SEMA News - October 2010

100+ Products to Be Unveiled at the 2010 SEMA Show

The SEMA Show is all about innovation and creativity. For a taste of what’s coming at the 2010 event, check out the more than 100 new products previewed here. To see more than 1,500 on display, head to the New Products Showcase at the Las Vegas Convention Center on November 2–5, 2010. 

View a PDF of more than 100 New Products.

 

SEMA News - October 2010

While the SEMA Show is a B2B event, getting consumer feedback and knowing what they think about what happens at the Show can be valuable. Fortunately, there are several automotive sites that attend and report on the SEMA Show, making it possible for consumers to stay informed about the new products and trends debuting at the Show. It also gives industry professionals an opportunity to read what consumers think about these new products and trends.

Below, are a few key websites that actively report on the SEMA Show and will provide your company with a chance to read consumers’ reactions. These sites should be included on your list of required reading.

 

Hub Garage www.hubgarage.com  HubGarage is a giant enthusiast community containing automotive-related news, blogs, photos and forums related to the automotive aftermarket. The site is designed to allow car people to showcase their passions for cars.

 

AutoBlog www.autoblog.com Written by fulltime professional journalists, Autoblog.com offers daily weblogs and podcast news and commentary about automobiles and the automotive industry. It is part of the Weblogs Inc. network of media sites, which is owned by AOL, and it is another top-read enthusiast automotive blog site.

 

Automotive Forums of Internet Brands www.internetbrands.com  Internet Brands is the owner of dozens of popular blog and forum enthusiast web communities, with each site targeting a specific vehicle. Just about every make and model is covered here.

 

Jalopnik www.jalopnik.com Jalopnik is a newsblog site focused on cars, car culture and the automotive industry. It is among the top-read automotive blogs on the Internet geared toward enthusiasts.

 

Automotive.com www.automotive.com A portal site owned by Source Interlink Media, Automotive.com is a community of many of the most popular titles in the industry, including Motor Trend, Hot Rod, Lowrider and more that includes daily features, enthusiast forums and blogs by expert writers.

SEMA News - October 2010

Setups That Draw Customers and Promote Sales

By Steve Campbell

This series of SEMA News stories is based on the idea of using reliable and repeatable methods to ensure business success. In coming issues, we will delve into a range of topics aimed at developing Best Practices through knowledge, motivation and skills.  

	Signage should be hung high whenever possible to allow maximum view from throughout the store. Signs should also be produced in a clear, simple font for easy reading.

Retail stores should be well-organized and use clear, easily understood signage so that shoppers can find the products they are looking for while also being led to special offers and promotional items. But unless you have vast experience in the design of retail spaces, it’s undoubtedly best to work with a consultant in setting up your store for maximum accessibility and the resultant sales.  Just as you would hire an architect to design a building—relying on the professional’s expertise in not only planning and structural engineering, but also materials, colors and textures—so too should all but the most experienced retailer seek the services of a display consultant. At the same time, everyone involved with the store should be involved in its design, observing some basic tenets that are used in every efficient layout.

“All employees should work as a team to set-up and fully understand the dynamics of the space,” said Mike Staples, president and owner of Naythons Display. “From time to time, employee meetings should also be held to see what is working and what needs improvement.”

High on the list of best practices is determining the focus, qualities and brand distinction of the store. Decide what makes it unique, better or different from the competition. These characteristics can be carried through in the creation of the displays.

“Enticing customers to buy is a multileveled task,” said Tony Camilletti, executive vice president of Design Fabrications. “Customers need to have confidence in a store’s quality, value and proficiency. Decide what first impression the owner wants to give his or her customers. The best prices? The best service? The cleanest store? The most knowledgeable people? Determine what the brand stands for.”

Once the desired characteristics have been decided upon, the physical qualities of the displays should be based on those criteria. Customers must begin to understand the store’s value proposition—why they should make a purchase or use the store’s services—as soon as they come into view of the first sign or window.

There are a couple of different approaches to window displays. Camilletti believes that window displays are the “billboard”
of a retail store, and the goal is to capture the attention of a passer-by. If you can’t understand what the window display is trying to tell you during a two-second blink, he said, it needs to be simplified and made more impactful.

Staples also touted the importance of the front window, but his emphasis is on allowing potential customers a clear view of what’s inside. “Upfront product displays or promotional signage can block the interior of the store and cause visual confusion,” he said. “Instead, I suggest using five- or six-foot grid panels set back inside the store roughly five feet from the window and installing halogen fixtures inside the store above the window. That way, store fixtures can be displayed in bulk. The potential customer can walk in and shop off the racks, and the rest of the store and categories are clearly visible.

It’s also a good idea to leave some lights on at the rear of the store. They’re good for nighttime window-shopping and, more importantly, give local law enforcement a good view of the store.”

	Endcap displays off a central aisle can be used not only to promote sale or specialty items but also to lead customers to similar products in the perpendicular aisles. Ambient lighting, usually from florescent fixtures, should provide broad, even illumination.

Bob Radcliffe Jr., president of Display Dynamics Inc., echoed Camilletti’s point about the brief opportunity a store has to capture attention. “Potential customers are frequently moving briskly outside of a store,” he said, “and this means that copy and signage should use strong, iconic imagery that can be easily digested. The featured products should be those that are popular and unique to your store.”

Radcliffe also suggested that, except in the smallest of retail spaces, there should be a “decompression zone” as customers enter the store—a place where you’re not trying to sell goods or services but are instead allowing customers to acclimate to the inside of the store as they come in from the heat or noise or other distractions outside.

“There is nothing better to slow people down and get them adjusted to a shopping environment than face-to-face interaction,” he said, “even if it’s just the counterperson saying hello when the customer enters. But it needs to be appropriate for the environment. If yours is a store where customers are hurrying in and out, where they’re driven to get to a particular part of the store, you don’t want to distract them from their mission.”

In that instance, said Camilletti, some stores have begun to build brand loyalty and appreciation among rushed shoppers by placing such “destination products” near the front entrance for easy access. If harried customers aren’t a problem, however, the store’s floorplan and signage should promote bringing them farther in and pointing them toward specific areas where special offers and sale items are located.

“High-demand and replenishment products are typically positioned toward the rear of a store to encourage customers to browse through more merchandise on their way to getting what they want,” Camilletti said. “But if a product is on sale or is part of a promotion, celebrate it with an endcap display or a prominent palette near the entrance. Guiding customers to destination areas within a store is easily accomplished with creative use of interior décor, graphics and other signing elements to create attention and focus on desired product displays.”

Merchants should be aware of the items that are most-often purchased and central to their value proposition, Radcliffe said, and those items should be promoted with coupons and specials. “Clear graphics and signage should be posted throughout the store for easy shopper navigation, usually by aisle,” he advised. “If there are items that require assistance because they are complicated or SKU intensive, they should be positioned near a register or a customer-service staff member.”

In larger stores, Radcliffe said, the most popular floor plan is called the “racetrack,” which is characterized by a large central aisle that circles the store. Perpendicular aisles that branch off the racetrack provide end caps for promotional and new-product merchandising, and those products should reflect the category of products that are found down that particular aisle.

	Slatgrid wire floor racks accommodate shelves, hooks, baskets and dozens of other display hardware, making them extremely versatile. The hardware is also compatible with slatwall, which allows the dealer to easily re-merchandise walls and floors.

“Small retailers probably won’t use a racetrack because it takes quite a bit of square footage,” he said. “If you owned a smaller store, you might use an aisle of shelving perpendicular to the entrance and well below ceiling height—such as in Bed, Bath & Beyond. The shelving is about four or five feet tall so that customers can see farther into the store as they enter, and it is stocked with featured items.”

Signage also plays a crucial role in guiding customers through the store. Camilletti said that effective floor displays need to be signed with an explanation of the nature of the display (promotional, sale, clearance, close-out, new introduction, etc.), the unique benefits or features of the product and the price. These types of floor displays should not require customer assistance from service personnel.

Staples recommended steel shelving for floor displays, especially for heavier merchandise on shelves and for blister-packed goods on peg hooks. “Many dealers are unaware that steel shelving can be special ordered in custom finishes such as black, gray, red or other colors,” he said. “And slatgrid floor racks are another good alternative. They are wire racks that accommodate shelves, hooks, baskets and dozens of other display hardware, making them extremely versatile. But the most important feature of this type of rack is that the hardware is compatible with the wall-mounted slatwall, which allows the dealer to easily re-merchandise walls and floors. And speaking of merchandising, don’t stock product directly on the floor. Use an endcap or a skid. And don’t under-stock or leave shelves partially empty because that indicates a lack of merchandising momentum. If necessary, mitigate this issue by reducing the number of racks and opening up the aisles.”

Slatwall is normally used for perimeter wall displays, Staples said. It comes in a variety of finishes or can be ordered raw and painted as desired. It can also be ordered with aluminum inserts for increased strength and a better look. Steel slatwall, a frequent upgrade over wood, may be particularly useful in an automotive environment.

“The swirl finish on steel is the most popular,” Staples said, “but slatwall should not be used for the entire wall. It’s best to break it up here and there with another system, such as wall-mounted steel shelving. Slatwall connector extrusions can also be used to create angled protrusions. This is a good way to organize brands or categories.”

Camilletti also recommended taking advantage of height on walls when possible. “Try to create a wall display that is visible from a distance and that will draw an inquisitive shopper,” he said. “Use merchandise with brighter, distinctive colors or finishes near the top or at eye level, working with darker colors toward the lower levels. Also consider the use of blade signs that protrude perpendicularly from the wall, attaching to the fixture shelving.”

Staples recommended that most signage also be hung high so that it is visible from various areas of the floor, and he advised using a plain font that is easy to read. Be careful, too, that hanging signs are heavy enough not to sway easily, which could set off motion detectors after hours.

Stores should focus on four levels of interior graphics and signage, Camilletti said. The first might include graphic elements that express the character or brand identity of the store or tell something about the company’s history, legacy or founders.
“These elements typically fill the perimeter wall space above the fixtures or hang in areas that don’t interfere with merchandise displays,” he said.

	This slatgrid pinwheel free-standing rack is mounted on casters, allowing it to be repositioned for even greater versatility. The hardware can be swapped out with the other grid and slat systems.

Next are the directional or way-finding signs that help customers find the location of general destination areas, departments or services from the instant they enter the store. “These signs are typically mounted to walls directly above perimeter fixtures and hang throughout the store,” he said.

Subcategory and informational signs drill into the details of product categories within a department and provide information about the products, such as descriptions, benefits, unique qualities and pricing. “These signs typically are attached to the top and shelf edges of inline fixtures and endcaps,” he explained.

And, finally, temporary promotional signs should be used to announce special promotions, sales, events and seasonal themes.

Radcliffe pointed out that consumers consider good retailers to be “trusted advisors” who will introduce them to the latest products and services. He said that they also count on favorite stores to provide project merchandising, where retailers bring complementary products together in a featured area and, incidentally, inspire incremental sales. For instance, an oil change display might include protective floor mats, funnels and a selection of oils along with cleaning rags, filter wrenches or other accessories needed for the project.

Lighting can also be used to showcase specific products and should include plenty of ambient or overall lighting to ensure that customers are able to read labels and packaging.

“Ambient lighting is typically provided by florescent lamps that illuminate the whole retail space,” Staples said. “Accent lighting is usually halogen lamps used to illuminate specific products or brands. Most retail spaces are offered with inexpensive fluorescent lighting, but try to negotiate energy-saving cool white fluorescent bulbs. Also, the diffusers—the panels covering the bulbs—will probably be an inexpensive dimple design that simply disperses lighting randomly. Try working six-inch parabolic diffusers into your budget—the ones with the six-inch squares that allow the lighting to shine directly down on the merchandise.”

Camilletti also included “task lighting” in his list of must-haves. These are lamps placed over the checkout and service areas or counters to ensure adequate lighting for customers and service personnel during a transaction or consultation. He recommended consulting with a local electrical engineer or lighting specialist to discuss the specific needs of any store environment, including desired energy consumption and budget.

Radcliffe added another type of “consultation” for retail store owners: visiting the competition. “Leave your store and walk into your competitor’s store with an objective eye,” he suggested. “Spend time looking around. Compare your competitor’s operation to your own—and do it objectively! Go with a checklist of things you’d like to improve on. You’ll usually find that your competitors are doing something well, which is what keeps them in business. They’ve got some relationship to their customers that works. You need to uncover that.”

He added that polling and rewarding customers can also provide great insights on ways to improve your business. “If you notice customers who have been in your store a few times, ask them to take a brief survey or answer a checklist of four or five questions,” he suggested. “Offer them a 5% or 10% coupon on their next purchase or a free popular product. People love to be asked what they think. Suddenly, they feel like they matter. It also makes the relationship more personal.”
Above all else, keep your store contemporary, Staples counseled. Change your display layout as merchandise changes. Put dead products on sale; don’t let them sit on the shelf. “Give your store a new look by moving displays into different positions or purchasing some inexpensive grids or other displays to provide a look of renovation,” he said.

Proper product display is the lifeblood of a retail store. Organization and attention to detail are what make the cash register ring. 

SEMA News - October 2010

SEMA Presents $111,000 to Future Industry Leaders

A total of $111,000 is being distributed to 67 individuals through the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund, a program administered by SEMA to foster leadership opportunities in the automotive specialty-equipment marketplace and to support educational goals for students. The 2011 Scholarship Program will launch in December 2010.

Scholarship and Award Recipients:

• Adedotun Adeluyi, St. Francis College
• David Arnouts, University of Michigan: Dearborn, John Raffa Award
• Katelyn Bailey, Lincoln Technical Institute
• Kirk Barber, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Dan Borre Award
• Andrew Baum, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Yana Briggs, Art Center College of Design
• Ryan Brimhall, Weber State University
• Devin Butterbrodt, Iowa State University
• Joseph Campbell, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
• Bradley Cannon, California State Polytechnic University: Pomona, Harlan Felder Award
• Meghan Chamberlain, Oakland University, Truck and Off-Road Alliance Award
• Thomas Colvin, University of Toledo
• Jennifer Cook, Antelope Valley College, Performance Warehouse Association Award
• Douglass Coppage, Georgia Institute of Technology, Bernie Karp Award
• Cayle Damrow, University of Wisconsin-Stout, Street Performance Council Award
• Christopher Day, San Bernardino Valley College, K&N Engineering Award
• Krystle Dozier, California State University: Chico
• Lee Esten, Rio Hondo College, Eastwood Award
• Thomas Fischer, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Michael A. Kunzman Award
• Daniel Fourie, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Top Student Award
• Samuel Gage, Indiana University
• Anthony Gregory, University of Texas at Austin
• Dylan Hellman, Art Institute of Colorado, Jim A. Borre Award
• Jared Hokanson, Brigham Young University-Idaho
• Matthew Hovan, San Jose State University, Performance Warehouse Association Award
• Amy Kao, Carnegie Mellon University
• Donovan Krehbiel, Kansas State University
• Soochan Lee, College For Creative Studies, Yee Award
• Jessica Martens, University of Michigan
• Brandon Mase, Pennsylvania College of Technology, Joe Amato Award
  Ashley Matejka, University of Akron
• Andrew Mattord, University of Northwestern Ohio
• Grant Maus, Montana State University: Billings College of Technology, Hot Rod Industry Alliance Award
• Isaac McAllister, Virginia Western Community College
• Walter McAllister, Virginia Western Community College
• Jack McCulloch, Gwinnett Technical Institute
• Thomas McDuffee, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
• Steven McKee, University of Missouri: Columbia, Jeff Moses-Automotive Restoration Market Organization Award
• Aaron Miller, University of Northwestern Ohio
• Bradley Miller, Pennsylvania College of Technology
• Dustin Montgomery, Indian Hills Community College
• Kyle Morgan, Nashville Auto-Diesel College
• Kale Nicodemus, Colorado State University: Pueblo
• Thomas Nolte, Wayne State University-Steve Woomer Award
• Anthony Otero, University of Northwestern Ohio
• Matiaz Perez, Texas State Technical College: Waco
• Matthew Proctor, Weber State University
• Andrew Raybon, Georgia Institute of Technology-Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council Award
• Alexander Richards, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale-L.L. Borrick Award
• Logan Schwiger, University of Northwestern Ohio
• Clarice Smith, Purdue University
• Cameron Sullivan, University of Alberta-Manufacturers’ Rep Council Award
• Collin Veele, Michigan Technological University-Wally Parks Award
• Tahiem Williams, University of South Florida
• Wei Yang, Purdue University-Melvin Burton Award

Loan Forgiveness Awards:

• Eric Bailey, Summit Racing Equipment
• Matthew Bowles, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., Wheel & Tire Council Award
• Christopher Brown, Petersen Automotive Museum, Phil Weiand Award
• Mike Clark, Dee Zee, Dee Zee Award
• Sara Crooks-Naze, BCS International
• Debra Dixon-Coen, Nissan USA, Trudy Thompson-Top Female Award
• Chris Gray, Marquez Design
• Jaclyn Kilani, Garage Equipment Supply, Young Executives Network Award
• Yamuna McGuire, Skyjacker Suspensions, SEMA Businesswomen’s Network Award
• Lynn Meredith, TruXedo, Inc., Professional Restylers Organization Award
• Terri Northup, Auburn Gear Inc.
  Brandon Whitsell, Competition Cams, Joe Hrudka Award  

SEMA News - October 2010

Photography by Peter Rogers

Meet Ben Mizban of T-Rex Grilles

	“Take advantage of early registration, and put more thought into how you are presenting your new product,“ said Ben Mizban, president of T-Rex Grilles. “Describe it well and highlight the advantages and benefits of your product to stay ahead of your competition.”

Ben Mizban is the president of T-Rex Grilles in Corona, California. The company has regularly participated in the SEMA Show New Products Showcase. Recently, Mizban offered his insight and advice on getting the most from the program.

SEMA News: Please tell us a little bit about yourself and T-Rex Grilles.

Ben Mizban: I opened JBM Sport Truck Accessories, my first business, in 1986 in the city of Orange and grew it into one of the largest retailer/mail-order companies in California by 2001. I started T-Rex Truck Products/T-Rex Grilles as part of JBM in 1996 and just manufactured billet grilles to supply our own huge demand in the mail-order business, slowly seeking other distributors. T-Rex Grilles has been in automotive aftermarket grille design and manufacturing for the past 14 years. Our philosophy has always been simple: create a product at the highest quality possible with cutting-edge style and a pristine finish while maintaining highly competitive pricing. T-Rex has been a pioneer in the innovative design aspect of various grilles in the market, such as our stainless-steel mesh grilles and Phantom grilles for Chevy Camaros and Dodge Challengers. We were also the originator of Studded X-Metal series grilles and the ultimate Dresden Luxury grilles.

SN: You participated in the New Products Showcase at the 2009 SEMA Show. How did your participation affect your
Show experience?

BM: We definitely found it very helpful with bringing qualified customers to our booth.

SN: What opportunities did you realize from participating in the New Products Showcase?

BM: We showcased our new products and created excitement about what was new from T-Rex. It reminded our existing customers about us and, in many cases, brought new customers on board.

SN: Are you participating in the New Products Showcase this year? If so, are you doing anything differently from previous years?

BM: Yes, we are, and we are improving how we showcase our new products by building a nicer display rack for them.

SN: What advice would you give to other exhibitors who may be considering submitting a new product?

BM: Take advantage of early registration, and put more thought into how you are presenting your new product. Describe it well and highlight the advantages and benefits of your product to stay ahead of your competition.

 

SEMA News - October 2010

Growing New Markets

By Kristin DeBates

As the automotive industry emerges from the economic downturn, it’s clear that the iconic American industry needs to spread its global wings to thrive again—and to help drive the U.S. economic recovery overall. Automotive products are America’s largest manufactured goods export category, accounting for 6% of U.S. exports. So if automotive manufacturers increase exports with international customers, the overall health of the nation’s exports ultimately improves, too.  For SEMA members, new geographic markets offer opportunities to create new revenue streams and reach new customers. And with the new National Export Initiative—President Obama’s plan to double U.S. exports in five years—there has never been a better time for auto businesses to export. But it can be daunting to determine where to begin for those companies that haven’t spread their global wings. That is why UPS is partnering with SEMA to provide the tools to help members grow in new markets. At the 2010 SEMA Show, UPS will host two seminars that will show companies what supply-chain tools and technologies are available to foster an exporting program. Here are a few things SEMA members should consider as they start to grow beyond U.S. borders.

Know Before You Go

The most successful businesses know that solid partnerships are essential to mitigate risk and build strong businesses. That is especially true to grow a business globally, as new layers of complexity require additional skilled partners. At SEMA’s “Growth Through Global Trade” seminar, exporting experts Jim Beach and Chris Hanks will identify numerous organizations and resources, such as the U.S. Commercial Service and U.S. Chamber of Commerce, that can help U.S.-based companies find potential business partners overseas.

Put the Right Pricing Strategy in Place

	The most successful businesses know that solid partnerships are essential to mitigate risk and build strong businesses. That is especially true to grow a business globally, as new layers of complexity require additional skilled partners.

For new entrants into growing markets, it’s important to realize that the price that products can fetch might vary from market to market. The latest forecast from J.D. Power and Associates projects that demand in emerging markets, such as Brazil, Russia, India and China are expected to account for one-third of global light automobile sales this year. J.D. Power research has also shown that the average transaction price for a new car in the United States last year was $27,500; it was only $17,500 in China. That’s why U.S. automotive businesses need to examine their pricing strategies carefully in order to make a profit without pricing themselves out of the market.

When establishing a pricing model, companies have to consider “landed costs,” which include the duties, taxes and fees a country charges when goods arrive. These can vary enormously by market, so it’s important to work with a partner such as UPS that can help demystify these costs in advance.

Use Visibility as an Advantage

When shipping high-value automotive parts and components or even finished vehicles across the globe, exporters must know exactly where products are in the supply chain at all times and keep customers informed. Wisconsin-based Monroe Trucks knows this well. The company outfits stock commercial vehicles for specific purposes, including armored vehicles, fire trucks and snow/ice trucks. It used to take Monroe Trucks between six weeks and three months to deliver its finished vehicles. In addition, Monroe’s former shipping provider couldn’t ensure visibility into its supply chain, so when customers asked where their orders were, Monroe couldn’t tell them. UPS stepped in and overhauled Monroe’s logistics model, improving visibility and service. Today, the company delivers trucks in just 10 days, and customers can track their orders any time. The company also saved a total of 22% in transportation costs.

Demystify CustomsComplexities

Customs can seem scary because they are so complex. In fact, the exam to become a customs broker—the agent who makes sure that a company’s imports and exports comply with many complex regulations and tariffs—is considered to be harder to pass than the bar exam. That’s why SEMA members should consider working with a third-party logistics partner who understands how to navigate trade complexities and can make exporting and importing even easier for businesses in the process. UPS has an army of more than 800 customs brokers who know how to move goods across borders quickly. UPS is also the first package carrier to offer a paperless international shipping option, which transforms lengthy customs documents into simple electronic data. This virtually eliminates the number-one reason why shipments are delayed at customs: incomplete forms.

Automate Shipping and Inventory Platforms

Certain technology investments can make a company’s global supply chain more flexible and cost-effective, which ultimately can ensure that it can increase exports and profits. Auto parts giant Mopar, which ships hundreds of thousands of orders to global customers each month, recently decided to automate its outdated inventory management and shipping processes. Using a special barcode on each part, Mopar employees can scan and automatically populate shipment data into the system without manual entry, providing a one-click process for multiple shipping methods that saves time, reduces errors and produces more efficient invoicing. The tracking capability also allows dealers to get status updates on orders rapidly and accurately.

Global growth will help the industry rebuild, reenergize and revitalize. With incentives from the National Export Initiative; help from knowledgeable partners, such as UPS; and effective use of supply-chain technologies, now is the time for the American auto industry to advance its presence in international markets.

SEMA Show Seminars

Learn how your business can use global trade to grow sales or leverage technology to improve efficiency and rise above the competition at these UPS-sponsored SEMA seminars.

Growth Through Global Trade

Date/Time: Monday, November 1, 1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Location: Las Vegas Convention Center, N252
Presenters: Chris Hanks, director of UGA’s Entrepreneurship Program; Jim Beach, TheEntrepreneurSchool.com
Description: Do you know what to consider when exporting internationally? These two experts help explain the trends in growing markets and how to build your international business. They also discuss supply-chain tools and capabilities that help manufacturers and distributors compete in today’s ever-changing global marketplace.

Shipping Technology as a Competitive Advantage

Date/Time: Monday, November 1, 3:00-4:00 p.m.
Location: Las Vegas Convention Center, N252
Presenter: Jeff Enyart, director of UPS customer technology
Description: Technology can help your company improve operational efficiency and create a competitive advantage. Learn how technology can help you process orders and shipments more effectively, cut fulfillment time and keep customers informed. Enyart gives real-life examples of how technology has helped automotive companies save time and money while creating a more efficient supply chain.

Kristin DeBates, marketing manager with UPS, works with UPS customers in the automotive industry. Through her understanding of current industry trends and challenges, DeBates has been instrumental in implementing strategies that address UPS customer needs in the automotive sector, such as reducing transportation costs, improving delivery speed and maintaining a lean inventory. 

SEMA News - October 2010

In a Tough Job Market, Online Reputation Management Is a Must

By Joe Dysart

	Pew Internet’s report found that it’s only a matter of time before a stranger can take your picture, match it to your name via an online database and post the resulting information anywhere online.

While anecdotes abound about professionals who have lost job opportunities over something they’ve posted online, new research reveals that we’re all much more at risk than previously known. Specifically, a survey of 1,100-plus human resources (HR) professionals by Cross-Tab found that 70% of recruiters have rejected a candidate for employment simply based on text, photos or videos they discovered about that person online. “An applicant’s online reputation can be very important in the hiring process,” said Monique A. Honaman, CEO of ISHRGroup, a human resources firm.

“Essentially, this person will be representing your business, your brand. It behooves a company to be sure that the individual represents the company in the manner in which it wants to be known.”

Indeed, many of the HR professionals participating in Cross-Tab’s “Online Reputation in a Connected World” study said that web screening of candidates has become a formal requirement in the hiring process. And an overwhelming majority believe that such screening and monitoring will weigh even more heavily in hiring decisions during the next five years.

Most HR pros surveyed also said that they considered no online venue exempt from investigation. In addition to typical social networks, such as Facebook and MySpace, these execs thought nothing of checking out online gaming sites and virtual worlds as well as retail, auction and classified sites, such as Amazon, eBay and Craigslist before offering a position.

All told, an overwhelming majority of HR recruiters (84%) believe that poking into people’s personal lives online is perfectly acceptable. And even more (89%) believe that investigating professional credentials online should be the norm. Recruiters who were most comfortable with online screening also freely admitted that they are able to unearth much more information about a person online than they’re able to—or even permitted to—via traditional job interviews and background checks.

Conventional job interviews, for example, generally do not probe into a candidate’s religious, political or other affiliations, nor have such interviews typically delved into a job applicant’s financial situation, medical health and the like. But online, much of this information is freely available if you know where to look, and many recruiters are doing just that. The result is that some job applicants are rejected based on their membership in certain groups online. Others are falling victim to comments made about them by friends, family or colleagues.

For HR pros, perhaps the greatest power in online screening is anonymity. Essentially, both in-house and third-party staffers can pretty much stop anywhere they’d like on the web, take a look around and be gone without anyone being the wiser. A recruiter, for example, may come across a photo of you at a political rally that’s been tagged with your name and consider that political affiliation as a factor when hiring you—whether or not you happened to be attending that rally as an ardent supporter or just an interested observer. Currently, such photos are generally created and shared between friends on the social networks. But new online technology, such as the free, web-based Polar Rose , now makes it possible to automatically match images of people with the names of those people.

The upshot is that it may become very easy in the not-too-distant future for a complete stranger to take a picture of you anywhere, in any number of compromising or otherwise private situations, and instantly post that image to the web—right along with your name and other identifying information.

“Today, facial-recognition technology is standard in many new digital cameras, and applications such as Polar Rose are soon going to be fused with the cameras and Internet connections on users’ phones,” said Mary Madden, a senior research specialist at Pew Internet, a nonprofit research group. “Google Goggles, a service that lets you use pictures taken with your mobile device to search the web, doesn’t offer facial recognition for now, but the underlying capability is there.”

	ISHRGroup’s Monique A. Honaman said that online web screening of job applicants is considered common practice these days.

In a phrase, the increasing intensity of web monitoring is a somewhat chilling trend in an era in which millions of people are socializing and cavorting online without a second thought, as the unemployment rate hovers stubbornly above 9%. Not surprisingly, HR pros such as Honaman advise all job seekers to clear away the trash and begin building an online image that gleams before they send out the first résumé.

Clearly, there are several obvious gaffes to scrub from the web before you go job hunting, Honaman said, including inappropriate photos, excessive alcohol/partying, poor language and disparaging comments about current or prior employers, managers or peers. These all indicate a lack of judgment that many potential employers may want to avoid.

You’ll also want to disassociate yourself from any risqué e-mail addresses, such as “Hotmama@gmail.com” or “party24x7@aol.com.” “You wouldn’t believe some of the things I’ve seen,” Honaman said.

You’ll also want to be vigilant about monitoring the privacy settings on all the social networking sites where you have memberships. Facebook for example, unleashed a tsunami of member anger a few months back when it decided to make more of members’ private information public—without first consulting the members on that move. The mega-social networking site has since mostly rolled back that privacy breach, but the move clearly demonstrates that the information you think is safely stored behind digital walls online could become public at any time on the whim of a CEO wunderkind who hasn’t seen age 30 yet.

“In today’s world of non-stop tweets, incessant consumer reviews and ‘everyone has an opinion’ Facebook postings, monitoring your online reputation is a daunting task,” said Sandra Crawford Williamson, chief marketing officer at SuperMedia, an ad agency.

Meanwhile, Pew Internet also reports that at least some web socializers are hip to the online prying that’s going on and have responded by being more conservative with the privacy settings on the sites where they gather. A full 71% of social networkers aged 18–29 have tightened up on their privacy settings online, the research group found. And another 55% of users aged 50–64 have done the same, according to the company’s survey on social networking released this past May entitled “Reputation Management and Social Media”.

Many of these same users have also taken the time to delete unwanted comments that others have made on their web profiles and have removed their names from photos of themselves that family, friends and colleagues have posted online. In addition to making the above repairs, you may want to tweak your own online reputation with these monitoring tools:
Google Alerts: This is one of the easiest ways to secure a general idea about what’s being said about you on the web in major online communities, mailing lists and blogs—all places where those looking to shape public opinion tend to congregate.

Twitter Monitoring: You’ll also want to sign up for an account on Twitter, the micro-blogging service, which you can use to monitor the posts there. Signing up for an account will also prevent someone else from grabbing your name and masquerading as you on the service.

Technorati: Posts on web blogs can be tracked with the free blogwatch service Technorati, which has been around since the blog phenomena went large. It does a great job of monitoring what’s being said and keeping track of newly created blogs.
Discussion Board Monitoring: Boardtracker.com is a free service that monitors buzz on the countless discussion boards on the web.

Other Tools: Other free reputation-management tools to check out include BlogPulse, which also tracks blog posts; Keotag, which tracks keywords, including names, that are being used as tags on the web; SeekingAlpha, which tracks the postings of conference call transcripts on websites; Google Trends, which tracks the most popular keyword searches on the web; and Compete, which tracks the top website referrals for any keyword search.

Joe Dysart is an Internet speaker and business consultant based in Manhattan, New York.
Voice: 646/233-4089
E-mail: joe@joedysart.com
Website: www.joedysart.com

SEMA News - October 2010

Mapping Out Some of the Don’t-Miss Features at the 2010 Gathering

	In less than two months, the doors to the world’s largest automotive specialty-equipment trade show will open again. The 2010 SEMA Show will highlight all of the traditional attractions attendees have come to expect, but there will also be more than a dozen new and improved programs and features.

The 2010 SEMA Show is mere weeks away, but the Show organizers have been working diligently since the Las Vegas Convention Center’s doors closed last year to bring even more value to attendees. In addition to the traditional offerings—more than 1,800 exhibitors, 1,500 industry-changing product innovations and dazzling vehicle displays—this year’s SEMA Show boasts more than a dozen new or improved features. Take advantage of everything the automotive specialty-equipment industry’s largest trade show has to offer, starting with….

Enhanced Online Floorplan

Finding exhibitors using the Internet has become even easier for the 2010 SEMA Show. Just visit here, when the page opens, you’ll discover a footprint of the Las Vegas Convention Center along with the icons of all the SEMA Show sections. Click on either the location or the section logo you’re looking for, and the appropriate floorplan will open so that you can peruse the exhibitor booths housed there. If you know the name of the exhibitor, click on the “exhibitor list” link at the bottom of the first floorplan page, then enter the company name. The company’s information will be listed, including a link to the exhibitor’s booth. Click on the link, and you’ll be shown a floorplan with that company’s booth highlighted. Plan your week for the most efficient routes possible!

SEMA OnlineMarketing Conference

	Finding exhibitors via the Internet has become even easier for the 2010 SEMA Show. Just go to www.SEMAShow.com/floorplan. When the page opens, you’ll discover a footprint of the Las Vegas Convention Center and complete exhibitor information.

The SEMA Online Marketing Conference at the 2010 SEMA Show will help novices and veterans alike to navigate the dynamics of the shifting online landscape. Experts, including staff from Google, Facebook and YouTube, will present on subjects that include the essentials of search-engine optimization, search-engine marketing, landing page optimization, local search, pay-per-click, social media marketing, website analytics, forums and blogs, video and more. The conference will offer a Fundamentals Track for businesses and marketers just getting started and an Intermediate/Advanced Track for the more experienced. The conference will be held on Monday, November 1, 2010, 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m., at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Advanced registration is $99 for members ($199 nonmembers) by October 17; $199 for members ($249 for nonmembers) after. Registration for the OMC does not include the required Show registration ($25 by October 17. $75 after). For complete details, visit here.

SEMA Award Top Vehicle Program

The SEMA Show “Vehicle Manufacturer of the Show” program is being modified to showcase top trendsetting vehicles, which will be honored with the SEMA Award. Through this enhanced program, exhibitors at the 2010 SEMA Show will determine the hottest vehicles in three categories: car, truck and 4x4-SUV. With more than 1,800 exhibiting companies, the SEMA Show typically includes more than 800 qualified booth vehicles. Modifications range from products that improve performance, safety and convenience to those that enhance appearance and comfort. Show organizers will survey every booth vehicle at the SEMA Show, and the most prominent in the three categories will be announced as the SEMA Award honorees on the first day of the event, Tuesday, November 2, in Las Vegas.

Enthusiast Opinion Leader Research Project

The SEMA Online Marketing Conference, Powersports Dealer Update Workshops and SCRS Repairer Driven Education seminars are just three of the educational offerings that are either new or revised for 2010. Visit www.SEMAShow.com/education to get a full rundown of what’s available.

The Enthusiast Opinion Leader Research Project, which debuted at the 2009 SEMA Show, will be expanded at the 2010 event. The nation’s most active and influential automotive enthusiasts will help industry professionals identify future trends by providing firsthand feedback on the products and vehicles debuting at the Show. Enthusiasts, selected through a rigorous application process, attend the SEMA Show for one day. In addition to completing a comprehensive pre-Show survey, they are tasked with using social media—Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and YouTube—to share their feedback on product and vehicle trends from the Show. Onsite focus groups provide deeper insight into enthusiasts’ attitudes and outlooks about the industry. Organizers are expanding on last year’s success and will increase the number of participants in the 2010 program, which will take place this year on Friday, November 5.

All-New Proving Ground Experience

The Truck Trend Proving Ground will feature the Lucas Off Road Demonstration, highlighted by some ground-pounding high-speed truck action. Sponsors include Maxxis Tire, Ford, MagnaFlow Performance Exhaust and PPG. The high-performance proving grounds have been relocated to Silver Lot 1 and 2, and the proving grounds course will be built to facilitate the Lucas flying trucks. New for 2010 will be the Monster Pit Powered by Ford, just south of the Truck Trend Proving Grounds. Ford will be on site with a fleet of Ford performance vehicles
and promotions.

SEMA Vehicle Technology Lab

The Lucas Off Road Demonstration at an all-new Truck Trend Proving Ground experience will be augmented this year by the Monster Pit Powered by Ford. The Blue Oval team will be on site with a fleet of Ford performance vehicles and promotions.

A new display area in the Upper South Hall, booth #36203, will focus on advanced vehicle technologies. The display will feature alternative powertrains, racing, open-architecture concept vehicles, mobile-electronics integration, driver and computer simulations and hardware-in-the loop demonstrations of electronic stability control systems and vehicle dynamics performance of aftermarket-modified vehicles. The SEMA Vehicle Technology Lab will also showcase the advanced technologies, products and companies discussed at the Driving Safe, Driving Connected and Driving Green Performance Technology Briefings. Vehicle dynamics demonstrations and technology simulations will be held by industry leaders from CarSim, dSPACE, SEMA, Clemson University’s ICAR and more. The lab will help inform SEMA members about programs, partnerships and the products, systems and vehicle development tools available at affordable costs to SEMA-member companies.

Dealer Day Conference

The 2010 SEMA Show will feature a program targeted specifically for auto dealers on Wednesday, November 3, from 8:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. at the Las Vegas Hilton, Pavilions 2–3. The program marks the third consecutive year that the Dealer Day Conference will be held at the Show. SEMA listened to feedback from previous attendees and tailored this year’s event to specifically address the needs and concerns of the dealer community. The 2010 event will focus on three key components of successful accessory programs. From integration to the sales process to profit generation, this new and improved program is designed to provide dealers with practical information and resources that will serve as a catalyst in their everyday operations. Advanced registration is $99 by October 17, $149 after (does not include required Show registration of $25 by October 17, $75 after). For more information, visit here.

New Products Showcase Expands

The SEMA Show New Products Showcase will expand to include two new categories, one focused on tires and related products, the other on wheels and related products. Thousands of buyers and media visit the New Products Showcase, and exhibitors rely on it as a tool to generate awareness of their products.

The SEMA Show New Products Showcase, one of the most popular attractions at the annual trade show, will expand to include two new categories, one focused on tires and related products, the other on wheels and related products. Thousands of buyers and media visit the New Products Showcase, and exhibitors rely on it as a tool to generate awareness of their products. The changes to the New Products Showcase are among many enhancements being made at the 2010 SEMA Show to better service the tire and wheel markets. Organizers also announced the creation of the Global Tire Expo—Powered by the Tire Industry Association. The Global Tire Expo will be a tire industry-only part of the SEMA Show, featuring exhibitors from all segments of the tire industry, including automotive, commercial, retreading, recycling and more. Wheel manufacturers will also have a dedicated area of the SEMA Show, with companies in this market exhibiting in the newly created Wheels & Accessories section.

Powersports Dealer Update Workshops

Powersports dealers may attend high-level training from the industry experts at Gart Sutton and Associates (GSA) during the 2010 SEMA Show, November 1–2, at the Renaissance Hotel. The workshops will cover topics ranging from parts and accessories, sales, finance and insurance to service and dealership management. The eight powersports dealer-specific education workshops are open to all powersports dealers. Registration also includes two industry keynote speaker lunches and a special state-of-the-industry powersports panel dealers simply can’t afford to miss. Advanced registration is $99 by October 17; $149 after (does not include required Show registration of $25 by October 17, $75 after). For complete details, visit here.

SCRS Repairer Driven Education

A brand-new Society of Collision Repair Specialists's (SCRS) Repairer Driven Education (RDE) program will premier at this year’s SEMA Show. The collision industry will have a much larger presence at the SEMA Show than ever before, with both an expanded footprint in the Paint, Body & Equipment section and through RDE seminars tailored to collision-repair businesses, which will be offered November 4–5. The seminar series will be provided as a package, and registrants will have the option to attend six seminars that will be delivered between the hours of 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. on Thursday and Friday of the SEMA Show. Advanced registration is $225 by October 17; $275 after (does not include required Show registration of $25 by October 17, $75 after). For complete information and registration, visit here.

New Products Awards Breakfast

The Enthusiast Opinion Leader Research Project will be expanded at the 2010 event. The program brings the nation’s most active and influential automotive enthusiasts to the SEMA Show on Friday, November 5, to help industry professionals identify future trends through firsthand feedback on the products and vehicles debuting at the Show.

John B. Rogers Jr., president, CEO and co-founder of Local Motors, will provide what promises to be an inspiring keynote address at the New Products Awards Breakfast on Tuesday, November 2, 2010. All exhibitors and attendees are invited to hear how Rogers’ auto manufacturing company is changing the way cars are designed and built. Local Motors creates a unique chassis and body for each of its vehicles but doesn’t make many of its own components, preferring to collaborate with the specialty-equipment market for high-quality, proven products. The New Products Awards Breakfast takes place on the Show’s opening day before the floor opens. During the breakfast, awards for the best new products in the New Products Showcase are announced. Visit www.SEMAShow.com/specialevents to obtain tickets, which are free but are only available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Mopar Alley Entrance Enhanced

The Mopar Alley connector between the Central and South Halls was already plenty cool, but now there is a wide aisle to the Alley in the South Hall starting at the Continental Tire booth. Whether you want to transit from one hall to the other or you’re looking for the best in Mopar muscle, the Alley is the place to be.

I-Car Demonstration Area

I-CAR delivers performance-focused training to collision industry professionals, helping to ensure that every person in the industry has the necessary knowledge and skills to achieve a complete and safe repair. Now I-CAR is bringing its collision repair training to the SEMA Show. On November 2–3, I-Car will present a series of courses for collision-repair professionals in rooms N231–N242 of the Las Vegas Convention Center. View the course descriptions and register for the training. The cost is $95 per course (does not include required Show registration of $25 by October 17, $75 after).

James Gregory to Entertain at SEMA Show

SEMA Show attendees may unwind after a busy week in Las Vegas with comedian James Gregory, who will entertain at the SEMA Industry Awards Banquet on Thursday, November 4, 2010, 7:30 p.m, at the Las Vegas Hilton. Tickets to the annual celebration are $50 and available to those registered for the SEMA Show at www.SEMAShow.com/specialevents. Heard weekly on syndicated radio shows throughout the country, Gregory was described in a Huntsville Times critique as “America’s Funniest Man” after he performed for the first time ever in 1982. The banquet is considered by many to be the industry’s greatest celebration, where more than 3,000 people gather to witness the announcement of the Person of the Year, Rep of the Year, WD of the Year and more.

 

SEMA News - October 2010

Mapping Out Some of the Don’t-Miss Features at the 2010 Gathering

	In less than two months, the doors to the world’s largest automotive specialty-equipment trade show will open again. The 2010 SEMA Show will highlight all of the traditional attractions attendees have come to expect, but there will also be more than a dozen new and improved programs and features.

The 2010 SEMA Show is mere weeks away, but the Show organizers have been working diligently since the Las Vegas Convention Center’s doors closed last year to bring even more value to attendees. In addition to the traditional offerings—more than 1,800 exhibitors, 1,500 industry-changing product innovations and dazzling vehicle displays—this year’s SEMA Show boasts more than a dozen new or improved features. Take advantage of everything the automotive specialty-equipment industry’s largest trade show has to offer, starting with….

Enhanced Online Floorplan

Finding exhibitors using the Internet has become even easier for the 2010 SEMA Show. Just visit here, when the page opens, you’ll discover a footprint of the Las Vegas Convention Center along with the icons of all the SEMA Show sections. Click on either the location or the section logo you’re looking for, and the appropriate floorplan will open so that you can peruse the exhibitor booths housed there. If you know the name of the exhibitor, click on the “exhibitor list” link at the bottom of the first floorplan page, then enter the company name. The company’s information will be listed, including a link to the exhibitor’s booth. Click on the link, and you’ll be shown a floorplan with that company’s booth highlighted. Plan your week for the most efficient routes possible!

SEMA OnlineMarketing Conference

	Finding exhibitors via the Internet has become even easier for the 2010 SEMA Show. Just go to www.SEMAShow.com/floorplan. When the page opens, you’ll discover a footprint of the Las Vegas Convention Center and complete exhibitor information.

The SEMA Online Marketing Conference at the 2010 SEMA Show will help novices and veterans alike to navigate the dynamics of the shifting online landscape. Experts, including staff from Google, Facebook and YouTube, will present on subjects that include the essentials of search-engine optimization, search-engine marketing, landing page optimization, local search, pay-per-click, social media marketing, website analytics, forums and blogs, video and more. The conference will offer a Fundamentals Track for businesses and marketers just getting started and an Intermediate/Advanced Track for the more experienced. The conference will be held on Monday, November 1, 2010, 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m., at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Advanced registration is $99 for members ($199 nonmembers) by October 17; $199 for members ($249 for nonmembers) after. Registration for the OMC does not include the required Show registration ($25 by October 17. $75 after). For complete details, visit here.

SEMA Award Top Vehicle Program

The SEMA Show “Vehicle Manufacturer of the Show” program is being modified to showcase top trendsetting vehicles, which will be honored with the SEMA Award. Through this enhanced program, exhibitors at the 2010 SEMA Show will determine the hottest vehicles in three categories: car, truck and 4x4-SUV. With more than 1,800 exhibiting companies, the SEMA Show typically includes more than 800 qualified booth vehicles. Modifications range from products that improve performance, safety and convenience to those that enhance appearance and comfort. Show organizers will survey every booth vehicle at the SEMA Show, and the most prominent in the three categories will be announced as the SEMA Award honorees on the first day of the event, Tuesday, November 2, in Las Vegas.

Enthusiast Opinion Leader Research Project

The SEMA Online Marketing Conference, Powersports Dealer Update Workshops and SCRS Repairer Driven Education seminars are just three of the educational offerings that are either new or revised for 2010. Visit www.SEMAShow.com/education to get a full rundown of what’s available.

The Enthusiast Opinion Leader Research Project, which debuted at the 2009 SEMA Show, will be expanded at the 2010 event. The nation’s most active and influential automotive enthusiasts will help industry professionals identify future trends by providing firsthand feedback on the products and vehicles debuting at the Show. Enthusiasts, selected through a rigorous application process, attend the SEMA Show for one day. In addition to completing a comprehensive pre-Show survey, they are tasked with using social media—Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and YouTube—to share their feedback on product and vehicle trends from the Show. Onsite focus groups provide deeper insight into enthusiasts’ attitudes and outlooks about the industry. Organizers are expanding on last year’s success and will increase the number of participants in the 2010 program, which will take place this year on Friday, November 5.

All-New Proving Ground Experience

The Truck Trend Proving Ground will feature the Lucas Off Road Demonstration, highlighted by some ground-pounding high-speed truck action. Sponsors include Maxxis Tire, Ford, MagnaFlow Performance Exhaust and PPG. The high-performance proving grounds have been relocated to Silver Lot 1 and 2, and the proving grounds course will be built to facilitate the Lucas flying trucks. New for 2010 will be the Monster Pit Powered by Ford, just south of the Truck Trend Proving Grounds. Ford will be on site with a fleet of Ford performance vehicles
and promotions.

SEMA Vehicle Technology Lab

The Lucas Off Road Demonstration at an all-new Truck Trend Proving Ground experience will be augmented this year by the Monster Pit Powered by Ford. The Blue Oval team will be on site with a fleet of Ford performance vehicles and promotions.

A new display area in the Upper South Hall, booth #36203, will focus on advanced vehicle technologies. The display will feature alternative powertrains, racing, open-architecture concept vehicles, mobile-electronics integration, driver and computer simulations and hardware-in-the loop demonstrations of electronic stability control systems and vehicle dynamics performance of aftermarket-modified vehicles. The SEMA Vehicle Technology Lab will also showcase the advanced technologies, products and companies discussed at the Driving Safe, Driving Connected and Driving Green Performance Technology Briefings. Vehicle dynamics demonstrations and technology simulations will be held by industry leaders from CarSim, dSPACE, SEMA, Clemson University’s ICAR and more. The lab will help inform SEMA members about programs, partnerships and the products, systems and vehicle development tools available at affordable costs to SEMA-member companies.

Dealer Day Conference

The 2010 SEMA Show will feature a program targeted specifically for auto dealers on Wednesday, November 3, from 8:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. at the Las Vegas Hilton, Pavilions 2–3. The program marks the third consecutive year that the Dealer Day Conference will be held at the Show. SEMA listened to feedback from previous attendees and tailored this year’s event to specifically address the needs and concerns of the dealer community. The 2010 event will focus on three key components of successful accessory programs. From integration to the sales process to profit generation, this new and improved program is designed to provide dealers with practical information and resources that will serve as a catalyst in their everyday operations. Advanced registration is $99 by October 17, $149 after (does not include required Show registration of $25 by October 17, $75 after). For more information, visit here.

New Products Showcase Expands

The SEMA Show New Products Showcase will expand to include two new categories, one focused on tires and related products, the other on wheels and related products. Thousands of buyers and media visit the New Products Showcase, and exhibitors rely on it as a tool to generate awareness of their products.

The SEMA Show New Products Showcase, one of the most popular attractions at the annual trade show, will expand to include two new categories, one focused on tires and related products, the other on wheels and related products. Thousands of buyers and media visit the New Products Showcase, and exhibitors rely on it as a tool to generate awareness of their products. The changes to the New Products Showcase are among many enhancements being made at the 2010 SEMA Show to better service the tire and wheel markets. Organizers also announced the creation of the Global Tire Expo—Powered by the Tire Industry Association. The Global Tire Expo will be a tire industry-only part of the SEMA Show, featuring exhibitors from all segments of the tire industry, including automotive, commercial, retreading, recycling and more. Wheel manufacturers will also have a dedicated area of the SEMA Show, with companies in this market exhibiting in the newly created Wheels & Accessories section.

Powersports Dealer Update Workshops

Powersports dealers may attend high-level training from the industry experts at Gart Sutton and Associates (GSA) during the 2010 SEMA Show, November 1–2, at the Renaissance Hotel. The workshops will cover topics ranging from parts and accessories, sales, finance and insurance to service and dealership management. The eight powersports dealer-specific education workshops are open to all powersports dealers. Registration also includes two industry keynote speaker lunches and a special state-of-the-industry powersports panel dealers simply can’t afford to miss. Advanced registration is $99 by October 17; $149 after (does not include required Show registration of $25 by October 17, $75 after). For complete details, visit here.

SCRS Repairer Driven Education

A brand-new Society of Collision Repair Specialists's (SCRS) Repairer Driven Education (RDE) program will premier at this year’s SEMA Show. The collision industry will have a much larger presence at the SEMA Show than ever before, with both an expanded footprint in the Paint, Body & Equipment section and through RDE seminars tailored to collision-repair businesses, which will be offered November 4–5. The seminar series will be provided as a package, and registrants will have the option to attend six seminars that will be delivered between the hours of 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. on Thursday and Friday of the SEMA Show. Advanced registration is $225 by October 17; $275 after (does not include required Show registration of $25 by October 17, $75 after). For complete information and registration, visit here.

New Products Awards Breakfast

The Enthusiast Opinion Leader Research Project will be expanded at the 2010 event. The program brings the nation’s most active and influential automotive enthusiasts to the SEMA Show on Friday, November 5, to help industry professionals identify future trends through firsthand feedback on the products and vehicles debuting at the Show.

John B. Rogers Jr., president, CEO and co-founder of Local Motors, will provide what promises to be an inspiring keynote address at the New Products Awards Breakfast on Tuesday, November 2, 2010. All exhibitors and attendees are invited to hear how Rogers’ auto manufacturing company is changing the way cars are designed and built. Local Motors creates a unique chassis and body for each of its vehicles but doesn’t make many of its own components, preferring to collaborate with the specialty-equipment market for high-quality, proven products. The New Products Awards Breakfast takes place on the Show’s opening day before the floor opens. During the breakfast, awards for the best new products in the New Products Showcase are announced. Visit www.SEMAShow.com/specialevents to obtain tickets, which are free but are only available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Mopar Alley Entrance Enhanced

The Mopar Alley connector between the Central and South Halls was already plenty cool, but now there is a wide aisle to the Alley in the South Hall starting at the Continental Tire booth. Whether you want to transit from one hall to the other or you’re looking for the best in Mopar muscle, the Alley is the place to be.

I-Car Demonstration Area

I-CAR delivers performance-focused training to collision industry professionals, helping to ensure that every person in the industry has the necessary knowledge and skills to achieve a complete and safe repair. Now I-CAR is bringing its collision repair training to the SEMA Show. On November 2–3, I-Car will present a series of courses for collision-repair professionals in rooms N231–N242 of the Las Vegas Convention Center. View the course descriptions and register for the training. The cost is $95 per course (does not include required Show registration of $25 by October 17, $75 after).

James Gregory to Entertain at SEMA Show

SEMA Show attendees may unwind after a busy week in Las Vegas with comedian James Gregory, who will entertain at the SEMA Industry Awards Banquet on Thursday, November 4, 2010, 7:30 p.m, at the Las Vegas Hilton. Tickets to the annual celebration are $50 and available to those registered for the SEMA Show at www.SEMAShow.com/specialevents. Heard weekly on syndicated radio shows throughout the country, Gregory was described in a Huntsville Times critique as “America’s Funniest Man” after he performed for the first time ever in 1982. The banquet is considered by many to be the industry’s greatest celebration, where more than 3,000 people gather to witness the announcement of the Person of the Year, Rep of the Year, WD of the Year and more.

 

SEMA News - October 2010

Mapping Out Some of the Don’t-Miss Features at the 2010 Gathering

	In less than two months, the doors to the world’s largest automotive specialty-equipment trade show will open again. The 2010 SEMA Show will highlight all of the traditional attractions attendees have come to expect, but there will also be more than a dozen new and improved programs and features.

The 2010 SEMA Show is mere weeks away, but the Show organizers have been working diligently since the Las Vegas Convention Center’s doors closed last year to bring even more value to attendees. In addition to the traditional offerings—more than 1,800 exhibitors, 1,500 industry-changing product innovations and dazzling vehicle displays—this year’s SEMA Show boasts more than a dozen new or improved features. Take advantage of everything the automotive specialty-equipment industry’s largest trade show has to offer, starting with….

Enhanced Online Floorplan

Finding exhibitors using the Internet has become even easier for the 2010 SEMA Show. Just visit here, when the page opens, you’ll discover a footprint of the Las Vegas Convention Center along with the icons of all the SEMA Show sections. Click on either the location or the section logo you’re looking for, and the appropriate floorplan will open so that you can peruse the exhibitor booths housed there. If you know the name of the exhibitor, click on the “exhibitor list” link at the bottom of the first floorplan page, then enter the company name. The company’s information will be listed, including a link to the exhibitor’s booth. Click on the link, and you’ll be shown a floorplan with that company’s booth highlighted. Plan your week for the most efficient routes possible!

SEMA OnlineMarketing Conference

	Finding exhibitors via the Internet has become even easier for the 2010 SEMA Show. Just go to www.SEMAShow.com/floorplan. When the page opens, you’ll discover a footprint of the Las Vegas Convention Center and complete exhibitor information.

The SEMA Online Marketing Conference at the 2010 SEMA Show will help novices and veterans alike to navigate the dynamics of the shifting online landscape. Experts, including staff from Google, Facebook and YouTube, will present on subjects that include the essentials of search-engine optimization, search-engine marketing, landing page optimization, local search, pay-per-click, social media marketing, website analytics, forums and blogs, video and more. The conference will offer a Fundamentals Track for businesses and marketers just getting started and an Intermediate/Advanced Track for the more experienced. The conference will be held on Monday, November 1, 2010, 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m., at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Advanced registration is $99 for members ($199 nonmembers) by October 17; $199 for members ($249 for nonmembers) after. Registration for the OMC does not include the required Show registration ($25 by October 17. $75 after). For complete details, visit here.

SEMA Award Top Vehicle Program

The SEMA Show “Vehicle Manufacturer of the Show” program is being modified to showcase top trendsetting vehicles, which will be honored with the SEMA Award. Through this enhanced program, exhibitors at the 2010 SEMA Show will determine the hottest vehicles in three categories: car, truck and 4x4-SUV. With more than 1,800 exhibiting companies, the SEMA Show typically includes more than 800 qualified booth vehicles. Modifications range from products that improve performance, safety and convenience to those that enhance appearance and comfort. Show organizers will survey every booth vehicle at the SEMA Show, and the most prominent in the three categories will be announced as the SEMA Award honorees on the first day of the event, Tuesday, November 2, in Las Vegas.

Enthusiast Opinion Leader Research Project

The SEMA Online Marketing Conference, Powersports Dealer Update Workshops and SCRS Repairer Driven Education seminars are just three of the educational offerings that are either new or revised for 2010. Visit www.SEMAShow.com/education to get a full rundown of what’s available.

The Enthusiast Opinion Leader Research Project, which debuted at the 2009 SEMA Show, will be expanded at the 2010 event. The nation’s most active and influential automotive enthusiasts will help industry professionals identify future trends by providing firsthand feedback on the products and vehicles debuting at the Show. Enthusiasts, selected through a rigorous application process, attend the SEMA Show for one day. In addition to completing a comprehensive pre-Show survey, they are tasked with using social media—Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and YouTube—to share their feedback on product and vehicle trends from the Show. Onsite focus groups provide deeper insight into enthusiasts’ attitudes and outlooks about the industry. Organizers are expanding on last year’s success and will increase the number of participants in the 2010 program, which will take place this year on Friday, November 5.

All-New Proving Ground Experience

The Truck Trend Proving Ground will feature the Lucas Off Road Demonstration, highlighted by some ground-pounding high-speed truck action. Sponsors include Maxxis Tire, Ford, MagnaFlow Performance Exhaust and PPG. The high-performance proving grounds have been relocated to Silver Lot 1 and 2, and the proving grounds course will be built to facilitate the Lucas flying trucks. New for 2010 will be the Monster Pit Powered by Ford, just south of the Truck Trend Proving Grounds. Ford will be on site with a fleet of Ford performance vehicles
and promotions.

SEMA Vehicle Technology Lab

The Lucas Off Road Demonstration at an all-new Truck Trend Proving Ground experience will be augmented this year by the Monster Pit Powered by Ford. The Blue Oval team will be on site with a fleet of Ford performance vehicles and promotions.

A new display area in the Upper South Hall, booth #36203, will focus on advanced vehicle technologies. The display will feature alternative powertrains, racing, open-architecture concept vehicles, mobile-electronics integration, driver and computer simulations and hardware-in-the loop demonstrations of electronic stability control systems and vehicle dynamics performance of aftermarket-modified vehicles. The SEMA Vehicle Technology Lab will also showcase the advanced technologies, products and companies discussed at the Driving Safe, Driving Connected and Driving Green Performance Technology Briefings. Vehicle dynamics demonstrations and technology simulations will be held by industry leaders from CarSim, dSPACE, SEMA, Clemson University’s ICAR and more. The lab will help inform SEMA members about programs, partnerships and the products, systems and vehicle development tools available at affordable costs to SEMA-member companies.

Dealer Day Conference

The 2010 SEMA Show will feature a program targeted specifically for auto dealers on Wednesday, November 3, from 8:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. at the Las Vegas Hilton, Pavilions 2–3. The program marks the third consecutive year that the Dealer Day Conference will be held at the Show. SEMA listened to feedback from previous attendees and tailored this year’s event to specifically address the needs and concerns of the dealer community. The 2010 event will focus on three key components of successful accessory programs. From integration to the sales process to profit generation, this new and improved program is designed to provide dealers with practical information and resources that will serve as a catalyst in their everyday operations. Advanced registration is $99 by October 17, $149 after (does not include required Show registration of $25 by October 17, $75 after). For more information, visit here.

New Products Showcase Expands

The SEMA Show New Products Showcase will expand to include two new categories, one focused on tires and related products, the other on wheels and related products. Thousands of buyers and media visit the New Products Showcase, and exhibitors rely on it as a tool to generate awareness of their products.

The SEMA Show New Products Showcase, one of the most popular attractions at the annual trade show, will expand to include two new categories, one focused on tires and related products, the other on wheels and related products. Thousands of buyers and media visit the New Products Showcase, and exhibitors rely on it as a tool to generate awareness of their products. The changes to the New Products Showcase are among many enhancements being made at the 2010 SEMA Show to better service the tire and wheel markets. Organizers also announced the creation of the Global Tire Expo—Powered by the Tire Industry Association. The Global Tire Expo will be a tire industry-only part of the SEMA Show, featuring exhibitors from all segments of the tire industry, including automotive, commercial, retreading, recycling and more. Wheel manufacturers will also have a dedicated area of the SEMA Show, with companies in this market exhibiting in the newly created Wheels & Accessories section.

Powersports Dealer Update Workshops

Powersports dealers may attend high-level training from the industry experts at Gart Sutton and Associates (GSA) during the 2010 SEMA Show, November 1–2, at the Renaissance Hotel. The workshops will cover topics ranging from parts and accessories, sales, finance and insurance to service and dealership management. The eight powersports dealer-specific education workshops are open to all powersports dealers. Registration also includes two industry keynote speaker lunches and a special state-of-the-industry powersports panel dealers simply can’t afford to miss. Advanced registration is $99 by October 17; $149 after (does not include required Show registration of $25 by October 17, $75 after). For complete details, visit here.

SCRS Repairer Driven Education

A brand-new Society of Collision Repair Specialists's (SCRS) Repairer Driven Education (RDE) program will premier at this year’s SEMA Show. The collision industry will have a much larger presence at the SEMA Show than ever before, with both an expanded footprint in the Paint, Body & Equipment section and through RDE seminars tailored to collision-repair businesses, which will be offered November 4–5. The seminar series will be provided as a package, and registrants will have the option to attend six seminars that will be delivered between the hours of 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. on Thursday and Friday of the SEMA Show. Advanced registration is $225 by October 17; $275 after (does not include required Show registration of $25 by October 17, $75 after). For complete information and registration, visit here.

New Products Awards Breakfast

The Enthusiast Opinion Leader Research Project will be expanded at the 2010 event. The program brings the nation’s most active and influential automotive enthusiasts to the SEMA Show on Friday, November 5, to help industry professionals identify future trends through firsthand feedback on the products and vehicles debuting at the Show.

John B. Rogers Jr., president, CEO and co-founder of Local Motors, will provide what promises to be an inspiring keynote address at the New Products Awards Breakfast on Tuesday, November 2, 2010. All exhibitors and attendees are invited to hear how Rogers’ auto manufacturing company is changing the way cars are designed and built. Local Motors creates a unique chassis and body for each of its vehicles but doesn’t make many of its own components, preferring to collaborate with the specialty-equipment market for high-quality, proven products. The New Products Awards Breakfast takes place on the Show’s opening day before the floor opens. During the breakfast, awards for the best new products in the New Products Showcase are announced. Visit www.SEMAShow.com/specialevents to obtain tickets, which are free but are only available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Mopar Alley Entrance Enhanced

The Mopar Alley connector between the Central and South Halls was already plenty cool, but now there is a wide aisle to the Alley in the South Hall starting at the Continental Tire booth. Whether you want to transit from one hall to the other or you’re looking for the best in Mopar muscle, the Alley is the place to be.

I-Car Demonstration Area

I-CAR delivers performance-focused training to collision industry professionals, helping to ensure that every person in the industry has the necessary knowledge and skills to achieve a complete and safe repair. Now I-CAR is bringing its collision repair training to the SEMA Show. On November 2–3, I-Car will present a series of courses for collision-repair professionals in rooms N231–N242 of the Las Vegas Convention Center. View the course descriptions and register for the training. The cost is $95 per course (does not include required Show registration of $25 by October 17, $75 after).

James Gregory to Entertain at SEMA Show

SEMA Show attendees may unwind after a busy week in Las Vegas with comedian James Gregory, who will entertain at the SEMA Industry Awards Banquet on Thursday, November 4, 2010, 7:30 p.m, at the Las Vegas Hilton. Tickets to the annual celebration are $50 and available to those registered for the SEMA Show at www.SEMAShow.com/specialevents. Heard weekly on syndicated radio shows throughout the country, Gregory was described in a Huntsville Times critique as “America’s Funniest Man” after he performed for the first time ever in 1982. The banquet is considered by many to be the industry’s greatest celebration, where more than 3,000 people gather to witness the announcement of the Person of the Year, Rep of the Year, WD of the Year and more.