As the world’s premier automotive aftermarket trade event, the annual SEMA Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) can seem overwhelming. How do you cover well over a million square feet of display vehicles, product innovations and special events in just a few short days? The secret, according to SEMA Show Director Tom Gattuso, is to start strategizing ahead of time.

“The SEMA Show is like the Super Bowl,” said Gattuso. “A buyer can’t just show up and hope to win. You have to have a strategy. The more you plan ahead, the more productive you will be. We talk to buyers extensively after each Show and find that those who had a plan are substantially more successful.”

The Car Show for the Pros

Professionals from all facets of the automotive specialty-equipment industry will gather once again at the Las Vegas Convention Center on November 5–8 to see the latest product innovations, attend in-depth educational seminars and make business connections. They’ll also be witness to one of the most spectacular custom auto shows in the world.

Many of the products that will be introduced by the exhibiting companies—more than 2,000 of them this year—will be showcased on the vehicles for which they are intended. Over the past few years, SEMA News has previewed dozens of these automotive artworks, and we’re doing it again for 2013. The feature vehicles shown in this listing will appear in exhibitor booths and in display areas throughout the Las Vegas Convention Center and the adjacent outdoor grounds. Be sure to check them out in person, and enjoy the Show!

Tips for Aftermarket Suppliers and Retailers Before Gearing Up for e-Commerce

The online retail market for automotive aftermarket parts industry and accessories continues to emerge as a tremendous growth opportunity for the aftermarket parts industry. While estimated sales volumes of the online parts industry vary, assessments range from $2 billion to $4 billion annually.

The “2013 SEMA Annual Market Report” found that 46.2% of consumers cited “chain auto parts stores” and “specialty parts stores” as their primary outlets for purchasing automotive parts and accessories. “Online retail” was the next highest at 25.6%, up 1.1% from 2012. Online retailers ranged from online auction sites and chain auto parts online stores to online-only retailers.

Connecting Buyers, Sellers and Media at the SEMA Show

If you’re a SEMA Show exhibitor, product exposure is the name of the game. Your number-one goal is attracting buyers and media to your booth, where you can discuss and demonstrate your new and featured products in person. If, on the other hand, you’re a buyer or media attendee, your priority is saving time and legwork in discovering the latest and greatest product innovations amid more than a million square feet of booths and exhibits vying for your attention. Fortunately, there’s an efficient solution for everyone: The SEMA Show’s New Products Showcase.

A Sprawling Panorama of Automotive Excellence

The SEMA Show is the world’s most impressive automotive trade show. It draws industry professionals from around the globe to stunning exhibits of innovative and sought-after specialty-equipment products. It attracts more than 135,000 industry leaders from more than 100 countries to Las Vegas, all seeking business opportunities in the automotive, truck and SUV, powersports and RV markets. And the 2013 SEMA Show—the year of the association’s 50th anniversary—will eclipse all previous gatherings. In fact, exhibit space in the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) is sold out, and new display areas have been created in the Las Vegas Hotel and in other parts of the Show grounds to help accommodate the surplus.

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.

Annual Summit and Gala Mark Association’s 50th Year

As the specialty-equipment industry’s premier trade association, SEMA relies on elected volunteers to serve on its Board of Directors and in positions of council leadership. Representing every segment of the automotive aftermarket, these industry professionals are dedicated to the advancement of marketing, regulatory and business standards and practices that promote industry growth for all. In short, they are on the front lines identifying challenges and opportunities facing the industry and crafting policies and programs to address them. To support and recognize their efforts, SEMA holds a series of intensive Leadership Days events each year, with this year’s gathering held principally at the Sheraton Fairplex Conference Center in Pomona, California, July 24–25.

On July 12, 2013, SEMA-member companies joined with SEMA staff and thousands of enthusiasts to celebrate the fourth annual Collector Car Appreciation Day (CCAD). Official events were held in the United States, Canada and Australia to commemorate the day, designated by a SEMA-requested U.S. Senate resolution.

Sponsored by Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) and Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC), the U.S. Senate resolution recognized “that the collection and restoration of historic and classic cars is an important part of preserving the technological achievements and cultural heritage of the United States.” Lawmakers in states, provinces, counties and cities have followed the Senate’s lead by adopting their own resolutions. This year’s participants included: Michigan; New Mexico; New York; Manitoba, Canada; Nova Scotia, Canada; Las Vegas, Nevada; Madera County, California; York County, Virginia; and Washington Parish, Louisiana.

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.

The Vehicle Technology Center (VTC) held a prominent position in the Grand Lobby of the Las Vegas Convention Center at the 2012 SEMA Show, drawing greater attention and attendance than ever before. The VTC and Technology Briefing Seminar (TBS) program will be returning to the 2013 SEMA Show, providing attendees with new levels of education through the program’s vehicle technology keynotes, briefing sessions and workshops.

The association’s vehicle technology programs, initiatives and relationships are investments in SEMA’s collective future. The purpose of the VTC and the accompanying TBS program is to inform SEMA members about the latest vehicle technologies and introduce them to the programs, resources, partners, solutions and benefits available to them at affordable costs as well as show them how to protect their businesses in the face of disruptive and advanced technological change. Advanced vehicle technologies are integral to both the relevance and the future of SEMA. To ignore their impact is a fundamental mistake. Disruptive technologies don’t totally eliminate existing vehicle technologies, but they do often eliminate unprepared businesses and companies.