STILLWATER, OK (10.06.2021) – Kicker returns to co-sponsor the 2021 Car Audio Championships, held at the North Alabama State Fairgrounds in Muscle Shoals October 8-9, and then again at the Benton County Fairgrounds in Bentonville, AR, October 23-24.
The SPL portion of the Championships will take place in Muscle Shoals, coinciding with some additional West-Coast locations. The Sound-Quality Finals will take place in Bentonville two weeks later. KICKER is a sponsor for both events.
“The Championships represent the elite of the competition world, both for SPL and sound quality,” said Kevin Campbell, KICKER’s Marketing Director. “KICKER believes in the importance of competition, which is why we’ve supported the sport for so many years. A passion for audio drives these competitors. That same passion pushes us and our products to evolve. It’s a kindred spirit.”
MECA, dB Drag Racing, IASCA and EMMA USA are all partners in producing the Car Audio Championships. Competitors have accrued points throughout the season to gain an invitation to the SQ and SPL championship events. With hundreds of vehicles participating in multiple locations and thousands of spectators, the event will be a destination for all things audio, as local audio retailers are promoting it around the area.
The dB Drag Racing competitors will have the option to compete from Muscle Shoals, or a the Sacramento, CA site. Web-enabled competition will allow any competitor to go head-to-head in either location and still be part of one large event.
Open triple-point events will also be held at the same time as the invitation-only Championships, allowing local can national competitors to have an opportunity to kick off the 2022 competition season with a high-point event.
Both Championships will run on Saturday and Sunday from 10 am – 6 pm.
RINGWOOD, IL (10.06.2021) – Every year, Race Sport Lighting partners with Knowledge Fest to exhibit at a booth and train dealers, installers and counter salespeople at shows around the country. This week at Indianapolis is no exception, as Race Sport Lighting will be conducting two dealer-focused trainings on Friday and Saturday in Room #109. The main goal of the trainings will be to discuss their new lighting technologies and solution-based products to make sales and installs easier on newer vehicles.
Race Sport Lighting will also be exhibiting in their 10’x30’ booth for dealers to visit and learn about new lighting technologies. Staff will be available in the booth all weekend to answer any questions. The booth will feature a custom UTV loaded with their new L8 Series RGB a la carte system including a 40” light bar, (4) L8 auxiliary cubes and a rock light kit. Race Sport Lighting will also have on display their nationwide best-selling Terminator LED Kits, the fast-growing DRIVE Series V2 LED kits and their USPTO patented GEN4 LED system launching in November of 2021.
“This K-Fest booth is going to light up the hall! Dealers are going to have a ton of great training resources to learn about and see in person. We will have a team communicating in the booth all weekend. We are going to make a clear statement that when it comes to the lighting category, we are the leader. We are the preferred vendor for a reason with 15 years of pioneering the lighting category as we continue to release exclusive patented technologies.” – Steve Jergensen, President of Race Sport Lighting
DIAMOND BAR, CA (10.05..2021) – The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) has debuted the first episode in its new five-episode streaming series chronicling the ninth year of its Launch Pad competition. The series showcases the ingenuity of rising entrepreneurs in the automotive industry as they pitch their new product or service to a panel of industry experts.
Fifteen individuals have been selected out of a record number of applicants last spring to advance to the semi-final round. From there, five of them will be chosen to compete for cash and prizes at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nev., where the series finale will be filmed before it airs on the History Channel on a future date.
From left, Jared Hare, Chip Foose, Alex Parker, and Myles Kovacs are judges of the 2021 SEMA Launch Pad competition, which is being chronicled on the SEMA YouTube Channel and on the History Channel on a future date.
One winner will be selected to win the grand-prize package valued at $92,000, which includes $75,000 to help launch their innovative new product. The remaining 14 semi-finalists will also receive prizes that will help them in their entrepreneurial journey.
The semi-finalists are:
Cameron Crummie – Owner, MDV
Adam Gruener – CEO, Off Road In Mind
Jonathan Hurley – Owner, ToolBox Widget
Monika Kalenski – President and CEO, MEK Magnet
Brendan McGrath – CEO, Dyme Performance Systems Inc.
Robert McKeirnan – President and Managing Partner, Stratos Meccanica LLC
D.J. Potter – CEO, Sawtooth
Alan Reyes – Co-founder and President, Xtrusion Designs LLC
Kevin Robinson – President, TRAC LLC
Paul Rooprai – CEO, AutoBio LLC
Michael Ruhs – Co-founder and CEO, TailHand
Tom Sawarynski – Owner, Off-Road Research
Michael Sullivan – Owner, Fox Products LLC
Edward Tansingco – President, Thinskinz
Dustin Woolf – Owner, Woolfpack Racing
“It’s a highlight every year to give up-and-coming entrepreneurs the chance of a lifetime,” says Nathan Ridnouer, VP of Councils and Membership. “This year, we’re even more excited to bring audiences a more comprehensive and personal look at our annual competition; it’s like Shark Tank for the automotive aftermarket industry.”
Past winners of SEMA Launch Pad include Roland Hence of FrontLane, Inc. (2020); Reid Lunde of Kaizen Speed (2019); and Matt Beenen of Builtright Industries (2018).
The first episode of “2021 SEMA Launch Pad” is available for viewing now on the SEMA Show YouTube channel, with the remaining episodes debuting on each Tuesday from Oct. 5-26. For more information about the 9th annual SEMA Launch Pad Competition, visit www.sema.org/launchpad.
ONTARIO, CA (10.05.2021) – PowerBass headed out to the 2021 Sand Sports Super Show in Costa Mesa CA. for the first public event in over 2 years! The show was packed with over 60,000 people in attendance from all over the USA as this is the premier Sand Sports event in the country!
The PowerBass booth stayed busy all weekend with our staff on hand to answer questions and help our consumer customers get the best set up for their UTV’s and other off-road vehicles. Of course a great PowerBass event wouldn’t be complete without the lovely ladies of PB this weekend we had the Sarah’s duo in the booth and the show goers were met with smiles as they entered the booth to check out all of the amazing products on display.
Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth and big thanks to those that took home some great PowerBass gear for their rides! Special thanks to all of our dealers in attendance and those selling at the show, customers said they were seeing PowerBass from the front of the show to the back! The XL-50 V2 series sound bars were the hit of the show with the XL-1250 and XL-850 being the #1 sellers amongst all audio products at the show! We hope you all had a successful year at this years event and thank you for your support!
Check out our newest video for highlights from the show as we can’t wait for next years event that is sure to be bigger and better than ever!
DIAMOND BAR, CA (10.05.2021) – The official 2021 SEMA Show mobile app is now available for download from the Apple App Store, Google Play Store or via the QR code below.
A great tool to maximize your time at the Show, the official SEMA Show app contains detailed exhibitor information, interactive floorplans and up-to-date event and education information—all from the convenience of your mobile device. This year, the SEMA Show app will feature a scanning function that will allow attendees to quickly capture product and exhibitor information from feature vehicles on display throughout the Show as well as the ability to scan and save products from the New Products Showcase. The app puts the entire SEMA Show in your pocket.
2021 SEMA Show mobile app features include:
Scan the QR to download the app
Interactivity: Users can receive detailed information about feature vehicles displayed throughout the Las Vegas Convention Center. By simply scanning a vehicle’s QR code, located on a feature vehicle sticker attached to the vehicle during check-in, the app will display the vehicle’s year, make and model; information on the exhibitor displaying the vehicle; and a list of products used on the vehicle. The app also allows users to access a list of exhibitors from 2019 and any saved product information.
Turn-By-Turn Directions: Find the quickest route from one place to another without the need of a GPS or data service. Simply enter an exhibitor name or room nearest to you and where you want to go, and the app will provide directions.
My Schedule: Create a schedule to keep track of the events you wish to attend.
New Products Showcase: View all of the products entered into the New Products Showcase, complete with detailed information and photos, exactly where within the Showcase the product is displayed, and directions to the exhibitor’s booth on the Show floor.
Product Scanner: Use your smartphone as a scanner at the New Products Showcase to create a list and map of the scanned products.
Maps: View floorplans of all SEMA Show halls and how/where they connect to make passage from hall to hall as easy as possible. Exhibitors: Look up all 2021 SEMA Show exhibitors by name, Show section or product category.
Events, Celebrity Appearances and Speakers: See lists of all the events, seminars, conferences, celebrity appearances and speakers, including day, time and location.
Social Media: Keep up with the feeds of the official SEMA Show social media accounts, including Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Ground Transportation: Find the best way to arrive at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Obtain information on the Las Vegas Monorail, rideshare and hotel shuttles, including pickup locations.
SEMA eNews: Stay up to date with the latest news before, during and after the Show.
For more information about the 2021 SEMA Show, taking place November 2–5, in Las Vegas, visit www.semashow.com.
DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA (10.04.2021) – Kicker hosted a Zoom training presented by John Myers for over 100 South African dealers to include all of PlanetWorlds Team on Sept 2. We had multiple giveaways with a grand prize given away by PlanetWorld of R10,000 ( $664 US) Kicker products to be added to the next order.
PanetWorld’s sales rep Shaun van der Merwe (L) presented Jeetan Mitha, YOGI’s Audio and Visual outside Cape Town, with the grand prize giveaway. YOGI’s will receive nearly $700. worth of KICKER gear on the store’s next order.
The training was also attended by Jay Ralston GM of Kicker, Dave Glasgow International Sales Manager for South Africa along with Maurice Van Heerden Director of PlanetWorld.
A selection of prizes are shown on a rack in the PlanetWorld HQ.
David Glasgow, International Sales Manager, commented, “It was tremendously exciting to see the turnout of Dealers for this training presented by Kicker and John Myers. Also, Thank you goes out to Quewen Webb the Sales Manager and his entire team from PlanetWorld, for all the coordination and behind-the-scenes work.”
The map shows YOGI’s Audio and Visual in relationship to Cape Town, South Africa.
Glasgow continued, “I can’t believe it’s been over 10 years now since PlanetWorld joined the Kicker family. We could not have asked for better representation for the Kicker Brand as we have experienced through PlanetWorld. Maurice Van Heerden has a tremendous team working for him, and we look forward to many more years of outstanding business.”
ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY (10.04.2021) – See the following announcement from Matt Gonzales of Trent Partners & Associates:
“I would like to formally announce that Trent Partners & Associates has come to an agreement with Ralph Luce to become our newest account executive in the New York market. Ralph comes to Trent Partners & Associates with an extensive work history at the retail level with both sales & installation.”
Ralph Luce
“Having personally worked with Ralph in the past on special projects and at shows I am extremely confident that Ralph will not only succeed in the manufacturer rep sector but become a rising star. His knowledge of the retail business in the mobile electronic category along with the local marine / powersport business will quickly become an asset to Trent Partners and its vendors.”
Trent Partners represents Kicker, VOXX including Directed, JVC Mobile, Orca brands (Focal & Mosconi), AudioControl Diamond/Cerwin Vega and DD Audio.
Ralph will be working the New York market with myself growing / servicing accounts in Brooklyn, Queens & Long Island. The first day in the field will be on October 4th… so please join me in welcoming Ralph to the Trent Partner family!
DANIA BEACH, FL (10.04.2021) – HKI USA, the US importer for SounDigital Amplifiers, Ground Zero Car Audio, Four Connect Wiring Products, and the new HKI Mini DSP, is proud to announce another member to its growing family.
As 2021 starts to wind down, HKI is expanding upon its staff of Territory Managers, once again, with the addition of the new kid on the block, Daniel Mount. Dan will be taking the reins for Northern Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the Dakotas allowing HKI to expand its presence in this territory, and focus on representing their extensive line of car audio and powersports products.
Daniel Mount
“We fell Dan is going to be an amazing addition to our team,” stated Jacob Brown, Director of Operations for HKI-USA. “Due to his knowledge and love for our products and his experience and reputation in the territory as both a rep and retail owner, we are excited to see him work with our team of managers and partnered rep firms to continue to build and support our network of retailers.”
“I’m excited to grow the territory with HKI, and meet all the existing dealers in the territory,” explained Mount. “But, to be honest, I am excited to work for a great company, and even more excited to be working with an amazing group of people.”
For more information about our brand(s) and our growing family, visit hki-usa.com or e-mail info@hki-usa.com
SHREVEPORT LA (10.02.21) WTF…Win This Friday. Living Loud Car Audio won the Power Acoustik Prize on the 12volt Spin-To-Win Wheel on Friday morning, October 1st.
The 12volt Spin-to-Win Wheel was created to bring an element of fun to the 12volt industry. Nine months ago we celebrated the 2nd Anniversary of the weekly 12volt Spin-To-Win Wheel.
The 12volt Spin-To-Win Wheel rolled for 147th time on Friday morning October 1st. The Wheel landed on the Power Acoustik space. The Living Loud Car Audio slip was drawn from the jar and an Instagram post of the winning slip was posted. A video of the Wheel spin was also posted.
We reached out by phone and talked with Nick Nole at the store in Pelham AL. He had already noticed the Instagram post. Just after that, in a quirk of fate, I talked with Living Loud Car Audio owner Rex Rice at AED in Birmingham where he was picking up an order. They both were so excited to hear a Power Acoustik prize would be heading their way.
Spinning out a winner each Friday, a lucky 12volt retailer can win a cool prize and top brands receive visibility across the marketplace.
12volt brands with a space on the 12volt Spin-To-Win Wheel include Kicker, NavAtlas, SiriusXM, Silencer, PowerBass, CRUX, DS18, SoundStream, JBL, Kenwood, Power Acoustik, JVC and Magnadyne. 12volt News $100. cash awards have spaces on the 12volt Spin-To-Wheel for a winning 12volt retailer.
Past winners of the 12volt Spin-To-Win include…Stereo & Video Center-Tyler TX, The Outlaw Garage-Franklin TN, Exotic Sounds-West Palm Beach FL, Endless Possibilities-Aurora IL., Go Auto Sound in Union City NJ, Al&Ed’s South Bay CA, No Limitz Car Audio in Upland CA, Neil’s Specialty-Eureka CA, Sturgess Customs-Lexington SC, Audio By Art-San Antonio TX, SMS Car Audio in Marreo LA and Sweet Wheelz in Mississauga Ontario Canada, Cartronics in Biscayne FL, The CarAudio Shop in St Louis MO, Exotic Sounds in West Palm Beach FL, High North Customs in Grand Prairie Alberta Canada and AMS Audio in Bakersfield CA, Team QRT in Abbeyville LA and California Sound in Fontana CA and Jackie Cooper Electronics, Oklahoma City OK, MARS Audio-Orlando FL, All American Audio in Nutley NJ, Proline Car Stereo in Brooklyn NY, Custom Shop Miami, Tunes and Tint in Lakeland FL, Mobile Concepts Inc in Mokena IL, Seismic Auto Sound in Concord CA, Brooklyn Car Audio in Brooklyn NY, Audio Solutions in Florence MS, Enhanced Customs in Largo FL, Rayco Auto Clinic, Audio Design in San Jose CA, Go Bass Mode in Florida, Avenue Sound in Freeport NY, Audio Plus in Riverview FL, Stereo Zone in Whittier CA, In-Phase Car Audio in Omaha NE, AutoLife Group, N&H Electronics, SK Customs, Land & Sea, The Audio One, NC Custom Shop,Tint World Orlando, Ricky Smith’s Audio, VIP Custom Woks, Mobile Audio Concepts, Audio Lad, Sound Sensations, Dave’s Stereo, Stereo Design, Badlands Customs, Custom Audio-Erie PA, Voltz Autosports-Bridgeport CT, Infinity Sound and Security-Kissimmee, Autosport Plus-Canton OH, Stereo City Pros in Carmichael CA, Devine Concepts in Naples FL, The Sound Shop in Indian Trail NC, Extreme Performance Audio in Fresno CA, Audio Depot in Arlington TX, Audio Security in Houston TX, Earmark Car Audio and Marine in Lewisville TX, Audio Jam in Bear DE, Stereo City Ontario, Ontario CA, Audio By Art, San Antonio TX, Code Zero Customs in Tulsa OK, Ken’s Car Tunes in Mobile AL, Soundz Plus in Naperville IL, Markland Designs in Lithonia GA, Electronics Plus in Salinas CA, Xtreme Autosports in Santa Clarita CA, Superior Audio Sounds in San Angelo TX and Model Electronics in Ramsey NJ, Texas Dreamz Customs in Spring TX, Wired Electronics in Linden NJ and Intense Car Audio in OKC, OK, Underground Auto in Sarasota FL, Car Toys Tulsa in Tulsa OK, Real Audio in Erie PA, Go Autosound in Union NJ, DFM Stereo in Ukiah CA, Impact Tint and Audio in Tyler TX, Mobile Sound Systems in Arlington TX, Redline Audio and Performance In Spindale NC, Car Audio Land in San Diego CA, Audio X Custom Car Audio in Florence AL, River Oaks Car Stereo in Houston TX, American Radio Orlando in Sanford FL, Illustrious Customs in Woodbridge VA, Remote Start Pros in Lawrence MA, HiPro Audio in Victoria TX, AudioPlanetNY in Huntington Station NY, Endless Possibilities in Aurora IL, Audio Finesse in Santa Monica, Drive Customs in San Luis Obispo CA, Custom Works, Noblesville IN, AtoZ Detail in West Haven CT, Cars 843 in Charleston SC, CarTunes Atlanta in Atlanta GA, Mobile Concepts in Garwood NJ, Duke’s Car Stereo in Flint MI, Infinity Auto Sound, King Car Audio in Norwalk CT, PopTronics in Baltimore MD, Sanford Sound in Sanford ME, Angelvip2474 in Draper UT, Dynamic Car Audio in Baltimore MD, Hi-Pro Audio in Victoria TX, Car Stereo Max in Houston, Pro Audio Center in Richland MS, Rhodes Off-Roads in Farmington MO, Model Electronics in Ramsey NJ, Class A Sounds in Athens OH. Just Audio Video in North Providence RI, CT_Custom in Philadelphia, Audio Solutions in Florence MS and The Audio Shop RC in Rapid City SD, DG Motorsportz in High Point NC, ST Mobile in Texarkana TX, AR Custom OC in Orange CA, Temecula Mobile Sound in Temecula CA, Unique Auto Sound in Lindenhurst NY, D’s Garage in Corona CA and DS2 Mobile Solutionz in Tomball TX, C G Car Audio in Kissimmee FL, California Audio in West Valley City UT and The Action Audio Store in Wethersfield CT, Eclipse Car Audio in Vancouver WA, Electronics Depot Car Audio in Altamonte Springs FL. Car Audio Garage in Pearland TX, Pinnacle Autosound in Lake City FL, J H Audio in Bowling Green VA, The Car Audio Shop StL in High Ridge MO, Anthonys Car Stereo in North Highlands CA, Flynn Audio in Middleton WI and J’s Alarms in Fresno CA. Congratulations to all.
WTF… Where’s the Fun. On the next spin of the 12volt Spin-To-Win Wheel… on Friday, October 8th.
HOLLY HILL, FL (10.01.2021) – Metra Electronics is heading to Indianapolis, Indiana, to host six training sessions at KnowledgeFest and showcase their latest aftermarket installation products. At the booth will also be a 2020 Jeep Gladiator Sport S built by Vincent Murray of Team Nutz. The Kevlar coated Jeep is customized from the front to the back with Metra’s Heise LED RGB lights and accessories, RGB underglow kit, Metra PowerSports whip lights, and more.
Metra’s training sessions will outline new integration products, lighting and audio upgrades for Harley-Davidson, aftermarket accessories for Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator, and new products for upgrading vehicle safety systems. Installer Institute will also host a session to show shops how to connect with trained, certified graduates through their online career portal and explain the future of mobile electronics education. As a Diamond Ultra sponsor, Metra is proud to support the industry by providing in-depth training sessions for installers. Training sessions include:
“Simplify your Install with Axxess DSPs” on Friday, October 8 at 1:30 PM
This training will cover the entire Axxess DSP product line, highlight new vehicle coverage, and showcase the newest app features. Metra will show installers how these solutions can increase sales in the showroom and decrease time in the bay. Attendees will learn how to use and set up Axxess DSPs through the app for complete tuning control and when to use the DSP “Lite” versus “X” solutions. This training will also explain how to use the different types of applications offered within the AXDSP line, including CAN-based systems, new A2B systems, MOST25, and MOST50 vehicle technology.
“New Accessories for Jeep Wrangler/Gladiator from Metra” on Friday, October 8 at 2:45 PM
Metra has focused an entire product line on the growing market of Jeep owners who want to customize their rides to be louder and reflect their own personal style. This session will help them learn about the new speaker adapter plates, backup camera options, complete integration solutions, and LED lighting solutions designed to fit Jeep Wrangler JL and Gladiator models. Attendees will hear valuable tips for selling and installing these new products that will give them additional opportunities to sell a full range of upgrades to loyal Jeep customers.
“New Lighting and Audio Upgrades for Harley-Davidson Motorcycles” on Saturday, October 9 at 4:45 PM
How can shops cut down installation time on audio and lighting upgrades? Metra’s Saddle Tramp brand is here to help with even more new products launching this season. Attendees will be the first to learn about new Axxess DSPs that fit Harley-Davidson with a built-in re-flashing feature and Saddle Tramp’s newest replacement inner fairing. Attendees will learn how to offer upgrades to make their customer’s motorcycles louder and more stylish, without the need for labor-intensive custom fabrication and wiring.
“Upgrading Vehicle Safety Systems with iBEAM” on Saturday, October 9 at 6:00 PM
As more consumers upgrade their vehicles, safety and convenience features should not be left out of the selling strategy. Attendees will learn about the aftermarket safety features they should be selling and how to install iBEAM’s newest products. This session will go over the hot-button selling points and features that consumers are asking for plus installation tips to give installers a better understanding of what is involved in an upgrade.
“The Future of Mobile Electronics Education with Installer Institute” on Sunday, October 10 at 9:30 AM
There are some things best learned with hands-on training. Mobile electronics education is one of them. Attendees of this session will learn how Installer Institute has adapted its curriculum to include courses designed to give students practical training for car audio installations plus additional skills for home theater integration, marine audio, upholstery, security, remote start installation, window tinting and more. For shops looking for trained, MECP and MESA certified installers, this session will show them how to connect with ii graduates through the online career portal and also explain what they can expect an ii graduate to have learned.
“Advanced Integration Made Easy with Axxess and Metra” on Sunday, October 10 at 10:45 AM
Attendees will learn about the newest solutions from Axxess and Metra that make vehicle integration easy, even with some of the notoriously complex vehicle systems. This training session gives in-depth installation information for Metra’s new AXPIO-JL1 integration kit for Jeep Wrangler, Metra’s latest TurboTouch dash kits, and new Axxess interfaces hitting the market.
Metra’s customers can register for the KnowledgeFest event at no cost using Metra’s VIP code, available by request from their sales representative. Once registered for the event, attendees will also need to register online at KnowledgeFest.org for each training session they will attend. Metra will be at booth #302 from October 8th-10th at the Indianapolis Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. Additional information about the show, produced by the Mobile Electronics Association (MEA), is available at KnowledgeFest.org.
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