TORA

SEMA Member News - July/August 2010

New Year, New Projects

A Message From the Chairman

If you are reading the July issue of SEMA Member News, congratulations on maintaining your SEMA and council membership during the past two years of tough times. I am confident that the Truck and Off-Road Alliance (TORA) and the industry are now on the upswing. Just as you have had to reevaluate your business to determine how best to utilize available resources, TORA has gone through the same evaluations. The Select Committee gathered for a one-day meeting in April to brainstorm available resources. At the end of the day, we identified four existing tools that need only be coordinated into effective communication channels for our council.

The first one is the SEMA Education Institute (SEI). Our Select Committee is working with TORA-member manufacturing companies to gather product information for the SEI Manufacturers Product Library. The data is being solicited in a standardized format on a template that was reviewed by a test group of both manufacturers and retailers. When the library is completed, TORA members will be able to research products from member manufacturers in one place, utilizing the SEI website. The review and testing process will ensure that the information is relevant and useful to sales or counter people.

Facebook, MySEMA.org and SEMA eNews are three other resources that I like to call our “circle of communication.” If you have not joined both the TORA Facebook page, www.facebook.com/SEMATORA, and the TORA group on MySEMA, you owe it to yourself and your business to do so now. Go to www.MySEMA.org, complete your profile (it takes only a few minutes) and join the TORA group. Both sites will allow us to grow a true TORA “community” where we can network and share ideas. SEMA eNews will continue to be a place where we can share both SEMA-generated and TORA member-generated news with the SEMA community at large.

Finally, this bimonthly SEMA Member News section within SEMA News magazine will replace the cover wrap. We will use it for things such as “TORA Member Spotlights,” and any other pieces that don’t necessarily fit into the fast-moving world of social media. If you have any ideas or submissions (no product announcements, please), forward them to our staff liaison, Jim Skelly, at jimsk@sema.org.

—Kelly Kneifl
TORA Chairman

 

Dealer Spotlight

	Pickups Plus Cars, a full-service custom truck accessory dealer for 10 years, recently expanded its business and business name to include passenger cars. Owner Larry McCoy said that adaptability and diversification are keys to survival in today's changing accessory marketplace.		Pickups Plus Cars maintains two Ohio locations. In addition to a vast inventory of parts and accessories, Pickups Plus Cars is equipped with a dynamometer for custom tuning, along with everything needed for high-end audio installations.
	Clean, professional showrooms, well-equipped service bays and trained staff people await customers at both Pickups Plus Cars locations.

Business Name: Pickups Plus Cars

Address: 4537 Cemetery Rd., Hilliard, OH 43026

Phone: 614/529-1212

Number of Years in Business: 10

Locations: Two

Employees: 10

Company History: We are a family-owned business. We began by doing bolt-on truck accessories; now we do a full line of work, including suspension, interior and performance as well as paint and custom fabrication work.

What is your projection for business in 2010? We look to grow 3% to 5% over 2009.

What did you learn in 2009 to help you achieve that goal? Diversify.

Why should companies join TORA? To learn and grow their businesses, educate employees and network.

What advice do you have for people who want to get into the truck accessory business? Make sure it is your passion and get dedicated, passionate people to work with you. Keep the faith in down times and learn how to adapt.

 

Action Group Celebrates 30th Anniversary

	Action Group of Companies is celebrating their 30th anniversary.

The Action Group of Companies (Action Truck Caps & Accessories and Action Van & Truck World Ltd.), a wholesaler and retailer of truck caps and aftermarket accessories throughout Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Ontario, and now Manitoba, is celebrating its 30-year anniversary with the opening of their 30th location. The new 15,000-sq.-ft. facility is in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Construction will also begin this summer on a new 10, 000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art retail facility for Action’s Dartmouth, Nova Scotia location and a new warehouse facility in Moncton.

“It feels like it’s been a short 30 years,” said Action’s president, John Chamberlaine.
“I am very proud of what we have been able to accomplish during this period, and I’m looking forward to the next 30 years!” 

To keep pace with the company’s continued growth, Action recently added Craig Crossman as Chief Operating Officer to their dynamic team.  Craig has held a number of senior management roles with regional and international organizations and brings with him a wealth of growth focused experience. “I am excited to be joining a dynamic company, in an exciting industry, with tremendous growth potential.  John and his team have built a great company based on a customer focused culture and solid values.”

For more information on the Action Group of Companies, visit them online at www.actiontrucks.com or www.vanandtruckworld.com.