Auto parts industry professionals from around the country gather each year at the SEMA Show (Specialty Equipment Market Association) to compare notes, practices, and most importantly, automobiles. SEMA is expected to put this year’s newest trends on display at their big event on October 30 – November 2 in Las Vegas.
The SEMA Show contains over 2,400 exhibiting companies and every type of new and hot product that one could imagine. It offers well-known speakers, a plethora of demonstrations, educational seminars and numerous networking opportunities. The convention covers over one million square feet of space and SEMA brags of over 70,000 buyers attending last year’s show.
The show is typically attended by representatives from auto parts stores, truck accessory dealers, tire and wheel dealers, repair specialists and shops, racing engine builders and much more. Managers, buyers, wholesalers, and all of those in the auto parts industry can view a clip from the 2017 show to get a related preview:
What to Expect from 2018’s SEMA Show
SEMA features five distinct halls, each with its own specific industry focus and draw.
North Hall
- Collision Repair & Refinish
- Mobile Electronics & Technology
- Restyling & Car Care Accessories
Central Hall
- Racing & Performance
- Restoration Marketplace
- Hot Rod Alley
South Hall Upper
- Trucks, SUVs & Off-Road
- Powersports & Utility Vehicles
South Hall Lower
- Global Tire Expo
- Wheels & Accessories
Performance Pavilion
- First Time & Featured Exhibitor
Celebrity Appearances
Celebrities with a passion for all things cars are routinely drawn to the SEMA Show and can be expected to be seen throughout multiple events. A few will be manning their own display in the exhibit hall.
Jay Leno will be attending as a comedian car owner to show off his new detailing product line, Jay Leno’s Advanced Vehicle Care.
Richard Petty, the legendary NASCAR driver and team owner, will be making speaking appearances throughout the show.
Eight-time NHRA Top Fuel Champion Tony Schumacher describes the SEMA show as his second home and will be doing interviews at the event.
Learning Tracks
There will be 23 “Free-to-Attend” sessions in categories including Business Management, Customer Service & Sales, Marketing Strategies, Research & Trends, and Bottom Line. The 23 sessions have over 70 courses to offer in total.
There will be four keynotes, featuring top speakers on the topics of business practices, technology, and life.
Don’t forget about the two paid learning tracks, both with courses taking place all weekend:
Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) Repairer Driven Education has 21 different courses at $75 each. SCRS includes Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Collision Repair Technology Summit which will discuss architectural and technological developments in modern vehicles and will concentrate on trends in vehicle repairability and collision preparation.
The second paid learning track is called Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR) with 13 different courses at $114 - $125 each. Three training credit hours are included per course, provided attendee pass the post-test which can be used towards their I-CAR Gold Class Professionals or I-CAR Platinum Individual.
Tools to Innovate
Getting one’s finances in order is vital for any professional attending SEMA, especially those from auto parts stores, truck accessory dealers, tire and wheel dealers, repair specialists and shops, and racing engine builders.
What if there were a tool available for them to accept payments that can help mitigate risk and increase sales? CrossCheck has the answer.
Multiple Check allows businesses to accept 2 – 4 checks from customers for one purchase. Checks are deposited by businesses on dates of the customer’s choosing over a 30-day period. This tool allows customers to make purchases and take home items without the concern of credit … and it’s better than layaway!
Better yet? Each check is guaranteed by CrossCheck when it is deposited.
Learn more by downloading our free guide.
