Canadian auto dealer toured the massive show in Las Vegas, with an eye on what might interest Canadian car dealers.
If you’ve never been to the SEMA Show, make plans to attend. It stands for Specialty Equipment Market Association, and it’s a massive annual trade show for the aftermarket industry typically held at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
It’s for all types of products that do not come with a vehicle from the factory, from the smallest accessories to full-body car and truck makeovers. It runs in conjunction with the nearby Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX), which primarily focuses on parts and supplies for repair and retail.
So with boots on the ground — comfortable ones, we hope, because the show is huge — a visiting dealer can look at the show in several ways.
First off, it’s a spectacle, because companies show off their products by putting them on vehicles, and there are more than a thousand at the event.
The moment you arrive, the car show begins outside the Convention Center, with hot rods, radically-lifted pickup trucks, classic cars and tuners, and that’s just a taste of what’s inside. Even the automakers get into it, commissioning custom versions of their vehicles for their booths.
It’s a learning experience, and you can register for education seminars that take place during the show. These include business practices, collision repair, new technologies, sales and marketing, and dealing with digital. It’s worth your while to see what’s available, and take an hour or two off the show floor to get some tips from the pros.
And it’s great for networking as well, both with suppliers and company reps, and with other dealers.
But one thing we like to do is walk the aisles and see what’s on display. A lot of the products are available in Canada. Some are shown by Canadian companies, and many of them are of interest to dealers. These include shop supplies, tools, software programs, and even items to offer over-the-counter to customers.
We found these possibilities at the most recent show:
Wheel Lock Bags: Nothing gums up the shop like a customer who didn’t leave the key for the locking wheel nuts. These come with your OE brand name, or they can be custom-printed with your store’s information. Offer the bag and put it in the glovebox as part of the visit, and the key’s there for next time. www.LockingWheelNutBag.com
Detail Centre: Toronto-based Eurovac showed a dispensing system for cleaning products, including heated shampoo that mixes and sends chemicals to a workstation that hangs beside the cleanup bay. www.Eurovac.com
Rim Protection: These snap onto a rim to protect it from curb damage. We looked at RimPro-Tec’s two-piece system; if it’s smacked, you only replace the inner pinstripe. A reflective choice adds safety if there’s a breakdown on an unlit road. www.Wheelbands.com
Emergency Lights: Portable LED lights now take the place of flares, are much easier to use and double as flashlights. Compact and great for counter sales. www.SaviorProtected.com
Phone in a Cup: Among all the hands-free holders, we liked the CupFone, which simply slips into most vehicles’ cupholders and holds most devices. www.WeatherTech.ca
These are only a few of the many possibilities that were available at the SEMA show in 2019.
