Thu, 01/01/2015 - 16:15
 2014 SEMA Annual Market Report
The 2014 SEMA Annual Market Report is available free to SEMA Members.
  

By SEMA Editors

The specialty-equipment market experienced nearly a 7% growth in sales in 2013. The sales increase represents the fourth consecutive year of overall growth for the market. As 2014 comes to a close, how did your company fare in terms of sales when compared to 2013?

A look at the niches with significant growth is a useful tool to see the sections that enjoyed increases in 2013 and determine what may or may have not changed throughout 2014. According to the 2014 SEMA Annual Market Report, the niches with notable growth are: street performance, up almost 17%; light-truck accessories, which grew 8%; and restyling, improving by more than 6%.

Another positive market trend that will lead to potential opportunities for the specialty-equipment industry is the slow-but-steady increase in new vehicle sales. Starting in 2013, sales of new vehicles went up nearly 8%—with cars sales up almost 5% and light-truck sales more than 10%.

With 2014 in the past, how did these trends in 2013 impact your company’s bottom line in 2014? Want to make some comparisons specific to your segment? Use the information available in the 2014 SEMA Annual Market Report, which provides detailed insight on the compact-performance, street-performance, light-truck, off-road, restyling, restoration, street rod and custom, and racing niches.

The 2014 SEMA Annual Market Report is available free to SEMA Members.

The SEMA Annual Market Report is conducted yearly to help SEMA-member companies understand the industry and make informed business decisions. SEMA research reports are available to SEMA members at no cost, and to nonmembers at a nominal fee. SEMA research reports are listed and can be accessed at www.SEMA.org/research.

Thu, 01/01/2015 - 16:15
 2014 SEMA Annual Market Report
The 2014 SEMA Annual Market Report is available free to SEMA Members.
  

By SEMA Editors

The specialty-equipment market experienced nearly a 7% growth in sales in 2013. The sales increase represents the fourth consecutive year of overall growth for the market. As 2014 comes to a close, how did your company fare in terms of sales when compared to 2013?

A look at the niches with significant growth is a useful tool to see the sections that enjoyed increases in 2013 and determine what may or may have not changed throughout 2014. According to the 2014 SEMA Annual Market Report, the niches with notable growth are: street performance, up almost 17%; light-truck accessories, which grew 8%; and restyling, improving by more than 6%.

Another positive market trend that will lead to potential opportunities for the specialty-equipment industry is the slow-but-steady increase in new vehicle sales. Starting in 2013, sales of new vehicles went up nearly 8%—with cars sales up almost 5% and light-truck sales more than 10%.

With 2014 in the past, how did these trends in 2013 impact your company’s bottom line in 2014? Want to make some comparisons specific to your segment? Use the information available in the 2014 SEMA Annual Market Report, which provides detailed insight on the compact-performance, street-performance, light-truck, off-road, restyling, restoration, street rod and custom, and racing niches.

The 2014 SEMA Annual Market Report is available free to SEMA Members.

The SEMA Annual Market Report is conducted yearly to help SEMA-member companies understand the industry and make informed business decisions. SEMA research reports are available to SEMA members at no cost, and to nonmembers at a nominal fee. SEMA research reports are listed and can be accessed at www.SEMA.org/research.

Thu, 01/01/2015 - 16:15
 2014 SEMA Annual Market Report
The 2014 SEMA Annual Market Report is available free to SEMA Members.
  

By SEMA Editors

The specialty-equipment market experienced nearly a 7% growth in sales in 2013. The sales increase represents the fourth consecutive year of overall growth for the market. As 2014 comes to a close, how did your company fare in terms of sales when compared to 2013?

A look at the niches with significant growth is a useful tool to see the sections that enjoyed increases in 2013 and determine what may or may have not changed throughout 2014. According to the 2014 SEMA Annual Market Report, the niches with notable growth are: street performance, up almost 17%; light-truck accessories, which grew 8%; and restyling, improving by more than 6%.

Another positive market trend that will lead to potential opportunities for the specialty-equipment industry is the slow-but-steady increase in new vehicle sales. Starting in 2013, sales of new vehicles went up nearly 8%—with cars sales up almost 5% and light-truck sales more than 10%.

With 2014 in the past, how did these trends in 2013 impact your company’s bottom line in 2014? Want to make some comparisons specific to your segment? Use the information available in the 2014 SEMA Annual Market Report, which provides detailed insight on the compact-performance, street-performance, light-truck, off-road, restyling, restoration, street rod and custom, and racing niches.

The 2014 SEMA Annual Market Report is available free to SEMA Members.

The SEMA Annual Market Report is conducted yearly to help SEMA-member companies understand the industry and make informed business decisions. SEMA research reports are available to SEMA members at no cost, and to nonmembers at a nominal fee. SEMA research reports are listed and can be accessed at www.SEMA.org/research.

Thu, 01/01/2015 - 14:47

Earlier this year, antivirus king Symantec sent shockwaves through the business community with the statement that antivirus software was “dead”—leaving businesses wondering, now what? Symantec dropped the bombshell to make a point: These days, a PC armed with a good firewall and some topflight antivirus software is simply no match against a sophisticated, determined hacker.

The reason: The number of new viruses unleashed on the public everyday can be as many as 200,000, accruing to Kapersky Lab, a computer security firm.

Thu, 01/01/2015 - 14:47

Earlier this year, antivirus king Symantec sent shockwaves through the business community with the statement that antivirus software was “dead”—leaving businesses wondering, now what? Symantec dropped the bombshell to make a point: These days, a PC armed with a good firewall and some topflight antivirus software is simply no match against a sophisticated, determined hacker.

The reason: The number of new viruses unleashed on the public everyday can be as many as 200,000, accruing to Kapersky Lab, a computer security firm.

Thu, 01/01/2015 - 14:24
 2015 Media Trade Conference
Journalists attending the 2015 MPMC Media Trade Conference will receive their personalized schedules for the event by January 6, 2015.
  

By Monika Earle

Journalists who are already registered for this year’s MPMC Media Trade Conference will receive their personalized schedules by January 6, 2015, indicating which companies they will be meeting with in private, one-on-one meetings.

Journalists who have not yet registered may still do so at www.sema.org/mtcreg. The event taking place at the Embassy Suites Orange County Airport North on January 21-23, 2015 gives reporters a chance to meet with manufacturers and conduct quality interviews.

For questions about media participation, contact Della Domingo at dellad@sema.org, 909/978-6723. For exhibitor information, contact Jim Skelly at jimsk@sema.org, 909/978-6690.

Thu, 01/01/2015 - 14:24
 2015 Media Trade Conference
Journalists attending the 2015 MPMC Media Trade Conference will receive their personalized schedules for the event by January 6, 2015.
  

By Monika Earle

Journalists who are already registered for this year’s MPMC Media Trade Conference will receive their personalized schedules by January 6, 2015, indicating which companies they will be meeting with in private, one-on-one meetings.

Journalists who have not yet registered may still do so at www.sema.org/mtcreg. The event taking place at the Embassy Suites Orange County Airport North on January 21-23, 2015 gives reporters a chance to meet with manufacturers and conduct quality interviews.

For questions about media participation, contact Della Domingo at dellad@sema.org, 909/978-6723. For exhibitor information, contact Jim Skelly at jimsk@sema.org, 909/978-6690.

Thu, 01/01/2015 - 14:24
 2015 Media Trade Conference
Journalists attending the 2015 MPMC Media Trade Conference will receive their personalized schedules for the event by January 6, 2015.
  

By Monika Earle

Journalists who are already registered for this year’s MPMC Media Trade Conference will receive their personalized schedules by January 6, 2015, indicating which companies they will be meeting with in private, one-on-one meetings.

Journalists who have not yet registered may still do so at www.sema.org/mtcreg. The event taking place at the Embassy Suites Orange County Airport North on January 21-23, 2015 gives reporters a chance to meet with manufacturers and conduct quality interviews.

For questions about media participation, contact Della Domingo at dellad@sema.org, 909/978-6723. For exhibitor information, contact Jim Skelly at jimsk@sema.org, 909/978-6690.

Thu, 01/01/2015 - 13:15
From its inception, the automotive specialty-equipment industry has been built in large measure by enthusiasts who followed their passions. Brad Vlastuin fits that mold.

Vlastuin enjoyed cruise-ins and car gatherings around his hometown in Michigan, back in the days when neon lighting and exterior accessories were the hot ticket for import cars. He owns a Toyota Matrix and found that others who attended the same events were in search of products similar to those that he was interested in. He began to rack down and offer accessories to his fellow enthusiasts, and he was soon running what was essentially a small business out of the trunk of his car.
Thu, 01/01/2015 - 13:15
From its inception, the automotive specialty-equipment industry has been built in large measure by enthusiasts who followed their passions. Brad Vlastuin fits that mold.

Vlastuin enjoyed cruise-ins and car gatherings around his hometown in Michigan, back in the days when neon lighting and exterior accessories were the hot ticket for import cars. He owns a Toyota Matrix and found that others who attended the same events were in search of products similar to those that he was interested in. He began to rack down and offer accessories to his fellow enthusiasts, and he was soon running what was essentially a small business out of the trunk of his car.