Responce to Sema
 

I see some great pic"s here on this site from Sema
I was unable to go this year due to family illness but I was told attendence was down both venders and spectators .Any truth to this and how bad was it
Thanks
Phil

a lady from SEMA quoted a friend at 40% down. There were few outside vendors as compared to last year, didn't have the big tent in the lot other than the registration tent. It was easier to manuever the show, but still pretty busy. There were definitely less vendors in the wheel/tire building, and even hot rod alley seemed to have a bit more free space in some areas.

Jody

I heard the quality of the visitors was up though.. :shrug:

Still seemed busy.. Here's what SEMA said about it:

I would say Tuesday and Wednesday were just as busy as any year but Thursday and Friday were off. I think people came but left early. I heard there was net vendor decline of about 150 companies. As always, it was a very good show for us.

Mike

the vendors that i know that went are all more the old 32 ford hot rod style thing and they said that their segment was way down, compared to last year.

SEMA was way down in people but it was a good thing because we got to talk to more dealers. Booths were way down in the wheel section about 40% but in our side of it it was up, go look at all that attended and you will see that the Hot Rod section and Performance section was way up. All in all I think it was one of the best SEMAs for us so far and I have been going for almost 10 years with a booth.

yea friday was very easy to move around. not crowded at all.
but curtis & anthony said tuesday and wednesday you could barly walk...

i thought this year it seemed kinda hard to talk to venders. they either seemed to busy, or to "in thier own world" to deal with little guys. some companys hit it hard, and got great responces it seemed, but others, thought they were the show. did alot of buiesness at the show, and got alot of great contacts, but the ones i really wanted to get, were flukes. i've been hearing its just me though but i don't know, thats my impression. i think its like that with vendors in general. ive been trying to buy a set of heads for 2 weeks now for a LS1, and i can't even get people to call me back. :willy:

SEMA officials gave every vendor a gift card worth 5% of the cost of their booth space. I think it says a lot if SEMA is giving money back, a rebate, to the vendors.

SEMA Mission statement
 

Just wondering what this show is actually for. What I am reading lately makes me believe the show is for vendors to allign with dealers.
And what its not for is for the general community.

IS that the bottomline on this event?

That's exactly what SEMA is, it's an automotive aftermarket industry trade show not open to the general public.

sema is a tool to sell parts.
rick k

Talking to some of my vendors they said that SEMA said domestic attendance was down but international was way up. The show turned out very productive for us....There were a few companies I wanted to talk to but never got a chance and others that were bonuses that we never expected to find there.

americansupercarinc
 

Thank you for the responce .Well if I had to miss a year this was the right one to miss I guess . I will be at PRI. I wonder how that will play out?
Phil

This years SEMA show was our best ever for Air Ride Technologies. The total quantity of people was down, which made it possible to have meaningful conversations with the people that we were really there to see: dealers, distributors, suppliers. I would never blow off anyone, but this particular show is NOT for the individual who wnats a price on a system for his 68 Chevelle. It is for the dealer/distributor who wants to learn more about our product/shippings policies/advertising policies/new product development/etc. so they can better service our product.
That is one of the reasons it is so miserably expensive to be there. Our 20x30 booth was 12k just for space rent. The cost of travel, meals, wages, motels/ building displays, etc. will triple that amount.
It is worth it? I am torn on that point. Several large companies such as BFG/ Michelin have decided that it is NOT worth it and have redirected their SEMA budget in other areas. It IS, however, a big party and no one like to be left out of a good party...

Well said Bret and I wish more people got it.

I would appear that although the intent of SEMA is to connect producers with the distribution network a mixed message is being sent.

For example retail discounts. Why would a supplier offer a X % discount for retail orders made @ SEMA if they didn't want to engage in retail buisness @ SEMA?

It must depend on the company. I know in the a/v room some were actually selling product one at a time right out of there booth. Bill Howel got a couple neet items!

But I do see/agree with what Brett is saying.

its probually thier higest selling item and they want to start a buiesness relationship off to a good foot in person. i guess i don't know, becouse i haven't gone as a vender, but people asking for product spacific stuff really that bad? i skiped calls to a couple venders i knew and just asked them at sema and they had no real issues with it? i guess ive been wrong though. alot of people sell stuff there to, like parts and what not.

So here is a thought. Would it be possiable to have days dedicated days for retail customers? In other words a day or two for the average tire kicker to check out the latest cool stuff and cars?
Perhaps approach one of the vendors and ask questions. If the vendor chooses not to take advantage so be it.

This may have a real positive impact. Now I don't pretend to understand promotion or trade shows. This does however seem to make good common sense.

I don't have a business that would be at SEMA, but I think the prices for the booths are high. Then when u factor in staff, fllights, rooms, food, etc. It gets ridiculously expensive.

One thing also to consider is this isn't the only rodeo, most companies do all the goodguys shows, magazine advertising, other trade shows, etc. Wow it sure does add up. I hope they get results and wish them success in a tough market.

then your cutting the retail shop that is selling the parts they went to the show to become a dealer or sell the product the person wants. whole point of sema/pri is to keep the public out and deal with the people selling the products and show them whats comming up, answer questions, build relationships, and make money togther, or so i thought.

My thought was it would be good for PR and the customer. Perhaps retail sales would be off limits all together. It would seem to me it would be a good way for dealers who sign on and to line up potential customers as well.

For me its really a good discussion. If you want SEMA to be exclusive its not hard. Just send out invites and stop there. It is hard however to create a Buzz and
then ONLY expect dealers. It just seems counter intuatitve

you do know how big sema is and how long its been around right? before this goes much farther...

SEMA is for getting dealers you cant sell products there even though people do. If you get caught selling you are not welcome back next year. Problem with SEMA is all you have to do to get a pass is have some kind of a company involved with the industry and you can come.

They dont need to lock everyone out just the guys that have no buisness at all being there. If they want to let people in for show maybe they can charge them do it on one day and split it with everyone with discounts on the booth.

Tire kickers/ Avg Joe DONT Support SEMA
 

I do know what it is I didn't know how long it was around so I googled it.

I found this (below) which basically answers my questions. It is not an event for me the retail consumer / tire kicker It is just for industry insiders. Cool I get it. I will stick to the goodguys shows, Super Chevy shows and Ignore anything with the word SEMA in it including "SEMA build threads" I hope others do the same.


SEMA eNews, Vol. 11, No. 45 - Nov 13, 2008
ABSENCE OF "TIRE KICKERS" ENHANCES ALREADY GREAT SEMA SHOW
2008 SEMA Show Attracts More Qualified Attendees Than Ever

That wont help anyone out, no one said you cant go they are just stating people dont waist time with manufactures when they have work to do. SEMA is important to all of us as that is where we show of the new parts to dealers to pass on to you the consumer. Or maybe you see something there you like so you find the dealer to get it for you or help a dealer locate something you think would be cool for them to sell.

if you're involved with the industry then you should go to SEMA. not everything is one off parts or wheels. theres tons of stuff there everything from tools, off road, performance, etc. if somebody went to SEMA and thought they had increasing demand in say people wanting to buy tools they can go to booth whatever to look at expanding operations. for example we bought some badass tools there because we've had a increase in that type of work.

so do you ever by speed parts from your local speed shop? this is where YOUR local speed shop goes to build a relationship with manufacturer so they can sell you those speed parts. it's a shame you have the attitude you do
if you have an affilitation in this industry you should attend SEMA

Let me be clear. My thought is simply I don't want to be somewhere I am not wanted. I also question the mixed message that i believe their to be. Its Kinda like come and fill the room but don't ask any questions. Dont bother me kid... I dont agree with that..
Its just me I can be a baby that way :cheers:

Stop whining already. Jeez, there are thousands of venues that you can goto. It looks like you cannot understand or grasp the concept of an "INDUSTRY trade show". If you cannot get past that idea, then there is no amount of explaining anyone can do, to satisfy your ignorance.

BTW: Last year Hulk Hogan was escorted out because he was not supposed to be there. And the retard showed up again this year.

Oh man !!! Why was the Hulkster escorted out:question:

Oh please don't tell me you believe this? He is sponsored by Mopar. His kid WAS sponsored by Mopar. Ever see the red and yellow Vipers? Believe me, He is welcome in there, as well as every other rock star, actor, sports star, rapper.

Well I guess I should not believe my own eyes then. It's not a matter of what "I believe" it's what I saw. I do, however, make the assumption though, that it was because of the badge deal. I could be wrong.

Don't know anything about this year though. Just saw him trodding around.

I've read this and held off but I have input from both sides(vendor, customer). In a previous life in a different industry(Card, Gift, Toy & Games) I was a manufacturers representative....same position at trade shows as everyone at SEMA just a different industry. I'll tell you that nothing is more frustrating than spending time with someone you think is a customer only to find out they are not and just want to buy samples or just one thing for personal use....or that they can't make the $100 minimum order because they only want to buy it for themself and a friend. That is not why you do the trade shows and I worked on straight commission which meant that I made nothing when dealing with these people...yet I was still nice to them but that doesn't mean I wasn't annoyed. While not everyone at SEMA is likely paid that way it is still frustrating from a sales point of view when you are there to see shop owners and builders only to have someone come up and buy an intake for their 350 Chevy they are working on...that's just not why they are there and those individual sales if they choose to take them don't come anywhere near paying their expenses.

Now in this life I am a shop owner/builder and I spent considerable money to fly 1800 miles out to SEMA looking for new products and useful contacts for my business so that I can better serve my customers and offer parts so that my business will continue..... But not NEARLY what these businesses spend to have a booth there! While everyone loves a good show and want an "in" to a trade only show it's not why it's there....if you get in as a spectator(through a friend or by some other method) then understand that you are just that...a spectator.....don't walk into Bret's booth and ask for a system for your own car...just walk around and enjoy the show and understand that your local shop or retailer is there to serve you and as link between you and the manufacturer they have a working relationship to service you as a customer...if you have a problem, your retailer will take care of you because that's why they exist...as a place near you that you can go to rather than dealing with a company 2,000 miles away.

Those in business need a place to go to meet and talk with these companies who provide a product or service and that's what SEMA is. If you want to go to a swap meet or buy at a show then go to the Goodguys show because that's what it is intended for. But don't fault a trade show that's sole purpose is to unit manufacturers and business/shop owners just because you feel "unwanted" the whole lure for you in the first place is mostly because you aren't supposed to be there anyway because you will see most of these cars at another show somewhere anyway, the reason they are at SEMA is to showcase products...not to win a trophy.

He is always escorted to keep the mob off of him. Much like Foose, Leno and other clebs there.

The thing is Joe Q Retail does not need to fly to SEMA to see these companies. Most of these companies are set up at shows week in and week out. I bet a company like Air Ride or Vintage Air, or DSE is going to do a show within driving distance of Mr retails house sometime in the next year. And chances are high that if the manufacturer is not going to be there, a dealer for the product will be there. Most of these manufacturers do lots of shows for Mr Retail for every one trade show. So there is no need for Joe Retail to go to SEMA.

Now with that said, I always get my customers badges if their car is in the show. They are not buyer badges and that is on purpose, they are exhibitor badges. My customers are instucted to NOT take the vendors time. DO NOT get into big conversations, especially ones that prevent real buyers from making contact. Your car is in the show, your allowed in because of that, but that is all.

Nightmare story. How about the guy that takes the opportunity to confront a manufacturer because he has the owner (that is normally insulated) cornered! " I sure gave so and so a piece of mind mind about their return policy". This happened! More reason for Mr Retail to stay home! That guy won't be wearing one of my badges!