Serious Business

Serious Business


SEMA Education Builders' Panel
››› The SEMA Education builders panel (left to right): moderator RJ de Vera, TJ Hunt, Bisi Ezerioha, Gabby Downing and Kyle Kuhnhausen.

 

A Real-World Builders' Look at How to Get a Vehicle Project Sponsored

T. J. Hunt has more than two million followers on YouTube. He pioneered automotive influencing and has turned it into a lucrative career. At the 2022 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, he was on a panel during a session entitled "How to Get a Sponsor for Your Next Build."

"You're not going to get sponsored because you're cool," said the president of Hunt and Company, an apparel business he launched. "It's because that company thinks you're going to make them more sales. For a start, you have to see yourself as a salesman for that company."

The session was one of more than 70 educational presentations during the Show that ran last November at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Joining Hunt were RJ de Vera, SEMA vice president of marketing, who moderated the session; Bisi Ezerioha, president of Bisimoto Engineering in Ontario, California; Kyle Kuhnhausen, founder and president of Kuhnhausen Metal Concepts in Creswell, Oregon; and popular content creator and competitor Gabby Downing from Fredericksburg, Virginia.

All the panelists had humble starts. Ezerioha is originally from Nigeria and worked his way up from building a Honda CRX drag car to racing for American Honda. Today, he has relationships with many original equipment manufacturers. Kuhnhausen and Downing both started with Hondas as well, with Kuhnhausen winning the Young Guns category in the 2018 SEMA Battle of the Builders. Downing has driven drift cars, off-road vehicles and started with videos on basic repairs, including oil changes. She recently bought a C5 Corvette and is one of the most popular influencers in the automotive aftermarket.

"These are great examples of people who started building a car and now they have these great businesses," said de Vera. "For us at SEMA, a pillar is the idea of innovation and opportunity. Innovation isn't just about building the business, it's about building yourself."

Inevitably, a first project is going to start in a person's garage and it's going to be self-funded. A build also needs to be chronicled so others can follow the story. Recalling his experience in the Battle of the Builders, Kuhnhausen said, "It takes guts to start a build and put it all on social."

Most first-timers start with what they're given, noted de Vera. Ezerioha's first modification was by accident. He had an '88 Honda CRX HF. He started his car one morning and the exhaust was louder than usual because it was perforated. "It sounded cool, and I liked it," he said. He went to a local Honda dealer and got a quote of $600 to fix it. "I couldn't afford it, so I went to a local muffler shop and they put a Dynomax Ultraflow on my car," he said.

The HF designation for his car stood for high fuel economy, and Ezerioha called that a "blessing in disguise" because it was the lightest CRX made. He got into drag racing and when it came to interacting with people in the pits, Ezerioha did what came naturally. All the other competitors kept to themselves to try to maintain a competitive advantage. But Ezerioha was an open book. He had his sponsors' literature displayed on a table and he interacted with fans. A representative from American Honda noticed Ezerioha's efforts and asked if he would race for the company. "My passion is what allowed me to attract a financial sponsorship," he said.

Downing started with her own CRX. "I had just gotten out of high school and I needed something that was old and affordable, and a Civic was too boring," she said. "It had 18-in. wheels that were way too big and had two big subwoofers in the back. I modded it, I raced it and I rallied it."

Hunt started with a BMW 328, saying, "I did some V6 things to try to make it fast, tuning and springs and taillight tints, just some basic stuff; but that's kind of what cracked the seal for me. Then I got into the forums and trying to figure it all out."

It Starts With Parts

The first step in the sponsorship process is usually parts. Ezerioha's first backing came from SoCal Racing Wheels. "I met with the owner and he was an engineer as well, and we just hit it off," he said. "It taught me early on that relationships are important with sponsorships."

Kuhnhausen was four years into a five-year build and took the car to a local show in Oregon. He met the president of Radium Engineering of Clackamas, Oregon, which makes performance accessories for cars and trucks. "He loved the passion I had and the innovation I was doing on the car, and he said, 'Give me a call and we'll get you whatever you need," said Kuhnhausen.

He continued, "I made the call and about a week later, an unmarked package showed up on my door. I said, 'That's cool, this guy believes in me so much that he's willing to help me amplify my build,' which went on to win the Young Guns division of Battle of the Builders and "kind of got my career going." Today, Kuhnhausen is a Battle of the Builders judge.

All the cars that KMC builds now get Radium parts. "I've got a lot more eyes on what I do to feed business their way, so it's a cool relationship," said Kuhnhausen. "They gave me the early edge and now I can give that back."

Early in her career, Downing got lots of parts sent to her to use in videos. One of her earliest partners was BFGoodrich. When the tire giant first reached out to her, she thought someone was pranking her.

"I have had a hard time understanding my value and believing that I had anything to give back," she said. "When they reached out and believed in me and my value and being different, [they became] someone I wanted to continue to work with."

Hunt was running a Subaru BRZ and sent an email to Subaru parts distributors to introduce himself. "I got lucky because the person who saw the email was 18 and actually a viewer of my channel," said Hunt. "His boss was probably twice his age and had no idea."

Hunt landed a phone call with the boss and explained his presence on YouTube. He explained that if they gave him a store credit on parts, Hunt would do install videos.

"They took a shot in the dark and it was a hit for them," said Hunt. "It opened up that door and showed me how to leverage what I had."

Cashing In

Once a shop or individual is successful, the relationship often organically moves to the next level—financial sponsorships.

Downing said that her first financial sponsor remains a partner today. "They saw what I could do if I had financial assistance," she said. "I'm all about proving myself and making content and showing it."

Kuhnhausen's content has always been based on his build process. "I found a company that I don't have to sell their product because my simply using their product sells their product and that's SendCutSend laser cutting service," he said. "The partners you want to work with are the ones that you would still be working with even if you didn't have a deal."

Hunt's first financial sponsorship came through de Vera when the latter worked in marketing for Meguiar's Inc. Today the wax and polish company is Hunt's longest-standing partner. "You need to know the sponsor's demographic better than your own," he said. "What do they have and not have."

De Vera saw Hunt's reach firsthand at a show that Meguiar's was sponsoring. There was a long line made up primarily of young attendees waiting for as long as two hours for Hunt and company merchandise. Meguiar's was a brand known for appealing to the older hot-rod crowd, not the young drift-car enthusiasts.

When Hunt and de Vera started talking, the former explained that he could deliver that audience to Meguiar's.

"You need to fully understand that you're a salesman, know the demographic, what they're studying, what they're looking for," said Hunt.

Added Downing, "Once I took myself seriously, brands saw that," she said. "I shifted to promoting myself as a business and not a person."

 

NEW PRODUCTS PREVIEW

As of August 15, 2023

Lakewood Bellhousing Bolt Kit for Mopar Gen III to T-56/T-56 Magnum

Lakewood has specialized in safety from the beginning. These Lakewood Bellhousing Bolts are no different. Built from high-strength chromoly steel, then black oxide-coated for a tough, long-lasting finish. This bolt kit provides the necessary fasteners to connect your bellhousing to both the engine (LS or LT) and transmission (T-56 or T-56 Magnum). The entire kit consists of 10.9/Grade 8 bolts, and it's included in purchase of an LK7100K bellhousing.

holley.com

Ranger TruSensor TPMS Tool Kit

With the portable TS58R in hand, technicians will be able to view Sensor Battery Life, Tire Pressure, Broadcast Frequency, Sensor ID, as well as tire location. Its universal interface can relearn all known 315-MHz and 433-MHz sensors, including aftermarket and OE types. The TS58R has four modes for programming new sensors: copy by activation, manual input, auto-create ID (up to five sensors at a time) and copy by OBD. Other essential TPMS service capabilities include Manual Input ID, Duplicate ID, Automatic Create ID, Sensor Position Change, and Modify ID functions.

bendpak.com

Ingersoll-Rand W311 IQV20 1/4-in. Compact Impact Driver

Ingersoll Rand grows its IQV20 system with the W3111 IQV20 1/4-in. Compact Impact Driver. Its brushless motor delivers up to 4,200 in.-lbs. of breakaway torque to quickly complete demanding applications. A compact form factor with 5.2-in. tip-to-tail length and weight under 2.3 lbs. provide excellent control and maneuverability in tight workspaces.

ingersollrand.com

Astro Tools Goliath Ball Joint Service Tool & Master Adapter Set

Astro's latest large forged-alloy C-frame press features industry-leading strength and both a wider opening and longer arms to more easily fit adapters. The set includes all the receiver tubes and removing/installing adapters needed to work on press-fit upper and lower ball joints. It works on 2WD and 4WD domestic and import vehicles through the '20s. It includes information for more than 1,100 applications. All forged adapters and screws are grade-12.9 heat-treated for max durability.

astrotools.com

Beta Tools 12V Multipurpose Portable Starter

Beta Tools' new 12V multipurpose charger uses a starting current of 600 amps and a pickup current of 1,500 amps. The four-cell, LifePo4 battery has a capacity of 25,000 milliamp-hours and protects against polarity reversal, short-circuit, overcurrent, overcharge and overheating. It's supplied with a protective case, cable with starting clamps, USB ports for charging electronic devices, an LED battery charge indicator, USB and USB-C cables, and multifunction LED lighting,

betatoolsusa.com

Bauer 20V Brushless Cordless 1/2-in. Impact Wrench

The Bauer 20V Brushless Cordless 1/2-in. High-Torque Impact Wrench delivers 1000 ft.-lb. of bolt breakaway torque at speeds up to 1,800 rpm to power-off nuts and bolts fast. The three-speed selector operates at 0-700, 0-1,400 and 0-1,800. A built-in LED light provides superior work visibility. Pair up with the Bauer 3 Ah battery pack or greater to deliver more work per charge and more work over the life of the pack.

harborfreight.com

Boxo USA Pro Series 45-in., 11-Drawer Bottom Roll Tool Cabinet

Ideal for the seasoned mechanic, professional technician as well as the homeowner who likes to be organized, each Pro Series toolbox works perfectly with our large choice of tools. They're constructed from strong 18-gauge spot-welded steel with gusset-reinforced corners, full-length beam supports (where applicable) and multiple strategically placed spot welds for long life. Each full-length drawer uses a soft-slide design with an all-steel ball-bearings rated at 100 lbs. per slide. They're available in white with black drawers or black with gray drawers.

boxousa.com

 

TOOLS & EQUIPMENT

As of August 15, 2023

AC Hydraulic A/S 35119

ADAS Aiming 38239

Adenna LLC 35133

Advantage Lifts 38087

AirBoss Air Tools Co. Ltd. 38161

AIRCAT 36135

AirHoseRepairKit.com 35113

AirSept Inc. 36237

AIRVANTAGE TOOLS 36067

Alkota Cleaning Systems 39225

Alpine Bender Machinery 35095

Alsco Uniforms 39223

Amgo Hydraulic Corp. 38139

Anglo American Tools 36118

Anhui Xunchi Tools & Equipment Co. Ltd. 12772

ANSED Diagnostic Solutions 39167

Ansell 37129

APlusLift Car Lift Products 39238

Ascent Systems Inc. 36030

Assembly Tool Specialists Inc. 35241

Atlantic Safety Products Inc. 35067

Atlas Copco Compressors 35071

AUTOBUFF 39043

AUTOLINE PRO 39065

AUTONOMOUS 13173

Badass Workbench 37097

Bad Dog Tools 35043

Baileigh 36073

BendPak/Cool Boss/JackPak 35137

Bend-Tech 38171

Best Guard 38187

Beta Tools 37113

Big Ass Fans 36087

Bissell Commercial/Speedy Sweep 36152

BLM GROUP 38037

Boss Tables 37183

Brush Research Manufacturing 35065

Buddy Load Binder Attachment 12382

Cabinets By Hayley 36117

CARKU Technology Co. Ltd. 37050

CAROSS USA 39173

Cattini Oleopneumatica S.r.l. 36124

Cementex Products Inc. 12182

Champion Pneumatic 35055

CHANNELLOCK Inc. 36055

ChargeDNA 12283

CIC POWERBOX LLC 36231

ClampTite Tools LLC 36066

Cobra/Detroit Torch 36160

Cool-A-Zone 36064

Creaform 35191

The Creative Product Group Inc. 11642

CRIPPA SPA 35175

CTA Tools 35217

DEA WORKY North America Inc. 37141

Dongguan Karlux Precision Machinery Science & Technology Co. Ltd. 11424

Durofix Inc. 37119

Dynabrade 37055

Edwards Manufacturing 36073

Enter Corp. 35033

Epilog Laser 35037

Ernst Manufacturing Inc. 35201

ETA Manufacturing Sdn Bhd 11429

E-XTEQ LLC 38027

Fanttik 37221

FAST PULLER by GUNIWHEEL 36193

FCAR TECH USA LLC 11349

FILCAR 48193

Fireball Tool 37201

Flagro USA Inc. 35223

Flo-Dynamics/Norco Lifting Equipment 36095

Full Spectrum Laser 12482

Fuyang Tongli Industrial Co. Ltd. 38133

Garage Royalty Products Inc. 12483

GARTEC 49192

GEDORE Tools 36240

GrandPaw Tools 39107

Green Air Link Corp. 36200

Greentech Dryers srl 49200

GripEdge Tools 13167

GT Tools 36162

Guang Yang Industrial Works 39077

Guangzhou Palmergrip Metal
Products Co. Ltd. 35115

Guangzhou TAWA Hi Tech Co. Ltd. 35213

GUNIWHEEL LLC 35195

Haas Automation Inc. 36211

Hangzhou Black Box 3D Technology Co. Ltd. 12369

Harbor Freight 38047

HEM INC/HE&M SAW Inc. 36060

Hertz Kompressoren USA 35251

Homak 38017

Horizon Tool Inc. 36206

Huizhou Cartee Electric
& Machinery Co. Ltd. 37248

Huth Ben Pearson International 36032

Industrial Fan Co. 37241

Industrial Gold Air Compressors 35025

Ingersoll Rand 35087

Innova Electronics 38151

Ironclad Performance Wear 12874

iSCAN BY Autoland Scientech 38183

Jeoutay Liu Industrial Co. Ltd. 37237

JM3 Oil Filter Wrench 12663

J.W. Winco Inc. 12083

Kaeser Compressors Inc. 36109

K&L Supply Co. 12244

KATOOL 37231

Kingdom Abrasive Corp. 36216

KNIPEX Tools 36141

KnKut Drill Bits & Cutting Tools 35235

Koken USA 36205

Krebs Brothers 38111

Kukko Quality Tools Inc. 36156

Lang Tools 35107

Last Drop Wrench LLC 36204

Launch Tech USA 38101

LDS Industries LLC 38235

LEDLENSER USA 35237

Levrack LLC 37149

LockNLube 38129

Lokithor 12669

LS Industries 36226

Lyon LLC 39234

Makita USA Inc. 11416

Mastech Innovation Ltd. 12783

MaverickCNC Plasma Tables 37135

Mayhew Tools 35171

Mega Compressor 37213

Millner-Haufen Tool Co. 35163

Milton Industries 37039

Milwaukee Sprayer Mfg. 37217

Mobile Tool Network 36212

Moduline Cabinets 36061

Mohawk Lifts LLC. 36189

Mueller-Kueps LP 35147

Nantong CheliTools Co. Ltd. 36236

NextLED 35239

Ningbo Chima Winch Co. Ltd. 38216

Ningbo Huasheng Air Compressors Co. Ltd. 38249

Ningbo Wuma Electric Appliance Co. Ltd. 11445

Nitrous Keys 35205

Ohio Brush Works 38212

OMER USA Inc. 37047

OmniWallUSA 36181

Panaro USA Inc. 12753

Parker Hannifin 37087

PICHLER Tools 12865

Pollution Control Products Co. 35185

Portacool 35049

Portasol 35233

Powerbuilt and Caterpillar 37155

Power Probe Group 36103

Precision Instruments Inc. 38233

Prologics Europe Ltd. 36232

Proslat 12571

Puffer (Taizhou) Machinery Co. Ltd. 39111

Puma Industries Inc. 39248

Qingdao Toolstar Tools Co. Ltd. 12458

QJT Group 37240

Quantum Machinery Group 38069

RAASM USA Inc. 36158

RAISE3D 37109

Rapid Air Products 36153

Raxwell Industries LLC 39035

Red Kap 36125

Redline Detection 37171

Revopoint Global Inc. 13083

Rhino Tuff Tanks LLC 36112

Rich Honest Machinery & Tools Co. Ltd. 35159

Rodman Drill 35031

ROGO Fastener Co. Inc. 37209

Rotary 36017

Roth North America 36228

Rousseau Métal Inc. 37067

Ryerson Inc. 11678

Safety-Kleen 36039

Sage Oil Vac/Acme Truck Body 39105

SAMSON Corp. 37236

San Antonio Laser 11543

SAS Safety Corp. 35103

Sawblade.com 36020

SEMA Garage: ADAS, Emissions,
Product Development 36007

Serra LightWELD-LightSAFE-LightBOT 38145

SFA Companies Inc. 35077

Shanghai Techway Industrial Co. Ltd. 13175

SHAVIV USA 35117

Shenzhen Southking Technology Co. Ltd. 39101

SHINING 3D Technology Inc. 12353

SILBERTOOL 11322

SK Tools USA LLC 38229

Soartec Industrial Corp. 39075

Socket Straps 36218

Spectro Wire & Cable Inc. 35017

SpringTools 35021

SP Tools USA 36199

Stahlwille Tools LLC 36241

Stand Tools Enterprise Co. Ltd. 35227

Steamericas Inc. 37061

Stertil-Koni USA 37073

Strategic Tools & Equipment Co. 35127

Stratus Auto Equipment 38211

STRINGO Inc. 13158

Strong Hand Tools 38119

Sumake North America 36161

Sunbright Tools Co. Ltd. 36222

SunFire Heaters 35229

Sunmatch Industrial Co. Ltd. 36051

Super Duty Fans 38205

SW Safety Solutions Inc. 13169

T.D. Premier Group LLC 39099

Temco Parts Washers 36234

Teslong 13171

THA HYDRAULICS 37091

Thexton Manufacturing Co. Inc. 35161

Titan, Star Asia USA LLC 38193

TONE TOOLS 39228

TOPDON 38221

Tracked Machines 38199

TRAK Machine Tools 37103

TR Tools LLC/Tite-reach Wrenches 35061

TRULERS 37046

TW Products 36238

TW Tools LLC 39229

Uniweld Products Inc. 35063

URREA Professional Tools 13069

ValvoMax 37249

VESSEL/SP AIR 35153

VIM Tools 38177

Vividia Technologies & Oasis Scientific Inc. 35125

Wallmek Tools 37177

Wera Tools NA Inc. 13168

Werther 36147

Wiha Tools 37189

Wilton 36073

Wuhu Yijing Hardware Tool
Manufactring Co. Ltd. 39103

Wuyi Mingrun industry & Trade Co. Ltd. 39109

Yongkang Lante Industry and Trade Co. Ltd. 12454

Zendex Tool Corp. 36171

Zhejiang Nanpu Pneumatic
Components Co. Ltd. 12282

Zhejiang Refine Wufu Air Tools Co. Ltd. 38236

Zhejiang Rongpeng Air Tools Co. Ltd. 35207

Zhejiang Safemate Automotive
Safety & Emergency 39236

Zhejiang Zhongyou Industry & Trade, Ltd. 39175

Zhuji Danbo Tools Co. Ltd. 38250

Zund America 36221

 

10 Questions for Mike Burns

10 Questions for Mike Burns


10 Question with Mike Burns

 

Mike Burns came to the specialty-equipment market after launching a successful career in finance. A holder of an MBA from the University of Colorado, he has worked as an analyst for energy companies such as ConocoPhilips and as a budget and resource director for the U.S. Air Force. A 2018 SEMA Launch Pad semifinalist, Burns developed his ValvoMax Quick Twist Valve to facilitate easy oil changes without the use of tools. The ValvoMax has sold more than 50,000 units to date, and for his efforts, Burns was named SEMA’s 2022 Gen-III Innovator of the Year at last year’s SEMA Show Industry Awards Banquet. The award recognizes young entrepreneurs (age 40 and under) for their innovations in the specialty-equipment market.

Show Preview spoke with Burns to learn some of his secrets of success. What follows has been edited for clarity and
length.

Show Preview: What’s your latest project? What’s in your garage/driveway/studio?

Mike Burns: Our latest project is a tool for oil filter removal. Others have attempted to solve the problem with an accordion-style device, a puncture device or a filter funnel tool, but these all fall short because they still leave a mess, are difficult to operate or are too expensive.

SP: What was your very first job, and what did you take away from it?

MB: My first real job was at Owasso Lawn Care in Oklahoma. These were long days working in the summer heat with friends from my church, but I learned the virtues of hard work and discipline.

SP: What was the inspiration for the ValvoMax Oil Drain System? How long did it take to devise a working prototype?

MB: I was changing my oil back in 2013 and it spilled in my hands, ran down my arm and poured on my driveway. To make matters worse, I stepped into the used oil pan up to my ankles. Then I had no easy way to transport what oil was remaining to a recycling center. After this horrible experience, I visited every automotive retail shop in my hometown looking for a better solution. But to my surprise, no solution existed. So I hired an automotive engineer, and we came up with a set of drawings. We made a few prototypes and I gave 10 samples to family and friends to test. We iterated several times and about two years later had a workable product.

SP: You were a semifinalist at SEMA Launch Pad. What lesson(s) did you learn from the experience, and how valuable was it in developing your
business?

MB: Launch Pad was a game-changer for me. For the first time, I got my product out into the open where it was exposed to critiques and constructive feedback. As of today, I still talk frequently with the other Launch Pad attendees I met back then.

SP: Describe your first SEMA Show. What do you remember most about it?

MB: My first SEMA Show coincided with being a semi-finalist at the SEMA Launch Pad in 2018, and it was an eye-opening experience. The scale of the Show is simply mind-boggling. I’ve been back to the Show each year since then.

SP: You’ve worked on the finance side for a number of different companies. How much help was that experience when you were first developing a business model for your own company?

MB: I couldn’t have asked for a better background than finance to run my company. At the end of the day, every business comes down to a set of numbers. Flows of money, assets and ideas are all governed by price, and to be successful you must be able to determine the worth of things.

SP: What’s your daily driver, and what do you like most about it?

MB: My daily driver is a Ford F-150. Being the owner of an oil-change products company means that oftentimes your daily driver is the first test vehicle for new product ideas. I can say with confidence that no other vehicle in the state of Texas has had its oil changed as often as my truck!

SP: What does winning the Gen-III Innovator of the Year award mean to you, and to your business?

MB: I was humbled to win the Gen-III Innovator of the Year Award, especially considering those who were also in the running for this award. My friends Alex Kay of RestorFX and Dustin Woolf of Woolfpack Racing, both finalists for the award, were equally deserving. They are both running great companies with cutting-edge products.

SP: For someone who’s thinking of starting their own automotive business, what advice would you offer them?

MB: As Oscar Wilde said, “Be yourself; everyone else is taken.” First, build your education foundation. I believe your degree should be of an analytical nature. Second, think big. Create a vision as to what problem you want to solve. Third, don’t look in the rearview mirror. Fourth, take risks and bet on yourself. Helen Keller wrote, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security is mostly a superstition.” Finally, persevere against all odds. Calvin Coolidge wrote, “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.”

SP: When you’re not working, where will we find you, and what will you be doing?

MB: I am active in my local church and our children’s school. I think it’s important to be involved in the community and give back to others. Aside from being involved in our church and school, I enjoy reading and spending time with family.

NEW PRODUCTS PREVIEW

As of August 15, 2023

Lakewood Bellhousing Bolt Kit for Mopar Gen III to T-56/T-56 Magnum

Lakewood has specialized in safety from the beginning. These Lakewood Bellhousing Bolts are no different. Built from high-strength chromoly steel, then black oxide-coated for a tough, long-lasting finish. This bolt kit provides the necessary fasteners to connect your bellhousing to both the engine (LS or LT) and transmission (T-56 or T-56 Magnum). The entire kit consists of 10.9/Grade 8 bolts, and it's included in purchase of an LK7100K bellhousing.

holley.com

Ranger TruSensor TPMS Tool Kit

With the portable TS58R in hand, technicians will be able to view Sensor Battery Life, Tire Pressure, Broadcast Frequency, Sensor ID, as well as tire location. Its universal interface can relearn all known 315-MHz and 433-MHz sensors, including aftermarket and OE types. The TS58R has four modes for programming new sensors: copy by activation, manual input, auto-create ID (up to five sensors at a time) and copy by OBD. Other essential TPMS service capabilities include Manual Input ID, Duplicate ID, Automatic Create ID, Sensor Position Change, and Modify ID functions.

bendpak.com

Ingersoll-Rand W311 IQV20 1/4-in. Compact Impact Driver

Ingersoll Rand grows its IQV20 system with the W3111 IQV20 1/4-in. Compact Impact Driver. Its brushless motor delivers up to 4,200 in.-lbs. of breakaway torque to quickly complete demanding applications. A compact form factor with 5.2-in. tip-to-tail length and weight under 2.3 lbs. provide excellent control and maneuverability in tight workspaces.

ingersollrand.com

Astro Tools Goliath Ball Joint Service Tool & Master Adapter Set

Astro's latest large forged-alloy C-frame press features industry-leading strength and both a wider opening and longer arms to more easily fit adapters. The set includes all the receiver tubes and removing/installing adapters needed to work on press-fit upper and lower ball joints. It works on 2WD and 4WD domestic and import vehicles through the '20s. It includes information for more than 1,100 applications. All forged adapters and screws are grade-12.9 heat-treated for max durability.

astrotools.com

Beta Tools 12V Multipurpose Portable Starter

Beta Tools' new 12V multipurpose charger uses a starting current of 600 amps and a pickup current of 1,500 amps. The four-cell, LifePo4 battery has a capacity of 25,000 milliamp-hours and protects against polarity reversal, short-circuit, overcurrent, overcharge and overheating. It's supplied with a protective case, cable with starting clamps, USB ports for charging electronic devices, an LED battery charge indicator, USB and USB-C cables, and multifunction LED lighting,

betatoolsusa.com

Bauer 20V Brushless Cordless 1/2-in. Impact Wrench

The Bauer 20V Brushless Cordless 1/2-in. High-Torque Impact Wrench delivers 1000 ft.-lb. of bolt breakaway torque at speeds up to 1,800 rpm to power-off nuts and bolts fast. The three-speed selector operates at 0-700, 0-1,400 and 0-1,800. A built-in LED light provides superior work visibility. Pair up with the Bauer 3 Ah battery pack or greater to deliver more work per charge and more work over the life of the pack.

harborfreight.com

Boxo USA Pro Series 45-in., 11-Drawer Bottom Roll Tool Cabinet

Ideal for the seasoned mechanic, professional technician as well as the homeowner who likes to be organized, each Pro Series toolbox works perfectly with our large choice of tools. They're constructed from strong 18-gauge spot-welded steel with gusset-reinforced corners, full-length beam supports (where applicable) and multiple strategically placed spot welds for long life. Each full-length drawer uses a soft-slide design with an all-steel ball-bearings rated at 100 lbs. per slide. They're available in white with black drawers or black with gray drawers.

boxousa.com

 

TOOLS & EQUIPMENT

As of August 15, 2023

AC Hydraulic A/S 35119

ADAS Aiming 38239

Adenna LLC 35133

Advantage Lifts 38087

AirBoss Air Tools Co. Ltd. 38161

AIRCAT 36135

AirHoseRepairKit.com 35113

AirSept Inc. 36237

AIRVANTAGE TOOLS 36067

Alkota Cleaning Systems 39225

Alpine Bender Machinery 35095

Alsco Uniforms 39223

Amgo Hydraulic Corp. 38139

Anglo American Tools 36118

Anhui Xunchi Tools & Equipment Co. Ltd. 12772

ANSED Diagnostic Solutions 39167

Ansell 37129

APlusLift Car Lift Products 39238

Ascent Systems Inc. 36030

Assembly Tool Specialists Inc. 35241

Atlantic Safety Products Inc. 35067

Atlas Copco Compressors 35071

AUTOBUFF 39043

AUTOLINE PRO 39065

AUTONOMOUS 13173

Badass Workbench 37097

Bad Dog Tools 35043

Baileigh 36073

BendPak/Cool Boss/JackPak 35137

Bend-Tech 38171

Best Guard 38187

Beta Tools 37113

Big Ass Fans 36087

Bissell Commercial/Speedy Sweep 36152

BLM GROUP 38037

Boss Tables 37183

Brush Research Manufacturing 35065

Buddy Load Binder Attachment 12382

Cabinets By Hayley 36117

CARKU Technology Co. Ltd. 37050

CAROSS USA 39173

Cattini Oleopneumatica S.r.l. 36124

Cementex Products Inc. 12182

Champion Pneumatic 35055

CHANNELLOCK Inc. 36055

ChargeDNA 12283

CIC POWERBOX LLC 36231

ClampTite Tools LLC 36066

Cobra/Detroit Torch 36160

Cool-A-Zone 36064

Creaform 35191

The Creative Product Group Inc. 11642

CRIPPA SPA 35175

CTA Tools 35217

DEA WORKY North America Inc. 37141

Dongguan Karlux Precision Machinery Science & Technology Co. Ltd. 11424

Durofix Inc. 37119

Dynabrade 37055

Edwards Manufacturing 36073

Enter Corp. 35033

Epilog Laser 35037

Ernst Manufacturing Inc. 35201

ETA Manufacturing Sdn Bhd 11429

E-XTEQ LLC 38027

Fanttik 37221

FAST PULLER by GUNIWHEEL 36193

FCAR TECH USA LLC 11349

FILCAR 48193

Fireball Tool 37201

Flagro USA Inc. 35223

Flo-Dynamics/Norco Lifting Equipment 36095

Full Spectrum Laser 12482

Fuyang Tongli Industrial Co. Ltd. 38133

Garage Royalty Products Inc. 12483

GARTEC 49192

GEDORE Tools 36240

GrandPaw Tools 39107

Green Air Link Corp. 36200

Greentech Dryers srl 49200

GripEdge Tools 13167

GT Tools 36162

Guang Yang Industrial Works 39077

Guangzhou Palmergrip Metal
Products Co. Ltd. 35115

Guangzhou TAWA Hi Tech Co. Ltd. 35213

GUNIWHEEL LLC 35195

Haas Automation Inc. 36211

Hangzhou Black Box 3D Technology Co. Ltd. 12369

Harbor Freight 38047

HEM INC/HE&M SAW Inc. 36060

Hertz Kompressoren USA 35251

Homak 38017

Horizon Tool Inc. 36206

Huizhou Cartee Electric
& Machinery Co. Ltd. 37248

Huth Ben Pearson International 36032

Industrial Fan Co. 37241

Industrial Gold Air Compressors 35025

Ingersoll Rand 35087

Innova Electronics 38151

Ironclad Performance Wear 12874

iSCAN BY Autoland Scientech 38183

Jeoutay Liu Industrial Co. Ltd. 37237

JM3 Oil Filter Wrench 12663

J.W. Winco Inc. 12083

Kaeser Compressors Inc. 36109

K&L Supply Co. 12244

KATOOL 37231

Kingdom Abrasive Corp. 36216

KNIPEX Tools 36141

KnKut Drill Bits & Cutting Tools 35235

Koken USA 36205

Krebs Brothers 38111

Kukko Quality Tools Inc. 36156

Lang Tools 35107

Last Drop Wrench LLC 36204

Launch Tech USA 38101

LDS Industries LLC 38235

LEDLENSER USA 35237

Levrack LLC 37149

LockNLube 38129

Lokithor 12669

LS Industries 36226

Lyon LLC 39234

Makita USA Inc. 11416

Mastech Innovation Ltd. 12783

MaverickCNC Plasma Tables 37135

Mayhew Tools 35171

Mega Compressor 37213

Millner-Haufen Tool Co. 35163

Milton Industries 37039

Milwaukee Sprayer Mfg. 37217

Mobile Tool Network 36212

Moduline Cabinets 36061

Mohawk Lifts LLC. 36189

Mueller-Kueps LP 35147

Nantong CheliTools Co. Ltd. 36236

NextLED 35239

Ningbo Chima Winch Co. Ltd. 38216

Ningbo Huasheng Air Compressors Co. Ltd. 38249

Ningbo Wuma Electric Appliance Co. Ltd. 11445

Nitrous Keys 35205

Ohio Brush Works 38212

OMER USA Inc. 37047

OmniWallUSA 36181

Panaro USA Inc. 12753

Parker Hannifin 37087

PICHLER Tools 12865

Pollution Control Products Co. 35185

Portacool 35049

Portasol 35233

Powerbuilt and Caterpillar 37155

Power Probe Group 36103

Precision Instruments Inc. 38233

Prologics Europe Ltd. 36232

Proslat 12571

Puffer (Taizhou) Machinery Co. Ltd. 39111

Puma Industries Inc. 39248

Qingdao Toolstar Tools Co. Ltd. 12458

QJT Group 37240

Quantum Machinery Group 38069

RAASM USA Inc. 36158

RAISE3D 37109

Rapid Air Products 36153

Raxwell Industries LLC 39035

Red Kap 36125

Redline Detection 37171

Revopoint Global Inc. 13083

Rhino Tuff Tanks LLC 36112

Rich Honest Machinery & Tools Co. Ltd. 35159

Rodman Drill 35031

ROGO Fastener Co. Inc. 37209

Rotary 36017

Roth North America 36228

Rousseau Métal Inc. 37067

Ryerson Inc. 11678

Safety-Kleen 36039

Sage Oil Vac/Acme Truck Body 39105

SAMSON Corp. 37236

San Antonio Laser 11543

SAS Safety Corp. 35103

Sawblade.com 36020

SEMA Garage: ADAS, Emissions,
Product Development 36007

Serra LightWELD-LightSAFE-LightBOT 38145

SFA Companies Inc. 35077

Shanghai Techway Industrial Co. Ltd. 13175

SHAVIV USA 35117

Shenzhen Southking Technology Co. Ltd. 39101

SHINING 3D Technology Inc. 12353

SILBERTOOL 11322

SK Tools USA LLC 38229

Soartec Industrial Corp. 39075

Socket Straps 36218

Spectro Wire & Cable Inc. 35017

SpringTools 35021

SP Tools USA 36199

Stahlwille Tools LLC 36241

Stand Tools Enterprise Co. Ltd. 35227

Steamericas Inc. 37061

Stertil-Koni USA 37073

Strategic Tools & Equipment Co. 35127

Stratus Auto Equipment 38211

STRINGO Inc. 13158

Strong Hand Tools 38119

Sumake North America 36161

Sunbright Tools Co. Ltd. 36222

SunFire Heaters 35229

Sunmatch Industrial Co. Ltd. 36051

Super Duty Fans 38205

SW Safety Solutions Inc. 13169

T.D. Premier Group LLC 39099

Temco Parts Washers 36234

Teslong 13171

THA HYDRAULICS 37091

Thexton Manufacturing Co. Inc. 35161

Titan, Star Asia USA LLC 38193

TONE TOOLS 39228

TOPDON 38221

Tracked Machines 38199

TRAK Machine Tools 37103

TR Tools LLC/Tite-reach Wrenches 35061

TRULERS 37046

TW Products 36238

TW Tools LLC 39229

Uniweld Products Inc. 35063

URREA Professional Tools 13069

ValvoMax 37249

VESSEL/SP AIR 35153

VIM Tools 38177

Vividia Technologies & Oasis Scientific Inc. 35125

Wallmek Tools 37177

Wera Tools NA Inc. 13168

Werther 36147

Wiha Tools 37189

Wilton 36073

Wuhu Yijing Hardware Tool
Manufactring Co. Ltd. 39103

Wuyi Mingrun industry & Trade Co. Ltd. 39109

Yongkang Lante Industry and Trade Co. Ltd. 12454

Zendex Tool Corp. 36171

Zhejiang Nanpu Pneumatic
Components Co. Ltd. 12282

Zhejiang Refine Wufu Air Tools Co. Ltd. 38236

Zhejiang Rongpeng Air Tools Co. Ltd. 35207

Zhejiang Safemate Automotive
Safety & Emergency 39236

Zhejiang Zhongyou Industry & Trade, Ltd. 39175

Zhuji Danbo Tools Co. Ltd. 38250

Zund America 36221

 

Product Liability: Protecting the Assets of Your Company

Product Liability: Protecting the Assets of Your Company


Having Coverage Isn't Enough. You Must Ensure That Coverage Is Adequate.


››› Product liability insurance is like life insurance for a manufacturing company—you need to know the right questions to ask before purchasing coverage.

For any company or corporate executive team, responding to an unexpected liability-insurance claim is not the time to find out that the business' coverage is inadequate.

"We've had situations where someone was looking and they wish they found us three months ago," said Bob Corwin, senior vice president of Alliant Insurance Services, an insurance consulting and brokerage service based in Irvine, California.

Added Corwin's partner, Franco Ganino, also a senior vice president at Alliant, "The ultimate goal is to provide defense should someone allege that their property has been damaged or they've been injured in some way through the use of your product."

They made these statements during a recent webinar (the video can be viewed at https://learning.sema.org/on-demand-
video) hosted by SEMA's Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC).

Corwin and Ganino explained that Alliant Insurance Services does not sell insurance, but acts as a consultant for SEMA members.

"We're here to make sure SEMA members are protected properly," said Corwin.

Starting with the basics, he and Ganino described product liability insurance as life insurance for a manufacturing company. It will protect a company from financial loss arising out of claims because it transfers the burden from the corporation to the insurance company.

"Product liability is a critical element of transferring risk away from a manufacturer's balance sheet," said Ganino. It will pay for defense costs should there be a need to hire an attorney and will indemnify a third party for damages if needed.

Technically speaking, product liability coverage is a subset of a general liability policy. It can be purchased individually, but most often, it's part of a package. Part of the decision to purchase coverage can include determining that your company doesn't need it. There are three paths a company can take. "You can transfer the risk by buying insurance," said Ganino. "You can avoid the risk by not making the product, and the last one is to assume the risk."

A typical liability policy generally covers a company's aggregate, products/completed, operations aggregate, personal and advertising injury, per occurrence, fire legal liability and medical payment.

Bob Corwin

Franco Ganino

››› Bob Corwin (left), Alliant Insurance Services senior vice president, and Franco Ganino, Alliant Insurance Services senior vice president.

General policy limits start at $1 million with policy limits of $2 million for general aggregate; $2 million for products/completed, operations aggregate; $1 million for personal and advertising injury; $1 million per occurrence; $1 million for fire legal liability; and $5,000 for medical payments.

When it comes to assessing the risks and how much insurance is needed, the overall value of the company's assets and the level of risk based on the products are key considerations. For example, if a company uses a wholesale distributor for its products, the manufacturer will want to be protected if someone buys through the distributor and files a claim.

When shopping for liability insurance, a company should be aware of endorsements that exclude specific parts or uses of products. For example, an insurance policy could be considered to be "full coverage," but it has an endorsement in the fine print for safety equipment or tires. If the company makes either of these two items and there's a claim, there would be no coverage because of the endorsements.

Worldwide coverage is required for companies that do business outside their home country. "If you're going to carry a distribution center in Germany, at that point you need to work with an agent that allows you to have defense in that country's legal system," said Ganino.

Obviously, the goal is to never have to use product liability insurance, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be taken seriously. A liability policy that isn't tailored to your company and its products won't help when a claim is filed, so do your homework and make sure the broker and the coverage are what your company needs.

"Make sure your agent has oil in his or her DNA," advised Ganino.

BUSINESS SERVICES

As of August 15, 2023

Acima Leasing 12016

Acumatica Cloud ERP 11861

American First Finance 11877

Ascentium Capital 12060

ASCxDetectAuto 12050

Atwix 12069

AutoLeap 11851

AutoPartsClubNation 11645

Autoserve1 12067

Autoshop Solutions 12064

Autotrader Classics 12022

BigCommerce 11231

Bright ENGenuity 11649

BuyAutoParts.com 11746

Caraggio 11817

The Carbon Offset Co. 12073

CardConnect 12054

Car-Part.com 12021

Cinch 11647

Codal 11955

CommercePundit.com 11977

DCi 11716

The Decal Factory 12017

Desperate Enterprises 11920

Easelly 12052

eBay Motors 11827

EBizCharge 11771

ElevatIQ 11976

E-Motive Online 12019

Epicor Software 11951

Everyware 12126

Extreme Canopy 12055

EZ360 Photos Studio, Turntables, and Software 11717

FeedStation 11946

Fifth Third Bank Motorsports Group 11722

Flagpoles By Uncommon USA 11939

Fullbay 11726

Gemstone Cars 12020

GoDaddy 11671

Heat Seal LLC 11653

Heglory Auto Parts 12162

The High Ground of Texas 12023

Hoops & Gears 11979

Impact Canopy 11923

KD KANOPY Inc. 11631

Knobbe Martens 12116

Koble Systems 11744

KUKUI 11873

League-Legacy 12045

Mecka Inc. 12031

Mira Commerce 11965

MMY Automotive Business Systems 12144

My Car App 12150

MyHatGuy 11961

Neonetics Inc. 11639

Northwood University 12164

PartsTech Inc. 11655

PDM Automotive 11847

Performance Plus Global Logistics 11748

Podium 12039

PPM Industries 48199

Promotive 12068

ProThings Apparel 12168

Protractor 12065

RevolutionParts 11617

RFALV 11629

Ridestyler 11921

ROLLBO Engineering 49204

R.O. Writer Shop Management Software 11969

RRM Insurance Services 12160

Rutan & Tucker LLP 12072

Searchalytics 11916

71lbs 11720

ShipStation 12148

Shop Boss 12061

Shop Fix Academy 11967

Shopgenie 11750

Shopmonkey 11661

Sign of the Times 11879

Sisson & Banyas, Attorneys at Law LLC 12042

Sitation 11917

SkuVault 12146

Snap Finance 11919

Solera | Identifix 11867

Southern Illinois Airport/TechPark 12166

Spark Shipping 12049

SpotOn 11621

Steer by Mechanic Advisor 11949

SureCritic 11974

SureDone Inc. 12120

Surf & Turf Instant Shelters Inc. 11943

Synchrony Car Care by Synchrony Financial 12051

Target Freight Management 11823

Tekmetric 11739

360Booth 11777

360 Payments 12066

Torqata Data and Analytics 11973

United Agencies Insurance 11978

United States Postal Service 11839

Uown Leasing 11651

US Professional Funding 11972

Vietnam Homologation Service-TKR Asia LLC 12078

Walmart 11747

Web Shop Manager 12027

West Virginia Department of Tourism 11725

Whiterail Recruits 12048

X-Cart 11627

Smiles For Success

Smiles For Success


Leveraging Amazon to Drive Online Sales

Smiles for Success

It's a popular nostrum that the COVID-19 pandemic provided the accelerant that enabled the explosion in e-commerce sales that continues unextinguished to this day. Cautious consumers under remain-in-place orders stayed away from brick-and-mortar retail outlets in droves, the story goes, and turned to the convenience of the internet as a shopping and purchasing alternative, turning the conventional point-of-sale business model on its head.

There's much truth to the narrative, but in reality, e-commerce sales were already booming before the outbreak of COVID, and have continued to grow exponentially since then, with global sales of some $5.7 trillion in 2022, according to e-commerce giant Shopify. That figure is forecast to top $7.5 trillion in 2025 and $8 trillion in 2026, so the "new normal" of online retailing presents a vast and potential lucrative revenue stream for manufacturers and retailers.

But there are right and wrong ways of conducting e-commerce, and it's not as cut-and-dried as simply setting up an Amazon account, paying a seller's fee, and creating a few product listings—though that can get you started. A recent SEMA Education seminar, "How to Optimize Amazon," took a deeper dive into the subject, with a review of some of the pitfalls companies face when working with Amazon to build their brands and sell their products. Moderated by Vanessa Ruminski, president of SupplyKick, an Indiana-based Amazon wholesaler and consulting firm with specialty-equipment clients that include Dometic, Mothers, Eagle Lights and Lock 'Er Down, the session reviewed several challenges aspiring Amazon sellers may encounter, along with recommended best practices to best take advantage of Amazon's massive customer reach.

Ruminski began by stressing the importance of maintaining a strong presence on Amazon. For starters:

  • 75% of online product searches begin on Amazon.
  • 76% of shoppers on Amazon are brand loyal.
  • Additionally, 40% of U.S. e-commerce sales are spent on Amazon.

Often, however, companies that sell on Amazon may wonder if they're not fully optimizing the power and scale of the site to drive greater brand awareness and consumer loyalty in addition to sales.

At this point, Ruminski paused to review the top five issues that companies may face when addressing these perceived (and often real) shortcomings. These can potentially include:

  1. Selling directly to Amazon via Vendor Central. It sounds simple and straightforward—Amazon sends you regular purchase orders, you ship the product, and Amazon handles the rest. But in truth, it's not always so simple.

    One potential drawback is flexibility in pricing. "You may want to increase pricing from, say, $60 to $100, and your Amazon rep might answer, 'No, we're going to price it at $60.' So sometimes it's not easy to leverage these types of conversations to your advantage," Ruminski notes.

    There is also the issue of chargebacks. "There can be a lot of these," Ruminski continues, "and while the reasonings vary, it really all comes down to lack of ownership and control." The solution? Ruminski recommends upgrading your Amazon account.

    "If you have an Amazon first-party Vendor Central relationship and you want to make a change, switching to three-peer [3P] Seller Central is really the way to go. You can still leverage Prime shipping, you can use FBA [Fulfillment by Amazon], and you can still team up with a single, third-party seller."

  2. Unauthorized Amazon sellers or too many sellers. Ruminski cautions against conflating online sales with traditional brick-and-mortar retail, reminding companies that they follow distinctly different business models. "We all know when selling to brick-and-mortar, more sellers in the old-school way of thinking equals more sales.

    "The issue is, if you're doing that to your Amazon business, you're taking one sale and you're fragmenting it among many, many sellers. So you're not doing any more business—you're doing the same amount. But by spreading it out over a larger group of people, you may incur higher shipping costs on those B2B orders that you're sending."

    Too many sellers can also translate into price inconsistencies, which can inhibit sales and damage your brand.

    How to mitigate this problem? Ruminski suggests "ways such as Amazon Brand Registry, consolidating sellers, consistent monitoring, controlling your distribution and registering your brand."

  3. Inaccurate forecasting and inventory flow. "Say someone wants to purchase your product and it's not there. It's money on the table you can't access, and it drives you crazy," she says. Conversely, "you have so much product, you don't know what to do with it. Then you're incurring fees. Then you're looking at yourself and asking, 'Should I drop the price?'"

    Analyzing and optimizing Amazon logistics should be done on a daily basis, if possible, and investing in either inventory optimization software and/or dedicated employees to monitor inventory is advisable. "In general, the concept of 'set it and forget it' doesn't exist on Amazon."

  • Overspending on Amazon advertising. "Amazon is 'pay-to-play' and advertising is a must," Ruminski notes. The platform offers numerous channels for advertising, but how to navigate these varied platforms to maximize your brand's Amazon presence? To Ruminski, the key is to identify what your advertising objective is at any given time in the business cycle and let that be the determining factor in your decision-making. She also advises constant monitoring and revising of advertising strategies as your business's needs evolve throughout the cycle.
     
  • Lack of brand presence and building trust. Many brands don't succeed on Amazon because they haven't established a brand presence—one that builds a connection with the consumer and converts them at a higher rate than their competitors. The way to overcome this obstacle, Ruminski advises, is by creating a narrative—an online brand identity that tells a story about your products, which builds interest in your brand, and which facilitates a more convenient shopping experience. Tools to deploy to that end can include keywords, targeted messaging, video and photography, setting up an Amazon Storefront or a combination thereof. "[Content] needs to be well designed," she says in closing. A customer is looking for transparency and trust, and you only have seconds to get them
    to convert.

    "It's all about that journey of the customer and making sure that you are consistent and that you're really focused on success," Ruminski says.

Key Performance Indicators should be checked daily
››› Key Performance Indicators should be checked daily, with advertising strategies adjusted accordingly to meet shifts in consumer preferences. As a rule, "set it and forget it" doesn't work with Amazon.

BUSINESS SERVICES

As of August 15, 2023

Acima Leasing 12016

Acumatica Cloud ERP 11861

American First Finance 11877

Ascentium Capital 12060

ASCxDetectAuto 12050

Atwix 12069

AutoLeap 11851

AutoPartsClubNation 11645

Autoserve1 12067

Autoshop Solutions 12064

Autotrader Classics 12022

BigCommerce 11231

Bright ENGenuity 11649

BuyAutoParts.com 11746

Caraggio 11817

The Carbon Offset Co. 12073

CardConnect 12054

Car-Part.com 12021

Cinch 11647

Codal 11955

CommercePundit.com 11977

DCi 11716

The Decal Factory 12017

Desperate Enterprises 11920

Easelly 12052

eBay Motors 11827

EBizCharge 11771

ElevatIQ 11976

E-Motive Online 12019

Epicor Software 11951

Everyware 12126

Extreme Canopy 12055

EZ360 Photos Studio, Turntables, and Software 11717

FeedStation 11946

Fifth Third Bank Motorsports Group 11722

Flagpoles By Uncommon USA 11939

Fullbay 11726

Gemstone Cars 12020

GoDaddy 11671

Heat Seal LLC 11653

Heglory Auto Parts 12162

The High Ground of Texas 12023

Hoops & Gears 11979

Impact Canopy 11923

KD KANOPY Inc. 11631

Knobbe Martens 12116

Koble Systems 11744

KUKUI 11873

League-Legacy 12045

Mecka Inc. 12031

Mira Commerce 11965

MMY Automotive Business Systems 12144

My Car App 12150

MyHatGuy 11961

Neonetics Inc. 11639

Northwood University 12164

PartsTech Inc. 11655

PDM Automotive 11847

Performance Plus Global Logistics 11748

Podium 12039

PPM Industries 48199

Promotive 12068

ProThings Apparel 12168

Protractor 12065

RevolutionParts 11617

RFALV 11629

Ridestyler 11921

ROLLBO Engineering 49204

R.O. Writer Shop Management Software 11969

RRM Insurance Services 12160

Rutan & Tucker LLP 12072

Searchalytics 11916

71lbs 11720

ShipStation 12148

Shop Boss 12061

Shop Fix Academy 11967

Shopgenie 11750

Shopmonkey 11661

Sign of the Times 11879

Sisson & Banyas, Attorneys at Law LLC 12042

Sitation 11917

SkuVault 12146

Snap Finance 11919

Solera | Identifix 11867

Southern Illinois Airport/TechPark 12166

Spark Shipping 12049

SpotOn 11621

Steer by Mechanic Advisor 11949

SureCritic 11974

SureDone Inc. 12120

Surf & Turf Instant Shelters Inc. 11943

Synchrony Car Care by Synchrony Financial 12051

Target Freight Management 11823

Tekmetric 11739

360Booth 11777

360 Payments 12066

Torqata Data and Analytics 11973

United Agencies Insurance 11978

United States Postal Service 11839

Uown Leasing 11651

US Professional Funding 11972

Vietnam Homologation Service-TKR Asia LLC 12078

Walmart 11747

Web Shop Manager 12027

West Virginia Department of Tourism 11725

Whiterail Recruits 12048

X-Cart 11627

SEMA Show Exhibitors Share Their Tips for Success

SEMA Show Exhibitors Share Their Tips for Success



››› An exhibitor's success at the SEMA Show relies on sparking personal interactions with attendees. In this article, returning exhibitors share some proven strategies they used as newcomers and how they will build on them this year.

Whether You're a First-Timer or a Returning Veteran, It's All About the Personal Interaction

››› By Eric Colby

But Fifth Third Bank of Charlotte, North Carolina, is happily returning as an exhibitor for their third consecutive SEMA Show this October 31–November 3 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The company also signed on again as a sponsor of the reception that precedes the Industry Awards Banquet, Thursday evening, November 2. Their story proves that with the right strategy, every brand can find success at the Show.

"It's a great opportunity, and it helped us align with SEMA and get visibility with the key decision makers in the industry," said David Morton, managing director of motorsports and automotive aftermarket for Fifth Third Bank, which also sponsors cars in NASCAR, Indy Car and NHRA.

"We fully believe we're not just in this to write checks," said Morton. "We want to be immersed in the industry and the community."

Fifth Third Bank, which is also a longtime supporter of the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) association, has sent a team of attendees from a company branch to the SEMA Show for 25 years. The reasons behind stepping up to exhibiting in 2021 were twofold. "I felt like we needed to have a booth to put a stake in the ground to anchor our support for the automotive aftermarket community," said Morton. "Where else can you go in one week and meet so many decision makers and start to build relationships?"

Even with all the visibility provided by outlets like YouTube, TikTok and Instagram, more than 130,000 people—including an estimated 70,000 buyers—chose to be at the 2021 SEMA Show. This made Fifth Third Bank's participation in the Show—the world's largest aftermarket event—more than worthwhile. This year's edition is set to occupy more than a million sq. ft. of space at the LVCC. For exhibitors, this makes the Show an invaluable venue for interacting with thousands of attendees not only from throughout the United States but internationally as well.

"The new people we met, connections with others in the industry, and the information we learned was priceless," Brandon Arpin, chief marketing officer at Valvetronic Designs in Quakertown, Pennsylvania, said after exhibiting at the Show for the first time in 2022. "The first year was an unbelievable experience for anyone on the team."

Added Jake Palladini, brand manager for bushings maker Powerflex USA after exhibiting in 2022 following a nearly decade-long absence, "This [was] my first time exhibiting at a Show meant for other professional customers to come by and see you. I've exhibited at other shows, but they were more geared toward the public and narrowed down to a specific market."


››› FuelTech's unveiling of a new Audi drag car for "Street Outlaws'" Daddy Dave drew plenty of visitors to the red glow of its booth. The company then capitalized on the opportunity for one-on-one conversations. Courtesy FuelTech

Investing in the Future


For Fifth Third Bank, the decision to exhibit in 2021 opened up other avenues to become more involved with the SEMA association as well as the SEMA Show itself. A good example is sponsoring the reception. "If we didn't' exhibit, that wouldn't have been an option," Morton said, adding that the sponsorship reflected a genuine partnership. "It was an idea we had, and they embraced it and put some creative thinking behind it that worked well for us and for them, too."

Like many other SEMA Show attendees, Fifth Third had experience at other shows, but the sheer size of the SEMA trade event can cause even seasoned event veterans to closely examine their goals. "You have many people walking by," said Morton—meaning that coming with a strategy for targeting leads is critical.

In the company's second year of exhibiting, Morton and his team decided to add a large-screen TV to broadcast a video of the Fifth Third story. Think of it as another team member who attracts and filters potential clients.

Fifth Third Bank's goal is to become a business' primary bank and provide strategic advice, access to capital to finance growth. "With NASCAR, we showed all the different companies that we are the primary bank for," said Morton. "We won business from a large product distributor [that we met at SEMA] and got a nice piece of business."

Continuing, he said, "Success is ultimately based on the new relationships we earned through conversations we have at the Show. It might be three months, it might be six months, or two years from now, but being at the Show gave us the opportunity to talk to the owner of a business."

Additionally, Fifth Third is running ads in industry publications and on digital platforms announcing that it will be exhibiting at the Show. When the company is in Las Vegas for the Show, representatives from the bank attend as many events as possible, including the breakfasts and the SEMA PAC event. "You need to be
present and participate in all of it," advised Morton.

Making the Right Noise


After exhibiting for the first time at the SEMA Show in 2022, Valvetronic Designs significantly increased its booth size for this year but is scaling down the number of products on display to make room for more personal interactions.

Valvetronics makes switchable muffling and exhaust systems that let an operator choose when to be loud and proud or when to quiet the situation. When the company started, its first products were for BMW 335s and M3s, and the core audience has been 18- to 35-year-olds. Arpin said a goal of attending the Show is to expand to a broader demographic. Last year, the company had a handful of cars in its booth, but Arpin said the focus this year will be on meeting more people—including both buyers and attendees it can convert into brand ambassadors.

"We're trying to go with a simple approach. We will have a McLaren P1 and an M3, but our goal this year will be meeting a lot of influencers in the industry. We want as much foot traffic and want to talk to as many people as possible."

The company has relationships with many content creators and influencers, but Arpin didn't meet most of them until the 2022 SEMA Show. "It was nice to be there in person with the influencers," he said. "There's a huge benefit of having someone with a million followers posting about being at your booth."

In addition to expanding booth space from last year's 400 sq. ft. to 600 for 2023, Valvetronics has an exhibit design that better lends itself to hosting more people to watch product demonstrations, since the feedback from 2022 indicated that many visitors had stopped at the booth when they saw demos from the show-floor aisles.

Arpin is also an influencer and creator, so he took advantage of meeting people he's communicated with online. One evening after the Show, he and other influencers went to see an EDM artist and exchange ideas and experiences. "Each team member made his or her own connections," said Arpin.

 


››› In 2022, Valvetronics drew visitors with several booth vehicles. This year the company plans to feature fewer cars to enhance its space for more product demonstrations and personal interactions. Courtesy of Valvetronics


››› Fifth Third Bank returns for 2023 as both a Show exhibitor and as a sponsor of the Thursday-evening Industry Awards Banquet reception, proving that all types of businesses can find success at the Show. Courtesy of Powerflex USA

Branching Out


FuelTech is a 20-year-old Brazilian company that makes high-performance ECUs for just about any application imaginable, from cars to off-road trucks and even boats. Last year, FuelTech USA, which distributes throughout this country, exhibited at the SEMA Show for the first time.

"We did PRI for the past five or six years and we thought we had an idea of what we were getting into, but [the SEMA Show] was completely different," said FuelTech USA's sales manager Andre Nunez. "The vastness of it is impressive."

FuelTech is already firmly entrenched in hardcore high-performance niches like no-prep drag racing, the street outlaw world and drifting.

"SEMA gives us the opportunity to access a completely new group of people who aren't hardcore racing and different avenues that we don't get to interact with a lot," said Nunez.

The company's 2022 exhibit unveiled a new Audi drag car for Daddy Dave from the "Street Outlaws" TV show, which drew plenty of visitors. Once they were in the booth, the FuelTech team had the opportunity to tell guests more about the company and its products.

"We got to speak with people about the company itself and what we do," said Nunez. "It gave us a chance to introduce FuelTech to people and how the equipment is being used. We were pretty happy with the way everything developed, but [this year] we'll make our area more friendly to sit-down conversations."

While FuelTech is well-known among serious drag racers, the size of the SEMA Show lets the company expand its reach to what Nunez called the "next circle out from the hardcore racers."

FuelTech is also looking ahead with an electrification division called FuelTech Electric. "It's still in its infancy and we're about to release software with the ability to control electric motors," said Nunez. "We're making sure we stay on top of that so we're not caught behind when the transition happens."

Obviously, exhibiting at the SEMA Show is an investment, so a company has to look at ways to manage expenses for a great ROI. For example, FuelTech normally drives its own display and equipment to more local events, but getting it out to Las Vegas for a company based in Ball Ground, Georgia, presents its own challenges.

"It's more expensive, but it's worth it," said Nunez. The company's booth had an entire video wall, plus FuelTech expanded its Show presence by participating in the New Products Showcase with its ECUs and supplementary products like fuel injectors.

Coming into the 2023 edition of the SEMA Show, Nunez said FuelTech's focus will be sharpened. "When people see us a second time, it will be more about getting business done," he said. "Being at SEMA sends a message that we're serious."

 

A Promising Return


Let's be honest, it takes a special crowd to get excited about something like a suspension-system bushing, but that's why a company like Powerflex USA returned to the 2022 SEMA Show after nearly a decade-long absence.

"I've exhibited at other shows, but they were more geared toward the public and narrowed down to a specific market," said Powerflex USA's brand manager Jake Palladini. "This was my first time exhibiting at a show meant for other professional customers to come by and see you."

He continued, "We made a lot of meaningful connections that have turned into new accounts with us. It's hard to quantify return on investment this early, but the brand presence and awareness was great and we interacted with a ton of people."

Powerflex USA sponsors some online content creators, but Palladini said the company sees more value in focusing its marketing on existing customers. For a few different reasons, Powerflex USA opted not to exhibit at the Show after 2013, but Palladini saw that the organization was missing opportunities by not being at the event. "We decided it was time to make a return and be out there on the biggest stage," he said.

Powerflex USA tracks its connections made at the Show, which SEMA makes easier with its lead-retrieval system, and Palladini keeps a running tab of the contacts to see which ones transition to accounts. As the other companies in this story found, the Show's in-person interactions cannot be duplicated on a Zoom or Teams call or in an email or phone conversation.


››› The Powerflex USA team proved last year that sheer simplicity is yet another successful formula. LED lighting and an illuminated back wall helped control costs while pulling in traffic—leading to meaningful deals with strong ROI.

"You talk to 125 to 200 people and if you walk away with four meaningful accounts, you've returned your investment," he said. "Some of these customers are people I've wanted to talk to for a while but sending them an email or a phone call on a busy day isn't the same as them stopping by your booth."

Looking at the expenses, Palladini said that upgrading the company's display with new technology like LED lighting and renting furniture actually saved money from what Powerflex USA spent in 2013.

For 2023, the Powerflex USA booth will be in the Central Hall within eyeshot of the Barrett-Jackson exhibit. "More people are going to walk by and see our bright illuminated back wall," said Palladini. The company also plans to place items in the New Products Showcase after getting some good exposure by supplying bushings that were used in a Tesla control arm in last year's event.

The message for new, veteran and potential SEMA Show exhibitors alike is that personal interaction with industry professionals who share a passion for performance can work wonders for any business. Whether a company makes aftermarket products or is a bank helping the industry to grow, the key is a strategy to draw attendees in, spark a conversation and tell your brand's story. After all, attendees used to ask why Fifth Third Bank was at the SEMA Show. "We never get that question now," said Morton. "People know us, and we're part of the community."

When people hear about the SEMA Show, they think about cool cars and trucks, accessories and influencers taking over Las Vegas for a week. Their first thoughts most likely won't focus on a bank.

JOIN THE SHOW

The annual SEMA Show in Las Vegas is the industry's No. 1 trade event and a proven venue for taking businesses of all sizes and scope to the next level. If your company hasn't yet signed on as a 2023 SEMA Show exhibitor, there's still time to join the industry this October 31–November 3. Learn more at www.SEMAshow.com/exhibitor.

SEMA SHOW Investment

SEMA SHOW Investment



››› When the 2023 SEMA Show opens Tuesday morning, October 31 in Las Vegas, you'll want to hit the show floor with a game plan. Here's an attendee guide to leveraging key Show features to your best advantage.

LEVERAGING THE SEMA SHOW TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS

THERE ARE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF REASONS TO ATTEND THE 2023 TRADE EVENT IN LAS VEGAS

››› By Mike Imlay

Momentum is rapidly building for the 2023 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, October 31–November 3. As of press time, the Show was on track for more than 2,000 exhibitors from the United States and international markets, all eager to share their latest products, services and innovations with thousands of buyers, media representatives and other trade attendees. As one of the most-attended U.S. trade shows in 2022, the SEMA Show remains the premier global automotive trade gathering—a can't-miss event for growing a business.

"The Show is a great opportunity for all types of industry businesses," confirms SEMA Vice President of Events Tom Gattuso. "Attendees can connect with thousands of manufacturers who are showcasing their latest innovations and best-selling products. The Show is also a unique venue for meeting with senior management of the brands that you work with, gaining an understanding of where they're going, and discussing any issues you're having as a customer. This sort of face-to-face interaction just doesn't happen anywhere else."

According to Gattuso, the SEMA Show's size and scope also makes it an ideal environment for exchanging ideas and professional development. "The Show attracts businesspeople from all over the world. We have more than 100 countries and regions represented, and 20% of our audience is from outside the United States. This offers a global perspective on markets and ideas from Western Europe to Asia. It's always enlightening to meet with people from differing markets who are exploring similar opportunities and solving similar challenges."

Admittedly, attending a trade event as large as this can be a little daunting, especially for newcomers. But with the right advance planning, every attendee can navigate and leverage the Show like a true expert. Fortunately, SEMA Show planners have developed a number of tools to do just that.


››› The New Products Showcase is an essential element in any attendee game plan. Scanning items with the SEMA Show app connects you directly to their exhibitors on the Show floor.

Covering the Basics

Obviously, the first steps include registering for the Show, reserving accommodations and arranging transportation. Registering before September 29 will save you money and allow your Show badge to be mailed to you, which means you'll avoid registration lines at the Show. (International attendees registered by September 16 will receive mailed badges.)

"You also want to make sure to book your hotel through www.SEMAshow.com and our partners at onPeak," SEMA Trade Show Director Andy Tompkins points out. "We have a block of nearly 50 hotels with the guaranteed lowest rates, all conveniently located near the Las Vegas Convention Center [LVCC]. While you're at the Show website, you can also ensure your travel and transportation opportunities are in place and tap into a variety of discounts that we've negotiated with major airlines."

It's important to note that there's virtually no parking at the LVCC, so public transit and ridesharing remain the best options once you're in the city. The Las Vegas monorail runs between the LVCC and many of the hotels in the SEMA Show block. Some hotels are even within walking distance. Of course, there are also Uber, Lyft and taxi services, along with shuttle buses from key hotels. Again, all these options are outlined on www.SEMAshow.com.

Know Who's Exhibiting

With hotels and transportation covered, the next step is to create a list of exhibitors you're interested in. "We have several pre-Show tools to help familiarize attendees with who's exhibiting at the Show," said Tompkins. "If you're already doing business with them, you can even reach out and set an appointment. And if you're not, that's an opportunity for you to develop relationships."

The first—and possibly most important—pre-planning tool is the Show's free mobile app, downloadable from your native app store. "We like to say it puts the SEMA Show in your pocket," Tompkins explains. "It has exhibitor lists, turn-by-turn directions around the LVCC, and comprehensive listings of new products from our New Products Showcase, feature vehicles, Show event and education schedules, and a host of other features."

The second tool, called My Show Planner, is available at the SEMA Show website. After providing it with some basic profile information, the planner allows attendees to customize their Show experience according to their interests. They can select the different exhibitors they wish to visit, as well as education programs and other Show features and events they want to attend.

"My Show Planner really gets you thinking about what each of your days at the SEMA Show might look like," says Tompkins. "And it syncs to the mobile app and to many calendar apps."

Best of all, both the Show app and the website allow attendees to examine the Show's exhibitor listings and overall floorplan well ahead of time.

"With more than 2,000 exhibitors across five halls, the SEMA Show is one of the world's largest trade events. Its advantage is that there are literally shows within the Show," adds Gattuso. "You can find your own community, from Racing and Performance to Mobile Electronics and everything in between. The ultimate goal is to plan your approach—which halls you want to hit on which days, and think through what you want your time at the Show to look like—before you get to Las Vegas."

Key Show Features

Arriving at the Show with a preliminary plan frees up time for some key SEMA Show features designed to connect you with new trends, products and exhibitors. Among the most valuable is the New Products Showcase, which contains hundreds of new and featured products from every Show category. "The Showcase is the number-one destination for buyers, and we recommend it as a first stop before you hit the actual Show floor," says Tompkins.

This year, the Showcase moves to the LVCC North Hall, making it more convenient than ever to tour. Each Showcase product carries a QR code that's scannable through the SEMA Show app. This allows attendees to capture vital information about an item and its maker, as well as directions to its exhibitor's booth. App users can even "favorite" products to add to their Show itinerary.

In addition to the New Products Showcase, feature vehicles are displayed prominently throughout the LVCC campus. Highly popular with attendees, these vehicle builds are more than eye candy—they're a means of connecting with exhibitors. "Every feature vehicle has a QR code that can be scanned with the app," explains Tompkins. "This allows you to capture information like the vehicle make and model, its builder, and noteworthy products used in the build with links to their exhibitors. Again, you can map your route to the exhibitors through the app. We're all in this business because we love cars and trucks, so this is a cool way to take in these builds while exploring the businesses behind them."


››› The Show's massive array of feature vehicles also lead attendees to the key products used in the vehicle builds—many being introduced for the very first time.

 

››› Outdoor activation areas are more than entertainment—they allow attendees to see and evaluate trends and products in action.

Outdoor Activations

Along with incredible feature vehicles, there's always a lot of vehicular action going on outside the Show halls. But like all other Show attractions, there's more to these "activation areas" than simply
entertainment.

"It's always interesting to see what's happening in the Show's Overlanding Experience, which is moving to just outside the West Hall this year. And the Optima Village is also a favorite Show attraction, along with drifting exhibitions, ride and drives, and even the SEMA Cruise Presented by CTEK that closes the Show on Friday. The SEMA Show is constantly in motion, and these and other outdoor activations represent great educational experiences where you can see trends and products in action," observes Gattuso.


››› Led by leading industry subject-matter experts, the Show's education tracks cover a wide range of trends, ideas and business topics designed to advance personal and professional development.

Educational Programs

Speaking of education, the 2023 SEMA Show will roll out a newly expanded learning program, with 99 sessions, all presented by leading subject-matter experts. You can register in advance for seminars through the Show website and sync them with the Show app.

"The programs are organized across tracks in a very logical fashion," observes Tompkins. "For instance, there are vehicle electrification, shop and marketing programs, along with other disciplines for any given business."

There are also a variety of partner education tracks, presented by the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS), the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision (I-CAR), the Tire Industry Association (TIA) and Dale Carnegie.

Additionally, Show planners have lined up impressive keynote speakers, including Tim Tebow, who will headline the Mainstage Experience on Thursday, November 2, in the stage's new West Hall location.

"We're really excited about Tim Tebow," says Gattuso. "He's an entrepreneur, automotive enthusiast, businessperson and athlete, and will have a very positive message about integrating opportunities in the automotive lifestyle. In all, the Show's education covers topics, ideas and best practices for personal and professional development for attendees and their employees. There's literally something for everybody."

Networking and Awards Events

Building relationships is an important element of any trade event, so the SEMA Show provides numerous networking opportunities, many of which highlight industry innovation and excellence. "One of the goals of the SEMA Show is to celebrate the automotive community and honor up-and-coming leaders and visionaries, so the awards we present are designed to spotlight different trends within the marketplace," explains Gattuso.

The Kickoff Breakfast on Tuesday morning features the Show's New Products Awards, making it a prime event for trendspotting. Tompkins also recommends attending Thursday evening's Industry Banquet at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino. "The Fifth Third Bank-sponsored reception before the dinner is a great networking opportunity, and the banquet awards help identify industry leaders and creativity."

Throughout the week there are also numerous other networking receptions and events, many sponsored by SEMA councils that serve different industry segments. All of them can be found in the Show schedule.

Gaining Consumer Insight

Although the SEMA Show is a B2B event, it's always good to gain insight into how the Show's products and trends resonate with industry consumers. Astute buyers can do so by closely observing the Show crowd on Friday. That's the day when a limited number of qualified enthusiast-consumers and content creators are admitted to the Show.

"Typically about 10,000 will attend, and it's another great opportunity to see which booths they're checking out, what products they like, what they seem to be talking about, and what they're sharing in their social media feeds," Tompkins explains.

To sum up, the annual SEMA Show offers buyers, media and other trade attendees an incredible return on investment at a critical juncture for the industry. But you get out of it what you put into it. Planning ahead and leveraging the above-mentioned features will go a long way toward ensuring success at a Show you don't want to miss.

After all, Tompkins underscores, "We all understand as industry professionals that missing the SEMA Show means missing where the industry is headed in a changing economy where we can all use a competitive edge. Trends move quickly in this marketplace, and skipping even a single year can set you back."


››› The ability to meet exhibitors one-on-one and see product explained or demonstrated live brings exclusive advantages that buyers won't find anywhere else.

Exhibitors Want to See You!

If you haven't yet registered as a Show "Friday Experience," attendee, don't miss out on the exhibitors eager to meet with you. Registration now through September 29, 2023, is just $60 and allows you to get your badge in the mail, saving time when you arrive at the Show. (Starting September 30, registration increases to $120.) For more information and registration, go to www.SEMAshow.com/attendee.

 

SEMA Fest: Sharing the Automotive Lifestyle

Apart from the SEMA Show, attendees who want to further rub elbows with consumer-enthusiasts can check out SEMA Fest, which launches this year. A brand-new, separate celebration of car culture and lifestyle, SEMA Fest is slated for the Las Vegas Festival Grounds, November 3–4. Requiring a separate ticket, SEMA Fest will include a car show, musical entertainment, drifting, freestyle motorcycling and other crowd-pleasing activities for the general public.

"While totally different events, the SEMA Show and SEMA Fest are symbiotic," explains Gattuso. "The SEMA Show focuses on the industry's businesses, professionals and products on a B2B level. SEMA Fest is designed to gather enthusiasts and people who love and use cars and trucks at the consumer level. Think of it as an event for our industry's customers."

To register for SEMA Fest or for more information, visit www.SEMAFest.com.

 

Electric Trucks and The Aftermarket

Electric Trucks and The Aftermarket



Foretelling a swell in consumer demand, Ford's all-electric F-150 Lightning received 200,000 pre-orders before a single unit was assembled, and newer buyers are waiting for months before they're allowed to reserve a truck. Even so, numerous specialty-equipment companies already offer products for the Lightning, including suspension and tire upgrades as well as exterior accessories. Courtesy Ford Motor Co.

A Nascent Growth Market Presents Fresh Opportunities

›››By Douglas McColloch

Electric pickups currently comprise less 1% of a $220 billion global truck market, but rapid growth in the segment is forecast for the remainder of the decade as legacy OE manufacturers roll out more electrified pickups and SUVs, and as startups such as Faraday, Rivian and Lordstown Motors carve out new market niches. According to a recent white paper published by Grandview Research, the global electric vehicle (EV) pickup market is expected to rise in value at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 49% every year through 2028, with a total valuation of $9 billion by the end of the decade.

For specialty-equipment manufacturers that are already invested in the truck and SUV market, the entry of new vehicle platforms into the marketplace portends a promising new revenue stream in an already-thriving business sector. Consider the following data from the most recent "SEMA Truck Accessorization Report":

  • Pickup owners spent $16 billion on specialty parts in 2021. That's roughly a third of the entire specialty-
    equipment market.
  • 62% of late-model pickup accessorizers buy off-road-focused parts for their trucks.
  • 84% of late-model truck accessorizers plan to make additional modifications in the foreseeable future.

Additionally, nearly half of all specialty-
equipment businesses view battery-electric pickups as an opportunity. For companies willing to invest in this sector, whether an established truck supplier or a fresh startup, getting in on the ground floor of a burgeoning industry can be a key to future growth.

A SEMA Education Seminar, "The Electric Truck—Tap Into New Opportunities," featured a panel of EV industry experts representing a range of market segments who shared their professional experiences for companies looking for insights on the latest EV trends. What follows is a summation of their insights, edited for clarity and length.


Lordstown Motors' Endurance pickup first went on sale last November. The truck utilizes a four-motor setup—one at each wheel—to deliver true four-wheel drive. Total horsepower is in the 440 range. Courtesy Lordstown Motors

The Light-Duty Truck Manufacturer


Edward Hightower, President and CEO
Lordstown Motors

Founded in 2018, Lordstown Motors is a startup OE manufacturer with facilities at the former GM assembly plant in Lordstown, Ohio. Its Endurance EV pickup truck, released in 2022, was a finalist for the North American Truck of the Year award.

One of the challenges we face in the short term is building additional awareness and just getting people to try out the truck. As an example, we had about 33 journalists test-drive the Endurance as part of the 2023 North American Truck of the Year competition a few months ago. And most people, once they drive an EV, they're hooked. They get into the truck, and they feel the benefits and the handling. There's less body roll in the vehicle, and the ability to control torque at each wheel makes the vehicle incredibly responsive on all road surfaces, on-road, off-road, snow, ice.

So, as consumer awareness grows, we think demand is going to continue to grow and we'll be in a position where demand is going to exceed supply. I think that's going to be the biggest challenge for the near term.

The exciting part about most EVs—our truck included—is that they will give our commercial fleet customers a lower total cost of ownership. You're not paying for gasoline, and you're not paying for oil changes, and you're not paying for air filters. Our maintenance intervals are significantly longer than what you would see for an internal-combustion engine (ICE) vehicle. Our first maintenance is approximately 30,000 mi., so you're not bringing it in at 5,000 or 10,000 mi. as with ICE vehicles.

Capability, handling and responsiveness are also big benefits of EVs, but in addition, many companies and many commercial fleets are looking at their ESG (environmental, social and governance) objectives. Many of them are looking to 'green up' their fleets. Many of them are looking for ways they can meet their sustainability objectives. And we feel our product is a significant step in the right direction for that.


›››Florida-based Electrified Garage is currently the only EV conversion company in the United States with multiple locations. Full conversions start at $50,000.

The Repairer/Installer


Chris Salvo, CEO
Electrified Garage

Electrified Garage is a full-service repair and customization shop that also provides complete electric-vehicle conversions. The company currently operates three locations in the state of Florida.

Everybody knows Tesla isn't the best at service, so we kind of saw a void in the market. We provide service, maintenance and repair, but we also do a lot of customization stuff. We do anything from wheels and tires to suspension upgrades, performance upgrades and electric conversions as well. We'll take a gasoline vehicle and put an electric motor in it—or we can put a V8 in a Tesla instead.

The biggest thing affecting the aftermarket is that the market hasn't quite caught up with everything that's already out there. For instance, we had to develop from scratch a plow frame setup for a Model Y because a customer owns a bunch of property up in New Hampshire and wanted to be able to plow his property. So we sat down and made a plow frame and got it all hooked up and working.

But there are other issues for this kind of a crossover vehicle. It needs additional ride height. It needs to have the suspension balanced from front to back with all that additional weight up front, so we had to put air suspension in it as well.

On the subject, suspension is going to be a big growth market. Everybody wants to lift or lower their truck. They want to put bigger wheels and tires on it. But also, from a conversion standpoint, there are opportunities. We took an old '72 K10 pickup that was owned by Robert Downey Jr. and we took a Tesla drive unit and spun it sideways—made it a transfer case, basically—and then put an 85kW pack in it.

People kind of want the old stuff in addition to the new stuff. There's nostalgia with the old models, but you also want to have the car set up so that it turns on every day. You don't have to worry about a carburetor and everything else.


›››In business for 77 years, Battle Motors manufactures a range of electric medium- and heavy-duty vehicles for both the commercial and public-utility sectors. Courtesy Battle Motors

The Commercial Manufacturer


Kelleigh Ash, CEO
Battle Motors

In business since 1946, Battle Motors (formerly Crane Carrier Co.) is a manufacturer of medium- and heavy-duty trucks that includes a full line of all-electric commercial and utility vehicles.

The top priorities for us are safety, sustainability and innovation. A lot of us are looking to decrease our carbon footprint, no matter what type of business we operate in, whether that's manufacturing or restyling. The light-duty space is very different than the commercial space as far as the standards that exist, as well as the level of technology that's going into the trucks. The great thing about what we're doing is we're making the innovations both on the powertrain side—the components that are going into the

We're also partnering with aftermarket companies to make it easier, safer and more efficient to install. We partnered with a company called Mobileye to install collision-avoidance ADAS features into our trucks. A lot of OEMs are creating these technologies themselves in-house for speed-to-market, but we partnered with Mobileye to be able to provide these features in commercial vehicles.

The hard part about EV conversions with commercial vehicles is weight distribution—and when you're talking about commercial vehicles that have a GCWR of up to 100,000 lbs. in the agricultural space, it becomes even more of a problem. When you're talking about putting that EV powertrain into a powerboat or speedboat, that's very different. Being able to calibrate collision avoidance or lane centering to account for the body roll of an 80,000-lb. truck versus an 8,000-lb. F-Series is very, very different.

So, making sure those calibrations are completed so the aftermarket doesn't have to figure it out is something that we are working on, but we're also making sure that the calibrations are clear and easy to do. For the aftermarket, our partnerships with both Mobileye Connect and T-Mobile have allowed us to push through over-the-air updates into our software and in real time, but also to provide shops with installation instructions. They can order parts directly from our tablets—and being able to do that all remotely over T-Mobile's network has been a really great partnership.

The Journalist


Jerome Andre, Editor in Chief
EV Builders Guide

Based in the United Kingdom and published by Engaged Media, EV Builders Guide launched in 2022 with an emphasis on the growing EV conversion and retrofit markets.

We all love to modify our cars and our trucks, so I don't think the drivetrain is going to make any difference. If we were driving steam-engine trucks, we would still want to modify them. I think it's going to bring more innovation, more interest and a younger audience. I can only see the world of EV cars and trucks really taking off, and we're seeing a significant growth in both OEMs and specialists fully embracing OE modification.

But the retrofit industry has been just exploding—not only in the United States but in Australia, in Europe and in the United Kingdom in particular. This is now a global phenomenon, so be ready for [the 2023] SEMA Show—you're going to discover even more EVs and modified EVs than you've already seen.

The new EV truck buyer has no prior experience in the truck, so our book helps them with entry-level enthusiast upgrades and modifications that they're looking for, or for particular parts that they want to buy for their own personal truck upgrades. We're aimed at newcomers to the EV world who can discover new OE vehicles and the new modifications you can bring to them.

I, for one, was really surprised when the F-150 Lightning came out. So many shops were already bringing suspension kits and wheels and tires for the vehicle, so the whole industry is embracing the EV world. And to be fair, if you work in the ICE world, you can probably embrace the EV world, too.

The Educator


Tim Cachelin, Design Engineer
Legacy EV

Founded in 2019, Legacy EV says it can provide complete EV conversion kits for virtually any light-duty car or truck, up to and including Ford Model Ts. The company also provides a complete EV technician certification program.

At the 2021 SEMA Show, we rolled out our education course that was virtual, self-paced and designed for a first-time builder who had some mechanical skills. Even if that individual or institution decides to move into OEM EV work as well, they will still have a foundational understanding of what a DC converter does and what a battery management system is and how that works and how to calculate power in an EV.

At this point, we've taken vehicles to visit 10 major cities to bring that education out to people. Beyond that, we're also developing curriculum packages for trade schools, junior colleges and high school auto shops. There's been a ton of money and investment in infrastructure, particularly from a governmental standpoint, so now is a good time to roll this out.

One of the problems with EV conversions is sourcing parts. You have to source from maybe 20 different places and know how to put everything together. And then, if something's not working and you need support, you need to start calling. So you call the battery guy, and the battery guy says, "it sounds like a battery management thing to me." So now you call the battery management guy, and he says "that's a charger thing for sure." So now you're just going around in circles. So, what we've decided is, let's be the one-stop shop. Let's be the place where they can get education, support, parts, kits, everything. And so, with our kits, what we've done is we've pulled together all these different components from different manufacturers that previously you'd have to run down on your own.

We've also built an authorized installer network where people will call us and say, "Hey, can you convert my vehicle?" We'll say, "No, but where are you located? There's a couple of authorized installers in your area who might be able to help you." And so, to become a part of that program, it typically starts with a phone call.


›››Faraday Motors' FF91 luxury crossover has a claimed cruising range of 380 miles and a 0–60-mph acceleration time of 2.7 sec. Courtesy Faraday Future

The Luxury Manufacturer


Brent Dreher, NVH/Durability Manager
Faraday Future

Founded in 2014, Faraday Future is the manufacturer of the FF91, a 1,050hp luxury crossover SUV. The company has also competed at Pikes Peak and on the Formula E circuit.

Think about your normal day. You're very well connected and entertained by the world through the internet. Whether you're at home with your smart TV or at work with your workstation, you've got connection, you're connected to the world. But it's a little bit more of a dead zone when you're in your car because the car is more a box on wheels than a smartphone on wheels today.

You have home and you have the office where you're well connected. We call those internet living spaces. Our vision is to basically turn the vehicle into the third internet living space. We want the car to be alive, awake, a living thing that you are interacting with rather than just getting you from point A to point B. To do that, you need a very good cell network signal. Our particular vehicle has a multi-modem where we can connect to multiple cell networks at the same time and fuse that data connectivity, that bandwidth, into one strong signal no matter where you are in the country.

You want a strong Wi-Fi hotspot in the car? You'll also need voice control as well as artificial intelligence. So, you take all these new technologies, put them all together using a heck of a lot of computing power and make it all work. That's what people want, and that's where we're headed.

Voice control works better than having buttons on your dash. You don't have a button that says, 'navigate me to the nearest five-star restaurant.' That button doesn't exist. Instead, you tell the system what you want, and it dynamically and intelligently responds to that.

Now, you can imagine if you're in a super-noisy diesel truck, that voice control is not going to work so well. So here is where EV propulsion really helps maximize the benefit and capability of these advanced infotainment systems—because you're getting a quiet driving experience in the cabin, your voice control systems suddenly work. Your artificial intelligence can do its thing. So, this is really where we see a fusion of electric propulsion and these advanced infotainment systems coming together and making something that's mind-blowing.

Legacy EV Technician Certification Program at the 2023 SEMA Show


›››Legacy EV, which made its first SEMA Show appearance in 2021, will host a day-long EV Certification course for industry professionals at the 2023 SEMA Show.Courtesy Electrified Garage

For industry technicians looking to expand their customer-service base to include owners of electric vehicles, battery EV conversion company Legacy EV is hosting a day-long EV certification program at the 2023 SEMA Show. The program, featuring both lectures and lab work, will provide a brand-agnostic, hands-on training opportunity for automotive techs to upskill themselves with a new understanding of EV powertrains.

The one-day training course will focus on the fundamental functions of EV powertrains and will explore key high-voltage safety practices. Trainees who complete this course will receive an EV101 certification from Legacy EV. During training, attendees will get to work with real EV powertrains and tooling on Legacy EV training benches. Subjects to be covered include EV tooling and specifications, EV safety, zero voltage verification, block diagrams, verifying functionality, and vehicle data and design.

This EV 101 Certification is a gateway to full EV certification; it's an entry-level course that represents approximately 10% of the required course competencies to become fully EV-certified. Total cost of the program is $600, which can be applied towards a full Legacy EV Certified Technician course. The program is on Monday, October 30, 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. in North Hall at the Las Vegas Convention Center. For further information about Legacy EV's education programs, visit www.SEMAshow.com.

 

SEMA Show Announces World-Class Education Program

SEMA Show Announces World-Class Education Program


SEMA SHOW Education
››› SEMA Show Education taps industry-leading subject-matter experts to deliver best-in-class learning to Show participants. Revised for 2023, the Show's education program will offer more flexibility and thought-provoking content than ever before.

Star Athlete and Car Enthusiast TIM TEBOW to Highlight STELLAR LEARNING LINEUP

››› By Mike Imlay

The news is out: SEMA has secured sports legend Tim Tebow as a SEMA Show keynote speaker. Tebow will address Show participants Thursday afternoon, November 2, as part of the Show's Main Stage Experience. A star athlete, Tebow is globally recognized as a best-selling author, speaker, businessman and car enthusiast. According to SEMA Director of Education Pamela Brown-Matthis, his presentation will embody the world-class education program lined up for the 2023 SEMA Show this October 31—November 3 in Las Vegas.

"We're really excited about bringing Tim Tebow to our Main Stage," said Brown-Matthis. "He is going to resonate with a wide range of attendees. He has a multigenerational message, is an automotive enthusiast and an inspiring thought leader. But he's also a very powerful professional speaker. His ideas will elevate and strengthen an attendee's business strategy because he's a very strong entrepreneur himself."

In addition to Tebow, 2023 Show attendees can expect to see a greatly revised SEMA Education program when they arrive at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC). According to Brown-Matthis, it's all part of a new SEMA initiative to create a more robust career- and professional-
development program year-round.

"We want to support our attendees by offering a customizable learning journey for skill development and competency-based education inclusive of the Show and throughout the rest of the year," she explained. "You'll see that reflected in the comprehensive programming delivered at the Show as well as the virtual education that we're incorporating into SEMA-member-based events throughout the year across the country."

For the Show itself, Brown-Matthis said the SEMA Education team is "focused on creating immersive learning experiences where engagement is high and attendees can see immediate knowledge and skills benefits. We're dedicated to bringing innovation and fresh perspectives to the aftermarket business community."

One important program change for 2023 is the introduction of Monday-
afternoon seminars on October 30, prior to the Show's official opening Tuesday morning. The idea is to provide wider access to education on what is usually considered an exhibitor "setup day."

"We've created five feature programs, one of which is our Digital Marketing Bootcamp that launches midday Monday," said Brown-Matthis. "The timing is critical because we want to make sure both attendees and exhibitors can take advantage of professional development and learning opportunities. Our goal is to create content that is relevant, meaningful and valuable for all our Show participants."

The SEMA Education Series

In keeping with this goal, planners have reorganized the Show's many seminars into six highly focused SEMA Education tracks (streamlined from the 11 of past years). Additionally, the Show will offer five learning series in partnership with Dale Carnegie, Legacy EV, the Inter-
Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR), the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) and the Tire Industry Association (TIA).

"We have been very intentional about selecting our 2023 content and the speakers who will deliver it," explained Brown-
Matthis. "All of our speakers are subject-matter experts and industry leaders who have the knowledge and ability to inspire change and engage the learner throughout the learning process."

The six SEMA Education tracks are as follows:

  • Inside the Shop: Designed for aspiring builders, service technicians and shop owners, this track's presenters include leading builders in the hot-rod, restoration, truck, off-road and restyling markets sharing expertise and experiences from their respective industries. Participants will come away with fresh understanding and practical skills to prepare their shop for new-technology vehicles, including electric vehicles (EVs).
     
  • Aftermarket Updates and Future Trends: This series will dive into automotive aftermarket trends set to impact businesses in 2023 and beyond. Participants will glean new insights into the aftermarket industry and economy—strengthening their brand and better strategizing their business' future.
     
  • Small-Business Strategy: Seminars and featured events in this track examine proven business strategies and best practices to help every company prosper. Topics tackle some of business's hottest issues, including DEI-associated challenges and opportunities, inspiring a team in the office or remote, increasing revenue, understanding private equity, and much more.
     
  • Sales and Marketing: The world of social media and digital marketing is fast-paced and ever-changing. This series will help participants understand and make sense of marketing opportunities within top social-media platforms, changes in the different platforms, the latest digital marketing trends, and how to grow with them.
     
  • Vehicle Technology and Electric Vehicles: With the EV market and vehicle technologies on the rise, this highly informative track is for entrepreneurs seeking insight into these emerging spaces and the challenges and opportunities they present. Leading experts will address advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), electric and autonomous vehicles, business strategies and more.
     
  • Legal and Regulatory: From local to state and federal levels, the auto aftermarket is faced with greater legislative and regulatory challenges than ever before. In this track, experts will present the latest developments in emissions compliance and certification, patents and trademarks, and how to meet current requirements while advocating for change.

››› The popular SCRS OEM Collision Repair Technology Summit returns for 2023. It's one of many Show seminars offered in partnership with leading industry professional associations.

Partnered Education

The Show's five partnered education tracks include the following:

  • Leadership Essentials for Today, Presented by Dale Carnegie: Delivered as a six-part series by executive coaches from the world-renown Dale Carnegie Program, these 90-min., interactive workshop-style sessions are designed to enhance the leadership skills that can take a business to the next level.
     
  • Electric Vehicles 101, Presented by Legacy EV: This up-skill course provides brand-agnostic, hands-on training for automotive techs to understand and work with EV powertrains. The one-day training focuses on fundamental powertrain functions and key high-voltage safety practices. Working with real EV powertrains, tooling and training benches, attendees who complete the course will receive EV101 certification from Legacy EV. The course is one, seven-hour day split into two sessions; one in the morning, the other in the afternoon. The cost for this extremely comprehensive program is $600, and space is limited. For full details of the certification, including all the core ideas and skills covered, visit www.SEMAShow.com.
     
  • I-CAR Collision Repair Training: The I-CAR training series includes a MIG welding classroom and hands-on demonstrations for collision repairers and builders/rebuilders. Classes cover electronic system calibration, repair process coordination and managing quality control.
     
  • SCRS: Repairer Driven Education (RDE): The RDE series provides SEMA Show attendees access to world-class education addressing core issues faced in today's collision repair businesses. Led by renowned industry experts, the program is designed to re-energize a business with implementable solutions to real challenges. The series includes classroom sessions Monday, October 30, through Wednesday, November 1; the OEM Collision Repair Technology Summit on Thursday, November 2; and the popular IDEAS Collide Showcase on Friday, November 3.
     
  • TIA: Tires represent a unique set of challenges for the automotive aftermarket. TIA's educational track focuses on the tire and TPMS issues that must be addressed in the shop and management issues related to the best practices in operation, marketing and risk management for companies that sell and service tires.
     

Among the programs, Brown-Matthis believes this year's Show attendees will find several particularly relevant. They include the Digital Marketing Boot Camp, the
EV 101 Certification program, the SEMA Women in Automotive Symposium, the Renewable Fuels Panel, the Dale Carnegie Leadership Essentials program, and Main Stage Experience sessions.

"I'm especially excited about the SEMA Women in Automotive Symposium being delivered on Wednesday, November 1, from 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.," said Brown-Matthis. "It has three strong components. One, it kicks off with a dynamic keynote speaker. Then the second part of the program offers a Micro Learning Lab Experience consisting of four professional-development workshops. In the third part of the day, it culminates with a C-Suite Insights Panel comprised of key executives and industry leaders who address the obstacles, challenges and career journeys of successful women in the
automotive industry."

"I'm also excited about the Legacy EV course, which will be the first certification-based program ever delivered at the SEMA Show," she added. "It features highly skilled, highly credentialed facilitators and offers an amazing hands-on training opportunity for automotive techs to get an up-skill understanding of EV anatomy and electrical theory. Attendees will also apply their learning to EV specifications, tooling and safety right there in the learning space."

Out of the Classroom

This year's SEMA Show attendees will notice an expansion of learning venues as well, with a growing number of SEMA Education programs getting "out of the classroom and onto the Show floor." Brown-Matthis says the strategy is to provide interesting new education experiences that can reach and pique the interest of attendees across the
LVCC campus.

"Our goal is to engage Showgoers by creating high-energy, sort-of pop-up learning situations throughout the Show environment," she explained. "We'll also leverage more of the space outside of the convention center's North Hall, creating educational opportunities that are delivered in various formats, whether they be 'fireside chats,' workshops, Main Stage Experiences or celebrity showcases."

Return on Investment

Brown-Matthis noted that SEMA Show education has become widely recognized within the industry as a "rewarding professional-development investment." With a broad spectrum of seminars to choose from, the multiple tracks give attendees the flexibility to build individualized programs tailored to their needs. Moreover, most of the seminars are free to attend. In fact, many companies encourage their employees to take advantage of the Show's education, furthering the return on their Show investment.

"That's yet another reason why we want to make certain that every single learning experience includes an opportunity to apply new knowledge," underscored Brown-Matthis. "Our overriding goal is to give all our attendees—whether they are builders, jobbers, or emerging business leaders and executives—access to the best and brightest minds our industry has to offer so that everyone can learn, grow and prosper."


››› Last year's emerging tech and EV seminars were extremely well-attended. This year, the SEMA Show will add its first-ever EV certification program to the education lineup.

2023 SEMA SHOW EDUCATION KEYNOTE

Tim Tebow


Athlete, Entrepreneur and Automotive Enthusiast

 

  • Thursday, November 2, at 1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
  • SEMA Show Main Stage
  • Media Icon, Global Speaker, Businessman, Philanthropist, Believer

Tim Tebow is a two-time national champion, Heisman Trophy winner, first-round NFL draft pick and a former professional baseball player. The five-time The New York Times best-selling author, speaker and football analyst is most passionate about his work with the Tim Tebow Foundation (TTF), whose mission is to bring faith, hope and love to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour of need. TTF is currently fighting for people who cannot fight for themselves in more than 70 countries, and counting, through four primary ministry focuses with 16 initiatives. Tebow is married to Demi-Leigh Tebow, a speaker, influencer, entrepreneur and Miss Universe 2017. Tim and Demi live in Jacksonville, Florida, with their three dogs, Chunk, Kobe and Paris.

Customized Learning for You and Your Business

SEMA Show Education delves into the most relevant, top-of-mind business issues and ideas impacting the automotive aftermarket industry with an emphasis on leadership and skill development, networking events, exploration of emerging trends and best practices. The advantages are many:

 

  • With a wide selection of competency-based programs to choose from, attendees can customize their learning and skills development.
  • Seminars allow attendees to leverage industry-specific research and proven solutions to help companies reap the ROI rewards of the industry's latest trends.
  • SEMA Show Education is led by industry and thought leaders and recognized subject-matter experts.
  • Each seminar provides immediate takeaways focusing on application, immersion, engagement and behavioral changes.

 

No matter your place in the industry, the Show's education program can help you meet your goals, from personal and professional enrichment to business growth. The Show's education tracks are designed to deliver engaging, best-in-class learning through thought-provoking sessions. To learn more and/or register for SEMA Show seminars and events, go to www.SEMAShow.com.

 

SEMA Show Education: Facing Failure Fearlessly

SEMA Show Education: Facing Failure Fearlessly


How to Remove the Barriers to Success

››› By Chad Simon


››› Shaundra Dineen of Rubyz Global Coaching emphasized that risk, failure and opportunity all go hand in hand. Fear of failure, therefore, is an emotional block that robs us of opportunities for growth and success.

People ask Shaundra Dineen of Rubyz Global Coaching why she travels around talking about fear. She answers that when people can overcome it, they can overcome anything because it builds a courage and confidence that propels them to success. That's why she was a featured speaker at the 2022 SEMA Show, and her full presentation, "Face Failure Fearlessly: A Roadmap to Success," can now be viewed at https://bit.ly/sema-seminar-face-failure-fearlessly.

Those within the specialty-equipment industry may share many of the same hesitations in personal and professional development, but powering through them is the way to unleash opportunities. Moreover, industry veterans can then use their power, ability and influence to inspire others to move forward, but personalities that are fearful exude a timid energy.

"If I would have come in here and said, 'Thank you all so much for coming to my session; I really appreciate you for being here,' you wouldn't have had much confidence in what I had to say because I'm putting off an energy that says, 'I'm just glad that they walked into the room.' But when you walk into a room with courage, people gravitate toward you, and they will do what they can to help you prosper," Dineen explained.

Taking an example from the SEMA Show itself, Dineen noted that exhibitors arrive with businesses to grow and ideas to pitch.

"A representative for one exhibitor told me that he's been going to the SEMA Show since 1986," Dineen said. "He's interested in meeting new people and sharing his ideas about how he can help them. People come to the Show looking for confident people to pitch their ideas and give them something that might be innovative. You never know who's looking for whom."

Fear: False Evidence Appearing Real


When a business fails, it's usually because they didn't have a sustainable framework or a good starting foundation; but believe it or not, fear can ultimately lead to success, according to Dineen. Small-business owners typically have a big
concept in mind, but many are afraid to follow through on their ideas. "Facing fear fearlessly" is all about identifying the roadblocks, overcoming them, and guaranteeing momentum toward success.

To explain the point, Dineen shared the story of a night she visited a lounge in Dallas. To the left of her were four gentlemen preparing for a Dallas Cowboys tailgate party. One of them, Randy, was known as the "tartar sauce king," and his friends were trying to convince him to bring his tartar sauce to the party, but Randy kept declining.

"I wanted to know how Randy's tartar sauce was so good that it had to be at the tailgate party," Dineen said. "So his friends started telling me all of the different ways they used Randy's tartar sauce."

One of them tried to convince Randy to sell it and even offered to pay for him to get the recipe licensed. Another one said that he could hook Randy up with someone to design a logo. Randy had everything he needed, so Dineen asked him what was standing in his way. He answered that he was afraid of failing. Putting his idea out there might not be received as well by others as it had been by his friends.

When you have a business model and want to start that business but you're afraid you won't be successful, fear ironically represents the positive momentum toward success, according to Dineen. So, she asked Randy if he were convinced that all the potential barriers were removed, could he start his business? Could he do it even though he was afraid? He replied that he would be willing to do it afraid.

FEAR stands for "false evidence appearing real," Dineen said. "It's whatever holds you back from moving forward. Usually, it lets us talk ourselves out of what we know works. But what is failure? It's an opportunity to succeed. If you look at it not as something that stops you, but as something that just lets you know you're still trying, it changes the way you deal with it. You can only fail if you've started."

The irony is if you haven't started, there's no opportunity for failure. If you fail, you can learn from it. Fear is what stops us from moving forward in what we know is possible, but failure tells us that we are moving in the right direction, Dineen emphasized.

"Fear stops progress because you cannot move forward; it's like a concrete block," Dineen said. "When I was talking to Randy about his tartar sauce, I told him, 'Randy, you're standing still with your feet planted in cement. You have two cement blocks on your feet.'"

Analysis Paralysis


When you have to make a decision but you're not sure if it's the right one, analysis paralysis—or the idea that moving forward becomes heavier than the result of doing nothing at all—sets in and you freeze. Nothing holds you back like being afraid of moving forward, according to Dineen. Fear can present itself in your life subtly. It's an emotion—that something in your head that stops you in your tracks and turns you back even though all the evidence says you're ready to take a risk.

"However, when you know what you're looking for, you're able to capture that fear and make a decision about what your next move will be. But it will not cause you to do nothing at all," Dineen said. "Don't allow it to keep you from moving into what could possibly be the most amazing moment for you and your business. Ask yourself, what's the worst thing that could happen? You fail. Then what? Then you start again. That's what it looks like when you don't let fear stop you. To this point, we've survived every worst day that we've had in our lives. If you didn't, you wouldn't be here."

The Roadmap to Success


The way to dispel fear is to talk about it, then start over. Nine times out of 10, you're going to learn something from it, according to Dineen. For example, if you decide to talk to a buyer at the SEMA Show about your new product, the worst thing that can happen is they say no, so continue to press forward. Your product might not be right for that one particular person, so find the next opportunity.

In other words, fear of failure can be your greatest roadmap to success. If you can move beyond it, it becomes your journey. And when you do succeed, keep going because there's always something else to conquer, Dineen advised. You don't know what the worst thing is or how to overcome it if you don't take the first step. Some failure in life is inevitable, but control what you can. Unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all, you fail by default. Instead, identify your roadblocks when they pop up.

"When I got done talking with Randy at the bar, he left with a different concept about his tartar sauce idea," Dineen said. "It wasn't that he couldn't do it; he had everything around him to succeed. He was the only one stopping himself. Sometimes we can be our own worst enemy and the reason we're not succeeding. For instance, people had been telling me all my life that I should be a speaker, but I always wanted to do something else. I was afraid that rooms wouldn't receive me and that my message would not resonate. I was afraid that I wouldn't be successful."

Dineen helped Randy to understand what fear sounded like and how it felt. It's an emotion and it's real, but you can control that emotion to prevent it from paralyzing you and stopping your forward momentum.

››› The annual SEMA Show's education program is designed to foster personal and professional development through engaging seminars with immediate takeaways.

Stinkin' Thinkin'


Ultimately the goal is to take responsibility for your thoughts and learn from your mistakes. Failure is a part of the process, so maintain a positive attitude.

"I call it stinkin' thinkin'. Replace stinkin' thinkin' with possibility," Dineen encouraged. "Stinkin' thinkin' is when we talk to ourselves in our minds, and it will stop you every time. Take control of that when it pops up in your mind. Challenge the old way of thinking. That idea is sitting in your mind because of the way you're thinking about it. Fearlessly chasing your goals requires risk, but you have to have the courage and confidence to move forward anyway."

Failure is when we blame others and repeat the same mistake—expecting it to never happen again, which takes you backwards, according to Dineen. "Failing forward" is where success lies. So, take responsibility, learn from your mistakes, know failure is a part of the process, maintain a positive attitude, challenge outdated assumptions, take risks and persevere.

Dineen said that perhaps sports great Michael Jordan summed it up best: "I failed over and over again in my life, and that is why I succeed."

Ruby's Global Coaching and Consulting LLC helps small businesses and nonprofit organizations lay a solid foundation and build a strategy and framework to ensure longevity and sustainability around their vision.

Are You Moving Forward?

You can view Dineen's full "Face Failure Fearlessly: A Roadmap to Success," presentation at https://bit.ly/sema-seminar-face-failure-fearlessly.

The annual SEMA Show's education tracks are designed to deliver engaging, best-in-class learning through thought-provoking sessions. No matter your place in the industry, the annual SEMA Show's education program can help you meet your goals, from personal and professional enrichment to business growth.

Visit www.SEMAshow.com to learn more and/or register for upcoming 2023 SEMA Show seminars and events.

 

First-Time Exhibitors at the 2023 SEMA Show

First-Time Exhibitors at the 2023 SEMA Show



›››With so many exhibitors to see, building a pre-Show list of leads is a proven Show time-management tool. It helps attendees zero in on the first-time exhibitors whose innovations can lead to business growth.

Discover Who's New and What They're Bringing to the Marketplace

›››By Mike Imlay

SEMA Show attendees regularly seek out first-time exhibitors because they often bring never-before-seen products and services to the industry. In fact, first-time exhibitors are great sources of innovation and the latest product-line opportunities for installers, jobbers and retailers. They can even introduce attendees to potential crossover markets.

As of September 1, 2023, an impressive 450+ first-time exhibitors were already on the SEMA Show floorplan, and that number was still growing. Their data is offered here to assist buyers, media and other attendees in building a prioritized list of leads, which will help them make the most of their Show week. Listings are organized by Show category for easy research. Note that the full, up-to-date exhibitor roster that resides online at www.SEMAShow.com/floorplan will contain additional exhibitors who registered after this publication was prepared and will always provide the most up-to-date information on the Show's exhibitors.

If you haven't already, now is also the time to secure Show credentials and book hotel rooms. Registration is open at www.SEMAShow.com/register. Qualified domestic buyers who register and are approved online prior to September 29 will pay just $60 and will have their badges mailed to them before the Show, thus avoiding lines on-site. (After September 29, registration is $120.) Meanwhile, locked-in hotel deals can be found at www.SEMAShow.com/travel courtesy of onPeak, the SEMA Show's official housing partner.

Business Services


Atwix
www.atwix.com
Booth #12069

Auto Market Rep
www.automarketrep.com
Booth #12150

Bright ENGenuity
https://brightengenuity.com
Booth #11649

BuyAutoParts.com
www.BuyAutoParts.com
Booth #11746

Caraggio
www.caraggio.com
Booth #11817

The Carbon Offset Co.
www.carbonoffsetcompany.org
Booth #12073

CommercePundit.com
www.commercepundit.com
Booth #11977

E-Motive Online
www.e-motiveonline.com
Booth #12019

Easelly
www.easel.ly
Booth #12052

EBizCharge
www.ebizcharge.com
Booth #11771

ElevatIQ
www.elevatiq.com
Booth #11976

Epicor Software
www.epicor.com
Booth #11951

Gemstone Cars
www.gemstonecars.com
Booth #12020

Heat Seal LLC
www.heatsealco.com
Booth #11653

Hoops & Gears
www.hgautotech.com
Booth #11979

ProMotive
www.gopromotive.com
Booth #12068

Protractor
www.protractorsoftware.com
Booth #12065

RFALV
www.rfalvservices.com
Booth #11629

Shopgenie
www.shopgenie.io
Booth #11750

Sitation
www.sitation.com
Booth #11917

Southern Illinois Airport/TechPark
www.siairport.com
Booth #12166

Spark Shipping
www.sparkshipping.com
Booth #12049

SureCritic
www.learn.surecritic.com
Booth #11974

Torqata Data and Analytics
www.torqata.com
Booth #11973

US Professional Funding
www.usprofessionalfunding.com
Booth #11972

Vietnam Homologation Service–TKR Asia LLC
www.thekingrose.com
Booth #12078

West Virginia Department of Tourism
www.wvtourism.com
Booth #11725

Whiterail Recruits
www.whiterailrecruits.com
Booth #12048

Collision Repair & Refinish


All Clear Diagnostics and Calibration
www.allcleardandc.com
Booth #12559

AUTOBUFF
www.zjguanxin.com
Booth #12922

BSG Auto Glass Co. Ltd.
www.bsgautoglass.net
Booth #12723

Crown Polymers
www.crownpolymers.com
Booth #12871

Enoch Automotive Technology
www.enoch-car.com
Booth #11449

GripFX
www.gripfx.com
Booth #13177

Kent Automotive
www.kent-automotive.com
Booth #12740

Medallion Refinish System
www.medallionrefinish.com
Booth #13048

National Calibration and Diagnostic Solutions, Pro Mobile Scan, ADAS Targeting Solutions
www.nationalcds.com
Booth #12327

Original One Parts
www.originaloneparts.com
Booth #13063

Qingdao Aosheng Plastic Co. Ltd.
www.qd-as-paint.com
Booth #13151

SCC Auto Refinish
www.sccpaint.com
Booth #12768

Shurtape Technologies
www.shurtape.com
Booth #12371

SOCUR Inc.
www.socurinc.com
Booth #12177

SPEED AIR TOOLS
www.speedairtools.com
Booth #13165

Starcke Abrasives USA Inc.
www.starckeusa.com
Booth #12248

Superpads
www.cztaiyu.com
Booth #12868

Yongkang Baoda Tools Manufacture Co. Ltd.
www.baodatool.com
Booth #12821

Global Tire Expo—Powered by TIA


GUDE Corp.
www.gudecorp.com
Booth #47231

Hangzhou Xinyousheng Rubber Products Co. Ltd.
www.saftyseal.com
Booth #45273

Hubei Aulice Tyre Co. Ltd.
www.aulicetyre.com
Booth #45277

Jiangsu Duhow Rubber Co. Ltd.
www.duhowrubber.com
Booth #45267

Kontio Tyres & Boyd Coddington Wheels
www.performanceplustire.com
Booth #49217

MatraX Tyres
www.matraxtyres.com
Booth #48231

Nebula Tire USA Inc.
www.nebulatire.com
Booth #48222

Ningbo Kaisheng Auto Parts Co. Ltd.
www.kaisheng.biz
Booth #49221

Ningbo Zonhom Automotive Co. Ltd.
www.nbzonhom-tpms.com
Booth #45279

Oreka Tools Inc.
www.oreka.tools
Booth #47239

Qingdao Arivo Tyre Co. Ltd.
www.arivotyre.co.uk
Booth #42273

Qingdao Champ Tyre Co. Ltd.
www.champtyre.com
Booth #47219

Qingdao Hongchi Tyre Co. Ltd.
www.hongchityre.com
Booth #49223

Qingdao Honyun International Trading Co. Ltd.
www.honyuntyre.com
Booth #12721

Qingdao Juheng Rubber Products Co. Ltd.
www.juhengrubber.com
Booth #45285

Qingdao Sakurai International Trade Co. Ltd.
www.kakutire.com
Booth #45259

Qingdao XRUN Rubber Co. Ltd.
www.xrunrubber.com
Booth #49231

Shandong Forlander Tyre Co. Ltd.
www.forlander.com
Booth #45271

Shandong Hongyu Rubber Co. Ltd.
www.hugerubber.com
Booth #45286

Shandong Uniglory Tire Co. Ltd.
www.uniglorytire.com
Booth #42267

Teraflex Tyre
www.teratyregroup.com
Booth #42279

Tire Base
www.thetiredealer.com
Booth #44273

Uni-Power Tyre Co. Ltd.
www.atlandertire.com
Booth #47207

Yuyao Gongchuang Instrument Co. Ltd.
www.pressure-gauge.net
Booth #48226

Yuyao Shanfu Tools Co. Ltd.
www.sfutools.com
Booth #44265

ZODO Tire Co. Ltd.
www.zodotire.cn
Booth #47211

Hot Rod Alley


Bangin Headlights
www.banginheadlights.com
Booth #23194

Dove Racing
www.Doveracing.net
Booth #23792

E-MUSCLECARS
www.e-musclecars.com
Booth #24817

Legacy Classic Cars of Texas
www.legacyclassiccars.net
Booth #23693

Road Cartel
www.Roadcartel.com
Booth #23284

SaltWorks 3D Solutions
www.saltworksfab.com
Booth #23082

Under Dash Hydraulics/Malwood USA
www.malwoodusa.com
Booth #23282

Mobile Electronics & Technology


Banda/Deejayled
www.deejayled.com
Booth #10421

BLAUPUNKT
www.blaupunkt.com
Booth #10947

Daehong Technew Co. Ltd.
www.dhtechnew.com
Booth #10313

Destroyer1320.com
www.destroyer1320.com
Booth #10133

Dr Power Systems
www.drpowersystems.com
Booth #11224

E-Auto Co. Ltd.
https://e-auto.en.alibaba.com
Booth #10451

The Fesco Group
www.thefescogroup.com
Booth #10009

FineVu
www.finevu.com
Booth #11246

Firstech LLC
www.firstechllc.com
Booth #10339

Guangzhou DM Electronic Technology. Ltd.
www.adsaudio.cc
Booth #10416

Guangzhou Huge Circle Electronic Technology Co. Ltd.
www.dasaita.com
Booth #11025

Guangzhou Leeed Keakky Electronic Co. Ltd.
www.reakky.com/main_official/en/index.html
Booth #11226

Harman International
www.harman.com/EN-US/Pages/Home.aspx
Booth #10217

IROAD
www.iroadkr.co.kr
Booth #10123

Jackery Inc.
www.jackery.com
Booth #10955

Jingdezhen Jinchen Electronics Industry Co. Ltd.
www.shockpower.com.cn
Booth #10316

KING BOXES
www.king-boxes.com
Booth #10113

LandAirSea Systems
https://landairsea.com
Booth #11149

Powerus Amplifiers
www.powerus.com.br
Booth #10315

Shenzhen Gofuture Technology Co. Ltd.
www.gofuturetech.com
Booth #11129

ShenZhen Ottocast Technology Co. Ltd.
www.ottocast.com
Booth #10224

Shenzhen Wonda Tech Co. Ltd.
www.wdtsz.com
Booth #11242

SoundExtreme by ECOXGEAR
https://ecoxgear.com
Booth #10353

United Safety Front Brake Light
www.usfbl.com
Booth #11343

Xingsheng
www.xscaraudio.cn
Booth #11124

Zhejiang Haosheng Electronic Technology Co. Ltd.
www.haoshenget.com
Booth #11133

Powersports & Utility Vehicles


ELITEWILL
https://elitewill.com
Booth #60018

JackRabbit Mobility
www.jackrabbit.bike
Booth #61010

WestCoast Scooter
westcoastscooter.com
Booth #60038


›››The New Products Showcase is a prime place to discover new exhibitors. Equipped with the 2023 SEMA Show app on your smartphone, you'll be able to instantly scan, build a list, and map your way to the first-timers and their products.

Racing & Performance


ACE International
www.enginemountings.com
Booth #21228

ACUiTY
www.acuityinstruments.com
Booth #24431

AEM EV
www.aemev.com
Booth #24916

All Automotive Megahub Inc.
www.aamegahub.com
Booth #23814

Associated Electrics
www.RC10.com
Booth #21643

Aurobay
www.aurobay.com
Booth #23915

Autotech Engineering
www.autotechengineeringusa.com
Booth #20137

Bigboi International
www.ibigboi.com
Booth #23114

CTERACING
www.brakes-tech.com
Booth #20661

Dongguan Susheng Manufacturing Technology Co. Ltd.
www.speedwinner.cn
Booth #20022

EINTAC USA
www.icddesign.com
Booth #24519

Flash Drive Motors
https://flashdrivemotors.com
Booth #24417

GMB North America
www.GMB.net
Booth #24216

Guangzhou ADTORY (Minsheng) Automotive Technology Co. Ltd.
www.adtory-brakes.com/en
Booth #24014

Guangzhou Dekadi Auto Parts Co. Ltd.
www.cende-exhaust.com
Booth #24886

Guangzhou Wantian Industrial Co. Ltd.
www.icooh.com
Booth #20147

Hangzhou Taimei Performance Ltd.
www.taimeiperformance.com
Booth #20157

Hebei Kinglin Rubber & Plastic Tech Co. Ltd.
www.hbkinglin.com
Booth #20230

Hefei Deluxon Machining Co. Ltd.
www.d4tuning.com
Booth #20036

Hengshui Haofa Rubber and Plastic Co. Ltd.
www.haofa-racing.com
Booth #24880

Hengyi Turbocharger
www.chinaturbokits.com
Booth #20640

iMohr Technic & Design
www.imohr.com.br
Booth #23818

Jagrow Performance
www.jagrowtuning.com
Booth #20057

JBOM
www.jbom.com.cn
Booth #20755

JEGS High Performance
www.jegs.com
Booth #24119

Jiangsu Kaller Auto Parts Technology Co. Ltd.
www.jskaller.com
Booth #24429

Jinhuan Auto Parts Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
www.jinhuanqipei.com
Booth #20067

KC Specialty Tube
www.kctube.com
Booth #24528

Legend 7 Motorsports
www.facebook.com/legend7motorsports
Booth #24935

Minshine Auto Parts Co. Ltd.
https://minshine.en.made-in-china.com
Booth #21220

Multivictor Technology Co. Ltd.
www.multivictor.com
Booth #20632

Ningbo Govi Auto Parts Co. Ltd.
www.goviracing.com
Booth #24995

Ningbo Lingmai Machinery Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
www.road-power.cn
Booth #20078

Ningbo Pino Metal Products Co. Ltd.
www.cnpinometal.com
Booth #20739

Nitron Suspension
www.nitron.co.uk
Booth #23865

O-Tech (Jiaxing) Inc.
www.o-tech.cc/en
Booth #21210

PolyDyn Performance Coatings
www.polydyn.com
Booth #22626

Power Service Products
www.powerservice.com
Booth #24117

Pulsar Turbo Systems
www.pulsarturbo.com
Booth #24882

Qingdao Reliable &Trust Car Parts Co. Ltd.
www.ritcar.com
Booth #20741

Qingdao Senho Tech Trade Co. Ltd.
www.senhoairspring.com
Booth #24993

Redi Global, Ltd.
www.cens.com/censv1/en/product_list.jsp?sup_id=29131
Booth #20630

Refone Auto Power Co. Ltd.
www.refoneturbo.com
Booth #20626

Revex International Co. Ltd. LLC
www.ebay.com/str/orevo
Booth #20155

Ruffian Cars
www.ruffiancars.com
Booth #21653

Ruian Dofi Modifted Co. Ltd.
www.dofimodifted.com
Booth #20055

SAMGTOS Auto Spare Parts Co. Ltd.
www.samgtos.com
Booth #20769

Shenyang Xinjin Auto Parts Manufacturing Co. Ltd
www.differntial-lsd.com
Booth #20131

Shenzhen JDDTECH New Material Co. Ltd.
www.jddsleeve.com
Booth #24111

Suzhou Hualaimei Auto Parts Technology Co. Ltd.
www.hlmqc.com
Booth #24214

Suzhou Linker Automotive Co. Ltd.
www.rolk-performance.com
Booth #20159

Timpte Inc.
www.timpte.com
Booth #20655

Topgear Tuning Ltd.
www.topgear-tuning.com
Booth #21216

UFI Filters
www.ufifilters.com
Booth #20158

Versoflor
www.versoflor.com
Booth #21663

Wheel Turtle
https://telemetry.teamplus.cloud
Booth #21218

World Union Supply Chain (USA) Inc.
www.wuscinc.com
Booth #24530

Yi Jeong Industrial Co. Ltd.
www.autopart-supplier.com
Booth #20154

Yin Ching Auto Parts Co. Ltd.
www.yinching.com.tw/eng
Booth #20234

Yuhuan Jiuren Machinery Co. Ltd.
www.otoshaft.com
Booth #20020

Yulchon Korea, Mexico, Poland
www.ycpipe.com
Booth #24115

Restoration Marketplace


Hengcheng Rubber and Plastic Technology Co. Ltd.
https://www.qhhcsj.cn
Booth #24290

iONclassic
www.ionclassic.com
Booth #24593

Klassic Keyless
www.klassickeyless.com
Booth #24595

Obsession R
www.obsessionr.com
Booth #24283

Pasadena Classic Car
www.pasadenaclassiccar.com
Booth #24482

Taizhou Yihao Steering Gear Co. Ltd.
www.yehon.com
Booth #24694

Topnault Inc.
www.tpautoparts.com
Booth #24687

Restyling & Car Care Accessories


Aeolus Industrial
www.Carblowers.com
Booth #12145

American Modified
www.americanmodified.com
Booth #12545

Anhui Glossonly Auto Products Co. Ltd.
https://carshield.en.alibaba.com/?spm=a2700.galleryofferlist.0.0.34583fd4bEeFwj
Booth #12762

Arksci Technologies LLC
www.unisunfilm.com
Booth #12161

Audly Car Accessories Co. Ltd.
www.cnaudly.com
Booth #12367

Auto Addict USA
www.autoaddictusa.com
Booth #12173

Bling Sauce World Class Care Products
www.blingsauce.com
Booth #12827

CarCandy Automotive Detail Products
www.carcandy.com
Booth #12929

CFC FILMS INC.
www.cfcfilms.com
Booth #12565

Changchun Zi Xin Auto Supplies Co. Ltd.
www.cczixin.com
Booth #12641

Changzhou Bona Vehicle Parts Co. Ltd.
www.bonaautoparts.com
Booth #11350

Changzhou Desai Vehicle Accessories Co. Ltd.
https://czdesai.en.alibaba.com
Booth #12851

Changzhou Yuhang Auto Parts Co. Ltd.
www.czyuhang.com
Booth #12952

CHEERMO Films
www.cheermo.com
Booth #12925

CleanyKorea Co. Ltd.
www.cleanykorea.com
Booth #12748

Coating Farm Ceramics
www.cnstechlab.com
Booth #12475

CovrGard
www.covrgard.com
Booth #13049

CPI 0260 Supply
www.creaativeideda.net
Booth #12121

Danyang Jinfeng Vehicle Technology Co. Ltd.
www.jfauto.en.alibaba.com
Booth #12345

Danyang Simai Auto Parts Co. Ltd.
www.simaiauto.cn
Booth #12648

Diamond ProTech
www.diamondprotech.com
Booth #12343

DryceNation
www.drycenation.com
Booth #12127

Fenyang Dingxin Films Technology Co. Ltd.
www.dingxinfilms.com
Booth #12659

Foshan Yuxi Automobile Technology Co. Ltd.
www.yuxispace.com
Booth #12249

Full Throttle Wraps
www.fullthrottlewraps.com
Booth #12231

GD JG Electronic Ltd.
www.frozen32.com
Booth #13176

Guangdong Hantai Decoration Material Co. Ltd.
www.hantaipvc.com
Booth #12468

Guangzhou Cheyu Auto Technology Co. Ltd.
www.cychina.en.alibaba.com
Booth #12284

Guangzhou Hongyi Zhiche Technology Co. Ltd.
www.HYZC2018.com
Booth #13163

Guangzhou Huizhongxiuwai New Material Co. Ltd.
www.vinylfrog.com
Booth #12974

Guangzhou Jiaji Automotive Accessories Co. Ltd.
www.wlcfy.com
Booth #12464

Guangzhou Jin Mai Ke Technology Co. Ltd.
www.mictuning.com
Booth #13064

Guangzhou Jubao Auto Parts Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
www.JROAD4X4.com
Booth #13143

Guangzhou Kaqidun Auto Accessories Co. Ltd.
www.kqdauto.com
Booth #13155

Guangzhou Nick Automotive Film Co. Ltd.
www.nickppf.com
Booth #12749

Guangzhou Smart Cool Plastic Film Co. Ltd.
www.smartcoolfilm.com
Booth #13137

Guangzhou SunVision New Material Co. Ltd.
www.sunvisionfilm.net
Booth #12976

Guangzhou YOUKISS Trade Co. Ltd.
www.youkisscly. com
Booth #12549

Guangzhou Youtai Car Accessories Co. Ltd.
https://gzyoutai.en.alibaba.com
Booth #12649

Guangzhou ZhongTaiHuaXing Window Film Technology
www.zhongtaihuaxing.com
Booth #12876

Hangzhou Ruika Technology Co. Ltd.
www.autocut-tech.com
Booth #12537

HOHO
www.hohofilm.com
Booth #12444

Honey Combination
https://honey4detailing.com
Booth #13059

Hubei Shine Guys Auto Accessories Co. Ltd
www.sptaautocare.com
Booth #13159

Huizhou Weika Composites Co. Ltd.
www.zgvcar.en.alibaba.com
Booth #13082

Huntsman Gomet
www.gomet.it
Booth #13077

Justin Boot Branded Auto Accessories
www.trenditions.com/autochannelproducts.pdf
Booth #13084

KAMIKAZE Collection
www.kamikaze-collection.shop
Booth #12673

LEDIN Inc.
www.ebay.com/str/ledin
Booth #12773

McLaren Car Care
www.mclcarcare.com
Booth #13073

Mega Racer
www.megaracerauto.com
Booth #13068

MOD.AL GROUP Inc.
www.mod.al
Booth #12663

MODELLISTA
www.toyota-cd.co.jp/english
Booth #13017

Ningbo Guhang Electronic Technology Co. Ltd.
https://guhang.en.alibaba.com
Booth #13153

Ningbo Summer Auto Parts Co. Ltd.
https://summerautopart.en.alibaba.com
Booth #12474

Ningbo WB Auto Accessories Co. Ltd.
www.batocarcare.om
Booth #13141

Novsight Lighting Technology Inc.
www.novsights.com
Booth #12223

NXTZEN
www.NXTZEN.com
Booth #12653

Paracoat
www.paracoat.com
Booth #12872

PDS EQUIPMENT
www.pdsequipment.com
Booth #12637

Performance Speedshop
www.performancespeedshop.com
Booth #12727

REVOLVE STEERING
www.revolvesteering.com
Booth #12983

Rhopoint Americas Inc.
www.rhopointamericas.com
Booth #12875

Ruian Fairdeal International Trading Co. Ltd.
https://wzfairdeal.en.alibaba.com
Booth #12849

Shenzhen Gulin Power Technology Co. Ltd.
www.igulen.com
Booth #13070

Shenzhen Jinfengchi Technology Co. Ltd.
www.qeedon.com
Booth #13139

SNC Tuning
www.sonicmotor.com
Booth #12859

Sulameder PPF and Window Film
www.sulameder.com
Booth #12953

Taizhou Huangyan Carbo Auto Parts Co. Ltd.
www.dkcarlamp.com
Booth #12644

TCJC USA Inc.
www.mocpack.net
Booth #13072

Tiger Frontier International Inc.
www.tigerfrontierfilms.com
Booth #12470

Top Design Commercial Inc.
www.acmexautoparts.com
Booth #11455

TOPS GmbH
www.topsfilm.com
Booth #11251

ToughGuard High Performance Coatings LLC
www.toughguard.com
Booth #12462

Umbrella TPU
www.umbrella-film.com
Booth #12959

Veleo International Inc.
www.veleousa.com
Booth #12375

Wenzhou Anke Auto Accessories Co. Ltd.
haodele.cn
Booth #12873

Wenzhou Hongyuan Auto Parts Technology Co. Ltd.
https://hzonelampkj.en.alibaba.com
Booth #12363

Wenzhou Jelin Auto Accessories Co. Ltd.
www.jelinauto.com
Booth #12341

Zhejiang Burley Tools Co. Ltd.
www.burleytools.com
Booth #13161

Tools & Equipment


Alkota Cleaning Systems
www.alkotacleaningsystems.com
Booth #39225

Alsco Uniforms
www.alsco.com
Booth #39223

ANSED Diagnostic Solutions
www.ANSEDdiagnostics.com
Booth #39167

APlusLift Car Lift Products
www.apluslift.com
Booth #39238

AUTOBUFF
www.zjguanxin.com
Booth #39043

AUTOLINE PRO
www.autolinepro.com
Booth #39065

AUTONOMOUS
www.autonomouskr.com
Booth #13173

Best Guard
www.bestguard.org
Booth #38187

CAROSS
www.carosstech.com
Booth #39173

ChargeDNA
www.chargedna.com
Booth #12283

Full Spectrum Laser
www.fslaser.com
Booth #12482

Garage Royalty Products Inc.
www.garageroyalty.com
Booth #12483

GrandPaw Tools
www.grandpawtools.com
Booth #39107

Grip Tooling Technologies
www.gripedgetools.com
Booth #13167

Hangzhou Black Box 3D Technology Co. Ltd.
www.blackboxcv.cn
Booth #12369

Industrial Fan Co.
www.industrialfanco.com
Booth #37241

Jeoutay Liu Industrial Co. Ltd.
www.jeoutay.com
Booth #37237

KATOOL
www.autool.us
Booth #37231

Krebs Brothers
www.krebsindustries.com
Booth #38111

Lyon LLC
www.lyonworkspace.com
Booth #39234

Mastech Innovation Ltd.
www.mastechinnovation.com
Booth #12783

Ningbo Huasheng Air Compressors Co. Ltd.
www.china-aircompressor.com
Booth #38249

Ningbo Wuma Electric Appliance Co. Ltd.
www.ningbowuma.com
Booth #11445

PICHLER Tools
www.us.pichler.tools
Booth #12865

Precision Instruments Inc.
www.torqwrench.com
Booth #38233

Puffer (Taizhou) Machinery Co. Ltd.
www.puffertools.com
Booth #39111

Qingdao Toolstar Tools Co. Ltd.
www.everleadingtools.com
Booth #12458

QJT Group
www.qjtools.com
Booth #37240

Revopoint Global Inc.
www.revopoint3d.com
Booth #13083

Sage Oil Vac/Acme Truck Body
www.sageoilvac.com
Booth #39105

Shanghai Techway Industrial Co. Ltd.
www.techwaycarcare.com
Booth #13175

Shenzhen Southking Technology Co. Ltd.
www.southking.net
Booth #39101

SHINING 3D Technology Inc.
www.shining3d.com
Booth #12353

Stratus Auto Equipment
www.stratusautoequip.com
Booth #38211

STRINGO Inc.
www.stringo.com
Booth #13158

Teslong
www.teslong.com
Booth #13171

TONE TOOLS
www.tonetool.co.jp
Booth #39228

Tracked Machines
www.trackedmachines.us
Booth #38199

TW Tools LLC
www.yourgaragetools.com
Booth #39229

URREA Professional Tools
Booth #13069

 

ValvoMax
www.valvomax.com
Booth #37249

Wuhu Yijing Hardware Tool Manufactring Co. Ltd.
www.wuhuyjwj.com
Booth #39103

Wuyi Mingrun Industry & Trade Co. Ltd.
zjmingrun.en.alibaba.com
Booth #39109

Yongkang Lante Industry and Trade Co. Ltd.
www.cnlante.com
Booth #12454

Zhejiang Nanpu Pneumatic Components Co. Ltd.
www.nanpupneumatic.com
Booth #12282

Zhejiang Refine Wufu Air Tools Co. Ltd.
www.wufutools.com
Booth #38236

Zhejiang Safemate Automotive Safety & Emergency
www.safemate-china.com
Booth #39236

Zhejiang Zhongyou Industry & Trade Ltd.
www.china-zhongyou.com
Booth #39175

Zhuji Danbo Tools Co. Ltd.
www.zjdanbo.en.alibaba.com
Booth #38250

Trucks, SUVs & Off-Road



›››Displayed throughout the Las Vegas Convention Center and badged with scannable QR codes, the Show's countless feature vehicles can also lead attendees to first-time exhibitors whose products adorn the builds.

 

Auto Speed Auto Parts Co. Ltd.
www.jeepautospeed.com
Booth #59012

Behemoth Drivetrain
www.behemothdrivetrain.com
Booth #61234

Beijing Sunday Campers Co. Ltd.
www.sundaycampers.com
Booth #12276

Better Automotive Inc.
www.tacautoparts.com
Booth #60249

Black River
www.blackriverbysummit.com
Booth #55259

Boomerang Rubber
www.boomerangrubber.com
Booth #58249

BT Fabrication
www.facebook.com/people/BTFabrication-LLC/100054361518064/?mibextid=LQQJ4d
Booth #60253

Busted Knuckles Mechanical Services
www.bustedknucklesauto.com
Booth #12267

Caliber Inc.
www.caliberproductsinc.com
Booth #61237

Canadian Load Divider Dol
www.Cldd.ca
Booth #61212

Circuit Board Medics
www.circuitboardmedics.com
Booth #59216

Danyang Spedking Auto Parts Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
spedking.com
Booth #59010

Dongguan Hawking LED Lighting Co. Ltd.
www.hawkingled.com
Booth #12784

DROPRACKS
www.dropracks.com
Booth #59217

EZ Lee
www.ezlee.com
Booth #12975

Fas-Top
www.fas-top.com
Booth #59249

FILTERWEARS
www.filterwears.com
Booth #58014

FLATED
www.getflated.com
Booth #61195

Focus Innovation Group
www.arc.lighting
Booth #12277

Foshan Baitai Auto Accessories Co. Ltd.
www.bestwyll.com
Booth #59221

Foshan Chentong Cable Technology Co. Ltd.
www.fscttxs.com
Booth #61230

Foshan Jedision Electronic Technology Co. Ltd.
https://jedison.en.alibaba.com
Booth #57254

Foshan Kingmoon Lighting Co. Ltd.
www.fskingmoon.com
Booth #12351

Foshan Liweibo Auto Accessories Co. Ltd.
www.weibo4x4.com
Booth #58260

4x4 Accessories & Tyres Ltd.
www.4x4at.com
Booth #59227

Gridrack
https://tridenttrucksystems.com
Booth #55015

Guangzhou Audly Electronics Co. Ltd.
www.sunrise4wd.com
Booth #12466

Guangzhou Besure Electronics Co. Ltd.
www.besureled.com
Booth #61219

Guangzhou Dongsui Auto Accessories & Spare Parts Co. Ltd.
www.gzdongsui.com
Booth #61152

Guangzhou Nuobei Auto Part Co. Ltd.
www.gznuobei.com
Booth #59014

Guangzhou OUGE Electronic Technology Co. Ltd.
www.ogaled.com
Booth #57014

GuangZhou Zheyu Technology Co. Ltd.
www.zheyulight.com
Booth #58258

Hardkorr
www.hardkorr.com
Booth #61163

Hatchlift Products
www.hatchlift.com
Booth #11438

IndeedCamping
www.indeedcamping.com
Booth #58252

iRopes (Anhui) Co. Ltd.
www.iropes.com
Booth #61232

JEGS High Performance
www.jegs.com
Booth #60227

Küat Innovations LLC
www.kuatracks.com
Booth #58255

LEQUMOD Inc.
www.yikatoo.com
Booth #12167

Lucas Automotive
www.lucas-lighting.com
Booth #59255

Mammoth Products
www.mammothproducts.net
Booth #57265

Mini Monsters LLC
www.Minimonstersusa.com
Booth #58261

Ningbo All-Top Auto Products Co. Ltd.
www.alltop4x4.com
Booth #61227

Ningbo Melbrio Machinery Co. Ltd.
www.nbmlb.com
Booth #57255

Ningbo United Win Long Co. Ltd.
www.nbwinlong.com
Booth #59259

Nomadic Cooling
www.nomadiccooling.com
Booth #61085

ONLTCO Products Warehouse
www.onltco.com
Booth #57216

ORZ GmbH & Co.
www.meinjeep.de
Booth #61189

Overland Eagle
www.overlandeagle.com
Booth #58243

Puma Defenders
https://brykopp.wixsite.com/puma
Booth #61199

Qingdao Hairunkaiyuan Auto Parts Co. Ltd.
www.freedream4x4.com
Booth #12183

Rogue Van Co.
www.Roguevan.com
Booth #58231

RucRak Inc.
www.rucrak.com
Booth #56255

Sandy Vans
www.sandyvans.com
Booth #59260

Sanooer Co. Ltd.
www.sanooer.com
Booth #59018

Taiwan Dihshiang Ent Co. Ltd.
www.dihshiang.com.tw
Booth #58262

Talway Electric Co. Ltd.
www.ldnb.com
Booth #60235

TowSmart Custom
www.towsmart.com
Booth #12273

Unofficial Use Only
www.unofficialuseonly.com
Booth #61213

USA Diesel
www.ficmrepair.com
Booth #11442

Van Windows Direct
www.vanwindowsdirect.com
Booth #57259

Vicoffroad
www.vicoffroad.com.au
Booth #60241

WAAG (Guangzhou) Limited
www.waag.com.cn
Booth #58011

WATTSTAR Inc.
www.wattstarled.com
Booth #59242

Wenzhou Noble Auto Parts Co. Ltd.
www.akm4x4.com/
Booth #58264

WildLand International Inc.
www.iwildland.com
Booth #61205

Wildtop Truck Caps
www.wild-top.com
Booth #72007

WINCAR OFF-ROAD
www.chinawincar.com
Booth #58248

Winnebago
www.winnebago.com
Booth #61135

Zero Breeze
www.zerobreeze.com
Booth #59008

Zhejiang Bezos Outdoor Equipment Co. Ltd.
www.china-meedo.com
Booth #57253

Zhejiang Hongli (A/List) Tools Co. Ltd.
www.hl99.com
Booth #11544

Wheels & Accessories



›››Discover the new opportunities that can only be found through one-on-one conversations at a live trade event. If you haven't yet registered for the 2023 SEMA Show, now is the time.

 

 

Archetype
www.archetyperacing.com
Booth #11353

CZW Wheels
www.customzenithwheels.com
Booth #47199

Falcon Off-road Wheels
www.falconoffroad.com
Booth #46177

Foshan Hongtian Automobile Industry Co. Ltd.
www.htianwheels.com
Booth #47187

Hangzhou Fortune Supply Chain Co. Ltd.
www.changlunwheel.com
Booth #49115

Hebei Longrun Automotive Co. Ltd.
www.longrunautomotive.com
Booth #47197

Hubei Hongmada Wheel Co. Ltd.
www.hmdlg.com
Booth #12869

Jiangsu Pomlead Co. Ltd.
www.pomlead.com
Booth #48161

JTX Forged
www.jtxforged.com
Booth #48129

Laser My Wheels
https://lasermywheels.com
Booth #48200

Lianyungang Yohun-Tech Alloy Co. Ltd.
www.yohun.net
Booth #48198

Multistar International Canada Inc.
www.qdjggroup.com
Booth #47190

Ningbo Extreme
Booth #11444

 

Ningbo Kintop Autoparts Co. Ltd.
www.bbestop.com
Booth #45275

Ningbo Mingjiang Intelligent Equipment Co. Ltd.
www.major-wheels.com
Booth #48171

Ningbo Phecda Internaltional Trading Co. Ltd.
www.phecda-cn.com
Booth #49119

Ningbo Suhao Autoparts Import and Export Co. Ltd.
https://nbhoway.en.alibaba.com
Booth #49117

Ningbo Weigao Auto Parts Co. Ltd.
www.wgwheels.com
Booth #46195

Ningbo Wheel Friends Auto Parts Co. Ltd.
www.wheelfriends.com
Booth #49059

Ningbo Zumbo Wheels Co. Ltd.
www.zumbowheels.com
Booth #49068

One Billion Tires LLC
https://onebilliontires.com
Booth #47083

Rubicon Automotive Group
www.rubiconautomotivegroup.com
Booth #49111

Sowell Wheels
www.sowellwheel.com
Booth #49105

YAMARU Co.
https://yamaru.com.tw/en/home
Booth #49107

Zhejiang Sunrise Wheels Manufacture Co. Ltd.
www.sunrisewheels.com
Booth #47201

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