DIAMOND BAR, CA (04.13.23) – Automotive specialty-equipment manufacturers are geared up and eager to connect with attendees at the 2023 SEMA Show, taking place October 31–November 3 in Las Vegas. It’s been said that four days at the SEMA Show can deliver years of planning and development, and with exhibitor numbers expected to top 2,000 companies, buyers and media will have plenty to explore at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
“The commitment we’ve seen from exhibitors is a positive sign that companies are excited to reconnect face-to-face,” said Tom Gattuso, SEMA vice president of events. “It’s also a sign that companies are confident that they will have new products and stories to share.”
The future of the industry at large is on display at the SEMA Show, providing the best opportunity of the year to reconnect with peers and colleagues and create new contacts. The Show features countless education sessions and council and networking events to help build your business, career and professional network.
Meanwhile, SEMA officials are finalizing new features to further evolve the Show and deepen attendee engagement. To help attendees get their best return on energy and investment, we turned to Gattuso and SEMA Trade Show Director Andy Tompkins for some behind-the-scenes insights.
Industry Exhibitors Geared Up for 2023 SEMA Show Attendees
Eager to connect with buyers and media in person, introduce new products, develop relationships and tell their company stories, the 2023 SEMA Show was on track to exceed 2,000 exhibiting companies as of press time.
An up-to-date exhibitor list of the major automakers, iconic aftermarket brands, and new, first-time exhibitors confirmed for the Show can can be viewed at http://www.SEMAShow.com/participating-manufacturers.
Advantages of Meeting Face-to-Face
The SEMA Show is driven by connections, and brings exhibitors, buyers and media from around the world together for the automotive aftermarket’s most impactful business-to-business experience. Its in-person nature delivers key advantages that other forms of connecting simply can’t match.
- When you meet in person, you can read body language, see facial expressions, use context clues and better get to know someone’s personality.
- The automotive aftermarket prefers to meet face-to-face, without potential distractions or technical difficulties.
- It’s more effective to brainstorm, generate ideas and discuss what is working, and what is not, face-to-face.
- Conducting business in person provides the opportunity to engage in purposeful small talk, deepening relationships, loyalty and trust.
- Research shows face-to-face requests are 34 times more effective than those sent by email, and that a physical handshake promotes cooperation and influences negotiation outcomes for the better. (MIT’s Human Dynamics Lab)
- According to a Forbes Insight study, 85% of people say they build stronger, more meaningful business relationships during in-person meetings and conferences.
- According to a Harvard Review study, 95% of people say face-to-face meetings are a key factor in successfully building and maintaining long-term business relationships.
SEMA Week Expands in Las Vegas
At last year’s Industry Awards Banquet, SEMA introduced SEMA Fest, an enthusiast-focused experience that connects automotive enthusiasts with the aftermarket industry for a celebration of car culture and automotive lifestyle. The event will add a new dimension to SEMA Week.
Over a planned five-year rollout period and beyond, SEMA will remain dedicated to producing the annual SEMA Show—the specialty-equipment industry’s premier automotive trade event—at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Open to the automotive trade, the 2023 Show takes place Tuesday–Friday, October 31–November 3.
For more information on the 2023 SEMA Show or to register, visit http://www.SEMAShow.com.
Not to be confused with the SEMA Show, SEMA Fest will be an enthusiast-focused event open to everyone, including automotive enthusiasts and professionals. The two-day celebration will be held at a separate venue—the Las Vegas Festival Grounds—Friday and Saturday, November 3–4, 2023. It will feature music and entertainment, craft food, automotive celebrities, drifting competitions, freestyle motocross and the world’s most innovative and advanced custom vehicles.
To register for SEMA Fest or for more information, visit www.SEMAFest.com.
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