SEMA-member accessory and performance-parts manufacturers nowadays have access to an array of tools to aid in the design and development of new products. They range from OEM CAD data and 3-D scanning and printing to vehicle measuring sessions and more. But that has not always been the case.

As conducting business in the automotive specialty-equipment market becomes increasingly complex and competitive, business owners from all walks of the industry are looking for an edge that will help their businesses thrive and grow. As a result, companies need an increasing amount of information to make sound decisions for both the short- and long-term future.

Helping SEMA-member companies expand their businesses domestically and internationally is a key tenet of SEMA’s mission. On the domestic front, the most well known and well established is, of course, the annual SEMA Show, which just completed its 53rd year as the premier trade venue to buy, sell and market the products and services that drive the industry.

Manufacturers’ representatives are key channel partners. They are in the unique position to connect with virtually every aspect of the supply chain. From sales calls to warehouse distributors, retailers and installers in the territories they represent to their in-depth product and industry knowledge and sales expertise, reps provide valuable professional services to the manufacturers they represent.

From its early days as the Street Rod Marketing Alliance (SRMA) to what is now the Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA), the hot-rod industry has been a formidable force within the specialty-equipment market. In keeping with its efforts to provide business-building resources, the council has always ranked education as a top priority. Nowhere is the focus on learning experiences more in evidence than at the National Street Rod Association (NSRA) Street Rod Nationals.