The SEMA Hall of Fame website has undergone a makeover during the past several months and is now live and ready for visitors. The website includes information on all of the SEMA Hall of Fame members—the visionaries and early enthusiast-entrepreneurs
who helped build the nearly $30 billion specialty-equipment market that is enjoyed by enthusiasts throughout the world. Induction into the SEMA Hall of Fame, which was created in 1969, is the most prestigious honor presented to an individual by the association.

The most notable upgrades to the site are the addition of memorable photos featuring SEMA Hall of Fame inductees as well as the inclusion of more biographical and background information that highlight the contributions of these industry pioneers.

Why and How to Hire the Best

Let’s say you’ve launched a start-up company and are ready to sell your first line (or lines) of new product. Or perhaps you are a small to medium manufacturer looking to take sales to a whole new level. Or maybe you head the marketing department of a company in need of growing its sales force. In each case, you’re likely considering the ability of a manufacturer’s rep to help you reach your goals. If so, you won’t be the first who employed the services of an expert to gain entry to key markets and increase sales of established lines.

Nearly 2,000 companies participated in the 2013 SEMA Show priority booth selection process that was conducted in May. The number represents a 6% increase over the number of companies that participated in the process in 2012.

“With the increased commitment exhibitors are demonstrating, it’s apparent that the SEMA Show provides unmatched brand-building visibility and sales exposure in one venue,” said Peter MacGillivray, SEMA vice president of communications and events.

The SEMA Data Co-op (SDC) has completed its beta phase and has entered production mode with the newly developed Product Information Management System (PIMS). All beta participants have been successfully migrated into the new system, with full PIES functionality and ACES file handling in place.

Additionally, the SDC’s exclusive “ACES Mapper,” which enables users to easily define fitment and application information for each product via an easy-to-use web interface, was recently added to the PIMS. This integration completed the industry’s only state-of-the-art data management do-it-yourself tool set. Nearly 350 specialty-parts and accessories companies are currently participating in the SDC, with more being added daily, and no special knowledge or expertise is required to get started.

New Wave of Hacker Technology Threatens Unsuspecting Businesses

Regularly making chump meat of the most sophisticated of computer defenses, hackers will be unleashing a new wave of malware in the coming year on the unsuspecting—many of whom will be completely unprepared, according to Sophos, a computer-security firm.

“Cybercriminals tend to focus where the weak spots are,” said Gerhard Eschelbeck, chief technology officer at Sophos. “Protecting data in a world where systems are changing rapidly and information flows freely requires a coordinated ecosystem of security technologies.”

C7 Corvette Prototype, Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, 2014 GMC Sierra Denali, 2013 Ford Focus

Last month, we highlighted several consumer magazines that had great coverage from the 2012 SEMA Show. The great coverage isn’t limited to just consumer publications. Several industry trade magazines reported on the SEMA Show, complete with highlights of vehicles, products and people. Here’s a small sampling.

SEMA invites industry professionals to attend Town Hall meetings at one of the first two stops on the 2013 Town Hall tour. The first meeting will take place at Lund International in Buford, Georgia, Friday, May 3, from 6:00 p.m,–9:00 p.m. The next SEMA Town Hall Meeting, located at Bestop Inc., near Denver, Colorado, is Wednesday, June 26.

Town Halls offer current and prospective SEMA members the opportunity to learn about the association’s programs and objectives and network with local businesses and SEMA staff. These interactions provide attendees with the chance to share their business challenges and growth potentials. The Town Halls also give SEMA staff valuable feedback that will help identify association benefits that can enhance members’ business operations and better meet their needs.

If you’re reading this, you’re holding the annual SEMA Membership Directory issue. With more listings, this directory is one of our largest ever, as your association continues a healthy trend in membership growth.

While we now make membership listings available online as well, we think the printed edition is well worth the effort, since SEMA members consistently mention the directory as a primary benefit to their business. Now that you know about it, you can take advantage of this industry sourcebook to connect with other leading companies all year long. But what other valuable SEMA benefits are you missing simply because you don’t know about them? Are you overpaying for shipping, insurance or credit-card processing fees?