November 2, in Las Vegas, will feature more than 100 free educational seminars, providing attendees with professional development and training resources designed to help their businesses grow. The following are nine must-see speakers and the seminars they will host:

Megan Alexander
Success in Careers

Alexander is a national news correspondent, author, speaker and actress. She can be seen every evening on the longest-running, top-rated syndicated national news magazine television show “Inside Edition.” She is known for her sense of humor and knack for putting people at ease while entertaining and informing the public.

Mike Michalowicz
Success in Business

By his 35th birthday, Michalowicz had founded and sold two multi-million-dollar companies and is now running his third million-dollar venture. He is a regular contributor to Entrepreneur magazine and American Express’ “Open Forum.” Michalowicz is the author of Profit First, Surge, The Pumpkin Plan and The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur.

Jessica Pettitt
Success in Diversity

Audiences are inspired to stand up and take action as Pettitt leads them down the path to understanding they are good enough to make the changes they seek. She will provide you a roadmap to roll up your sleeves, make space for real talk and develop reality-based plans for actual change.

Ramon Ray
Success in Technology

Ray is an entrepreneur, global speaker and bestselling author. There are a few core fundamentals that every business owner needs to implement in order to leverage technology as an asset to grow their business. Ray outlines 11 of the CORE fundamentals that business owners should understand and properly implement technology in their businesses.

Patti Wood
Success in Nonverbal Communications

Wood is an internationally known expert in nonverbal communication and creator of high-energy interactive programs filled with humor, cutting-edge information and valuable take-aways. The author of seven books, she speaks to Fortune 500 companies, associations and national TV shows.

Gene Marks
Success in Profit

Marks is president and CEO of The Marks Group and writes a daily column for the Washington Post on business and public policy. He also writes weekly for Forbes, Entrepreneur and Inc. Marks will help attendees better understand the trends affecting their businesses, and most importantly, the actions they should take to continue to grow and profit.

Robert Siciliano
Success in Security & Identity Theft

Siciliano works with both private and public businesses as the president and CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com, and he teaches clients how to keep their money, privacy and data secure against acts of fraud, identity theft, corporate espionage and purposeful or accidental exposure of private information—all acts that cost companies billions nationwide.

Erin P. Bemis
Success in Digital Marketing

Bemis is an engagement marketing and strategic partnership expert. Her business focus is to educate and inspire small-business success in all things related to digital marketing. She promises that attendees will leave her session with simple, easy tips to immediately make their marketing better.

Dawn Brolin
Success in Accounting

Brolin is a certified fraud examiner, certified public accountant and managing member of Powerful Accounting LLC—a nationally recognized accounting, tax and consulting firm. She brings her entertaining style and rock-star energy to audiences. Brolin has been featured on MSNBC’s “Your Business” and shared her experience at national conferences, including Scaling New Heights, QBConnect, Profitcon and more.

Sign Up. Show Up. Preview all sessions and register.

Contact SEMA’s Senior Director of Education Zane Clark for additional information.

By Zane Clark

Private meetings with an intellectual property rights, tax, Prop 65 or trade attorney are available in 20-minute segments at the 2018 SEMA Show.

SEMA Show attendees and exhibitors have a unique opportunity to schedule a free one-on-one meeting with an intellectual property rights, tax, Prop 65 or trade attorney. An investment banker with experience advising on mergers, acquisitions and raising capital will also be available. Private meetings are available in 20-minute segments.  

Among the topics covered by SEMA Show experts:

• Intellectual property issues: protecting and applying for patents, trademarks and copyrights.
• Understanding California Prop 65 Chemical Labelling Law.
• Designing and implementing resale and minimum advertised price (MAP) programs.
• Issues regarding exporting your goods outside of the United States.
• Information on mergers, acquisitions, capital raising, exit planning and buying or selling a business.
• Protecting your business product liability case.

Register now to secure your private meeting. A representative from SEMA’s Government Affairs office will follow up once you have registered to learn your area of interest and schedule your appointment(s).

Sign up. Show up. Preview all sessions and register.

Contact SEMA’s Senior Director of Education Zane Clark for additional information.

By Zane Clark

Private meetings with an intellectual property rights, tax, Prop 65 or trade attorney are available in 20-minute segments at the 2018 SEMA Show.

SEMA Show attendees and exhibitors have a unique opportunity to schedule a free one-on-one meeting with an intellectual property rights, tax, Prop 65 or trade attorney. An investment banker with experience advising on mergers, acquisitions and raising capital will also be available. Private meetings are available in 20-minute segments.  

Among the topics covered by SEMA Show experts:

• Intellectual property issues: protecting and applying for patents, trademarks and copyrights.
• Understanding California Prop 65 Chemical Labelling Law.
• Designing and implementing resale and minimum advertised price (MAP) programs.
• Issues regarding exporting your goods outside of the United States.
• Information on mergers, acquisitions, capital raising, exit planning and buying or selling a business.
• Protecting your business product liability case.

Register now to secure your private meeting. A representative from SEMA’s Government Affairs office will follow up once you have registered to learn your area of interest and schedule your appointment(s).

Sign up. Show up. Preview all sessions and register.

Contact SEMA’s Senior Director of Education Zane Clark for additional information.

By Zane Clark

Private meetings with an intellectual property rights, tax, Prop 65 or trade attorney are available in 20-minute segments at the 2018 SEMA Show.

SEMA Show attendees and exhibitors have a unique opportunity to schedule a free one-on-one meeting with an intellectual property rights, tax, Prop 65 or trade attorney. An investment banker with experience advising on mergers, acquisitions and raising capital will also be available. Private meetings are available in 20-minute segments.  

Among the topics covered by SEMA Show experts:

• Intellectual property issues: protecting and applying for patents, trademarks and copyrights.
• Understanding California Prop 65 Chemical Labelling Law.
• Designing and implementing resale and minimum advertised price (MAP) programs.
• Issues regarding exporting your goods outside of the United States.
• Information on mergers, acquisitions, capital raising, exit planning and buying or selling a business.
• Protecting your business product liability case.

Register now to secure your private meeting. A representative from SEMA’s Government Affairs office will follow up once you have registered to learn your area of interest and schedule your appointment(s).

Sign up. Show up. Preview all sessions and register.

Contact SEMA’s Senior Director of Education Zane Clark for additional information.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Senate Finance Committee held a September 26 hearing on the impact of tariffs on the U.S. automotive industry. The hearing addressed an ongoing U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) investigation into whether tariffs should be imposed on imported automobiles and auto parts if it is found that they pose a threat to America’s national security (manufacturing base). The DOC will issue its findings and recommendations for presidential actions, if any. President Trump requested the investigation and has stated that he is considering global tariffs of 20% to 25%. The investigation applies to all types of cars and parts, including new cars, classic cars, OEM parts and specialty auto parts.

In their hearing statements, Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) made clear that concerns about the impact of auto tariffs are bipartisan. Chairman Hatch cautioned tariffs, “will have a negative impact on the U.S. auto industry and our economy.” Sen. Wyden echoed that tariffs would have the effect of “stifling investment, likely costing jobs in the long-run and raising costs for American consumers.”

The “Driving American Jobs” Coalition has been formed to oppose the tariffs. The Coalition includes SEMA and represents the broad scope of the auto industry, from automakers and dealers to parts manufacturers, distributors, retailers and service providers. The Coalition is united in opposing the referenced tariffs as being counterproductive and threatening American companies, workers and consumers. The message to the president and lawmakers has been to pursue trade infringements in a fashion that does not inflict unintended economic harm.

For more information about the auto tariffs or any other tariff issues, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.