Large crowds fill the hallways and booths at this year's SEMA Show despite a difficult forecast.
According to a recent SEMA eNews report, the domestic and global economic crisis offered 2008 SEMA Show
exhibitors and attendees at least one small benefit: it kept the "tire
kickers" at home.
SEMA has taken several steps in recent years to
protect the Show's purpose of connecting buyers and sellers. These
include assigning "alumni numbers" to qualified attendees, and
heightened screening of the application process. These and other
safeguards paid dividends to the Show's more than 1,900 exhibitors.
"Going into the Show, I figured I'd be selling parts to the gang in
the booth next to us," says L.J. Lobsinger Jr., national sales manager
for Specialty Auto Parts USA. "We were pleasantly surprised by the
turnout, and it was truly a quality-versus-quantity show, as we met
with nearly every important buyer on the books."
Lobsinger also noted the general optimism of buyers and attendees,
particularly a day after the general election and regardless of poor
earnings reports announced by GM and Ford.
"This industry will always show resiliency. No matter what GM, Ford,
Chrysler, Honda, Tata and so on build, the aftermarket will create
something to make those cars and trucks look better and go faster."
Despite the bailouts and belt-tightening, despite the market's
dependence on discretionary income and despite the dour news of slowing
auto sales, the specialty-equipment industry demonstrated its
confidence and foresight.
"Attracting more than 100,000 attendees was remarkable under the
circumstances of a difficult year,” said SEMA President and CEO Chris
Kersting. “Each year the Show brings new challenges and the industry
showed that it has the confidence and desire to overcome a tough
stretch of road. Those who exhibited have positioned their products
well for when the market comes back to full strength.”