This past November held the largest SEMA Show ever with over 2 million square feet of exhibit space. The space is divided into sections so the attendee can concentrate on the part of the show that is most pertinent to his or her particular business, such as Street Rod Alley. In addition, visitors get the opportunity to take a peek at the latest offerings from other markets, which may be of interest for future expansion, such as Racing, Off Roading, and Marine.
I've attended SEMA since 1990 and find it to be the single most important show of the year. It is the event that sets the stage for the New Year, as vendors debut their newest catalogs and set their programs for the next year. The traffic of the show serves as a very good indicator of the economy for the next year as well. The record attendance of over 100,000 people this year showed a true optimism for 2004.
Thousands of manufacturers gathered to offer their newest innovations for 2004. The new products showcase featured over 1,100 new items and set the stage for the companies to visit. The cases are divided by category and offer a preview of what you will see at each booth. It's a great place to start! Original Equipment Manufacturers celebrate the newest vehicle designs and aftermarket concepts of how to personalize these automobiles, giving you a head start on what will be the next hot new trend.
How does this relate to SRMA and street rods? It has become apparent that the hottest new vehicles replicate the look and feel of the classic styling and sleek lines found in street rods. This is a compliment to the street rod industry and a great way to expand the "street rod" design to a larger audience. Examples include the Prowler, PT Cruiser, and the newest Chevy trucks that pick up the early styling. The more people that become familiar with how cool the street rod designs are the more the demand for custom-built vehicles and street rods will continue to grow. The exposure that Street Rod Alley gets at the show generates the buzz that adds new customers to our industry. Even companies that are primarily at the show for another purpose come to Street Rod Alley to source parts for their latest side project.
Why should you as an SRMA member attend SEMA? The answer is simple; it is the most exciting automotive show on Earth. From Hummers to Street Rod Alley, there is something for everyone. There are new perspectives, new ideas, and new products, as well as feature vehicles both in and outside of the building...again, the classics and street rods have the biggest crowd and Street Rod Alley is the most exciting part of the show. In fact, it's right at the entrance to the exhibit main hall.
Other events that take place at SEMA include the SRMA banquet. This year there were over 600 attendees; customers, vendors, and media contacts met with food, fun, and a great presentation. The event showcased 12 street rods that show the true craftsmanship that goes into building a street rod, custom, or truck.
Another key event is the open SRMA meeting, which takes place at the Hilton Conference Room. This meeting gives you the opportunity to express to your council what you would like done in SRMA. The more participants that take part in this meeting the more we can target the true needs of the industry for seminars, youth awareness programs, and many other items. The most important item discussed at this year's meeting was legislative awareness and what we can do to make our voices heard in Washington. Amazingly enough, our industry growth can be dramatically affected by the legislation that is in process in each state. SEMA and SRMA serve as voices to make sure our industry continues to prosper-and with the mountains of paperwork constantly reviewed, this is no small task! A great summary of this activity as well as the future Washington, D.C. Rally was presented and discussed at this meeting.
So, next year when wondering whether you can afford the time away from your business and what a small street rod shop can gain from the show, think about what you can learn from being a part of SRMA, and the many people who have worked hard to show you their dream vehicle...many of which were built by hand piece by piece. One good idea can improve your business.
And don't forget, Las Vegas, the city with a million lights, restaurants, and world class entertainment isn't a bad place to learn more about your industry and keep up to date on the newest and greatest. Mark your calendar now for the 2004 show, which will be November 2-5, 2004.