Thu, 07/22/2010 - 12:21
  Mike Spagnola, Chris Kersting
  Last year, Street Scene President Mike Spagola (left), here with SEMA President/CEO Chris Kersting, shaved his head for charity after the SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser. Is it Kersting's turn this year?

Mike Spagnola, president of Street Scene Equipment and a key SEMA Show ‘N Shine car show organizer, is encouraging all members of the industry to step up and answer SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting’s head-shaving challenge. Following the example of several principals from last year’s Show ‘N Shine and Pinewood Drag Races, including Spagnola and SEMA Cares Committee Chairman Joel Ayres, Kersting has agreed to shave his head to benefit the Childhelp and Victory Junction Gang Camp children’s charities.

But Kersting has agreed to mow his locks only if industry folks can raise $10,000 by Friday.

“We need to do this,” Spagnola says, noting that Kersting’s shearing would happen following the SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser, Friday night, July 23—which leaves little time to commit your pledge!

“It’s summer, it’s hot, and it’s for a great cause," Kersting says. "It could be a scary sight. Maybe we need a competing challenge at $15,000 to NOT shave my head!"

If you’d like to contribute to these two children’s charities, or just want to see Chris in a snappy military cut, e-mail your pledge amount to triciaw@sema.org.

Thu, 07/22/2010 - 12:21
  Mike Spagnola, Chris Kersting
  Last year, Street Scene President Mike Spagola (left), here with SEMA President/CEO Chris Kersting, shaved his head for charity after the SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser. Is it Kersting's turn this year?

Mike Spagnola, president of Street Scene Equipment and a key SEMA Show ‘N Shine car show organizer, is encouraging all members of the industry to step up and answer SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting’s head-shaving challenge. Following the example of several principals from last year’s Show ‘N Shine and Pinewood Drag Races, including Spagnola and SEMA Cares Committee Chairman Joel Ayres, Kersting has agreed to shave his head to benefit the Childhelp and Victory Junction Gang Camp children’s charities.

But Kersting has agreed to mow his locks only if industry folks can raise $10,000 by Friday.

“We need to do this,” Spagnola says, noting that Kersting’s shearing would happen following the SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser, Friday night, July 23—which leaves little time to commit your pledge!

“It’s summer, it’s hot, and it’s for a great cause," Kersting says. "It could be a scary sight. Maybe we need a competing challenge at $15,000 to NOT shave my head!"

If you’d like to contribute to these two children’s charities, or just want to see Chris in a snappy military cut, e-mail your pledge amount to triciaw@sema.org.

Thu, 07/22/2010 - 12:21
  Mike Spagnola, Chris Kersting
  Last year, Street Scene President Mike Spagola (left), here with SEMA President/CEO Chris Kersting, shaved his head for charity after the SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser. Is it Kersting's turn this year?

Mike Spagnola, president of Street Scene Equipment and a key SEMA Show ‘N Shine car show organizer, is encouraging all members of the industry to step up and answer SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting’s head-shaving challenge. Following the example of several principals from last year’s Show ‘N Shine and Pinewood Drag Races, including Spagnola and SEMA Cares Committee Chairman Joel Ayres, Kersting has agreed to shave his head to benefit the Childhelp and Victory Junction Gang Camp children’s charities.

But Kersting has agreed to mow his locks only if industry folks can raise $10,000 by Friday.

“We need to do this,” Spagnola says, noting that Kersting’s shearing would happen following the SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser, Friday night, July 23—which leaves little time to commit your pledge!

“It’s summer, it’s hot, and it’s for a great cause," Kersting says. "It could be a scary sight. Maybe we need a competing challenge at $15,000 to NOT shave my head!"

If you’d like to contribute to these two children’s charities, or just want to see Chris in a snappy military cut, e-mail your pledge amount to triciaw@sema.org.

Thu, 07/22/2010 - 12:21
  Mike Spagnola, Chris Kersting
  Last year, Street Scene President Mike Spagola (left), here with SEMA President/CEO Chris Kersting, shaved his head for charity after the SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser. Is it Kersting's turn this year?

Mike Spagnola, president of Street Scene Equipment and a key SEMA Show ‘N Shine car show organizer, is encouraging all members of the industry to step up and answer SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting’s head-shaving challenge. Following the example of several principals from last year’s Show ‘N Shine and Pinewood Drag Races, including Spagnola and SEMA Cares Committee Chairman Joel Ayres, Kersting has agreed to shave his head to benefit the Childhelp and Victory Junction Gang Camp children’s charities.

But Kersting has agreed to mow his locks only if industry folks can raise $10,000 by Friday.

“We need to do this,” Spagnola says, noting that Kersting’s shearing would happen following the SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser, Friday night, July 23—which leaves little time to commit your pledge!

“It’s summer, it’s hot, and it’s for a great cause," Kersting says. "It could be a scary sight. Maybe we need a competing challenge at $15,000 to NOT shave my head!"

If you’d like to contribute to these two children’s charities, or just want to see Chris in a snappy military cut, e-mail your pledge amount to triciaw@sema.org.

Thu, 07/22/2010 - 12:21
  Mike Spagnola, Chris Kersting
  Last year, Street Scene President Mike Spagola (left), here with SEMA President/CEO Chris Kersting, shaved his head for charity after the SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser. Is it Kersting's turn this year?

Mike Spagnola, president of Street Scene Equipment and a key SEMA Show ‘N Shine car show organizer, is encouraging all members of the industry to step up and answer SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting’s head-shaving challenge. Following the example of several principals from last year’s Show ‘N Shine and Pinewood Drag Races, including Spagnola and SEMA Cares Committee Chairman Joel Ayres, Kersting has agreed to shave his head to benefit the Childhelp and Victory Junction Gang Camp children’s charities.

But Kersting has agreed to mow his locks only if industry folks can raise $10,000 by Friday.

“We need to do this,” Spagnola says, noting that Kersting’s shearing would happen following the SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser, Friday night, July 23—which leaves little time to commit your pledge!

“It’s summer, it’s hot, and it’s for a great cause," Kersting says. "It could be a scary sight. Maybe we need a competing challenge at $15,000 to NOT shave my head!"

If you’d like to contribute to these two children’s charities, or just want to see Chris in a snappy military cut, e-mail your pledge amount to triciaw@sema.org.

Thu, 07/22/2010 - 12:21
  Mike Spagnola, Chris Kersting
  Last year, Street Scene President Mike Spagola (left), here with SEMA President/CEO Chris Kersting, shaved his head for charity after the SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser. Is it Kersting's turn this year?

Mike Spagnola, president of Street Scene Equipment and a key SEMA Show ‘N Shine car show organizer, is encouraging all members of the industry to step up and answer SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting’s head-shaving challenge. Following the example of several principals from last year’s Show ‘N Shine and Pinewood Drag Races, including Spagnola and SEMA Cares Committee Chairman Joel Ayres, Kersting has agreed to shave his head to benefit the Childhelp and Victory Junction Gang Camp children’s charities.

But Kersting has agreed to mow his locks only if industry folks can raise $10,000 by Friday.

“We need to do this,” Spagnola says, noting that Kersting’s shearing would happen following the SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser, Friday night, July 23—which leaves little time to commit your pledge!

“It’s summer, it’s hot, and it’s for a great cause," Kersting says. "It could be a scary sight. Maybe we need a competing challenge at $15,000 to NOT shave my head!"

If you’d like to contribute to these two children’s charities, or just want to see Chris in a snappy military cut, e-mail your pledge amount to triciaw@sema.org.

Thu, 07/22/2010 - 12:21
  Mike Spagnola, Chris Kersting
  Last year, Street Scene President Mike Spagola (left), here with SEMA President/CEO Chris Kersting, shaved his head for charity after the SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser. Is it Kersting's turn this year?

Mike Spagnola, president of Street Scene Equipment and a key SEMA Show ‘N Shine car show organizer, is encouraging all members of the industry to step up and answer SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting’s head-shaving challenge. Following the example of several principals from last year’s Show ‘N Shine and Pinewood Drag Races, including Spagnola and SEMA Cares Committee Chairman Joel Ayres, Kersting has agreed to shave his head to benefit the Childhelp and Victory Junction Gang Camp children’s charities.

But Kersting has agreed to mow his locks only if industry folks can raise $10,000 by Friday.

“We need to do this,” Spagnola says, noting that Kersting’s shearing would happen following the SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser, Friday night, July 23—which leaves little time to commit your pledge!

“It’s summer, it’s hot, and it’s for a great cause," Kersting says. "It could be a scary sight. Maybe we need a competing challenge at $15,000 to NOT shave my head!"

If you’d like to contribute to these two children’s charities, or just want to see Chris in a snappy military cut, e-mail your pledge amount to triciaw@sema.org.

Thu, 07/22/2010 - 12:21
  Mike Spagnola, Chris Kersting
  Last year, Street Scene President Mike Spagola (left), here with SEMA President/CEO Chris Kersting, shaved his head for charity after the SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser. Is it Kersting's turn this year?

Mike Spagnola, president of Street Scene Equipment and a key SEMA Show ‘N Shine car show organizer, is encouraging all members of the industry to step up and answer SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting’s head-shaving challenge. Following the example of several principals from last year’s Show ‘N Shine and Pinewood Drag Races, including Spagnola and SEMA Cares Committee Chairman Joel Ayres, Kersting has agreed to shave his head to benefit the Childhelp and Victory Junction Gang Camp children’s charities.

But Kersting has agreed to mow his locks only if industry folks can raise $10,000 by Friday.

“We need to do this,” Spagnola says, noting that Kersting’s shearing would happen following the SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser, Friday night, July 23—which leaves little time to commit your pledge!

“It’s summer, it’s hot, and it’s for a great cause," Kersting says. "It could be a scary sight. Maybe we need a competing challenge at $15,000 to NOT shave my head!"

If you’d like to contribute to these two children’s charities, or just want to see Chris in a snappy military cut, e-mail your pledge amount to triciaw@sema.org.

Thu, 07/22/2010 - 12:21
  SEMA Financial Benchmarking
  April was a good month for manufacturers, distributors and retailers, with all three segments reporting improved sales compared to April 2009. Distributors enjoyed the best turn in fortunes from March, posting a 16% sales increase.

 

More than half of distributors queried for the recent SEMA Financial Benchmarking Report indicated that sales increased year-to-date through March, compared to the same period in 2009, and more than half were optimistic the trend would continue through the following three months.

They were right; distributors saw a 16% leap in sales compared to the month before. Manufacturers posted a slight gain, and retailers also rebounded from a March slump with a 7% gain.

Still, all three industry groups—manufacturers, distributors and retailers—said that poor sales was the most important problem facing their businesses today.

The SEMA Financial Benchmarking Report benchmarks key sales performance indicators against industry averages. Three separate reports represent manufacturers, WDs and retailers, with the latest March and April 2010 editions now available to industry members. Reports feature sales projections, quick ratio, inventory turns, sales per employee, research and development, factory overhead, selling and administrative expense and more.

Participants of the Financial Benchmarking Program receive the reports immediately. They are made available to industry members a month later for a cost of $99.99 for non-members, $50 for SEMA members. Click here to download copies of the March and April Financial Benchmarking reports.

 

Thu, 07/22/2010 - 12:21
  SEMA Financial Benchmarking
  April was a good month for manufacturers, distributors and retailers, with all three segments reporting improved sales compared to April 2009. Distributors enjoyed the best turn in fortunes from March, posting a 16% sales increase.

 

More than half of distributors queried for the recent SEMA Financial Benchmarking Report indicated that sales increased year-to-date through March, compared to the same period in 2009, and more than half were optimistic the trend would continue through the following three months.

They were right; distributors saw a 16% leap in sales compared to the month before. Manufacturers posted a slight gain, and retailers also rebounded from a March slump with a 7% gain.

Still, all three industry groups—manufacturers, distributors and retailers—said that poor sales was the most important problem facing their businesses today.

The SEMA Financial Benchmarking Report benchmarks key sales performance indicators against industry averages. Three separate reports represent manufacturers, WDs and retailers, with the latest March and April 2010 editions now available to industry members. Reports feature sales projections, quick ratio, inventory turns, sales per employee, research and development, factory overhead, selling and administrative expense and more.

Participants of the Financial Benchmarking Program receive the reports immediately. They are made available to industry members a month later for a cost of $99.99 for non-members, $50 for SEMA members. Click here to download copies of the March and April Financial Benchmarking reports.