So, how’s the 2018 show shaping up? How many new products will be featured this year, Peter? We never really know what we’ll see until the week of the SEMA Show, but the upcoming event is shaping up to be exciting. Registration numbers are strong, the New Product Showcase is on track to feature an amazing variety of products, and we have some new events that reflect the changing landscape of the industry. The SEMA Show has been going on since the Johnson Administration, Peter. The Show clearly thrived without the aid of social media, but I’m wondering how it’s impacted how you sell the Show to new comers, whether they’re exhibitors or attendees. “I encourage all those people with gas in their veins 24/7 to check out the complete list of events is at SEMAShow.com.” Well, social media is another tool, the newest tool, for exhib- itors to generate awareness for their products. Because the SEMA Show is a trade-only event, tools such as social media are instrumental in helping exhibitors connect with
consumers. The consumer connection has increasingly become more and more important, which is the reason we introduced SEMA Ignited a few years ago. SEMA Ignited is the official SEMA Show after-party and it’s open to consum- ers. It’s a rare opportunity for the general public to see and participate in the SEMA Show. If I could extend an invitation to your readers, I’d love for them to visit www.SEMAIgnited. com. I visited the SEMA Ignited webpage before our inter- view, and I’ve got to tell you, Peter, it’s one of the more exciting webpage designs in the industry I’ve seen in recent memory. That being said, do you have any advice for first time SEMA attendees or exhibitors or people learning about SEMA Ignited for the first time? We always emphasize planning in advance. It’s unrealistic to expect to show up the day of the event on October 30 th and get the maximum value of the Show. We begin working with exhibitors months in advance, and hold an event with exhibitors in Las Vegas in June to prepare. Even those who did not attend are able to connect with dedicated account reps who help exhibitors with all their Show needs. From identifying goals to targeting
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SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2018
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