2010 SEMA Show exhibitor commitments are already up 19% from this same time last year.

If 2010 SEMA Show exhibitor commitments are any indication, then the specialty-equipment economy is recovering and businesses are feeling more confident in their financial outlook.

For this same period of exhibitor sign-ups, 2010 commitments are up 4.6% on 2008 levels. And with the uncertainty and financial meltdown of 2009, it's maybe not surprising that 2010 commitments are up 19% from this same time last year.

Included in the increase are 60 exhibitors and counting who sat out the 2009 SEMA Show, but are back for 2010, and betting on a prosperous 2011.

Sixty companies have renewed their commitment to their businesses. To join them, follow this link.

	2010 SEMA Show exhibitor commitments are already up 19% from this same time last year.

If 2010 SEMA Show exhibitor commitments are any indication, then the specialty-equipment economy is recovering and businesses are feeling more confident in their financial outlook.

For this same period of exhibitor sign-ups, 2010 commitments are up 4.6% on 2008 levels. And with the uncertainty and financial meltdown of 2009, it's maybe not surprising that 2010 commitments are up 19% from this same time last year.

Included in the increase are 60 exhibitors and counting who sat out the 2009 SEMA Show, but are back for 2010, and betting on a prosperous 2011.

Sixty companies have renewed their commitment to their businesses. To join them, follow this link.

National Performance Warehouse (NPW) of Miami last week acquired the wholesale operations of Speed Warehouse of Hayward, California. NPW President/CEO Larry Pacey noted that it was the company’s second acquisition in four years, including the 2008 acquisition of Southern Performance Warehouse in Clearwater, Florida. Speed Warehouse was recognized as SEMA Warehouse Distributor of the Year in 1985, 2000 and 2005. Former Speed Warehouse President Gary Light retains the operations of Vic Hubbard Auto Supply, the retail and installer segment of the original Speed Warehouse business, which was not part of the deal. Pacey says his company is also considering further acquisitions.

Jennifer Walter

Cie Studios appointed Jennifer Walter to vice president of production. Based in Baltimore, Walter heads the company’s Baltimore and Long Beach offices. She has been with Cie Studios for more than 10 years and has helped develop next-generation interactive solutions for Scion, Pioneer Electronics, Nitto Tire, DreamWorks and more.

Delta Kits Inc. announced that it broke a 26-year sales record last month. The company attributes the 11% increase over the previous sales record to two proprietary Delta Kits products: the MagniBond resin and HLPRO302 Headlight Restoration System.

Federated Auto Parts presented Outstanding Supplier Support Awards to its supplier partners who demonstrated excellent performance in each of five categories in 2009. The awards were presented on April 16 at the company’s annual meeting held in Tampa, Florida. The recipients were: East Penn, Order Fill Vendor of the Year; Standard Motor Products (SMP), Education/Training Vendor of the Year; Federal-Mogul, Marketing Vendor of the Year; Affinia, Sales Representation Vendor of the Year; Dorman, Electronic Catalog Vendor of the Year.

The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum is conducting a panel discussion on Saturday, May 15, 2:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m., celebrating the life and achievements of Mickey Thompson: First American to 400 presented by Banks Power. Moderated by Dave McClelland, the panel will include Judy Thompson Creach, Danny Thompson, Alex Xydias, Tom Jobe and Gale Banks. The cost is $20 and includes admission to the museum and light refreshments. Tickets can be purchased at the door. The museum is located at 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Bldg 3A, Pomona, CA 91768.

Deeza Chassis Parts recently adopted environmentally friendly packaging for all of its products, and the company now ships all of its metal parts in anti-corrosive packages to ensure they remain rust-free during transportation and storage. The moisture-preventative bags help protect against humidity and salt, contain no nitrates or phosphates, and are completely biodegradable.

Chop Shop Customs will hold an open house on Saturday, May 8, from 12:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. Vendor spots will be made available for local businesses, and all classic and custom vehicles are welcome in the lots.

The SEMA Show Exhibitor Summit will feature key staff and trade show industry experts leading a series of programs designed to help exhibitors get the most out of the annual trade event.

Exhibitors of the 2010 SEMA Show: You are invited and encouraged to attend the first-ever SEMA Show Exhibitor Summit—a value-packed event designed to get you and your business up-to-speed with important and comprehensive information, techniques and skills to guarantee your SEMA Show experience is profitable and successful. The SEMA Show Exhibitor Summit is set for May 25–27, 2010, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

SEMA has enlisted key staff and trade show industry experts to lead a series of programs that will help you get the most out of the specialty-equipment industry’s annual trade event.

If you are involved in any aspect of your company’s trade show exhibiting experience, this Summit is for you. Whether you are a skilled veteran or first-time exhibitor, you should plan to be in Las Vegas to get informed and have all of your Show questions answered.

SEMA and its partners will provide hotel accommodations and meals during the event. Participants are responsible for travel and incidental expenses.

You get to Las Vegas, we do the rest. Registration is FREE! Hotel accommodations are FREE! Meals are FREE! All education is FREE!

Here is what you will learn:

• How to save big bucks on Show costs, such as drayage, electrical and related Show expenses.
• How to measure ROI and how to make the most of your Show investment
• Maximizing your Show presence with your booth layout and design
• Branding and marketing your company to attendees
• Using social media to expand your marketing reach
• Understanding lead retrieval and making sales
• Increase the foot traffic to your booth
• How to take advantage of SEMA Value-Added Programs
• Proper planning and budgeting to add value to your Show experience
• Networking with other exhibitors
• Opportunity to give SEMA your feedback

Act now! Space is limited.

Register for the SEMA Show Exhibitor Summit here!

For more information, contact SEMA Show Management, SEMA-exhibit@convexx.com or call 702/450-7662, ext. 109.

	"You need to have content that is so unique that...you're an authority," says Brian Offenberger of Aftermarketer Club.

Ninety percent of consumers use the Internet as a starting point when shopping, but when it comes to parts and accessories, just seven out of 100 people actually purchase online, according to Jennifer Chang from eBay Motors, who along with Brian Offenberger, president of Aftermarketer Club, led the Profitable Online Selling webinar at the 2009 SEMA Show.

Today’s online market for parts and accessories is about $4 billion and expected to grow to about $9 billion in the next five years. Popular purchasing channels include eBay Motors, manufacturer websites and online classifieds such as Craigslist. People tend to buy online for the ability to find better pricing and unique items not found at local stores since retailers are able to show buyers their entire inventory.

When developing an online store, consider that 57% of buyers look at installation guides and manuals, rich product descriptions with several photos, market value pricing, automotive reference information, user product reviews, repair advice, expert product reviews, vehicle ownership information and user-generated information such as online forums. Social networking tools, such as Facebook, LinkedIn and MySEMA, can be used to help get the message out to potential buyers, the majority of whom are DIY enthusiasts.

Use Inbound Links

Regardless of where you advertise you need to give potential buyers a specific reason to spend money with you versus your competitor. Have a compelling headline that causes them to want to read your material to begin with and make sure your offer motivates people to buy. Use keyword variations in your product descriptions and, most importantly, relevant inbound links to optimize search-engine placement.

“If you sell auto parts, have inbound links coming from other auto parts centers, manufacturers and enthusiast clubs,” Offenberger says. “When somebody links from one website into yours, they are sending traffic to you so you better have reasons for them to do that. You need to have good content so unique that no one else has it or you update regularly so you’re an authority on what it is you’re talking about. The more you update your content the better. To get others to link into your website, start with a polite e-mail describing what you do and why it would be beneficial for them.”

Seller Quality

Besides price, seller quality is a major factor that can help set you apart from the competition. A feedback system where buyers can rate you after each transaction is extremely helpful. If buyers see that you have had many transactions and a feedback rating of 99%, it gives them the comfort to buy with you rather than someone else who may have a cheaper price but a lower feedback rating. Ratings are driven by factors such as customer service quality and shipping speed.

“Even if you’re not selling online, let people know you are a trusted source by including in your advertising user reviews, how you ship your product and return policy information. Put yourself in the place of the customer by thinking of questions you may have before you decide to open your wallet and trust a particular retailer,” Offenberger says.

A common mistake made by online retailers is they will take the manufacturer’s product description and use it verbatim, Offenberger points out. If 500 different online outlets carry a product and they all tell the potential buyer the same thing, there’s nothing to differentiate you from the rest of the pack, so elaborate.

	"You need to have content that is so unique that...you're an authority," says Brian Offenberger of Aftermarketer Club.

Ninety percent of consumers use the Internet as a starting point when shopping, but when it comes to parts and accessories, just seven out of 100 people actually purchase online, according to Jennifer Chang from eBay Motors, who along with Brian Offenberger, president of Aftermarketer Club, led the Profitable Online Selling webinar at the 2009 SEMA Show.

Today’s online market for parts and accessories is about $4 billion and expected to grow to about $9 billion in the next five years. Popular purchasing channels include eBay Motors, manufacturer websites and online classifieds such as Craigslist. People tend to buy online for the ability to find better pricing and unique items not found at local stores since retailers are able to show buyers their entire inventory.

When developing an online store, consider that 57% of buyers look at installation guides and manuals, rich product descriptions with several photos, market value pricing, automotive reference information, user product reviews, repair advice, expert product reviews, vehicle ownership information and user-generated information such as online forums. Social networking tools, such as Facebook, LinkedIn and MySEMA, can be used to help get the message out to potential buyers, the majority of whom are DIY enthusiasts.

Use Inbound Links

Regardless of where you advertise you need to give potential buyers a specific reason to spend money with you versus your competitor. Have a compelling headline that causes them to want to read your material to begin with and make sure your offer motivates people to buy. Use keyword variations in your product descriptions and, most importantly, relevant inbound links to optimize search-engine placement.

“If you sell auto parts, have inbound links coming from other auto parts centers, manufacturers and enthusiast clubs,” Offenberger says. “When somebody links from one website into yours, they are sending traffic to you so you better have reasons for them to do that. You need to have good content so unique that no one else has it or you update regularly so you’re an authority on what it is you’re talking about. The more you update your content the better. To get others to link into your website, start with a polite e-mail describing what you do and why it would be beneficial for them.”

Seller Quality

Besides price, seller quality is a major factor that can help set you apart from the competition. A feedback system where buyers can rate you after each transaction is extremely helpful. If buyers see that you have had many transactions and a feedback rating of 99%, it gives them the comfort to buy with you rather than someone else who may have a cheaper price but a lower feedback rating. Ratings are driven by factors such as customer service quality and shipping speed.

“Even if you’re not selling online, let people know you are a trusted source by including in your advertising user reviews, how you ship your product and return policy information. Put yourself in the place of the customer by thinking of questions you may have before you decide to open your wallet and trust a particular retailer,” Offenberger says.

A common mistake made by online retailers is they will take the manufacturer’s product description and use it verbatim, Offenberger points out. If 500 different online outlets carry a product and they all tell the potential buyer the same thing, there’s nothing to differentiate you from the rest of the pack, so elaborate.

	"You need to have content that is so unique that...you're an authority," says Brian Offenberger of Aftermarketer Club.

Ninety percent of consumers use the Internet as a starting point when shopping, but when it comes to parts and accessories, just seven out of 100 people actually purchase online, according to Jennifer Chang from eBay Motors, who along with Brian Offenberger, president of Aftermarketer Club, led the Profitable Online Selling webinar at the 2009 SEMA Show.

Today’s online market for parts and accessories is about $4 billion and expected to grow to about $9 billion in the next five years. Popular purchasing channels include eBay Motors, manufacturer websites and online classifieds such as Craigslist. People tend to buy online for the ability to find better pricing and unique items not found at local stores since retailers are able to show buyers their entire inventory.

When developing an online store, consider that 57% of buyers look at installation guides and manuals, rich product descriptions with several photos, market value pricing, automotive reference information, user product reviews, repair advice, expert product reviews, vehicle ownership information and user-generated information such as online forums. Social networking tools, such as Facebook, LinkedIn and MySEMA, can be used to help get the message out to potential buyers, the majority of whom are DIY enthusiasts.

Use Inbound Links

Regardless of where you advertise you need to give potential buyers a specific reason to spend money with you versus your competitor. Have a compelling headline that causes them to want to read your material to begin with and make sure your offer motivates people to buy. Use keyword variations in your product descriptions and, most importantly, relevant inbound links to optimize search-engine placement.

“If you sell auto parts, have inbound links coming from other auto parts centers, manufacturers and enthusiast clubs,” Offenberger says. “When somebody links from one website into yours, they are sending traffic to you so you better have reasons for them to do that. You need to have good content so unique that no one else has it or you update regularly so you’re an authority on what it is you’re talking about. The more you update your content the better. To get others to link into your website, start with a polite e-mail describing what you do and why it would be beneficial for them.”

Seller Quality

Besides price, seller quality is a major factor that can help set you apart from the competition. A feedback system where buyers can rate you after each transaction is extremely helpful. If buyers see that you have had many transactions and a feedback rating of 99%, it gives them the comfort to buy with you rather than someone else who may have a cheaper price but a lower feedback rating. Ratings are driven by factors such as customer service quality and shipping speed.

“Even if you’re not selling online, let people know you are a trusted source by including in your advertising user reviews, how you ship your product and return policy information. Put yourself in the place of the customer by thinking of questions you may have before you decide to open your wallet and trust a particular retailer,” Offenberger says.

A common mistake made by online retailers is they will take the manufacturer’s product description and use it verbatim, Offenberger points out. If 500 different online outlets carry a product and they all tell the potential buyer the same thing, there’s nothing to differentiate you from the rest of the pack, so elaborate.

	"You need to have content that is so unique that...you're an authority," says Brian Offenberger of Aftermarketer Club.

Ninety percent of consumers use the Internet as a starting point when shopping, but when it comes to parts and accessories, just seven out of 100 people actually purchase online, according to Jennifer Chang from eBay Motors, who along with Brian Offenberger, president of Aftermarketer Club, led the Profitable Online Selling webinar at the 2009 SEMA Show.

Today’s online market for parts and accessories is about $4 billion and expected to grow to about $9 billion in the next five years. Popular purchasing channels include eBay Motors, manufacturer websites and online classifieds such as Craigslist. People tend to buy online for the ability to find better pricing and unique items not found at local stores since retailers are able to show buyers their entire inventory.

When developing an online store, consider that 57% of buyers look at installation guides and manuals, rich product descriptions with several photos, market value pricing, automotive reference information, user product reviews, repair advice, expert product reviews, vehicle ownership information and user-generated information such as online forums. Social networking tools, such as Facebook, LinkedIn and MySEMA, can be used to help get the message out to potential buyers, the majority of whom are DIY enthusiasts.

Use Inbound Links

Regardless of where you advertise you need to give potential buyers a specific reason to spend money with you versus your competitor. Have a compelling headline that causes them to want to read your material to begin with and make sure your offer motivates people to buy. Use keyword variations in your product descriptions and, most importantly, relevant inbound links to optimize search-engine placement.

“If you sell auto parts, have inbound links coming from other auto parts centers, manufacturers and enthusiast clubs,” Offenberger says. “When somebody links from one website into yours, they are sending traffic to you so you better have reasons for them to do that. You need to have good content so unique that no one else has it or you update regularly so you’re an authority on what it is you’re talking about. The more you update your content the better. To get others to link into your website, start with a polite e-mail describing what you do and why it would be beneficial for them.”

Seller Quality

Besides price, seller quality is a major factor that can help set you apart from the competition. A feedback system where buyers can rate you after each transaction is extremely helpful. If buyers see that you have had many transactions and a feedback rating of 99%, it gives them the comfort to buy with you rather than someone else who may have a cheaper price but a lower feedback rating. Ratings are driven by factors such as customer service quality and shipping speed.

“Even if you’re not selling online, let people know you are a trusted source by including in your advertising user reviews, how you ship your product and return policy information. Put yourself in the place of the customer by thinking of questions you may have before you decide to open your wallet and trust a particular retailer,” Offenberger says.

A common mistake made by online retailers is they will take the manufacturer’s product description and use it verbatim, Offenberger points out. If 500 different online outlets carry a product and they all tell the potential buyer the same thing, there’s nothing to differentiate you from the rest of the pack, so elaborate.

	"You need to have content that is so unique that...you're an authority," says Brian Offenberger of Aftermarketer Club.

Ninety percent of consumers use the Internet as a starting point when shopping, but when it comes to parts and accessories, just seven out of 100 people actually purchase online, according to Jennifer Chang from eBay Motors, who along with Brian Offenberger, president of Aftermarketer Club, led the Profitable Online Selling webinar at the 2009 SEMA Show.

Today’s online market for parts and accessories is about $4 billion and expected to grow to about $9 billion in the next five years. Popular purchasing channels include eBay Motors, manufacturer websites and online classifieds such as Craigslist. People tend to buy online for the ability to find better pricing and unique items not found at local stores since retailers are able to show buyers their entire inventory.

When developing an online store, consider that 57% of buyers look at installation guides and manuals, rich product descriptions with several photos, market value pricing, automotive reference information, user product reviews, repair advice, expert product reviews, vehicle ownership information and user-generated information such as online forums. Social networking tools, such as Facebook, LinkedIn and MySEMA, can be used to help get the message out to potential buyers, the majority of whom are DIY enthusiasts.

Use Inbound Links

Regardless of where you advertise you need to give potential buyers a specific reason to spend money with you versus your competitor. Have a compelling headline that causes them to want to read your material to begin with and make sure your offer motivates people to buy. Use keyword variations in your product descriptions and, most importantly, relevant inbound links to optimize search-engine placement.

“If you sell auto parts, have inbound links coming from other auto parts centers, manufacturers and enthusiast clubs,” Offenberger says. “When somebody links from one website into yours, they are sending traffic to you so you better have reasons for them to do that. You need to have good content so unique that no one else has it or you update regularly so you’re an authority on what it is you’re talking about. The more you update your content the better. To get others to link into your website, start with a polite e-mail describing what you do and why it would be beneficial for them.”

Seller Quality

Besides price, seller quality is a major factor that can help set you apart from the competition. A feedback system where buyers can rate you after each transaction is extremely helpful. If buyers see that you have had many transactions and a feedback rating of 99%, it gives them the comfort to buy with you rather than someone else who may have a cheaper price but a lower feedback rating. Ratings are driven by factors such as customer service quality and shipping speed.

“Even if you’re not selling online, let people know you are a trusted source by including in your advertising user reviews, how you ship your product and return policy information. Put yourself in the place of the customer by thinking of questions you may have before you decide to open your wallet and trust a particular retailer,” Offenberger says.

A common mistake made by online retailers is they will take the manufacturer’s product description and use it verbatim, Offenberger points out. If 500 different online outlets carry a product and they all tell the potential buyer the same thing, there’s nothing to differentiate you from the rest of the pack, so elaborate.

	"You need to have content that is so unique that...you're an authority," says Brian Offenberger of Aftermarketer Club.

Ninety percent of consumers use the Internet as a starting point when shopping, but when it comes to parts and accessories, just seven out of 100 people actually purchase online, according to Jennifer Chang from eBay Motors, who along with Brian Offenberger, president of Aftermarketer Club, led the Profitable Online Selling webinar at the 2009 SEMA Show.

Today’s online market for parts and accessories is about $4 billion and expected to grow to about $9 billion in the next five years. Popular purchasing channels include eBay Motors, manufacturer websites and online classifieds such as Craigslist. People tend to buy online for the ability to find better pricing and unique items not found at local stores since retailers are able to show buyers their entire inventory.

When developing an online store, consider that 57% of buyers look at installation guides and manuals, rich product descriptions with several photos, market value pricing, automotive reference information, user product reviews, repair advice, expert product reviews, vehicle ownership information and user-generated information such as online forums. Social networking tools, such as Facebook, LinkedIn and MySEMA, can be used to help get the message out to potential buyers, the majority of whom are DIY enthusiasts.

Use Inbound Links

Regardless of where you advertise you need to give potential buyers a specific reason to spend money with you versus your competitor. Have a compelling headline that causes them to want to read your material to begin with and make sure your offer motivates people to buy. Use keyword variations in your product descriptions and, most importantly, relevant inbound links to optimize search-engine placement.

“If you sell auto parts, have inbound links coming from other auto parts centers, manufacturers and enthusiast clubs,” Offenberger says. “When somebody links from one website into yours, they are sending traffic to you so you better have reasons for them to do that. You need to have good content so unique that no one else has it or you update regularly so you’re an authority on what it is you’re talking about. The more you update your content the better. To get others to link into your website, start with a polite e-mail describing what you do and why it would be beneficial for them.”

Seller Quality

Besides price, seller quality is a major factor that can help set you apart from the competition. A feedback system where buyers can rate you after each transaction is extremely helpful. If buyers see that you have had many transactions and a feedback rating of 99%, it gives them the comfort to buy with you rather than someone else who may have a cheaper price but a lower feedback rating. Ratings are driven by factors such as customer service quality and shipping speed.

“Even if you’re not selling online, let people know you are a trusted source by including in your advertising user reviews, how you ship your product and return policy information. Put yourself in the place of the customer by thinking of questions you may have before you decide to open your wallet and trust a particular retailer,” Offenberger says.

A common mistake made by online retailers is they will take the manufacturer’s product description and use it verbatim, Offenberger points out. If 500 different online outlets carry a product and they all tell the potential buyer the same thing, there’s nothing to differentiate you from the rest of the pack, so elaborate.