Chris Fairless has been involved in the automotive specialty-equipment industry for 32 years, combining 10 years in retail and wholesale for Van Iderstine Speed Centers with five years in manufacturing for Russell Performance and 17 years as a manufacturers' representative. He recently became a principal with SS Sales & Marketing. Fairless joined the Manufacturers Rep Council (MRC) 17 years ago, serving on many task forces and subcommittees as well as the MRC Select Committee. He was chosen as the council's chair-elect in July 2010.
The inaugural Light Truck Accessory Alliance (LTAA) New Product Showcase event, held at the All Truck Nationals in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, on August 6–8, 2010, proved to be a hit with both the LTAA participants and event attendees. The brand-new LTAA-member benefit gave participating companies the opportunity to display products in front of one of the largest gatherings of truck enthusiasts in the country. Each product was placed for display, and an information sign was prepared for each one, providing enthusiasts with a product description, suggested retail price, company contact information and All Truck Nationals booth number (if the company was displaying at the event). Carlisle Events located the LTAA New Products Showcase tent strategically at the entrance to the manufacturer's midway, ensuring that every midway visitor would pass through the area. Thirty-five products from 15 LTAA-member companies were on display inside the tent, and A.R.E. and Undercover each provided a fullsize truck to display their products on. The trucks made perfect bookends on either side of the tent.
The Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC) inducted four inaugural members of its Hall of Fame during a casual breakfast gathering at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Show in Orlando, Florida, on Friday, December 10, 2010. The four inductees were recognized not only founding members of the MPMC, but also as active members of SEMA, the council and the industry. The affair began at 8:00 a.m., but upward of 100 people had no problem with the early call to share the special moment with the inductees.
Today's business environment is changing quickly. Training and information are essential to a company's success. Realizing this several years ago, the SEMA Board of Directors created the SEMA Educational Institute (SEI) as a strategic commitment to meet the industry's need for personal training and professional development.
Spring is in the air, which means time is running out for Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO) member companies to register products for the ARMO New Products Showcase. This annual event is held each year at the Spring Carlisle in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The New Products Showcase affords member-companies the opportunity to display their product(s) in front of one of the single-largest gatherings of automotive restoration enthusiasts in the world. The 2010 Spring Carlisle event featured 2,000 collector and special-interest vehicles for sale and 8,100 vendor spaces.
