Recently SEMA News caught up with National Automobile Dealers
Association (NADA) Chairman Ed Tonkin. Tonkin, a multifranchise dealer
in Portland, Oregon, discussed the opportunities specialty-equipment
sales represent for dealerships as well as the SEMA Dealer Day taking
place at this year’s SEMA Show.
SEMA News
SEMA News Essentials
SEMA News Advertisers
Advanced Marketing Group
Aftermarket Advantage
Aftermarket West
All Midwest Sales
American Express
Automobile Club of Southern California
AutoRep Sales Company
B&M Marketing Inc.
Ballard Allen Marketing
BedRug, Inc.
Bill Perry & Associates
Bob Cook Sales
Bowdoin Marketing Inc.
BW Time Share
Carriage Works Inc.
Chrysler/Mopar
Coker Tire
Considine Sales & Marketing
Continental Tire North America
Covercraft
Creative Automotive Marketing Inc.
CWR Electronics
DCi
Dimension Printing
eBay Motors
Energy Suspension
Equus Products Inc
Excalibur Hotel & Casino
Executive Class Automotive
Extang Corporation
Freeman
GE Money/CarCareONE
Go Rhino
GoPro
Grande Marketing Associates
Hapco
Harrah's Entertainment Group
Hart, King & Coldren
Hedman/Trans-Dapt Performance
Husky Liners
Innovative Marketing Services
INTRO-TECH Automotive
Jim Wrobleski & Company
Kayes Company
Kennedy Performance Products
KingTec Communications
LOKAR Performance Products
Luxor Las Vegas
Michael A. Kunzman & Associates
MN Interactive
Mothers Polishes
Motovicity
N.A. Williams Company
NADA
Odyssey Batteries
Pacific Sportswear Co.
Pay Point Merchant Services
Performance Racing Industry
ProRep Marketing
R & R Marketing Consultants
Repworks Marketing
RICO Instrument Company
Rocket Performance Machine
Roll-N-Lock Corporation
Ryan Communications Group
Schrader Bridgeport International
SEIA/Alliant Insurance Services
Sherman-Pearson Company
Shiniest Industries Inc.
SJE Corporation
Sunpro
TAG/Truck Accessories Group
Thomas Sales Company
True High Performance Sales
TruXedo
Undercover
UPS
VehicleFits.com
Viair Corp.
Wes-Coast Marketing Inc.
White Knight Wheel Accessories
Wolfsteins Pro Series
Zolatone Automotive, Industrial, Marine

Cover Story
Today’s business environment is changing quickly. The SEMA Show provides an unparalleled opportunity to learn first-hand what trends will affect your business. A key component of the Show is the top-notch education and training provided by the SEMA Education Institute (SEI).
The SEMA Show is all about innovation and creativity. For a taste of what’s coming at the 2010 event, check out the more than 100 new products previewed here.
The 2010 SEMA Show is mere weeks away, but the Show organizers have been working diligently since the Las Vegas Convention Center’s doors closed last year to bring even more value to attendees. In addition to the traditional offerings—more than 1,800 exhibitors, 1,500 industry-changing product innovations and dazzling vehicle displays—this year’s SEMA Show boasts more than a dozen new or improved features.
Business
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Retail stores should be well-organized and use clear, easily understood
signage so that shoppers can find the products they are looking for
while also being led to special offers and promotional items. -
Ben Mizban is the president of T-Rex Grilles in Corona, California. The
company has regularly participated in the SEMA Show New Products
Showcase. Recently, Mizban offered his insight and advice on getting
the most from the program -
As the automotive industry emerges from the economic downturn, it’s clear that the iconic American industry needs to spread its global wings to thrive again—and to help drive the U.S. economic recovery overall.
Chris Kersting
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The SEMA Show is without a doubt one of the strongest indicators of
emerging trends in the automotive industry. Each year, SEMA exhibitors
must decide which vehicles will be their “canvass” of choice to
highlight the innovative and exciting new products they’ve worked so
hard to bring to market.
Education
-
Today’s business environment is changing quickly. The SEMA Show provides an unparalleled opportunity to learn first-hand what trends will affect your business. A key component of the Show is the top-notch education and training provided by the SEMA Education Institute (SEI).
-
A total of $111,000 is being distributed to 67 individuals through the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund, a program administered by SEMA to foster leadership opportunities in the automotive specialty-equipment marketplace and to support educational goals for students.
Events
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On
July 9, 2010, collector-car enthusiast organizations across the nation
gathered to celebrate the first-ever Collector Car Appreciation Day, as
designated by U.S. Senate Resolution 513 (S. Res. 513). Events ranging
from car cruises and shows to small-business open houses and special
offers were held to honor the cultural and educational importance of
collector cars. -
As a part of SEMA’s Leadership Days, the 2010 Business Technology
Symposium (BTS), sponsored by SEMA’s Street Performance Council (SPC)
and held Friday, July 23, at the Pasadena Convention Center in
Pasadena, California, drew 113 specialty-equipment industry attendees,
from business owners to IT professionals. -
Recently SEMA News caught up with National Automobile Dealers
Association (NADA) Chairman Ed Tonkin. Tonkin, a multifranchise dealer
in Portland, Oregon, discussed the opportunities specialty-equipment
sales represent for dealerships as well as the SEMA Dealer Day taking
place at this year’s SEMA Show. -
More than 500 members of the industry attended the annual SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser in Pasadena, California, July 23, to honor 2010 SEMA Hall of Fame inductees Van Woodell, Chuck Schwartz and Richard “Dick” McMullen and to raise money for children’s charities Childhelp and Victory Junction Gang Camp.
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Returning champions were vanquished, former challengers made strong showings and the industry’s leading ladies brought home two inaugural trophies at the third-annual SEMA Pinewood Drag Races.
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Collectors, enthusiasts and gearheads of all stripes came out for the second annual SEMA Show ’N Shine car show, July 24, at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena, California.
-
On July 9, 2010, collector-car enthusiast organizations across the nation gathered to celebrate the first-ever Collector Car Appreciation Day, as designated by U.S. Senate Resolution 513 (S. Res. 513). Events ranging from car cruises and shows to small-business open houses and special offers were held to honor the cultural and educational importance of collector cars.
-
The SEMA Show is all about innovation and creativity. For a taste of what’s coming at the 2010 event, check out the more than 100 new products previewed here.
-
The 2010 SEMA Show is mere weeks away, but the Show organizers have been working diligently since the Las Vegas Convention Center’s doors closed last year to bring even more value to attendees. In addition to the traditional offerings—more than 1,800 exhibitors, 1,500 industry-changing product innovations and dazzling vehicle displays—this year’s SEMA Show boasts more than a dozen new or improved features.
From The Hill
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Congressman Steve Cohen took a few hours out of his busy August schedule to visit with management and employees at the COMP Cams’ headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee. Rep. Cohen participated in a roundtable discussion about small-business issues with COMP’s executive team and then toured the facility, including the machine shop and research and development (R&D) department.
Government Affairs
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Law and Order is an update of some of the most recent federal and state
legislative and regulatory issues that could potentially impact the
automotive specialty-equipment industry. These include issues affecting
small-business owners and their employees.
Industry News
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SEMA Cares and WD-40 are partnering with Barrett-Jackson and leading aftermarket manufacturers to build a custom ’11 Ford Mustang GT for the 2010 SEMA Show.
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2013 Cadillac ATS, 2011 Bentley Continental GT, 2011 Dodge Avenger, 2012 Ford Taurus SHO
International
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The U.S. government estimates that less than 1% of U.S. small businesses currently export, even though there’s huge demand for high-quality, American-made products.
Internet
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While anecdotes abound about professionals who have lost job opportunities over something they’ve posted online, new research reveals that we’re all much more at risk than previously known.
Required Reading
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While the SEMA Show is a B2B event, getting consumer feedback and knowing what they think about what happens at the Show can be valuable.
SEMA Heritage
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When Petersen Publishing Company photographer Eric Rickman shot this photo of Vic Edelbrock Sr. in February of 1958, the Edelbrock Equipment Company (as it was known then) had already earned its reputation for manufacturing quality speed equipment, thanks to 20 years of hands-on development and testing of countless engines.