By SEMA Editors

SEMA Show registration is available at www.SEMAShow.com/register.

View the SEMA Show online floorplan at www.SEMAShow.com/floorplan.

With more than 2,400 manufacturers expected to exhibit at the 2018 SEMA Show—including veterans and those new to the Show—displays will feature the latest, most innovative new products covering the entire specialty automotive market.

Here are some planning tips and suggested actions to take now to take advantage of all the SEMA Show has to offer:

Register for the Show

Online registration for the Show is $40 prior to the October 12 deadline, and $90 thereafter for those who register online or onsite. International buyers have until Friday, September 14, to register online and receive their badges prior to the Show. Buyers from the United States and Canada have until Friday, October 12, to register online for the Show and have their badges mailed prior to the event. 

Book Your Hotel Room

Making reservations through www.SEMAShow.com/travel ensures that you will lock-in a guaranteed hotel rate, backed by the SEMA Show’s only official housing provider, OnPeak. The Travel & Lodging page features a real-time listing of the hotel deals available for the 2018 SEMA Show. For assistance with your reservations, call OnPeak at 866-611-8831 (for international callers, dial +1-312-527-7300), Monday–Friday, between 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (CST). If you have an existing reservation, have your OnPeak Attendance/Group ID number handy.

Stay for Friday

Get the most from the week by staying an extra day and experiencing how Friday at the SEMA Show continues to get better and better. On Friday, the Show floor is open for attendees to complete their business for the week, and education sessions are also available. When the Show reaches its end late Friday afternoon, the SEMA Cruise starts, signifying the beginning of SEMA Ignited. For more information on SEMA Ignited, which features the finals of the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition, visit www.SEMAIgnited.com.

Learn the Latest From Exhibitors

Buyers and media can stay up-to-date on the latest SEMA Show exhibitor news by regularly checking the Online Media Center. News and announcements can be easily sorted by type and/or market segment, allowing users to find the most relevant news as quickly and efficiently as possible.

View the Floorplan

The SEMA Show floorplan has been enhanced with user-friendly functions that make navigating the Show, planning the week and creating a personalized schedule quick and simple. Exhibitors can be searched by keywords, and there are links to list exhibitors by alpha, as well as the entire exhibitors list available in PDF.

Capitalize on Business and Industry Trends

The SEMA Show Education Days features an immense roster of educational seminars and learning events geared toward all segments of the industry. With more than 100 free and several pay-to-attend educational events covering everything from social media and online marketing to customer service, industry trends, business skills and more. For a complete list of the curricula, visit www.SEMAShow.com/education.

By SEMA Editors

SEMA Show registration is available at www.SEMAShow.com/register.

View the SEMA Show online floorplan at www.SEMAShow.com/floorplan.

With more than 2,400 manufacturers expected to exhibit at the 2018 SEMA Show—including veterans and those new to the Show—displays will feature the latest, most innovative new products covering the entire specialty automotive market.

Here are some planning tips and suggested actions to take now to take advantage of all the SEMA Show has to offer:

Register for the Show

Online registration for the Show is $40 prior to the October 12 deadline, and $90 thereafter for those who register online or onsite. International buyers have until Friday, September 14, to register online and receive their badges prior to the Show. Buyers from the United States and Canada have until Friday, October 12, to register online for the Show and have their badges mailed prior to the event. 

Book Your Hotel Room

Making reservations through www.SEMAShow.com/travel ensures that you will lock-in a guaranteed hotel rate, backed by the SEMA Show’s only official housing provider, OnPeak. The Travel & Lodging page features a real-time listing of the hotel deals available for the 2018 SEMA Show. For assistance with your reservations, call OnPeak at 866-611-8831 (for international callers, dial +1-312-527-7300), Monday–Friday, between 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (CST). If you have an existing reservation, have your OnPeak Attendance/Group ID number handy.

Stay for Friday

Get the most from the week by staying an extra day and experiencing how Friday at the SEMA Show continues to get better and better. On Friday, the Show floor is open for attendees to complete their business for the week, and education sessions are also available. When the Show reaches its end late Friday afternoon, the SEMA Cruise starts, signifying the beginning of SEMA Ignited. For more information on SEMA Ignited, which features the finals of the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition, visit www.SEMAIgnited.com.

Learn the Latest From Exhibitors

Buyers and media can stay up-to-date on the latest SEMA Show exhibitor news by regularly checking the Online Media Center. News and announcements can be easily sorted by type and/or market segment, allowing users to find the most relevant news as quickly and efficiently as possible.

View the Floorplan

The SEMA Show floorplan has been enhanced with user-friendly functions that make navigating the Show, planning the week and creating a personalized schedule quick and simple. Exhibitors can be searched by keywords, and there are links to list exhibitors by alpha, as well as the entire exhibitors list available in PDF.

Capitalize on Business and Industry Trends

The SEMA Show Education Days features an immense roster of educational seminars and learning events geared toward all segments of the industry. With more than 100 free and several pay-to-attend educational events covering everything from social media and online marketing to customer service, industry trends, business skills and more. For a complete list of the curricula, visit www.SEMAShow.com/education.

By Matt Kennedy

Download the “SEMA Industry Perspectives Report” to find out more about the state of the automotive specialty-equipment industry.

Download the new “SEMA Industry Perspectives Report” at www.sema.org/market-research to find out more regarding the state of the automotive specialty-equipment industry along with current and projected product trends.

More than three-fourths of specialty-equipment businesses surveyed expect their sales to grow next year. Manufacturers are particularly optimistic, with 85% reporting they expect growth for next year. Most industry businesses also reported adding new products and growing their customer bases in the past year.

It should come as no surprise that the automotive specialty-equipment industry increasingly views social media as a key marketing platform. Roughly 90% of manufacturers and retailers reported using social media to promote their businesses in the past year, and most have increased their presence on social media platforms. While social has become a key piece of the puzzle, more traditional channels, such as trade-show exhibits or automotive events and print (magazine or catalog) continue to provide a foundation for their marketing strategies.

Want more information about the trends affecting the automotive specialty-equipment market? Check out the latest “SEMA Industry Indicators Report” to learn how movements in the broader economy may impact your business strategy. Monthly indicator reports are available for free at www.sema.org/market-research.

By Matt Kennedy

Download the “SEMA Industry Perspectives Report” to find out more about the state of the automotive specialty-equipment industry.

Download the new “SEMA Industry Perspectives Report” at www.sema.org/market-research to find out more regarding the state of the automotive specialty-equipment industry along with current and projected product trends.

More than three-fourths of specialty-equipment businesses surveyed expect their sales to grow next year. Manufacturers are particularly optimistic, with 85% reporting they expect growth for next year. Most industry businesses also reported adding new products and growing their customer bases in the past year.

It should come as no surprise that the automotive specialty-equipment industry increasingly views social media as a key marketing platform. Roughly 90% of manufacturers and retailers reported using social media to promote their businesses in the past year, and most have increased their presence on social media platforms. While social has become a key piece of the puzzle, more traditional channels, such as trade-show exhibits or automotive events and print (magazine or catalog) continue to provide a foundation for their marketing strategies.

Want more information about the trends affecting the automotive specialty-equipment market? Check out the latest “SEMA Industry Indicators Report” to learn how movements in the broader economy may impact your business strategy. Monthly indicator reports are available for free at www.sema.org/market-research.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order directing the federal government to make it easier for small businesses to band together and offer retirement plans to their workers. The White House order notes that regulatory burdens and overhead expenses can be costly and discourage small companies from setting up such plans. President Trump directed the U.S. Department of Labor to expand its current rules under which a business can join a retirement plan paid into by multiple companies, called Multiple-Employer Plans (MEPS), even when the companies have no direct affiliation or connection such as the same industry trade association. The U.S. Treasury Department was directed to review its rules on required minimum distributions to see if retirees can spread out their 401(k), IRA or other retirement savings over a longer period. The new changes are not automatic. The Labor and Treasury Departments will first review the issue and publish proposed rules subject to public comment, a process that will take months. 

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order directing the federal government to make it easier for small businesses to band together and offer retirement plans to their workers. The White House order notes that regulatory burdens and overhead expenses can be costly and discourage small companies from setting up such plans. President Trump directed the U.S. Department of Labor to expand its current rules under which a business can join a retirement plan paid into by multiple companies, called Multiple-Employer Plans (MEPS), even when the companies have no direct affiliation or connection such as the same industry trade association. The U.S. Treasury Department was directed to review its rules on required minimum distributions to see if retirees can spread out their 401(k), IRA or other retirement savings over a longer period. The new changes are not automatic. The Labor and Treasury Departments will first review the issue and publish proposed rules subject to public comment, a process that will take months. 

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order directing the federal government to make it easier for small businesses to band together and offer retirement plans to their workers. The White House order notes that regulatory burdens and overhead expenses can be costly and discourage small companies from setting up such plans. President Trump directed the U.S. Department of Labor to expand its current rules under which a business can join a retirement plan paid into by multiple companies, called Multiple-Employer Plans (MEPS), even when the companies have no direct affiliation or connection such as the same industry trade association. The U.S. Treasury Department was directed to review its rules on required minimum distributions to see if retirees can spread out their 401(k), IRA or other retirement savings over a longer period. The new changes are not automatic. The Labor and Treasury Departments will first review the issue and publish proposed rules subject to public comment, a process that will take months. 

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

SEMA research indicates that the U.S. aftermarket for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and connected vehicle technologies (CVT), though still in its infancy, can be expected to grow into a $1.5 billion industry within the next five years. With so much at stake in these rapidly emerging technologies, SEMA has made identifying ADAS/CVT opportunities for association members a key priority.

SEMA research indicates that the U.S. aftermarket for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and connected vehicle technologies (CVT), though still in its infancy, can be expected to grow into a $1.5 billion industry within the next five years. With so much at stake in these rapidly emerging technologies, SEMA has made identifying ADAS/CVT opportunities for association members a key priority.

Who’s up and coming in the automotive aftermarket? Which young business leaders of tomorrow are already making their marks today? How do they envision the future? What new ideas and innovations might we expect from them, and most importantly, what direction will they take our industry?