SEMA Spring Expo Was Successful
DIAMOND BAR, Calif. (April 23, 2002) -- The inaugural SEMA Spring Expo was highly successful in its efforts to introduce SEMA members' products to buyers new to the specialty equipment automotive aftermarket, and to provide an opportunity for established buyers to see new products that have been introduced this year. SEMA held its first Chicago-area show Friday through Sunday, April 5-7, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in suburban Rosemont, Ill. The 1,926 people who attended the three-day show included 1,358 verified buyers and 139 non-buyer personnel such as manufacturers reps, non-exhibiting manufacturer personnel, and journalists. The buyers listed their businesses as truck cap dealers, import performance specialists, tire and wheel dealers, new vehicle dealership personnel, specialty equipment installers, retailers, and service shop owners, among other aftermarket categories. The show, with approximately 30,000 total square feet of exhibits and project vehicles, displayed a wide assortment of automotive specialty products and services in its 115 exhibits. The products and accessories on display ranged from truck caps and car covers, to cargo organizers, to camshafts and nitrous oxide systems, to the first aftermarket release of "night vision" technology for personal vehicles. The SEMA Action Center demonstration program, organized by SEMA's Professional Restylers Organization (PRO), attracted buyers to learn correct installation and application techniques for several automotive accessory products, including paint protection film and sunroofs. Racing industry celebrity Linda Vaughn autographed pictures at the SEMA membership service center on Saturday afternoon. She appeared under the sponsorship of SEMA and Mr. Gasket Performance Group. The 32 project vehicles on the show floor at the SEMA Spring Expo included a completely accessorized new white Mustang convertible and a Corvette confiscated from a drug dealer and outfitted as a police pursuit vehicle. SEMA offered a set of business education seminars to all show attendees. The schedule included an enthusiast-magazine celebrity panel discussion about media trends and the new products "most likely to succeed." Participants were Rich Ceppos of Autoweek magazine, John Dianna of Buckaroo Publications, Ira Gabriel of Hot Rod magazine; Howard Lim of Super Street magazine; Jim Ryan of 4 Wheel & Off-Road magazine, and Peter MacGillivray of SEMA News. "We are very pleased with this first SEMA Spring Expo," said Gary Vigil, SEMA director of trade shows. "Our attendance exceeded our expectations, the comments from exhibitors and attendees were very positive, and our Sunday show day was also successful." Vigil said that the show was open Sunday to accommodate buyers whose busiest store and shop days are Friday and Saturday. Vigil said that plans for the 2003 SEMA Spring Expo will be announced at a later date.