Click on the logo to visit SPC's website.

Nominations Now Being Accepted for SPC Select Committee

Street Performance Council (SPC) Member,

Members of SPC have the unique opportunity to help shape the future of the street-performance industry by choosing appropriate representatives to serve on the Select Committee as their eyes, ears and voice.

SPC’s mission is to provide market information, education and support to members concerning new and emerging trends. SPC is dedicated to developing effective strategies and programs, all of which address the specific needs of the street-performance industry.

Please accept this letter as an invitation to designate any number of individuals (your own name may be included) to run for an open seat on the Select Committee. Download the nomination form on the SPC website. Fill out completely each name you would like to submit for consideration. To further emphasize the importance of the Select Committee, its function and the members who serve on it, the criteria and responsibilities are also posted on the SPC website. We urge you to look it over to fully understand the significance of the Select Committee and its mission.

It is important each nomination form be returned by the deadline, Friday, February 27, 2009.

We would like to see strong participation in these election proceedings, and we thank you for making the SPC stronger by your dedication.

If have any questions regarding the election process, please contact Paul Moritz at paulm@sema.org or 909/396-0289, ext. 112.

Regards,

Tracie Nuñez, SPC Election Task Force Chairman
Eric Breslow, SPC Chairman

SPC Column in SEMA Member News

Read SPC's column featured in the January/February issue of SEMA Member News by clicking here.

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ARMO Needs You!

ARMO's strength and success depends on industry support. The ARMO Select Committee recently mailed out nomination forms for the ARMO Select Committee election and is asking you to identify the restoration industry's most talented leaders and nominate them for a seat on the ARMO Select Committee.

Please review the ARMO nomination form by clicking here, and tell us about a potential nominee and their leadership background. Self-nominations are also welcome. When filling out the nomination forms, often the best background and experience information comes from the source.

Nominations are due Friday, February 20. Please direct questions and submit forms to Jan Desma at jand@sema.org.

Attention ARMO Members Attending the Hotrod & Restoration Show

The Hotrod & Restoration Trade Show in Indianapolis from March 12–14, is a definite “don’t miss” event. Not only is this one of the greatest trade shows for our niche industry, but there are several educational and networking opportunities in store for ARMO members:

• Exhibitors of the Hotrod & Restoration Trade Show can sign up to host a workshop/seminar during the Hot Rod Industry Alliance’s (HRIA) Education & Training Day on Thursday, March 12. This is a wonderful opportunity to share your knowledge and expertise with attendees during your own one-hour session. Click here for details on HRIA Education & Training Day.

• All ARMO members are invited to attend a networking mixer hosted by the Young Executives Network (YEN) at The Ram Restaurant & Brewery, 140 S. Illinois St., from 6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m. Mix, mingle and meet new and old industry friends.

• Saturday, March 14, at 9:00 a.m., ARMO is hosting a seminar on "10 Things You Can Do Today to Improve Your Website Results Tomorrow" by Brian Offenberger.  

ARMO Column in SEMA Member News

Read ARMO's column featured in the January/February issue of SEMA Member News by clicking here.

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Click on the logo to visit HRIA's website.

HRIA Education Day at Hotrod & Restoration Trade Show

A record number of manufacturers are on the slate to present seminars and workshops at the Hotrod & Restoration Trade Show in Indianapolis, on March 12–14. Education & Training Day, scheduled for March 12, provides a unique opportunity for manufacturers to discuss their products in great detail, focusing on the technical aspects, zeroing in on sales strategies and providing you the knowledge necessary to increase your bottom line. With only a handful of time slots remaining, sign up today to talk about your products, or join the more than 1,000 attendees learning how to make their businesses stronger and more profitable.

Receive a certificate of completion for each session you attend from start to finish. Available sessions include:

HRIA Column in SEMA Member News

Read HRIA's column featured in the January/February issue of SEMA Member News by clicking here.

For more information about HRIA, contact Jan Desma at jand@sema.org.

 

Click on the logo to visit TORA's website.

George Lathouris Named TORA Chair-Elect

The TORA Select Committee has named Keystone’s George Lathouris as its chair-elect. Lathouris will assume his new responsibilities on July 1, when Kelly Kneifl assumes the duties of chairman from current Chairman Ron DiVincenzo. Congratulations to George!

TORA Column in SEMA Member News

Read TORA's column featured in the January/February issue of SEMA Member News by clicking here.

For more information about TORA, contact Jim Skelly at jimsk@sema.org.

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Click on the logo to visit MRC's website.

Nominations Now Being Accepted for MRC Select Committee

MRC’s mission is to provide a forum for manufacturers’ representatives to increase their impact as a vital industry segment, exploring issues of common interest and concern, increasing the collective knowledge of all agents and elevating the overall image of the profession.

Members of MRC have the unique opportunity to help shape the future of the manufacturers’ representative industry, by choosing appropriate representatives to serve on the Select Committee as their eyes, ears and voice. The MRC Select Committee is asking you to identify the industry's most talented leaders and nominate them for a seat on the MRC Select Committee. 

We urge you to review the MRC nomination form by clicking here. Tell us about a potential nominee and their leadership background. Self-nominations are also welcome. When filling out the nomination forms, remember that often the best background and experience information comes from the source.
 
Nominations are due Friday, March 6, 2009. Please direct questions and submit forms to Staci Bostock at stacib@sema.org or call 909/396-0289, ext. 104.

Manufacturers Seeking Rep List Now Available

Manufacturers’ representatives are encouraged to contact Staci Bostock at stacib@sema.org to request the Manufacturers Seeking Rep List, which is available at no cost. Compiled using information collected from manufacturers prior to the 2008 SEMA Show, the listing contains details on manufacturers currently seeking the services of manufacturers’ representatives along with the lines available and company contact information. The list was originally available in the MRC Rep Center during the week of the 2008 SEMA Show.

MRC Column in SEMA Member News

Read MRC's column featured in the January/February issue of SEMA Member News by clicking here.

For information about MRC, contact Staci Bostock at stacib@sema.org. 

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MPMC Column in SEMA Member News

Read MPMC's column featured in the January/February issue of SEMA Member News by clicking here.

For information about MPMC, contact Jim Skelly at jimsk@sema.org.

Click on the logo to visit PRO's website.

PRO Business Development Guidebook Now On Sale

In today’s ever-changing marketplace, staying ahead of the competition is more important and challenging than ever. To be successful, you not only need an effective business strategy, but also the tools and resources to help your company excel and stand out from the pack. The PRO Business Development Guidebook is your handy reference guide.

Beginning with an overview of the importance of having a business plan—including tips on how to develop a business plan and the many purposes it can serve—the manual offers chapter-by-chapter strategies for making your business a success.

From understanding the basics of business finance and the importance of quality and service and how to make them hallmarks of your business, to building knowledge and skills among your employees to branding your restyling business as a market leader, the guidebook offers information critical to the day-to-day and long-term operation of your business.

Whether you’re starting your own restyling business or already own one—be it mobile or brick and mortar—you’ll find the answers that you’ve been looking for in the guidebook. PRO Council members contributed much of the information contained in the guidebook, drawing on their experience and knowledge to present a valuable business tool.

Click here to download the PRO business guidebook order form, or contact Jim Skelly at jimsk@sema.org.

PRO Column in SEMA Member News

Read PRO's column featured in the January/February issue of SEMA Member News by clicking here.

For information about PRO, contact Jim Skelly at jimsk@sema.org.

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Click on the logo to visit WTC's website.

Nominations Now Being Accepted for WTC Select Committee

Wheel & Tire Council (WTC) Member,

Members of WTC have the unique opportunity to help shape the future of the wheel and tire industry by choosing appropriate representatives to serve on the Select Committee as their eyes, ears and voice.

WTC’s mission is to identify common problems and opportunities relating to the wheel and tire industries that the council, as an interested body of companies, can address for the common good. WTC is dedicated to developing effective strategies and programs, all of which address the specific needs of the wheel and tire industry.

Please accept this letter as an invitation to designate any number of individuals (your own name may be included) to run for an open seat on the Select Committee. Download the nomination form on the WTC website. Fill out completely each name you would like to submit for consideration. To further emphasize the importance of the Select Committee, its function and the members who serve on it, the criteria and responsibilities are also posted on the WTC website. We urge you to look it over to fully understand the significance of the Select Committee and its mission.

It is important each nomination form be returned by the deadline, Friday, February 27, 2009.

We would like to see strong participation in these election proceedings, and we thank you for making the WTC stronger by your dedication.

If have any questions regarding the election process, please contact Paul Moritz at paulm@sema.org or 909/396-0289, ext. 112.

Regards,

Tim Dietz, WTC Election Task Force Chairman
Kelly Austin, WTC Chairman

Read WTC's column featured in the January/February issue of SEMA Member News by clicking here.

For information about WTC, contact Paul Moritz at paulm@sema.org. 

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Click on the logo to visit SBN's website.

Discover the SEMA Mentoring Program—Powered by the SBN

Everyone needs help or expert advice from time to time, and SEMA’s Mentoring Program is an excellent resource to get answers to all your questions. Whether you need to know more about SEMA, market information for a start-up company or advice on how to approach your boss about a new position, the SEMA Mentoring Program can help.

“Ask A Mentor” is perfect for one-time questions. You can expect multiple SEMA mentors to provide online guidance and answers to your industry-related questions.

Short-term Assistance/Guidance is for help with a specific project or task. A SEMA council/committee mentor with the expertise you seek will be paired up with you to provide guidance with your project.

Long-term Relationship is helpful for developing your professional career. In this program segment you will be paired with a SEMA council/committee mentor who will provide guidance and assistance for ongoing career development or a long-term project.

So whether you just need an answer to a question or you want to cultivate a mentoring friendship, the SEMA Mentoring Program—Powered by the SBN is available to help. After all, we can all use a little help from our friends.

For more information on the SEMA Mentoring Program, click here.

SBN Column in SEMA Member News

Read SBN's column featured in the January/February issue of SEMA Member News by clicking here.

For information about SBN, contact Jan Desma at jand@sema.org.

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Did you know that the SEMA Young Executives Network has more than 500 members networking in the industry and is the largest SEMA committee? If you are employed by a SEMA-member company and are under the age of 39, then you can join the SEMA Young Executives Network for FREE. If you are interested in becoming part of the team, please visit our website at www.sema.org/yen.

YEN Member of the Month Spotlight

Did you know that YEN has a Member of the Month Spotlight on the SEMA website and that anyone can be nominated? To view previous selections or to make a nomination, visit www.sema.org/yen.

Discover The SEMA Mentoring Program—Powered by the SBN

“I’ll get by with a little help from my friends…” - Joe Cocker

Everyone needs help or expert advice from time to time, and SEMA’s Mentoring Program is an excellent resource to get answers to all your questions. Whether you need to know more about SEMA, market information for a start-up company or advice on how to approach your boss about a new position, the SEMA Mentoring Program can help.

“Ask A Mentor” is perfect for one-time questions. You can expect multiple SEMA mentors to provide online guidance and answers to your industry-related questions.

Short-term Assistance/Guidance is for help with a specific project or task. A SEMA council/committee mentor with the expertise you seek will be paired up with you to provide guidance with your project.

Long-term Relationship is helpful for developing your professional career.  In this program segment you will be paired with a SEMA council/committee mentor who will provide guidance and assistance for ongoing career development or a long-term project.

So whether you just need an answer to a question or you want to cultivate a mentoring friendship, the SEMA Mentoring Program—Powered by the SBN is available to help. After all, we can all use a little help from our friends.

For more information on the SEMA Mentoring Program, click here.

YEN Column in SEMA Member News

Read YEN's column featured in the January/February issue of SEMA Member News by clicking here.

For information about YEN, contact Paul Moritz at paulm@sema.org.

Filler for eNews

The average age of pickups on the road today is 12 years old. Owners are looking to the specialty-equipment industry to keep them looking and performing well.

In January, the SEMA Aftermarket Product Demand Index (PADI) improved 7 points, or 22%, going from 29 in December to 36 this month.

This month, nearly 10% of adult American drivers (or approximately 10-million-plus households of mainstream consumers) indicated that they had plans to purchase aftermarket products sometime within the next three months. Notable improvements in the PADI among several demographics are highlighted in the table below.

While the increase in the latest PADI score may provide some relief to specialty-equipment companies used to hearing nothing but bad news lately, not all segments are receiving the same attention among mainstream consumers. Survey respondents said that they plan to purchase accessories and performance products more so than the previous month, but the same is not true for those planning wheel, tire and suspension purchases.

Nearly 4% of consumers said that they were likely to purchase wheels, tires and suspension components, down from nearly 5% in December and 8.4% in January 2008.

More than 5% of “mainstream consumers” said they were likely to purchase racing and performance products in January, up from 3.7% in December. Nearly 6% said they were likely to purchase accessory and appearance products last month, up from 4.2% in December and even slightly up from the 5.4% that indicated so in January 2008.

One possible reason is that consumers are keeping their vehicles longer, and the need to improve the appearance and comfort of aging vehicles could boost demand for accessories. Analysis of Experian Automotive’s latest registration data shows that the median model year of all pickups registered in the United States is 1997.

Given that the typical pickup on the road today is 12 years old, owners of these vehicles are looking to the specialty-equipment industry to supply accessories and performance products to enhance their older pickups.

Over the last three months, on average, 19% of consumers planning to buy accessories owned a pickup, second only to midsize cars (25%) as being the most common target vehicles for enhancement or modification. Next in line were compact-car owners (14%) and fullsize car owners (12%).

Also, car dealerships (26%), on average, were the most popular purchase destinations among those planning to enhance their vehicles over the last three months, followed by the Internet and chain auto parts stores (16%, respectively) and independent parts stores (14%).

When aftermarket buyers were asked what form their vehicle would take after customization, this month the most common answer was “general personalization” (49%), followed by “restoration” (15%), “hot rod” (10%) and “street performance” (7%).

For more original SEMA market research, visit www.sema.org/research.

Motorsports enthusiasts and participants believe the hottest trends in 2009 will come from the musclecar and street-performance scenes.

A recent poll of enthusiasts that participate in sanctioned racing events indicates that musclecars and street performance will be the hottest trends in 2009. SEMA surveyed more than 2,000 enthusiasts in January about their plans and impressions about the topics that will be the most popular this year.

A subset of the group (more than 500) indicated plans to participate in sanctioned racing events. This group is a core part of the automotive hobby that has helped keep the industry afloat. Their impressions often indicate which direction the market will take.

The respondents have been separated by the origin of their vehicles to help distinguish if differences or commonalities exist between demographic or psychographic types (variations based on attitudes or lifestyles).

Domestic vehicle owners are slightly older than those with vehicles made by Japanese and Korean brands, but younger than those that own European marques. These differences are often attributed to conditions of income as European vehicles tend to have higher initial prices.

The average ages of the vehicles themselves are an indication of availability. Domestic cars used by those that race range as far back as 1932, while the first wave of Japanese cars being early '70s models from Datsun (Nissan), Mazda and Toyota.

European brands date into the '50s with enthusiasts planning to race their Porsches, Austins and Jaguars. Therefore, the average ages of vehicles from the United States, Europe and Asian are representative of their history.

When asked about which segment enthusiasts see as being the most popular in 2009, racers chose musclecars as the top pick, regardless of the vehicles they currently own. This sentiment is significant as vehicle owners from distinct psychographics seem to agree on a single trend.

Other segments that received votes were race/motorpsorts, compact performance, and restoration. Unsurprisingly, motorsports came in second by a group aiming to race. However, enthusiasts also submitted their predictions for the most popular trends to come. These items are those that do not necessarily exist exclusively within the realm of one market niche, but extend throughout the entire hobby. Overall, the item they voted to be the big hit of 2009 is high/street performance.

The only discrepancy is the rankings for owners of Asian brands; their top picks are do-it-yourself (DIY) modifications. This item was the second most selected for the other two categories as well, reinforcing the traditional hands-on disposition of gearheads and racers. These topics also solidify their bias towards performance and the balancing act between expensive racing equipment with affordability of the sport.

For more original SEMA market research, visit www.sema.org/research.

Nearly 85% of Jeep enthusiasts surveyed are happy with their current ride and have no plans to sell or trade.

From military service to adventure vehicles, Jeeps have always been capable of tackling obstacles thrown in their path. Chrysler has seen better days, but among enthusiasts the Jeep brand remains a strong favorite and is poised to overtake the proverbial financial bounder.

Owners of Jeeps from early Willys to modern Libertys were surveyed during January for their take on the hobby as it looks for the coming year. Roughly 100 self-described enthusiasts—those that subscribe to enthusiast magazines and visit off-roading websites/forums—were polled about their Jeeps, the majority of which appreciate their vehicles for dual purposes: daily drivers and weekend warriors. 

Despite rough financial conditions and a tight credit market, those surveyed plan to spend the equivalent of last year's amount during the coming year. On average, enthusiasts are gauging to spend $1,969 on automotive parts and accessories, with the majority planning to focus that amount on their current vehicle; nearly 9 out of 10 plan to retain their daily drivers (85.6%) for the next 12 months.

From this group, 16% cited financial troubles or concerns as their reason for keeping the vehicles. On the other hand, 84% are satisfied with their Jeeps, a quality most owners have about the brand.

Performance upgrades are the leading items on the list of products these enthusiasts claimed they would purchase next. Unlike their sports car counterparts, the performance-enhancing upgrades these owners plan to buy shift from speed and handling to strength, durability and agility. Bumpers (11%), exhaust components (9%), intake systems (8%), lift kits (6%) and limited-slip/locking differentials round out the top five products.


 

For more original SEMA market research, visit www.sema.org/research.

Despite the natural tendency to cut back on R&D during an economic crisis, exhibitors at the 2008 SEMA Show demonstrated forward thinking and vision beyond the current climate.

Exhibitors entered 1,700 products in the 2008 SEMA Show New Products Showcase. About 26% of those were placed in the Best New Engineered category, highlighting innovation from every corner of the market. Not only did Best New Engineered products comprise the bulk of new-product entries, they also proved the most popular with the buyers and attendees who came to see them.

Best New Engineered products were the most scanned products in the Showcase, using a barcode scanning technology that was a SEMA Show first in 2008. More than 6,000 scans were recorded for Best New Engineered products, double the number for the next most traveled category, Best New Exterior Products.

Who was doing all that scanning? More than 9,400 were retailers, followed by warehouse distributors (3,900), repair/service/installers (3,900) and builders/fabricators (3,500). Other categories with a strong showing of new products included Best New Performance-Street; Best New Exterior Accessory; Best New Performance-Racing; and Best New Off-Road/4WD.

Best New Engineered Products that drew the most interest included:

1: Autonet Mobile
Router that turns any car into a Wi-Fi hotspot, allowing multiple passengers to connect Wi-Fi-enabled electronics to the Internet simultaneously.

2: Tricplate.com Switchable license plate film
Transparent/privacy film technology that instantly conceals any license plate when triggered from a remote key fob.
   

3: Bully Dog GT (Gauge Tuner)
All-in-one performance downloader/tuner for gas and diesel applications.


4: Professional Products Powerjection III
Compact, full-featured EFI system with self-learning that eliminates laptop tuning.


5: PlasmaGlow Illuminators LED Modules
10-foot strip includes 10 Illuminators and can be cut to length.


6: Undercover Swing Case
Lockable and weather-tight ABS side toolbox that swings out over the tailgate for accessibility and removal when needed.

7: Drew Technologies DashDAQ
Full-color touchscreen dash utilizes an OBD-II port to access vehicle data, and combines gauges, performance meter, diagnostics, datalogging and navigation.


8: Design Engineering Inc. Titanium Turbo Heat Shield
Titanium heat wrap sized for T3 turbo applications reduces underhood temps. 


9: Pypes Performance Exhaust Electric Cutouts
Three-inch kit includes two billet cutouts, wiring harness, switch and mounting hardware.


10: SCT Touchscreen Xtreme
Bluetooth wireless flash tuning device for Ford, GM and Chrysler gas- or diesel-powered cars and trucks.

More than 2,000 products were entered in the 2008 SEMA Show New Products Showcase. See them all here.

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