SEMA News—October 2019
INDUSTRY NEWS
 Legendary Companies President and CEO Wade Kawasaki. |
Coker Group Expands Opportunities Under New Name: Legendary Companies
Coker Group, which includes Coker Tire, Wheel Vintiques, Universal Vintage Tire, Phoenix Race Tires, Specialty Wheel and Roadster Wire Wheel, announced a rebranding of the group. The new name—Legendary Companies—is meant to represent the breadth and scope of its current market segments while providing the company with greater opportunities for future expansion into new sectors.
“We’re proud to announce our rebranding of Coker Group as Legendary Companies and excited for this chance to expand Legendary Companies into diverse markets while remaining true to our core consumers,” said President and CEO Wade Kawasaki, “The naming was very intentional; we chose the word ‘Legendary’ because we see our diverse, vibrant enthusiast customer base as the real legends in our industry. With this change, we will now be positioned to bring our direct-to-consumer expertise and global distribution model to enhance the efforts of the performance brands we personally use and admire.”
 Planning time on the Show floor that allows you to generate new business and interact with existing contacts is crucial at the SEMA Show. |
Countdown to SEMA Show: Attendee Planning Tips to Get You on Track
Planning Time on the Show Floor: The average buyer attends the SEMA Show for about 16 hours. Over that time, buyers can interact with only a certain number of exhibitors, so making a plan that allows you to generate new business and interact with existing contacts is crucial. Construct a plan with a goal and a game plan before you arrive in Las Vegas to make efficient use of your time at the Show.
Show Resources: Start using resources such as social media, SEMA eNews, SEMA News and the mobile app to help research and deploy your plan.
“The app really puts the Show in the palm of your hand,” said SEMA Vice President of Events Tom Gattuso. “We want buyers to start with the app and carry that with them to the Show floor.”
SEMAShow.com: The SEMA Show website includes a map of the Show’s floorplan, education sessions available for the week, information on ground transportation, simple access to the Show’s official hotels and more. For exhibitors, the site includes the Exhibitor Services Manual (ESM) that contains pertinent information and forms to prepare for a successful SEMA Show. The ESM also contains information on early-bird rates for booth services, deadline and budget check lists, shipping, sponsorship opportunities and more.
 To view the new “SEMA Industry Indicators Report,” visit www.sema.org/research. |
SEMA Industry Indicators: Economic Volatility Persists, But Consumers Remain on Strong Footing
The current U.S. cycle of economic growth enters its historic 11th year amid volatility. The next round of proposed tariffs targets $300 billion in Chinese imports that haven’t been affected yet. This is widely believed to impact products more commonly purchased by consumers. The labor market remains tight, wages are increasing and inflation remains low. Trade uncertainty is influencing both the automotive and specialty-equipment industries. Auto-parts imports from China are down roughly 11% over the last year. However, total auto-parts imports are up—driven by increases from Mexico and other Asian trading partners. New light-vehicle sales declined in July. Nearly 73% of these new light-vehicle sales came from pickups and SUVs—a record high. Likewise, in the coming months, gas prices are likely to decline driven by lower demand, increasing tensions and the close of the summer driving season.
 The SEMA International Happy Hour networking event, November 6, is an annual gathering that attracts 1,000 exhibitors, international buyers and global media. |
SEMA Show Prepares for International Buyers
Recognizing that SEMA Show attendees come from more than 140 countries, organizers accommodate international visitors through several resources
and events.
“As automotive customization continues to grow throughout the world, international distributors are actively looking for top auto-parts manufacturers to partner with,” said Linda Spencer, SEMA senior director for international and government affairs. “The SEMA Show is the ideal place for buyers to discover new products that their customers will want, regardless of what country they are from.”
On Monday, November 4, international roundtables will bring together buyers and media from key global markets with exhibitors interested in exporting. The events give participants an opportunity to begin networking and sharing market and product information before the SEMA Show even begins.
The SEMA International Happy Hour networking event, November 6, is an annual gathering that attracts 1,000 exhibitors, international buyers and global media. The event is the ideal place for international buyers to connect with strategic exhibitors, the Department of Commerce and more.
The Center for International Commerce, located in Las Vegas Convention Center Room N255, offers international buyers private meeting spaces, interpreters and complimentary Wi-Fi.
