SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association, is offering an online marketplace to allow manufacturers and resellers in the specialty automotive segment to connect and conduct business, the organization announced. Scheduled for Nov. 2-6, SEMA360 was created after industry members expressed a need for a viable marketplace solution in the absence of the 2020 SEMA Show, organizers said in a statement announcing the virtual event.
“Creating a platform where the industry can gather and discover new products and trends has always been a SEMA priority,” said Chris Kersting, SEMA president and CEO. “SEMA360 is the ideal solution to bring the industry together, at a time when we’ve all been kept apart. The platform allows qualified buyers to interact with manufacturers, see innovative new products, check out top SEMA Show builds, and take in industry-leading educational offerings.”
Show organizers gathered input from industry members who registered concerns with typical “virtual trade show” solutions, SEMA says, and aim to give resellers access to product offerings, demonstrations and manufacturer personnel with the show.
“The industry made it clear there is a void to fill,” said Tom Gattuso, SEMA vice president of events. “SEMA360 addresses that need by leveraging SEMA’s exclusive buyer database to connect manufacturers with resellers.”
Features of SEMA360 include:
- A platform for manufacturers to showcase their new products
- Interaction between manufacturers and resellers for quality business exchange
- SEMA vehicle reveals
- Education focused on professional development and new strategies
Manufacturer applications for SEMA360 open on Sept. 3 at a SEMA-member rate of $495, and a nonmember rate of $1,495. Attendee registration, which opens mid-September, is free for qualifying buyers who are SEMA members, and $25 for nonmembers. Qualifying media will be able to register at no cost.
Click here for more information.