"Stop Wasting Your Time at Trade Shows and Start Making Some Money"
Wednesday, August 29, 10 a.m. (PST)

Learn from presenter Steve Miller about the tools exhibitors can use to make the SEMA Show a big success, hear about the biggest exhibitor mistakes at today's trade shows, and get answers to the questions attendees most frequently ask when approaching your exhibit. You'll also learn about the single best pre-show marketing tool you can use and the best post-show follow-up plan.

During the webinar, you'll be able to interact and ask questions through the computer or over the phone. Simply follow these steps:

    * View the presentation during the webinar by clicking here the day of the webinar.
    * Connect to the audio portion of the webinar by calling toll-free to 866/637-2754, pin 1542

In case you missed last week’s webinar, "Effective Communication Tips for Professional Success,” you can get the audio and PDF downloads by visiting www.sema.org/webinar, and navigating to the “Recent Webinars” menu at right.

Diplomacy has been called the art of telling people to take a hike in a way that makes them actually look forward to the trip. We don't advocate telling your people, customers, partners or bosses to go anywhere, so tune in for this outstanding session from Barry Maher, who'll discuss how to get what you want-diplomatically and tactfully-and to get people to look forward to whatever trip you'd like them to take.

Finally, plan to tune in to our Sept. 20 webinar:

"The Future of Inventory Control-RFID"
Thursday, September 20, 10 a.m. (PST)

With talk of barcodes disappearing and radio frequency identification (RFID) taking its place, businesses find themselves facing familiar questions: Will RFID really replace barcodes in the future? What are the costs associated with implementing RFID? How will this affect my business in terms of efficiency and accuracy? Learn the answer to these questions and more with Doug Jacobs of Restylers' Choice.

All SEMA webinars are recorded and available for download at www.sema.org/webinars. Some of the latest webinar downloads include:

"Boost Your Company Image, Sales and Profitability With Good Product Data," "What the U.S. Supreme Court's Leegin Decision Means for Minimum Resale Price Agreements," and "Urban Lifestyle Report."

SEMA manufacturing members are invited to get a look at the new, redesigned-for-2008 Honda Accord coupe and sedan at an upcoming measuring session, Friday, September 7, in Torrance, California. The deadline to register is Friday, August 31. E-mail responses with name(s), company name, address, phone number and e-mail address to: measuringsession@sema.org.

Today’s automakers are increasingly collaborating and partnering with the specialty-equipment industry, and they’re turning to the annual SEMA Show to identify new trends and products.

At the 2007 SEMA Show being held October 30–November 2, 2007 in Las Vegas, 14 automakers will be exhibiting with elaborate displays, many of them making major announcements and debuting new vehicles for the first time during the week. Open only to qualified trade professionals, the SEMA Show has become a must-attend event for the world’s automakers. Unlike any other event in the auto show circuit, the SEMA Show is unique because it is truly a trade-only event catering to key decision makers, designers, media and businesses that form a powerful grassroots voice in the automotive industry.

“As the premier automotive accessories trade event in the world, the SEMA Show creates many opportunities for automakers,” said Carl Sheffer, vice president of OEM relations. “The SEMA Show is a vital component of their marketing plan and is an effective way to reach a powerful audience.”

Among those exhibiting at the 2007 SEMA Show is Toyota Motor Sales, Inc. Toyota began exhibiting at the SEMA Show in 1998, although this year marks the first time the automaker will be featured as the Vehicle Manufacturer of the Show.

“It’s great to have Toyota as a first time vehicle manufacturer of the Show. It reinforces the importance and positive working relationship that exists between themselves and the SEMA industry,” Sheffer added.

Joining Toyota Motor Sales Inc. at the SEMA Show are Ford Motor Company, General Motors Corporation, Hyundai Motor America, American Honda, Kia Motors America Inc., Lexus, Mazda North America Operations, Chrysler, Nissan North America, Scion, Subaru of America Inc., Suzuki and Volkswagen. The 14 automakers will have a total of more than 30 nameplates represented at the event. 

In addition to exhibiting, automakers support the SEMA Show through a number of programs. SEMA's Project Vehicle Program is an example of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and exhibiting member companies working together to attract buyers, media and, eventually, consumers. The program begins with OEM brand teams providing stock vehicles to SEMA-member companies. The SEMA members equip the stock vehicles with those accessories that best suit the vehicle's lifestyle, adventure or general-use applications. For participating automakers, the modified vehicles illustrate design versatility and utility while adding flair and performance not available from the stock equipment catalog.

The Technology Transfer program affords SEMA members confidential technical data from OEM partners well in advance of public announcement. Body specifications, project-vehicle access and the free flow of vital new-model data now enables SEMA members to imagine, design and build parts and accessories in-sync with projected new vehicle market launches. Tech Transfer specialists will be at the SEMA Show demonstrating how the process—including confidential CAD-CAM data transfer—allows member-companies to access automaker information and participate in a critical business-to-business dialog with potentially significant customers.

Association members who participate in programs such as the Technology Transfer, Tech Talks and Measuring Sessions are then allowed the opportunity to judge the SEMA Vehicle Design Awards, presented annually at the SEMA Show. Winners join a prestigious list of past recipients and have the opportunity to display winning vehicles in future SEMA Shows and major auto shows, and often see their work featured in automotive publications.

Press conferences and sponsored media events make up a significant part of automaker activity at the SEMA Show, where manufacturers seek access to a global media pool ranging from key industry communicators to the latest lifestyle broadcast programs. The launch of new models and technologies continues throughout Show week and further attests to the growing importance the OEM community lends the Show and the media attention it garners.

OEM executives, engineers and designers consider the SEMA Show critical to their understanding of the overall industry and trends likely to influence the sale of particular vehicle types or specific segment growth.

Putting together your SEMA Show gameplan is easier than ever using our new online planning tools. Search for exhibiting companies and view a comprehensive list of seminars and special events by visiting www.SEMAShow.com, and clicking on My Show Planner from the menu on the left. From there you can search for exhibitors by keyword, product category, country of origin, show section, market segments—even vehicle application.

From the new menu on the left, you can also create a profile using My Show Planner, which allows you to search for exhibitors you'd like to visit and events and seminars you'd like to attend, and save them to a personalized itinerary (you'll need to create a password to save your itinerary).

Click on the floorplan page to view various sections of the Show (through a PDF reader), or scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the link to view a non-printable version of the entire floorplan.

The upcoming release of the 2008 Cadillac CTS is one of the most anticipated new model debuts of the year. Early reviews call it Detroit's most serious challenge to the performance luxury ground held by BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Lexus and Infiniti.

SEMA’s upcoming Technical Briefing Seminar on Electronic Stability Control (ESC) systems will provide members with an overview of the impact of ESC implementation on the specialty-equipment industry. Representatives from Toyota, Bosch and Mechanical Simulation Corporation will be on hand to offer attendees a basic technical understanding of ESC, as well as practical approaches for determining compatibility and system integration of a given aftermarket product with ESC.

Methodologies and ways to assess the interaction between ESC and specific specialty-equipment product lines will be discussed and demonstrated with typical chassis and vehicle-modification examples. This seminar, as well as all of the vehicle technology briefing seminars, will be highly interactive and responsive to immediate questions, concerns and priorities.

Key Topics will include:

• Why should the aftermarket be aware of ESC?
• What are the basics of ESC?
• Which aftermarket products could affect ESC performance?
• What methods are available to assess how your product might affect ESC?
• What are the options for changing the product interactions with ESC?
• What are the positive and growth aspects of ESC for the aftermarket?
• What advanced and emerging technologies will soon be introduced?

Toyota will present an overview of its current chassis control technologies, as well as new trends in stability control in Toyota, Lexus and Scion vehicles. Toyota has been a leading OEM in embracing specialty-equipment suppliers and using their capabilities to provide customization and accessorization of their products. As an industry leader, Toyota's actions have a profound impact on all OEMs.

Similarly, Bosch is a pre-eminent Tier 1 supplier, well known for their expertise in a wide variety of automotive products. Bosch was developing ESC with Mercedes from the very beginning of its introduction to the market. They produce ESC systems that are used on vehicles that range from the BMW 750 to the Chevrolet Silverado (The hybrid Silverado was a 2006 SEMA Design Award Vehicle). Bosch's approach to the aftermarket will also have a strong influence on the aftermarket supplier base.

Mechanical Simulations provides the de facto industry-standard tools for vehicle-dynamics simulation. Dr. Tom Gillespie is the co-founder of the company and a renowned expert on vehicle dynamics. He authored one of the leading textbooks on vehicle dynamics that is widely used at universities and companies throughout the automotive industry.

The laptop computer-based tools that Mechanical Simulations provide will aid specialty-equipment companies in assessing their product's effect on key ESC parameters. Basic capabilities and applications will be presented and discussed during the presentation. Depending on member interest and feedback, SEMA would help provide access to these capabilities on an as-needed basis.   

In addition to these interactive presentations, there will be further panel discussions and the opportunity to review the latest vehicle-technology offerings from Toyota and hands-on use of Mechanical Simulations programs.

Toyota will be bringing its latest advanced-technology platform vehicle, the Lexus IS-F, to showcase the future of chassis stability and control technologies and a special edition "Sport Version" of Toyota's Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM).

The content of this Technical Briefing Seminar on ESC is aimed at company owners, technical directors, engineers and product planners. SEMA's goal is to provide the latest vehicle-technology understanding and information on ESC to help address the challenges of compliance with the NHTSA's rule on ESC, and turn these challenges into solutions and opportunities for member companies.

Presenters:

• John Waraniak, Vice President Vehicle Technology, SEMA
• Ed Browalski, SEMA ESC Advisor and Founder ACEC
• Paul Williamsen, National Manager, Lexus College, Toyota Motor Sales
• Scott Dahl, Marketing Director, Chassis Control Systems, Robert Bosch Corp.
• Tom Gillespie, Director, Product Planning, Mechanical Simulation Corporation
  

Technology Briefing Seminar
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Systems
Thursday, September 6, 2007
9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

Location:
SEMA Headquarters - AAA Building
1575 S. Valley Vista Dr.
Diamond Bar, CA 91765

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All SEMA Installer Certification exams (including electric sunroofs, truck accessories/body exterior components, leather interiors, roof treatments and custom wheels and tires) will be administered on Thursday, November 8, at more than 700 test centers in the United States and Canada, as well as elsewhere outside the United States. Test registration booklets are available from SEMA (e-mail to ellenm@sema.org or beverlyr@sema.org). Complete information on the certification exams, including registration forms, are available online at www.sema.org/certification. The registration deadline is Friday, September 21.

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