SEMA Show Downsized?

big-boss · #1 (**permalink**) 11-09-2009, 02:51 PM

Boy, was I shocked. It seems like the SEMA show has downsized considerabley. Lot of big names were either not there or barley there. How can FFR not even have a Cobra on disply? What is that all about?

Gunner · #2 (**permalink**) 11-09-2009, 02:56 PM

Just possibly... it's the economy, st... uh... buddy?

Nearly everything in this industry is a last-level luxury. No one's buying Chip Foose wheels when it's beans for dinner. Some of the manufacturers have seen sales falloffs approaching 100%. Project cars all over the country are sitting tarped while Da-Da works a second job to cover that ARM that seemed like such a good idea at the time.

thudmaster · #3 (**permalink**) 11-09-2009, 03:02 PM

Lots of main halls not opened for displays. Less models to tease you. You could actually walk up to the vender wiyhout fighting your way thru the hordes. Superformance did not have a display at SEMA either.

Slither · #4 (**permalink**) 11-09-2009, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thudmaster

Lots of main halls not opened for displays. Less models to tease you. You could actually walk up to the vender wiyhout fighting your way thru the hordes. Superformance did not have a display at SEMA either.

The Superformance display was at Shelby Headquarters north of town!

Gunner · #5 (**permalink**) 11-09-2009, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slither

The Superformance display was at Shelby Headquarters north of town!

Which tells you where they thought the money was.

mikeforte · #6 (**permalink**) 11-09-2009, 08:16 PM

Hi,
The cost of booth, people in sales, union labor to move in and assemble booth (then disassemble too), electricity, the carpet, cleaning, trash can, hotels, food, airfare costs etc in this economy can mean business suicide. Remember, people are not purchasing car parts like they were just 2 yearts ago...
SEMA was looking for local cars from car clubs to bring a car to fill the halls with something.
Not a good sign yet.

Cobra #42 · #7 (**permalink**) 11-09-2009, 08:27 PM

We usually take five to six people to SEMA to visit with sponsors and talk to new vendors. This year for the first time in six years we called all our sponsors in October to renew contracts and didn't waste the money on going to Vegas. I think a lot of other small businesses did the same thing. With the health care crap hanging over our heads I think you are going to see this trend continue for the next few years. db

PANAVIA · #8 (**permalink**) 11-10-2009, 12:17 AM

SEMA -- I dont think it is a good use of a shrinking marketing budget in the year 2009.

I hope it goes the way of COMDEX.

kgs365 · #9 (**permalink**) 11-10-2009, 05:51 AM

FFR....was probably trying to avoid poking CS....

Bill Bess · #10 (**permalink**) 11-10-2009, 06:03 AM

Maybe if Sema opened the show up to the public, charged to get in, and then helped small business get their products to the show, things might be better. If you don't flex with the times and economy your going to die.

SP01715 · #11 (**permalink**) 11-10-2009, 02:36 PM

Sounds like the Los Angeles boat show. It's been shrinking for the past couple years now because of people going out of business, and the prohibitive cost of renting space for the show.

I agree with bill about letting the public into SEMA. I had a boat in the show a few years back, and it was a problem for me to get in because I did not work for the company that put it in the show.

Mark IV · #12 (**permalink**) 11-10-2009, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Bess

Maybe if Sema opened the show up to the public, charged to get in, and then helped small business get their products to the show, things might be better. If you don't flex with the times and economy your going to die.

SEMA is a tradeshow for members and wholesalecustomers. One of the problems they have had is everyonegetting in!

Some trade shows do have a few "public" days (some RV and boat trade shows come to mind) but on those days the wholesale price lists, etc. are NOT passed out. Do you sell something? Should all of YOUR customers have your cost sheets?

The problem is that the SEMA show became a tool used to market to the public and generate PR rather than the trade show it was started as.

oldman ohio · #13 (**permalink**) 11-10-2009, 06:20 PM

Canfield Cylinder Heads bit the dust a few weeks ago. No orders.

jack

Bill Bess · #14 (**permalink**) 11-13-2009, 05:53 AM

My point is, with allowing the public into SEMA for a few days, there would be an income stream of money to help off set the expensses of the show, plus inform potential customers ( the general public)of what products are out there. Maybe some of the small businesses would get some orders from this type of added advertising.
It seems that too many organizations want to be preferential and can do that when times are good, but when the economy is weak they're not creative enough to "read the hand writing on the wall" so to speak.