As the industry’s premier trade association, SEMA has long celebrated the spirit of volunteerism that prompts many of these individuals to give back. In fact, the association depends on such volunteerism for its very existence—its Board of Directors and council leadership are composed entirely of aftermarket professionals who donate their own time and talents to advance the industry’s goals. To support and recognize these leaders, SEMA again presented its annual Leadership Summit program July 25–27, at the Sheraton Fairplex Conference Center in Pomona, California. The following are some highlights from the three-day industry gathering.

Put Your New and Featured Products Front and Center

Each year, hundreds of specialty-equipment businesses debut their newest products at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas. If you’re an exhibitor in search of buyer and press attention for your latest and greatest innovations, there’s no better way to get it than the Ideas Alive: Featuring the New Product Showcase section.

SEMA’s Vehicle Technology Center

One of the central principles of lean customization is the Japanese term Genchi Genbutsu, which means “go and see.” To truly understand new business opportunities and the impact vehicle technology is having on automotive specialty-equipment products, you need to Go to the Gemba—the place where value and meaning are created.

A Tidal Wave of New Exhibitors Have Committed to the 2012 SEMA Show

Last year, more than 600 hundred companies came to the SEMA Show for the first time, bringing their hottest products. It’s still early, but all indications are that the final count of first-time exhibitors will be just as strong for SEMA 2012. For buyers, this will be the year’s best opportunity to connect with new manufacturers and suppliers.

Early Preparation Is the Key to a Successful Show

The SEMA Show draws hundreds of new exhibitors every year. Six hundred companies were first-time exhibitors at last year’s Show, and this year’s Show is expected to surpass that number. In fact, there is an entire section of the floor dedicated solely to new and featured exhibitors.

Exhibiting for the first time at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas may seem daunting, but the association and ConvExx, the Show’s organizers, provide a wealth of information about how to prepare, get set up and ensure the best return on investment. From learning the lingo to keeping track of sales leads, there are plenty of resources that will help first-timers—and seasoned veterans—connect with the right buyers for the best partnerships. It all begins with a visit to the official Show website and the Exhibitor Manual.

The SEMA Show is a trade-only event, exclusive to those working in the specialty-equipment industry. For consumers, this means that catching a glimpse of the Show floor is possible only by scanning the latest newspapers, magazines and webpages for articles filed by attending media. During the 2011 SEMA Show, however, a special group of enthusiasts were granted access to the Las Vegas Convention Center on Thursday, November 3. Invited by SEMA to participate in a social-media campaign, these attendees had a special mission—identify at least five hot, new products and broadcast their opinions across the Internet.

Hurst, Street Scene Equipment, Dodge and SEMA teamed up with a group of industry-leading companies to build two custom Dodges—a Charger and an Avenger. Both vehicles were auctioned on eBay, generating proceeds that will benefit the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund (SMSF). The Charger sold for $45,001, while the Avenger sold for $21,605.

The Tire Industry Association (TIA) and SEMA joined forces in 2010 to bring the Global Tire Expo (GTE)—Powered by TIA to the SEMA Show halls. Billed as “a show within a show,” the specially designed tire industry exposition was an all-around hit with exhibitors and buyers alike. The only question was what a 2011 encore would bring. As it turned out, the second time around proved that the Expo not only has staying power, but also has truly come of age.

A total of 150 SEMA Show exhibitors received international recognition for 257 new products released at the 2011 SEMA Show. This eighth edition of the Global Media Awards program brought together 26 top journalists from 12 countries. Each of them were given the difficult task of selecting 10 products from the Ideas Alive: New Products Showcase that they felt would resonate and appeal most to consumers in their home countries. After 1,850 new products were reviewed and the judges votes were tallied, PLX Devices came out on top with eight Global Media Awards, having received the nod from judges based in Mexico, Brazil and New Zealand as well as the United Kingdom and Sweden.