Show Season Brings Opportunity
[dropcap]I[/dropcap]’ve been to probably 80 tradeshows in my lifetime. Some of them I attended as a buyer through various companies I’ve been with, but the majority of the shows were either in racing or powersports or some performance related field. I will confess, I enjoy tradeshows. As a lifelong racer, it reminds me of being in a racing event. You spend weeks and months preparing for this huge event, and if you are exhibiting at the show, maybe even more time, but if you don’t execute your plan, it’s like hitting the hay bales and out of the race.
As of this writing, we are preparing to head down to Orlando for what looks like the biggest AIMExpo ever in only its third year. Show officials say there are more than 550 exhibitors signed up with 17 OEMs on hand as well as hundreds of powersports aftermarket companies. We’re excited to be a part of it as the Official Publishers of the AIMExpo Show Daily and Show Directory as well as the Souvenir Program. We’ll be following up after the show with a wrap-up report in November.
Speaking of November, the 2015 SEMA Show begins Tuesday, Nov. 3 and runs through Friday, Nov. 6. We’ll be there with our sister publication Engine Builder and our enthusiast website Speedville. From a powersports perspective, The SEMA Show has some opportunities for dealers who are looking for something maybe a little different than other shows. While most of the show is automotive related, many of the exhibitors also dabble in our market as well. For instance, the iconic Edelbrock has a division for powersports under their Russell brand. Other traditional performance automotive aftermarket companies also have a presence in powersports but it can be hard to tell because so many are located in the Central Hall, which is where all the racing and performance companies are located rather than the Upper South Hall where the powersports and utility vehicle section is located.
In our SEMA Preview on page 42, we discuss some of the opportunities for powersports dealers as well as list all the exhibitors (and booth #s) who are displaying and selling powersports products. If you are going to the show, be sure to check out these exhibitors. The Las Vegas Convention Center is a huge place with more than one million square feet. That’s a lot of walking if you don’t plan your steps right. As someone who has been to this show for the past 10 years, it’s important to have a plan. Start in sections and make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get to each booth because this place is like a casino with the odds stacked in your favor. Also, it is a good idea to wear comfortable shoes. One way to kill your feet is to buy brand new shoes right before the show. I did this once and will never do it again. Remember, during this show season, whether you’re at EICMA, AIMExpo, SEMA or somewhere else, it’s time to work ON your business not work IN your business. t
