By Becca Butler
 The Exhibitor Summit, held this week in Las Vegas, is a two-and-a-half-day event that can be described as a boot camp for SEMA Show exhibitors, where Show organizers and insiders share the secrets to connecting with buyers and succeeding at the SEMA Show. |
With five months to go before the 2015 SEMA Show, nearly 200 representatives from exhibiting companies gathered this week in Las Vegas, to kick off their SEMA Show plans at the 6th annual Exhibitor Summit. The two-and-a-half-day event can be described as a boot camp for SEMA Show exhibitors, where Show organizers and insiders share the secrets to connecting with buyers and succeeding at the SEMA Show.
“With today’s technology, it’s not often that we get to meet with exhibitors in person. The Exhibitor Summit is a great opportunity for us to connect with manufacturers and share important information with them that will help them be more successful at the SEMA Show,” said Peter MacGillivray, SEMA vice president of communications and events. “Given our commitment to the value of face-to-face communication, we are extremely pleased with the industry response to our annual Show networking event.”
Attending exhibitors discovered how to best utilize the Exhibitor Services Manual, drive new customers to their booths, set up and design a booth cost effectively and learn the difference between shipping and drayage. In addition, exhibitors met and connected with their account reps and floor managers during the event, while official SEMA Show vendors were available to answer questions and provide information on booth services, travel arrangements and lead retrieval.
“The Exhibitor Summit was extremely helpful for us,” said Kyle Nyberg of KTN Thermo Dynamics. “We learned a lot about the Show, how to get prepared and what you need for setting up your booth.”
Cathy White of Classic Performance Products agrees. While the company has exhibited at the SEMA Show for 12 years, this was the first time they had participated in the Exhibitor Summit. “We learned so many new tools that exhibitors should be taking advantage of in order to have a successful SEMA experience. We encourage all exhibitors, especially new ones, to attend the Summit. There is always something new to learn and SEMA will guide you to success!”
Manufacturers left the summit fully equipped with the tools and best practices needed to kick their plans into high gear and prepare for a successful Show, which is set to take place November 3–6 in Las Vegas. The 2015 SEMA Show is expected to draw more than 2,400 exhibiting companies. Manufacturers interested in displaying at the Show can visit www.semashow.com/buyabooth.