Exhibiting at the SEMA Show for the first time needn’t be overwhelming. With a little research and preplanning, any manufacturer—regardless of size or experience—can create an effective, sales-producing strategy and leave the Show with orders in hand and leads to pursue. When the SEMA Show convenes at the Las Vegas Convention Center November 1–4, 2011, a new area devoted to First-Time and Featured Exhibitors will be housed on the east side of the South Hall’s upper level, and a full 80% of the hundreds of booths in that area will represent first-time exhibitors. The following list of 15 tips is intended to help those first-timers optimize their planning and increase their chances for the most successful SEMA Show possible. And they are also excellent reminders for veterans of SEMA Shows past.
If you’ve never been an exhibitor at the SEMA Show, it’s hard to know exactly what to expect. That was especially true for Mike Poore, president of Feed Master, who literally signed up to exhibit the day before the 2010 SEMA Show opened. He was able to purchase a 10x10-ft. booth due to a cancellation, but that meant he had less than 24 hours to pack his display, drive from Arizona to Las Vegas and then set up his exhibit. Despite the challenges, Poore was able to establish contacts with both domestic and international buyers, grow his brand and get media attention for his invention. In the following interview with SEMA News, Poore offers his advice to this year’s class of freshmen exhibitors.
Thousands of writers, editors and commentators will flock to Las Vegas from November 1–4 to gather material for their publications, blogs and broadcasts. Don’t assume that the media will find you just because you’re exhibiting, however. They will be surrounded by nearly 2,000 businesses that would love to receive publicity, so they will go to those companies whose products they find interesting. SEMA has tools that will help ensure that they know about yours.
With more than 360 companies exhibiting at the 2011 SEMA Show for the first time, the new freshmen class represents an unprecedented opportunity for buyers to connect with new manufacturers and new suppliers.
In fact, recent Show data points to a 48% increase in buyer registration compared to this same time last year. Enthusiasm seems to be on an upward trend, with interest in the SEMA Show among the highest we’ve seen in recent years, according to SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting. The following represents a list of first-time exhibitors as of July 25, 2011.
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Those not familiar with the MTC event can think of it as “speed dating” between manufacturers and media. It’s designed to facilitate rapid exchange of information between the parties at hand.
This year’s SEMA Show included a specially designed, purpose-built headquarters for the tire industry. A show within a show, the Global Tire Expo—Powered by Tire Industry Association (TIA) was created to focus attention on tire-industry innovations and opportunities. Judging by the positive reactions of all involved, the Expo concept turned out to be a great idea.
A special group of enthusiasts entered the Las Vegas Convention Center on the final day of the 2010 SEMA Show. Despite the trade-only attendance rule, this select group was granted a “golden ticket” through the SEMA Opinion Leader Program.
“I’ve long considered myself lucky to work in an industry I love and serve as an advocate for issues that have such a tremendous impact on the future of the automotive aftermarket,” Spagnola said.
The economy and the environment have been the major drivers for many markets over the last three years, and they have also been consistent topics of conversation among tire and wheel experts. The tire industry underwent a sort of accordion buckling in inventory as the economic slowdown led consumers to balk at anything other than critical expenditures and then pent-up demand caused a sudden resurgence.
At the 2010 SEMA Show there were more than 2,000 new products submitted for consideration in the New Products Showcase—shattering all previous records. Presented in 15 categories, the New Product Awards highlight the industry’s innovation and represent the first of many accolades for the winners.