The SEMA Show Director Provides Tips for Exhibitors, Buyers and Media
Tom Gattuso is the director of the SEMA Show. With more than 18 years in the field of automotive-event production—both consumer and trade—he is well versed in ensuring that attendees and exhibitors of every stripe receive the greatest return on their investments. The 2013 SEMA Show will be his third as director, and SEMA News was pleased to talk with him about his insights.
Take Advantage of the Programs, Promotions and Tools
The SEMA Show is the world’s most valuable automotive specialty-equipment trade show. More than 2,100 companies have already secured space for the 2013 event, including more than 415 first-time exhibitors. And while the information provided here is particularly urgent for those who are new to the SEMA Show, it is also must-know content for all exhibiting manufacturers.
More than 130,000 industry professionals are expected at the Show, which is open only to those individuals who are employed in the automotive industry. It is designed to provide manufacturers of automotive products and accessories with a venue to connect and do business with buyers from throughout the world, so the better informed exhibitors are, the more successful their experience will be.
More Than 417 Reasons to Attend the 2013 SEMA Show
According to Show Management, the total number of first-time exhibitors at the 2013 SEMA Show (as of July 12) was already 417 and continuing to rise. With exhibitor registrations stronger than ever, buyers attending this year’s Show will have an unprecedented opportunity to connect with hundreds of new manufacturers and suppliers.
Registration is now open for the 2013 SEMA Show, Tuesday–Friday, November 5–8. Attendees, as well as the media, are invited to register for the annual Show online (www.SEMAShow.com).
Function Fused With Performance, Comfort and Drivability
The hot-rod market has always been predicated on performance. It’s where the niche—and the entire specialty-equipment industry, really—found its genesis. The listings of hot-rod components and systems unveiled at the most recent SEMA Show and now found on these pages continue in that vein, though there is also an increasing emphasis on making rods not only hot, but also comfortable and drivable.
As in previous years, we’ve interspersed the product listings with commentaries from industry professionals who are in touch with the marketplace. We asked them to focus on overall trends as well as specific vehicle types, and their responses reveal a melding of the traditional and the innovative.
Automakers Predict Growth, Show Newest Models
Auto-sales analysts are predicting growth in car sales overall—some to levels as high as 15.4 million for 2013. That would be good news for aftermarket manufacturers and retailers, as unit growth in the types of vehicles that enthusiasts tend to customize continues to gain momentum.
Segment Shows Its Continued Strength at SEMA Show
For a third straight year, the American automotive industry has posted impressive sales gains, with the truck category leading the way. As of December 2012, Ford’s F-series truck again topped sales charts, with 645,316 units sold—up 10.3% over 2011. As in the previous year, Chevrolet’s Silverado came in second with 418,312 units sold. Meanwhile, Ram also made the Top 10 list, coming in fifth with sales of 293,363 units.
Don’t miss the opportunity to attend SEMA’s complimentary 2013 SEMA Show Exhibitor Summit. Whether a company is a Show veteran or a first-time exhibitor, this education-packed event is designed to help exhibiting companies maximize their return on investment. Beginning April 15 at 9:00 a.m., exhibitors may attend sessions dedicated to the following topics and opportunities.
The Racing & Performance section of the SEMA Show is the largest on the floorplan, completely taking over the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center each year.
In 2012, a total of 507 exhibitors set up booths, entering a vast array of their latest offerings into the Ideas Alive, featuring the New Products Showcase. The following pages represent more than 500 of the new and featured products that exhibitors registered in the Showcase. Along with the products, journalist Steve Campbell interviewed industry executives to get their thoughts about the trends they perceive and some words of advice about what might lie ahead.
Wheel manufacturers continue to innovate with attention-grabbing designs, vibrant colors and exotic finishes. Striking a delicate balance between style, fitment and overall performance—nearly 200 exhibitors unveiled their latest creations at this year’s Show.
The following products spotlight innovations from Wheels & Accessories section exhibitors, as seen in the 2012 SEMA Show New Products Showcase.
For the third year in a row, the Tire Industry Association (TIA) allied with SEMA to present the Global Tire Expo (GTE)—Powered by TIA at the recent 2012 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. Designed as a freestanding tire industry “show within a show,” the GTE has proven to be an ongoing hit with attendees representing every sector of the tire industry, from automotive to commercial and from retreading to recycling.