Filler for eNews

SEMA’s webinar on October 16, "Right-On, No-Bull Guide to Marketing in a Tough Economy," outlined several ways for companies in the specialty-equipment industry to capture profitable market share even in the current tough economic climate.

Presenter Brian Offenberger of BizGrowth Solutions provided proven “recession-proof” steps to business prosperity that will spurn company growth in both good times and bad.

Offenberger suggests that in order to implement a strategy that can be adhered to through up and down times, companies need to address the following with honesty: Do you know exactly who your customers are? Does your company have a clear set of goals and objectives? Do you have a strategy to meet your goals?

Offenberger outlined 10 steps in his presentation. Among the steps covered were providing your customers with value-based differences to buy from your company and using the power of the Internet to help promote your company and make it easier to buy from you.

Offering customers value-based differences is a strategy that can be used by any company, suggested Offenberger, and these differences let people know quickly why they should do business with you and not your competitors. The value-based differences should be clear and measurable and solve the problems or address the needs of your customers. “Remember that buyers come to you for a reason; they have a problem they want you to solve or a need that they want you to fulfill,” said Offenberger. “Formulate your marketing message by addressing the needs and problems of your customers.”

He also stressed the importance of not wasting time on marketing messages that are easily implemented by your competitors. “Don’t talk about your company and the fact that you have the best, most friendly staff because your competitors can also do that. Or the fact that your company has been in business for 20 years is great, but that’s not really a reason that someone will open their wallet and spend money with you.” 

When discussing the Internet, Offenberger showed that more people rely on the Internet for product information than most any other source available. He also provided these facts:

Internet Use

• 72% of people in the United States use the Internet
• 66% of the population has made an online purchase
• 89% of people have used e-mail for customer service

Search Engine Facts

• 70% of searchers only look at the first page of search results
• 45% of searchers click on the top search result
• Only 8% of users go past the third page of search results

“With the holiday season coming up and with a lot of people using the Internet for holiday purchases, my suggestion is to make gift cards available for your company,” noted Offenberger. “It’s just a little tip that will most likely provide a nice boost to your shop’s bottom line.” 

To learn about the other steps for marketing tough economy, download the entire presentation by visiting www.sema.org/webinar.

SEMA's Webinar Program: The SEMA webinar program brings the world-class business seminars featured during the SEMA Show right to your desktop. Different business-building sessions are constantly added to the program, offering members the latest insight and practices from today’s leading speakers.

All SEMA webinars are conducted live and are open to all employees of SEMA-member companies free of charge. To participate, all you need is a computer with Internet access and a telephone. All previous SEMA webinars are available for download by clicking here. To view upcoming presentations that you can attend via telephone and Internet, click here.

Brenda Priddy and her spy photographer network shot a series of nearly undisguised photos of the facelifted 911 Turbo. Priddy notes that Porsche will likely introduce the Turbo’s new look in January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Exterior modifications will include new headlight and taillight layouts, as well as re-designed front and rear bumpers. The cabin may also get a mild tune-up, but powerplants are expected to remain unchanged.

Filler for eNews

An increasing number of specialty-equipment companies are facing the growing complexity of complying with emissions-related parts requirements, particularly when governed by federal and California environmental regulations. Questions often arise about the compliance process, how to handle "cease-and-desist" letters and how to avoid penalties and fines when selling emissions-related products in all 50 states.

SEMA will assemble government officials from the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board for a SEMA Show seminar to help create user-friendly solutions to these concerns. Panelists will address a wide range of emissions-compliance questions following an update on the current state of regulatory actions and directions.

Moderated by SEMA technical consultant and industry veteran Jim McFarland, virtually any manufacturer/supplier of emissions-related parts or systems will benefit from this informative seminar. 

Title: “The ABCs of Meeting Federal and California Emissions Regulations for Aftermarket Parts While Avoiding Costly Compliance Problems, Penalties and Fines”

Date: Thursday, November 6, 2008, 2:00 p.m.–3:30 p.m.

Place: Las Vegas Convention Center, N256

Presenters:

• Jim McFarland (Moderator)
• Anne Wick (EPA)
• Tom Ball (EPA)
• Jeff Kodish (EPA)
• Holly Pugliese (EPA)
• Jacline Lourenco (CARB)
• Richard Muradliyan (CARB)

For more information, contact Jim McFarland at JMcFar1@aol.com.

TAKING SHAPE: NASCAR’s Car of Tomorrow for the Nationwide Series is taking shape. Driver reviews have been positive for the car that is scheduled to debut in 2010. Details are in this week’s National Speed Sport News.

NEW EVENT: UMP DirtCar will hold three days of racing in conjunction with the December 11–13 Performance Racing Industry Trade Show. Events will be held all three nights at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Florida.

NEW INDUCTEES: The International Motorsports Hall of Fame and Museum in Talladega, Alabama, announced its 2009 class of inductees. They are: J.C. Agajanian, Donnie Allison, Jerry Cook, Bud Moore and Raymond Parks.

FENDERS?: The long-running All Star Circuit of Champions sprint-car organization has purchased the Independent Racing Series late-model tour and renamed it the O’Reilly Late Model Series.

POWER RANKINGS: NHRA Top Fuel points leader Tony Schumacher remained at the top of the National Speed Sport News Power Rankings. The National Speed Sport News Power Rankings are published weekly in the 74-year-old motorsports publication.

SUBSCRIBE: National Speed Sport News has been published weekly since 1934. To subscribe to National Speed Sport News, click on the following link for a special industry rate: www.nationalspeedsportnews.com/subscribe.html?pid=NQ%2BVfhkepT4%3D.

NEWS NUGGETS

AND THEN THERE WERE TWO: CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDERS HOPE FOR LAST-CHANCE EFFORTS IN FINAL TWO RACES OF THE SEASON: It was just one year ago that Funny Car driver Tony Pedregon and his Q Horsepower Chevy Impala SS pulled up to the starting line at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway the first day of qualifying for the ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals and first of the final two races in the Countdown to the Championship. Pedregon entered the race in the top spot in the point standings, but was just a mere 10 points ahead of second-place driver Gary Scelzi and only 30 points ahead of fourth-place driver Ron Capps.

The top four in the points standings all had a legitimate chance at taking the points lead and possibly securing the championship at the end of the event. Pedregon’s second-place qualifying effort and final round win over Ashley Force kept him at the front of the pack and strengthened his points lead to 91 over second-place Scelzi. A first-round appearance at the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA finals proved just enough to secure Pedregon his second POWERade world championship and first as an owner.

Fast forward one year to Tim Wilkerson and his Levi Ray & Shoup Chevy Impala SS. Wilkerson will enter the eighth annual ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals with just a 51-point lead over second-place driver Jack Beckman. Can Wilkerson finish his Cinderella season and finish the year the same as Pedregon’s 2007 championship run? Wilkerson enters the race with two wins in four races in the Countdown to 1 playoffs.

In Top Fuel, defending POWERade world champion Tony Schumacher has all but clinched his fifth-straight title and sixth overall. Schumacher sits an impressive 212 points ahead of second-place driver Hillary Will and has made a final round appearance in all but five of the 22 races so far this season. Pro Stock defending champion Jeg Coughlin sits in the top spot in the category, but is only 74 points ahead of second-place Kurt Johnson. Pro Stock Motorcycle defending world champion and current points leader Matt Smith is 42 points ahead of second-place driver Eddie Krawiec.

The eighth annual ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals will be held October 30–November 2 at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

PRUDHOMME RACING SIGNS MASSEY FOR 2010 TOP FUEL TEAM: Don Prudhomme Racing has signed Top Fuel rookie Spencer Massey to a multiyear agreement with plans to put him behind the wheel of a new Top Fuel dragster team beginning with the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle season.

Massey, who also collected one win in three final round appearances while competing in the Top Alcohol dragster category in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, will continue to compete in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series as Snake Racing finalizes plans for the debut of a new Top Fuel team in 2010. Massey will immediately be available to drive for Snake Racing should the new team be formed prior to the 2010 NHRA season.

“I’m honored and very excited to have this opportunity with Snake Racing,” said Massey. “This is something that I’ve always wanted to do and now I’m getting the chance to live the dream. I’ve always looked up to ‘Snake’ for everything he has accomplished over his career. Snake Racing is a top-of-the-line organization and now I am in a position to be a part of that, so I am very excited.”

NHRA HIRES PROMINENT WEB DESIGN FIRM TO RELAUNCH NHRA.COM: In a move to transform its website into one of the premier fan destination sites on the web, the NHRA has hired industry leader AmericanEagle.com to complete a wall-to-wall renovation of NHRA.com. In addition to enhancing the interface of NHRA.com’s traditional mix of news and critical race-related data, AmericanEagle.com will be charged with the task of devising efficient and innovative strategies for incorporating essential New Media touchpoints, such as eCommerce, streaming video and mobile platforms. 

COMING ATTRACTIONS

ACDELCO LAS VEGAS NHRA NATIONALS, OCTOBER 30–NOVEMBER 2: Making its second stop of the season in Las Vegas, drivers in all four professional categories will fight it out at the fifth and next-to-last race of the Countdown to 1. Defending event winners include Rod Fuller (Top Fuel); Tony Pedregon (Funny Car); Greg Anderson (Pro Stock); and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

AUTOMOBILE CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NHRA FINALS, AUTO CLUB RACEWAY AT POMONA, NOVEMBER 13–16: The 2008 season comes to an end where it started in sunny California and the Countdown to 1 comes to an end as POWERade world champions are determined in this final race. Defending event winners include Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel); Robert Hight (Funny Car); Jeg Coughlin (Pro Stock); and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

HE SAID, SHE SAID

COUNTDOWN CALIFORNIA: Currently second in the point standings with two final round appearances and one win in the past four races, Valvoline/MTS Dodger Charger R/T driver Jack Beckman feels that the POWERade Funny Car world championship will come down to the last race: the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals and Auto Club Raceway in Pomona.

“This Countdown deal is just shaping up to be like a novel,” Beckman said. “I said it’s going to come down to Pomona. I don’t know if it’s going to come down to the final round in Pomona, but it’s amazing. At the rate we’re going we’ll lose by nine points, so we have to find a way to make up another half round on Wilky (Tim Wilkerson) by the end of the season.”

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

4: The number of times Pro Stock driver Kurt Johnson has finished second in the POWERade point standings. With only two races left in the season, Johnson currently sits second, only 74 points behind first-place driver Jeg Coughlin. Can Johnson come back and win his first POWERade world championship in his 16-year career?

DID YOU KNOW…

…that current Funny Car points leader Tim Wilkerson ended a nearly four-year winless streak and began his march toward his first POWERade world championship with his win at the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in April of this year. Wilkerson enters next week’s ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals with six wins this season, four No. 1 qualifiers and a 51-point lead over the competition.

Lauren Sedillo

Century Truck Caps, a division of the Truck Accessories Group LLC, promoted Lauren Sedillo to inside sales representative whose territories will primarily cover the Midwest. Sedillo began her career at Century in early 2007 as the company’s receptionist. She came with a strong background in customer service and an ability to wear many hats.

“Lauren has been a great addition to the Century staff," says Sheryl Noblitt, Century national sales manager. “Her ability to juggle calls, deal with questions and direct our dealers to the right person made her an excellent candidate for inside sales. We are confident that those same skills will serve our dealers well as she moves into her new position.”

The National Pronto Association awarded DENSO Sales California the Original Equipment (OE) Supplier of the Year award. The award was presented to Frank Cisek, senior manager, automotive aftermarket sales during Pronto’s fall membership meeting earlier this month.

The National Pronto Association, an organization of independent automotive aftermarket warehouse distributors, auto parts stores and auto service centers, has members throughout the United States, Mexico and Canada. Pronto members rated each vendor in the OE vendor category on the following five criteria: product quality, profitability, prompt delivery, service and support.

Paul Brosius

Beck/Arnley hired William P. “Paul” Brosius as a product specialist. He will oversee various categories within the engine filtration and engine management product modules. Brosius is responsible for all product-management efforts, including introducing new products, determining target pricing, creating new product packaging, researching and developing new-product applications and technical literature.

BRABUS USA LP, a division of the Claus Ettensberger Corporation, has relocated to Irvine, California. The Irvine center location is equipped with additional service bays, enabling BRABUS USA to accommodate a greater number of vehicles. Still freeway accessible, the new location is more centrally located in Orange County. The new home of the BRABUS USA/CEC Tuning Center is: 8797 Irvine Center Drive Suite L, Irvine, California 92618. The telephone number is 949/797-0177.

Jim Schofield

Jim Schofield has joined Recaptured Energy Technologies as vice president of business development. In this position, Schofield is responsible for the sales and business expansion functions of the company. Prior to joining Recaptured Energy, Schofield served as vice president of national operations for Grubb & Ellis Company.

He is a veteran business-development management professional with 16 years of experience in successfully expanding organizational market presence, improving profitability and enhancing customer satisfaction. 

The "Inside Drag Racing" television program announced that it will move to Friday at 5:30 p.m. (EST) beginning in April, 2009, on Fox Sports Net. The first program in the series will be the Royal Purple AA/Fuel Altered’s from North Star Dragway in Denton, Texas. For the past 13 years, IDR has provided coverage of sportsman drag racing from a wide variety of dragstrips and drag racing events.

"Inside Drag Racing" will provide coverage of the NMRA, NMCA, NHRA Lucas Oil Divisional Drag Racing Series, Jeg’s Sportsmen Nationals, O’Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Dragster League Conference Finals, Royal Purple Fuel Altered series and many more outstanding straight-line racing events.

Stillwater Designs, manufacturer of KICKER Performance Audio and SoundGate auto integration, recently retained the services of Austin C. Craig Marketing (ACM) of Parkland, Florida. ACM will lend more than 25 years of automotive expertise to Stillwater Designs as the company seeks to further its OEM marketing efforts.

Craig has been involved with advertising and marketing programs within the automotive industry since 1979, working on accounts with Plymouth, Pontiac Motorsports and Ford. As an associate with J. Walter Thompson of Detroit, Craig’s accomplishments with Ford focused on the popular Mustang, heavy-truck, fullsize van and all enthusiast programs and vehicle marketing. Craig is responsible for Fun Ford Weekend, the number-one Ford Division sponsorship four years running.  

Click on the logo to visit PRO's website.

Click on the logo to visit ARMO's website.

ARMO Special Projects in Motion

Sponsorships are being accepted for the ARMO Industry Awards Reception. Now is the time to participate in this great opportunity to show your support of the restoration market, its community, its people and its businesses. Click here to download and print a sponsorship form.
 
For more information, contact any Select Committee member or Jan Desma, 909/396-0289, ext. 134, or e-mail jand@sema.org.

ARMO Column in SEMA Member News

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

Click on the logo to visit HRIA's website.

HRIA Special Projects in Motion

Sponsorships are being accepted for the HRIA Industry Awards Reception. Participate in this great opportunity to show your support of the hot-rod community, its people and its businesses. Click here to download and print a sponsorship form.
 
For more information contact any Select Committee member or Jan Desma, 909/396-0289 ext. 134 or e-mail jand@sema.org.

HRIA Column in SEMA Member News

Read HRIA's column featured in the September/October 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.

TORA Column in SEMA Member News

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

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

Click on the logo to visit MPMC's website.

Media Registers for Annual MPMC Media Trade Conference

Media who wish to attend the 12th annual MPMC Media Trade Conference may register online now at www.sema.org/media. The MPMC Media Trade Conference provides media attendees the opportunity to have up to 42 individual, 30-minute, face-to-face meetings with various manufacturers to gather technical and new-product content. During the registration process, attendees are asked to prioritize each of the 100 exhibiting manufacturers as “must meet with,” “okay to meet with” or “do not wish to meet with.” Following the close of registration on December 5, individualized schedules are produced for each attendee and exhibitor, utilizing the prioritizations as much as possible. 

The MPMC Media Trade Conference is widely regarded by both manufacturers and media as a “must attend” event. Now in its 12th consecutive year, the conference has grown to an extent that the number of exhibitor spots is capped at 100, due to time and space constraints. Even so, many media attendees report that they gather enough editorial and technical content in three days to last them an entire 12 months. Likewise, exhibiting manufacturers acknowledge that the Media Trade Conference gives them exposure to media that is not available at any other venue. Only MPMC member manufacturers are eligible to apply for an exhibitor suite, making the conference a true council member benefit.

Click on the logo to visit MRC's website.

MRC Column in SEMA Member News

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

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

Click on the logo to visit SPC's website.

SPC Column in SEMA Member News

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

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

Click on the logo to visit WTC's website.

WTC Column in SEMA Member News

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

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

Click on the logo to visit SBN's website.

Be a part of what some have called “The Most Productive Event at the SEMA Show.”
Get your company more exposure today by sponsoring the SEMA Speed Networking Breakfast—Powered by SBN.
 
Sponsorship includes many exciting benefits:

• Breakfast tickets (additional available at $10 each)
• Scholarship fund donation
• Eligibility to place items in goody bags that will be distributed to all breakfast attendees
• Logo in the event’s looping PowerPoint presentation
• Small logo on advance promotional material and on-site handouts
• Thank-you recognition at event
• Recognition in applicable SBN news vehicles—electronic and print—prior to and after the event
• Company name linked to your corporate website on breakfast webpage
• Handout of pre-registered attendees

Come join us for the breakfast, see the Woman of The Year and Athena Awards—and stay for Speed Networking—all while supporting the worthy cause of the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund.
 
Sponsor companies need not be SBN members. All SEMA-member companies are eligible.

Click here to download the sponsorship form.
 
Attendee breakfast tickets can also be purchased by clicking here.

“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 program, click here.

SEMA Speed Networking Breakfast—Powered by SBN

Check out this video of SBN members in action during the valuable SEMA Speed Networking Breakfast—Powered by SBN held annually at the SEMA Show. Check out the video by clicking here

SBN Column in SEMA Member News

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

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

Click on the logo to visit YEN's website.

Join YEN

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 program, click here.

YEN Column in SEMA Member News

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

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

As previously reported, SEMA has been busy negotiating reduced hotel rates and added incentives for attendees of this year's SEMA Show. Even if you have already booked your travel arrangements, you can still take advantage of these deals.

• Palms Place: rate reduced from $245 to $199  
• Platinum: rate reduced from $199 to $189
• Signature at MGM: $245 rate reduced to $199
• Excalibur: $131 rate to a tiered rate of $89, $99, $119; $159 rate reduced to $139
• Mirage: tiered rate of $209 to $239 is now reduced to a tiered rate of $175 and $209
• Gold Coast: $138 rate to a tiered rate of $57, $66, $104; $88 rate reduced to $57
• Hilton: 2-for-1 buffet coupon, 2-for-1 drink in the Tempo Lounge and $10 in free casino play
• Circus Circus: one free buffet dinner and $25 in free casino play
• MGM Grand: $25 bar/restaurant credit, 2-for-1 spa pass and 15% off spa services
• New York, New York: two welcome cocktails, 2-for-1 Il Fornaio breakfasts, $15 off of a spa treatment and 2-for-1 roller coaster ride
• Treasure Island: 15% off Mystere tickets
• Harrah’s Properties (Caesar’s Palace, Harrah’s, Rio, Imperial Palace, Flamingo, Ballys and Paris): 2-for-1 “Who's to Blame” margaritas (7 a.m.–2 a.m.) and free souvenir in gift shop with $15 minimum purchase
• Imperial Palace: $132 rate reduced to a tiered rate of $70 and $132
• Flamingo: $155 rate reduced to a tiered rate of $90, $130 and $155
• Palace Station: Tiered rate of $94 and $115 reduced to $79 and $99; tiered rate of $115 and $135 reduced to $99 and $119

The reductions are retroactive and companies that have already booked accommodations for the Show will qualify for the new rates. Attendees with existing reservations will be contacted directly to facilitate the necessary adjustments.

“We have gone to bat for SEMA members because we understand that dollars are tight right now,” said SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting. “We expect to announce more incentives soon, but the best one of all continues to be the tremendous opportunity that the Show provides with the enormous gathering of buyers and manufacturers that will be in town.”

For more information and to register for the 2008 SEMA Show, visit www.SEMAShow.com.